Swails Vs Oral Roberts University, Lawsuit Filed by Former Employees Options

[gardener]

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu71qqg5HphgA...lifestyles.html

Check out these tele evangelist lifestyles.

[beartrap]

People find a market demand for some form of widget, and if they are good at filling the demand, they get a following and people will pay for the widget, in the form of "offerings" if the market is of an emotional/spiritual nature. Instead of the real estate, restaurant, or shipping business, it is the "Ministry" business. A business by any other name is still just a business.

This post has been edited by beartrap: Oct 11 2007, 06:33 PM

[GRAT]

And a scam by any other name is still just a scam.

[Rosyroi]

...and it is still a scam no matter who is put on the board...

and the beat goes on...

[Panama_Pete]

The Oral Roberts University lawsuit has been amended a second time to add more claims. Here's a link.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.asp...1_A1_hItal21002

[runner4him]

The Oral Roberts University lawsuit has been amended a second time to add more claims. Here's a link.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.asp...1_A1_hItal21002

WOW!!!!

[Panama_Pete]

WOW!!!!

Oral Roberts President to Take Leave

By JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS – 3 hours ago

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j9XJtq8...mPuBFQD8SB4TJ00

"TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Oral Roberts University president Richard Roberts has asked the school's board of regents for a leave of absence amid accusations of lavish spending at donors' expense and illegal involvement in a political campaign."

More at the link posted above.

[Panama_Pete]

Oral Roberts President to Take Leave

By JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS – 3 hours ago

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j9XJtq8...mPuBFQD8SB4TJ00

"TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Oral Roberts University president Richard Roberts has asked the school's board of regents for a leave of absence amid accusations of lavish spending at donors' expense and illegal involvement in a political campaign."

More at the link posted above.

Update: Oral Roberts University now $52.5 Million (US) in Debt

See the link for more:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...7102402111.html

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[Fran]

Sounds like daddy's home! Oral will see first hand what has happened to what he started. I will be watching with interest to see if the Robert's blood is thicker than water. Just what will Daddy do?

They may have a massive auction of assets. Could be good deals for some. I wonder if the university will be sold. Any thing can happen.

Thanks for the updates. I really appreciate it.

By the way, does anyone know the debt amount at 3ABN?

Update: Oral Roberts University now $52.5 Million (US) in Debt

See the link for more:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...7102402111.html

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[Panama_Pete]

Thanks for the updates. I really appreciate it.

You're welcome, Fran. There's something new in the Oral Roberts University case that -- once again -- looks familiar. Emphasis is mine.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.asp...1_A1_hMoti05376
"Motions claim the professors are using the media, and a gag order is sought."

Tulsa World, October 27, 2007

This post has been edited by Panama_Pete: Oct 28 2007, 01:35 AM

[Panama_Pete]

Televangelist don't always get the gag order they're seeking. It will be interesting to see what this judge in Oklahoma does. Do the alumni and donors even want to see a gag order? Time will tell.

This post has been edited by Panama_Pete: Oct 28 2007, 01:40 AM

[WillowRun]

The Plot Thickens. Many of the televangelists listed in the probe have been discussed on this forum.

"Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar all sit on the board of regents for Oral Roberts University, which is mired in a financial scandal of its own."

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8...;show_article=1

Grassley Probes Televangelists' Finances

Nov 6 08:36 PM US/Eastern
By JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS
Associated Press Writer


Acting on tips about preachers who ride in Rolls Royces and have purportedly paid $30,000 for a conference table, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee said Tuesday he's investigating the finances of six well-known TV ministers.
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said those under scrutiny include faith healer Benny Hinn, Georgia megachurch pastor Creflo Dollar and one of the nation's best known female preachers, Joyce Meyer.

Grassley sent letters to the half-dozen Christian media ministries earlier this week requesting answers by Dec. 6 about their expenses, executive compensation and amenities, including use of fancy cars and private jets.

In a statement, Grassley said he was acting on complaints from the public and news coverage of the organizations.

"The allegations involve governing boards that aren't independent and allow generous salaries and housing allowances and amenities such as private jets and Rolls Royces," Grassley said.

"I don't want to conclude that there's a problem, but I have an obligation to donors and the taxpayers to find out more. People who donated should have their money spent as intended and in adherence with the tax code."

Those ministries that responded Tuesday either said they were cooperating or committed to financial transparency and following the law.

The investigation promises to shine new light on the kind of TV ministries that were crippled by sex and money scandals in the 1980s. Experts also say it stands out as an unusual case of the government probing the inner workings of religious organizations.

Most of those under investigation preach a variation of the "prosperity gospel," the teaching that God will shower faithful followers with material riches.

Grassley's letters went to:

—Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries of Newark, Texas, a $20 million organization and prosperity gospel pioneer. Questions were raised about the transfer of church assets to a for-profit company, Security Patrol Inc., a $1 million loan from Gloria Copeland to the group, and a "personal gift" of more than $2 million given to Kenneth Copeland to mark the ministry's 40th anniversary.

A Copeland spokeswoman released a statement saying the ministry is working on a response to Grassley's letter, follows all laws and best practices governing churches and religious nonprofit groups, and "will continue to do so."

—Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International and Creflo Dollar Ministries of College Park, Ga. Grassley's letter asks for records on private planes, board makeup, compensation and donations and "love offerings" to visiting ministers. In a statement, Dollar called his ministry an "open book" and said he would cooperate. He also questioned whether the investigation could "affect the privacy of every community church in America."

—Benny Hinn of World Healing Center Church Inc. and Benny Hinn Ministries of Grapevine, Texas, is asked about use of a private jet, a home in Dana Point, Calif. and "layover trips" while traveling on ministry business. Hinn did not respond to requests for comment.

—Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Bishop Eddie Long Ministries of Lithonia, Ga., was questioned about his salary, a $1.4 million real estate transaction and whether he, and not the board, holds sole authority over the organization. Long plans to fully comply with the Senate's request, and his church has "several safeguards" to ensure transactions comply with laws governing churches, according to a statement from Long's spokesman.

—Joyce and David Meyer of Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton, Mo., who were quizzed about receiving donations of money and jewelry and the handling of cash from overseas crusades. They also were asked about expenditures at ministry headquarters, including a $30,000 conference table and a $23,000 "commode with marble top."

The ministry's lawyer released a statement describing the ministry's work and public release of several years' worth of audits. He also said the IRS found in October that the group continues to qualify for tax-exempt status.

—Randy and Paula White of the multiracial Without Walls International Church and Paula White Ministries of Tampa, Fla. are asked about home purchases in San Antonio, Texas, Malibu, Calif., and New York, credit card charges for clothing and cosmetic surgery and the reported purchase of a Bentley convertible as a gift for Bishop T.D. Jakes, a prominent Texas preacher and televangelist. An e-mail to a spokeswoman for Jakes was not immediately returned.

In a statement, Randy and Paula White declined to comment on specifics, saying they needed time to review the letter with their lawyers. But the Whites called the Grassley letter "unusual, since the IRS has separate powers to investigate religious organizations if they think it's necessary."

Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar all sit on the board of regents for Oral Roberts University, which is mired in a financial scandal of its own.

The Senate Finance Committee has chided secular nonprofits for governance and compensation problems in the past, but this level of scrutiny for what are basically "non-pulpit churches" is unprecedented, said Ken Behr, president of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

Because the groups have tax status as churches, they are not required to file tax forms open to public inspection.

[Pickle]

Increased media scrutiny due to the Grassley's investigation will increase the likelihood of the 3ABN scandal being discussed on the nightly news at some point.

[Panama_Pete]

The Plot Thickens. Many of the televangelists listed in the probe have been discussed on this forum.

"Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar all sit on the board of regents for Oral Roberts University, which is mired in a financial scandal of its own."

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8...;show_article=1

Grassley sent letters to the half-dozen Christian media ministries earlier this week requesting answers by Dec. 6 about their expenses, executive compensation and amenities, including use of fancy cars and private jets.

In a statement, Grassley said he was acting on complaints from the public and news coverage of the organizations.

Increased media scrutiny due to the Grassley's investigation will increase the likelihood of the 3ABN scandal being discussed on the nightly news at some point.

The general topic of televangelists is, indeed, growing in public awareness. This thread is now touching bases with a related thread, the "Senate Committee" thread, which is dealing with some of these same topics.

In addition to the newly-posted link here by WillowRun, Lurker has posted a OP-ED analysis in the "Senate Committee" thread in the 3ABN section. There are other notable comments and links in that thread as well.

Here's Lurker's link:

http://new.wittenburgdoor.com/nation-teeming-elmer-gantrys

[Panama_Pete]

There's a recent news update at this link:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hts11eO...wZJt2QD8SPM0OO0

"TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A Beverly Hills house and country club membership. Vacations in Palm Springs and the South Seas. A closet as big as an apartment, stuffed with hundreds of pairs of shoes, suits, dresses and golf shoes.

People with close ties to TV evangelist Oral Roberts and his son, Richard, say they witnessed such extravagances years before a recent lawsuit accusing them of lavish spending engulfed the ministers and their debt-ridden university in scandal."