It’s time for the ORU Board of Regents to wake up and smell the coffee.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of last week’s faculty poll which shows an overwhelming majority of faculty (almost 80%) do not want Richard Roberts to return as president.

In addition, “90 percent of the faculty thought the school’s current procedures for financial disclosure and accountability were inadequate and more than 74 percent of those polled did not believe that alumni would continue to support ORU if Richard Roberts remains as president.” (AP)

Read the story here.

Phil Cooke is an ORU graduate and one of the leading authorities on religion and the media.

Richard recently commented that his troubles were ‘foretold’ to him in a prophecy from another minister, Phil asks the proverbial question: If he knew, then why didn’t he do something about it?

He wisely comments that “supporters of ORU need to know the President has integrity, is a solid thinker, can embrace a wide swath of evangelical America, and has a bold vision for the future … to the non-believing world, this just makes him sound weird – not the solid leader he needs to be in people’s minds.”

Read his complete commentary here.

In yet another striking blow to Richard Roberts’ chances of continuing as university president, Mark Lewandowski, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs, said he would quit if Roberts is allowed back to his post.

In a letter addressed to George Pearsons, chairman of the ORU board of Regents, Lewandowski stated that:

“many current administrators . . . are concerned that the ORU board of regents with the exception of a few bold individuals are waffling in their decision making and are considering the reinstatement of Richard Roberts even in the face of overwhelming information of a management style that promotes fear and has done nothing to address the increasing debt of the university.”

Lewandowski is one of the defendants named in the lawsuit filed by three former professors. This new development leaves us wondering if Lewandowski might even testify against Richard in court?

This also does not bode well for the current accreditation process. ORU is due for a serious return check-up in 2009.

Senator Charles Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee has asked six televangelists to turn over their financial records by December 6th.

“The six ministries identified as being under investigation by the committee are led by: Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn. Three of the six – Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar – also sit on the Board of Regents for the Oral Roberts University.” (CBS News)

Stay tuned to SaveORU.com for the latest news and analysis.

According to a recent article, Richard Roberts made the following private comments in a staff meeting:

“some of the accusations are false, and some are true, but have been twisted.” He is also reported as saying, “through this situation, God has shown [us] mistakes that need to be corrected, and [we] are going to correct them.”

This appears to be at direct odds with the motion filed in court which clearly states that “Dr. Roberts denies each and every allegation or inference of wrongful conduct related to the plaintiff’s claims involving wrongful termination.”

Stay tuned to SaveORU.com for more in-depth news and analysis.

We first heard about the latest number for ORU’s ongoing financial woes last week.

Now ORU is considering the sale of channel 53 in order to help alleviate the debt.  We wonder what took so long, but this is a welcome change.  It’s probably cheaper to buy local airtime than to keep up with the costs of running a TV station.  Unfortunately, this may mean the loss of some KGEB/ORTV jobs.  We know some good people over there.

Read the article here.

Save the date… the first motions hearing is set for December 11th.

The letter is signed by nine members of the ORU Vice Presidents council.

“…Our core values and principles have not changed from what God called them to be. That’s because these values are not just words or ideas in the eyes of the administration. They are a part of our inner being—a part of our life that cannot be separated…”

Our viewpoint: Ummm… Is nepotism for it’s own sake one of those core values and principles?

Read the letter here on ORU’s website.

On a side note, we’d like to point out that SaveORU.com is completely independent and is NOT afilliated with any of the lawyers, plaintiffs or defendants involved with this case.

ORU’s Attorneys Call for Gag Order Against the Professors

The attorneys for the professors have publicly stated that they will not go through mediation as long as ORU “denies any wrongdoing.”  The university is trying to get a gag order in place so they can no longer make public comments on the case.  They’re afraid that it will affect the possibility of a “fair trial”.

ORU’s motion also alleges that the plaintiffs “appear to have devised a scheme to slander defendants while hiding behind the litigation privilege, all in hope of achieving a quick, lucrative settlement of an employment lawsuit.”

Read the Tulsa World’s coverage here...

We think that this lawsuit isn’t about the money, it’s about the truth.  The ‘train’ of public perception has already left the station – just read the comments on any Tulsa World story involving the lawsuit.

SOME Alumni Are “Sad” Christian Mediation Wasn’t Used?

It’s always nice to read an article that appears to rebut itself:

Gary Richardson, attorney for the three professors, was quoted as saying that:

The biblical idea of mediation is practical “if they’ll talk to you. We couldn’t get them to talk to us.” (from the Tulsa World)

It looks like there was no attempt at being proactive on the university’s part.  Wisdom would dictate that it doesn’t pay to ignore something like this.

How the Other Half Lives

How does Richard and Lindsay Roberts’ university owned, tax-exempt, 1.4 million dollar, multi-house compound compare to other university president dwellings?

Read the answer for yourself here.

 Keep visiting Save ORU for the latest coverage and analysis.

Commentary:

With the recent controversy surrounding the university, many wounds from the past are being reopened for students and alumni. No one wants to see their alma mater dragged through the mud.

It is our belief that if any Christian ministry or organization insists, (through action, word or deed), that their financial and internal dealings are strictly private matters – people should send their support elsewhere. A failure to display transparency demonstrates a lack of accountability.

Oral Roberts University is not owned by the Roberts family. It was made possible through the contributions of hard-working men and women of faith. In our opinion, the university and has an obligation to assure the public that it operates in a upstanding manner.

We contend that the best way to dispel the current cloud of rumors and allegations is for the ORU Board of Regents to:

1. Make an absolute commitment to transparency in all of their dealings.
2. Place a term limit on the presidency.
3. Establish measures to limit family control.
4. Make the results of the audit and investigations available to the public.
5. Join the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

The regents owe all students, alumni, faculty, employees and donors a point-by-point response to the allegations. The eyes of the world and the media are watching, and it’s a great opportunity to make the ORU community proud.

We live in the information age, and many tools exist to evaluate non-profits today. The following websites are a great place to start:

• www.charitynavigator.org
• www.ministrywatch.com

The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) has seven standards by which all members must comply, visit their website at www.ecfa.org to learn more.

Keep visiting Save ORU for more news, analysis and information.