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
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.
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' current status with Koinonia Church is not clear; the church has not yet responded to WFAA's requests for comment.
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 unnamed "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.
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.
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.
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.