DALLAS — This year has seen a number of North Texas pastors become subjects of controversy, with some going as far as to step down from their positions.
Multiple pastors have received allegations of sexual misconduct -- with two even being charged -- while other pastors face less clear allegations.
Here is a look at all of the pastors facing controversy so far this year.
Robert Morris of Gateway Church (Southlake)
In late June, Pastor Robert Morris at Gateway Church in Southlake, who also founded the church, resigned from his position following an accusation he had sexually abused a girl for years, starting when she was 12 in the 1980s.
The fallout is ongoing, as church elders have said they have hired a law firm to investigate the response to the allegations.
More controversy surrounding the allegations came to light after it was revealed this week that lawyers for Morris had blamed Morris' accuser for initiating the inappropriate conduct, letters obtained by WFAA show.
James Morris of Gateway Church (Southlake)
Morris, the son of the former Gateway Church pastor Robert Morris resigned about a month after his father, Robert Morris resigned after being accused of sexually abusing a girl for several years in the 1980s.
Robert Morris had planned to turn over the leadership of Gateway to James Morris in 2025. In a statement, Gateway elders said they met with James Morris, an associate pastor at the church, and his wife, Bridgette, also a pastor at the church, and "they collectively made the decision" that the couple would step down from their roles.
"We love Pastors James and Bridgette and their children - we deeply care about them and sincerely thank them for investing their lives here at Gateway Church," the statement reads.
Kemtal Glasgow of Gateway Church (Southlake)
In late August, Gateway Church announced that Pastor Kemtal Glasgow was fired because of a "moral issue," according to an update from church elders, which was posted as an unlisted video on YouTube. Glasgow was an executive pastor who oversaw Gateway's church campuses across North Texas.
"We were informed last week of a moral issue, which we believe, as elders, disqualifies him from serving in the role that he had at Gateway," church elder Tra Willbanks said in the update.
Adana Wilson, the campus pastor for Gateway's Frisco church campus, will take over Glasgow's duties, according to the update. Glasgow is the third pastor to leave Gateway Church in Frisco after foundering pastor Robert Morris resigned.
Luke Cunningham of Lakeside Baptist Church (Granbury)
Also in late June, a staff member at Lakeside Baptist Church in Granbury, who was a former youth pastor in Lubbock, was arrested after being charged with sexual assault of a child, records show.
The church immediately suspended the man, 41-year-old Luke Cunningham, upon learning he had been accused of inappropriate conduct with a minor at another church, and he was immediately released from his employment days later after more evidence was gathered.
"Although we are not aware of any assaults having occurred with any of our students, we wish to say again that we stand ready to continue offering help with professional counselors. Moreover, if you or your child have been a victim of sexual abuse or have information that would help law enforcement, please contact law enforcement immediately," Lakeside said in a message to its church members.
Ronald Goines of Koinonia Church (Arlington)
In late July, 51-year-old Ronald Goines, the founding and lead pastor of Koinonia Church in Arlington, was arrested in connection to an ongoing sexual assault investigation, and charged with both indecent assault and sexual assault.
According to police, a woman filed a report with the department regarding Goines in June. Police said that report then spurred an investigation, which led to criminal charges being filed against Goines.
The woman, who does not permanently reside in North Texas, alleged that she developed a relationship with Goines in 2022, and alerted him to a visit she had planned to the region earlier this spring. According to Goines' arrest affidavit, Goines twice met up with the alleged victim during her visit, and twice made unwanted advances upon her that she rejected.
Goines returned to Koinonia Church for Bible Study service on Thursday, Oct. 24.
Terren Dames of North Dallas Community Bible Fellowship (Plano)
In early May, police say they arrested 51-year-old Terren Dames, the senior pastor at North Dallas Community Bible Fellowship in Plano, after he called an undercover officer who was posing as a sex worker, offered to pay $150 for sex, was given an address to a motel and was then recorded knocking on a motel door at the address he was given.
His arrest came as part of a sting operation the Plano Police Department regularly conducts targeting buyers of commercial sex.
Police charged Dames with soliciting prostitution, a state jail felony, a probable cause affidavit shows. He was indicted on those charges in June.
In a statement, the church Dames had worked at said Dames was removed from its staff and his position in May. The statement cited a "moral failure" as the reason for his removal, but did not mention his charge from police.
Tony Cammarota of Stonebriar Community Church (Frisco)
In early July, Stonebriar Community Church notified its members via an email that Tony Cammarota, who had been an associate pastor for 17 years, had been removed from his position due to a "moral failure."
“He is deeply remorseful but his sin disqualifies him from serving on our staff as a pastor,” the email states.
While not addressing what that moral failure was, the church asked its membership not to speculate.
“And please guard against giving the Devil any foothold for more damage to our church through unnecessary speech and speculation,” the email reads. “This is a sad day and we don’t want the Devil making it worse through any one of us in the days ahead.”
Tony Evans of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church (Oak Cliff)
Tony Evans, a longtime senior pastor at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church, also stepped away from his duties in early June due to an unnamed "sin." The decision was made following multiple meetings between Evans and church leaders.
"When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God," Evans wrote in a statement. "A number of years ago, I fell short of that standard."
Evans said that, while he hadn't committed any crime, he hadn't used righteous judgment in his actions.
Josiah Anthony of Cross Timbers Church (Argyle)
Josiah Anthony, the lead pastor at Cross Timbers Church in Argyle, Texas, resigned from his position in late July due to "inappropriate and hurtful" actions toward church members and staff. According to Cross Timbers Church, once the actions came to light, "it became evident that Josiah could not continue to serve as our lead pastor."
Church elders asked Anthony to resign and he agreed, according to Elder John Chalk.
Later, the church clarified that Anthony was accused of "inappropriate," "excessively personal" and sometimes "sexual in nature" communication with multiple women, including one who was a former staff member.
In a statement, the church added that "the inappropriate and hurtful actions of Josiah does not include any children, physical or sexual interactions or any illegal activity to our knowledge."
Anthony had been with the church for nine years.
Byron Copeland of Cross Timbers Church (Argyle)
The Argyle church said executive pastor Byron Copeland announced his decision to resign Monday. The church in late July initially announced Copeland would serve as interim lead pastor after Anthony’s resignation.
“I have felt the heavy weight of our recent hurt at Cross Timbers Church. But, I am thankful that this is a place of healing and hope. Especially with Toby Slough’s willingness to return to steady the ship, I am as confident and optimistic about the future of this church as I’ve ever been,” Copeland said in a statement. “Though this period has been exceptionally challenging, walking through this with the staff has enriched my life. I have met so many incredible people who have inspired my faith. But, I sense that God is calling me to a fresh season of life. So, it is with a thankful heart that I have decided to resign from my position.”
Copeland has served as executive pastor at Cross Timbers Church since November 2023. Before his time at Cross Timbers, he’d worked for the recently embattled Gateway Church for nearly 20 years from 2003 to 2023, according to his LinkedIn.
Copeland was also named in a 2023 lawsuit against Gateway Church alleging civil rights violations. According to the lawsuit, "Pastor Copeland backed [the plaintiff] into a corner of the room they were in and threatened to fire her if she didn’t shut up and stop stirring up drama."
Brian and Jamie Hackney of Cross Timbers Church (Argyle)
Elders at Cross Timbers Church announced founding pastors Brian Hackney and his wife, Jamie, who served on staff for over 20 years, submitted their resignation on Aug. 15.
The Hackney's are the third and fourth pastors to resign from their position at Cross Timbers Church. The resignations began in late July when Josiah Anthony, the lead pastor at Cross Timbers Church, resigned after being accused of inappropriate communication with women, including a former church staff member.
The Hackneys were “instrumental” in the growth of the church, founded in 2000, the church wrote in an email to members.
"Although there have been a series of transitions, we want you to know that our Elders and Leadership team have a renewed energy, and our staff has a forward-facing posture," the church wrote.
Josh Howerton of Lakepointe Church (Rockwall)
A senior pastor at Lakepointe Church in Rockwall also faced backlash following a controversial joke he made in February about how women should behave on their wedding night.
"Just stand where he tells you to stand, wear what he tells you to wear and do what he tells you to do and you’re going to make him the happiest man in the world," Josh Howerton said in February.
Although Howerton apologized, he also faced allegations that he plagiarized his eventual apology from another pastor.
Scott Crenshaw of Lake Country Church (Saginaw)
A senior pastor in Saginaw was terminated from his position after allegedly looking at inappropriate content.
According to Crenshaw's attorney, Mark Lane, he viewed the alleged "inappropriate material," which he says was an Instagram search. However, Lane claims it was nothing inappropriate.
According to our content partners at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, this isn't Crenshaw's first brush with discipline. In 2016, Crenshaw was let go as senior pastor of New River Fellowship Church in Parker County after viewing inappropriate images on a church computer. Crenshaw confirmed the claims in a 2016 statement.
Steve Lawson of Trinity Bible Church (Dallas)
Trinity Bible Church of Dallas removed their lead pastor after he admitted to having "an inappropriate relationship" with a woman, according to a statement from the church.
Trinity Bible Church of Dallas announced the indefinite removal of Lead Pastor Steven J. Lawson. According to a statement from the church, elders "were informed by Steve Lawson of an inappropriate relationship that he has had with a woman."
Prior to his stint in Dallas, Lawson served as a pastor for 34 years in Arkansas and Alabama.
Craig Stone of Willowwood Church of the Nazarene (Denton)
63-year-old Stone was arrested and charged with indecency with a child and possession of child pornography, according to Denton PD.
Stone is listed as the youth director and president of Nazarene Youth International at Willowwood Church of the Nazarene in Denton, according to the church's website.
A parent and child first reported Stone on Aug. 28, police said. And during later interviews throughout September, detectives were told by other teenagers about possible sexual images of children on Stone's computer, according to the release. One male teen also accused Stone of touching him inappropriately, police said.
After executing a search warrant on Tuesday at the church and Stone's residence, Stone agreed to talk with detectives and reportedly admitted to touching the victim, as well as to possessing images of another victim naked, police said.
Marvin Scales (Waxahachie)
Marvin Scales, 53, of Waxahachie, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to two counts of sexual abuse of a young child, one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one count of sexual assault of a child, according to Ellis County's District Attorney.
In August 2023, Scales was also accused of impregnating a 14-year-old girl. That's when the DA said their investigation into Scales began.
Authorities did not release the name or location of the church where Scales worked as a youth pastor. The DA's office said once church members learned about the first victim, several more came forward.
Scales would regularly take the congregation’s children on overnight trips, and he would have the children sleep over at this house, according to the DA. Victims told investigators Scales would have sex with them on the trips and overnight stays.
David Scarberry of Revival City Church (McKinney)
David Scarberry, 53, an evangelistic outreach leader at Revival City Church in McKinney according to their website, was arrested on a complaint of continuous violence against the family, according to a police report. Continuous violence against the family is a charge related to violence against a family member twice or more within a 12-month period.
Additional details about the assault weren’t provided and it’s unclear who the alleged victim is in relation to Scarberry.
Scarberry told KERA when reached for comment that the new Collin County charges were based on “false accusations.”
Scarberry’s ex-wife filed for a domestic abuse protective order in 1994, court records show. Also in 1994, Scarberry was charged with assault and battery, but the charge was later dismissed, according to court records.
Arturo Alarcon of 121 Community Church (Grapevine)
Arturo Alarcon, the 38-year-old associate minister at 121 Community Church in Grapevine, was charged with possession of child pornography and invasive visual recording, according to police.
Investigation began, police say, when a missionary couple reported finding spy cameras inside their mobile home, which is used by the church to house visiting families.
After the church reported the discovery to police, police say they found a downloaded photo of child pornography on Alarcon's cell phone, unrelated to the initial report.
In addition to his work as an associate minister, police say Alarcon volunteered with the Grapevine Community Outreach Center, as well as its after-school program, and was also a substitute teacher with Grapevine-Colleyville ISD.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this article's headline implied that each of the above-listed pastors resigned from their post as a result of their controversy. That is not the case, as at least one of these pastors remains on staff at their church. The article has since been updated to include a more accurate headline. WFAA regrets the error.