It’s good to see that Dr. Dobson and the crew in Colorado Springs at Focus on the Family really does put families first…well, maybe not those whose family members actually work at Focus on the Family. There was an interesting article in The Colorado Independent entitled “More layoffs at Focus on the Family” that told the story about how 202 jobs will be cut from Focus on the Family. However, the article focused on how Focus on the Family was one of the largest out-of-state financial backers for Prop 8 in California. In fact, the organization gave $539,000 in cash and $83,000 of non-monetary support to the fight to “protect marriage.” Over half a million dollars spent to “protect” families from the dangers and evils of gay marriage. Unfortunately, they didn’t do a good job of protecting their own; how 202 families will be suffering a loss and needing to find work elsewhere. Sure, the current state of the economy is playing a major role in these layoffs, I’m sure. However, the articles points out that this may simply be a good example of the true priorities of Focus on the Family, and other like organizations. Are they really trying to put families first? It’d be interesting to hear from some of those who are going to be laid off, especially after Dobson and crew spent their salaries trying to prevent gays in another state from getting hitched.
Check your facts: The PCUSA had to cut jobs back in 2006….but then again, the PCUSA is directly anti-family. So, that would make sense. When a denomination throws out the Bible, congregations die, and people lose their jobs. Liberalism kills.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/PC(USA)+cuts+100+jobs-a0147108799
Andrew, just curious- 1) how does the PCUSA have anything to do with the facts of this post? 2) what makes you suggest that the PCUSA is anti-family?
Right- on Adam! Why is it that Focus on the family has to butt their way in to other people’s lives any way? This is not even an issue that should have been voted on. Whether or not you agree with homosexuality… they are people just like you and me and should be allowed the same rights. As Christians, we should be loving others. I understand why they are doing it… but when I look at it from the outside… all I see is Hate. ( I think if Focus on the Family ran the country it might look a lot like the government from V for Vendetta)
Andrew-what are you trying to say? I did not see the PCUSA mentioned by the original poster.
Unfortunately, $500,000 would not be enough money to keep all 200 people employed (unless their salaries are truly abysmal–which is another problem all together), but it does seem to be a sad statement of what they truly “focus on”…Perhaps they should change their name to “Focus on trampling your civil rights” or something catchy like that.
And, for most Americans, the hatred and fear espoused by Dr. Dobson is what they think of when they hear the word “Christian”. Where is the compassion? Where is the grace? Where is the justice that Jesus preached?
While not a huge fan of the Dobson Universe, there are really two different pots of money at any large charitable organization… designated funds and operating funds. The money that went to various states to fight propositions/amendments was raised specifically for that purpose. A small percentage would go into operations (salaries, computers, brick & mortar), but by law and EFCA agreements, they must put 75-80% or more where the donor designated. Chances are that these employees were more impacted by dropping sales in their book/video sector going back months. All that being said, they probably could/should have done more to protect the families impacted by these layoffs.
I have been saddened by the tendency on both sides to show less compassion than they should or could. Yes, Dobson has said some horrible things. But the vitriol being returned has been hateful as well.
And this has something to do with the above post because…. ?
Disingenuous is the first word that comes to my mind.
We’d better stop whining, and adjust to the real world.
Is it bad for an organization to pursue its goal and at the same time cut jobs? Should the very first goal for an organization be to provide for its workers, even if that would go at the expense of its reason for existence? Should a church keep its staff when the income goes down and cut providing for the poor instead of cut that associate’s position?
Focus on the Family’s first goal is not to guaranteee lifelong employment for its workers and their families. Just as that is not the case in the Presbyterian Center in Louisville.
Stop your whining. It is disingenuous.
I’ve got lots of experience and personal knowledge with non-profits. If you ever want to sit down over a coffee, let me know and we can meet.
But here is the big challenge. Prop 8 brought together a bunch of different players – Mormons, Knights of Columbus and others. But many of these players have a lot of experience in finding jobs for their members (and non-members, too).
Here’s a chance to morph this coalition into something ongoing and beneficial.
Not sure if their idea of family has to do with layoffs. Question is what kind of severance they give. It had better be a sweet package.
This org. is not really about families, meaning people. They are about reinforcing a mythic definition of family that is more about conformist 1950′s than the bible as it is. People who worked there knew what they were getting themselves into – or should have through the interview process.
Ethical question is how much of a pay cut are the executives going to volunteer in order to off-set the funding drain these families will now have? That is a true ethical litmus test. It will demonstrate if the decision-makers pushing the agenda of mythic definitions have any charitable marrow in their bones. I am reasonably skeptical that this will be an outcome.
BTW, Andrew must be a troll to spout such illogical nonsense.
I must agree with Andrew. Denominations such as the PCUSA that attached themselves to modernism in the last century are dying a slow and painful death because modernism is dying a slow an painful death. Now we have a whole new generation of Christians making the same mistake by attaching themselves to postmodernism. Homosexual marriage has never been accepted the Christian church in history. And yet, when the spirit of the age says homosexual marriage should be accepted, groups like Focus on the Family are ridiculed for upholding a persistent, long-lasting Christian principle. Not only that, they are ridiculed by fellow Christians. Postmoderism will eventually fade just like all the other fleeting philosophies, and when it does, God’s faithful church will still be here. As a member of the PCA it truly makes me sad to see my brothers and sisters in Christ reject our rich Christian heritage and the principles of God’s word.
Adam:
You sound shrill. And young. And uninformed.
The reality of both conservative and liberal religious institutions is that, for the most part, they are dying. We are swinging hard towards secularism and donations are going to secular aid institutions. But even those are down. Rich people, like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, don’t give to religious organizations but set up their own foundations. Much of their funds are concentrated on children and work towards stopping disease in underdeveloped countries.
People just don’t find our religious squabbling and morals relevant anymore. They want to partner with people who will work for the greater good and who don’t worry who or why others are doing it.
Take a hint.
Don’t worry, God will take care of them.
Matthew: What unattached place is there to do Christianity from? We all find ourselves in a context. Modernism, postmodernism, or whatever. I don’t think you can really claim to be contextless.
except in the PCA the sisters in Christ don’t have a voice on Session or in the pulpit.
David, yes of course we find ourselves in some kind of context. The question is: does that context dictate the principles of right and wrong? As Christians, our answer must be no. It’s completely upside down to strip away everything in Christianity that doesn’t match the postmodern climate. We should be stripping away everything in postmodernism that doesn’t match Christianity.
I think we would do better if we began by stripping everything from Christianity that isn’t Christ -like. And there’s the rub…who decides that.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Matt. And I have to believe that as God’s word fills this earth and the Holy Spirit changes the hearts of men and women, we will come to a greater and greater consensus. Until then, we will all push and struggle to hit that bullseye of truth. But just because we don’t always hit the bullseye or even know precisely where the bullseye is, doesn’t mean we should toss out the target altogether.
i think Andrew might be a spambot.
My concerns about Dr. Dobson’s use of Focus on the Family resources goes back further, to 2007. The amount of resource and energy that Focus put into their end of the year staff party was simply unacceptable for such a ministry. There’s some online video of that excessive self-indulgence here, as staff sing the FoF song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFH08nxxPkg
I think Dr. Dobson is the tall one.