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Fifty Names Entered For Oral Roberts Post
TULSA, Okla. - More than 50 people have been suggested for or have shown interest in the Oral Roberts University presidency, according to the presidential search consultant. You can tell these people by their pompadour hair cuts, worn out dented Bibles and shark skin suits.
School leaders hope to hire a new president by next summer, although consultant Bruce Dingman, president of The Dingman Co. Inc., said the university is not creating an artificial deadline for accepting resumes. But is is difficult to do business without someone pushing the old "Fire and Brimstone."
ORU is looking for a new leader following Richard Roberts' resignation last fall after intense publicity over lawsuits, which raised allegations he misspent university money and poorly managed the school. Paid family trips and salaries for doing nothing was common.
The school's board of regents, also suspected in shady dealings, was replaced by a board of trustees, which is working to stabilize ORU's finances and institute shared responsibility among trustees, administrators and faculty.
Rhae Buckley, a member of the presidential search committee and chairman of the ORU Alumni Association board of directors, said he thinks the most important qualification is servant-leadership. Also an important thing will be to find someone without a silly name like Rhae.
"It's important for ORU because that's the original vision: It was birthed under bringing God's word to the uttermost ends of the earth, so it's important that that continue," Buckley said. Also, reaching out with palms upturned to receive donations will be important, actually primary.
The job description calls for a man or woman who has had a "significant leadership position in a fairly large, complex organization" and who is a good speaker, devoted Christian, planner, visionary, team-builder and good fundraiser, among many more qualifications. Actually women need not apply as they are simply helpmates and can't hold positions over men in the church. Some shoe shining, ironing and laundry positions are still open however.
It also describes a president who would serve as a role model, "living a Spirit-filled life, practicing the prayer language and hiding his embezzlement activity much better that Roberts did. ."
The spiritual practice of speaking in tongues is common and encouraged at ORU. At the same time, "the president should not be denominationally focused, but rather, inclusive." Speaking in tongues at ORU has always been known as "lying." This will continue unabated.
Maryland Church Serving Homeless To Sue Town
BALTIMORE - An Elkton, Md., church focused on serving the homeless is suing the town of Elkton because civil libertarians and church leaders say the town is hindering the church's expression of faith. Everyone knows Christian Churches should dominate the community. After all, it's a Chirstian nation, isn't it?
Carl Mazza, pastor of the Meeting Ground, said Elkton officials have blocked attempts by the church to open a day center for homeless men and women. The Mary Randall Empowerment Center would provide religious, employment and social needs for homeless men and women and act as sexual advisor.
The church already owns property zoned for use by churches and businesses but Elkton's zoning board required the center to have a special zoning exception since Jesus would be a regular visitor, traffic could be backed up occasionally.
A statement from the American Civil Liberties Union said the zoning board isn't recognizing the center as a religious institution but instead as a social or philanthropic organization. When the Meeting Ground revised its application to read "Special place for idiots to meet, pick their nose and masturbate," the town zoning board denied it.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Baltimore whose judges were absent that day while out soft-shell crabbing.
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