Dr. Richard Roberts has asked the Oral Roberts University Board of Regents to grant him a leave of absence.
The request comes in the wake of serious allegations concerning Roberts, his wife Lindsay, the Board of Regents, and other officials at ORU.
A lawsuit filed in Tulsa District Court alleges financial improprieties, misuse of school property, and even sexual harrassment and misconduct.
Wednesday, Roberts issued a statement about his request for leave.
In it, he states that "the last 3 weeks have taken a serious toll on me and my family."
He goes on to express his "tremendous love for the students and alumni of ORU," and says that when the Board feels it is appropriate, he will "be back at my post as President."
The lawsuit, filed by three former ORU professors, accuses Richard Roberts of illegal involvement in Tulsa's 2006 mayoral campaign.
They allege he used university resources to back Randi Miller's campaign, a violation of the school's non-profit status.
On a more personal level, the suit contains allegations of lavish spending by the Roberts family at the university's expense.
The allegations include the use of a university jet for Roberts' daughter to take her senior trip to the Bahamas, and the purchase of two luxury vehicles for Lindsay Roberts, Richard's wife.
Lindsay is accused of spending tens of thousands of dollars on clothes, giving "non-academic" scholarships to friends of her children, and sending hundreds of text messages to underage males on university-issued cell phones.
A second petition was subsequently filed in district court, which included a scandal vulnerability assessment containing a number of additional allegations.
It claims Mrs. Roberts spent the night in the university's guest house with an underage male on 9 separate occasions.
It states there are 29 photos of Mrs. Roberts and the underage male alone in her sports car after city-wide curfew
The university's Board of Regents was added as a defendant in the lawsuit at that time.
The new filing states that Roberts and the board gave a convicted sexual deviant unrestricted access to the students of the university as a "mentor."
It also says three days after the original lawsuit was filed, ORU and Roberts terminated ORU's financial comptroller.
Then it states witnesses have reported that voluminous materials and documents were shredded and destroyed.
Statement by Dr. Richard Roberts:
Issued Wednesday, October 17, 2007The last 3 weeks have taken a serious toll on me and my family. The untrue allegations have struck a terrible blow in my heart. The untrue allegations of sexual misconduct by my wife have hurt the most. It has broken her heart and the hearts of my children that such untrue allegations could be made. Lindsay and my children have sustained heavy damage these last weeks. God is very interested in the family unit and so am I.
The plaintiffs have said “We don’t know if any of these allegations are true, but they are so defaming that the Roberts won’t survive.” We Roberts have a strong faith in God and in what is right. We will do what is right and trust the Lord.
Today, I have asked the Board of Regents of Oral Roberts University to grant me a temporary leave of absence until such time as these matters can be resolved. I have prayed about it, and feel that it is in the best interest of my family and the University.
I have a tremendous love for the students and alumni of ORU—they are precious to God. They came here to get a quality education and to learn to hear the Voice of God. That’s happening daily. Even today, other young people around the world are searching for the right college to attend. I pray that they will consider ORU. This university is academically sound, spiritually alive and physically disciplined.
I don’t know how long this leave of absence will last, but I fully trust the members of the Board of Regents. They are great men and women who have a deep love for this university and for me and my family. I pray and believe that in God’s timing, and when the Board feels that it is appropriate, I will be back at my post as President.
Meanwhile, I will give myself afresh and anew to my family, and to prayer and the Word of God. I shall continue my role as Chairman and CEO of the Oral Roberts Ministries. I shall continue on television as I have a burning passion for the lost, the sick and the hurting of this world. I shall continue preaching and teaching God’s Word and drawing people to Christ our Savior. I shall continue to write letters and books and minister to the needs of people for I have a passion for souls. Thank you for all your prayers and support; it means a great deal to me and my family.
