Freedom Writer - December 1994 [ref001] Profile:Focus on the Family Focus on the Family (F

Freedom Writer - December 1994

[ref001]

Profile:Focus on the Family

Focus on the Family (FOTF) was founded in 1977 as a 501(c)(3) organization. 
The 1000+-employee organization moved from California in 1991 to its 
present location in Colorado Springs.

_Christianity_Today_ ranks FOTF the number-one ministry in the U.S. 
by income. About one percent of its annual budget of $150 million 
goes for grassroots lobbying.

FOTF produces five different radio programs which are broadcast on 
more than 1,550 stations worldwide, including many in the former Soviet 
Union. The "Focus on the Family" program is the second-largest nationally 
syndicated radio talk show in America.

FOTF publishes the periodicals _Focus_on_the_Family_, _Clubhouse_, 
_Clubhouse_Jr._, _Physician_, _Breakaway_, _Brio_, _Parental_Guidance_, 
and _Citizen_. _Focus_on_the_Family_ is a "family-oriented", Christian 
 magazine that publishes a complete list of radio stations carrying 
FOTF broadcasts.

FOTF receives over 1,200 phone calls a day and more than 200,000 letters 
a month, and responds with over 52 million pieces of literature and 
more than a million cassettes a year. Letters are "personally" answered 
by Dr. James Dobson, using a computerized file of 1,000 prototype 
letters. 

Dobson, 60, a licensed psychologist, is president and chairman of 
the board of directors. According to the organization's literature, 
"Focus on the Family is governed by an independent board of directors 
committed to the lordship of Jesus Christ and His principles for the 
success of the family unit."

The other board members are Shirley Dobson, "a homemaker and complement 
to her husband's ministry"; Hugo W. Schoellkopf III; Susan Baker, 
wife of former Secretary of State James Baker; Lee Eaton; Ted Engstrom, 
president of World Vision; Michael Roberts, a former dentist turned 
pastor; Beth Allen Blakemore, president of Clover Investments of Midland, 
Texas; Bobb Biehl, president of Masterplanning Group International; 
and Tony Wauteriek, founder of the Illinois investment banking firm 
of Wauteriek & Brown.

Dr. Dobson receives no salary from FOTF. His income is derived from 
the royalties of eleven books, including his popular _Dare_to_Discipline_. 
The ministry was built upon the success of this 1970 bestseller, which 
emphasizes the need for administering pain in child discipline. The 
book has sold tens of millions of copies and is still widely available.

"Millions of Americans now look to [Dobson] for spiritual and, sometimes, 
political guidance," according to _The_New_York_Times_. "He has emerged 
as one of the country's most influential religious figures."

Dobson made national news in 1989 when he conducted a last-minute 
interview with convicted serial killer Ted Bundy. Just before his 
electrocution, Bundy accepted Christ and blamed pornography for his 
inclination to murder young women. Dobson taped his interview with 
Bundy and made thousands of dollars selling copies. He gave all the 
proceeds to other ministries, including Rev. Donald Wildmon's American 
Family Association.

More recently, Dobson, a member of the Council for National Policy, 
has come under fire from some elements of the Christian community 
for his political activities. Dobson denies that FOTF is politically 
oriented, but he says that God "has called us to be His representatives 
in our nation and in our world. Select candidates who represent your 
views and work for their election. This is a vital part of what it 
means to be 'salt and light' in today's world."

Well-entrenched and extremely popular, FOTF is ahead of most Christian 
Right groups in the development of a loyal, if unwitting, political 
constituency.

FOTF attracts adherents through its radio, telephone, and mail counseling 
ministry. Respondents are invited to receive FOTF political materials, 
including _Citizen_ magazine. _Citizen_ tells its almost 300,000 readers 
how to combat gay rights, abortion, pornography, and sex education.

FOTF materials show up everywhere. Christian Right candidates for 
school boards frequently rely on FOTF materials. In conjunction with 
Concerned Women for America, FOTF designed and promotes a "no sex" 
sex education program for public schools.

FOTF's Community Impact Seminars teach members of local churches how 
to become political activists. FOTF's Community Impact Curriculum 
manual explores the duty of Christian political involvement, promotes 
a Christian America, and attacks the separation of church and state. 
To date, over 30,000 have attended these seminars.

The Community Impact Curriculum manual outlines the FOTF strategy: 
"The first thing required to win a war is soldiers." "Churches must 
begin with a program of 'recruitment,' or more plainly, discipleship."

"Secondly, an army needs intelligence. Where are the battles raging? 
Who is involved? What is the nature of the conflict and the size of 
the enemy? Questions like these must be answered in order to direct 
the efforts of your soldiers. Many organizations are devoted to providing 
such intelligence, either on a single social issue or a broad array 
of concerns. Focus on the Family has a number of resources designed 
to provide your church with intelligence."

FOTF played a major role in the passage of Amendment 2 in Colorado, 
depriving gays and lesbians of equal protection under the law (see 
article on page 8). 

FOTF-affiliated political groups exist in some 35 states. The affiliates' 
names usually contain the words family, research, resource, council, 
or capitol. Until recently, Family Research Council (FRC), under the 
direction of Gary Bauer, was FOTF's Washington, DC lobbying arm.

In 1988, the Washington-based Family Research Council, headed by Gary 
L. Bauer, became part of FOTF. In October, 1992, Dobson announced 
the separation of the two groups, saying "FRC has been hampered because 
of stringent lobbying limits imposed on it as a part of the larger 
Focus on the Family ministry." He said FRC is "looking at an array 
of new initiatives and a new level of activism."

FRC has applied for 501(c)(3) status, and wants to appear to operate 
as a distinctly separate organization. However, Dobson is on FRC's 
board of directors.

Bauer is a former research director for the Republican National Committee, 
a domestic policy adviser to President Ronald Reagan, and former Under 
Secretary of Education.

To get on the FOTF mailing list, send a small contribution. Ask for 
Citizen magazine. Request Family Research Council's monthly Washington 
Watch from the FRC, 700 Thirteenth St. NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 
20005, or call (202) 393-2100.

_Suggested_reading_
_
"The Radical Right: The Stealth Crusade" by Phillip Frazer and Mark 
Shapiro, _The_Washington_Spectator_, March 15, 1993.
"Out of Focus" by Rob Boston, _Church_&_State_, March 1993.
"Why Psychologist Without a Pulpit Is Called Religious Right's New 
Star" by Peter Steinfels, _The_New_York_Times_, June 5, 1990.
"A Condemned Man's Last Request" by Peter Axthelm and Michael Ryan, 
_People_Weekly_, February 6, 1989.
_

Focus on the Family
102 North Cascade
Colorado Springs CO 80903
(719) 531-3400 tel
(719) 531-3331 fax

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The Freedom Writer / ifas@crocker.com

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