Today’s column at @TheWeek, on a problem with authority in evangelicalism highlighted by the Falwell debacle: https://theweek.com/articles/933571/jerry-falwell-jr-reveals-evangelicalisms-authority-problem">https://theweek.com/articles/...

Every time Falwell gets up to something crude or shocking, I see a lot of protest that he’s not a real “evangelical leader.” But in a meaningful sense, he is, because evangelicalism has no formal hierarchy and a whole lot of unaccountable celebrity leaders.

This thread from @danielsilliman during the big 2017 fight over authority/accountability occasioned by @Tish_H_Warren’s blogosphere piece is good background: https://mobile.twitter.com/danielsilliman/status/858013836397432832">https://mobile.twitter.com/danielsil...

The issue isn’t new, though the internet magnifies it.

Liberty sits squarely in this freewheeling milieu.

"There is a long history of evangelicalism conflating success, authority, and fandom," said a Liberty University faculty member who spoke with me on condition of anonymity. https://theweek.com/articles/933571/jerry-falwell-jr-reveals-evangelicalisms-authority-problem">https://theweek.com/articles/...

"That element of & #39;fandom& #39; is under-discussed," the faculty member continued, both in general and where the Falwell family specifically is concerned. https://theweek.com/articles/933571/jerry-falwell-jr-reveals-evangelicalisms-authority-problem">https://theweek.com/articles/...