- To: National Desk, Political Reporter
- Contact: Dr. Ron Godwin,
- 434-944-6111, dhart@liberty.edu
-
- LYNCHBURG, Va., Nov. 10 /Christian
Wire Service/ -- Dr. Jerry Falwell announced today the formation of The
Faith and Values Coalition, a national organization designed to maintain
the national momentum gained through "values voters" who swept
President Bush back into office on November 2.
-
- "Following the sweeping re-election of President
Bush and a new generation of conservative lawmakers nationwide, a new organization,
Faith and Values Coalition (TFVC), has been launched," said Falwell
from his headquarters in Lynchburg, Virginia. "The group's central
premise is to utilize the momentum of the November 2 elections to maintain
an evangelical revolution of voters who will continue to go to the polls
to 'vote Christian.' Essentially, TFVC is a 21st century resurrection of
the Moral Majority."
-
- Falwell noted that, at age 71, he was "committing
to a four-year stint as national chairman of The Faith and Values Coalition."
-
- He announced that he was being joined in this effort
by seasoned leaders. Mathew Staver, founder, president and general counsel
of the Orlando, Florida-based Liberty Counsel, will serve as vice-chairman.
Falwell's son, Jonathan Falwell, will serve as executive director. Additionally,
renowned author and theologian Dr. Tim LaHaye will serve as the Coalition's
board chairman.
-
- "One of our primary commitments is to help make
President Bush's second term the most successful in American history,"
Dr. Falwell said. "He will certainly need the consistent prayer and
support of the evangelical community as he continues to spearhead the international
war on terror and the effort to safeguard America."
-
- THREE-PRONGED TFVC PLATFORM
-
- Falwell said the three-fold platform of the new organization
is: (1) the confirmation of pro-life, strict constructionist U.S. Supreme
Court justices and other federal judges; (2) the passage of a constitutional
Federal Marriage Amendment; and (3) the election of another socially- fiscally-
and politically-conservative president in 2008, along with other state
and national candidates.
-
- "My new leadership role in TFVC reminds me of a
similar commitment I made more than a quarter-century ago," said Falwell.
"It was April 1979. I had just founded the Moral Majority and agreed
to devote five years to its leadership. I actually gave ten years of my
life before disbanding the organization in 1989 to focus on the expansion
of Liberty University."
-
- He continued, "At that time, God burdened my heart
to mobilize religious conservatives around a pro-life, pro-family, strong
national defense and pro-Israel platform, designed to return America to
her Judeo-Christian heritage. And I distinctively feel that burden again.
Our nation simply cannot continue as we know it if we allow out-of-control
lawmakers and radical judges -- working at the whims of society -- to alter
the moral foundations of America."
-
- Falwell noted that during Moral Majority's heyday, "we
registered millions of new voters and re-activated millions more. More
than 100,000 pastors, priests and rabbis and nearly seven million families
joined hands and hearts to reclaim America for God. Many historians believe
the result was the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 and the genesis of
what the media calls the 'Religious Right.'"
-
- VOTE CHRISTIAN!! A NEW REVOLUTION
-
- "On November 2," Falwell said, "my wife
Macel and I watched the election returns until early the next morning.
President Bush was reelected (despite apparent manipulation of the early
exit polling). Eleven family initiatives passed overwhelmingly in favor
of traditional marriage, and opposing same-sex marriage. Unprecedented
victories in the Senate and the House strengthened the President's hand
for future congressional action. The election was clearly a mandate on
marriage and morality".
-
- He continued, "Tom Daschle, the Senate Minority
Leader who had consistently obstructed President Bush's efforts to appoint
constructionist judges, was defeated. His defeat should serve as a powerful
indicator that we have the power to effectively take on politicians who
are under the spell of the potent abortion-rights organizations across
this nation.
- "On election night, I actually shed tears of joy
as I saw the fruit of a quarter century of hard work. Nearly 116 million
Americans voted. More than 30 million were evangelical Christians who,
according to the pollsters, voted their moral convictions. I proudly say...
they voted Christian!"
-
- Falwell referred to several "Christian giants"
who were largely responsible for the November 2 election. He pointed to
Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, "who provided energetic
and courageous leadership." He noted the work of Dr. Donald Wildmon
of the American Family Association, Dr. D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge
Ministries, Dr. John Hagee of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, "and
the many national leaders of the Arlington Group, the upstart alternative
Internet news sites and more than 225,000 evangelical pastors helped turn
out the largest electorate ever. And, I repeat, they all voted Christian!"
Falwell outlined his vision for the future: "We must now diligently
work to
- multiply our turnout for the 2006 and 2008 elections.
As national chairman of TFVC, I am committed to lending my influence to
help send out at least 40 million evangelical voters in 2008. The thought
of a Hillary Clinton or John Edwards presidency is simply unacceptable
(and quite frightening)."
-
- "FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED 25 YEARS AGO"
-
- "Over the past few days, I have been inundated with
requests from across America to 'finish what you started 25 years ago,'"
said Falwell.
-
- "With more than seven decades now in the rear view
mirror, I can honestly say that I feel the leading of the Holy Spirit to
answer that call and to once again mobilize people of faith to reclaim
this great country as 'one nation under God.' My primary 'light of the
world' calling is to continue serving as pastor of Thomas Road Baptist
Church and chancellor of Liberty University.
-
- "But I am praying for the strength and wisdom to
also successfully complete my 'salt of the earth' ministry. America is
worth saving. Our children and children's children will hold us accountable
if we fail.
-
- "He said the TFVC will be organizing in all 50 states
and "enlisting and training millions of Americans to become partners
in this exciting task of bringing this nation back to the moral values
of faith and family on which it was founded.
-
- "He added, "My National Liberty Journal newspaper
will serve as a springboard for this great effort."
-
- Falwell concluded: "I urge my friends around the
country to immediately get involved and join me in this four-year commitment,
which is really an investment in America, in our children and in our children's
children."
-
- # # #
-
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