Dropping the Reins at PTL

Despite his abrupt departure from the PTL ministry, Jerry Falwell does not believe he wasted his time as chairman there.

According to spokesman Mark DeMoss, Falwell “believes we established a good relationship with many in the Christian family who we had not previously had much relationship with. He feels he was able to expose … ‘prosperity theology’ as wrong teaching and something that is prevalent in the modern charismatic movement.

“We were able to at least begin to clean up a house that was way out of order,” DeMoss added. “So those were not wasted months, in spite of being unable to complete what we had started.”

The ministry, more than $60 million in debt, filed for reorganization in June under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Last month, Falwell, the entire PTL board of directors, television program cohosts Gary McSpadden and Doug Oldham, and several other ministry officials resigned after a judge ruled that PTL creditors and contributors could file their own reorganization plan. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Rufus Reynolds said he allowed the competing plan because he saw no evidence that PTL officials had consulted with either creditors or PTL contributors in their reorganization plan. Many creditors and contributors are said to support deposed PTL founders Jim and Tammy Bakker.

Reynolds said he had hoped the two proposals could be negotiated into a compromise plan. But Falwell said at a news conference, “We will not sit down with Bakkerites.” He said the Bakker scandal had turned PTL into “the Watergate of evangelical Christianity.”

DeMoss said in an interview that Falwell and other former PTL officials “were not willing any longer to raise money if the court was not going to allow us the necessary control to complete the task.” Falwell said he feared the court’s action could lead to the return of Bakker and make the ministry “the greatest scab and cancer on the face of Christianity in 2,000 years of church history.” He predicted that, “barring a miracle of God,” Bakker would come back to the ministry within six months—a situation he called “tragic.”

Before stepping down, Falwell and the board inserted a clause in the PTL bylaws that would give the Assemblies of God denomination control of the ministry. At press time, however, church spokeswoman Juleen Turnage said the denomination had not been given prior notice of this change and had not been contacted by PTL or the bankruptcy court.

DeMoss said Falwell will concentrate on his own ministries, based in Lynchburg, Virginia. DeMoss said financial support for Liberty University, Thomas Road Baptist Church, and the Liberty Godparent ministry have increased. But support for Falwell’s television ministry, the Old-Time Gospel Hour, has dropped by $5 million in the wake of the PTL scandal.

Our Latest

The Bulletin

An Alleged Drug Boat Strike, the Annunciation Catholic SCHOOL Shooting, and the Rise of Violence in America

The Bulletin discusses the attack on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat and the recent school shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in the context of politics of violence.

The AI Bible: ‘We Call It Edutainment’

Max Bard of Pray.com details an audience-driven approach to AI-generated videos of the Bible, styled like a video game and heavy on thrills.

Review

A Woman’s Mental Work Is Never Done

Sociologist Allison Daminger’s new book on the cognitive labor of family life is insightful but incomplete.

News

In Rural Uganda, a Christian Lab Tech Battles USAID Cuts

Orach Simon tests blood and finds hope amid suffering.

From Our Community

Storing Up Kingdom Treasure

Greenbriar Equity Group chairman and founding partner Regg Jones urges fellow Christians to invest in the next generation of Christ followers.

Gen Z Is More Than Just Anxious

What the church gets wrong—and what it can get right—about forming a generation shaped by screens and longing for purpose.

Don’t Pay Attention. Give It.

Attention isn’t a resource to maximize for productivity. It’s a gift that helps us love God and neighbor.

Faith-Based Education Is Having a Moment

I’m excited to see churches—particularly Black congregations—step boldly into teaching.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube