Hypocrisy in the Pulpit

Richard Roberts Resigns as President of Oral Roberts University

The scandal keeps getting bigger and bigger in the world of organized religion. This is the second scandal in a week to hit a major figure in the religious world, as Archbishop Earl Paulk Jr. of Atlanta was revealed to be the father of his brother's "son," D. E. Paulk, after having an affair with his wife. Richard Roberts, son of Oral Roberts and president of Oral Roberts University, has resigned his position effective immediately. "I love ORU with all my heart. I love the students, faculty, staff and administration, and I want to see God's best for them," Richards wrote in his resignation letter. His decision to resign has come as the school is fighting a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by three professors who accused him and his wife, Lindsay, of misconduct.

John Swails, Tim Brooker and Paulita Brooker have said that they were fired from the University after they reported information indicating that Roberts and his family had lived lavishly by spending school money to finance their lifestyle. Roberts and his wife have vehemently denied the allegations both on Larry King Live and on other media. Equally disturbing is the latest allegations that the university gave "a convicted sexual deviant unrestricted access to students" and evidence in the case had been shredded. Lindsay Roberts has also been accused of repeatedly spending time with an "underage male" in various situations. I wonder if they did not learn anything from the meltdown of Tim Haggard after he said that he did not engage in sexual relations with a male prostitute, only to step down from his position in disgrace.

A recent poll has revealed the more than 80 percent of the faculty at Oral Roberts University did not want Richard Roberts to continue as president. The survey came a week after tenured faculty voted "no confidence" in Roberts as president, regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit against the university that has accused him of improper spending. Nearly 90 percent of the faculty believed that the school's current procedures for financial disclosure and accountability was grossly inadequate and more than 74 percent of those polled did not believe that alumni would continue to support ORU if Richard Roberts remained as president. A majority of faculty members believed that university administrators, such as the president, department chairs and deans should be evaluated yearly by the faculty and that the faculty should be involved in setting the selection criteria for, and selection of the school's president. There should be greater faculty governance and transparency of university finances so that this fallout can be averted in the future.

The lawsuit against Roberts includes allegations of a $39,000 shopping tab at one store for Richard Roberts' wife, Lindsay; a $29,411 Bahamas senior trip on the university jet for one of Roberts' daughters and a stable of horses for the Roberts children. In a recent interview, Richard and Lindsay Roberts denied wrongdoing and Richard has said the lawsuit amounted to "intimidation, blackmail and extortion." This is a man who is preaching the word of God and telling people that fiscal responsibility in their lives is paramount. In essence, he and his wife have stolen from the university and taken money from people who are living paycheck to paycheck. I am grateful that Senator Grassley has come down on several televangelists because of the lavish lifestyles they live at the expense of their congregants, many of who are barely making ends meet. This basically reinforces the widely held view that churches have been a flashpoint for scandals with questions often dogging church leaders about whether they really practice what they preach or are they just low-down hypocrites.

Here is how I got to my position..... Bishop Eddie L. Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, who has been targeted by Senator Grassley, has called the senator's request to see his financial information as an "unjust attack on religious freedom." He has the nerve to utter those words after he was accused in 2005 of mishandling millions of dollars in money funneled through a charity he started. Next comes Ted Haggard, former pastor of New Life Church, a megachurch which is located near Colorado Springs. He stepped down from his position after a Denver man accused him of paying for sex 36 times over the last three years and using methamphetamines. Jim Bakker hosted the PTL Club, but a sex scandal hastened his downfall and he was later imprisoned for accounting fraud. His former wife, Tammy Faye, who has since died, had initially supported him despite his numerous infidelities.

Jim Bakker may be the most infamous of all of the televangelists embroiled in scandal. Bakker hosted The PTL Club, but a sex scandal led to his resignation and he later was imprisoned for accounting fraud. His wife, Tammy Faye, who initially stuck by her husband despite the infidelities, later divorced him. Evangelist Benny Hinn, who is known for his traveling "Miracle Crusades" revivals, has come under fire in recent years for falsely claiming the "heal" churchgoers and raising large sums of money to finance a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of a Gulfstream jet. Kenneth Copeland, who sits on the board at Oral Roberts University, has been accused of leaving former business associates in debt while he spent church money on other items, including a $20 million jet. Rev. Thomas W. Weeks III, husband of televangelist Juanita Bynum, allegedly beat his wife in a hotel parking lot, after claiming his love and deep respect for his wife, as evidenced in his many books about love and marriage. He is also mired in debt and is awaiting trial for his attack on his wife. I believe that the biggest hypocrite of them all is Jimmy Swaggart, who like Jim Bakker, was a pioneer televangelist, reaching his highest levels of popularity in the 1980s. He outed Bakker, as well as Marvin Gorman, for sex scandals on the "Larry King Show," but shortly thereafter he was busted for soliciting prostitution. Oh, let's not forget Reverend Jessie Jackson, who fathered a child while married.

It is a sad commentary that we cannot trust many of the pastors leading churches today, but I must commend those who have been steadfast in their vocation as pastors and have not lived the high life at the expense of their congregation. There are many pastors out there who lead exemplary lives and they are truly rare. For example, Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in the New York and president of the State University of New York College at Old Westbury, is one such pastor that continues to lead an exemplary life. His commitment to the enhancement of God's kingdom on earth has manifested itself in his loyal attention to the daily activities and services of the congregation as well as the pervasive impact of the church on community development initiatives: homelessness, senior citizen and youth empowerment, cultural awareness and ecumenical outreach. He has spearheaded the following projects: the acquisition and renovation of apartment units for the homeless across the street from the church; construction of senior citizens housing on West 131st Street; moderate income condominiums for purchase on 131st Street; acquisition of the Renaissance Ballroom and Smalls Paradise: two major historic landmark facilities in Central Harlem. He has also been instrumental in the establishment of the Thurgood Marshall Academy for learning and Social Change, a public intermediate and high school, under the direction of Abyssinian Development Corporation. While he had some detractors for his support of former New York Governor George Pataki, he has nonetheless, stayed above the fray and has remained decent and true to his mission of being a pastor and community leader.

Senator Grassley, in launching his investigation said "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," and he added, "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." I was amazed to learn that Randy and Paula White, who are in the middle of a divorce and were named in Grassley's investigation, has been queried as to exactly why the church allegedly purchased a Bentley convertible for Bishop T. D. Jakes, who heads a megachurch, The Potter's House, in Texas. David and Joyce Meyer of Meyer Ministries have been asked to explain why the ministry spent $23,000 on a toilet with a marble top, $30,000 for a conference table and $11,219 to purchase a French clock. So, the accusations against Richard Roberts and his wife are not new occurrences, as evidenced from the countless times we have seen religious leaders fall from grace because of their lifestyles and some indiscretions that have resulted. No-one is saying that these preachers need to live a life of poverty, but they need to live a life of humility, much like Christ. The church serves a great purpose, but we must have leaders who have the best interest of the church, congregants and the general public at heart, not just to be decked out in the latest bling-bling at the expense of their congregation and donors.