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Posted On
11/23/2007

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Richard Roberts Resigns as President of Oral Roberts University

A new era begins at Oral Roberts University.  For the first time in the history of the institution, the school will not have a Roberts at the helm.  The Tulsa World reports that he sent a letter to the Oral Roberts University Board of Regents on Friday tendering his resignation as university president effective immediately.  The regents will meet Monday and Tuesday to determine action in the search process for a new president.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 23rd, 2007 at 8:42 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • Bart

    Keep in mind that Richard and Lindsey both are still sitting members of the board of Regents, and he still retains all his other positions in terms of ORM and his television ministry.

    This was inevitable in my opinion.  The additional lawsuits from students and a fired senior accountant were all announced in the last 24 hours.

    The timing of the announcement was the last possible moment before the Regent's meeting this Monday and Tuesday which was already scheduled.  With Roberts still in office media scrutiny would still be very high.

    Does this buy them time or drop the story from the news?  Will the tenured faculty participate in the search and decision?  Is this just a change of person or will the systemic issues that contributed to the atmosphere of fear and intimidation be addressed.

    I pray  it will, and while this may reduce the profile of the story, there's still a lot more to come.

  • Pastor Mark

    I'd like to use this particular story to address some issues I feel are at the heart of the royal/celebrity ministry phenomena that has plagued the charismatic movement. I am a spirit filled guy for 20 years BTW as well as a pastor.

    Pentecostalism is a very cozy fit for a considerable portion of the christian population who are, shall we say, very suceptable to the power of suggestion. They are drawn to strong charismatic personalities who offer a tangable spiritual experience. Combine with this the common human need for a figurehead by which to vicariously identify. Add the  access to nationwide TV and radio and you have a formula for a generation of Royal Families in ministry. They are the Prince Charles and Princess Di of many American Christians lives.

    They are edited and scripted to perfection. The lighting and makeup and staging create an angelic pomp that goes far beyond mere quality into a false image of infallability. 

    Although the scandals are the fruit of impurity in the ministers, I fear the publics willingness to provide fertile soil is also a major contributing factor. For this reason, I am afraid that until regular church folks are taught to discern these unspiritual and unhealthy dynamics in both themselves and in ministry leaders, we will continue to endure the annual scandals like we see from time to time.

     

  • Bart

    I agree with you on a lot of that Mark coming from a similar perspective.

     It's not unique to charismatic/pentacostal ministries but it is more pronounced there and it ties into human nature as well as organizational leadership dynamics that over time lead to pretty clearly demonstrated results.

  • Good Commentary

    Still thinking about you Brian.

    I know you have been through a lot in this.  Hope you keep posting.  It is good to have a different side.  You have been quite respectable in your posts.  I appreciate that – especially considering all that you must be going through.

     As far as this news goes, I just checked this site, I hadn't had a chance to check in on things yet today.  sounds like i have some catching up to do.  At first glance it appears that Richard has made a noble move, and probably the best choice he could make.  Even if he is totally innocent of all of the Stephanie documents, this has really reached a point that there couldn't have been much he could do to help the university.  It is a hard day I am sure.

  • Brian Sinks

    "…the school will not have a Roberts at the helm…"

    Might be premature.  "There is another…" Roberts – at least in maiden name. [This in not an insider prediction.  But you never know.]

  • Mark Deckard

    Mart Green a major retailer has promised ORU $70 million with certain conditions.

    God has delivered that school from bondage. Praise God for His faithfulness.

    Article here

  • AmeriKan

    Pastor Mark, I don't see it as a "plague" to charismatics.  It cuts across all lines…the Falwells in Lynchburg, the Stanleys, etc. and the Methodists started out with the Wesley brothers and gang.  Fame and fortune has corrupted the best of us but it need not.  When you talk about "spirit-filled" and "pentecostalism," remember, you are talking, also, about the book of, The Acts.  "Scandals are the fruit of impurity in the ministers," is an unfair generalization.  Jesus produced His own set of scandals, then and now.  Peter and Paul created reputations.  Maria Woodworth-Etter and Aimee Semple-McPherson, whom I would believe you to be most familiar with, being the Pentecostal-spirit filled man you are, created such (scandal) wherever they "parked."  I have read nothing about their personal lives and character that would warrant the negative publicity they endured. 

    Now, when it comes to ORU and RR, much of what I have read in the media and on the net is a piranha feeding frenzy of the lowest human nature.  If we all got what we deserved, none of us would be here.  But for the grace of God, there go I/we.  People make mistakes and fall, willingly and unwillingly.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is one of love, forgiveness and restoration, something we all need.

    Both of our daughters are summa cum laude graduates of ORU.  ORU was a God-send for them and a home away from home.  They thrived in the atmosphere of ORU and greatly valued what they received both academically and spiritually.  Our daughters went on to receive graduate degrees from the outstanding universities of Carnagie-Melon in Pittsburgh, PA and Fordham in NYC.  ORU deserves much credit for the wives, mothers and professionals they are today.

    My wife and I are healthcare professionals and have financially supported ORU and Oral Roberts Ministries for many years.  We will continue to support them…now, more than ever.  We are grateful for the sacrifice the Roberts family have made and the price they have paid so the world could benefit from this great university.  Our prayers go to the Roberts family….as, the best is yet to come! 

  • Brian Sinks

    Well said.

  • APOSTLE BERNARD LUDONDO

    I THANK YOU MAN OF GOD FOR PUTTNG ASIDE ALL THINGS THAT SEEMS IMPORTANT TO MANY PEOPLE ONLY TO SERVE GOD IN HIS MINISTRY OF  HEALING GOD WILL REWARD YOU PASTOR IN ABUNDANCE. FOR YOU FULFIL THE WORD OF GOD ” SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM AND ITS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND OTHERS SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU”

     

    THANK YOU

    APOSTLE BERNARD LUDONDO FROM KENYA.


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