Oral Roberts Univerisity impropriaties
Oral Roberts University (ORU), which has a stated mission that includes a “commitment to the Christian faith,” continues to garner national attention for allegations of improper politicking and a slew of other misdeeds that are befitting of a daytime soap drama.
The mounting allegations swirling around the university have apparently become too hot for Richard Roberts; he resigned the presidency last week. The Tulsa World reports that Roberts told ORU students that “God spoke to him last Thursday and told him to resign.” According to the article, Roberts also told the students that he initially resisted God’s instructions, “but God told him that if he would resign, the school would be blessed ‘supernaturally.’”
ORU sparked media scrutiny after a lawsuit was filed in the fall by three former professors who alleged they were fired for shedding light on political machinations and other wrongdoings orchestrated by the Tulsa school’s leaders.
One of the professors, Tim Brooker, claims he was fired after he informed the ORU Board of Regents that he had been ordered by Roberts to prod his students into helping Randi Miller’s 2005 Tulsa mayoral campaign. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the university is barred from using its resources for electioneering.
The Internal Revenue Service has taken an interest in the allegations of illegal electioneering. The Associated Press reported in October that university officials acknowledged an IRS investigation, but refused to give details.
Late last week, another lawsuit was lodged against ORU. Trent Huddleston, a former ORU accountant, alleges that he was ordered “against his will and over his objections” to mislead the IRS and the Oklahoma Tax Commission in order to protect Richard and Lindsay.
The Tulsa World reported on Nov. 22 that Huddleston accuses the Robertses of frittering away university and ministry money on personal uses, including more than $100,000 to remodel their home, more than $40,000 for a swimming pool and close to $5,000 for a pool table and wet bar.
The airing of such allegations – which paints a picture of excess, greed and mismanagement run amuck – is a stark reminder that proclaiming a godly mission does not insulate oneself from human failings. Indeed, to err is undoubtedly human. So is misleading others for self-preservation or enrichment, regardless if done under the guise of religious fervor.
The mounting allegations swirling around the university have apparently become too hot for Richard Roberts; he resigned the presidency last week. The Tulsa World reports that Roberts told ORU students that “God spoke to him last Thursday and told him to resign.” According to the article, Roberts also told the students that he initially resisted God’s instructions, “but God told him that if he would resign, the school would be blessed ‘supernaturally.’”
ORU sparked media scrutiny after a lawsuit was filed in the fall by three former professors who alleged they were fired for shedding light on political machinations and other wrongdoings orchestrated by the Tulsa school’s leaders.
One of the professors, Tim Brooker, claims he was fired after he informed the ORU Board of Regents that he had been ordered by Roberts to prod his students into helping Randi Miller’s 2005 Tulsa mayoral campaign. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the university is barred from using its resources for electioneering.
The Internal Revenue Service has taken an interest in the allegations of illegal electioneering. The Associated Press reported in October that university officials acknowledged an IRS investigation, but refused to give details.
Late last week, another lawsuit was lodged against ORU. Trent Huddleston, a former ORU accountant, alleges that he was ordered “against his will and over his objections” to mislead the IRS and the Oklahoma Tax Commission in order to protect Richard and Lindsay.
The Tulsa World reported on Nov. 22 that Huddleston accuses the Robertses of frittering away university and ministry money on personal uses, including more than $100,000 to remodel their home, more than $40,000 for a swimming pool and close to $5,000 for a pool table and wet bar.
The airing of such allegations – which paints a picture of excess, greed and mismanagement run amuck – is a stark reminder that proclaiming a godly mission does not insulate oneself from human failings. Indeed, to err is undoubtedly human. So is misleading others for self-preservation or enrichment, regardless if done under the guise of religious fervor.
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