Pastor and best-selling author Max Lucado was appointed as interim teaching pastor at Gateway Church after James Morris, the son of Robert Morris, and his wife Bridgette resigned. According to Church Leaders, James was Gateway Church’s associate senior pastor and the planned successor to his father, Gateway founder Robert Morris, who resigned last month after Cindy Clemishire accused him of sexually abusing her in the 1980s when she was 12 years old.

Although James claims he was unaware of his father’s sexual abuse, Haynes and Boone, LLP advised him to take a leave of absence from the church’s board amid an independent investigation inquiry into his father’s past.

“Earlier this week, the (church) elders met with Pastors James and Bridgette, and they collectively made the decision that Pastors James and Bridgette would both step down from their current positions and from leading Gateway Church in the future,” the church said in a statement acquired by CBS Texas.

“We as elders affirm and believe that God has placed a desire in both Pastors James and Bridgette’s hearts to serve as senior pastors of a church at some point in the future,” the statement added. “We love Pastors James and Bridgette and their children. We deeply care about them and sincerely thank them for investing their lives here at Gateway Church.”

“They have faithfully and honorably served our congregation and this community through all the years that they have been part of Gateway Church,” the statement said.

Lucado, who is the pastor of Oak Hills Church, was a guest speaker at Gateway less than two weeks ago. Additionally, Joakim Lundqvist, who is the pastor and international ambassador of Word of Life Church in Uppsala, Sweden, “will be taking on a more pastoral role with the staff.”

It is unclear whether Gateway Church has officially informed its congregation of 25,000-plus members of James and Bridgette’s resignation.

“Dear Gateway Family, Thank you for your patience as we’ve been prayerfully navigating this season of transition. The independent investigation is still ongoing, but the Elder Board does have a few important updates they will be sharing during services this weekend,” Gateway Church said in a statement on social media.

“We want to encourage you to attend one of the services at your campus as we receive these updates from the Elders together as a church family. We love you, we’re praying for you, and we’re so grateful to have you as part of our church family.”

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