(COLORADO SPRINGS) — A senior pastor at New Life Church was asked to resign after senior leadership learned he had lied about knowing details of abuse by a pastor in Texas.
Former Senior Pastor Brady Boyd joined New Life Church in 2007. During New Life’s pastoral search committee consideration of Boyd for Senior Pastor, it was made aware of details regarding Robert Morris’ sexual abuse of Cindy Clemishire, which started in 1982 when Clemishire was 12 years old. Morris was the Senior Pastor of Gateway Church in Texas from 2000 to 2024. Boyd served at Gateway Church from 2001 to 2007.
According to the Board of Elders of New Life Church, the board reached out to Gateway Church to inquire about the allegations of abuse, and New Life Church was informed that Morris’ past abuse was known to Clemishire’s family, Gateway elders, news media, and legal counsel. Gateway Church told New Life Church that Morris had been through a restoration process and was misled that Clemishire and her family had supported Morris’ return to ministry.
Based on the information New Life was provided in 2007, they believed that Morris’ conduct did not involve Boyd and did not impair his fitness to serve as Senior Pastor. The search committee recommended Boyd for the role, and New Life Church welcomed him in 2007.
Recently, Boyd had insisted that he was unaware until 2024 that Clemishire was 12 at the time Morris abused her; however, New Life Church believed this to be “inaccurate.” Boyd also made statements in his public address to the congregation on June 8 that the Board of Elders knows to be incorrect.
New Life Church said that while Boyd had nothing to do with Morris’ past abuse, the Board of Elders believes “trust is the currency of leadership.” When Boyd allegedly lied to the congregation about being unaware of certain details about Morris’ past abuse, the trust was broken, and the Board of Elders asked Boyd to resign.
Daniel Grothe will step into the role of Senior Pastor, a transition of leadership the Elders said was approved last year, and started internally with staff.
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