DFW pastors step down amidst controversy in 2024

DALLAS– A variety of North Texas priests end up being subjects of conflict in 2024, with some going as far as to tip down from their settings.

Several priests have received claims of sexual misbehavior– with two even being charged– while other pastors face less clear allegations.

Right here is a consider every one of the priests who dealt with debate in 2024

In late June 2024, Priest Robert Morris at Portal Church in Southlake, who also founded the church, surrendered from his placement adhering to a complaint he had sexually abused a girl for several years, starting when she was 12 in the 1980 s.

The after effects is recurring, as church senior citizens have stated they have worked with a law firm to examine the action to the claims.

More dispute surrounding the allegations emerged after it was exposed legal representatives for Morris had condemned Morris’ accuser for starting the inappropriate conduct, letters gotten by WFAA reveal.

Morris, the son of the previous Gateway Church pastor Robert Morris surrendered about a month after his papa, Robert Morris surrendered after being charged of sexually abusing a woman for numerous years in the 1980 s.

Robert Morris had actually prepared to turn over the leadership of Portal to James Morris in 2025 In a declaration, Portal seniors claimed they met James Morris, an associate pastor at the church, and his spouse, Bridgette, likewise a pastor at the church, and “they jointly made the decision” that the pair would tip down from their duties.

“We like Pastors James and Bridgette and their youngsters – we deeply care about them and sincerely thank them for investing their lives right here at Portal Church,” the statement reviews.

In late August 2024, Entrance Church revealed that Pastor Kemtal Glasgow was terminated due to a “moral problem,” according to an update from church seniors, which was posted as a non listed video clip on YouTube Glasgow was an exec priest that supervised Portal’s church schools across North Texas.

“We were educated recently of a moral problem, which our company believe, as senior citizens, invalidates him from serving in the function that he had at Portal,” church senior Tra Willbanks stated in the update.

Adana Wilson, the school priest for Entrance’s Frisco church campus, will certainly take over Glasgow’s responsibilities, according to the update. Glasgow is the third priest to leave Gateway Church in Frisco after foundering pastor Robert Morris surrendered.

Also in late June 2024, a personnel at Lakeside Baptist Church in Granbury, that was a former youth pastor in Lubbock, was apprehended after being charged with sexual assault of a kid, documents show.

The church immediately put on hold the man, 41 -year-old Luke Cunningham, upon learning he had actually been accused of inappropriate conduct with a minor at an additional church, and he was right away released from his employment days later after more evidence was collected.

“Although we are not familiar with any assaults having occurred with any of our trainees, we desire to say again that we stand prepared to proceed providing assist with specialist counselors. Moreover, if you or your child have actually been a victim of sexual abuse or know that would certainly help police, please contact police promptly,” Lakeside stated in a message to its church participants.

In late July 2024, 51 -year-old Ronald Goines, the founding and lead priest of Koinonia Church in Arlington, was apprehended in link to a continuous sexual assault investigation, and charged with both indecent assault and sexual assault

According to police, a woman submitted a record with the division relating to Goines in June 2024 Authorities said that report after that spurred an examination, which led to criminal fees being filed against Goines.

The woman, that does temporarily stay in North Texas, affirmed that she created a relationship with Goines in 2022, and signaled him to a check out she had actually prepared to the area earlier this springtime. According to Goines’ apprehension testimony, Goines twice met the alleged target throughout her go to, and two times made undesirable developments upon her that she rejected.

Goines went back to Koinonia Church for Scriptures Study solution on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024

In very early May 2024, police say they detained 51- year-old Terren Dames, the elderly pastor at North Dallas Area Holy Bible Fellowship in Plano , after he called an undercover policeman that was impersonating a sex employee, supplied to pay $ 150 for sex, was offered an address to a motel and was then tape-recorded knocking on a motel door at the address he was offered.

His apprehension came as component of a sting operation the Plano Police Department routinely carries out targeting buyers of business sex.

Authorities charged Dames with obtaining hooking, a state jail felony, a likely cause affidavit programs. He was fingered on those costs in June 2024

In a statement, the church Dames had operated at stated Dames was removed from its personnel and his setting in May 2024 The statement mentioned a “ethical failing” as the factor for his removal, but did not state his cost from authorities.

In early July 2024, Stonebriar Community Church notified its members via an email that Tony Cammarota, that had actually been an associate pastor for 17 years, had been eliminated from his setting due to a “moral failing.”

“He is deeply sorry however his wrong invalidates him from offering on our team as a priest,” the email states.

While not addressing what that ethical failure was, the church asked its membership not to guess.

“And please defend against giving the Devil any grip for more damage to our church with unneeded speech and speculation,” the email reads. “This is an unfortunate day and we do not desire the Evil one making it even worse with any one of us in the days in advance.”

Tony Evans, a longtime senior priest at Oak High cliff Holy Bible Fellowship Church, also tipped far from his duties in very early June 2024 due to an unrevealed “sin.” The decision was made complying with numerous conferences between Evans and church leaders.

“When we disappoint that criterion as a result of sin, we are called for to repent and restore our connection with God,” Evans composed in a declaration. “A number of years earlier, I disappointed that requirement.”

Evans said that, while he hadn’t devoted any kind of criminal activity, he had not made use of exemplary judgment in his activities.

Josiah Anthony, the lead pastor at Cross Timbers Church in Argyle, Texas, surrendered from his placement in late July 2024 as a result of ” unacceptable and painful” activities toward church participants and team. According to Cross Timbers Church, as soon as the actions came to light, “it came to be apparent that Josiah might not remain to work as our lead priest.”

Church senior citizens asked Anthony to resign and he agreed, according to Elder John Chalk.

Later on, the church clarified that Anthony was charged of “improper,” “exceedingly individual” and in some cases “sex-related in nature” communication with numerous women, consisting of one that was a previous staff member.

In a statement, the church added that “the unacceptable and painful activities of Josiah does not consist of any type of children, physical or sexual communications or any type of illegal task to our understanding.”

Anthony had actually been with the church for 9 years.

The Argyle church said exec pastor Byron Copeland announced his decision to resign. The church in late July 2024 originally introduced Copeland would certainly work as acting lead pastor after Anthony’s resignation.

“I have felt the heavy weight of our current hurt at Cross Timbers Church. But, I am thankful that this is an area of recovery and hope. Especially with Toby Slough’s determination to go back to consistent the ship, I am as positive and confident concerning the future of this church as I’ve ever been,” Copeland claimed in a declaration. “Though this period has been incredibly difficult, walking through this with the personnel has improved my life. I have met so many extraordinary people that have motivated my faith. However, I pick up that God is calling me to a fresh season of life. So, it is with a grateful heart that I have determined to surrender from my position.”

Copeland has functioned as executive pastor at Cross Timbers Church given that November 2023 Prior to his time at Cross Timbers, he ‘d helped the recently embattled Entrance Church for nearly 20 years from 2003 to 2023, according to his LinkedIn.

Copeland was additionally called in a 2023 suit versus Entrance Church affirming civil rights infractions. According to the lawsuit, “Pastor Copeland backed [the plaintiff] right into a corner of the area they were in and endangered to discharge her if she really did not stopped talking and quit stirring up drama.”

Elders at Cross Timbers Church announced founding pastors Brian Hackney and his partner, Jamie, who served on personnel for over 20 years, sent their resignation on Aug. 15

The Hackney’s are the third and 4th priests to resign from their setting at Cross Timbers Church. The resignations started in late July 2024 when Josiah Anthony, the lead pastor at Cross Timbers Church, resigned after being charged of unsuitable interaction with females, including a former church personnel.

The Hackneys were “instrumental” in the development of the church, established in 2000, the church created in an e-mail to members.

“Although there have been a series of transitions, we want you to know that our Elders and Leadership team have a restored energy, and our team has a forward-facing stance,” the church created.

An elderly priest at Lakepointe Church in Rockwall also encountered reaction following a debatable joke he made in February 2024 concerning how women must behave on their wedding celebration night.

“Just stand where he informs you to stand, use what he informs you to wear and do what he tells you to do and you’re going to make him the happiest male in the world,” Josh Howerton said in February 2024

Although Howerton said sorry, he additionally encountered accusations that he plagiarized his ultimate apology from one more priest.

A senior priest in Saginaw was ended from his position after purportedly taking a look at improper material.

According to Crenshaw’s lawyer, Mark Lane, he watched the declared “improper material,” which he states was an Instagram search. However, Lane asserts it was absolutely nothing unsuitable.

According to our content companions at the Ft Worth Star-Telegram , this isn’t Crenshaw’s very first brush with self-control. In 2016, Crenshaw was let go as elderly pastor of New River Fellowship Church in Parker Area after seeing unacceptable pictures on a church computer. Crenshaw confirmed the claims in a 2016 statement.

Trinity Bible Church of Dallas removed their lead priest after he confessed to having “an improper relationship” with a lady, according to a statement from the church.

Trinity Scriptures Church of Dallas announced the uncertain removal of Lead Priest Steven J. Lawson. According to a declaration from the church, elders “were notified by Steve Lawson of an unacceptable relationship that he has had with a female.”

Prior to his stint in Dallas, Lawson served as a priest for 34 years in Arkansas and Alabama.

63 -year-old Rock was jailed and billed with lewdness with a youngster and belongings of child porn, according to Denton PD.

Stone is listed as the young people director and head of state of Nazarene Youth International at Willowwood Church of the Nazarene in Denton, according to the church’s website.

A moms and dad and kid initially reported Stone in late August 2024, cops claimed. And throughout later interviews throughout September, detectives were informed by other teenagers concerning feasible sex-related photos of youngsters on Rock’s computer, according to the release. One male teenager also implicated Stone of touching him wrongly, police claimed.

After carrying out a search warrant on Tuesday at the church and Rock’s home, Rock agreed to chat with detectives and apparently confessed to touching the victim, as well as to possessing photos of an additional sufferer naked, cops stated.

Marvin Scales, 53, of Waxahachie, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to two counts of sexual assault of a young kid, one count of worsened sexual offense of a kid and one matter of sexual assault of a kid, according to Ellis County’s District Lawyer.

In August 2023, Scales was additionally charged of impregnating a 14 -year-old lady. That’s when the DA claimed their investigation right into Scales began.

Authorities did not launch the name or location of the church where Scales functioned as a young people priest. The DA’s workplace claimed once church members learned about the very first target, a number of extra stepped forward.

Ranges would regularly take the parish’s kids on over night journeys, and he would have the kids rest over at this residence, according to the DA. Victims informed private investigators Ranges would have sex with them on the trips and overnight keeps.

David Scarberry, 53, an evangelistic outreach leader at Revival City Church in McKinney according to their website, was apprehended on a grievance of constant violence versus the family members , according to an authorities record. Continual physical violence versus the household is a fee connected to physical violence versus a family member twice or even more within a 12 -month duration.

Additional details concerning the attack weren’t supplied and it’s unclear who the claimed target is in relation to Scarberry.

Scarberry informed KERA when reached for remark that the new Collin Area charges were based upon “incorrect complaints.”

Scarberry’s ex-wife declared a residential abuse safety order in 1994, court documents reveal. Also in 1994, Scarberry was charged with attack and battery, yet the charge was later dismissed, according to court documents.

Arturo Alarcon, the 38 -year-old associate preacher at 121 Community Church in Grapevine, was charged with possession of kid porn and invasive visual recording, according to police.

Examination started, authorities state, when a missionary couple reported finding spy cameras inside their mobile home, which is made use of by the church to house visiting family members.

After the church reported the discovery to cops, authorities state they found a downloaded picture of kid pornography on Alarcon’s mobile phone, unconnected to the first report.

In addition to his job as an associate minister, cops state Alarcon offered with the Grapevine Area Outreach Facility, as well as its after-school program, and was additionally a substitute teacher with Grapevine-Colleyville ISD.

Jerry Nickerson, a student pastor at Hope Fellowship’s Frisco West place was terminated after affirmed “inappropriate call with a minor,” the church confirmed in a letter to participants.

Nickerson admitted to having “unsuitable call with a small” when he was a grown-up volunteer leader at a previous church 10 years back, according to the t.

Nickerson made the admission after he was “unexpectedly confronted regarding these previous events” last weekend, according to the email, and the church validated Nickerson was discharged Jan. 6, 2024 He would certainly worked at the church because July of 2021

72 -year-old John Fielder, a former exec minister at Highland Park United Methodist Church, resigned and was later on detained for solicitation of hooking , church authorities verified to WFAA.

A representative for HPUMC said Fielder’s family sent his resignation on Oct. 8, 2024, mentioning “an undiagnosed clinical condition.” The spokesperson added that Fiedler’s resignation was revealed to the church’s churchgoers during the Oct. 20, 2024 solution.

Then, on Oct. 30, 2024, Fiedler’s wife educated Rev. Paul Rasmussen, an elderly priest at the church, of Dr. Fielder’s impressive warrant for solicitation of prostitution and his intent to transform himself in, the church agent said. The representative added that the warrant was “unassociated to Dr. Fiedler’s function with the church, and HPUMC is not associated with any kind of related litigation.”

43 -year-old Yizhak Sabo, the rabbi at Tiferet Israel Congregation in North Dallas, was jailed on April 2, 2025, and billed with lewdness with a youngster Sabo additionally worked as the Supervisor of Jewish Life at Akiba Yavneh Academy, the churchgoers verified.

A testimony revealed allegations of sexual abuse against an underage child over the course of numerous years. Detectives with the Dallas Authorities Department were alerted of the supposed abuse on March 27 That exact same day, a representative from Akiba Yavneh Academy informed Tiferet Israel about the claims toward Rabbi Sabo.

On March 28, Tiferet Israel’s Exec Board advised Sabo to stop all responsibilities related to the churchgoers. Upon learning about Sabo’s apprehension and felony charge, the churchgoers instantly placed Sabo on unsettled management leave.

Jim Mustain, the former priest at Preston Path Area Church in Frisco, was apprehended on May 14, 2025, and charged with belongings of youngster porn and belongings or promotion of raunchy aesthetic material illustrating a child.

The church confirmed he functioned there from 2019 – 2023 as a neighborhood pastor. Mustain additionally offered with Lewisville ISD, the district confirmed.

In a declaration published to the church’s internet site, the church said that it became aware of approaching charges against Mustain on April 24, and there’s “no indication that any kind of kids connected to Preston Trail were involved or harmed.”

The institution district claimed that Mustain isn’t permitted on any type of district facility, and there’s no indicator that any kind of Lewisville ISD trainees were impacted.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article’s heading implied that each of the above-listed priests surrendered from their blog post as an outcome of their dispute. That is not the situation, as a minimum of among these pastors stays on staff at their church. T he short article has given that been updated to include a more exact headline. WFAA regrets the error.