The Nation : Falwell in Financial Bind

The Rev. Jerry Falwell said a “financial crisis” is forcing him to lay off about 225 of his ministry’s 2,300 employees. Moreover, he plans to change his toll-free line to a regular number because, he said, his “Old-Time Gospel Hour” TV show has been getting about 50,000 harassing calls a month at a cost of $2 million over the last 15 months. Falwell said he planned also to raise fees at his schools. He said the cost-cutting measures were needed because his ministry, which has a $100-million annual budget, had spent $14 million in the last two years on construction at Liberty University at Lynchburg, Va.