Tulsa World: ORU names resource panel

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ORU names resource panel

BENEFACTOR

Mart Green: He will be ORU’s chairman of the board of trustees.

By APRIL MARCISZEWSKI World Staff Writer
Published: 1/17/2008 1:05 AM
Last Modified: 1/17/2008 11:16 AM

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

Members are part of a transition team to help the school make changes.

Oral Roberts University on Wednesday named the members of a transition team organized to help ORU's $70 million benefactors as the school transitions from having a board of regents to following the benefactors' shared governance plan.

Under the plan from the Green family, which founded the Hobby Lobby and Mardel Christian and educational supply stores, ORU will be governed by a new board of trustees, to be made up of several ORU graduates, executives of Christian organizations, higher education officials and three regents.

The board of regents will turn into a nonvoting board of reference whose members will lend their names to ORU, said donor Mart Green, who will be chairman of the board of trustees.

The board of regents, which includes prominent televangelists, appointed a transition committee to be led by regent Billy Joe Daugherty, pastor of Victory Christian Center in Tulsa, states a press release.

The committee also will include regents Karen Arutunoff, Rick Fenimore, Dr. Glenda Payas and Rick Pearson, all of Oklahoma; regent Scott Howard of Nevada; Executive

Vice President for Finance and Operations David Ellsworth, and Vice President for Academic Administration Ralph Fagin, named by the Green family to serve as interim president.

ORU board of regents Chairman George Pearsons was quoted in the press release as saying, "The ORU family is looking forward to these coming weeks in assisting the Green family in every way possible . . . ."

Jeremy Burton, ORU's director of public relations, said it is unknown what will be needed for ORU to make the transition, so "this team is there as a resource."

In ORU's televised chapel service Wednesday, Fagin praised current Interim President Daugherty as a "man of ability and character," and both men said they would be working together.

Daugherty has been serving as the interim president since Richard Roberts resigned Nov. 23, following a highly publicized lawsuit against Roberts, ORU and others, and following allegations that he misspent ORU and Oral Roberts Ministries money and poorly managed the university. Roberts has denied wrongdoing.

Fagin said he would serve in the role "for a season, so that we can find a president who is worthy of Oral Roberts University."

Daugherty announced to students and employees that "a special day of prayer and fasting" "for wisdom, . . . for God to fulfill his intent in our lives" and more would take place on campus Thursday.

Burton confirmed that regents are tentatively planning to meet Monday to receive, review and vote on the final version of the Green family proposal, revised bylaws and articles of incorporation. The date of the meeting will be determined by how soon the documents are finished.

April Marciszewski 581-8475
april.marciszewski@tulsaworld.com

By APRIL MARCISZEWSKI World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment Machiavelli, Houston (1/17/2008 9:47:26 AM) #16 Elizabeth. Your remarks are very applicable, and poignant too. You describe the exact situation I found myself in at one time, "Regardless of the intent of the Roberts, many people poured their lives into ORU, hoping to do a work for God." So doesn't it matter even more if the original "call" was from God? People followed this "call" and "poured their own lives" into it, believing it to be a work for God. At this moment, I believe God honors the heart intent to a certain extent. By that I mean that those who truly wanted to serve God actually did, and then, at some appropriate point, God shines the light brighter so those can see what's really going on. Then they have to decide to "compromise" also, or to clear out. This can be very painful! Does anyone get what I'm saying?
	Report Comment Comment, (1/17/2008 9:18:29 AM) Well, I'm wrong. Green looks just like Pearson. Poor guy. Either way, these 2 need to stay away from the cameras.
	Report Comment Get a Grip, (1/17/2008 10:04:12 AM) Whoa! Whoa! #21 msB. Be careful when you prophesy. The stones look like they are in your hands, and you make true prophets with 100% accuracy look bad. I understand your emotional ties, but pray, fast, and seek God for discernment. ____________________________________________________________ Reaping what you sow: When actions are being questioned, fire someone instead of work for understanding, you get fired. A quote I learned in bible school " when communication breaks down confussion takes over." ____________________________________________________________ He who casts the first stone: Looks like both sides were guilty of this. RR for dismissal with due process. This opened up the flood gate. Know that the same book that you quote also says "that what is done in darkness will be brought to light" ____________________________________________________________ As for the judge not: Remember by their own actions /words they will be condemned or justified. Also know that we can judge their fruit, and that does not mean everything they do when in front of the camera at the expense of everything else.
	Report Comment Comment, (1/17/2008 9:14:05 AM) Oh my God. George, George, stop putting yourself B4 the camera. You look like a deer in headlights.
	Report Comment For real, (1/17/2008 10:27:39 AM) Jack Evans, if you truly are the CFO of a multi-million dollar corporation why do you care about what is happening at ORU? In addition, there is nothing wrong with Bubba's English it was he grammar you were trying to slam. The probelm is this is a blog and proper grammar and punctuation are not required. But since you want to throw stones, you should know it is improper to begin a sentence with a conjuction (the word and).
	Report Comment SUSIE, (1/17/2008 8:35:04 AM) Look at Billy Graham, for example. Have you watched the movie about his life? He was such a great man - but when you look at his life, you see Christ. Billy did not honor himself - he honored God - much good fruit in that man's life. Some begin well, but unfortunately do not end well. Maybe Oral began well, but he did not live well. There is a chance he will end well. I am an insider from way back. I can tell you that way back when the Abundant Life building was under construction, that Oral was living for himself only. Look at the BOR he recruited and you can see how far away from the living gospel he traveled.
	Report Comment QT, (1/17/2008 8:29:51 AM) 12. 1/17/2008 8:23:51 AM, Machiavelli, Houston I agree with you. We do not know what was in any of their hearts. We do know that even a child is known by his actions so what we can determine is just what you said "the wheels of God's justice may grind exceedingly slow, but they also grind exceedingly fine". That was a good post.
	Report Comment Facts please?, (1/17/2008 10:47:14 AM) #31. Who in the accounting department? Give names and I'll investigate.
	Report Comment Machiavelli, Houston (1/17/2008 8:23:51 AM) #8 and #9, Susie and QT. Thanks for responding. What I'm still unclear about is, "Did God tell Oral Roberts to build ORU?" It is possible that He really did, and the Roberts family handed it over to the Devil. But it's also possible that it was a man-made, as opposed to God-made, dream of Oral Roberts, who, using God's Name in vain, would have God Himself as an enemy all these years, with a foregone conclusion! I guess there are some things we can never know for sure, it's just that's what mystifies me most about all these "men of God." Some seem to start out so right, and then . . . . However, if it was "false" at the outset, the wheels of God's justice may grind exceedingly slow, but they also grind exceedingly fine.
	Report Comment Machiavelli, Houston (1/17/2008 11:08:30 AM) My two cents: 1. It's very likely that the endownment fund was raided before Elsworth arrived. 2. In a business sense, there are always "gray" areas, and some businesses like to push the gray further than others, being advised in advance by legal counsel of possible consequences and potential advantages. 3. It's possible that all the financial dealings with RR and LR's luxury life were "legal," because we don't see their personal income tax returns, and they just might have recognized all their "benefits" as taxable income and even been "grossed up" for the FIT. (None of that makes what they did "right" or "ethical," certainly not Christlike!) 4. Ellsworth very well may be canned shortly after Green makes sure that he has all the "institutional memory" (catchy phrase, I've never heard it before) of the financial side that he needs.
	Report Comment DISGUSTED, (1/17/2008 7:53:57 AM) GET RID OF DAVID ELLSWORTH! GET RID OF LEWANDOWSKI! GET RID OF BISHOP REID!
	Report Comment M.S., (1/17/2008 12:12:24 PM) 34 Could be, but that's a lot of supposition. However, I think a healthy degree of skepticism is callee for, given the people involved. A look at what is known makes me of what is not known. It's commonly known as the "tip of hte iceberg."
	Report Comment SUSIE, (1/17/2008 7:51:46 AM) Several recent articles with basically nothing new. One thing that is often mentioned is that "Roberts has denied wrongdoing". That stands out to me. The audit, that is being kept quiet . . . if Richard did no wrong, wouldn't it be published, in order to show that the allegations were false? These changes are good forward progress - yet, wouldn't it be refreshing and wonderful if Oral and Richard took responsibility for their wrongdoing? What a great example of repentant hearts for the student body to see! Their wrongdoing does not consist of a few mistakes . . but rather an un-Christlike lifestyle - over many decades, that affected the lives of many innocent people that had given what they had. They played on the emotions of people that didn't know any better than to look to them instead of Christ.
	Report Comment AIN'T MISBEHAVIN, Tulsa (1/17/2008 12:24:04 PM) GOOGLE James Eugene Ewing to get the best info on the most evil man in the world who influenced Oral Roberts and others. Ewing contributed the gimmick; Kenyon/Haigen contributed the twisted theology; and Roberts packaged the whole deal. What a combination! I hope the truth about WOF spreads like wild fire so that fewer folks a separated from their money and their hearts a no longer broken.
	Report Comment joekchief, Tulsa (1/17/2008 7:39:47 AM) I agree with 1. Ellsworth may be a good guy, but he and others like Boyd been working for a dictator for decades. They know no other way. This is true in any situation like this where a strong personality has been leading for a long time, the underlings... no matter how good hearted, cannot help but have the very characteristics develop over time that they themselves may have despised. #2, there is just no disputing that change needs to go much deeper into the administration than just the Board. I hope Green has the guts to be the hatchet man when needed.
	Report Comment Jack Evans, (1/17/2008 12:43:39 PM) "# 15 -- a staunch defender of RR and Ellsworth wrote "A SCREWED UP MESS" ---- ."there is no conspiracy.....simply a SCREWED UP MESS, provided under a DICTATOR, that now has to be cleaned up." " ----- And this from a defender of RR and Ellsworth!! ---- It would almost be better if it was a clever conspiracy instead of the bungling incompetence of the dictator and his enablers, the chief being Ellsworth, that brought on what even the defender of RR and Ellsworth admits is "A SCREWED UP MESS." Yes, it has to be "cleaned up," and the first step is clean out RR's team who created this "screwed up mess."
	Report Comment bubba Gump, tulsa (1/17/2008 6:32:34 AM) Jack, although it's easy being an armchair quarterback, you have no clue as to the happenings of how finances were managed at ORU. It's very easy to throw stones at a distance, when you have no idea of the inner workings of ORU. There is no CFO on the planet who answers to a founder, or founders son, of a company, that doesnt do as directed......especially if there are constant comments of "Do as I say, or Lose your Job"......I personally know David Ellsworth.....and through the messes of the past 10 years, he has been the glue that has held ORU together.....nobody knows the personal sacrifices....the late nights.....and the hard work it constantly took, just to keep the ship afloat. Unless you have worked for a private company, whose leader is all controlling, and all powerful, I find in very hard for you to make such awful comments......Obviously, you must have some history with David Ellsworth....possibly a disgruntled ex-employee......but your comments are not even close to true......All you need to do is ask previous CFOs or VPs.....Jeff Gueder, George Fisher.....and Im sure they will comment as to the threat from above. ......many of you on this blog, are looking for attention, and fire out comments, just to see reaction, or hear yourselves talk.......I suggest you go back to watching TV in your armchair, and quit blogging on things you obviously have no clue to comment on. There is no question about David Ellsworth's loyalty....his loyalty has been to ORU and it's employees....pacifying RR and LR, trying to keep them off the backs of the ORU employees, was simply a necessary evil......so sit down in your armchair, eat your popcorn, and watch American Idol........and dont comment on things that are obviously above your pay grade.
	Report Comment Gail, Tulsa, Ok (1/17/2008 12:51:22 PM) Corporate dynamics are either structured vertically or horizontally. ORU has been a classic vertically structured organizaion. It appears Mart Green is attempting to structurally reorganize ORU to a horizontal organization evidenced by the placement of faculty and alum in key upper positions. _________________ By nature the governing componenet of any organization utilizes macromangement and rely upon micromangement from the day to day managers to remain within budgetary and policy constraints. ______________ Day to day managers must deal with budgets that are approved by the macromanagers that usually have no ideation of how the organizations functions. An example of this type of "disconnection" is the low salaries and the lack of addressment of the mismangement of finances. __________________ Whether or not Ellsworth is good for ORU is probably being viewed by Mart Green as a wait and see matter.
	Report Comment Gail, Tulsa, Ok (1/17/2008 12:59:58 PM) In addition: Vertically structured leaderships often replace many key figures when new leadership is initiated. Horizontal structured leaderships often use the wait and see methodologies regarding replacement of key figures. Both leadership styles have both positive and negatives.
	Report Comment Gail, Tulsa, Ok (1/17/2008 10:00:26 AM) To:Mach: I do not know that anyone can say whether or not ORU was a "call" from God. But I do believe it is the intent of the heart God judges b/c the word in Hebrews 4:12. _____________ Some would say that so many coming with the true heart intent to serve God give witness that the original "call" was from God. _________________ In the end we each must seek the intent of our hearts b/c we each stand alone b/f God by ourselves.
	Report Comment Jack Evans, (1/17/2008 1:19:32 PM) No name 41 You're protesting too much. Their must be a lot of dirt swept under the rug Why did ORU refuse to answer TW's questions about he eight million dollars for the Student Center? No Student Center No eight million dollars. Obfuscate and blow smoke all you wish, there's something being coved up here. Your attitude only confirms that. Got your hand in the piggy bank, too, nameless?
	Report Comment Say What???, (1/17/2008 9:42:06 AM) #2. OH PLEASE! Give me a break! David Ellsworth has been the glue that has held ORU together.....his loyalty has been to ORU employees. Good grief! Talk about a fairytale!
	Report Comment AIN'T MISBEHAVIN, Tulsa (1/17/2008 1:31:01 PM) GOOGLE James Eugene Ewing to get the best info on the most evil man in the world who influenced Oral Roberts and others. Ewing contributed the gimmick; Kenyon/Haigen contributed the twisted theology; and Roberts packaged the whole deal. What a combination! I hope the truth about WOF spreads like wild fire so that fewer folks a separated from their money and their hearts a no longer broken.
	Report Comment Sandy, (1/17/2008 1:36:45 PM) Ok Jack and Gail there's a name for ya. Jack I am not protesting only trying to figure out your angle. Why are you so interested?
	Report Comment Gail, Tulsa, Ok (1/17/2008 1:40:35 PM) To: Sandy: I personally have more than once posted my interest in ORU. Personally, I do not take any poster serious when 1. No name 2. Do not ask questions or make posts that initiate thought/critical thinking.

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