Last week, James Dobson resigned as chairman, president, and CEO of the Focus on the Family organization.

Dobson founded the Christian evangelical non-profit in 1977. Now 72, Dobson told his staff that he is beginning to relinquish control of the organization. However, according to USA Today, he will continue with other tasks including hosting the famous radio program and speaking out on political issues.

What is Focus on the Family?

Dobson founded the non-profit in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Today it has more than 950 employees, though over 200 jobs were cut in 2008.  The organization represents right-wing evangelical Christians. According to its Web site, www.focusonthefamily.com, its mission is “to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible by nurturing and defending the God-ordained institution of the family and promoting biblical truths worldwide.” Thus, as the organization actively promotes conservative politics, its focus remains on the founding idea of protecting family values.

Aside from its political stance, the organization is famous for its daily Focus on the Family radio broadcast, hosted by Dobson. The program reaches 1.5 million American listeners each day. It has been translated into 27 languages and now reaches more than 160 countries around the world (including China), bringing his worldwide listening audience to 220 million. Dobson is currently looking for a successor(s) for the program, but he is not planning to resign from the radio show just yet.

Who is James Dobson?

James Dobson, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, marriage counselor, and family counselor in California and Colorado. He previously served as associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Southern California as well as a staffer at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.

Dobson has written 36 books, created three film series based on his radio show, and has actively participated in the publishing efforts of the organization he founded. In addition, he is outspoken when it comes to conservative politics. He received commendation from President Carter in 1980 for his work on a families task force; President Reagan appointed him to a juvenile justice commission in the 80s; he consulted with President George H.W. Bush on the family in the early 90s; and most recently he endorsed John McCain in 2008 after criticizing then-candidate Barack Obama.

Learn more about James Dobson and Focus on the Family online.

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends.

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