Liberty University, in response to a heated Internet firestorm over the Benny Hinn Ministries’ Liberty University Institute of Biblical Studies (LHBI), issued a statement regarding its firm lack of association with the Pentecostal televangelist:
Liberty University is not partnering with Benny Hinn. Liberty transferred the operations of Liberty Home Bible Institute, a non-accredited biblical studies certificate program, to Mr. Dan Reber a number of years ago. It is our understanding that LHBI’s new operators are working with Benny Hinn but LHBI is no longer operated by Liberty University. Mr. Reber was granted certain licensing rights to use Liberty’s name because the Liberty name was deeply imbedded in LHBI course materials. He was also required to obtain permission from Liberty University for any changes in marketing of the courses and Liberty University is investigating to determine whether this new marketing approach violates the terms of its agreement with Mr. Reber.
The controversy was sparked when a video from Hinn’s television show circulated, showing Hinn discussing what appeared to be a new partnership with Liberty University’s current provost, Dr. Ron Godwin, and Dan Reber of LHBI.
LHBI is also not to be confused with Liberty University’s School of Biblical and Theological Studies.
