President Smith's Public Statement on the Passing of Rev. Jerry Falwell

The unexpected passing of television pastor and political activist Jerry Falwell presents somewhat of an awkward challenge for all those in a position to comment publicly on his life and influence. Here is a man who was greatly admired by those whose views he represented and deeply loved by those closest to him, yet widely reviled by the many in our society who felt marginalized and belittled by Rev. Falwell’s narrow, fundamentalist religious views and his conservative politics.

Unfortunately, over the past few decades, those outside the church have painted Christians (especially Baptist believers) and Rev. Falwell with the same broad brush. The Baptist Seminary I serve as President has historically agreed with many of Rev. Falwell’s views in the area of family values. However, we have also from the beginning (1925) supported the ordination
of female pastors. And through the years we have stood for justice in ways that would put us totally at odds with Rev. Falwell’s political conservatism.

We have struggled to distance ourselves from some of Rev. Falwell’s attitudes and public statements. No one in the Baptist communities I represent, for example, gives even the slightest bit of credence to the view that catastrophes such as the AIDS epidemic and 9-11 represent God’s judgment on our nation. Such thinking is not only theologically untenable,
but is needlessly judgmental and politically self-serving.

This said, however, I am the first to admit that I am no closer to perfection than Rev. Falwell. In that we both find our perfection in Christ, I am compelled to consider him a brother.
While I will continue to oppose many of the efforts for which he stood and the attitudes he represented, I will also continue to admire him for the courage he displayed in standing for what he believed.

Wallace Charles Smith is President of Palmer Seminary of Eastern University (Philadelphia)
and Vice-President of the Baptist World Alliance.