By Bobby Ross Jr.
Religion News Service

OKLAHOMA CITY (RNS) The embattled president of Oral Roberts University will take an indefinite leave of absence but expects to return to the post “in God’s timing,” he said Wednesday (Oct. 17).
The decision by Richard Roberts, son of the charismatic Christian university’s namesake founder, came amid intense scrutiny over allegations of financial, political and other wrongdoing raised in a lawsuit by three former Oral Roberts University professors.
“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,” Roberts said in a written statement.
“I have prayed about it and feel that it is in the best interest of my family and the university.”
In particular, he cited “untrue allegations of sexual misconduct by my wife” as having taken “a serious toll on me and my family.” Lindsay Roberts has denied charges that she spent the night with an underage male and engaged in lurid behavior with a “male 16-year-old friend,” as suggested by papers filed with the lawsuit.
Voicing full trust in the regents of the 5,300-student university in Tulsa, Roberts said he will “give myself afresh and anew to my family, and to prayer and the Word of God.”
He said he intends to remain as chairman and CEO of Oral Roberts Ministries, a separate entity from the university.
“I pray and believe that in God’s timing, and when the board feels that it is appropriate, I will be back in my post as president.”
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