Another televangelist leaves ORU Board
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By Tony Thornton
Published: December 19, 2007
Televangelist Jesse Duplantis has resigned as a regent of Oral Roberts University, the school announced Tuesday.
Duplantis' resignation continues an exodus of the board by televangelists. ORU announced last week that Creflo Dollar had resigned and that Benny Hinn had lost his status as a voting member.
The changes follow the Nov. 23 resignation of ORU President Richard Roberts, son of the school's founder, and the subsequent announcement of a $70 million pledge by businessman Mart Green, who said his gift was predicated on ORU making "significant changes."
The pledge included $8 million up front. The rest was withheld for three months as ORU worked toward leadership and other changes.
In a prepared statement released by the school, Duplantis said "the demands of ministry have made it increasingly difficult to continue to effectively serve" as a regent.
In other action announced Tuesday, regents Chairman George Pearsons appointed a committee to oversee the university's separation from the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association. Pearsons said he hopes most of the separation will be finished by April 30, the end of ORU's fiscal year.
Regents approved the separation last month over objections by Oral Roberts, the school chancellor.
Pearsons said the spiritual connection between the two entities will remain. For instance, the Abundant Life Prayer Group, which is part of the evangelistic association, will be allowed to remain in the ORU Prayer Tower.
Regents also said the presidential search committee will include regents, administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents and community members. A paid consultant also will help in the search.
