The Oral Roberts scandal recalls previous religious scandals like Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, but the PTL misdeeds are nothing compared to the Oral Roberts scandal.
The Oral Roberts scandal has Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts caught up in political and financial wrongdoing and his wife, ORU Vice President Lindsay Roberts, enmeshed in late night misadventures with underage teenage boys.
Here’s what the Associated Press had to say about the Oral Roberts University scandal:
Richard Roberts is accused of illegal involvement in a local political campaign and lavish spending at donors’ expense, including numerous home remodeling projects, use of the university jet for his daughter’s senior trip to the Bahamas, and a red Mercedes convertible and a Lexus SUV for his wife, Lindsay.
Lindsay Roberts is accused of dropping tens of thousands of dollars on clothes, awarding nonacademic scholarships to friends of her children and sending scores of text messages on university-issued cell phones to people described in the lawsuit as “underage males.”
The lawsuit against Oral Roberts University was filed by three professors dismissed after they gave the school’s Board Of Regents copies of incriminating documents found by an ORU student while repairing a laptop belonging to Richard Roberts sister-in-law, Stephanie Cantese.
Oral Roberts Scandal Details
The incriminating document at the heart of the Oral Roberts scandal details dozens of alleged instances of misconduct. Among them:
- A longtime maintenance employee was fired so that an underage male “friend” of Mrs. Roberts could have his job.
- Lindsay Roberts cell-phone bills exceeded $800 per month, with hundreds of text messages sent between 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. to “underage males who had been provided phones at university expense.”
- The Oral Roberts University jet was used to take one daughter and several friends on a senior trip to Orlando and the Bahamas with the $29,411 trip being billed to the ministry as an “evangelistic function of the president.”
- Mrs. Roberts spent huge amounts on clothing purchases charged to the Oral Roberts ministry, with more than $39,000 at one Chico’s clothing store alone in less than a year, claiming “As long as I wear it once on TV, we can charge it off.” The document cites inconsistencies in clothing purchases and their actual usage on TV.
- University employees are regularly summoned to the Roberts’ home to do their daughters’ homework.
- The university maintains a stable of horses for the exclusive use of the Roberts’ three daughters.
- ORU paid for the Roberts’ home to be remodeled 11 times in the past 14 years.
You’ve got to love people like the Roberts who have no problem flouting the rules against a non-profit university participating in political campaigns and spending Oral Roberts University’s money like they were oil billionaires.
And Lindsay Roberts shameful behavior with teenage boys who are younger than her own daughters makes Jim Bakker’s romps with Jessica Hahn pale in comparison.
And that’s the latest on the Oral Roberts scandal.
No tag for this post.
October 8th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Talk about pure chutzpah:
10/06/2007 - Oral Roberts’ Son Says God Telling Him to Deny Scandal Charges
“Richard Roberts, son of televangelist Oral Roberts and current president of his father’s university, says he is being told by God to deny charges being laid against him by three former professors, involving political favors and personal indulgences.”
Too bad he didn’t ask to be struck dead if he was lying…
October 8th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
[...] Found here. [...]
October 8th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
[...] admin wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
October 8th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
[...] sara wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptRoberts spent huge amounts on clothing purchases charged to the Oral Roberts ministry, with more than $39000 at one Chico’s clothing store alone in less than a year, claiming “As long as I wear it once on TV, we can charge it off. … [...]
October 8th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
[...] Oral Roberts Scandal jet for his daughter s senior trip to the Bahamas, and a red Mercedes convertible and a Lexus SUV… and several friends on a senior trip to Orlando and the Bahamas with the $29,411 trip being billed [...]
October 9th, 2007 at 12:25 am
[...] Oral Roberts Scandal jet for his daughter s senior trip to the Bahamas, and a red Mercedes convertible and a Lexus SUV… and several friends on a senior trip to Orlando and the Bahamas with the $29,411 trip being billed [...]
October 9th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
This is a tragic situation and yet another betrayel of trust over financial issues. The cancers should resign, accept pensions, and plead The fith.
October 10th, 2007 at 8:52 am
That’s pretty nasty that she’s messing around with underage boys that are younger then her own daughters.
Isn’t that a sin?
Or does Linday Roberts think she has a “Get Out Of Hell Free” card?
Payback’s a bitch honey and your turn is coming soon…
October 10th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
I thought that in our country one was presumed innocent until proven guilty. The allegations against the Roberts was information taken from a laptop, by a student given to three professors who went to the board of Regents. Could there be motives behind their “revealing sin in the camp”?
. The public is licking their chops over this latest scandel involving a well known Christian family, quote ” payback is a bitch honey” let him that has not sinned cast the first stone Donna P. Why don’t we all wait and see the results of the investigation of all the people involved before we condem people to hell.
October 10th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
at first i thought maybe she was contacting the underage boys for richard!!! can you blame me?? i thought maybe he was pulling a ted haggard. but if they were really for her i think of dean wormer’s wife (animal house) and how she gets it on with the frat guys. but these boys are like in high school. how pathetic that horny woman is.
October 10th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
I hope for the sake of the true Christian community these allegations are not true. But if they are true, it just shows that the Almighty God backs up what he says in his word. Your sins will find you!!! What is hidden will be revealed!
October 11th, 2007 at 8:38 am
First let’s compare apples with apples and not apples with oranges here.
Presidents of a University with 5,000 students do not drive both a brand new Mercedes AND a brand new Lexus. They may draw a low $ 6-figure income and they definitely don’t get a corporate jet. Case in point, my alma mater, Shepherd University with a student population of around 4,000. Close enough to ORU to make a fair comparison. If we were talking West Virginia University (27K+), Virginia Tech (25K+), University of North Carolina (27K+), or any other larger school of that nature, then I would agree he needs the big $ salary and the brand new luxury cars and MAYBE the corporate jet. The problem is, we are talking a school that barely meets university status. I spent 2 years at ORU and then transferred to Shepherd to finish my degree so I know both places. (And yes, I’ve been in Richard’s house)
Now let’s compare the President of ORU with the President of Shepherd University. Richard draws an income of nearly $700K per year (even though only $140K is reported by the organization) while the President of Shepherd will be lucky to draw $200K per year. Richard lives in a house worth (before the 11 renovations) 1.5 - 2.0 million dollars while the President of Shepherd lives in the Popodicon worth $350K - $400K. (Dollar amounts are relative to the Winchester, VA housing market and not the Tulsa, OK housing market.) Richard gets free luxury cars from “donors” while the President of Shepherd must go purchase his own car out of his paycheck. Richard gets a free corporate jet while the President of Shepherd must fly commercial airlines if the situation necessitates. Richard gets to write off his clothing purchases on his taxes because he is on TV. The President of Shepherd gets no such luck.
Secondly, I attended ORU and I have seen how they treat people. At ORU I was treated like a kid and at Shepherd I was treated and given the respect as an adult. Some rules of ORU and how they enforce them.
No gays are allowed and you are not allowed have sex outside of marriage. I don’t have a problem with either rule but here is how they enforced these rules. I never saw a gay kicked out but I heard that they busted some guys on the swim team for being gay the year before. Unwed females that got pregnant? Once the university found out, they were sitting at the Tulsa bus station by the end of the day. (They only enforced this on the females as guys don’t get pregnant.) They would kick those girls out so fast it would make your head spin. I should know…I saw it happen 2 times during the 2 years I was there.
Shepherd had a policy that a student’s account had to be “paid in full” BEFORE they could start the semester. ORU had a policy of letting students start the semester without their account was “paid in full”. ORU’s enforcement of this policy was both shocking and chilling. About 1/2 way through the semester the remaining balance became due. This would always happen during a Chapel service. The RA’s would pull the “offenders” out of Chapel in front of everyone else. Next, all the RA’s would line the sidewalks (leading to another building) on both sides like Nazi storm troopers. (only they wore a shirt and tie) The “offenders” were then herded like cattle to “a room” in another building where they were forced against their will to stay until their balance was paid. If the “offending student” was still unable to come up with the money and pay their balance in full, they were doing the duffle bag drag to the Tulsa bus station by days end. I witnessed 2 of my bros. doing the duffle bag drag in the 2 years I was there.
Firing of Professors that disagree with the ORU administration? Absolutely! My sister (who was attending Grad. School at the time) witnessed one of her Profs. get fired because he disagreeded with the administration. It doesn’t surprise me that it happened again. The Roberts family surrounds themselves with “Yes Men”. As long as you agree with them, things are fine. Once you say “no”, you’re on your way to getting replaced. In my opinion, ORU is nothing more than the “Roberts’ Country Club”.
It has been 15 years since I attended ORU (’90-’92) and it seems things haven’t changed a bit. What is surprising to me is that it took this long for the truth to come out. (Did I mention that funds set aside for student projects would magically “disappear” about ½ way through the semester? Yes, they did.)
The things I saw while I was there were not necessarily criminal in nature; however, they were definitely a blatant abuse of power. Power corrupts, and Absolute power corrupts absolutely. In closing, I don’t trust the Roberts family any further than I can throw them. I will give to Shepherd University (a state run school) before I will ever give to ORU. I know too much about ORU to ever trust them again.
October 16th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Hey guy’s lets not judge. We have highly paid professionals to investigate. I think richard Roberts is a cool President but I also think his wife may be just trying to do a Michael jackson.
October 17th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
Hi Ghost, I too attended ORU for two years in the late 80′; couple of facts to bring a little perspective: Richard is not only the president of ORU but should rather be compared to a celebrity.
For example, during his recent trip to Niger (90% Muslim country) more than 20,000 people attended the services per night– the Christian population tripled in a week in Niger! I know of missionaries that get exited if one Muslim converts in a year.
Richard did not go to the poverty stricken Niger for self enrichment. His team served more than 200,000 meals mostly to starving children, and his medical team (dentists and doctors) treated more than 1700 people.
I am not saying he is perfect, all I know is that when my wife flew to South Africa with our new born (we went over to assist in the political transition) Without knowing her, Richard stepped forward and carried her bags so that she could hold the baby. I don’t know of any other Christian or non Christian celebrity that would have lifted a finger to help her.
And regarding the “private jet” that Jet was a gift to the school with the sole purpose of flying Richard. The Donor pays for the maintenance. The school did not pay a penny for the Jet, and Richard’s use of it is 100% in compliance with the intent of the original donor.
October 20th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Andre
Your defence is childish, emotional based, and no facts.
Richard is paid as a celebrity???
October 21st, 2007 at 1:40 am
Andre
I agree with you in asking for and needing proof. But where I come from if it waddles like a duck and it quacks like a duck, it is usually a duck.
When anyone has inappropriate relationships, via texts, etc which can be proven, because they are on the ORU bill, (which was pretty stupid on her part) they are given free cell phones with costs picked up by the school, etc. Plus a long time employee was fired and one of these kids was hired as a maintenence man in his place! (Wonder if he was the pool guy?)
In this country, when an adult has inappropriate relationships with underage children, it is criminal, and maybe Michael Jackson got away with it, but does that make it none the less criminal?
Its just real hard for me to believe that all the speical favors for these young guys don’t have strings attached. And calling or texting at 1am to 3am? Hummmmm sounds more and more like that duck to me!
Agreed, no one is perfect, but come on now!
October 21st, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Fascism is the out growth of religious fanaticism that confuses personal desire with Gods word. Just because you can read does not mean that you have the ability to understand. To believe from the bottom of you heart that you speak on behalf of God and have been entrusted to spread his word is not healthy and speaks about a self-garnishment that is a far worse offence to God, than abortion. The only thing God needs from you is for you to do the right thing for your neighbor not your own pocket book. You are not better than anyone else nor more deserving than anyone else. God gave everything you see, think, and feel, to all his creation equally. Privilege, is a man made justification for greed, hording and ownership of Gods public property in private hands. The fact that you say you work for God and then own private property, show how little you care about Gods gifts to humanity. You further desire to participate in political activism, to further your own personal worldly power, just show how little respect you have for God. You chase power, the same power that corrupted Jesus’ church, that infected the reformation and now has so poisoned Western Religious thought that Word of God is lost, just like you and your followers. Seek your salvation in good works for you neighbors’, give to our fair maidens that our now women and those that are soon to bring Gods gift of life into this world. Choose not to condemn, but condone life by supporting it, feeding it, teaching it, providing a safe place for it to grow. It is not right to attack those how are forced to choose between life and death, your responsibility to God is to keep your mouth shut about your opinions’ that you think you have read, and give all that you have, to those that have had their gifts from God stolen. Stolen by addiction, Anger, Fear, Poverty, Confusion and of course your personal Judgment on their suitability to receive Gods love, to repent means to give all that you have hoarded to those that you see as unworthy of Gods Gifts all that you have stolen from Gods creation.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Whenever their is: “Separation of Church and State”, their is Mega Churches & Ministries making too much money with to many write offs!!!!!!
I know, I work for one!
October 25th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
I am just sick and tired of the “mega Chruches” making all Christrians look bad. I am just a tiny fish in a tiny pond, trying to live right, and do right. It sickens me that this sort of coruption happens.
God will not be mocked! HE will take care of this, and if I were dong what they are doing I wouldn’t feel too great right now. Of course, I do have a conscience.
Let the Lord sort it out, abuse of power and money is abuse. And if God did tell Mr. Roberts to DENY the charges being brought against him, that might be for a reason as well. However I personally think it might be his attorney and not God who told him that!!!
October 26th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Great discussion,
Swede
Ghost compared Richard’s salary and benefits with the president of Shepherd University. You simply can’t compare the two. Whether you believe in a God that still heals or not is irrelevant. What is relevant is that Richard has a huge following. Fact: more than 100, 000 written testimonies of Americans that claim God healed them through Richard’s healing ministry. Fact: The guy attracts crowds in the tens of thousands. Sure you may think it is bogus, heck, you may even be an atheist, I don’t know–Does not matter. There are plenty of celebrities with huge followings that you or I won’t agree with– this is what makes America great.
The mistake: Non profit tax benefits. I am sure that the guy donating the airplane cooked the books with the donation so that Uncle Sam ultimately paid for the plane.
There is no question that Richard and his wife took fully advantage of these tax write-offs through the University. In other words, instead of taking out a larger taxable income, they took all these perks. This was and is a mistake but not necessarily wrong. I am convinced that his status as an American celebrity fully justifies his income and perks but only as part of a taxable income package. I did not attend my Law School because of the President of the school. However, a large percentage of students attending Oral Roberts University attend that school because of the ministry of Oral and Richard Roberts–this is what makes this university rather unique from other schools and his benefits should be judged within that context.
October 28th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Sure, but does it make him or his wife above the law?
October 29th, 2007 at 8:35 am
Just read the documents filed in court. (Tulsa World).
Accusations seem to be pretty well documented. The stated behaviors seem to be pretty well typical,as well
as the “tactics”.
Same thing went on in the 70’s and 80’s. Books were
written and subsequently squashed!
Any body remember the typewriters in the river?
October 29th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Paula, no of cause it does not place him or his wife above the law. Also Richard should not be blamed for any misdeeds of his wife– vice-versa.
Like I stated, a potential legal problem that Richard may face is with the IRS. However, I am sure he can legally justify most of the perks mentioned in the complaint.
I do not understand Lindsay’s behavior. It depends in a large part on the nature of the relationship. It seems that the kid was homeless and without anybody caring for the kid. She may have sort of adopted him. I don’t know. But her actions do not necessarily mean that she had any kind of sexual relations with the kid. Time will tell as the case progress. I do believe she has invested a lot of her life into the community and deserves the benefit of the doubt—at least for now. And if she in fact had sexual relations with the kid, she should be prosecuted to the full extend of the law.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Paula, also, I do agree with you, and I am sure Lindsay would agree with us, that the appearance of evil is almost worst than evil itself–because you get accused of engaging in evil even though you may be completely innocent—how be it naĂŻve. Think about it: if there were hard evidence, she would have been arrested by now or at least been under investigation. As I understand it, there is only an unrelated civil case pending. No criminal charges had been filed, or any evidence that she is currently under criminal investigation.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
I agree with Andre, concerning Lindsay! It sound’s as thou she was trying to mentor these boys. I believe, those in Christian authority should mentor other Christians of the same sex! Because it prevents this type of situation from happening. {Math. 10 : 26}.
October 29th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
Not necessarily wrong? If it is not necessarliy wrong, it is not necessarily right either. Last time I checked we were called to live “right by all men as much as it is possible”. Making a habit of living in the not necessarily wrong/right gets people in trouble…I don’t care who you are.
Let’s see…Stretching the truth. Not telling the whole truth. Not exactly telling the truth. Withholding the truth. Denying the truth. Not exactly lying. Bluffing. Lying. It all sound the same to me. I don’t care how you want to candy coat it.
I’m not saying that Richard has never done anything good…the problem is, he is nowhere close to the “Golden Boy” that he is held up to be on TV. With that being said…
Richard a Celebrity! What ever….. If he is a celebrity then he needs to go to Hollywood instead of the ministry. You’re missing the point of why all those people came to hear him preach. They came to hear the word of God…not see a Celebrity. They came because they were fed and got medical treatment. They could care less about a Celebrity.
In addition to that, hunger is a very powerful force. In that situation, starving people will agree to anything someone says as long as they get the food they came for. The real question is…how many stayed true after they left? The fact on that is probably more like 3% or less. Granted…1 person saved is worth even more effort than that, but my point is you are blowing smoke behind the numbers (just like Oral and Richard always did) to make the final results sound better than they really were. I’ve heard the same line of BS when I attended school there and Oral and Richard went on the same type of trip. With all the numbers that Oral and Richard alone have pull out of Africa since I have known them since the early 80’s…There shouldn’t be a Muslim left in Africa.
I don’t care what you call him, he is in the ministry…not Hollywood (Even though they are acting like Hollywood). People give donations to ORU and OREA out of their hard earned money and expect it to be put to good use. It is not.
The fact is, I ran across a charitable organization rating service that rates all charities/ministries. Out of a possible 4/4 rating…ORU/OREA received the worst rating of a 1/4. That says a lot about a charity/ministry right there. They aren’t using the $ given to them effectively. Now if he wants to be treated like a minister or charity, lets cut that salary from 200K (University Pres.) to no more than 75K. He would scream like a stuck pig if they did that to him.
I’m sorry Richard sees himself as a Celebrity and wants to be babied like one…sounds like a personal problem to me. Last time I checked, he puts his underwear on the same way I do in the morning.
October 30th, 2007 at 9:28 am
Not necessarily wrong? If it is not necessarily wrong that means it is also not necessarily right either. Last time I checked we were suppose to “live right by all men as much as it is possible.” Making a habit of living in the not necessarily wrong or right will get anybody in trouble…I don’t care who you are.
Let’s examine this thinking further… Not necessarily true. Not exactly right. Basically true. Not the full truth. Stretching the truth. Withholding the truth. Partially true. It is mostly true. Not necessarily wrong. Not exactly wrong. Partially flawed. Partially wrong. Bluffing. Not necessarily a lie. Lying. Ya know….it all looks the same to me. I don’t care how you candy coat it.
Richard is not a Celebrity. He is in the ministry and needs to act like it for a change. If he wants to be a Celebrity, he needs to quit the ministry and go to Hollywood. 20K people per day came to hear the Word of God, not because they are “his followers”. They came because food and medical care were available. They could care less about his “Celebrity status”. With that being said, hunger is a very powerful force. Most starving people will do and/or say almost anything as long as they get the food that is being offered. (Granted…if 1 person converted and stayed that way, it was worth the effort and more.) The problem is, how many of the “converts” stayed that way after you left. Likely, no more than 5%. And being that it is a Muslim country, probably about half that number.
Now wait a minute…is that 20K new people every day or is that 20K of the same people coming back night after night. Keep in mind that they don’t have the same transportation system we do. They most likely came in on foot.
What is my point? Oral and Richard have been going on these Africa trips for as long as I can remember. (30+ years) You can blow smoke behind the numbers all you want to. It really comes down to effectiveness. With the numbers that Oral and Richard alone have (supposedly) been putting up over the past 30 years, there shouldn’t be a Muslim left in Africa. With as many brick heads as we have in the Army, even they are smart enough to know that “if it ain’t working, change your tactics.” The math they are using looks like military math anyway. 1 chicken + 2 donkeys + 1 water buffalo = 25 enemy KIA.
I’m not saying that Richard has never done anything good. The problem is, he is far from the “Golden boy” everyone makes him out to be.
Now with the ministry in mind…he is the head of a non-profit organization, not a corporation or a Celebrity. (ORU/OREA) People aren’t buying a product from ORU. They are donating their hard earned cash that they really need to feed and cloth their children and pay the electric bill for this month. But instead they give it to his organization. They better darn sight be stretching the most out of every dollar. Richard makes a mockery of the donors by telling them to “stretch” this month and give to the ministry while he, after he gets the money, lets his wife go on a $30K shopping spree at one store. That is a waste of the donors’ limited funds, not fiscally responsibility.
Remember after 9-11 when the firefighters would carry boots around at stoplights for the victims of 9-11? All that money was then donated to the Red Cross. Now the Red Cross never had a “fund” specifically designated for “the victims of 9-11”. So they put the money in their general fund even though they knowingly received it as being for the 9-11 victims. Do you remember what happened when that hit the public? PEOPLE WERE INFURIATED! Even Congress started weighing in on the matter. They did eventually create the fund and put the money in there that had been donated. But in our case, since Richard is a “Celebrity” (televangelist) who just happens to be in charge of a charitable organization, he can do the same thing (in principle) and it is OK? Tell me another one because I’m not falling for it.
Since you don’t like comparing Richard to a University Pres. Lets compare him to what he really is…the head of a charitable organization. Now let’s cut that $200K salary to $75K max. Most “heads” of charitable organizations want to give the most possible to the organization and it’s outreach. Some of them work a second job to help make this happen. Not Richard. He would squeal like a stuck pig. He would rather see the ministry go down the tubes than take a pay cut from the $700K he alone is getting.
I ran across a charitable organization rating agency about 2 weeks ago. http://www.charitynavigator.org/ They rate all charities/ministries from the Red Cross to soup kitchens. Out of a possible 4 star rating, OREA achieved a 1 star rating. That is not the worst possible rating that OREA could earn, but to get any worse would mean to be going in the red. Both the Red Cross and the National Christian Foundation pull in 4 star ratings. Both Back to the Bible (3 star) and Grace to You (4 star) pull in better ratings as well. That says a lot about an organization and the lack of fiscal responsibility. If it looks like a duck, acts like a duck, and smells like a duck….there is no amount of smoke that you can blow on the situation to convince me that it is really a turtle.
Let it be known that I am not “judging” Richard. That is not for me (or anyone else) to do. At the same time, I can say that it is wrong for a President of a University or head of a charitable organization to do XYZ. I am not judging his faith. I am looking at his ACTIONS and calling it the way I see it.
November 1st, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Ghost, what do you mean you are not judging Richard? You entire dissortation is motivated by hurt and dissapointment.
November 1st, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Time for some facts:
Richard earns the following:
181,469 President of ORU
100,000 Vice President of City Plex
41,530 Oral Roberts Ministries
But according to Charity navigator he receives 105,617 when one includes his expense account. However, this amount is still less than 1 percent of the expenses of the ministry (.73%). Note that the average CEO salary for religious groups is more than 4% of expenses. Richard’s income from ORM is well below the national average.
I know that Ghost liked to compare Richard to the President of Shepherds University but let’s compare Richard’s income to the CEO of Baylor School of Medicine:
$1,237,200. ORU is not only a four year school but offer several Master and Doctoral level programs.
He certainly does not sound like the duck you like to make him out to be. Why all the animosity Ghost? Remember the law suite was filed by three disgruntle x-employees.
November 2nd, 2007 at 1:31 am
Ghost
Thanks for the resource hint Charitynavigator.com.
I was amazed that charities pay almost as well as corporations. I am not sure where your 75K max figure came from. I stand corrected: You don’t have to be a celebrity to earn Richard’s income. Here is some examples that poped up when you research National Christian Foundation through the cite.
Lutheran Community Foundation received a four star rating, but the president received 162,629 in compensation (1.56%) of expenses.
National Christian Foundation, Parker–Chairman, 188,323. David Wills–President 169,879. Given the size of the expenses of this charity, the salaries are only .08% of expenses. But still the compensation in the high six figures.
Christian Community Foundation
Four Star rating John Mulder–President 125,657 (.63% of expenses.)
Peter Popoff Ministries
Three Star rating Peter Popoff–President 628,732 (3.06% of expenses)
May be you can help us out: where did the “75K max” in your ninth paragraph come from?
The bottom line is: As for the ministry (ORM), Richard’s compensation (105,617) according to charitynavigator.com is well within reason.
November 2nd, 2007 at 2:26 am
Guys: I found a great paper that discusses the Salaries of Presidents in Private Universities. http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/cheri/wp/cheri_wp58.pdf
The Median compensation package: $507,750 (Wow) 02-03 year.
The highest paid President: Lynn University less than 3000 students: A 5 million dollar compensation package!!! Richard: eat your heart out.
Maybe people are so hard on Richard because he claims to be a Christian and people expect him live by his world view– really their world view of what a Christian should look like. Just because you are a Christian–should get a substandard compensation plan and benefits?
November 14th, 2007 at 2:32 am
The Oral Roberts family is full of secrets. Like Dr.Roberts oldest son ,Ronnie, killed himself because the family was against him because he was gay. He became addicted to drugs and drinking because of the pain.
Especially when they tried to take his visitation rights away from him for his children.
It seems that clean up and honesty has begun with them. I feel that it is good.
Ryan
November 17th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Dittos Ryan. I feel the same way b/c of what I have witnessed myself when I was there.
Take care Dude.
November 22nd, 2007 at 12:17 am
richard i do not know what or how to believe anymore and i do not know what people are really about anymore. i always thought you and wife were in the prayer tower praying for people. i hope i don’t lose my faith tod
November 29th, 2007 at 11:05 am
Oh shame on the people who were so envious and full of vengeous. What a naughty thing to speak about Lindsey, shame on them. They are grasping at anything to discredit them. These people were just waiting to pounce, with hearts of envy, just like the Pharisees and Judas, who fed on accusations to try to destroy Jesus. The jet plane was given to the Roberts freely. And Lindsey is allowed to wear nice clothes since they have a worldwide tv program, you bunch of envious nitpickers. God uses Richard Roberts mightily to speak healing in Christ to the world. The devil is busy using these busybodies to discredit God’s work. Richard Roberts has such a lovely kind-hearted spirit in him, and you can see it on his face and in his words on his tv show. GOD IS WITH YOU RICHARD AND LINDSEY. I have to laugh at satan and his evil cohorts. This is clearly coming from the pit of hell itself. Jesus said, Behold, I give you POWER to tread on serpents and scorpions and over ALL the power of the enemy. PRAISE THE NAME OF JESUS. gooooo RICHARD AND LINDSEY AND ORU !!!! GOD IS WITH YOU.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
In Reference to the earlier topic, I work for a World known Ministry and did recieve a raise in November, after being on a wage freeze. Then 1 month later I recieved a negative Performance Appraisal. There were several pages written about me: “Slashing my Character”! Do I have any legal rights or do I have to tolerate “Abuse of Power”?
I was told by another fellow employee that if I get fired, that I would not be able to collect unemployment because it is a “Ministry Job”!
December 21st, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Do you know David O. Middlebrook? Mr. Middlebrook graduated with honors with a B.S. in Business Management from Oral Roberts University in 1985.
December 28th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Therin lies the problem of people having faith in a person or persons leaving God out of the equation.
We have been warned and foretold of thieves in sheeps clothing. You cant honestly believe the man
hears God talking to him with his supposed direct link to how many people have a pain in their body.
Give a sane person a break It is harder for a rich man to go to Heaven than a camel to pass thru the eye of a needle. Why is that ??
December 30th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
I feel like sometimes people feel sorry for the rich and forget about the poor! [Math. 6 : 1 - 4].
January 5th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
1 John 3 : 8 ; says : He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
February 8th, 2008 at 12:50 am
Has this site been abandoned, should come back as ORU staff (?) being accused of 1 Billion misuse of funds…..?
February 9th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
I heard that too, Paula.
June 9th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
“From he who much is given, Much is expected.” Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are not fools they know the power of God and what he expects of them. If God feels it is necessary to take Mr. Robers out of the ORU. He certainly will not need the help of any scandal hungry tabloid to do it. “Seek and You will find.” This includes church scandals. The problem with seeking is time. If you seek too fast what you find may not be the truth.
August 21st, 2008 at 9:40 pm
This is my story. I work for Marilyn Hickey Ministries as a Prayer Warrior on Sept. 23rd, 2002. I was hired for $8.50 per hour, with no computer skills. In Nov. of 2007, the Ministry decided they could hire computer skilled people if they raised the wage to $11.25 per hour. They said; “they were forced to raise everyone else’s wage;” because of it. At that time, in Dec. they gave me a bad appraisal and have been trying to fire me ever since. Aprox. 6 months ago they made us all sign a form saying that if terminated that we would not receive uneployment. They gave me a #2 verbal warning today, based on my computer skills ONLY!!!
I tried contacting their lawyer, David Middlebrook, whom graduated from Oral Roberts University, Which I previously stated, because of the constant bulling & battering I have received from the management, supervisors, & Executive Director-Cathy Ryan, MRG.- Marsha Smith, Teleservice MRG.- Nancy Buckner, & on line supervisor- Adreinne Dolzier. Their lawyer, David Middlebrook-responded in writing that their was nothing he could do because he represented Marilyn Hickey Ministries? Please help me on this situation, as today the management said; Written Warning is next”!!!
August 27th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Since I wrote last, I sent several letters to Pastor Marilyn concerning this issue. Even thou I have not gotten a response yet? My manager, Marsha said; “She would work with me on Keying Data, Computer Skills, Donorware, & The Product Line”. My biggest concern is when “we” The Body of Christ” lose sight of the goal. Which is ministering to hurting people & lost souls. When “the Church or Christian Ministries” become more like a “Business or Corporation,” than I feel like we lose sight of what Jesus has us here to do!
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I do have a learning disability, called “Dyslexia”! I told Marilyn Hickey Ministries I had Dyslexia in Jan. of 2008. Pam, in the Human Resource Dept., gave me a packet to take to a specialist to fill out to prove I have a Learning Disability, at my cost!! I could not afford Health Insurance, so I could not get it documented!
The Online Supervisor, Adrienne Dolezal, changed the format of the test, in Feb. or March of 2008, to a Reasoning or Problem Solving ; ” Product/Partnership Keying Test”! On the keying test, you read a Product/Partnership order, when the words are all “jumbled up” & “out of order”! You need to translate it on another piece of paper or worksheet, then you have exactly 20 min. to complete the test on the computer. I was scoring aprox. 64% on each test, each month since. I’m dealing with a reading disorder I have, it is associated with impairment of the ability to interpret spatial relationships or to intergrate auditory & visual information.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Also, when I take a Prayer/Product call, I type in what I hear the caller say and spell back & repeat it to them! I make mistakes and correct them as quickley as possible.
I did contact The American Disability Association, because my employer is trying to discriminate against me for having a Learning Disability!! I have not yet heard back from them
September 4th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
In reference to “Learning Disabilities In The Workplace”; I was referred to: L.D.A., Learning Disabilities Association of America.
Afterall, I know that if GOD can use an illierate women named : “Harriet Tubman”, in the Underground Railroad of 1849, “GOD can use me”!
For GOD’s Word say’s in: “Ps. 139 : 14″;
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works
And that my soul knows very well.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Furthermore, They do have The American’s Disabilities Act of 1990, which protects employees from discrimination in the Workplace.
Also, Marilyn Hickey Ministries did hire InService America, to take Product & Global calls for 3 months. Therefore that leaves us free to take the “Prayer Calls”! Praise God!!!!
September 9th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Nevertheless, Assistive Technology and Adaptive Equipment are available for Adults with Learning Disabilities in The Workplace.
September 17th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
The Job situation with M.H.M. still hasn’t been resolved??? There has been no response to the 3 letters I’ve written to Pastors’ Wally and Marilyn Hickey and Pastors’ Reece and Sarah Bowling? Please keep this situation in prayer -
The bible says; in: Matthew 10:16; “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as inocent as doves. Thank you!!
Shalom!
September 19th, 2008 at 12:49 am
Today I received my Written Warning from Marilyn Hickey Ministries! I was given the 2nd Verbal Warning on Aug. 21st, 08 based on the Product Line. They tested me on the Product Line on Aug. 26th, 08. So, they gave me aprox. 2 days to study & learn it!! Then, presented me with it today!! This was in the same time frame - Aug. 21st - 26th, when they hired InService America to take their Product and Global calls! That hardly seems fair or just!
I did manage to get Pastor Reece Bowling, Dr. Marilyns’ son - in-law to pray with me for a job while I was headed out the door.
Interesting thou, I wrote my 4th letter to the Hickeys’ and Bowlings & have yet to get a response!! I think I’ve got mine??
I did attempt to talk to our Executive Director, Cathy Ryan, from Ok. City, OK. , and “She replied; You have “Gifts and Talents”!! Then why can’t God use me here? I also tried talking with our Online Supervisor, Adrienne Dolezal, whom graduated from ORU, with a Mastors Degree in Christian Counseling. “She replied;” God has a plan for you!”And our MHPC Manager, Marsha Smith says ?? Then theirs’ the M.H.P.C./Teleservices Manager;Nancy Buckner, who proclaims: “You should know this by now”? And don’t forget our very “new” Human Resource Director: Pam Hettlinger whom today served me my free doughnut along with my six year” Certificate of Appreciation”!
Well, have we become so hard & callous, “”In the Christian Workplace, that we don’t care about our fellow Christians and the Lost !! {Rom. 16:6}; {Rom. 12:10}.
Maybe our Gospel message has been so watered down, with deception and lies, We should : “Preach the Truth”!
Or maybe, “We have become so obsessed with making money & “new” Technology to get things done “Faster & Quicker”, selling Products, Partnerships, Tours, & Breakfast Encounter’s, that wev’e lost sight of the call and purpose God has placed on this Earth, to be a Witness for Christ!!!
September 28th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
I work for M.H.M. I received another Keying written test on Product, Partnerships & ect. o Friday Sept. 26th, 2008.
In reference to my last e-mail, I was pertaining to “Loving” our fellow Christians, “In the Christian Workplace & outside the Workplace”!! The bible says; In: 1 Cor.13:1-2; Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
GOD’S Word says In: Proverbs 10:12; Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.
And In: Heb. 13:1; Let brotherly love continue.
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Amen!!
September 28th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
And In GOD’S Word: Revelation 2:4-5 , “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent.
September 29th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
In reference to my last e-mail,
for we are in this world, but not of it. This world is not our
home, we are just passing through.
The Bible says, In: Jn. 15:18-19; “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Also in: 1 Jn. 2:17; And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. And 1 Jn. 3:13-15; as well!
September 29th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Next, GOD’S Word says In: 1 Jn. 3:18-19; My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
2 Tim. 3:1-3; says: But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good -
But where is the LOVE? Which is one of The Fruits of The Spirit!
Matt. 3:7; says: But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
September 29th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
The Bible says; In: Matt. 3:8-10; “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
“and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father. ‘For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
“And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
What kind of Fruit are they Bearing?
Matthew 7:15-16; says: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
September 29th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Lastly, repentance!! ” The Lamb of God”
In: Jn. 1:29; The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
And In: Romans 3: 23-26; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
September 30th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
“Bearing Seed for Sowing”!
Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5-6
The Executive Director, Cathy Ryan and the Human Resource Director, Pam Hettlinger, called me into a meeting today, Sept. 30th,2008; pertaining to the 4 letters Iv’e written to Marilyn Hickey Ministries. To: Pastor’s Wallace & Marilyn Hickey-Founders of M.H.M. & O.R.C.C. ,Pastor’s Reece & Sarah Bowling,Senior Pastor of Orchard Rd Christian Center & President of M.H.M.; Gina Hilbrich, Vice - President, and Karen Zirger [E.L.T.]. I was told that I didn’t go through the proper chain of command? I went from the bottom and up! Cathy Ryan keeps trying to force me to quit!! “By saying,”Isn’t there something else you could do”? They keep pressuring me! So, please keep this situation in prayer.
September 30th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Also, The Online Supervisor, Adrienne Dolezal, downloaded to my computer InService America’s power point they used to train them on Marilyn Hickey Ministrie’s Product Line, since they took it over on Aug. 25th thru the 27th, 2008. That was helpful!!!!
October 1st, 2008 at 8:08 pm
On Tues. 09/30/08, at the meeting with H.R.[Pam Hettlinger], and the Executive Director, [Cathy Ryan]; “Cathy had said; that I was costing Marilyn Hickey Ministries money”! And that I lost 5 first time callers on Aug. 25th thru Sept. 2nd, 2008? How do they know they won’t call back???
Interesting thou, she mentioned Pastor Reece Bowling [M.H.M. President & Senior Pastor/O.R.C.C] wanting “The Prayer Warriors” to take 2 more calls per day, per person? Also, that I did not know about the FREE book on Spiritual Warfare called:”Victorious Spiritual Warfare”? Given out if you become a Monthly Faith Covenant Partner/Direct Payment or Auto-Charge. Also, the book, ” Key’s To More Miracles”? [only for Partners]. It cannot be sold as a sale! I tried to explain that, because of my “Dyslexia,” I have trouble reading, and on the other book, they were monitoring my phone calls that whole week of Aug. 25th, 2008. I was so nervous, I made a mistake!!
I did get to work in the Shipping & Receiving Dept. Today from 10:35am. to 11:45pm. !! That was good!
“Paul’s Vision and His Thorn’
The Bible says; In 2 Cor. 12:7-10; To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Concerning Shipping for Marilyn Hickey Ministries, they will be getting rid of G shipping method, for Premium Items $50.00 & over and Product Items $25.00 or more. The shipping time for Premiums is 3-5 weeks -FREE, and the shipping time for Product Sales are 10 Bus. days! So, hopefully there won’t be as many thing’s counted agains’t us!!!
A caller asked about the blessed oil Dr. Oral Roberts prayed over? M.H.M. gives out Anointing oil Dr. Oral Roberts prayed over when they become a Monthly Faith Covenant Partner of $25.00 per month. Which I didn’t answer her question?
My question is: How long ago did Dr. Oral Roberts pray over the oil?
There are many questions to be asked in a T.V. Ministry??
“Be Generous and Do Good”
GOD’S Word says: In: GAl. 6:6-7; Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will reap.
October 4th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Are they planting “Good Seed” or “Bad Seed”?
Good Seed produces a Harvest! Bad Seed, brings forth corruption! Amem! Gal. 6:8-9; says:
For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap
everlasting life.
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
“Seed Faith”?
Lk. 8:11-12; “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
“Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Also, In: Jn. 15:16-17; says: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
“These things I command you, that you love one another.
And In Matt. 13:30; ‘Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ‘