Jerry Falwell Jr. Withdraws Resignation from Liberty University

Board leaders decide return of Christian college’s president wouldn’t be in its “best interest” after dueling accounts of a sex scandal make news.

Monday was a big day for Liberty University. The school began the first day of classes as President Jerry Falwell Jr.’s name trended on Twitter due to recent news reports about the involvement of a young man in the conservative Christian leader’s marriage.

Falwell had been put on leave two and a half weeks ago after sharing a provocative vacation photo on his Instagram account. He told a Virginia publication this evening that he has been “enjoying” his break, “except for the press.”

The new reports made it clear that it would not be in Liberty’s “best interest” for him to return, the Christian college said Monday night in a statement.

Leaders from the board of trustees met Monday morning, then accepted Falwell’s resignation later in the day—only to have him withdraw the decision, the college stated. Upon seeing news reports of him leaving his position at Liberty, Falwell spoke out Monday evening to call them “completely false.”

The school’s board will meet again tomorrow as it waits for Falwell’s attorney to tender his resignation letter.

“I call upon the University community and supporters to be in prayer for the University and for all its leadership, past, present and future, as we walk with the Lord through this stormy time of transition,” said acting president Jerry Provo, an Alaska pastor who had served as board chair before he stepped in to lead while Falwell was on leave.

If Falwell resigns or is voted out of his position, he will join a regrettable list of prominent evangelical leaders brought down by sexual scandal.

Falwell said in a statement to the Washington Examiner Sunday night that his wife, Becki, had an affair ...