Trump’s New Evangelical Board Member Falwell Gets Flack for ‘Playboy’ Issue
- By Elisa Meyer --
- 27 Jun 2016 --
Donald Trump announces Evangelical Executive Advisory Board
After meeting with a large group of Conservative Christian leaders, Donald Trump the presumptive Republican Presidential nominee has finally chosen his evangelical advisory team board. The team is expected to offer guidance in matters relating to faith as he prepares for the upcoming election. The mentioning of Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. as one of the advisory board members has led to a heated debate.
Trump’s New Evangelical Board Member Falwell Gets Flack for ‘Playboy’ Issue[/tweetthis]
Jerry Falwell Jr.has however, responded to the critics after he posted a picture of himself, wife and Donald Trump which captured the Playboy on the wall behind them. It created mixed reactions because there was an irony of how a Christian College leader would pose in front of a men’s pornographic magazine which had featured Donald Trump on its cover page once.
Honored to introduce @realDonaldTrump at religious leader summit in NYC today! He did incredible job! @beckifalwell pic.twitter.com/e2eBSbQwb0
— J L Falwell (@JerryJrFalwell) June 21, 2016
Falwell Jr. reacted to the critics and he apologized for posing in front of the Playboy magazine. In his message on Twitter, Falwell Jr. compared his critics to those given to Jesus when he was on Earth. “Honored for same hypocrites who accused Jesus of being a friend of publicans and sinners to be targeting me over a decades old mag cover! TY” He stated.
Other names of the board members which have raised a lot of concern are James Dobson and Richard Land who had previously made public criticism of Trump. Prior to the South Carolina primary in February, Dobson was recorded recommend Ted Cruz as the best alternative to Trump.
In another scenario, Richard Land wrote in a post and said that; "it must be said, before it is too late, that whatever the problems may be, Donald Trump is not the answer. I fear that the millions of Americans who are putting their trust in Mr. Trump will be bitterly disillusioned if he were to obtain the nation's highest office."
The board members were not selected to endorse Trump, but Trump wanted them to participate on those diverse issues regarding evangelical and Christian faiths and to have a wise counsel of such leaders.
Evangelical Executive Advisory Board:
Michele Bachmann – Former Congresswoman
A.R. Bernard – Senior Pastor and CEO, Christian Cultural Center
Mark Burns – Pastor, Harvest Praise and Worship Center
Tim Clinton – President, American Association of Christian Counselors
Kenneth and Gloria Copeland – Founders, Kenneth Copeland Ministries
James Dobson – Author, Psychologist and Host, My Family Talk
Jerry Falwell, Jr. – President, Liberty University
Ronnie Floyd – Senior Pastor, Cross Church
Jentezen Franklin – Senior Pastor, Free Chapel
Jack Graham – Senior Pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church
Harry Jackson – Senior Pastor, Hope Christian Church
Robert Jeffress – Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Dallas
David Jeremiah – Senior Pastor, Shadow Mountain Community Church
Richard Land – President, Southern Evangelical Seminary
James MacDonald – Founder and Senior Pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel
Johnnie Moore – Author, President of The KAIROS Company
Robert Morris – Senior Pastor, Gateway Church
Tom Mullins – Senior Pastor, Christ Fellowship
Ralph Reed – Founder, Faith and Freedom Coalition
James Robison – Founder, Life OUTREACH International
Tony Suarez – Executive Vice President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
Jay Strack – President, Student Leadership University
Paula White – Senior Pastor, New Destiny Christian Center
Tom Winters – Attorney, Winters and King, Inc.
Sealy Yates – Attorney, Yates and Yates
TRUMP CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCES EVANGELICAL EXECUTIVE ADVISORY BOARD#Trump2016??#CCOT#MAGAhttps://t.co/7dqOv46EsN pic.twitter.com/MQMxNroqai
— Linda Suhler, Ph.D. (@LindaSuhler) June 21, 2016