TULSA, Okla. (AP) — The former president of Oral Roberts University, who stepped down amid allegations he misspent school funds to live in luxury, is being offered a severance package but university officials won't divulge its terms.
Televangelist Richard Roberts, the son of school founder Oral Roberts, resigned in November.
He and his wife, Lindsay, were accused of dropping money on shopping sprees, home improvements and a stable of horses for their daughters at a time when ORU was more than $50 million in debt. Both have repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
Billionaire Oklahoma City businessman Mart Green took the reins at ORU in January, donating $70 million and pledging to restore the public's trust in the small evangelical school.
On Wednesday, Green called the proposed severance agreement "fair, reasonable, and in the best interest of ORU." The package has yet to be finalized, and Green refused to comment further on the details.
Frank Hagedorn, Roberts' attorney, confirmed the negotiations.
"He was promised a severance and he should get his severance," said Hagedorn, who would not say whether his client was assured severance when he resigned last November.
Critics say any deal for Roberts sends the wrong signal.
"It's a slap in the face to the supporters of the university," said former ORU regent Harry McNevin, who quit the board in 1987 because of the misspending he alleged he witnessed. "It sends the message that it's more about money than winning souls."
Hagedorn defended his client.
"You tell the critics Mr. Roberts has done nothing wrong," he said. "He has not misspent and lived lavishly off ORU money."
Richard and Lindsay Roberts still face a lawsuit brought by two former professors who claim they were forced out after alleging financial and ethical wrongdoing on the part of Roberts and his family. They also are named in a lawsuit brought by Trent Huddleston, a former senior accountant at ORU, who is suing for wrongful termination.
RSS
ORU has had a Word of Faith doctrine from day one, and all the Roberts have lived a lavish in luxery for all to see. This lifestyle is the example of many WOF teachers, Benny Hinn, Kennith Copeland, and the list goes on and on.
Remember Jim Baker? He too is back and still says he was treated wrongly. Oh, what about those who invested in his big project? None of his investors spent a night in this theme park did they?
Both Roberts are scam artists and they are false teachers.
farout63
He and his wife are still on television every day stealing money from people ignorant of what the bible teaches. Richard and his wife are telling people if they send in their seed money, they will believe God for a miracle. Well God does not sell miracles. We, are not Israel and we were not promised the thing Israel was promised. We as a child of God today are blessed by what Jesus did on the cross. They are false teachers lying to people that don't know any better. They are not better than satan himself, transforming themselves into a ray of light.