This week in Christian history: Jerry Falwell Sr. resigns, Church council, Puritans

Jerry Falwell steps down as Moral Majority leader – November 3, 1987

The Rev. Jerry Falwell speaks at a rally on the steps of the Alabama Capitol in Montgomery. Ala., in this Aug. 16, 2003 file photo. Falwell, who founded the Moral Majority and built the religious right into a political force, died Tuesday, May 15, 2007, shortly after being found unconscious in his office at Liberty University, a school executive said. He was 73.
The Rev. Jerry Falwell speaks at a rally on the steps of the Alabama Capitol in Montgomery. Ala., in this Aug. 16, 2003 file photo. Falwell, who founded the Moral Majority and built the religious right into a political force, died Tuesday, May 15, 2007, shortly after being found unconscious in his office at Liberty University, a school executive said. He was 73. | (Photo: AP / Dave Martin, file)

This week marks the anniversary of when the Reverend Jerry Falwell Sr. announced that he was resigning from his position as head of the notable conservative Christian advocacy group the Moral Majority.

Falwell explained that he felt his involvement in the Moral Majority was hindering his other ministries, including his Lynchburg, Virginia-based congregation, Thomas Road Baptist Church.

“From now on, my real platform is the pulpit, not politics,” stated Falwell, as reported by The Washington Post at the time.

“I will never work for a candidate again as I did for Ronald Reagan. I will not be lobbying for legislation personally, I will not be registering voters.”

Despite the resignation, Falwell continued to publicly comment on politics and social issues through various venues, including cable news programming, until his death in 2007.

Follow Michael Gryboski on Twitter or Facebook

Was this article helpful?

Become a CP Insider.
Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone.

The truth has a cost, and Insiders help carry it.
A dollar from an Insider comes with no strings attached. It keeps our reporters on the story, keeps our journalism open to everyone, and keeps every editorial decision in the newsroom, where it belongs.

Become a CP Insider and choose the amount you want to pay. You can change, pause or cancel anytime. As a thank-you, you’ll get:

  • The Insider Newsletter, a members-only monthly letter from our newsroom

  • Ad-free reading across christianpost.com


From as low as $8.25/month
Prefer to give once?

We’re sorry to hear that.

Hope you’ll give us another try and check out some other articles.
Return to homepage.

Most Popular