Economic decline spurs Focus on the Family job cuts

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Colorado-based Focus on the Family will reduce its staff by about 200 positions, citing economic conditions.

“There’s still a great demand for the resources we offer,” said Focus spokesman Gary Schneeberger. “It’s simply a fact that the economy is affecting our donors and, therefore, affecting us.”

The staff reductions, which will decrease the number of employees from about 1,150 to about 950, include 149 people whose positions will be eliminated and 53 vacant positions that will be cut. The ministry founded by religious broadcaster James Dobson also will stop publishing four of its eight magazines.

Earlier this fall, the ministry cut 46 other staff positions by outsourcing the department that filled orders and distributed books. All of the current changes are related to Focus on the Family, Schneeberger said, and not its political arm, Focus on the Family Action.