Evangelicals at a crossroads as Dobson resigns
'Sinking ship' Focus on the Family has lost millions, shed staff
Chris Johnson The Washington Blade Friday, March 06, 2009
The founder of one of the nation's most influential conservative groups has stepped down as chair of the organization, leading some to wonder whether his departure indicates the evangelical movement is at a crossroads.
James Dobson on Feb. 27 left his position as chair of Focus on the Family - a non-profit he founded in 1977. Dobson, 72, is known as one of the most influential conservative figures and has often made statements condemning LGBT people and the advancement of gay rights.
Dobson's decision to step down as chair is the latest development in a transition process that began in 2003, when he gave up his position as president. Although he is no longer chair, Dobson will continue his "Focus on the Family" radio broadcast and write the organization's newsletter, the organization says.
"Though letting go is difficult after three decades of intensive labor," Dobson said in a statement, "it is the wise thing to do."
Dobson is succeeded as chair by Patrick Caruana, a retired lieutenant general who once served in the Air Force and as an executive for Northrop Grumman, a defense contractor. The Blade was unable to immediately determine Caruana's positions on gay issues.
Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, told the Blade that Dobson's resignation shows that Focus on the Family "is trying the split difference" by having Dobson resign as chair while keeping him on for other duties.
"They understand that his brand of bigotry and his rhetoric is causing dwindling numbers - is causing them to really lose a hold on a whole younger generation," Solmonese said. "But they also understand that he and Focus on the Family are essentially one and the same and that they really need him to hold on to the base that they've got."
Wayne Besen, executive director of Truth Wins Out, who unsuccessfully campaigned against Dobson's induction last year into the Radio Hall of Fame, said in a statement that Dobson's resignation represents a new opportunity for Focus on the Family.
"We hope his departure will eventually signal a shift in tone and end Focus on the Family's destructive attacks against gay and lesbian Americans," he said. "It is time for Focus on the Family to abandon the politics of polarization and choose moderate leaders who are not fixated on culture wars."
But Gary Schneeberger, a Focus on the Family spokesperson, said the "principles that have driven the organization will remain exactly the same," even with Dobson's resignation.
"Dr. Dobson will continue to do new radio programs, he'll continue to speak out on policy issues that move him," Schneeberger said. "I would not suspect that folks who've watched Focus on the Family for the last 32 years would see a significant change in the things that we advocate for and defend in the culture."
Dobson's resignation comes at a time when Focus on the Family is experiencing financial difficulties. In November, the organization announced that it would lay off more than 200 staff members. And a review of the organization's Internal Revenue Service forms shows that in recent years, the organization has been spending more than its total annual revenue.
In fiscal year 2007, the organization had a deficit of $2,996,245, and in fiscal year 2006, the deficit was $4,081,327. For fiscal year 2005, the deficit was even deeper at $9,892,550.
George Kresslein, a gay finance expert based in Annandale, Va., said the losses for Focus on the Family "could show poor financial stewardship" on Dobson's behalf.
"Since he is chair of the board, there should have been some big concerns after the first year of losses," Kresslein said. "Three years certainly shows poor stewardship of the resources and would certainly beg the question for Dobson to step down - or at least hold him accountable for putting a plan of action in place to turn the sinking ship around."
But Schneeberger said the financial health of Focus on the Family was "absolutely not" related to Dobson's decision to resign. Schneeberger noted that last year, Focus on the Family reduced its annual budget to around $138 million in an effort to control expenses.
'Shame the gay'
Dobson has a long history of demonizing gays. He has called homosexuality a choice and said the recognition of same-sex unions renders marriage an insignificant institution.
In 2005, Dobson famously attacked a DVD produced by the We Are Family Foundation that featured popular cartoon characters - including the Nickelodeon character SpongeBob SquarePants - aimed at promoting tolerance and diversity. The New York Times quoted Dobson as saying that tolerance and diversity are "almost always buzzwords for homosexual advocacy."
Dobson has also led Focus on the Family in its sponsorship of the anti-gay Love Won Out conferences, which take place throughout the country and are billed as helping gay people become straight. Dobson has said "unwanted same-sex attraction" can be overcome by understanding development models the lead to homosexuality.
regarding gay and transgender people would lead to situations where "every woman and little girl will have to fear that a predator, bisexual, cross-dresser or even a homosexual or heterosexual male might walk in and relieve himself in their presence."
Solmonese said Dobson was most effective in his leadership of Focus of the Family at "scaring people."
"He understood probably more than most that way to really motivate the right-wing base was to scare them," Solmonese said, "and the most effective way to scare them was to scare them about the unknown."
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