Oral Roberts University’s acceptance of the Green (no relation) family’s offer to bail the school out is one of the most positive stories I’ve read about in a while–amid the otherwise depressing and tawdry tales plaguing the charismatic/Pentecostal community these days.

I mused at the initial breaking of the ORU scandal that nothing substantive could improve the school’s dismal reputation as long as it was run by the existing board–many of whom were haunted by their own ethical problems. It seems that Mart Green and his family were of the same opinion, as their $62 million gift hinged on the replacement of the board with a body that would more effectively represent the interests of the faculty, students and stakeholders–not the interests of the Roberts family. The new trustee board is heavily weighted toward those respected both for their solid ministry experience and academic credentials:

• Don H. Argue, Ed. D.
• Fredrick A. Boswell, Jr.
• Stanley Burgess, Ph. D.
• Hal Donaldson
• Mart D. Green, Chairman
• Rob Hoskins
• Lynette (Troyer) Lewis
• Ron Luce
• Charles W. McKinney, ED.D.
• Oral Roberts (Life Member)
• Russell P. Spittler, Ph. D.
• Dr. R. Lamar Vest
• William (Billy) Wilson

I think I hear the pleasant sound of ORU grads nailing their diplomas back on the wall. …

Soulforce, whose vision is “freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance,” will be visiting several megachurches to “share the message that justice for LGBT people is compatible with Christian teaching.” They’ve sent letters ahead to the churches informing them of their visit.

“These pastors are part of a new generation of evangelical leaders in America,” says [Soulforce's executive director, Jeff] Lutes. “We are calling on them and their congregations to demonstrate a new kind of leadership, one that models compassion and justice for all families, including families with two moms and two dads.”

Lutes has written letters to Joel Osteen (Lakewood Church, Houston), T.D. Jakes (The Potter’s House, Dallas), Harry Jackson, Jr. (Hope Christian Church, Beltsville, Maryland), Eddie Long, (New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Lithonia, Georgia), Bill Hybels (Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, Illinois) and Rick Warren (Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California).

It will be interesting to see if the churches visited will step up to the plate with biblical grace and leadership on this–both in treating the protesters/picketers/visitors/etc. with kindness and respect, and in publicly addressing the incompatibility of homosexual behavior with scripture. Unfortunately, if history is any indicator, the leaders of some of these churches will lapse into sentimental platitudes, neither satisfying Soulforce’s desire for affirmation nor confronting the sin of homosexual behavior and extending the offer of salvation by grace through faith–thereby squandering the prophetic platform God has given them in our culture.