When a Christian network dropped James Dobson
Ultimatum by Focus on the Family led to 'termination'
The death of Dr. James Dobson was a loss for the “religious right.” But there was a time when he was too much for one religious radio network.
Dobson, who died Thursday, August 21 at age 89, founded the Focus on the Family ministry. It includes a daily half-hour radio program, which many Christian stations have carried for decades.
But over the years, Dobson's focus moved beyond family-related subjects to political issues. That led to a clash with the Bible Broadcasting Network, based in Charlotte.
BBN President Lowell Davey announced in October 2005 that the network had “terminated” Dobson's program. The announcement came at the time when it would have aired, in the middle of a Friday afternoon.
Davey, who died in 2017, explained BBN stations are licensed as non-commercial. He feared licenses could be lost if the programs became overtly political.
Focus on the Family tried to appease Davey. He admitted the ministry provided backup, non-political programs on days when other stations received more political shows.
But the last straw apparently came in the fall 20 years ago. Davey said he was told by the Focus staff that it would no longer provide backup programs. In response, Dobson was dropped.
At the core of the dispute was whether Christianity should dabble in politics. Davey said churches should not try to change the world through the political system.
Some Christian denominations agree with that; a few even tell members not to vote. But others see the political system as an avenue for improving morality.
Davey's decision about Dobson was not a matter of liberal versus conservative thinking. BBN plays traditional and classic Christian music, openly resisting more contemporary “worship songs.”
Money also was not an issue, as BBN does not charge ministries to carry religious programs. In fact, it occasionally edits out portions of programs that ask for donations.
Dobson left Focus on the Family in 2010, starting a “Family Institute” built around a new daily show he hosted called Family Talk. BBN has never aired it.
The network also has not brought back Focus on the Family, even though current president and radio host Jim Daly tends to stay away from political topics on the air.
Yet BBN never abandoned the Focus ministry completely. It still carries Adventures in Odyssey, a daily dramatic show for children.
BBN replaced Focus on the Family in late 2005 with Building Blocks for the Family, a daily half-hour with family-centered messages by various speakers.
It's not clear if BBN has issued a statement about Dobson's death on the air. Nothing is mentioned about it on the network's website.
Wikipedia reports BBN has 58 radio stations in the U.S. and Bermuda. One of Davey's daughters is now its president.