Why Did Jim Dobson Leave Focus on the Family

A prominent friend and supporter of James Dobson believes Dobson was pushed aside by the new leadership of Focus on the Family, who desire the powerhouse evangelical ministry building to project a softer image on issues ranging from ballgame to gay marriage to relations with President Obama.

Dobson founded Focus on the Family in 1977 and spent the next 25 years building information technology into the influential Christian conservative group information technology is today.

In February 2009, Dobson stepped down as chairman of the Colorado Springs-based grouping's board of directors, later on relinquishing his longtime part as president in 2003. But he kept his office of host of the popular Focus radio testify, which is reportedly heard by 1.v million Americans each day.

So, this by November, Dobson said on the show that the Focus board had asked him to requite upward the radio programme in a few months fourth dimension. Tardily concluding month, he delivered his final Focus broadcast.

In little-noticed comments from the November show, Dobson seemed troubled by the board'south conclusion to inquire him to give up the plan.

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"[T]the board of directors voted privately on Wed — before we got there — to ask for my resignation, although their request was made with kindness and respect. We can only guess the reason for their determination because frankly I don't fully know," Dobson said. "But it apparently has to practice with the desire for closure on my tenure and the beginning of another."

Pastor Ken Hutcherson, who leads the Antioch Bible Church in Kirkland, Washington, and describes himself as a longtime friend of Dobson, says he became suspicious when Dobson, 73, announced he would launch his own independent radio testify this jump. While the new show is not associated with Focus on the Family, information technology will be chosen Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson, and center on the same problems Dobson brought to his Focus circulate.

And Focus — which has been through several rounds of painful layoffs — agreed to donate $1 million to Dobson to start the new show.

"Dr. Dobson gets off the radio in February, and he's starting a new programme in May. It but didn't make sense. Why get off if you don't want to go off?" Hutcherson asked in a phone interview with TPMmuckraker.

Hutcherson, a former Dallas Cowboys linebacker, is a forcefulness in his own correct. He is best known for his anti-gay activism and the New York Times has described him as "a rising national star in the world of black evangelical ministers."

Hutcherson says he's talked to both Dobson and Focus president Jim Daly. While he won't say what Dobson views on the matter are — and Dobson's part did non answer to a request for comment — Hutcherson penned a WorldNetDaily column this week writing that, "One thing is for sure, in his humility, Dr. Dobson simply wants to continue to speak the truth on the radio. Apparently, that truth has express entreatment to the new leadership at Focus."

Asked nigh Hutcherson's criticisms, Focus spokeswoman Joanna Chocolate-brown released this statement:

"Nosotros adore Rev. Hutcherson and the skilful work he has done for the cause of Christ and in support of families. He is, of course, entitled to his ain stance well-nigh the work we do, whether we agree with that opinion or non."

In a Feb. half-dozen Wall Street Journal story on the changes at Focus (for which Dobson as well declined to comment), Daly said that "he has no apply for the sharp personal attacks on politicians employed by Mr. Dobson. 'I don't see evil backside everything.'"

Jim Daly

The story continued:

Mr. Daly said he preferred to build bridges with others. While Mr. Dobson blasted President Barack Obama for "fruitcake" ideas, Mr. Daly praised the president for his devotion to family unit and last summer attended a White House event celebrating fatherhood.

Hutcherson said about Daly's omnipresence at the Obama event: "The man believes in fractional birth abortion. That'south something that never would have happened if Dr. Dobson were in that location."

To Hutcherson, some other example of Focus' new approach is its Super Basin advertizing featuring Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow. The advertizing was expected to feature a direct anti-abortion bulletin, but ended upwards merely telling viewers to "celebrate life."

"I mean, what did it say?" asks Hutcherson. "You gonna spend $ii.5 million to say what?"

Whatever the reason for Dobson losing his radio show, it's clear that a rebranding — free of Dobson — is underway at Focus.

He is nowhere to be seen on the glossy front page of the group's Spider web site. Instead, a large graphic invites visitors to watch a iv-minute video on "The Focus Story" with President Jim Daly.

Dobson, for his part, said in a statement when resigning from the board terminal twelvemonth that, "I of the mutual errors of founder-presidents is to concur the reins of leadership too long, thereby preventing the next generation from existence prepared for executive authority."

(This post has been edited from its original version.)

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Source: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/did-focus-on-the-family-board-force-dobson-out

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