Settlement Reached in 2020 Lawsuit Accusing Gateway Church of Failing to Report Minor’s Sexual Assault at Volunteer’s Home

Southlake, Texas – A 2020 lawsuit alleging mishandling of a minor’s sexual assault claim at a church-affiliated sleepover resulted in an out-of-court settlement earlier this year, according to Tarrant County court records. Gateway Church was sued by a former member who claimed church leaders failed to report her daughter’s assault during the 2018 incident properly.

The suit claimed the girl, then age 11, was assaulted by the minor son of the couple hosting the sleepover, who were volunteers at Gateway Church. Allegations suggested that church officials learned of the incident but struggled to handle it appropriately, some attempting to “conceal, misconstrue and discredit” the allegations during subsequent criminal investigations.

However, Gateway Church contended that the sleepover was not a church-sponsored event and claimed they reported the assault to authorities as soon as they were informed. The church sought a summary judgment in 2022, asserting inadequacy of evidence to support the plaintiff’s claims, and distinguishing that while the hosts were church volunteers, their actions at their home did not represent the church.

Despite these assertions, the legal proceedings saw several shifts, including multiple attorneys withdrawing from representing the plaintiff over the course of the lawsuit. Set for trial in February 2023, a summary judgment in January initially resolved in Gateway’s favor before the case went to mediation, where a private settlement was reached before the planned court date.

Confidential terms concluded the lawsuit in April, after a separate 2019 lawsuit against the parents hosting the sleepover was dismissed without prejudice, leaving room for potential future accusations.

Statements from Gateway and its representation emphasized the church’s limited involvement with the incident, explaining that the alleged assault happened in a private residence and was managed by Gateway’s insurance to mitigate further litigation costs. Lawrence Swicegood, a spokesperson for Gateway, maintained that the event was unaffiliated with the church and was reported to the authorities by a church member after learning about the assault.

Sion Alford, the campus pastor for Gateway’s Justin campus and named defendant, expressed that the church fulfilled its obligation by reporting the suspected abuse to Child Protective Services (CPS) within 48 hours after learning about it. Alford stressed the settlement did not imply the church’s inaction or guilt.

Although the authorities were notified, there are discrepancies in confirmations on who reported the case to CPS, with Child Protective Services and the local police unable to verify specific details or locate a corresponding police report.

This case highlights ongoing challenges within religious communities in dealing effectively and transparently with allegations of sexual abuse, particularly when the accused are part of the congregation or connected to church leadership. The outcome of this lawsuit does not only shed light on Gateway’s practices but also stimulates broader questions about the accountability measures within similar organizations.

This incident coincidentally surfaces following other heavy allegations against Gateway’s founder, further magnifying scrutiny on how church institutions manage issues of misconduct internally.