Jerry Falwell Jr. Is Officially Out at Liberty University

In the wake of a mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif., in 2015, he told students at an all-campus gathering that if more people had concealed-carry gun permits, “we could end those Muslims before they walked in.” He depicted himself as a provocateur on Twitter, where he often insulted other Christian leaders. And his brickbats attracted increasing media attention after his surprise endorsement of Donald J. Trump for president in early 2016.

Monday was the first day of classes for the fall semester at Liberty. On a campus where class sessions often open in prayer, some professors referred to the uncertainty of the moment, and encouraged students to pray for both the institution’s future and the Falwell family. The campus pastor, David Nasser, posted a tweet to remind students that the campus chapel was open 24 hours a day for prayer and counsel. Mr. Nasser was to address students directly at a worship service on Wednesday evening.

Mr. Falwell had been on leave since Aug. 7, following backlash to a photograph he posted to Instagram in which he posed with his pants partially unzipped and his arm around a young woman he later said was his wife’s assistant. He was holding a glass of dark liquid that he joked in the caption was “just black water.” Students and faculty at Liberty are forbidden from consuming alcohol, and the student honor code encourages students to follow “common-sense guidelines to avoid the appearance of impropriety.”

In their statement announcing Mr. Falwell’s departure, board members emphasized their spiritual responsibilities. “I am so encouraged by the unity of Christ that I saw exemplified by our board today,” said Allen McFarland, the board’s acting chair. “Liberty University’s future is very bright and in capable hands of leaders who are committed to being good stewards of what the Lord has entrusted.”

Jerry Prevo, a retired pastor who has been serving as acting president during Mr. Falwell’s leave of absence, said he intended to nurture students’ “spiritual side.” Mr. Prevo will remain in the role of acting president indefinitely.

Mr. Granda has said he met the Falwells in 2012 while he was a 20-year-old in Miami Beach. The Falwell family later entered into an unusual business arrangement with Mr. Granda, making him a partner when they invested nearly $2 million in a Miami youth hostel.

The tawdry details of the latest scandal involving Mr. Granda ensured that the news spread quickly on the campus of 15,000 residential students. John Sharp Jr., a sophomore majoring in business administration, said he and colleagues on campus had listened to a 2018 audio clip, published by Reuters, purported to be of a conversation between Mr. Falwell, his wife and Mr. Granda. In it, someone identified as Mr. Falwell jokingly said that Mr. Granda’s relationships with other women might make Ms. Falwell jealous.