TULSA, Okla., November 14, 2008 Oral Roberts University (ORU) today announced the finalization of the Separation Agreement with its former President, Dr. Richard L. Roberts. Based upon information and advice from an independent compensation consultant, ORU has agreed to pay Roberts his $223,600 annual salary for the remaining term of his appointment through November 2009. These payments will be off-set against the fair market rental value of ORU property occupied by ... read more

One 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

Reports 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

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

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

Interesting 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

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

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

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

A 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

Here'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

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

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

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

Some 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