Dobson Resigns As Chairman Of Focus On The Family

DENVER — Conservative evangelical leader James Dobson has resigned as chairman of Focus on the Family but will continue to play a prominent role at the organization he founded more than three decades ago.

Dobson notified the board of his decision Wednesday, and the 950 employees of the Colorado Springs, Colo.-based ministry were informed Friday morning, said Jim Daly, the group's president and chief executive officer.

Dobson, 72, will continue to host Focus on the Family's flagship radio program, write a monthly newsletter and speak out on moral issues, Daly said.

Dobson's resignation as board chairman "lessens his administrative burden" and is the latest step in a succession plan, the group said. Dobson began relinquishing control six years ago by stepping down as president and CEO.

"One of the common errors of founder-presidents is to hold to the reins of leadership too long, thereby preventing the next generation from being prepared for executive authority," Dobson said in a statement. "... Though letting go is difficult after three decades of intensive labor, it is the wise thing to do."

While Focus on the Family emphasizes that it devotes most of its resources to offering parenting and marriage advice, it is best known for promoting conservative moral stands in politics.

Dobson, a child psychologist and author, has gotten more involved in politics in recent years. He endorsed Republican John McCain last year after initially saying he would not, and also sharply criticized Democratic candidate Barack Obama.

On political matters, Dobson "will continue to speak out as he always has _ a private citizen and not a representative of the organization he founded," said Gary Schneeberger, a Focus on the Family spokesman. He said the nonprofit ministry and Focus on the Family Action _ an affiliate set up under a different section of the tax code that permits more political activity _ will continue to be active on public policy.

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Dobson has a devoted following. His radio broadcast reaches an estimated 1.5 million U.S. listeners daily. Yet critics say his influence is waning, pointing to evangelicals pushing to broaden the movement's agenda beyond abortion, gay marriage and other issues Dobson views as most vital.

"In the short term, in the near term, Dr. Dobson will stay committed to the issues close to his heart," Daly said in an interview. "He'll continue to speak out on those topics."

Gay-rights and liberal groups issued statements Friday warning that Dobson is not leaving the scene. Americans United for Separation of Church and State portrayed the move as Focus on the Family "merely rearranging the deck chairs on its big, intolerant ship."

D. Michael Lindsay, a Rice University sociologist who studies evangelicals and politics, said that although Dobson will continue to be Focus on the Family's public face, his board resignation is significant because "he no longer has his hands on the levers of power" there.

Observers have questioned whether Dobson's organization can remain a key player once its founder steps away. Longtime Dobson ally Gary Bauer said in an interview Friday he believes it can.

"Their constituency not only wants help on how to keep a marriage strong or how to deal with a challenging child, but also feels as if it's surrounded by hostile territory in the culture," said Bauer, former president of the Family Research Council, which Dobson founded in the early 1980s.

Daly said there is no timetable for Dobson to leave the radio program, and the group will "look for the next voice for the next generation" while Dobson remains on the air.

That will likely mean not one person behind the microphone but several speaking on their respective areas of expertise, Daly said. The organization, anticipating a post-Dobson era, for several years has tried out different voices on the broadcast and in giving media interviews on hot-button social issues.

At the same time, Focus officials have acknowledged difficulties in raising money from younger families critical to its future. The economy also has hurt. Last fall Focus on the Family eliminated more than 200 staff positions, its largest employee cutbacks ever.

Daly said the group is now "right on track" with a revised annual budget of $138 million. The new board chairman is retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Patrick P. Caruana, a longtime board member and a former executive with defense contractor Northrup Grumman.

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On the Net:

http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Comments

[stevier]

Now if only we could get Hagee to go away.....

[humuhumunukunukuapuaa]

He must be too busy with his new organization "Focus on Fundamentalism"

[Glengray]

dude, whats up with your name?

[provgrays]

Dobson is staring down eight upcoming years of progressive change in this country.
He might as well quit pushing his 1950's vision for the country while he's behind.

[Rockwell]

To spend more time with him family, perhaps?

[AngryCitizen]

I detest these people. They are opposing anti-bully school legislation in Michigan because it includes gay kids.

[jqcitizen]

When religious leaders get so bogged down with politics and the have to give up their 'Administrative' duties in the faith they founded only makes it clear that the likes of Marion "Pat" Robertson are a farce.

The graduates of 'Pat" Robertsons, so called Law College. got a little bogged down too.

[McChimp]

FOTF is one of the very few things I hate about my hometown Colorado Springs, I wish they would pack up their bags and leave!

[midwestblues]

What does FOTF mean?

[tay tay]

Same with Scientology and Clearwater, FL. Religion poisons everything! credit.... c. hitchens

[sisterdebmac]

Can I get an Amen!

[BHL2009]

Amen!

[trisha08]

Just watch him reemerge on the Palin campaign trail. I'm willing to put money on it.

[GrkAm]

I wouldn't be surprised either; when I think about it!!

[Glengray]

As a practising evangelical, I can wholeheartedly say I am happy to see Mr Dobson go away. He fell too much in love with the bush white-house and over politicized the FOF ministries. That's why they're getting rid of him.

[HurryUp1212009]

The love of money (and power) is the root of all evil; and Dobson and his ilk lust after money and power.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

He fell in love with his own press, the Bush Whitehouse made him influential. This clown is not even a minister.

[Montgriz]

One of the crimes of the Bush years which will never be discussed, is that they made belief in Jesus Christ a political statement......

[maxgen]

Do you think Christ would perform actions which result in the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children? Would He deny basic justice to prisoners and torture them? Would He approve when His name was used as justification for the killings? Would He bless the sin and acknowledge the sinner as His representative? Would He hide what he was doing and lie about His reasons for the sins?

Do you think Christ would use His power to increase the suffering of poor people, sometimes even to their death? To cut off food stamps, halt poor children's lunch programs, stop increases in the minimum wage, increase risks of pension fraud and industrial maimings, take away the power of gaining redress for wrongs, participate in the destruction of the environment, destroy subsidized housing and fight the use of public money for health care of all, but especially the poor?

What must Jesus think when the perpetrators of atrocities use His name and claim His blessing as they do their dirty work? Can you think of a greater insult to His Lordship?

[alexis d]

Yeah, don't focus on my family, thanks. We're fine without you.

[SteveS]

The wolf, to continue to feed, must simply don sheeps clothing now.

The article clearly states that it is having problems getting young families to join. This is because Dobson spends all his time with hate speeches and hateful attacks, mostly on gay people. Focus on the Family spent 7 times more money on Prop 8 than the Mormons did. Shortly thereafter, they had to lay off 20% of their workforce. Anybody could see that Dobson's hate was driving the organization into the ground.

They will still be intolerant, still hateful, still divisive and still seek to attack gay families and strip children of gay parents of basic legal protections. They just need to find a more pleasant looking way to do that, and so the wolf (Focus on the Family) simply needs to hide himself in sheep's clothing (new leadership).

[instagladiator]

I believe! I believe! Now, please go away!!

[dontmakemelaugh]

Since when did becoming successful and being greedy become synonymous in our country. This board is less about the topic and more about the jealousy that seethes from the liberal mindset. I thought you left-wingers were supposed to be open minded and so forgiving, well that's a huge joke.

I don't affiliate with either party and have often disagreed with Focus on the Family, but on the whole the organization has done a lot for the underprivileged, that you liberals claim to care so much about. For supposedly being the party of the "American People", you certainly do spew hate more then actual resolutions.

So yeah, FOTF may do things you disagree with but do you honestly think that when the ACLU or Acorn challenge people they do it reputably 100% of the time. I'm going to go with...Doubt it.

[Dave-O]

If he continues to "speak his mind" no matter how small that mind is...he can continue to do damage to society and spread his hate mongering and homophobia in the guise of christianity. If you're a "red letter" Christian and you read the red letters of what Christ supposedly said in the Bible, you would find that the bastardization that people like Dobson and Robertson and Falwell preached was missing the proverbial boat. Jesus said "judge not lest ye be judged" and "love thy neighbor". These guys just want to tell people what to do and how to live. They make me sick.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

He only damages people who buy his BS, it's a free country and if people want to live there lives and rase there children according to clowns like this than have at it, just keep them out of government.