Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, has initiated a response to the allegations against its founder, Robert Morris, who is accused of sexually assaulting a child in the 1980s.

Following Morris’s resignation, the church announced on its website that four of its elders, including Morris's son, James Morris, would take "temporary leaves of absence" as part of an investigation conducted by the law firm Haynes and Boone.

The church's statement highlighted that elders potentially facing conflicts of interest, especially those who served between 2005 and 2007, were advised to step down temporarily.

Elder Tra Willbanks said the elders in question are "wholly committed to doing what is best for Gateway Church." She added: "These elders desire to go above and beyond to help ensure that everything is done to conduct the inquiry impartially and consistent with best practices."

James Morris also chose to temporarily leave his position to "demonstrate his commitment to a truly independent and unbiased inquiry," despite not being an elder during the mentioned years.

The church clarified, "A leave of absence in no way whatsoever assumes or implies that any elder had any knowledge of the true facts related to this situation."

Further complicating matters, NBC News reported an incident where Morris allegedly offered money to silence an assault claim. According to a transcript of a phone call shared with the news outlet by a former Gateway staff member, Morris said, "Put a price on it." To which Cindy Clemishire responded, "Two million dollars."

Clemishire publicly shared her ordeal with The Wartburg Watch, claiming Morris began assaulting her in 1982 when she was just 12 years old. Reflecting on those times, Clemishire recalled Morris telling her, "Never tell anyone about this; it will ruin everything."

In response to these allegations, Morris admitted to The Christian Post: "I was involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady" and noted that it was "brought to light" in March 1987.

The Chron reports that in the Church's statement last week affirming Morris's resignation, they acknowledged, "We did not have all of the facts of the inappropriate relationship between Morris and the victim... James Morris and the other elders said they 'had no knowledge of the true facts of this situation.'"