If you’ve been following the news lately, you know that the answer to who is the pastor of Gateway Church isn't as simple as it used to be. For over two decades, if you walked into one of their massive campuses in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, the answer was Robert Morris. He was the face, the voice, and the primary architect of what became one of the largest evangelical congregations in the United States. But things changed fast. Very fast.
Honestly, the leadership structure at Gateway is currently in a state of massive transition. It’s a bit of a whirlwind. As of late 2024 and heading into 2025, the "lead" spot is actually a collective effort, though specific names are now steering the ship through some pretty choppy waters.
The Robert Morris Resignation and the Fallout
You can't talk about the current leadership without looking at the crater left behind by Robert Morris. In June 2024, Morris resigned after allegations surfaced regarding sexual abuse of a minor that occurred decades ago. It wasn't just a local story; it sent shockwaves through the entire global church community. Morris admitted to the "inappropriate relationship," and just like that, the founding era of Gateway was over.
It was messy.
The church elders had to act quickly. Initially, many people thought Robert’s son, James Morris, would just slide into the role. He had been the "pastor-in-waiting" for years. But the congregation and the public demanded a cleaner break. By July 2024, James Morris and several other family members also exited their leadership roles. It was a total house cleaning.
Meet the Current Lead: Tra Willbanks
So, who is actually running the show right now? The person currently holding the title of Interim Lead Pastor is Tra Willbanks.
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He’s not your typical "celebrity pastor" type. Before taking this on, Willbanks was a successful businessman and an elder at the church. He’s basically the guy brought in to stabilize a sinking ship. His role isn't necessarily to be the next big televangelist; it’s to handle the organizational trauma and oversee the "Gateway Better" initiative, which is the church's formal effort to investigate past failures and figure out how to move forward without the Morris family legacy.
Willbanks has been very vocal about the fact that the church needs to change its culture. He’s been working alongside an interim leadership team and a restructured Board of Elders. It's a heavy lift. Imagine trying to manage a corporation with thousands of employees and tens of thousands of "customers" (members) while your founder is being scrubbed from the website.
The Teaching Team: Who is in the Pulpit?
Since Gateway is a "multi-site" church with campuses in Southlake, Frisco, Grand Prairie, and even international locations, they’ve always relied on a rotation of speakers. Even though Willbanks handles the administrative and visionary lead, the people you see on the weekend screens vary.
- Kenneth Eldred and the Elders: The governance has shifted heavily toward the Board of Elders. They are making the big-picture financial and moral decisions.
- Guest Speakers and Staff Pastors: You’ll often see campus pastors like Toby Slough or guest speakers who are friends of the ministry filling the teaching gaps. The church has moved away from the "one-man show" model for obvious reasons.
- Max Lucado and Outside Counsel: While not "the pastor," famous author Max Lucado was brought in as an interim teaching pastor shortly after the scandal to provide some spiritual "adult supervision" and a familiar, comforting voice during the height of the crisis.
Why the "Senior Pastor" Title is Currently Complicated
Gateway is currently navigating what experts call "founder syndrome" in the worst possible way. Usually, when a pastor leaves, there’s a handoff. Here, there was an amputation.
Because of this, the search for a permanent pastor of Gateway Church is likely going to take a long time. The elders have hired outside firms—specifically law firms like Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner—to do a deep dive into the church's history. They’ve basically said they won't pick a permanent replacement until they are sure they’ve found every skeleton in the closet. It’s a smart move, honestly. You can't build a new house on a cracked foundation.
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The Role of the Campus Pastors
If you attend a specific location, your "pastor" might feel more like the guy on the ground than the interim leaders in Southlake. Gateway has maintained its campus-specific leadership to keep things personal.
- Southlake Campus: This is the mothership. It’s where Tra Willbanks and the central team operate.
- Frisco and Prosper: These campuses have their own local leads who handle weddings, funerals, and day-to-day counseling.
- Dallas and North Fort Worth: These locations have stayed relatively stable in terms of mid-level staff, even as the top-tier leadership vanished.
It’s interesting to see how these local leaders have had to answer the tough questions from their members. They’re the ones in the lobby after service getting grilled about where the tithe money is going and who is really in charge.
What This Means for the Future of Gateway
Gateway is still huge. Even with the scandals and the departures, thousands of people still show up every Sunday. Why? Because for many, the church is their community, their small group, and their kids' youth program. They separate the man at the top from the people they sit next to in the pews.
However, the "celebrity culture" that Robert Morris built is definitely under fire. The new leadership is leaning heavily into transparency. They’ve started releasing more frequent updates and financial disclosures than they ever did in the past. It’s a "new Gateway," or at least that’s the goal.
Identifying the Key Players
If you’re looking for a list of who holds the strings right now, keep these names on your radar:
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- Tra Willbanks: The Interim Lead. He’s the face of the transition.
- The Board of Elders: Now the ultimate authority, having stripped the Senior Pastor role of its absolute power.
- Advisory Independent Teams: These aren't pastors, but they are currently dictating the church's direction more than anyone else.
The church is basically being run by a committee right now. It's less "charismatic leader" and more "corporate restructuring." For a lot of members, that's actually a relief.
Actionable Steps for Those Following Gateway Church
If you are a member of Gateway or considering visiting, the leadership situation shouldn't be ignored. Here is how to navigate it:
Check the Official Transition Updates
The church has a dedicated section of its website for "Gateway Updates." This is where they post the results of their independent investigations and announcements about new hires. If you want the facts without the social media rumors, start there.
Understand the Governance Change
Gateway has moved from a "Senior Pastor-Led" model to an "Elder-Governed" model. This means that no one person has the power that Robert Morris once had. If you're looking for one single name to be "the guy," you won't find it yet—and that’s intentional.
Look at the Campus Level
If you’re looking for spiritual guidance or a "pastor" to talk to, look at your local campus pastor. These individuals are the ones actually doing the work of ministry while the central leadership figures out the legal and structural mess.
Wait for the Final Report
The independent investigation is still ongoing. The full picture of who is the pastor of Gateway Church won't be clear until that report is released and the search for a permanent Senior Pastor officially begins. Until then, Tra Willbanks is the name you need to know for administrative leadership, but the pulpit remains a rotating door of voices trying to help a congregation heal.
The days of a single, untouchable leader at Gateway are over. What replaces it will likely be a much more distributed, and hopefully more accountable, leadership team.