TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — At least five North Texas churches are looking for new pastors after a string of sudden resignations, firings, and arrests.
The shakeups, which all occurred in a 42-day span, have stunned thousands of churchgoers and elders. In at least three cases, church leaders addressed the changes in heavy sermons.
Some messages featured tearful apologies or pleas for patience and grace.
"I think we're just publicly seeing the tip of the iceberg," blogger Amy Smith told WFAA. "What that tells you is that it's systemic."
Smith has written or posted about almost every case. Thousands of people read her publication, WatchKeep.
The posts mostly focus on allegations of wrongdoing at churches across the country. She started the blog soon after helping to expose a scandal at her church in Plano.
Smith still considers herself a Christian, though she says she is no longer "actively involved" with one church. Her parents have shunned her for her writing.
"I've had to really dig deep and not put my faith in the name on a building or in people," she said.
Cindy Clemishire, who accused former Gateway Church pastor Robert Morris of molesting her, offered a similar message to WFAA in June.
"I don't put my trust and my faith in a man or a church," she said. "It's in God."
Smith helped amplify Clemishire's story on social media. Since then, Smith says more victims from other churches have flooded her inbox with their own, heartbreaking stories.
Churchgoers have reached out, too, Smith says. Some are still processing the stunning news.
Sunday, elders at Cross Timbers Church in Argyle referred to the string of scandals as they announced their own pastor's resignation.
"As you process through the reality of this day in the context, quite honestly, of what we're hearing on the news, my prayer is that we would let unchanging truth be our guiding light, even when it doesn’t feel that way," Cross Timbers founding pastor Toby Slough told the congregation.
It is hard to ascertain an exact number, but tens of thousands of people attend the North Texas churches that have experienced shakeups since June.
Smith says she expects more unsettling stories will come. She observed that young people appear more willing to share their experiences.
"I think the younger generation is saying, 'Enough. Enough of the deception, the hypocrisy, and pointing the finger at everyone else outside the church,'" Smith said.
Smith added that she feels more "emboldened and empowered" to tell people's stories, even though she says she is discouraged by the scope of the problem.
Clemishire told WFAA she aimed to encourage more people to come forward.
"My hope and prayer is for all of this to be for good - for the church, for God's glory, and for other victims to find freedom," Clemishire said.