Liberty University Chancellor and President Jerry Falwell, Jr has officially resigned, the school has announced.
“The Liberty University Board of Trustees acted today to accept the resignation of Jerry Falwell, Jr. as its President and Chancellor and also accepted his resignation from its Board of Directors,” the announce stated. “All were effective immediately.”
Liberty’s Board has set its next meeting in Lynchburg to select a search committee for its new President.
Falwell had agreed on Monday to resign then reversed course. Through an attorney, he submitted his resignation letter late last night to members of the Board’s Executive Committee. The Executive Committee met this morning and voted to accept his resignations from the Board and as President and Chancellor. Later this morning, the full Board gathered via conference call and unanimously voted to affirm the decision of the Executive Committee.
“I am so encouraged by the unity of Christ that I saw exemplified by our Board today,” acting Board Chairman Dr. Allen McFarland said in the school’s release. Liberty University’s future is very bright and in capable hands of leaders who are committed to being good stewards of what the Lord has entrusted!”
Falwell was asked to go on an indefinite leave of absence on Aug. 7 by the school’s Board of Trustees Executive Committee. With rumors and reports surfacing over the past 48 hours, the pressure on Falwell to resign or be fired by the school increased dramatically.
Falwell took over as the man in charge of the University his father founded in 1971, when his father, Dr. Jerry Falwell, Sr., passed away in 2007.
Jerry Prevo is currently serving as the school’s acting President with no permanent replaced for Falwell being named as of yet. He previously served as chairman of the school’s board of trustees since 2003 and recently retired as the senior pastor of Anchorage Baptist Temple, a post he held for 47 years.
“Our students are ready to be world changers as Champions for Christ,” Prevo said. “Their spirit is strong as they look to the future. I intend to do all I can to nurture their spiritual side as they grow academically and enjoy all our campus has to offer.”
Liberty’s 2020-21 academic school year began on Monday, August 24.
