Oh yikes. Those clips.

And the looking up and seeing demon spirits makes me think of when Driscoll would talk about preaching and looking out and seeing peoples’ sin play out like movies. Bizarre.

Cindy’s attorney Boz submitted a letter, stating she said James Robison was not present during the meetings with her family. He and Betty released a video,in an effort to correct the record, indicating they did not know her age until this week.

https://stream.org/james-robison-corrects-the-record/

Disturbing! Red flags all over the videos posted here.

CB,

I called and left a message for James Robison about whether he knew her age (and other questions). I’ve not heard back. The struggle I have with his answer on this video, “I didn’t NOT know!” is two-fold:

1. James issued a press release stating he hired Robert Morris “in the late 80s” and that after the sexual immorality was discovered, “Robert left full-time ministry from Shady Grove Church” for two years. James is not being truthful in that press statement. Newspaper articles show James hired Robert Morris in December 1981, one year before the abuse began, and during the abuse, Robert Morris was working as a James Robison Crusade associate evangelist.

How could the boss not know the details of his associate evangelist’s immorality? By the way, I’m not saying he DID know her age; I’m just saying that I would think he SHOULD KNOW, AND (even more importantly) if he wasn’t being truthful about when he (James Robison) hired Robert, then why should we believe him on “I didn’t know the age of the victim?”

CB, I know James SAID he didn’t know her age in the video, but he also SAID Robert Morris wasn’t working for him when all this happened, a false statement that has been demonstrably proven to be false.

Even worse, shortly after Robert “stepped out of ministry” in 1987 because of his “sexual immorality,” he was once again traveling for James Robison Crusades very quickly. Now, get this: Robert went OVERSEAS (the Philippines), where “blind eyes are made to see, and deaf ears are opened” when over 500 Philipinos “came to faith in Christ” (that’s from a 1988 Louisiana newspaper ad about Robert). There was no two-year restoration process.

If we are to believe Robert Morris in his book, there seems to have been “a one-month” removal from ministry. One month. Robert says it was to “deal with my pride.” Nothing about the crime of molesting a child. Without Al Gore having yet to invent the Internet in 1987 (LOL), it seems everybody involved with Robert Morris, people who loved him, sincerely hoped nobody in Oklahoma would find out what Robert Morris was doing overseas or in American schools and churches after his “one-month removal.”

C.B. – I know you to be a man of integrity. Truth matters to you. I’m not saying James Robison DID know the girl’s age. Steve LeBlanc, a former Gateway staff member and current pastor of Sherman Bible Church, disagrees with me and adamantly says James did know the details.

I’m waiting for confirmation. But I must admit, I’m having a hard time reconciling James’s deception on other issues as I hear him say on the video that he did not know the nature of Robert’s crime. As you know, even in 1987, there were mandatory reporting laws in Texas for ministers, and James Robison was a licensed minister from Texas.

There’s every reason for James to say he didn’t know.

2. I’ll keep this one short. The childhood of Cindy Clemishire was stolen. Even worse, in adulthood, some issues in her life – emotional, spiritual, psychological, and relational – crop up because a grown married man in gospel ministry, a husband with a son of his own, graphically, repeatedly, and horrifically stole Cindy’s sexual purity from age 12 to 17.

There can be, will never be, any justification for what Robert Morris did. Many people knew of Robert’s immorality: Debbie (his wife), a woman who informed Cindy’s parents (a friend of Cindy’s family and now a licensed counselor to whom I’ve sent a private message about James Robison), Olin Griffing (Pastor of Shady Grove, James Robison, and more.

Again, everyone who loves Robert Morris and knew in 1987 that Cindy was 12 when the abuse began, has every advantage in 2024 for saying THEY DID NOT KNOW. If they did know, and declare they did today, they would be confessing to helping Robert cover a crime.

One would not expect ANYONE to admit in 2024 that they knew (look at the statement of the elders!) I expect nothing less.

Jesus told His followers to be “wise as serpents and gentle as doves.”

I am trying to be gentle in this whole mess, even though I want to strangle some people who abused Cindy. God’s grace helps me because Rachelle (my wife) and I know Cindy to be a strong, vibrant believer in Jesus who understands the power of forgiveness.

But we, God’s people, should be wise as serpents. We TRUST the saints but VERIFY the stories. It’s that simple.

Cindy agrees with me that the reason this entire sordid mess SHOULD BE PUBLIC is to make every perp who even THINKS about stealing the sexuality of a child STOP IN HIS (OR HER) TRACKS- because they remember what happened to Robert Morris.

Thanks, C.B. Scott. Thank you for all you do in caring for others, for your love for foster children, and for your love for truth.

James Robison has been a family friend for decades, working with my father at Fulness Magazine and Jack Taylor, Jim Hylton, and other great men of the Kingdom. But as I told James’ assistant, I just have a few questions for him to help gauge the truth-telling.

Friendship takes a backseat to the truth when it comes to child abuse.

I have NO CONFIRMATION YET that James Robison KNEW Robert Morris’ VICTIM was a minor. If that evidence comes forth from the testimony of two or three people who were there and know who knows, including the young woman who helped Cindy tell with her parents (now a licensed counselor), then James Robison should lose his ministry as well.

“He who hopefully waits on Me will never be put to shame.” – Isaiah 49:23

Well, given the clash of opposing statements from all these church leaders, some of them very prominent preachers, one thing is very clear … some are lying. At this point, it’s not clear who. Apparently, to be successful in mega-ministry, a bit of half-truth, mistruth, and bold-faced lies are necessary on occasion. But for us onlookers, the problem with deception is that we don’t know we are deceived because we are deceived.

Balthasar Hubmaier, while under tremendous persecution in the early days of Protestantism, said “Truth is unkillable.” So we wait for truth to emerge to help us sort out these conflicting messages.

IMO, the case is closed on Robert Morris, the goose is cooked, he’s up the creek without a paddle … but the jury is still out on James Robison.

Wade Burleson,

Thank you Wade for taking a stand…
Growing up in fundamentalist land, I endured countless sermons/retreats/revivals that focused way to much on “sexuality” and the lack thereof…. Including how “bad” we were for sexual desires… in fact the above video clips brings 40 to 50 years old memories into vivid focus…

So, it makes my blood boil when it comes out that these clown not only are “sexually impure” but these clowns cover it up for each other…..
AND my blood DOUBLE boils when I think what these clowns did AND CONTINUE to do to the abuse victims.
At least one preacher, such as yourself, is equally disgusted…..
The hypocrisy of these clowns is beyond measure.

Jeffrey Chalmers: At least one preacher, such as yourself, is equally disgusted…..

While all America still waits for enough disgusted SBC pastors to get serious about dealing with sex abuse in their ranks.

Thank you Wade. I couldn’t finish reading what you wrote because I am weeping. I feel horrible for Cindy and for anyone else abused. I will finish reading it though when able.

I however can regain my composure when I think about the deceivers protecting their image for their glory. God will not share His glory. The truth will come out. I believe some will humble themselves while others will continue to protect their image. Note: When I mention deceivers, I mean past involvement and current involvement. Please tell the truth. It is obvious there is enough documentation that will discredit any deception.

Elaine:
The letter from Cindy’s attorneys about James Robison don’t specify that James didn’t know the girl’s age; it merely says he wasn’t at the meeting.

Exactly.

It’s great to correct the record if this is true, but we need to see those documents and not just hear it from James Robison.

Elaine:
The letter from Cindy’s attorneys about James Robison don’t specify that James didn’t know the girl’s age; it merely says he wasn’t at the meeting.

Bingo

Nothing like a little plausible deniability

This is moving pretty quickly, so I am losing track of major themes. I hope someone with more knowledge and personal experience with the people involved can keep things straight.

On Friday June 21, 2024 James Robison released a statement on twitter. https://x.com/revjamesrobison/status/1804230345614660076 .

It appears to be, ‘Ohh shucks. It is too bad this happened to whats her name. But my lawyers and PR firm tell me If I stick with my story, I can escape culpability.” The basic theme appears to be, “Betty and I are praying for everyone who’s been hurt by these terrible events.” But we are going to obstruct and obfuscate every attempt that Cindy, or anyone else, might make to understand how what happened was allowed to happen. IE. questions from former friends and associates are being referred to their law firm.

That hardly seems Christian 🙁

Then on Saturday, June 22, 2024 https://www.christianpost.com/ amplified James Robisons position in an article at https://www.christianpost.com/news/robert-morris-scandal-james-robison-refutes-claims.html

Wade Burleson:

But we, God’s people, should be wise as serpents. We TRUST the saints but VERIFY the stories.

“TRUST BUT VERIFY” was a mythical slogan made popular with Reagan and Bush over Russia and Iraq’s weaponry. If you have to verify, it’s because you don’t trust. It’s no different than a wife going thru her husband’s pockets looking for phone numbers written on cocktail napkins. If you trust, you don’t go thru his pockets.

Daniel,

Spot on.

bob smith: Morris’s son James is senior pastor and has been on the board of elders for some time.
Morris’s daughter-in-law Bridgett is executive pastor.
Morris’s daughter Elaine Fisher was on the web site last week as senor or executive something (6/16).

They could teach the Saudi Rpyal Family or North Korea’s Kim Dynasty things about Nepotism.

BZ,

I’ll try to ask Olin Griffing that question. I don’t think Shady Grove could hide anything from James Robison because every newspaper that advertised Robert Morris speaking at an assembly or church revival (from February 1982 through 1969) lists James Robison Ministries as the organization sponsoring the event and Robert Morris as an evangelist for James Robison. It seems that James Robison hired Robert Morris in December 1981 as an associate evangelist (news articles confirm this), and James Robison used Robert Morris in his ministry to speak in schools, churches, and crusades. Thanks for asking, though.

Wade Burleson: from February 1982 through 1969

Did you mean 1982 – 1989?

Daniel Lick: The lies seem to be hidden in the wording they choose. By lumping two things together while only one was actually mentioned… Robinson appears, and it caught me at first, to be saying that she said he didn’t know her age. She said no such thing. She only said Robinson was not there. These men know words and they know how to manipulate. The truth will come out on this matter eventually.

I thought the exact same thing. Wording was carefully chosen. He lumps two things together, then presents proof of that the first is false leaving the impression that its all false.

Oldest trick in the book.

But then he emphatically states he did not know her age until he read the report a few days ago.

Wade Burleson:

I guess its still possible that Cindy’s father reported it to OG who didnt ask specific questions and / or didnt relay them to the elders?

Do we know for certain that in 1987 Cindy told her father how old she was when it started? Or could that have been a repressed memory that surfaced later?

There’s no shame if CC didn’t, as 16 year old *girl*, tell her *dad* the “whole truth”. She was still likely blaming herself at that time. What 16 year old girl relishes the thought of telling her DAD?

Or if her dad didnt want to–at the time–divulge all the facts whether he had them or not? Again, no blame from me.

These are sensitive subjects, long before the Lewinsky affair forced a sitting red faced president on camera under oath to spell out the details of his sexual indiscretions, sweeping away the last vestiges of public decency in American Life. (those are facts, not politics).

Sensitive embarrassing subjects. The “Shhhh!!!” generation

Im speculating—and playing the devils advocate— but to get to the truth, like in football practice, you need somebody to play defense.

If Cindy’s attorney says James Robison wasn’t at the meeting and James says he wasn’t there, folks (reputable media sources who can’t afford to be sued) are giving him a lot of ammunition to file a lawsuit. Whatever he did or didn’t know is still unclear and may come to light, but this one statement needs to be put to rest.

Robert Herrera,

And it appears Lane was “running interference” for RM the whole time.

Lane probably told whichever admin handled the emails to the elders “any emails alleging immoral conduct by RM comes to me; the elders have designated me for that role” (whether they did or did not we likely will never know). As such, Tra is likely correct when he said he didn’t know the whole story; Lane hid it from everyone.

One thing to note which often gets confused: there is a Gateway Church in the Austin area, but it is NOT affiliated with RM. RM’s oldest son, Josh, has a church there; it is named Table Church, and it is not a branch campus of Gateway.

NoelleLynn: Have you seen the Aug. ‘88 article posted at Watchkeep.org about the evangelist scheduled to speak at the October ‘88 revival in Mississippi? Definitely within the claimed two year span.

Thank for the info.

Wow on the Robison clips. Let’s just blame women, shall we? Disgusting. This may be an unpopular opinion but I feel that the entire Gateway network needs to brought to its knees. It was conceived by a man who had committed evil and hadn’t truly repented (and by the way, even if he had repented, he had wrecked another person’s life), and so how can Gateway find itself now? Maybe the Lord will guide the church, or maybe the best course is to shut down. I think if Morris’ son takes over, very little will be accomplished because Morris, Sr. will still have influence, which is ridiculous because he should be behind bars.

Last thought: Sexual violence isn’t just committed against girls and women. Boys, too, are victims. I was raped by my brother. Boys, too, can be victims. Let’s not forget that.
Church girl,

Agree completely. And I think maybe the Gateway network should close up and liquidate.

Todd Wilhelm,

I don’t know but I don’t think so. Josh’s church is in a well-to-do area of suburban Austin, so he probably had RM’s “blessing”.

Mark R:
Robert Herrera,

And it appears Lane was “running interference” for RM the whole time.

Lane probably told whichever admin handled the emails to the elders “any emails alleging immoral conduct by RM comes to me; the elders have designated me for that role” (whether they did or did not we likely will never know).As such, Tra is likely correct when he said he didn’t know the whole story; Lane hid it from everyone.

Tom Lane was Robert Morris’s fixer. Pure and simple.

Wade Burleson:
The issue is, “What did the people who love Robert (Debbie, Olin, James) and those over Robert in employment (James Robison and Olin?) HEAR from those people IN THAT HOME when the meeting was over? We’re questioning whether James Robison KNEW DETAILS due to people REVEALING THEM TO HIM. In 1987, James Robison was very high-profile and respected, but as the New York Times article of 1990 reported, he was struggling with his issues (that the family did not know about). Olin Griffing was a retired STATE TROOPER. There was the Internet. It was very difficult to follow up on Robert Morris’s accountability. A crushed and devasted family felt those two men (James and Olin) would do the right thing. As we see, someone didn’t, but now we hear, “We didn’t know the details.” We’ll see.

This particular fact sticks out to me the most, “Olin Griffing was a retired STATE TROOPER.” Was there a “Duggar” form of response going on at James Robinson’s ministry?

My other thought is based on my own experience, but not in Texas. In 1984, age sixteen, I was in a session with my therapist helping me learn to cope with my abusive upbringing, including sexual abuse. I asked if there was group therapy for boys. The response was no, it happens mostly to girls. WE ARE NOW JUST SETTING UP GROUP THERAPY FOR THEM. If the mental health profession was just implementing group therapy for the girls in some parts of the country, was the law enforcement mentality aka Olin Griffing as responsive?

My other other thought, was Cindy’s parents under the impression that Olin Griffing knew the details and thought there wasn’t a need to call the police?

James Robison spiritually restored as was a mentor for Robert Morris. The fact that he had his own sexual misconduct earlier would seem to indicate that did not look to close (or really care) at Morris’s sins. Of course, John Hagee was involved as a spiritual advisor for Robison in regards to Robeson’s sexual sins, affair, and clergy abuse. Hagee himself was defrocked by the AOG when he was a pastor for having an affair with a woman in his church. He then divorced his first wife, married the woman he had the affair with, and had 2 more children with her. He left his old church and started his own fiefdom known as Cornerstone Church. You may want to do a deep dive on John Hagee as well. This was back in 1975.

https://www.sacurrent.com/sanantonio/the-dumbest-things-ever-blurted-out-by-san-antonio-pastor-john-hagee-of-cornerstone-church/Slideshow/27632113