[Sly Fox]

I posted this info in the "Where was the board?" thread but thought I would post it here as we theoretically get closer toward a decision on the new leadership of the university.

CarterBaldwin is the search firm based out of Suburban Atlanta that is tasked with finding the candidates and making recommendations to the LU Board of Trustees. We have discussed potential candidates in other threads. But I want to now focus on those responsible for deciding who will be leading our university into the next decade or so. Here are the players:

Board Chairpersons

Tim Lee, 71 - Chairman
Garland, Texas
LU Alum: No
Occupation: Evangelist - Tim Lee Ministries
Twitter: @MarineTimLee
Term Expires April 16, 2024

Will Graham, 48 - Vice Chairman
Charlotte, North Carolina
LU Alum: Yes - Class of '97
Occupation: VP of BGEA & Evangelist
Twitter
Term Expires April 16, 2024


Executive Committee

Carroll Hudson, 77 - Committee Chairman
Lynchburg, Virginia
LU Alum: No
Occupation: CEP, England's Stove Works Inc.
LinkedIn
Twitter
Term Expires in October 30, 2023

Tim Lee, 71
Garland, Texas
LU Alum: No
Occupation: Evangelist - Tim Lee Ministries
Twitter: @MarineTimLee
Term Expires April 16, 2024

Jerry Prevo, D.D., 78
Lynchburg, Virginia/Anchorage, Alaska
LU Alum: No
Occupation: Interim LU President since 2020
Twitter
Term Expires October 28, 2025

David Rhodenhizer, D.D., 70
Dumfries, Virginia
LU Alum: Yes - Class of '74
Occupation: Senior Pastor, Calvary Road Baptist Church in Alexandra, Virginia
Twitter
Term Expires in October 30, 2023

Gilbert "Bud" Tinney, Jr., 85 - DICEASED
Grand Rapids, Michigan
LU Alum: No
Occupation: Retired Businessman
Term Expires November 5, 2024

Jerry Vines, D.Th & Ph.D., 85
Canton, Georgia
LU Alum: No
Occupation: Jerry Vines Ministries
Twitter
Term Expires October 28, 2025

David Corry, J.D. - LU General Counsel & Committee Liaison


Presidential and Chancellor Search Special Committee

Gilbert "Bud" Tinney, Jr., 85 - Chairman - DICEASED
Grand Rapids, Michigan
LU Alum: No
Occupation: Retired Businessman
Term Expires November 5, 2024

Anthony Beckles, 61
Lynchburg, Virginia
LU Alum: Yes - Class of '83
Occupation: Online Chair for LU School of Business
Term Expires October 28, 2025

Jonathan Falwell, 56
Lynchburg, Virginia
LU Alum: Yes - Class of '88
Occupation: Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church & LU
Twitter
Term Expires October 28, 2025

Carroll Hudson, 77
Lynchburg, Virginia
LU Alum: No
Occupation: CEP, England's Stove Works Inc.
LinkedIn
Twitter
Term Expires in October 30, 2023

Richard Lee, Ph.D., 77
Cumming, Georgia
LU Alum: No
Occupation: President & Speaker, There's Hope America
Term Expires in October 28, 2025

Tim Lee, 71
Garland, Texas
LU Alum: No
Occupation: Evangelist - Tim Lee Ministries
Twitter
Term Expires April 16, 2024

Penny Nance, 56
Alexandria, Virginia
LU Alum: Yes - Class of '88
Occupation: CEO & President, Concerned Women of America
Twitter
Term Expires on October 30, 2023

David Rhodenhizer, D.D., 70
Dumfries, Virginia
LU Alum: Yes - Class of '74
Occupation: Senior Pastor, Calvary Road Baptist Church in Alexandra, Virginia
Twitter
Term Expires on October 30, 2023

Duke Westover, 87
Lynchburg, Virginia
LU Alum: No
Occupation: Owner, DuCar International Tours
Term Expires on October 28, 2025

Ron Kennedy, Ed.D. - LU EVP of Enrollment & Marketing + Committee Liaison


Other Board Members

Brian Autry, D.M., 52
Midlothian, Virginia
LU Alum: No
Occupation: Executive Director of SBC of Virginia
Twitter: @BrianAutry
Term Expires October 28, 2025

Gaye Overton Benson, 63
Chesapeake, Virginia
LU Alum: Yes - Class of '82
Occupation: Partner, Overton Family Partnership - Real Estate
Term Expires October 28, 2025

Jeff Benson, 62
Chesapeake, Virginia
LU Alum: Yes - Class of '83
Occupation: Partner, Overton Family Partnership - Real Estate
LinkedIn
Term Expires October 28, 2025

John Borek, Ph.D., 79
Johns Creek, Georgia
LU Alum: No (Former LU President)
Occupation: Partner, American Leadership Group
LinkedIn
Term Expires October 30, 2023

John Heath, 78
Roanoke, Virginia
LU Alum: No
Occupation: Retired Businessman
Term Expires October 30, 2023

Angela Jordan, 60
Grand Rapids, Michigan
LU Alum:
Occupation: Businesswoman - Daughter of the Late LU Chairman Harvey Gainey
Term Expires October 28, 2025

Allen McFarland, D.Min., 79
Chesapeake, Virginia
LU Alum: Yes
Occupation: Pastor, Calvary Evangelical Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Virginia
Term Expires November 5, 2024

Gene Mims, 72
Brentwood, Tennessee
LU Alum: No
Occupation: Pastor, Judson Baptist Church in Nashville
LinkedIn
Twitter
Term Expires October 28, 2025

Richard Osborne, 66
Oxford, Maryland
LU Alum: Yes - Class of '79
Occupation: Owner, Direct Real Estate
LinkedIn
Term Expires November 5, 2024

Galen E. Peel, Sr., 87
Forest, Virginia
LU Alum: No
Occupation: Retired Businessman & TRBC Member
Term Expires October 28, 2025

Harold Rawlings, 89
Walton, Kentucky
LU Alum: No
Occupation: Assistant Director, The Rawlings Foundation
LinkedIn
Term Expires November 5, 2024

Dwight 'Ike' Reighard, D.M., 71
Powder Springs, Georgia
LU Alum: No
Occupation: Pastor, Piedmont Church + President & CEO of MUST Ministries
LinkedIn
Twitter
Term Expires November 5, 2024

Chris Rhodenhizer, 48
Dumfries, Virginia
LU Alum: Yes - Class of '96
Occupation: Pastor, Image Church in Woodbridge, Virginia
Term Expires October 28, 2025

Jerry Thorpe, 86
Granbury, Texas
LU Alum: No
Occupation: Retired Pastor & Speaker
LinkedIn
Twitter
Lifetime Term

Will Tinney, 55
Rockford, Michigan
LU Alum: Yes
Occupation: Automobile Dealership
LinkedIn
Term Expires October 28, 2025

Jeffrey S. Yager, 48
Fort Mill, South Carolina
LU Alum: No
Occupation: President & CEO, Yager Group of Companies
LinkedIn
Term Expires November 5, 2024

[Sly Fox]

Quick Notes:

Executive Board

• Average Age is 78.6

• 5 of 6 members did not attend Liberty. The only one who did was in the first few years of Lynchburg Baptist College.

• All six members were originally placed on board as personal friends of Doc.

Search Committee

• Average Age is 71.1

• 4 of 9 members attended Liberty

• 1 of 9 members has an earned doctorate.

• The man many believed to be the next chancellor is part of the selection process.

Overall Board

• Youngest board members (Graham, C. Rhodenhizer & Yager) are 48

• Six members in their 80s and several are pushing 90.

• One husband/wife, two father/son combos

• Franklin Graham's son & former LU Board Chair Harvey Gainey's daughter are both on the board.

[Ill flame]

Is the board elected or appointed by the president? Also how did one person get a lifetime term?

[ballah09]

Tim Lee is more delusional than Jr if you can believe it.

[flameshaw]

Tim Lee is more delusional than Jr if you can believe it.

TRUTH

[Sly Fox]

My understanding is that the board candidates are nominated by existing members of the board. They are then placed up for vote for the entire board at their annual fall meetings. Nepotism and the ability to be easily manipulated by the president have historically been primary prerequisites for nominees. Most have no clue what is happening on campus beyond what they hear from the president at the board meetings. If financials still look good, it is rubber stamp time.

When Allen McFarland dared to step out of line, he lost his key leadership and committee assignments. Thankfully he still is on the board. He certainly stands out among the membership on multiple fronts.

To Flameshaw's point, this is certainly not the collection of folks the faculty, staff, students and alumni deserve to have making these decisions. But this is where we stand. The only way to exit leadership of this board is to die or generously offer up yourself for a golden throne for nearly three years "for the good of the university".

At what point does actually bringing value to the board start to become a factor in decisions? Is our only hope for the future that the board takes a stab in the dark and gets lucky? I suspect we will have awhile before we get many answers as Prevo shamelessly continues his cash grab. He's in no rush to give up either his burgeoning back account or newfound influence.

I have stated this before but it is worth repeating. How can a group of trustees focus on what is best for the future when they are obsessed about preserving the legacy of their past? If you are pushing 90, do you really care about what comes next for a school you will never see in your lifetime?

I know this starting to sound ageist. But that is not my point. I am just frustrated by a group that stood by and watched the moral decay of leadership and not only did not step in and provide correction, they chose instead to enable. Prevo bears most of the guilt and responsibility for what occurred the past decade. And yet he is the guy still pulling all of the strings to enrich himself and pursue his political passions whether they are in the best interest of the school or not.

And yes, I feel much better now. Thank you.

[Ill flame]

After doing some googling apparently it's pretty normal for private schools to have large boards and for them to nominate new members themselves. They really need to let students and faculty have a seat at the table and I'd like to see elections voted on by alumni for at least a portion of the seats. The current system clearly isn't working. I just hope the new president is an outside hire so he/she will be more likely to address the issue.

[Tnobes]

My understanding is that the board candidates are nominated by existing members of the board. They are then placed up for vote for the entire board at their annual fall meetings. Nepotism and the ability to be easily manipulated by the president have historically been primary prerequisites for nominees. Most have no clue what is happening on campus beyond what they hear from the president at the board meetings. If financials still look good, it is rubber stamp time.

When Allen McFarland dared to step out of line, he lost his key leadership and committee assignments. Thankfully he still is on the board. He certainly stands out among the membership on multiple fronts.

To Flameshaw's point, this is certainly not the collection of folks the faculty, staff, students and alumni deserve to have making these decisions. But this is where we stand. The only way to exit leadership of this board is to die or generously offer up yourself for a golden throne for nearly three years "for the good of the university".

At what point does actually bringing value to the board start to become a factor in decisions? Is our only hope for the future that the board takes a stab in the dark and gets lucky? I suspect we will have awhile before we get many answers as Prevo shamelessly continues his cash grab. He's in no rush to give up either his burgeoning back account or newfound influence.

I have stated this before but it is worth repeating. How can a group of trustees focus on what is best for the future when they are obsessed about preserving the legacy of their past? If you are pushing 90, do you really care about what comes next for a school you will never see in your lifetime?

I know this starting to sound ageist. But that is not my point. I am just frustrated by a group that stood by and watched the moral decay of leadership and not only did not step in and provide correction, they chose instead to enable. Prevo bears most of the guilt and responsibility for what occurred the past decade. And yet he is the guy still pulling all of the strings to enrich himself and pursue his political passions whether they are in the best interest of the school or not.

And yes, I feel much better now. Thank you.

The last decade has been pretty phenomenal. Couldn't ask for much better. But I'd like to see more ripples made. No such thing as bad publicity when it gets your name out there

[Tnobes]

After doing some googling apparently it's pretty normal for private schools to have large boards and for them to nominate new members themselves. They really need to let students and faculty have a seat at the table and I'd like to see elections voted on by alumni for at least a portion of the seats. The current system clearly isn't working. I just hope the new president is an outside hire so he/she will be more likely to address the issue.

Have you seen how that has worked out for universities? You are asking for your university to go full on LGBTQIA, climate change and woke when you let the students and faculty run the place

[Ill flame]

After doing some googling apparently it's pretty normal for private schools to have large boards and for them to nominate new members themselves. They really need to let students and faculty have a seat at the table and I'd like to see elections voted on by alumni for at least a portion of the seats. The current system clearly isn't working. I just hope the new president is an outside hire so he/she will be more likely to address the issue.

Have you seen how that has worked out for universities? You are asking for your university to go full on LGBTQIA, climate change and woke when you let the students and faculty run the place

How liberal do you think our students and faculty are?

[Purple Haize]

After doing some googling apparently it's pretty normal for private schools to have large boards and for them to nominate new members themselves. They really need to let students and faculty have a seat at the table and I'd like to see elections voted on by alumni for at least a portion of the seats. The current system clearly isn't working. I just hope the new president is an outside hire so he/she will be more likely to address the issue.

Have you seen how that has worked out for universities? You are asking for your university to go full on LGBTQIA, climate change and woke when you let the students and faculty run the place

How liberal do you think our students and faculty are?

If the faculty, staff, Alum and current students are THAT Liberal then obviously the current Board has failed and needs removed immediately. But I’m not thinking they are.

[TH Spangler]

Alphabet army has control of big tech, Hollywood and a political party. It's that enough.

[ballcoach15]

Any liberal staff and faculty, should be "shown the door".

[Sly Fox]

I come from a very IFB background. My family was closely connected with many of those I listed above and the Falwell family in particular. I have a conservative bent and appreciate the massive growth of the school over the past two decades of which JLFJR played a significant role. I still love my alma mater and rep just about everywhere I go.

But the lack of spiritual direction by the board and this group of good ole boys sticking their heads in the sand rather than stepping up and speaking up to university leadership cannot continue. Administrators have laughed about how out of touch the board has been for decades. I speak from firsthand perspective on that last point. We need to stop having board members pull their family members on to the board. My worry is that the board will go inside hires on these two positions to protect their own self interests rather than find qualified people. And to perfectly blunt, I think we can all see this happening with Prevo & Lee pulling the strings.

[Baybird]

Prevo bears most of the guilt and responsibility for what occurred the past decade. And yet he is the guy still pulling all of the strings to enrich himself and pursue his political passions whether they are in the best interest of the school or not.

THIS sums it up so well!

[stokesjokes]

Any liberal staff and faculty, should be "shown the door".

You can’t be serious thinking “liberals” are the problem here.

I’ll say it again: when all you have is a hammer…

[JK37]

I come from a very IFB background. My family was closely connected with many of those I listed above and the Falwell family in particular. I have a conservative bent and appreciate the massive growth of the school over the past two decades of which JLFJR played a significant role. I still love my alma mater and rep just about everywhere I go.

But the lack of spiritual direction by the board and this group of good ole boys sticking their heads in the sand rather than stepping up and speaking up to university leadership cannot continue. Administrators have laughed about how out of touch the board has been for decades. I speak from firsthand perspective on that last point. We need to stop having board members pull their family members on to the board. My worry is that the board will go inside hires on these two positions to protect their own self interests rather than find qualified people. And to perfectly blunt, I think we can all see this happening with Prevo & Lee pulling the strings.

Other than Prevo - obviously - can you explain how being a board member benefits the members? They don’t receive compensation for being a board member, surely.

[Sly Fox]

That opens up a whole can of worms for the Executive Committee that I would prefer not to state publicly. There were specific reasons why they were so much in the pocket of JLFJR through all of the scandals. Does anyone recall the effusive praise Prevo had for JLFJR in convo immediately after he was forced out? Most of us were stunned but there were specific reasons that he continued to heap praise on him until he had full control and no longer needed Junior to enrich himself.

Otherwise for everyone else it is a matter of prestige. It is a great distinction on LinkedIn and builds credibility in certain circles. My understanding is that their kids (and possibly grandkids) go to LU for free. And then they get to be escorted around campus like big shots and feel like they in some way contributed to the Liberty success story. There is something about feeling like you are in an inner circle that is very intoxicating.

At some point there has to be something given back in return. This board has historically done a TERRIBLE job of performing their part of the equation of holding leadership accountable. On that point I think we can all have a consensus.

[ballah09]

Any liberal staff and faculty, should be "shown the door".

BC you can always follow BJU and PCC if you believe that. You’re worse than the people at Berkeley when it comes to free speech and diversity.

[Purple Haize]

Any liberal staff and faculty, should be "shown the door".

BC you can always follow BJU and PCC if you believe that. You’re worse than the people at Berkeley when it comes to free speech and diversity.

He’s not worse. They are just 2 sides of the same coin

[lawdawg2002]

My understanding is that board members basically choose their replacements when they decide to jump out. The one I know will not be choosing one of their children but will choose a friend in the ministry's child. Based on what I know, this one will occur about a year after the new president comes on board.

There are a lot of changes I would make to how the board is chosen, but it should at least have a certain percentage of alumni and it should be reflective of the alumni base and not overwhelmingly be pastors, evangelists, etc. Seminaries deal in revealed truth, not the search for truth.

LU is going to struggle academically until they find a way to listen to some of the faculty. I believe they should offer a modified tenure that would allow them to remove a faculty member but have a process. The biggest problem with the current system is that faculty can be removed on a whim.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, there are a lot of great Christian professors who would love to help build LU if they were allowed to help build LU. They have to be respected for their ability. I know because I rub shoulders with them every day.

[ALUmnus]

If someone can once again dig up those elusive bylaws, it should state clearly how board members are elected.

[ATrain]

My understanding is that board members basically choose their replacements when they decide to jump out. The one I know will not be choosing one of their children but will choose a friend in the ministry's child. Based on what I know, this one will occur about a year after the new president comes on board.

There are a lot of changes I would make to how the board is chosen, but it should at least have a certain percentage of alumni and it should be reflective of the alumni base and not overwhelmingly be pastors, evangelists, etc. Seminaries deal in revealed truth, not the search for truth.

LU is going to struggle academically until they find a way to listen to some of the faculty. I believe they should offer a modified tenure that would allow them to remove a faculty member but have a process. The biggest problem with the current system is that faculty can be removed on a whim.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, there are a lot of great Christian professors who would love to help build LU if they were allowed to help build LU. They have to be respected for their ability. I know because I rub shoulders with them every day.

I volunteer to be the alumni representative from the government sector

[Just John]

My understanding is that the board candidates are nominated by existing members of the board. They are then placed up for vote for the entire board at their annual fall meetings. Nepotism and the ability to be easily manipulated by the president have historically been primary prerequisites for nominees. Most have no clue what is happening on campus beyond what they hear from the president at the board meetings. If financials still look good, it is rubber stamp time.

When Allen McFarland dared to step out of line, he lost his key leadership and committee assignments. Thankfully he still is on the board. He certainly stands out among the membership on multiple fronts.

To Flameshaw's point, this is certainly not the collection of folks the faculty, staff, students and alumni deserve to have making these decisions. But this is where we stand. The only way to exit leadership of this board is to die or generously offer up yourself for a golden throne for nearly three years "for the good of the university".

At what point does actually bringing value to the board start to become a factor in decisions? Is our only hope for the future that the board takes a stab in the dark and gets lucky? I suspect we will have awhile before we get many answers as Prevo shamelessly continues his cash grab. He's in no rush to give up either his burgeoning back account or newfound influence.

I have stated this before but it is worth repeating. How can a group of trustees focus on what is best for the future when they are obsessed about preserving the legacy of their past? If you are pushing 90, do you really care about what comes next for a school you will never see in your lifetime?

I know this starting to sound ageist. But that is not my point. I am just frustrated by a group that stood by and watched the moral decay of leadership and not only did not step in and provide correction, they chose instead to enable. Prevo bears most of the guilt and responsibility for what occurred the past decade. And yet he is the guy still pulling all of the strings to enrich himself and pursue his political passions whether they are in the best interest of the school or not.

And yes, I feel much better now. Thank you.

The last decade has been pretty phenomenal. Couldn't ask for much better. But I'd like to see more ripples made. No such thing as bad publicity when it gets your name out there

Yeah, Jr's "publicity" has done wonders for the school.

I think this statement is pretty inartful to be made about a Christian university. A secular entertainer, sure. Not the world's largest Evangelical university". (Give or take Grand Canyon. )

[JK37]

Consider the source.