Tulsa World: Nominee for ORU post is praised

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Nominee for ORU post is praised
Many say he's the perfect person to lead the college.

CAPABLE
Mark Rutland: He is lauded as a dynamic speaker and great fundraiser.

By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer
Published: 1/22/2009 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 1/22/2009 3:03 AM

Friends and colleagues of Oral Roberts University's presidential candidate say he is the ideal person to steer the college into a future with renewed financial and spiritual stability.

Mark Rutland is a dynamic speaker and great fundraiser, said Jim Buskirk, founding dean of the ORU seminary and a friend of Rutland's for 40 years.

"He's the most capable person that I can think of to come and be the president of such a unique place as Oral Roberts University," Buskirk said. "I think he'll call forth the best for ORU, and he will help anoint and enable the best in ORU."

Rutland and ORU board Chairman Mart Green are in California this week to meet with Oral Roberts himself before Rutland visits the campus and meets with students and faculty and board members.

The board of trustees will vote Wednesday whether to accept him, as first reported on tulsaworld.com.

The presidential selection committee announced Rutland as its choice last week.

He is president of Southeastern University, a Christian liberal arts college in Lakeland, Fla.

He has been a pastor and missionary and has written 13 books. He also has a 30-minute syndicated radio program called "Herald of Joy."

In a telephone interview, Rutland spoke glowingly of ORU's possibilities.

"I think it has the opportunity, the outlook, to become again a world-class university and even to exceed its highest moments," he said.

Buskirk said Rutland

is a gifted communicator and will be a "blessing to Tulsa and the Midwest if he comes to ORU."

"If ever there was a person whose lifetime tailored them for this job, then I think Dr. Mark Rutland is it," he said. "I just love him and thank God for him."

Rutland's pastor in Lakeland, Wayne Blackburn, said Rutland is "a phenomenal leader and a dedicated believer."

Blackburn, who also is on Southeastern's board of regents, said Rutland's leadership has transformed the college.

In Rutland's decadelong tenure, enrollment exploded and the campus saw about $50 million in construction, Blackburn said.

"He totally reformed the campus," he said.

"There is a spiritual barometer that's higher than it's ever been and an excitement among the students that is just unbelievable as it relates to their love for him and the university itself."

Gene Gregg, who graduated from ORU in 1982 and is on the alumni board, said he is confident that Green and the selection committee made a good choice in Rutland.

"All the preliminary thoughts I have are positive," he said, "because I know that the gentleman has an excellent reputation."

Gregg said it is most important for ORU to become financially sound.

The search for a new president began in late 2007, when then-President Richard Roberts resigned amid legal and moral questioning of his leadership.

Former professors, students and staff members filed multiple lawsuits alleging that Richard Roberts and his wife, Lindsay Roberts, had misappropriated university money for their own gain.

Soon after Richard Roberts resigned, ORU revealed that it was $55 million in debt.

Blackburn said Southeastern will miss Rutland and his leadership but that it is time for him to move on.

"He's ready for another challenge," Blackburn said. "The challenges at ORU, I promise you, are not beyond his ability."

Shannon Muchmore 581-8378
shannon.muchmore@tulsaworld.com By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment Daniel Day Simpson, Edmond (1/22/2009 9:05:46 AM) I hate to wee wee on their barbeque but another publication reported today that OBU lost $600,000 in the Madoff scandal. The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma also lost $1.6 million dollars. Wow, that's about the amount they cheated the cabin owners at Falls Creek for the new jordan shrine. They were so happy to tear down J.B. Round's historic Trinity Cabin and then cheat them over the value of the property.
	Report Comment Classics, (1/22/2009 9:13:23 AM) Rutland really seems to be a great choice for senior executive leadership at ORU. It's hard to argue against results. The job that he has done at Southeastern definately merits excitement from the ORU community. I hope he has great success.
	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (1/22/2009 11:16:52 AM) "He also has a 30-minute (daily) syndicated radio program called "Herald of Joy." " Watch for a daily TV show too, coming to a certain ORU-owned TV station near you - and to cable, of course. The choice of Rutland sends a powerful message about ORU's future direction. Opinions will differ about whether that direction is a good one. "Silence is the perfectest herald of joy" - William Shakespeare
	Report Comment Zoomin-in, Tea Town (1/22/2009 12:50:01 PM) Creepy.
	Report Comment Anne M. Green, Tulsa (1/22/2009 12:51:07 PM) Daniel Day - Are you confused about the difference between ORU and OBU? What does OBU (Oklahoma Baptist University?) have to do with this story here? Graychin - Not sure if Rutland will continue his 30 minute radio show here when he arrives. Since the article only says "syndicated" it could be just a regional audience in the southeast US. But does it matter? The secular community uses both radio and television to reach their "target market." Is there something wrong with religious entities doing it also?
	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (1/22/2009 2:42:27 PM) Ms. Green: Wrong? No. It's just that the profession of televangelism has been discredited so often by so many bad actors that I hate to see ORU continue down that same road. It isn't likely to lead to a good place. There are many fine religious colleges and universities that remain true to their principles and raise sufficient funds without being led by televangelists, but instead by real academics. If ORU continues down Televangelism Road, I think it will be sowing the seeds of its next scandal and financial crisis and its certain demise. Because the next time, there won't be a Mart Green there to bail them out.
	Report Comment Rocketman, Tulsa (1/22/2009 2:52:26 PM) Anne M. Green, They are atheists, they think anyone who has anything to do with God, his church or any faith based entity is a crook or a fool.
	Report Comment Popeye, T-Town (1/22/2009 3:18:09 PM) Graychin: You are rockin' today! I voiced a similar opinion the other day, and believe as you: If ORU doesn't cut all ties with the televangelists, and the Roberts family in its' entirety, they're wasting their time. A school modeled after SMU or OBU, even TU started as a Presbyterian school, would be a great step forward.
	Report Comment Rocketman, Tulsa (1/22/2009 3:36:50 PM) ORU is inextricably linked to evangleism, television, radio, publishing etc. It will never be a SMU, TU or even an OBU.
	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (1/22/2009 3:48:19 PM) Pop: I always rock! Rocketman - never say never. Or don't you believe in redemption?
	Report Comment Rocketman, Tulsa (1/22/2009 3:53:35 PM) ORU was started to bring charasamtic christianity mainstream. Charasmatic christianity, how shall I phrase it.......... let me just say it is not "orthodox".
	Report Comment driftwood, tulsa (1/22/2009 4:30:42 PM) it sure would be nice to change the schools name. oral and richard were a disgrace to the university and their faith.
	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (1/22/2009 6:59:58 PM) Rocketman: When it becomes mainstream, it will be orthodox.
	Report Comment Sir Coris Markus, Armpit, USA (1/22/2009 7:06:12 PM) Graychin, Eucha (1/22/2009 6:59:58 PM) Rocketman: When it becomes mainstream, it will be orthodox. -- Well, now.. I like that Orthodox Christian! The real McCoy!
	Report Comment Rocketman, Tulsa (1/22/2009 7:18:50 PM) I notice you said nothing when I said you thought all Christians were crooks or fools yet you pontificate on what composes orthodox Christianity. Is there a subject on which you are ignorant?
	Report Comment Sir Coris Markus, Armpit, USA (1/22/2009 8:27:39 PM) Orthodox Christianity Rocketman has nothing to do with the Pope of Rome. It was initiate at Pentecost and legitimize as a faith of the Roman Empire by Constantine Cesar of Rome. When Rome was sack and burnt to the ground by the vandals and Barbarians. New Rome was moved to the East and renamed Constantinople. There Rome was governed and Flourished. Christianity prospered for 1000 years. The faith remained intact until 1054ad where it split in two. (West)being Roman Catholic with their Pope) and East which remained the same Orthodox Christianity. Since then the West has experienced many schisms. The East Ithink only twice I may be wrong. However, it has remain true to the original traditions and protocols from the git and go. It still uses the Septuagint the old original bible. In addition to the old calendar and honors and memorizes the old and new saints and martyrs.
	Report Comment Rocketman, Tulsa (1/22/2009 9:13:20 PM) Doty? Joe-Allen? Is that you?
	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (1/22/2009 10:47:24 PM) Rocketman: Yes, but you've easily got me beat in that department. Don't take my silence as agreement with what you say. I don't have enough time available to... Never mind.
	Report Comment Rocketman, Tulsa (1/22/2009 11:12:57 PM) When speaking ex cathedra, please do not leave us in suspense, Oh Pope Of The Tulsa World. (may I kiss your ring?)

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