Gateway Church in Texas has formally rejected former pastor Robert Morris’s bid for millions in retirement benefits, following his indictment on child sexual abuse charges.

In a court filing dated 13th May, the church asked a judge to dismiss Morris’s request for binding arbitration, stating that his claims for compensation, reportedly including $1m in vested benefits and further annual payments of up to $800,000, are not supported by the written employment agreement, as reported by The Roy's Report.

Morris, 63, resigned as senior pastor of the Dallas-area megachurch in 2024 after a woman publicly alleged he molested her in 1982 when she was twelve.

A grand jury in Oklahoma has indicted Morris on five felony counts.

He denies the charges and is awaiting trial.

The church disputes his claim that a verbal agreement with church elders guarantees long-term payments, arguing no such promises were documented and that the employment agreement cannot be altered orally.

In its filing, Gateway said: “Morris’s claims are false and do not reflect accountability for the impact of his actions on the community,” adding: “We recognise the pain that has been felt by so many, and we are dedicated to maintaining the trust of our church family as we navigate this situation.”

The church also criticised Morris’s “defiantly unapologetic posture” and called on him to publicly acknowledge the age of his alleged victim, show remorse and retract claims that elders were fully informed at the time. It said some retirement benefits could be reconsidered if those conditions are met.

Morris, who maintains his innocence, reportedly owns several luxury properties in Texas and is said to have bought and sold multiple multi-million dollar homes between 2012 and 2024.