LYNCHBURG, Va. — Liberty University will investigate reports that its seminary president has misled the public in his testimony about converting from militant Islam to Christianity, officials of the school in Lynchburg announced May 10.
Liberty Provost Ron Godwin is reportedly forming a committee to conduct a formal inquiry into questions surrounding Ergun Caner, president of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, that have circulated on blogs and more recently in media outlets including Christianity Today and Associated Baptist Press.
But discrepancies in biographical information he has provided in sermons — many recorded — preached over the years have caused some to question his credibility. Some are questioning even his basic testimony of converting to Christianity from a devout Sunni Muslim background.
Jason Smathers, a Christian website designer, found legal documents contradicting Caner’s claims of growing up in Turkey and being trained as a terrorist. Smathers says Caner actually grew up in Ohio in custody of his Lutheran mother after his parents divorced. Caner’s father, a Muslim who remarried, broke off relations with all three sons from his first marriage after they accepted Christ as teenagers.
Caner issued a statement admitting to “pulpit mistakes” but insisting he never intentionally misled anyone.
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