In the last year there is an epidemic of megachurches in this example. Transparency seems to be an issue in these institutions because of sexual abuse claims and moral failings. Here are ten scandals involving megachurch pastors from the past year, their impacts, and what they mean for faith communities.
I recently did a post on Bishop Marvin Sapp who essentially held his congregation hostage for 20 dollars per person. Heresy from the pulpit
1. Robert Morris (Gateway Church, Southlake, TX)
The Transgression: Robert Morris, founder of Gateway Church, was accused by Cindy Clemishire, who claimed he sexually abused her starting in 1982 when she was 12. Morris has admitted to “inappropriate sexual behavior” but tried to pull the “she looks 18” card by initially downplaying her age.
Consequences: Morris resigned in June 2024 and was indicted in March 2025 on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child in Oklahoma. Gateway Church saw a 19% drop in attendance. Morris’s son and several elders also resigned.
This false teacher was first exposed by The Wartburg Watch blog, which highlighted how abusers can maintain influence for decades, prompting calls for external investigations.
2. Josiah Anthony (Cross Timbers Church, Argyle, TX)
The Transgression: Anthony resigned in July 2024 after allegations of misconduct, including sexual harassment in communication with women in the congregation and church staff. The church cited his lack of transparency as a key issue. Because yeah, him not openly sexually harassing people is the problem. Transparency was the problem not perversion.
Consequences: Josiah eventually stepped down and was replaced by executive pastor Byron Copeland who took over as interim pastor before resigning himself, possibly linked to prior workplace issues.
Impact: The resignations rightly fueled distrust in North Texas megachurches, with advocates pushing for better administrative oversight.
3. Tony Evans (Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, Dallas, TX)
The Transgression: The church elders accused Evans of violating scriptural leadership standards in June 2024 after he admitted to an unspecified “sin” involving a lack of “righteous judgment.” Evans stepped down after admitting the sin.
Consequences: Evans resigned after nearly 50 years, with the church emphasizing accountability and preserving his legacy. Which he destroyed.
Impact: While vague, the “sin” nonetheless led congregants to speculate, adding to the broader narrative of moral failings in megachurch leadership.
4. Caleb Cunningham (Lakeside Baptist Church, Granbury, TX)
The Transgression: Cunningham was arrested in June 2024 for sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault of a child, tied to incidents in 2016 and 2018 involving teenagers.
Consequences: Fired by Lakeside Baptist and booked into Lubbock County Jail.
Impact: Cunningham moved between multiple churches. Moving between churches is a common practice for denominational pastors to do because of retirement. Deaths and so on. The difference here is the reason for moving. This disgusting false teacher emphasizes the need for strong diligence in doing background checks.
5. Terren Dames (North Dallas Community Bible Fellowship, TX)
The Transgression: Dames was arrested in May 2024 for soliciting sex from an undercover officer posing as a sex worker.
Consequences: Charged with solicitation of prostitution, Dames was removed from his pastoral role. At the time of this writing his case is still pending in court.
Impact: The scandal added to the growing list of megachurch controversies, prompting scrutiny of leadership and stronger vetting practices.
The Problem Is Far Wider Than You Think
These transgressions, affected over 50,000 congregants and exposed systemic corruption in megachurch governance. Power dynamics often shield abusers, as seen in cases like Morris’s, where allegations were known but not acted upon for years. Survivors’ voices, amplified by platforms like The Wartburg Watch, have pushed for transparency and accountability, but internal investigations remain common where the church finds its not guilty. Experts like Michelle Simpson Tuegel and Pete Singer from GRACE argue that megachurches’ size and profit motives can enable secrecy, allowing abusers to harm more victims.
The fallout includes declining attendance (e.g., Gateway’s 19% drop), leadership turnover, and growing distrust. In Texas lawmakers, inspired by survivors like Cindy Clemishire, are exploring reforms like banning nondisclosure forms that could shield perpetrators.
These cases remind us that character, not charisma, must define church leadership, as emphasized in 1 Timothy 3:2-4. “Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.“
For congregants, these scandals are not just a call but a demand for accountability and support for survivors. Churches must prioritize transparency and external investigations when accusations are made as well as implement stringent vetting processes.
The take away for pastors here is: Holiness and integrity are non-negotiable. Cheryl Bridges Johns noted, “the shift from discipleship to leadership has cost the church dearly. Ordinary faithfulness, not celebrity, is the path forward.”
Until Next Time: Courage.