On Oct. 2, three former Oral Roberts University professors filed a lawsuit against the school and four administrators alleging wrongful termination and wrongful causing of one professor's resignation. The professors said they lost their jobs because they turned over to administrators a report that alleged the Richard Roberts family extensively spent university money for personal uses. On this site, you will find all of the Tulsa World's coverage of this story, a copy of the lawsuit and other documents, slide shows and videos.




Green announces another donation to ORU
Oral Roberts University Board Chairman Mart Green and his family have donated $10 million to the university for campus renovations this summer, the university announced Friday.

New ORU president says he has founder's blessing
Oral Roberts informally handed the care of the university he founded to its incoming president last week.

New ORU president named
Mark Rutland will start in July. Friends say he has a history of fixing struggling institutions.

Hearings on separate lawsuits against ORU delayed
Weather keeps at least one lawyer from the courthouse.

ORU trustees approve Rutland as president
The Oral Roberts University Board of Trustees on Wednesday unanimously approved Mark Rutland as the university's new president.

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

ORU candidate visiting university's founder
The candidate for president of Oral Roberts University is meeting this week with the school's namesake.

Pastor could direct ORU
The nominee for president is called a "turnaround man."

53 at ORU laid off; 40 vacant posts cut
The cash-strapped university will save about $3.5 million.

Judge to rule on dismissing ORU lawsuits
They were filed by a fired accountant and former student.

Attorney for ORU expects case to be dismissed
An attorney for Oral Roberts University expects a former accountant's lawsuit alleging misspending at the school will be dismissed later this month.

ORU regents dropped from suit
But a former student's lawsuit against Richard and Lindsay Roberts remains active.

Student drops suit against ORU regents
A former student of Oral Roberts University dropped his lawsuit against regents of the university in a court filing Tuesday.

ORU faces lawsuit over office space
An athletic advertising agency has sued Oral Roberts University to retrieve $60,000 worth of computers and other supplies from an office space in CityPlex Towers.

ORU donations, debts decline
Overall, the university is in better financial shape than a year earlier.

Judge tosses part of case against ORU
A district judge on Monday dismissed part of a wrongful termination case accusing former Oral Roberts University officials of financial wrongdoing.

Roberts to get $440,000
ORU officially severs ties with its former president, who resigned last year after three professors sued.

ORU to lay off 100 employees
The employees losing their jobs will be notified in January and will then continue to be employed for 60 days. The university will offer job placement support for the employees.

Students, staff start anew with ORU
After a year of unrest, ORU has reduced debt and made changes amid renovations.

ORU reduces debt to $19 million
A large chunk of the debt, $30 million, has been paid off by billionaire Oklahoma City businessman Mart Green.

Initial witness list full of notables
Among 125 people and groups listed are sena- tors, a county commis- sioner and an ex-mayor.

50 names entered for ORU top job
No deadline is set on resumes, the search consultant says.

ORU administrator to step down
Mark Lewandowski plans to become a professor.

ORU's top academic officer resigns
He will teach graduate business classes full time at ORU starting this fall and pursue corporate endeavors, he said.

Lindsay Roberts kept in ORU lawsuit
Lawyers in the case agreed to have a pretrial conference Jan. 26. They said a trial date would be set then.

Judge strikes request to dismiss Lindsay Roberts from ORU suit
Judge Rebecca Brett Nightingale decided Monday afternoon to let the lawsuit go forward.

ORU worth saving, donor family says
Mart Green's family made an unusual move when it donated $70 million to an organization in trouble financially.

Green says family thinks 'ORU is worth keeping'
Mart Green’s family had never donated to an organization without “high stewardship” before giving $70 million to Oral Roberts University last fall and winter, Green said at a Tulsa Press Club Page One Luncheon on Monday.

Ex-regents dismissed from lawsuit
A Tulsa County judge dismissed a lawsuit Friday against Oral Roberts University's former regents.

Strength emerges from scandal
Departing collegians say recent challenges helped foster a new spirit of unity and openness at ORU.

ORU works on balancing act
The interim president is planning for a balanced budget within the next three years.

Lawyer: No settlement talks in ORU lawsuit
A report that two former professors suggested $2.5 million is wrong, he said.

ORU president search advances
The university's board names a nine-member search committee and hires a consultant.

Potential ORU students let God guide them
The campus' College Weekend gives students a chance to explore.

Legal claims in ORU case going forward
At a hearing, the judge said she will review requested documents.

ORU crisis a financial lesson
Public accountability for private colleges falls short of the accountability required of public colleges.

End to gag order sought
An attorney says a gag order in the ORU case is being appealed to the state Supreme Court.

ORU moves to trim its debt
Trustees decide to spend about half of a $62 million gift to pay down the university's debt.

Roberts' filing seeks dismissal of lawsuit
Roberts says in his court filing that he did not employ former professors Tim and Paulita Brooker, so he cannot be sued for their alleged wrongful termination.

Attorney asks for end to gag order in Oral Roberts case
The petition was filed this week by Tulsa attorney Gary Richardson.

ORU seeks dismissal of suit
The defendants rebut claims made by two ex-professors.

Roberts denies money-funneling claims
Richard Roberts said Friday that he is "astounded" at the "ludicrous" allegation, made in a court filing Thursday.

ORU money funneled, suit claims
More than $1 billion annually was funneled through ORU, a former accountant claims.

ORU board reborn in new bylaws
The power of "spiritual regents" and ultimate leadership by the founder and his family are gone in Oral Roberts University's revised articles of incorporation and bylaws.

ORU's board is down to business
Trustees decide to pay a $7.5 million note and announce Richard Roberts and his family are moving off campus.

ORU gets checks for $62 million
The Green family’s donation signals acceptance of its deal with the university.

Enrollment hasn't slacked off at ORU
Students who graduated in December are partly to blame for the declines, and colleges every where lose students between semesters.

ORU leaders looking ahead to new president
Oral Roberts University leaders are looking for a president who is "passionate about God," understands education and finances, and has vision, board Chairman Mart Green said Thursday at the conclusion of the board's second meeting.

ORU's new board to meet
ORU is shifting from a "founder's school" model of management toward shared governance, in which faculty and administrators have input and defined roles.

School faces a revised lawsuit
Two former ORU professors file a new version that adds and drops names while getting more specific.

Green plan moves closer
ORU’s regents vote unanimously for the final version of the proposal.

Oral Roberts at 90: Celebration amid turmoil
ORU students remain upbeat.

ORU regents accept final proposal and donation from Green family
The Oral Roberts University board of regents voted unanimously Tuesday to accept the final proposal and donation from the Green family.

Trustees aim for stability at ORU
The school's new board members begin their task with optimism.

ORU names resource panel
Members are part of a transition team to help the school make changes.

ORU taps trustees, interim president
ORU's $70 million benefactors have chosen one of the school's administrators to serve as interim president.

$62 million for ORU
The additional gift from the Green family will come with major changes in ORU administration.

Judge issues a gag order
Those involved in the Oral Roberts University lawsuit are forbidden to discuss the case.

Professor relishing his return
He’s coming back to ORU after settling a suit against it.

ORU reinstates one professor
The lawsuit by two other plaintiffs remains active. Also, two evangelists resign from ORU's board.

ORU regent to lead committee structuring presidential search
ORU's board of regents appointed Dr. Glenda Payas, a Tulsa specialist in laser and cosmetic dental surgery, as chairwoman.

A look at ORU's troubles
The university has been besieged by controversy for nearly three months.

ORU issues
Here is a look at key issues in the Oral Roberts University controversy.

ORU timeline
Here is a look at key developments in the Oral Roberts University controversy.

Green's proposed changes for ORU include power-sharing
In return for a $62 million donation, Oral Roberts University's board of regents will be asked to share power.

2nd evangelist resigns from ORU's board
Jesse Duplantis of Louisiana cites "the demands of ministry" for his departure.

Former high court justice is mediator for ORU lawsuit
The parties involved in the Oral Roberts University lawsuit have chosen former Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Daniel Boudreau as their mediator.

Outages put ORU hearing on ice
Attorneys can't prepare for the first court date because their offices lack electricity.

Two evangelists lose clout on ORU's board
Creflo Dollar resigned from the regents, and Benny Hinn is now a "regent emeritus" with no voting power.

Robertses powerful in bylaws
Board chairman says they have a voice but no vote.

Professors, ORU headed for day in court
The school wants to ban those in the lawsuit from talking publicly about it.

Green says role at ORU temporary
He says his family does not want to run the school.

Copeland provides papers
Creflo Dollar and Benny Hinn did not comply with a senator’s request to hand over financial information.

ORU plans leader search
Steps are being taken to begin the search for a new president and to consider offers of assistance.

Robertson letter offers ORU help
But there’s no word yet on specific plans to collaborate.

Robertson offering assistance to ORU
He’s already given money to the school, and he’s sending a team to the campus.

Richard Roberts: God said to resign
Students cheered and cried as Roberts spoke.

Green cites family's faith as ORU gift impetus
Mart Green says it was a belief in ‘‘living out faith’’ that led his family to pledge $70 million.

An angel for ORU
Family to donate $70 million if reforms made.

ORU will separate legally, financially from ORM
The Roberts family will no longer have a say in the school's business operations.

ORU mum on details of meeting
The regents' meeting follows Richard Roberts' resignation on Friday as ORU president.

School, ministry financially linked
Some alumni have called for a split, but that wouldn't be easy.

ORU alumni support sought
Some uncertain after resignation.

Roberts resigns
Move follows lawsuits, allegations.

E-mails' topic: ORU, politics
Postings bolster a claim that students were coerced into a campaign, an attorney says.

Robertses face more lawsuits
A former ORU accountant and two students have filed suits.

E-mails show political aspirations
The messages allegedly were sent as advice to ORU's Richard Roberts.

ORU weekly e-mails checked
The 2004-06 postings are purportedly to Richard Roberts from his political adviser and sister-in-law.

Teen responds to allegations
Matthew Schwoegler, 19, of Bixby, acknowledges in his written statement that he is the male mentioned in the report.

Plaintiff's attorney files to stay
Gary Richardson says no conflict of interest exists.

Faculty reject Roberts
A new survey of ORU faculty shows that most don't want Richard Roberts to remain as president.

Roberts: Trouble foretold
According to Richard Roberts, he received the prophecy six months ago.

Richard Roberts issues rebuttal to 35 allegations
Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts issued a point-by-point rebuttal Friday to 35 allegations contained in a lawsuit alleging a variety of wrongdoing.

Roberts offers sharing of data
He endorses "complete financial transparency."

Official to quit if Roberts returns
Oral Roberts University's executive vice president of academic affairs and provost offered his resignation to the board of regents.

ORU faculty gives vote of no confidence
A quorum of tenured Oral Roberts University faculty voted "no confidence" in President Richard Roberts.

Plaintiff files for return of his post
He wants to be reinstated as chairman of the department with benefits and back pay.

Project at ORU hung up
The university raised $8.8 million for a new student center since 2001. The site is still empty.

3 ORU regents get queries
They are among the leaders of six media ministries being investigated by a U.S. senator.

U.S. senator to investigate televangelists, including ORU regents
Veteran U.S. senator announced Tuesday that he is looking into generous salaries, luxury cars and private jets provided to six televangelists.

Debt weighs down ORU
It's grappled with shortfall for many years.

Ex-professor has history with lawsuits
A former Oral Roberts University professor who is suing the university has been plaintiff and defendant in at least half a dozen lawsuits.

ORU targets suit's lawyers
The attorneys for three former professors have a conflict of interest, the university claims.

ORU looks at selling station
Officials tell employees about finances, a professor says.

Judge sets motions hearing in ORU lawsuit
Tulsa County District Judge Rebecca Nightingale set a Dec. 11 hearing on Tuesday in the highly publicized case.

ORU's request for quick court date denied
Oral Roberts University and four administrators who have been sued will not get into a courtroom any faster than normal.

Lawyers for ORU, Roberts fire back
Motions claim the professors are using the media, and a gag order is sought.

ORU hires law firm for probe
Oral Roberts University has hired the Washington, D.C., law firm of Miller & Chevalier Chartered to investigate allegations.

ORU in debt $52.5 million
The regents chairman says the board is working to reduce it.

Regents take stronger role after lawsuit
ORU's governing board has become more "hands-on" amid the university's legal turmoil, the panel's chairman says.

Oral Roberts back at ORU
Oral Roberts told a chapel packed with ORU employees and students that no one would take away ORU.

Pastors call for Roberts to resign
A rally supports former professors who filed a lawsuit.

Some ORU alumni sad suit filed
They wish Christian mediation had been used.

Roberts takes ORU leave
The ORU board of regents will decide when and if he returns to the presidency.

Wait on outside probe, ORU alums urged
Alumni association board of directors Chairman Rhae Buckley sent an e-mail "calling on all ORU alumni . . . to continue to support ORU through this process."

ORU was warned by the IRS
The IRS notified Oral Roberts University a year ago of deficiencies in the way the nonprofit university had handled political programs.

School, Lindsay Roberts deny all
Oral Roberts University and its president's wife, Lindsay Roberts, issued written statements Saturday saying that claims and accusations added to a lawsuit Friday are untrue.

Robertses steel selves for crisis with prayer
They talk about their lives and the current controversy.

How students the joined campaign issue
One of the suit's claims is that Richard Roberts required Tim Brooker to use students in Miller's 2006 campaign.

New claims in ORU lawsuit
It alleges documents were destroyed and a "sexual deviant" had access to campus.

ORU calm pledged
Regent vows to make any needed remedies.

Creek woes led Roberts into politics
Richard Roberts was up a creek when he decided to get involved in local politics.

Roberts denies lawsuit reports
The ORU president says the allegations from three ex-professors are not true.

Former insider: Suit no surprise
Bishop Carlton Pearson said he was not surprised by the lawsuit filed against ORU, its president Richard Roberts and others.

Regent says ORU will make any needed corrections
Regents have approved an independent investigation into allegations made against the university.

Some withholding judgment on ORU
Tulsans have seen upheaval before but are concerned how it affects students.

ORU to employ an additional audit firm
Richard Roberts says any family expenses are charged to him and are paid monthly.

ORU students worked other political campaigns
President Richard Roberts is accused of requiring professor Tim Brooker to make his students help with Randi Miller's 2006 Tulsa mayoral campaign.

ORU's leader speaks on suit
He says three former professors suing him and the school are attempting blackmail.

ORU faces lawsuit
Three professors said they lost their jobs because of a report about the Richard Roberts family.

Mayoral campaign e-mails create furor at ORU
Hundreds of Oral Roberts University students received an e-mail in support of mayoral candidate Randi Miller that wrongly claimed to be from an assistant professor.



Listen to the announcement of the new ORU President Mark Rutland.

Slide Show: A day with Richard Roberts

Slide Show: Lawsuit press conference



Read the letters from Sen. Chuck Grassley to:

Pastor Benedictus Hinn

Creflo and Taffi Dollar

Letter to Kenneth and Gloria Copeland


View other PDF's

Preliminary witness list

Brookers' appeal of gag order

Richard Roberts' motion to dismiss the lawsuit

Conflict of interest policy

Revised articles of incorporation

Revised bylaws

Board of Trustees: Officers and Committees

Judge's rulings from Jan. 11 hearing

Brookers' revised lawsuit

Final version of the Green family's proposal

Green Family Proposal

ORU Incorporation

Amended bylaws of ORU, April 27, 2004

Amended bylaws of OREA, Feb. 13, 2004

ORU IRS letter: ORU letter to the IRS

Devalued degree suit filed by David Brown

Devalued degree suit filed by Cornell Cross

Wrongful termination suit filed by Trent Huddleston

Plaintiffs' Response to Defendants' Motion to Disqualify Plaintiffs' Counsel

ORU's rebuttal to 35 allegations

Mark Lewandowski's letter of resignation

ORU faculty vote of no confidence

Plaintiff's application to file third amended petition

Plaintiff's response to defendant's motion for order to restrain extrajudicial statements

Motion to disqualify plaintiffs' counsel

Request for mediation

The revised lawsuit

The lawsuit

OREA's 2006 federal report

ORU's 2005 federal report

ORU's 2006 federal report

Find out who's on the ORU Board of Regents

Statement from the ORU board of regents chairman

Richard Roberts' attorneys

Roberts' motion to strike amended petition

Roberts' motion to strike second amended petition

Motion for gag order

An Open Letter from the Vice Presidents Council


Oral Roberts -- Renowned Tulsa evangelist and founder of Oral Roberts University, City of Faith Medical and Research Center, the University Village Retirement Center and the International Charismatic Bible Ministries. He was born Jan. 24, 1918, in Pontotoc County. His early career was as a Pentecostal, but he joined the Methodist Church in 1968. One of the most repeated stories about Roberts was that in September 1980, he reportedly had a vision of a 900-foot-tall Jesus. Roberts is the founder of the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and chairman emeritus of the Board of Trustees. He now lives in Southern California but still serves as chancellor of ORU.


Richard Roberts -- Son of Oral and Evelyn, Richard was born Nov. 12, 1948. He has served as president of Oral Roberts University since Jan. 27, 1993. He is married to Lindsay Roberts. They have three daughters: Jordan, Olivia and Chloe.

Roberts Family -- Oral's wife, Evelyn Roberts, 88, died May 4, 2005, in Southern California. In addition to Richard, Oral has a daughter, Tulsa lawyer Roberta Roberts Potts. A son, Ronald Roberts, and a daughter, Rebecca Roberts Nash, died earlier.