Focus on the Family

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The graphic identity of Focus on the Family is intended to recall old time traditional values.
The graphic identity of Focus on the Family is intended to recall old time traditional values.

Focus on the Family (FOTF, or FotF) is an American evangelical group. The non-profit organization was founded in 1977 by Dr. James Dobson, and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Focus on the Family is one of a number of evangelical parachurch organizations that rose to prominence in the last decade. A major component of the American Christian right, it is active in promoting interdenominational work for a social conservative public policy. The organization describes itself as "dedicated to nurturing and defending families worldwide" and protecting family values. Some of the core promotional activities of the organization include a daily radio broadcast by Dobson and his colleagues, providing free family counseling and resources, and publishing a variety of magazines, videos, and audio recordings. Focus on the Family reaches 220 million listeners daily, on over 7,000 stations in 160 countries.

Contents

Leadership for the organization was provided by Dobson alone until 2003. In 2003, Donald P. Hodel became president and chief executive officer, tasked with the day-to-day operations. This left Dobson as chairman of the Board of Directors, with chiefly creative and speaking duties. A former leader was John Paulk.

In March 2005, Hodel retired and Jim Daly, formerly the Vice President in charge of Focus on the Family's International Division, assumed the role of president and chief executive officer.

Main article: Adventures in Odyssey

FOTF also produces a children's radio drama entitled Adventures in Odyssey. It began in 1987 as Family Portraits, starring an elderly Christian gentleman named John Avery Whittaker (aka "Whit"), who runs a popular ice cream shop/"discovery emporium" called Whit's End; and he imparts Christian wisdom to the children of the town of Odyssey. It was renamed "Odyssey USA" in November 1987 and took on its present name, "Adventures in Odyssey" in April 1988. You can listen to Adventures in Odyssey for free online at OnePlace.com and browse the show's archives.Adventures in Odyssey online audio [1]

Focus on The Family Radio Theatre is a series of audio dramas adapting classic literature, mystery mini-series and biographical productions, extending its reach to the mainstream as well as the Christian audience. The endeavor began through the efforts of former Adventures in Odyssey producers Dave Arnold and Paul McCusker, along with casting director Philip Glassborow based in England.

Radio Theatre began with historical biographies of Squanto ("The Legend of Squanto"), Jesus ("The Luke Reports") and Dietrich Bonhoeffer ("Bonhoeffer: The Cost of Freedom"), and in 1996, a 90-minute radio drama based on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol was produced and aired as a broadcast special.

In 2003, Focus on the Family Radio Theatre released an audio dramatization of C. S. Lewis' epic novel series The Chronicles of Narnia, with David Suchet providing the voice of Aslan, and over 100 English actors rounding out the cast. Lewis' stepson, Douglas Gresham, serves as host--sharing his personal stories at the beginning of each audio drama.

Main article: Father Gilbert Mysteries

Radio Theatre also had a successful original miniseries, the Father Gilbert Mysteries, which tell of the strange spiritual mysteries encountered by Louis Gilbert, a cop-turned-Anglican-priest, who lives in Stonebridge, an English village in the shire of Sussex, and ministers to the people of the town from St. Mark's Church. Nine episodes have been produced in four volumes available on cassette and CD.

As a 501(c)(3) corporation, Focus on the Family is not permitted to advocate any individual political candidate. However, in its radio broadcast, it often discusses political issues and current events, usually through a Christian conservative point of view. Dr. Dobson is among the Christian conservative leaders who have met with and advised President George W. Bush. Focus on the Family's magazine Citizen is exclusively devoted to politics. The FOF also has an affiliated group, Focus on the Family Action (a.k.a. Focus Action), though the two groups are legally separate. As a 501(c)(4) social welfare group, Focus Action has fewer political lobbying restrictions. FoTF's revenue in 2005 was USD $142M, and that of FoTF Action was $14.7M.[2] [3]

The group supports the teaching of traditional family values. It advocates school prayer and supports corporal punishment.[4] It strongly opposes abortion, so-called militant feminism, homosexuality, discrimination against people of religion, pornography, and pre-marital and extra-marital sexual activity. Focus on the Family also embraces and reflects the wider political agenda of its American Christian audience, for instance promoting a religiously-centered conception of American identity and the support of Israel.[6][7]

Focus on the Family maintains a strong pro-life stand against abortion, and provides grant funding and medical training to assist crisis pregnancy centers (also known as pregnancy resource centers) in obtaining ultrasound machines. According to the organization, this funding, which has allowed CPCs to provide pregnant women with live sonogram images of the developing fetus, has led directly to the birth of over 1500 babies who would have otherwise been aborted.[8][9]

Focus on the Family also maintains a strong stand against gay marriage, the Matthew Shepard Act or any other movement it perceives to be a part of "The Gay Agenda". Focus on the Family's Love won out is involved in the ex-gay movement in cooperation with Exodus International.

Focus on the Family also supports prohibition of all gambling in America. This position has created some controversy within the Christian community, as gambling is not prohibited in the Bible[5]. This schism is evidenced by the fact that many churches hold gambling contests, especially bingo, to raise funds. Focus’ insistence on this position, as a result, has been interpreted as “extra-Biblical doctrine” that was created by some within the Christian Right who are personally opposed to gambling. At the November 14, 2007 House Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Hearing on Establishing Consistent Enforcement Policies in the Context of Online Wagers”[6], Family Research Council Vice President Tom McClusky testified that his organization favored banning Internet poker in the United States. When questioned further by Steve Cohen [D-TN] on how much gambling FRC advocated banning, McClusky testified that FRC wished to ban all gambling in America, including even poker[7]. Upon hearing this, Rep. Cohen incredulously asked "is there any fun you are for?", leading many in the blogosphere to nickname FoF “Foes of Fun”[8].

Focus on the Family broadcasts a national talk radio program of the same name hosted by Dobson or his aides. The program has a range of themes, such as Christian-oriented assistance for victims of rape or child abuse; parenting difficulties; child adoption; husband/wife roles; family history and traditions; struggles with gambling, pornography, alcohol, and drugs; and many other themes. When programs deal with civic issues, listeners often respond to these programs by contacting political leaders.

Focus on the Family has been a prominent supporter of intelligent design, publishing pro-intelligent design articles in its Citizen magazine and selling intelligent design videos on its website.[9][10] Focus on the Family co-published the intelligent design videotape Unlocking the Mystery of Life with the Discovery Institute, hub of the intelligent design movement.[11] Focus on the Family employee Mark Hartwig is also a fellow of the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, a connection which has helped to publicize intelligent design extensively; James Dobson often features intelligent design proponents on his Focus on the Family radio program. Focus on the Family's Family.org is a significant online resource for intelligent design articles.[12][13]

On July 17, 2006, Soulforce, a gay rights group, "accused Focus on the Family founder James Dobson of manipulating research data to say gays and lesbians are not good parents."[10] Judith Stacey, a sociologist at New York University, said Focus on the Family "manipulated" her work "in an attempt to show gays and lesbians do not make good parents."[11] Focus on the Family officially denied the allegation.[12] In December 2006, two more scientists alleged that Dobson misrepresented their research. In a guest column published in Time Magazine titled Two Mommies is One Too Many, Dobson argued that same-sex couples are unsuitable parents, citing research by New York University educational psychologist Carol Gilligan, Ph.D, and Kyle Pruett, M.D. of the Yale School of Medicine.[14] After the article's publication, Gilligan accused Dobson of "twisting" and "distorting" her research.[15] Pruett also disagreed with Dobson's representation of his work, saying in a letter to Dobson, "You cherry-picked a phrase to shore up highly (in my view) discriminatory purposes...This practice is condemned in real science, common though it may be in pseudo-science circles. There is nothing in my longitudinal research or any of my writings to support such conclusions."[15] It was reported that Pruett's work suggests the opposite of Dobson's assertions.[15] Truth Wins Out called on Time magazine to renounce Dobson's article. Gilligan asked Focus on the Family to never quote from her work again, and to issue an apology.[16] Pruett requested that Focus on the Family seek his permission before using his work in the future.[17] Dobson has defended his usage of the research.[18]

On August 11, 2006, James Dobson publicly defended Mel Gibson after Gibson made anti-Semitic remarks to police officers during a DUI traffic stop.[13] In a statement, Dobson announced he supported "Mel Gibson and his film, The Passion of the Christ," saying Gibson's anti-Semitic remarks had nothing to do with "one of the finest films of this era." He explained further that "we certainly do not condone that racially insensitive outburst," but added, "Mel has apologized profusely for the incident and there the matter should rest." On the movie, "Our endorsement of it stands as originally stated. We did not believe it was anti-Semitic in 2004, and our views have not changed," Dobson said.

Perhaps the most frequent controversy surrounding Dr. Dobson is that despite his assertion that he is not a partisan, he has often advised President Bush and advocated for conservative policies. Liberal critics accuse him of using his position to advance a right-wing agenda. Writing in Slate magazine in 2004, Michael Crowley said that Dobson "...proselytized hard for Bush this last year, organizing huge stadium rallies and using his radio program to warn his 7 million American listeners that not to vote would be a sin. Dobson may have delivered Bush his victories in Ohio and Florida." [14] There are also numerous examples of Dobson openly advocating on behalf of Republican candidates. [See for example the New York Times article by David Kirkpatrick, 13 May 2004, "Warily, a Religious Leader Lifts His Voice in Politics."

  1. ^ Adventures in Odyssey online. Retrieved on 2007-10-11.
  2. ^ Focus of the Family Form 990s tax filing
  3. ^ Focus of the Family Action Form 990s tax filing
  4. ^ Focus on the Family Defends Parents' Right to Discipline [1]
  5. ^ [2]May 6, 2003, Moral Crusader Says He Will Gamble No More, New York Times
  6. ^ [3]Hearing on Establishing Consistent Enforcement Policies in the Context of Online Wagers
  7. ^ [4]Hearing on Establishing Consistent Enforcement Policies in the Context of Online Wagers
  8. ^ [5]FoF = Foes of Fun?
  9. ^ Inferior Design Chris Mooney. The American Prospect Online, September 2005
  10. ^ Expert Witness Report Barbara Forrest. Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District. (PDF file)
  11. ^ Unlocking the Mystery of Life Stephen C. Meyer and W. Peter Allen. Center for Science and Culture July 15, 2004
  12. ^ Feature Articles Focus On Social Issues - Origins. CitizenLink, Focus on the Family
  13. ^ Recommended Reading List Focus On Social Issues - Origins. CitizenLink, Focus on the Family
  14. ^ Dobson, James Two Mommies is One Too Many, Time, December 18, 2006, retrieved online December 15, 2006.
  15. ^ a b c Scientists fume after Focus on the Family chief Dobson 'misrepresents' work on gays Raw Story, December 15, 2006.
  16. ^ James Dobson Slammed By Professor For Distorting Her Research In Time Magazine, news release from Truth Wins Out, retrieved December 15, 2006.
  17. ^ Yale Professor Says James Dobson 'Cherry Picked' His Research in Time Magazine Article, news release from Truth Wins Out, retrieved December 15, 2006.
  18. ^ While the Debate Rages on, Children Pay the Price Dr. Dobson's Monthly Letter, retrieved January 30, 2007

1977 March Family psychologist Dr. James Dobson’s first Focus on the Family radio broadcast, titled Let’s Get Acquainted, airs as a weekly family advice program
June Focus on the Family incorporates as a non-profit organization with a staff of one in addition to Dr. Dobson
1978 “Focus on the Family” film series is recorded at Trinity University in San Antonio
1979 September seven-part series, released by Word Publishing in 1979, is eventually viewed by more than 70 million people worldwide
1980 March Focus on the Family 15-minute daily radio broadcast premiers; it airs in addition to the 25-minute weekly broadcast
June 100th radio station carries the broadcasts
August Dr. Dobson is appointed to the White House Conferences on the Family
1981 June Tribute to Focus on the Family by U.S. House of Representatives recorded in the Congressional Record
August Focus staff is consolidated in one building in Arcadia, California, and the staff grows to 34 in that year
November Daily Focus on the Family broadcast expands to 30 minutes
1982 Dr. Dobson is appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the National Advisory Commission for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (1982-1984)
1983 January Focus on the Family daily radio program goes worldwide via satellite
July First edition of Focus on the Family magazine, a publication featuring practical advice about family relationships, is released
December Focus breaks ground on a new headquarters in Arcadia (50 East Foothill) in the first structure designed and built for the ministry
1984 November The United States Army appoints Dr. Dobson to advise on matters concerning soldiers and their families
July Focus on the Family’s first international office opens in Canada
November The 90-second James Dobson Family Commentary begins airing on radio stations nationwide
1985 March The film series Turn Your Heart Toward Home is taped in front of 16,000 people in Cincinnati’s Riverfront Coliseum (viewed to date by an estimated 40 million worldwide)
May Dr. Dobson accepts appointment to Attorney General’s Commission on Pornography (1985-1986)
December The first 60-minute Weekend radio broadcast airs to recap the week’s Focus on the Family radio programs
1986 April Focus on the Family begins making booklets and other print resources available to crisis pregnancy centers; more than 1,500 centers nationwide respond
May Focus on the Family magazine tops one million in circulation
June Focus on the Family Book publishing division launches
1987 First Focus Films, Twice Pardoned and A Winnable War, released on video
Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines for kids launch
Crisis Pregnancy Ministry starts (now Pregnancy Resource Ministry)
Attorney General Edwin Meese appoints Dr. Dobson to the Attorney General’s Advisory
Board on Missing and Exploited Children (1987-1988)
September Focus on the Family moves from Arcadia to Pomona, Calif. with a staff of approximately 450
November A board of physicians to advise Focus on the Family on medical issues, called the Physicians Resource Council, is formed
Adventures in Odyssey, a half-hour audio-theatre production that ignites the imagination of children ages 6 to 12, premiers
1988 January Debut of Family News in Focus, a radio program featuring news reporting on current issues affecting the family
February Issues-related Family News in Focus radio debut
Enfoque a la Familia, a Spanish radio broadcast, debuts on 12 stations in the U.S., Guatemala, and Costa Rica
October Family Research Council partners with Focus on the Family
1989 April Focus on the Family presents first Generation at Risk seminar to warn parents and youth of the danger of sex and violence in the media
March Focus on the Family releases first McGee and Me video for children with Tyndale House
1990 March Brio and Breakaway magazines for teen girls and boys first editions
July Parental Guidance entertainment reviews published (later becomes Plugged In entertainment reviews carried online and in a monthly newsletter)
1991 February Dr. Dobson inducted into the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame
August Focus on the Family moves to Colorado Springs, Colo. with a staff of about 400 employees
Adventures in Odyssey children’s radio drama transitions to a daily format; first Adventures in Odyssey home video released
November First Focus on the Family radio broadcast in Russia
1992 Dr. Dobson Answers Your Questions syndicated column starts in newspapers around the country
1993 August Focus on the Family Australia opens
September Focus on the Family moves into new headquarters on 45-acre campus in Colorado Springs, Colo. with 1,200 employees
November Focus on the Family sponsors first Physicians Conference to professionally strengthen and spiritually equip medical doctors and their spouses
Focus on the Family Southern Africa opens (later becomes Focus on the Family Africa)
1994 January Senator Bob Dole appoints Dr. Dobson to serve on the Commission on Child and Family Welfare
1995 January Focus on the Family Indonesia opens
July Focus on the Family Korea opens
September Focus on the Family Institute for college juniors and seniors opens its doors
1996 April Focus on the Family Taiwan opens
1997 March Focus on the Family celebrates 20th anniversary
July Official Focus on the Family Web site (www.Family.org) is launched
August Focus on the Family Malaysia opens
1998 September Boundless webzine for college students debuts
Focus on the Family Costa Rica opens
1999 January Focus on the Family New Zealand opens
2000 April One millionth visitor welcomed to Focus on the Family headquarters and welcome center
2001 January National Bike Ride for the Family begins; ends with the Colorado ride in conjunction with Focus’ 25th Anniversary in July 2002
August Focus on the Family Egypt opens
December Focus on the Family Singapore opens
2002 November Focus on the Family Ireland opens
2003 January Focus on Your Child newsletter, audio journal and Web site launch to provide parents with age-specific resources
May Don Hodel becomes president of Focus on the Family, Dr. Dobson becomes Chairman of the Board
2004 June Focus releases Last Chance Detectives radio series for children
October Focus on the Family-produced radio programs exceed 5,000 stations in 155 countries with an estimated global audience of 220 million
2005 January Focus on the Family joins the Tsunami relief effort
February Jim Daly becomes president of Focus on the Family
Option Ultrasound™ debuts with placement of services in Clinton, Iowa
June Plugged In Web site records one millionth visitor
August Focus on the Family launches www.TrueU.org for college students
September Focus on the Family joins relief effort for victims of Hurricane Katrina
2006 February Focus on the Family broadcast named “best radio talk show” by National Religious Broadcasters
March Focus announces the 200th placement of 3-D ultrasound services through the Option Ultrasound™ program
November Voice of the Orphans™ Initiative is launched with the goal of encouraging adoption
2007 March 30th Anniversary of Focus on the Family
v • d • e
Universal Press Syndicate columns
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_on_the_Family"
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