Church leaders are the trusted figures people turn to in times of need, seen as beacons of hope and morality. Recently, however, several pastors and preachers in North Texas have lost their positions due to various forms of misconduct and illegal behavior.
In and around Dallas, religious leaders have faced serious issues, from stealing church properties to engaging in sexual misconduct and even running Ponzi schemes. Some have encountered criminal charges, while others have been publicly disgraced and removed from their roles by their congregations.
Cross Timbers Pastor Ousted for Inappropriate Messages
This Article Includes
- 1 Cross Timbers Pastor Ousted for Inappropriate Messages
- 2 North Dallas Pastor Indicted for Soliciting Sex from Undercover Agent
- 3 Dallas-area Pastor Sentenced to 35 Years for Church Property Theft
- 4 North Texas Megachurch Pastor Ousted Over Child Sexual Assault Admission
- 5 Dallas Christian Radio Host Sentenced to Life in Prison for Ponzi Scheme
At the end of July, Cross Timbers Church in Argyle, Texas, a small town near Dallas, announced that lead pastor Josiah Anthony would no longer be leading the church. Initially, the church was vague about the reasons for his dismissal, describing the actions as “inappropriate” and “hurtful.” However, they have since clarified the nature of the allegations.
“At the end of June, before Josiah began his annual sabbatical, we received a concerning report about inappropriate communication on social media with a woman who was a former member of our church. The Elders took this report very seriously, and we are grateful that it was brought to our attention,” the church stated in a detailed written response. “We thank the courageous women who came forward. We believe you, appreciate your willingness to share your experiences, and are deeply sorry for the breach of trust.”
A church spokesperson mentioned that Anthony had been experiencing mental health struggles, which he claimed influenced his decision to send inappropriate messages to the woman. However, officials say the investigation revealed Anthony was neither forthcoming nor transparent with the church elders.
“On July 2nd, we learned of inappropriate communication that was not sexual but excessively personal and overly familiar with a former staff member,” the church’s statement explained. “This behavior was unacceptable for a pastor in a position of authority within our church. We requested Josiah’s resignation, which he agreed to, and he submitted his resignation before returning from his sabbatical. We accepted it immediately.”
North Dallas Pastor Indicted for Soliciting Sex from Undercover Agent
Terren Dames, a former senior pastor at North Dallas Community Bible Fellowship, faces indictment after being charged with soliciting sex from an undercover agent in May. A grand jury’s indictment confirms that there is sufficient evidence to proceed with the prosecution of this disgraced church leader.
CBS News reports that Dames contacted an undercover officer on May 2, whom he believed to be a sex worker, and offered $150 for “full service.” Police later stopped Dames at a traffic stop near the provided address, leading to his arrest. Dames claimed he was meeting a friend in the area.
According to CBS, Dames experienced a medical episode while speaking with police. Although he declined hospital transport, he was permitted to leave the scene. His phone was seized as evidence, and his case will be tried in the 401st State District Court in Colin County.
Dallas-area Pastor Sentenced to 35 Years for Church Property Theft
In June, 56-year-old Dallas-area pastor Whitney Foster received a 35-year prison sentence for stealing three church buildings. Foster, who led a small congregation, initially had a place of worship. However, he decided to take matters into his own hands by filing fraudulent deeds and listing himself as the owner. The total value of the three stolen buildings exceeds $800,000. The properties include the First Christian Church of Lancaster, Canada Drive Christian Church in Dallas, and Church at Nineveh.
“Stealing real estate is an incredibly serious and damaging crime. It’s worse than the theft of someone’s vehicle or other possessions,” said Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot in a news release. “When someone steals property, we must hold them accountable because they are hurting people.”
According to the news release, two of the stolen properties remain under Foster’s name or the name of his church, and he still has a congregation attending services at one of them. The third property is now involved in a legal dispute due to Foster’s actions. Additionally, Foster has prior charges for identity theft and arson.
North Texas Megachurch Pastor Ousted Over Child Sexual Assault Admission
In June, Robert Morris of Gateway Church resigned following a startling confession about his inappropriate conduct with a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s. A segment of the megachurch’s board of elders has resigned voluntarily while an investigation into the alleged abuse is underway.
Following the revelation, the church elders engaged a law firm to carry out an internal investigation into Morris’s actions. During the time of the alleged assault, Morris, then in his 20s and married, was a traveling evangelist who met the 12-year-old girl, Cindy Clemishire.
Clemishire asserts that Morris sexually assaulted her on Christmas Day in 1982, and that the abuse continued until 1987. In 2016, Morris was appointed to former President Donald Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board, which consisted of 25 religious leaders from across the nation. The board aimed to provide Trump with guidance on “issues important to Evangelicals and other people of faith in America.”
Dallas Christian Radio Host Sentenced to Life in Prison for Ponzi Scheme
It’s not only pastors facing major legal troubles in North Texas. Christian radio host William Neil “Doc” Gallagher, known as the “Money Doctor,” was sentenced to three life terms plus 30 years in 2021. Gallagher was convicted of forgery, securing the execution of a document by deception, theft of property, and exploitation of the elderly.
Gallagher and his accomplice, Debra Mae Carter, allegedly swindled over $31 million through a Ponzi scheme, targeting more than 170 predominantly retired victims. Gallagher was also ordered to pay over $10.3 million in restitution, and Carter received a life sentence for her role in the scheme.
