Jonathan Falwell to succeed his late father
as church leader.
Taft University graduate, the Rev. Jonathan Falwell,
is the new pastor of Lynchburg's Thomas Road Baptist
Church.
Falwell, 40, succeeds his father, the late Rev. Jerry
Falwell, who founded the 21,000-member church nearly
51 years ago.
The elder Falwell, who died May 15, was the only pastor
the church had ever known. He was the founder of the
church and Liberty University. Several thousand church
members who gathered for a business meeting elected
Jonathan Falwell pastor yesterday evening on a unanimous
vote.
Jonathan Falwell has been Thomas Road's executive
pastor since 1994, a position that gives him considerable
experience in handling the church's day-to-day operations.
The late Falwell, who was senior pastor, had groomed
his son to replace him one day.
"Obviously, I'm excited about the future at the
church," Jonathan Falwell said. "I'm excited
about carrying on Dad's vision. I certainly, in no way
would ever presume that I could fill his shoes. Those
are shoes that can't be filled. But I will commit to
do everything I can do. The abilities that God has given
me, I will use them to my fullest to carry on the vision
and the mission of this church, which is to reach out
across the city and around this world with the Gospel
of Jesus Christ."
The Rev. Jerry Falwell started the church with 35
charter members in 1956 and watched it grow to a membership
of close to 21,000 members.
Jonathan Falwell received his undergraduate degree
from Liberty in 1987 and graduated from the university's
seminary in 1996. He also earned a Juris Doctor degree
from William Howard Taft University in California in
2004. Due to his church responsibilities, he has not
taken the bar examination.
Back to Top
|
