- Richard Roberts: Evidence of Gawd's Gift of Wealth
Many churches in October and November celebrate stewardship month to focus on congregational giving of gifts and talents for the upcoming year in ministry. Focus on the Family is celebrating by laying off employees as is Bob Jones University. Granted the economy is likely a big factor (lift it up). Although I have to ask if the executives are also taking pay cuts in those organizations to leverage labor costs in order to reduce more layoffs (protect them Lord).
I think the best example of Christian stewardship comes from Oral Roberts University who is giving back to their scandalous former president (praise God, thank you). This of course comes with a very Christian response of layoffs (thank you Lord…wait, what?).
"The announcement of layoffs comes days after the evangelical school completed a separation agreement with former president Richard Roberts, who stepped down last year amid allegations he misspent school funds to live in luxury.
His resignation came after he served one year of his most recent three-year appointment.
Under the terms released Friday, ORU will pay Roberts his $223,600 annual salary for the remaining term of his appointment, which was to run through November 2009, for a total of $447,200…
Also, Green, the trustees chairman, said in a statement that the proposed separation agreement was "fair, reasonable, and in the best interest of ORU."
Praise Jesus (which Jesus are you talking about again?)! Now I guess all of those employees will have to pray and plant their seed of faith giving back to ORU in order for "Gawd" to give back ten fold. Like He did with Richard Roberts I guess (thank you Lord, forgive my backsliding).
UPDATE on Dobson's fiscal irresponsibility to the families of his organization. The irony is palpable.
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This did annoy me greatly- forcing me to point it out as an example of Total Depravity. These people- how can they sleep at night??? They're evil.
Yeah, that's my alma mater. I was elected student body president there my final year, after I promised to eliminate the Student Association's $500 "non-voluntary contribution" to Richard Robert's annual golf tournament. Consequently, I was also the only SB President in the history of ORU not allowed to sit on stage in chapel
Seriously, though, the issues surrounding all of this are pretty complex. I can't completely defend the decision to pay R.R. a separation fee, but most of us from ORU are just still in utter shock and amazement (and glee) that a member of the Roberts family is no longer at the helm of ORU. Mart Green stepped in with a 60 million dollar donation (to bring the school mostly out of debt) and then proceeded to fire the entire board of Regents–mostly other televangelists. I give him serious props for serious balls there, and am willing to cut him a little slack (since basically the $223,600 is out of his personal pocket anyhow).
If that's what it costs to get rid of Richard Roberts, it's worth it. Expensive, sad, but totally worth it. In fact, I think the value of my diploma just went up some…
Wow. How long before the name of the institution changes as well? I agree that there are complexities here which is why the post is partly under the 'humor' category. It would totally be a shocker for a board to be fired like that at any other institution as well.
Maybe a new day is on the horizon for ORU. Just hope the bleed of job loss is stopped on that course.
This did annoy me greatly- forcing me to point it out as an example of Total Depravity. These people- how can they sleep at night??? They're evil.
Yeah, that's my alma mater. I was elected student body president there my final year, after I promised to eliminate the Student Association's $500 "non-voluntary contribution" to Richard Robert's annual golf tournament. Consequently, I was also the only SB President in the history of ORU not allowed to sit on stage in chapel
Seriously, though, the issues surrounding all of this are pretty complex. I can't completely defend the decision to pay R.R. a separation fee, but most of us from ORU are just still in utter shock and amazement (and glee) that a member of the Roberts family is no longer at the helm of ORU. Mart Green stepped in with a 60 million dollar donation (to bring the school mostly out of debt) and then proceeded to fire the entire board of Regents–mostly other televangelists. I give him serious props for serious balls there, and am willing to cut him a little slack (since basically the $223,600 is out of his personal pocket anyhow).
If that's what it costs to get rid of Richard Roberts, it's worth it. Expensive, sad, but totally worth it. In fact, I think the value of my diploma just went up some…
Wow. How long before the name of the institution changes as well? I agree that there are complexities here which is why the post is partly under the 'humor' category. It would totally be a shocker for a board to be fired like that at any other institution as well.
Maybe a new day is on the horizon for ORU. Just hope the bleed of job loss is stopped on that course.