Religion Briefs

STAFF CUTS

Focus on the Family Drops More Than 200 Jobs

Focus on the Family says it has eliminated more than 200 positions, the largest staff cuts in the evangelical Christian group's 31-year history.

Citing the faltering economy and a decline in donations, Focus officials said 149 employees will lose their jobs, most by month's end. About 53 open positions will be left vacant.

The cuts are ministry-wide. Glenn Williams, Focus on the Family's chief operating officer, said a magazine for teens that lost readership to the Internet also is being eliminated.

The cutbacks come on top of an announcement last month that the group would lay off or reassign 46 employees next year because of the restructuring of its distribution arm. Once both cuts are carried out, Focus on the Family will have about 950 employees, down from a peak of 1,400.

-- Associated Press

Oral Roberts University Is Laying Off 100 Workers

Oral Roberts University will lay off about 100 employees, about 10 percent of its workforce, days after it agreed to a costly separation agreement with its former president, who resigned amid a spending scandal.

The school, with a budget of $92 million, is more than $17 million in debt. The announcement of layoffs came days after the university completed a separation agreement with former president Richard Roberts. The son of the school's namesake-founder stepped down last year amid allegations that he misspent school funds to live in luxury.

Under the terms of the agreement, the university will pay Roberts nearly $450,000 in salary for the remaining term of his appointment, which was to run through next November.