Liberty University is opening an independent investigation into Jerry Falwell Jr.’s tenure as president, a wide-ranging inquiry that will include financial, real estate and legal matters, the evangelical school’s board Anunciado Monday.
In a statement, the board said it had retained an outside firm to investigate “all facets” of the school’s operations under Falwell, and that it was “committed to learning the consequences that have flowed from a lack of spiritual stewardship by our former president.”
Calls for such an investigation had been mounting since Falwell’s departure last week from the post he had held since 2007.
He officially resigned on Tuesday, after a confusing day of back-and-forths about whether or not he would be leaving. His departure came after a news outlet published an interview with Giancarlo Granda, a much younger business partner of the Falwell family. Granda said that he had a yearslong sexual relationship with Becki Falwell and that Jerry Falwell participated in some of the liaisons as a voyeur.
Although the Falwells have acknowledged that Granda and Becki Falwell had an affair, Jerry Falwell has denied any participation. The couple allege that Granda sought to extort them by threatening to reveal the relationship unless he was paid substantial monies.
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The couple said in a statement provided to The Associated Press late Sunday that they support Liberty’s board and “welcome any inquiry as we have nothing to hide.”
Falwell took over as the president of Liberty after the death of his famous evangelist father, the Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr. He oversaw a period of expansive growth and transformation: Liberty’s online program exploded, as did its endowment, the campus underwent a massive transformation and the athletics programs improved.
Falwell also stayed in the news for a series of divisive remarks as well as his vocal support of President Donald Trump, and was the subject of news stories that focused on his business dealings.
Liberty’s statement acknowledged that Falwell’s sharpest critics have long been calling for a departure.
“Some may say that all the signs were there for a long time before last week,” the statement said. “It’s certainly fair to say that there were questionable comments made, worrying behavior, and inappropriate social media posts, but all the signs were not there until the start of last week.”
The statement also said the school is considering a separate move to reorient it toward its “spiritual mission” by establishing a post in the university leadership dedicated to spiritual guidance for other leaders, ensuring they “live out the Christian walk expected of each and every one of us at Liberty.”
The school’s consideration of that new spiritually focused leadership post underscores its concern over the degree to which Falwell’s alleged personal conduct would have violated the behavioral codes the school sets for its own students. Falwell told the AP last week that “I never broke a single rule that applies to staff members at Liberty, which I was.”
Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said in a Monday podcast that he didn’t see the school’s treatment of Falwell as a sign of “hypocrisy on the part of the evangelical movement” because once the school became aware of the full scope of Falwell’s behavior, he stepped aside.
But, Mohler added, “There may well have been hypocrisy and a failure over time to apply moral standards to the president of the institution that were clearly applicable to students and to faculty. All of that remains to be considered by Liberty University.”
Sarah Rankin y Elana Schor son reporteras de Associated Press.
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Yes! Is this truly independent or is it a retained law firm? If there are findings will Jerry Falwell Jr lose his $10.5 million reward for his behavior?
If they never give a POC at the firm we’ll know they aren’t serious about the investigation…sounds like they still need to hear from many interested parties
How”independent “ will the investigation be? Biz Tvidjian’s article outlines the pitfalls of the word “independent “.
What enormous salaries these people make.
In 1 Cor.6, God says “If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! … Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Is the Liberty Board members going to let secular people judge Falwell’s sin?? If so, again what does that say about them?
The forensic firm will use their expertise to determine the facts … “judgement” will still rest with the board.
If there are any financial irregularities they may be crimes- crimes are committed against the state which therefore has jurisdiction. If a pastor murdered someone would you consider that something to be judged within the church? You are misusing the Scripture.
Albert Mohler has just lost all credibility with me. Making a public statement about Liberty U… yet remaining silent on the deception perpetrated by his friend Thomas White at Cedarville U. CU is out of the news cycle… they can say”we’re bad, but at least we’re not as bad as those [Liberty U] guys.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10, KJV)
It will be interesting to see how “Independent” the outside counsel is? I see how wise the saying goes, “Give me neither poverty nor riches.” While not judging hearts, suffice it to say that Jerry brought in “a lot” of dough for Liberty.
They can start out by asking the Liberty Board why they were annually paying Falwell, Jr. more than what the President of The University of Michigan makes.
See G. Granda’s “the pool boy” interview on the CNN website with Anderson Cooper. Very articulate and revealing on the way he describes how the Fallwells allegedly groomed him.
I’m surprised that we haven’t seen mass resignations from Liberty’s board. This is warranted. These are the folks entrusted with oversight of the university, the leadership and insuring the university is operating ethically. More than anyone, this group should have reined in Jerry Jr. The challenge is that Jerry Jr. was extremely successful on the business side. Unfortunately, Pool Boy scandal is not new, there have long been concerns regarding related party activities and so on. The Board really needs to address why these activities, in a solidly Christian environment, did not trump the financial performance. Shame on them (and especially the ministers on the board).
Have the Liberty staff and students on the party cruise been fired or expelled yet? Such flagrant and egregious flaunting of school rules and standards! Such hypocrisy if not.