A court hearing in the criminal case against Robert Morris, the founder of Southlake-based Gateway Church, one of the nation's largest congregations, was canceled before it began Thursday morning.

Morris appeared in court and waived his right to the preliminary hearing, court records show. He faces charges of sexually abusing a child in the 1980s. He has entered a plea of not guilty.

Morris is due back in court for a district court arraignment on Thursday, Oct. 2. In Oklahoma, a district court arraignment is "a formal reading of a criminal charging document in the presence of the defendant ... in the presence of the District Court judge." At the hearing, "the defendant can plead, ask for additional time, ask for a motion hearing, or set the case for trial."

The charges against Robert Morris

The alleged abuse started in 1982 when the victim, Cindy Clemishire, was 12 years old and Morris was a traveling evangelist staying in Hominy, Oklahoma, with her family, according to the Oklahoma attorney general's office. The abuse allegedly continued for four years.

One issue that has not been ruled on by a judge, and Morris's attorney may raise before trial, is the statute of limitations. 

Despite the decades that have passed, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who was Clemishire's former attorney, said the statute of limitations does not apply in this case because Morris never lived in Oklahoma.

Fallout from the Robert Morris case

The fallout from the Morris case extends beyond the criminal trial.

Clemishire and her father filed a civil lawsuit against Gateway Church, Morris, his wife and several current and former church leaders.

The suit alleges the defendants knew about Robert Morris' deceit, hid it and made millions of dollars from his "moral failures and rape of Plaintiff, Cindy Clemishire."

The church and Morris are also engaged in a legal dispute over how much money he is owed from his retirement account.

Earlier this year, Gateway Church laid off some staff members due to falling tithes in the wake of the Morris scandal. Last month, the church installed new lead pastor Danny Floyd, who promised to lead the Gateway with integrity.