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ORU founder returns to defend school

Oral Roberts preaches at the International Charismatic Bible Ministries conference in 2003. Kelly Kerr/Tulsa World
 
By Staff Reports
Published: 10/22/2007  1:13 PM
Last Modified: 10/23/2007  9:37 AM

For more: Read the latest stories, view the lawsuit and other documents and watch slide shows and video.

Read an open letter from the chairman of the ORU Board of Regents printed in the Tulsa World.

The latest on this story: Oral Roberts back at ORU


Oral Roberts came to his namesake university for the first time in three years on Monday and told students and employees in a chapel service "the devil is not going to steal ORU."

He said all allegations made in a lawsuit and an attached report are false. And he said Richard Roberts, who took a leave of absence as the school's president last week, eventually will return to his position.

Oral Roberts also said he has moved back to Tulsa. The crowd gave him multiple standing ovations during the chapel service.

He said the university will begin mediation this week with the three former professors who sued them for allegedly wrongfully terminating them or forcing them to resign.

In the meantime, Oral Roberts said he is serving as co-interim president with Victory Christian Center pastor and ORU alumnus Billy Joe Daugherty.

Gary Richardson, attorney for the professors who sued ORU, said he and his clients are no longer interested in mediation. He said they proposed working through the issue with the university before filing the lawsuit, but ORU did not respond.

 "Right now, we're a bit disturbed about attempting any type of a settlement as long as they're so adamant they haven't done anything wrong," Richardson said. "... We would prefer to move forward and develop the information and develop the case."

A rally in support of the three former ORU professors -- John Swails, Tim Brooker and Paulita Brooker -- is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Morning Star Baptist Church, 1014 E. Pine St.

By Staff Reports

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Report Comment
huh?, Tulsa (10/22/2007 1:22:53 PM)
Didn't Oral Roberts die a few years ago or was that another ploy for money?

I guess now they are calling in the big dogs to handle this mess.

Nothing new to add to the news of ORU just the same story TW has been running over and over.

Tell us something we DON'T know?

Report Comment
Shister, (10/22/2007 1:29:40 PM)
Grandpa Oral claims the devil is stealing ORU. Then WHY is he MEDIATING with the devil? Jesus would NEVER mediate with the devil. Maybe the old man needs to read the slogan WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
Report Comment
L Edwards, Tulsa (10/22/2007 1:33:09 PM)
Like father, like son. I guess poor old dad is just turning a blind eye to his son's actions. If Richard is so lilly white, why step aside?
Report Comment
ORU Alum, Detroit (10/22/2007 1:34:22 PM)
I am not sure Oral is privy to the inner workings of ORU since he left 15 years ago. It would be in the best interest of the university if the Board of Regents elected a new president. Its not just the Roberts family credibility on the line- it is the credibility of every single ORU Alumnus around the world. PLEASE do not allow Richard and Lindsay to return at the helm.
Report Comment
MNalum, Mpls (10/22/2007 1:36:07 PM)
God is not going to steal ORU. It has been betrayed by those who lead it, who cheat, steal and destroy. ORU will prevail, but it needs to repent, to be transparent....Richard & Lindsay, The WOF regents and others need to take a hard look at themselves....taking the sacrifices of God's people that is to be used

for missions, evangelism, education etc. and to use it to live like Donald Trump is just not acceptable.

And by the way, I do really admire and appreciate Oral Roberts

Report Comment
Q, (10/22/2007 1:36:07 PM)
"He said the university will begin mediation with the three former professors..."

This is new. Hadn't heard anything about mediation since this started. I thought God told Richard that he was to fight the allegations. What's going on here? Something that has always confused me about the charismatic, wof, and prosperity churches. One moment God is saying one thing, and the next it's something else.

So now they're willing to reach a big financial settlement and nobody will ever know which or what of the allegations are true.

Report Comment
J '03 Alum, Pittsburgh (10/22/2007 1:39:24 PM)
Oral, please stay out of this. Nothing could make this more of a joke than you making senile claims. When I was a student i used to defend the 900ft jesus and locking yourself in the prayer tower. I will not defend you or your son anymore.
Report Comment
Holy Macrole!, Tulsa (10/22/2007 1:48:36 PM)
So let me get this straight...Oral Roberts basically exiled himself to California many years ago, yet the Tulsa World says "He said all allegations made in a lawsuit and an attached report are false." Man, he really does have superpowers working for him to know exactly what's going on even though he hasn't been anywhere near this place in years. What a complete and disgusting joke ORU is and I hope the place gets shut down, what a total embarrassment to our fine city.
Report Comment
Comment, (10/22/2007 1:50:42 PM)
So, did Oral fly in on the "leased" ORU plane, or did he come economy class, commercial jet? Or did Kenny Copeland fly out to California, from his home in Michigan, pickup Grandpa Oral on his $25M personal jet bought and paid for by his partners and bring him to ORUland? What a crock all of this is.
Report Comment
Alum- ORU- Miami, Florida (10/22/2007 1:51:03 PM)
PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW RICHARD AND LINDSAY TO RESUME LEADERSHIP AT ORU. I pray that you all use wisdom. Their season is over.
Report Comment
JW, (10/22/2007 1:54:11 PM)
"the devil is not going to steal ORU"

-

what a kook.

-

I guess he forgot Jesus' teachings that said respect the law of the land. Oral, the devil took a leave of absence.

Report Comment
Darren, (10/22/2007 1:58:28 PM)
How much money does Oral want this time?
Report Comment
SRV, (10/22/2007 2:05:50 PM)
I don't think anyone has spoken an audible word to Jesus in 2,000+ years. He is coming back to save ORU and then do game shows.
Report Comment
We're Not Gonna Take It, Tulsa (10/22/2007 2:07:31 PM)
Look, Oral is not God. No matter what he says, if God or even the courts say that there was foul play, then somebody has got to pay. This is not paul, mark, luke or john. I respect what God has done through him at times but when you gotta go, you gotta go.
Report Comment
Barbara Bongodrums, Houston (10/22/2007 2:12:57 PM)
Well, selfishly I'm glad this "entertainment" channel has not gone black, but I'm going to be really disappointed if there's a settlement and we don't find out the truth about the lavish lifestyle and the text messages. And I'm going to be disappointed in THE PROFESSORS, because they should never have made public the Cantees report if they were going to settle for big $$$$ without all the allegations being put to rest.

I'm still in favor of a whole lot of disclosure requirements being made part of the Internal Revenue Code for any TV ministries that solicit funds from the public. Like total compensation from all sources for all the principal players, their lineal descendants, and accounting for all appeals for funds, assuring that the money went were it was said to go. Are there any Congressmen reading this forum?

Report Comment
What, (10/22/2007 2:13:13 PM)
Does anyone know anything about the rally that the former professors are holding tonight?
Report Comment
Deshaun, Tulsa (10/22/2007 2:14:48 PM)
Oral's back! YES! Don't worry, Oral, we won't let that mean old devil take your city of gold!
Report Comment
sharon, Williamsport, Pennsylvania (10/22/2007 2:15:48 PM)
This is disgusting. Now they want mediation. That says it all.

Report Comment
What, (10/22/2007 2:18:32 PM)
There seems to be some conflicting information. One site indicates that they merely want Richard to resign.
Report Comment
Aly, Dallas (10/22/2007 2:21:55 PM)
I think it's a shame that Oral came out and said all allegations are false. What happened to the independent audit to determine what's really going on? Oral's been a thousand mile away but he knows what going on? Please. I think he is just afraid of someone outside of the family, Billy Joe, being at the helm. ORU alumni want Richard, and especially Lindsey, out!!!
Report Comment
oru79, Msp (10/22/2007 2:22:11 PM)
It is time for Richard & Lindsay Roberts to move on to their next assignment. Too much damage has been done.

The BOR with the WOF Televangelists lacks credibility and needs to change.

Report Comment
qqq, (10/22/2007 2:22:50 PM)
This is the Roberts family up-ing the ante. This is their statement that the family are not going to lose control. Oral is undoubtedly correct that his legacy now will stand or fall with Richard.

.

The only hope to retain control of ORU, and probably OREA, is to regain control of this story. The ONLY way to regain control of the story is to settle with the professors, and stonewall any information flow on the other, much more serious, allegations.

Report Comment
Another Alum, (10/22/2007 2:24:09 PM)
Soooo...mediation. Doesn't that mean settlement. Doesn't that mean 'hush money'. If that doesn't scream guilt, I don't know what does.
Report Comment
I Wonder..., (10/22/2007 2:25:29 PM)
"If My people who are called by My Name will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, THEN I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." I wonder, are all/any of us willing to obey?
Report Comment
former student, (10/22/2007 2:25:57 PM)
Oral is fighting for his last remaining legacy to stay afloat. One must remember that it was OR who put Richard in charge; groomed him; trained him. And, Richard has lived and acted according to his training. Also "success without a successor is failure" was OR's standing mantra for decades. If RR goes belly up, OR will see himself as a failure. Clearly, his return to Tulsa was not to save ORU. It was to "do whatever is necessary" to save Richard. And, in making that ill-fated effort, Oral might well lose it all.

I encourage all who love ORU and all who have been harmed to hold their ground; be truthful and brave. I encourage students and former students to DEMAND a clean up and total change of leadership. This is not about tearing down an old man's dreams...this is about saving the wonderful university that we love. So, fight hard for the truth to be seen, heard and acted upon.

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