AntiGay Focus on The Family Laying Off Workers-Loosing 15 Mil in Donations

By Electa Draper
The Denver Post

A logo at an entrance to the Focus on the Family administration building in Colorado Springs. (Craig F. Walker, 2006 Denver Post file photo)

Conservative Christian ministry Focus on the Family announced today it is eliminating 49 jobs in the latest of several rounds of layoffs in response to ongoing economic pressures.

The family-counseling center in Colorado Springs had a $105 million budget this fiscal year ending Sept. 30, but officials project it will receive donations of only $90 million to $95 million.

This new 7 percent staff reduction brings the employee number to 650, down from a 2002 peak of 1,400 people. In the last few years, Focus has let go almost 500 workers.

"God has never promised us a certain budget number. We're sad today but not distraught about the future," said Focus Vice President Gary Schneeberger. "Even in these bad economic times people who care about the ministry gave us more than $90 million. We've been able to help tens of thousands of families with their marriages, raising their kids and walking in their faith. Our commitment to that mission is unabated."

Of the 49 jobs cut today, a third were management, Schneeberger said. An internal audit revealed that consolidating some business and administrative positions could save money without affecting client programs, he said.

Focus airs a radio program with an estimated 2 million listeners and also provides direct counseling and services.

"Long ago I suppose there was a time when we had fat to trim, but we've moved throught that to muscle, sinew, bone — and now we're scraping out marrow," Schneeberger said.

Schneeberger said that Focus on the Family has been around since 1977, when family therapist James Dobson founded it. Dobson resigned as chairman of the board in 2009 and stopped being the voice of the flagship radio program in 2010, succeeded by Focus President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Daly.

"Most of the years of the ministry we were under a $90 million budget," Schneeberger said. "Even so, we had a huge impact globally and believe we will continue to have a huge impact globally."

Electa Draper: 303-954-1276 or edraper@denverpost.com

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