39-414: Falwell is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: Jerry Falwell (1933–2007), American televangelist, activist, and educator Jerry Falwell Jr. (born 1962), American attorney, academic administrator, and prominent Evangelical Christian Jonathan Falwell (born 1966), American pastor [REDACTED] Surname list This page lists people with
78-472: A school voucher system which would allow parents to send their children to either public or private schools. In his book America Can Be Saved he wrote that "I hope I live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over again and Christians will be running them." Falwell supported President George W. Bush 's Faith Based Initiative , but had strong reservations concerning where
117-765: A segregation academy and as a ministry of Thomas Road Baptist Church. The Liberty Christian Academy is recognized as an educational facility by the Commonwealth of Virginia through the Virginia State Board of Education, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools , and the Association of Christian Schools International . In 1971, Falwell co-founded Liberty University with Elmer L. Towns . Liberty University offers over 350 accredited programs of study, with approximately 13,000 students on-campus and 90,000 online. The Moral Majority became one of
156-489: A Soviet-backed revolution. He also urged his followers to buy up gold Krugerrands and push US "reinvestment" in South Africa. In 1985 he drew the ire of many when he called Nobel Peace Prize winner and Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu a phony "as far as representing the black people of South Africa". In 1994, Falwell promoted and distributed the video documentary The Clinton Chronicles: An Investigation into
195-517: A bond of friendship to the gay and lesbian community. We've said go somewhere else, we don't need you here [at] our churches. " In February 1999 a National Liberty Journal article (the media attributed it to Falwell) claimed that Tinky Winky, a Teletubby , was intended as a homosexual role model. The NLJ is a publication of the university he founded. An article published in 1998 by the Salon website had referred to Tinky Winky's status as an icon for
234-529: A celebration in heaven." He later denied saying this. Falwell also regularly linked the AIDS epidemic to LGBT issues and stated, "AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals, it is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals." After comedian and actress Ellen DeGeneres came out as a lesbian, Falwell referred to her in a sermon as "Ellen DeGenerate". DeGeneres responded, "Really, he called me that? Ellen DeGenerate? I've been getting that since
273-971: A daughter Jeannie (a surgeon). Falwell and his wife had a close relationship, and she supported him throughout his career. The Falwells often appeared together in public, and they did not shy away from showing physical affection. Reflecting on his marriage, Falwell jokingly commented, "Macel and I have never considered divorce. Murder maybe, but never divorce." Macel appreciated her husband's non-combative, affable nature, writing in her book that he "hated confrontation and didn't want strife in our home ... he did everything in his power to make me happy." The Falwells were married nearly fifty years until his death. He graduated from Brookville High School in Lynchburg, and from then-unaccredited Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri , in 1956. He enrolled there to subvert Pate's relationship with her fiancé who
312-520: A group headed by Jerry Falwell purchased $ 10 million in commercials on southern radio and TV to brand me as a traitor to the South and no longer a Christian." As head of the Moral Majority, Falwell consistently pushed for Republican candidates and for conservative politics. This led Billy Graham to criticize him for "sermonizing" about political issues that lacked a moral element. Graham stated at
351-554: A line of distinction, we should not attempt to cross that line. In 1977, Falwell supported Anita Bryant 's campaign, which was called by its proponents " Save Our Children ", to overturn an ordinance in Dade County, Florida , prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation , and he supported a similar movement in California. Twenty-eight years later, during a 2005 MSNBC television appearance, Falwell said he
390-657: A promise to ride the water slide at Heritage USA. Despite this, Falwell was unable to revive the ministry from bankruptcy and he resigned in October 1987. Defunct Newspapers Journals TV channels Websites Other Economics Gun rights Identity politics Nativist Religion Watchdog groups Youth/student groups Miscellaneous Other Falwell advocated beliefs and practices influenced by his version of biblical teachings. In 1989, he told Liberty University employees that membership in his church and tithing were mandatory. Falwell felt
429-598: Is different from Wikidata All set index articles Jerry Falwell Jerry Laymon Falwell Sr. (August 11, 1933 – May 15, 2007) was an American Baptist pastor, televangelist , and conservative activist. He was the founding pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church , a megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia . He founded Lynchburg Christian Academy ( Liberty Christian Academy ) in 1967, founded Liberty University in 1971, and co-founded
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#1732790790215468-800: Is not a liberal or conservative value. It's an American value that I would think that we pretty much all agree on." Falwell's relationship with Israeli prime minister, Menachem Begin was reported in the media in the summer of 1981. His staunch pro- Israel stand, sometimes referred to as " Christian Zionism ", drew the support of the Anti-Defamation League and its leader Abraham Foxman . However, they condemned what they perceived as intolerance towards Muslims in Falwell's public statements. They also criticized him for remarking that "Jews can make more money accidentally than you can on purpose." In his book Listen, America! Falwell referred to
507-568: The Moral Majority in 1979. Falwell and his twin brother Gene were born in the Fairview Heights area of Lynchburg, Virginia , on August 11, 1933, the sons of Helen Virginia ( née Beasley) and Carey Hezekiah Falwell. His father was an entrepreneur and one-time bootlegger who was agnostic. His father shot and killed his own brother Garland and died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1948 at the age of 55. His paternal grandfather
546-680: The Vietnam War was being fought with "limited political objectives", when it should have been an all out war against the North . In general, Falwell held that the president "as a minister of God" has the right to use arms to "bring wrath upon those who would do evil." On his evangelist program The Old-Time Gospel Hour in the mid-1960s, Falwell regularly featured segregationist politicians like governors Lester Maddox and George Wallace . About Martin Luther King he said: "I do question
585-583: The civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. and the racial desegregation of public school systems by the US federal government. Liberty Christian Academy (LCA, founded as Lynchburg Christian Academy) is a Christian school in Lynchburg which was described in 1966 by the Lynchburg News as "a private school for white students". The Lynchburg Christian Academy later opened in 1967 by Falwell as
624-411: The surname Falwell . If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name (s) to the link. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Falwell&oldid=1000443664 " Category : Surnames Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description
663-628: The Alleged Criminal Activities of Bill Clinton . The video purported to connect Bill Clinton to a murder conspiracy involving Vince Foster , James McDougall , Ron Brown , and a cocaine - smuggling operation. The theory was discredited, but the recording sold more than 150,000 copies. The film's production costs were partly met by "Citizens for Honest Government", to which Falwell paid $ 200,000 in 1994 and 1995. In 1995 Citizens for Honest Government interviewed Arkansas state troopers Roger Perry and Larry Patterson regarding
702-513: The Jewish people as "spiritually blind and desperately in need of their Messiah and Savior." In the 1984 book Jerry Falwell and the Jews , Falwell is quoted saying: I feel that the destiny of the state of Israel is without question the most crucial international matter facing the world today. I believe that the people of Israel have not only a theological but also a historical and legal right to
741-571: The accuracy of the claims made in The Clinton Chronicles ." Falwell condemned homosexuality as forbidden by the Bible. Homosexual rights groups called Falwell an "agent of intolerance" and "the founder of the anti-gay industry" for statements he had made and for campaigning against LGBT social movements . Falwell supported Anita Bryant 's 1977 "Save Our Children" campaign to overturn a Florida ordinance prohibiting discrimination on
780-619: The basis of sexual orientation and a similar movement in California. In urging the repeal of the ordinance, Falwell told one crowd, "Gay folks would just as soon kill you as look at you." When the LGBT-friendly Metropolitan Community Church was almost accepted into the World Council of Churches , Falwell called them "brute beasts" and stated that they are "part of a vile and satanic system" that "will be utterly annihilated, and there will be
819-400: The church became a megachurch . In the same year, he began The Old-Time Gospel Hour , a nationally syndicated radio and television ministry. When Falwell died, his son Jonathan inherited his father's ministry, and took over as the senior pastor of the church. The weekly program's name was then changed to Thomas Road Live . During the 1950s and 1960s, Falwell spoke and campaigned against
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#1732790790215858-573: The fourth grade. I guess I'm happy I could give him work." Falwell's legacy regarding homosexuality is complicated by his support for LGBT civil rights (see "civil rights" section above), as well as his attempts to reconcile with the LGBT community in later years. In October 1999, Falwell hosted a meeting of 200 evangelicals with 200 gay people and lesbians at Thomas Road Baptist Church for an "Anti-Violence Forum", during which he acknowledged that some American evangelicals' comments about homosexuality entered
897-619: The funding would go and the restrictions placed on churches: My problem is where it might go under his successors. ... I would not want to put any of the Jerry Falwell Ministries in a position where we might be subservient to a future Bill Clinton, God forbid. ... It also concerns me that once the pork barrel is filled, suddenly the Church of Scientology, the Jehovah Witnesses [ sic ],
936-628: The land. I am personally a Zionist, having gained that perspective from my belief in Old Testament Scriptures. I have also visited Israel many times. I have arrived at the conclusion that unless the United States maintains its unswerving devotion to the State of Israel, the very survival of that nation is at stake ... Every American who agrees Israel has the right to the land must be willing to exert all possible pressure on
975-437: The largest political lobbies for evangelical Christians in the United States during the 1980s. According to Falwell's self-published autobiography, the Moral Majority was promoted as being "pro-life, pro-traditional family, pro-moral, and pro-American" and was credited with delivering two thirds of the white evangelical vote to Ronald Reagan during the 1980 presidential election . According to Jimmy Carter, "that autumn [1980]
1014-414: The lifestyle, but that has nothing to do with the civil rights of that part of our constituency", said Falwell. When Carlson countered that conservatives "are always arguing against 'special rights' for gays," Falwell said equal access to housing and employment are basic rights, not special rights. "Civil rights for all Americans, black, white, red, yellow, the rich, poor, young, old, gay, straight, et cetera,
1053-400: The ministry until the scandal died down, but Falwell barred Bakker from returning to PTL on April 28, and referred to him as "probably the greatest scab and cancer on the face of Christianity in 2,000 years of church history". Later that summer, as donations to the ministry declined in the wake of Bakker's scandal and resignation, Falwell raised $ 20 million to keep PTL solvent and delivered on
1092-547: The murder conspiracy about Vincent Foster. Perry and Patterson also gave information regarding the allegations in the Paula Jones affair . The infomercial for the 80-minute videotape included footage of Falwell interviewing a silhouetted journalist who claimed to be afraid for his life. The journalist accused Clinton of orchestrating the deaths of several reporters and personal confidants who had gotten too close to his supposed illegal activities. The silhouetted journalist
1131-420: The powers that be to guarantee America's support of the State of Israel at this time. Falwell repeatedly denounced certain teachings in public schools and secular education in general, calling them breeding grounds for atheism , secularism , and humanism , which he claimed to be in contradiction with Christian morality . He advocated that the United States change its public education system by implementing
1170-430: The realm of hate speech that could incite violence. At the forum, Falwell told homosexuals in attendance, "I don't agree with your lifestyle, I will never agree with your lifestyle, but I love you" and added, "Anything that leaves the impression that we hate the sinner, we want to change that." He later commented to New York Times columnist Frank Rich that "admittedly, evangelicals have not exhibited an ability to build
1209-429: The same movement. In response, Steve Rice, spokesperson for Itsy Bitsy Entertainment, which licenses Teletubbies in the United States, said, "I really find it absurd and kind of offensive." The UK show was aimed at pre-school children, but the article stated "he is purple–the gay pride color; and his antenna is shaped like a triangle –the gay-pride symbol". Apart from those characteristics Tinky Winky also carries
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1248-594: The sincerity and non-violent intentions of some civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mr. James Farmer, and others, who are known to have left-wing associations." In speaking of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, he said, in 1958: If Chief Justice Warren and his associates had known God's word and had desired to do the Lord's will, I am quite confident that the 1954 decision would never have been made. The facilities should be separate. When God has drawn
1287-437: The time of Falwell's death, "We did not always agree on everything, but I knew him to be a man of God. His accomplishments went beyond most clergy of his generation." In March 1987, Pentecostal televangelist Jim Bakker came under media scrutiny when it was revealed that he had a sexual encounter (and alleged rape) with Jessica Hahn and had paid for her silence. Bakker believed that fellow Pentecostal pastor Jimmy Swaggart
1326-408: The various and many denominations and religious groups—and I don't say those words in a pejorative way—begin applying for money—and I don't see how any can be turned down because of their radical and unpopular views. I don't know where that would take us. In the 1980s Falwell said sanctions against the apartheid regime of South Africa would result in what, he felt, would be a worse situation, such as
1365-598: Was a staunch atheist . Jerry Falwell was a member of a group in Fairview Heights known to the police as "the Wall Gang" because they sat on a low concrete wall at the Pickeral Café. Falwell met Macel Pate on his first visit to Park Avenue Baptist Church in 1949; Macel was a pianist there. They married on April 12, 1958. The couple had sons Jerry Jr. (a lawyer, and former chancellor of Liberty University) and Jonathan (senior pastor at Thomas Road Baptist Church) and
1404-479: Was a student there. Falwell was later awarded three honorary doctorates: Doctor of Divinity from Tennessee Temple Theological Seminary , Doctor of Letters from California Graduate School of Theology , and Doctor of Laws from Central University in Seoul , South Korea. In 1956, aged 22, Falwell founded the Thomas Road Baptist Church . Originally located at 701 Thomas Road in Lynchburg, Virginia, with 35 members,
1443-576: Was attempting to take over his ministry because he had initiated a church investigation into allegations of his sexual misconduct. To avoid the takeover, Bakker resigned on March 19 and appointed Falwell to succeed him as head of his PTL ministry, which included the PTL Satellite Network , television program The PTL Club and the Christian-themed amusement park Heritage USA . Bakker believed Falwell would temporarily lead
1482-546: Was not troubled by reports that the nominee for Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, John G. Roberts (whose appointment was confirmed by the US Senate) had done volunteer legal work for gay rights activists on the case of Romer v. Evans . Falwell told then-MSNBC host Tucker Carlson that if he were a lawyer, he too would argue for civil rights for LGBT people. "I may not agree with
1521-489: Was subsequently revealed to be Patrick Matrisciana, the producer of the video and president of Citizens for Honest Government. "Obviously, I'm not an investigative reporter", Matrisciana admitted to investigative journalist Murray Waas . Later, Falwell seemed to back away from personally trusting the video. In an interview for the 2005 documentary The Hunting of the President , Falwell admitted, "to this day I do not know
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