Thomas Road Baptist Church
Encyclopedia
Thomas Road Baptist Church (TRBC) is a megachurch
in Lynchburg
, Virginia
. It currently claims 24,000 members and is headed by Jonathan Falwell
.
Started in 1956 by a group of 35, including Jerry Falwell
, Thomas Road now claims over 24,200 members. In 1971 it founded Lynchburg Baptist College, now known as Liberty University
, as well as Liberty Christian Academy (known as Lynchburg Christian Academy until it moved and was renamed in 2005). Until 2004 the church was the location for a nationally syndicated religious broadcast known as The Old-Time Gospel Hour
. This program now airs only locally in the church's hometown. Selected sermons from the pulpit of the Thomas Road Baptist Church are now featured nationally on a syndicated program from Liberty University known as "Live from Liberty.
The church occupied a new multi-million dollar facility on July 2, 2006. The new building is connected to an over 800000 sq ft (74,322.4 m²) facility formerly owned and operated by the Ericsson
electronics manufacturer. The existing building has been renovated to house offices, university classes, the new Liberty University School of Law, and the Liberty Christian Academy. The church has constructed a 200,000+ sq. ft., $20 million facility adjacent to the existing building which includes a new sanctuary
, wedding chapel
, and children's area. The Church offers a variety of events and speakers, such as a creationist conference by Answers in Genesis
.
Founding pastor Falwell served as its senior pastor until his death in 2007. In a special business meeting called by the board of deacons on June 3, 2007, Jonathan Falwell
was unanimously elected by the congregation to assume his father's duties as senior pastor of the church. Jonathan Falwell had previously served as the church's executive pastor since 1994.
Jerry Falwell
started Lynchburg Baptist College by selling bonds to a small group of private investors. However, in 1972, the Securities and Exchange Commission
investigated the bonds alleging Falwell's church committed "fraud and deceit" in the issuance of $6.5 million in unsecured church bonds. The church won a 1973 federal court case prosecuted at the behest of the SEC, in which the Court exonerated the church and ruled that there had been no intentional wrong-doing.
, but is now dually aligned with that Fellowship as well as with the Southern Baptist Convention
, having entered the convention by way of the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia
.
Megachurch
A megachurch is a church having 2,000 or more in average weekend attendance. The Hartford Institute's database lists more than 1,300 such Protestant churches in the United States. According to that data, approximately 50 churches on the list have attendance ranging from 10,000 to 47,000...
in Lynchburg
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. It currently claims 24,000 members and is headed by Jonathan Falwell
Jonathan Falwell
Jonathan Pate Falwell is the senior pastor at the Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia. He is the son and successor of the late Reverend Jerry Falwell, and the brother of Liberty University Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr...
.
History
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Lamon Falwell, Sr. was an evangelical fundamentalist Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and a conservative commentator from the United States. He was the founding pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, a megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia...
, Thomas Road now claims over 24,200 members. In 1971 it founded Lynchburg Baptist College, now known as Liberty University
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
, as well as Liberty Christian Academy (known as Lynchburg Christian Academy until it moved and was renamed in 2005). Until 2004 the church was the location for a nationally syndicated religious broadcast known as The Old-Time Gospel Hour
The Old-Time Gospel Hour
The Old Time Gospel Hour is a ministry program broadcast from Thomas Road Baptist Church. The founding pastor was Jerry Falwell.-In popular culture:...
. This program now airs only locally in the church's hometown. Selected sermons from the pulpit of the Thomas Road Baptist Church are now featured nationally on a syndicated program from Liberty University known as "Live from Liberty.
The church occupied a new multi-million dollar facility on July 2, 2006. The new building is connected to an over 800000 sq ft (74,322.4 m²) facility formerly owned and operated by the Ericsson
Ericsson
Ericsson , one of Sweden's largest companies, is a provider of telecommunication and data communication systems, and related services, covering a range of technologies, including especially mobile networks...
electronics manufacturer. The existing building has been renovated to house offices, university classes, the new Liberty University School of Law, and the Liberty Christian Academy. The church has constructed a 200,000+ sq. ft., $20 million facility adjacent to the existing building which includes a new sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
, wedding chapel
Wedding chapel
A wedding chapel is a place, other than a legal court, and usually also, other than a church, where couples can get legally married. A church may also be used as a wedding chapel, but churches are usually called that by the marrying couple when the ceremony only involves those contracting matrimony...
, and children's area. The Church offers a variety of events and speakers, such as a creationist conference by Answers in Genesis
Answers in Genesis
Answers in Genesis is a non-profit Christian apologetics ministry with a particular focus on supporting Young Earth creationism and a literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis. The organization has offices in the United Kingdom and the United States...
.
Founding pastor Falwell served as its senior pastor until his death in 2007. In a special business meeting called by the board of deacons on June 3, 2007, Jonathan Falwell
Jonathan Falwell
Jonathan Pate Falwell is the senior pastor at the Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia. He is the son and successor of the late Reverend Jerry Falwell, and the brother of Liberty University Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr...
was unanimously elected by the congregation to assume his father's duties as senior pastor of the church. Jonathan Falwell had previously served as the church's executive pastor since 1994.
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Lamon Falwell, Sr. was an evangelical fundamentalist Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and a conservative commentator from the United States. He was the founding pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, a megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia...
started Lynchburg Baptist College by selling bonds to a small group of private investors. However, in 1972, the Securities and Exchange Commission
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is a federal agency which holds primary responsibility for enforcing the federal securities laws and regulating the securities industry, the nation's stock and options exchanges, and other electronic securities markets in the United States...
investigated the bonds alleging Falwell's church committed "fraud and deceit" in the issuance of $6.5 million in unsecured church bonds. The church won a 1973 federal court case prosecuted at the behest of the SEC, in which the Court exonerated the church and ruled that there had been no intentional wrong-doing.
Scholarship fund
Established in 2008, the Charles Billingsley Scholarship Fund rewards a full scholarship to Liberty University to the winner of a singing competition. "Liberty Idol" is based on the popular television show "American Idol." The competition is open to all high school seniors who wish to attend Liberty University. Gospel singer Charles Billingsley, leader of the church's gospel choir, solely endows the scholarship fund. Billingsley is the judge of the competition.Affiliation
Thomas Road Baptist Church was initially affiliated with the Baptist Bible Fellowship InternationalBaptist Bible Fellowship International
The Baptist Bible Fellowship International is a separatist, fundamentalist Baptist organization formed in 1950 by members who separated from the World Baptist Fellowship. It is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri...
, but is now dually aligned with that Fellowship as well as with the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
, having entered the convention by way of the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia
Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia
The Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia is a fellowship of 547 conservative Southern Baptist churches in Virginia and in surrounding areas. It is supportive of the national Southern Baptist Convention . It was formed in 1993 when conservative Virginia Baptists across the state founded the...
.