Richard Roberts
When Pastors or Leaders Spin-Off Their Own Ministry - Who Pays?
6 commentsOne of the things that the financial crisis at Oral Roberts University pointed out recently was the apparent internal direction of funding. The Oral Roberts Ministry was founded first, and during the evangelistic ministry of the founder Oral Roberts, the ministry organization was used to help fund the university. In essence, the ministry spawned the university, and for many years used it’s national television program and direct mail outreach to raise significant funding for the university.
But apparently, ... read more
The Changes Begin at Oral Roberts University
11 commentsReports are that the ORU Board of Directors is reborn with a new vision, and certainly new rules of governance. Richard Roberts and the Oral Roberts Ministry has now moved off the campus to begin a new life somewhere else. And perhaps the best news of all, enrollment hasn't slacked off a bit during the entire process. Out of all the allegations of financial mismanagement, the incredible debt, poor management, lawsuits, and more, perhaps the most lasting impact this episode will have is a lesson in how to move from ... read more
ORU Board of Regents Accepts Mart Green's Financial Plan
13 comments | 1 attachment
According to The Tulsa World, the Oral Roberts University Board of
Regents has accepted the financial offer from Oklahoma City businessman
Mart Green. In addition, Board Chairman George Pearsons has stepped down,
and Mart Green has assumed his role. ... read more
One ORU Lawsuit Dropped and Dr. Swails Reinstated
2 comments
According to a posting on the Oral Roberts University website, Dr. John Swails who
had filed the wrongful termination lawsuit against ORU that started the
avalanche that resulted in Richard Robert’s resignation as President, has
dropped his lawsuit. As a result of mediation, both sides have worked
things out and Dr. Swails is rejoining the faculty of the school. Questions remain,
since two other professors who also sued the school are continuing their
legal action and don’t seem to be interested in returning. Also, some are
wondering about the potential for criminal wrongdoing if the case goes to
court. ... read more
The Oral Roberts University Board Begins to Shuffle
6 commentsInteresting news from Tulsa. The ORU Board shuffle has begun. Many have said that Richard Roberts shouldn't have taken the fall alone for the allegations in the lawsuit. I understand from news reports that the professors brought the allegations to the board first, who turned a deaf ear. Then when the profs went to Richard, they allegedly got fired. So the board seems to be as culpable as Richard. So the Tulsa World's report is very interesting. Two TV evangelists out and an ORU grad who's also a businessman in. The shaking continues.... ... read more
Regents Cut Oral Roberts University Loose from the Ministry
33 comments
According to the Tulsa World, the Oral Roberts University Board of
Regents has officially voted to separate the school from the ministry that
founded it. It also voted to accept president Richard Roberts’
resignation, and will begin the long search process for a new president.
The actions came after a long series of allegations, legal actions, and
revelations that seemed to multiply over the last few weeks. Richard’s
resignation will spare him the painful process of the investigation,
although some have suggested possible civil or even criminal penalties
pending ... read more
Recent Criticism and This Blog
There have been some interesting conversations on this blog lately about criticism of different people and organizations, and the actual purpose of the blog. I’ve written before about our purpose, and I have to admit, the posts dealing with scandal and problems among ministries and non-profits seem to be the most popular. People do respond to criticism, and for whatever reason, seem to gravitate to those posts. My blogs about Randy and Paula White’s divorce, Bishops that sell anointed soap, or Juanita Bynum getting in a fist fight with her husband in a hotel parking lot always seem to get people worked up. ... read more
The Situation at ORU Gets Worse for Richard Roberts
44 comments
Oral RobertsIn what must have been an
incredibly humiliating experience for former ORU President Richard Roberts,
his father, Oral Roberts, asked the ORU faculty in an emergency meeting to
rescind their “no confidence” vote on his son Richard. I write about
this because from a perception perspective – especially in the media –
at the moment when Richard needs to be seen as a strong and confident
leader, he’s having his dad ask the faculty to give him a second chance?
According to AP reports, the faculty turned him down. The key here
is that Oral is the product of an earlier generation, when he founded the
institution and could easily maintain control. He could influence faculty
decisions like ... read more
ORU Faculty Vote "No Confidence" in Richard Roberts
8 commentsA quorum of tenured Oral Roberts University faculty voted “no
confidence” in President Richard Roberts and voted in favor of “greater
faculty governance and transparency of university finances” in a 3
1/2-hour meeting Monday night. The Tulsa World reports. ... read more
Richard Roberts Update as of November 9th
8 commentsHere's an update from The Associated Press on the crisis at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. This story adds some new first person accounts from the inside. ... read more
Richard Roberts Takes a "Leave of Absence" from Oral Roberts University
21 comments
Multiple news
sources are reporting that Richard Roberts is taking a "leave of absence" from his role as President of Oral
Roberts University in light of the recent allegations from three fired
professors. From a media perspective, it's one of a couple of possible PR
options, and we'll never know it's wisdom until we hear from the legal
proceedings. I think the momentum has really been moving forward with the
allegations. Richard and Lindsay on Larry King Live didn't help. I think
they raised more questions than they answered in the audience's mind. Some
have said that ... read more
Thoughts About Richard Roberts Appearance on Larry King
14 comments
I’ve had so many Oral Roberts University graduates and others close to
the school talk to me about the current allegations made against Richard
and Lindsay Roberts, that I woke up after midnight thinking I should write
down some thoughts about Richard and Lindsay’s appearance on Larry King Tuesday night. We have to keep in mind that
for the most part, the lawsuit from a small group of disgruntled former
professors is about the actions of the President and his wife, not about
ORU itself. Oral Roberts University is a fine institution, and year after
year, educational experts continue to say ... read more
Response to Allegations from Oral Roberts University
8 comments
More is developing from the ORU lawsuit
story I discussed this week. You can get a good update here from Associated
Press, and The Tulsa World reports that the Board of Regents have
brought in an independent accounting firm to look at the finances. It's an
interesting look at how to handle "crisis public relations" and regardless
of guilt or innocence in this case, every non-profit or religious
organization needs to have a crisis PR plan in place. A responsible board
can never be sure that ... read more
Public Relations Crisis at Oral Roberts University?
3 comments | 1 attachmentSome recently dismissed professors at Oral Roberts University have filed suit alleging financial improprieties at the school - mostly having to do with President Richard Roberts, his wife Lindsay, and their children. I’m an ORU graduate, and hate to see something like this at my alma mater, or with any nationally known non-profit organization. No matter what the outcome of the legal action may be, the PR damage will be serious. Non-profits are especially at risk because ... read more








