Gateway Church has fired four of its elders after launching an investigation into alleged sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl by its founder, the leadership of the North Texas megachurch announced Saturday.

The four elders had some information or knowledge about former senior pastor Robert Morris's behavior before the allegations became public this summer, but they took no action, church elder Tra Willbanks said during a livestreamed service on Nov. 2.

There were “two groups” of elders: one group that knew that the victim, Cindy Clemishire, was twelve years old when the abuse began in the 1980s, and another group that knew of the sexual abuse allegations against Morris, but asked no further questions, Willbanks said.

“We can report that to date no one from either group serves as an elder, is employed by or works at Gateway Church. They were removed,” Willbanks said.

The moves came after an independent law firm hired by the Southlake-based church presented a report on its findings to a church committee.

The church is cooperating with an ongoing criminal investigation that does not involve the church or its current leadership, Willbanks said.

In addition to this investigation, Willbanks said the church is also the target of pending or threatened litigation and financial claims from Robert Morris.

Willbanks said the church would not meet Morris' financial demands. Morris resigned from the church in June.

According to the Dallas Morning News, elders Thomas Miller, Gayland Lawshe, Kevin Grove and Jeremy Carrasco were removed from the church's website Saturday afternoon.

Going forward, Gateway will focus on its “internal systems” and improving its governance processes, Willbanks said.

“There has been a massive failure of leadership and accountability here at Gateway Church,” Willbanks said. “We must be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that our culture has allowed this truth to be buried for too long.”