Jerry Falwell, Jr. introduces Donald Trump at a campaign rally on the campus of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., Jan. 18, 2016.
Photo: nicholas kamm/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesSuccess can cover a multitude of sins—at least that’s how it seemed to anyone observing Jerry Falwell Jr.’s behavior when he served as president of Liberty University. His resignation this week was long overdue, and Liberty can now begin regaining its place of prominence as a leading evangelical academic institution. It must start with recommitting to what drew so many young people there in the first place: its reputation for training champions for Christ.
I enrolled at Liberty University in 2009. Several of my siblings attended, and some of my dearest friends are former classmates. When I received a life-altering medical diagnosis during my freshman year, I was surrounded by trusted friends who cared for me. Professors invited me into their homes to share a meal with their families and learn about me beyond intellectual pursuits. I grew in my faith as godly professors and leaders showed me a Christian framework for understanding the world. I also got to know Mr. Falwell and his wife while serving as senior class president in 2013.
My love for the school has made my grief profound over the past few years, as Mr. Falwell made headlines for a variety of moral failings. It culminated this week when a young man alleged that he had been sexually involved with the Falwells for several years. The Falwells have confirmed that the affair occurred, but denied that Mr. Falwell was involved. After 13 years on the job, Mr. Falwell has said he is entitled to a $10.5 million severance package.
Scripture commands us not to rejoice but to grieve when another falls. Christians should pray for the Falwells’ repentance and restoration. Recall Luke in his Gospel: “Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.” When moral failures happen, as Christians we are rightly grieved, because none of us are above committing similar acts. God calls us to repent, which means bringing light into dark places and rightly ordering our steps.
My fellow Liberty alumni and I want to believe the school’s brightest days are ahead, but that isn’t guaranteed. This moral failing is only a symptom of a larger problem. Mr. Falwell’s behavior and domineering leadership went largely unchecked by the board members empowered to hold him accountable. Even with all the red flags—the countless character flaws becoming more and more obvious with time—the board allowed him to continue serving as president. This was a failure of its most basic duty.
Liberty’s actions, past and present, tell the world something about Christ. As a Christian university, its leadership should represent the tenets of the Christian faith. Perfect institutions don’t exist, because no one is perfect. But we ought to expect a better Christian and moral witness that aligns with the teachings of Jesus. Character, leadership and faithfulness matter. Ultimately, an organization can only be as healthy as its leadership.
Mr. Falwell denies several additional allegations of moral and financial misconduct, which is why it’s imperative that the board orders an independent investigation into the full extent of his behavior and leadership of Liberty. The same standard of conduct must be applied to everyone at the university. Swift steps should be taken for those who don’t abide by the shared commitment to follow Christ.
As the board begins its search for a new president, it must select someone who will put the mission of “training champions for Christ” first. The next leader of Liberty should focus on cultivating the minds of the next generation of Christian leaders. Amplifying culture-war battles for partisan plaudits is beneath someone charged with leading such an important institution.
The university must place the spiritual care of students above the pursuit of profits. That means creating a culture where students mature in their walk with the Lord while being challenged academically. Mr. Falwell made dramatic cuts to some departments and dissolved the entire philosophy department. New leadership should invest heavily to ensure students receive the highest quality education.
As America’s civic culture is hurting, it needs Christians who faithfully live out the Gospel we profess. If Liberty can recover that focus, I have great hope in its success. The decisions the board makes in the coming days will chart the university’s path. All committed Christians ought to pray for their success—and that they themselves can fan the flame for God’s glory.
Ms. Patterson Sobolik is policy director at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission in Washington.
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