Former vice president Mike Pence comes to Liberty

Former Vice President Mike Pence is no stranger to Liberty University. In 2019, he delivered the keynote address at Liberty’s 46th Commencement, and he spoke at Convocation twice after that. Most recently, Pence attended the Ad Fontes ceremony for third-year law students March 28 at noon, and he later led the first Consecration Service of Liberty’s School of Law.

Provost and Chief Academic Officer Scott Hicks initiated the Consecration Service with readings from 2 Chronicles 5-7. School of Law Dean Morse Tan then introduced Grammy Award-winning musician Michael W. Smith, who led worship, and Pence as the keynote speaker of the service.

As the executive director of Liberty’s Michael W. Smith Center for Commercial Music, Smith accompanied the former vice president by opening both the Ad Fontes ceremony and Consecration Service with worship music. At the Consecration Service, Smith played classic hymns such as “I Surrender All” and his own rendition of the contemporary worship song “Above All.”

When Pence took the podium, he dedicated Liberty’s School of Law and even the very grounds it stood on to be consecrated. Campus Pastor Jonathan Falwell later explained that to consecrate something means to set it apart. The purpose of the Consecration Service was to set Liberty’s School of Law apart from the world for God.

“We dedicate this law school, these grounds, this promising group of law students who haven’t graduated yet, Dean Tan, this wonderful facility and all of those who study here or will study here,” Pence said. “As we stand on the foundation of the law, here at the Liberty University School of Law, we know who is above all.”

Pence shared his personal story of how he came to know Christ. Pence had grown up in a church home, but it wasn’t until he was in college that he accepted Christ as his savior. During his freshman year, the joy of the other young people going to church caught his attention. He also discussed how Christian music, such as that produced by Smith, played a role in his acceptance of Christ. 

After sharing his own story, Pence encouraged all the law students in attendance to stay true to the U.S. Constitution when they begin work, saying that the Constitution is more than just “poetry” or “inspiration.” The Constitution is the “working document” of this country. 

“You all understand that the foundation of America is freedom, and those freedoms are enshrined and protected in that Constitution,” Pence said. “The foundation of freedom is faith.”

Pence reminded the law students that they’ll take an oath of office when they become an officer of the court, similar to the oath of office taken on by either a government official or a member of the military. He described the oath as a promise to the people they will serve and pointed out that an oath of office always ends with the prayer, “So help me God.”

Toward the end of the service, Pence told the story of King Solomon praying to God for a discerning heart to tell between right and wrong. He related this to the duties of those who work in law. Pence also noted how King Solomon knew not just who he served, but where the strength of those people came from.

“Whatever challenges you face, whatever challenges our nation faces, God is still at work,” Pence said as a final message to the law students and faculty. “I believe with all my heart that God is not done with America yet.”

Bear is the feature editor for the Liberty Champion