Liberty Christian Academy

Private school in Lynchburg, Virginia, United States

Liberty Christian Academy

Location

Lynchburg

Virginia

United States

Coordinates| 37°21′38″N 79°10′22″W﻿ / ﻿37.3605°N 79.1727°W﻿ / 37.3605; -79.1727
Information
Type| Private
Religious affiliation(s)| Thomas Road Baptist Church
Established| 1967
Superintendent| Mark Hine
Colour(s)|  Red, white, blue
Founder| Jerry Falwell Sr.
Website| www.lcabulldogs.com

Liberty Christian Academy (LCA, founded as Lynchburg Christian Academy) is a private Christian school in Lynchburg, Virginia. Founded in 1967 by Baptist preacher Jerry Falwell Sr. as a ministry of Thomas Road Baptist Church and a segregation academy, the school is recognized as an educational facility by the Commonwealth of Virginia through the Virginia State Board of Education,[1] Southern Association of Colleges and Schools,[2] and the Association of Christian Schools International.[3] The academy consists of pre–K through grade 12.

## History[edit]

During the 1950s and 1960s, Falwell spoke and campaigned against civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King Jr. and the desegregation of public school systems by the U.S. federal government.[4][5] In 1966, he led the effort to create "a private school for white students," the Lynchburg News reported. Named Lynchburg Christian Academy, the school opened in 1967 as a segregation academy.[4][5] Falwell developed it as a ministry of his Thomas Road Baptist Church.[6]

Unlike many other segregation academies, the school became racially integrated two years after its opening.[4] Historian Seth Dowland said that school officials later sought to market the school to parents who were not solely motivated by a desire to keep their children out of racially integrated public schools.[7]

In 1975, the Ford administration began trying to deny segregation academies their tax-exempt status on the basis that they perpetuated segregation. In 1979, Falwell denounced this "intervention against Christian schools", which had become a policy of the Carter administration. [8]

In 2005, the Lynchburg Christian Academy was moved next to Liberty University and renamed Liberty Christian Academy.[9]

## Athletics[edit]

The LCA football team compiled an 85–6 record, winning four state championships and eight conference championships, between 2004, when Frank Rocco become the head coach, and 2013.[10] Among the team's former members are Rashad Jennings[11] and Bobby Massie.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-20. Retrieved 2013-03-03.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
2. ^ "AdvancED - Institution Summary". Advanc-ed.org. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
3. ^ "Member Search « ACSI". Archived from the original on 2014-03-27. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
4. ^ a b c Seth Dowland (2007). Defending Manhood: Gender, Social Order and the Rise of the Christian Right in the South, 1965-1995. p. 23\. ISBN 978-0-549-71783-6. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
5. ^ a b Blumenthal, Max. "Agent of Intolerance | The Nation". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
6. ^ "Liberty Christian Academy - About LCA - History". Lcabulldogs.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
7. ^ Dowland, Seth (20 October 2015). Family values and the rise of the Christian right. pp. 27–30. ISBN 9780812291919.
8. ^ Republican Gomorrah: Inside The Movement That Shattered The Party. p. 25. Nation Books, 2009.
9. ^ "HISTORY". Liberty Christian Academy. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
10. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-04. Retrieved 2013-04-15.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
11. ^ "Rashad Jennings". Nfl.com. Retrieved 17 September 2016.

## External links[edit]

* Virginia portal
* Christianity portal
* Schools portal

* Liberty Christian Academy