Dobson's dents

The low national economic tide is causing many boats to run aground, and is even denting the hulls of some of the most popular denominational and parachurch ministry budgets. One such ministry is James Dobson's Focus on the Family, one of the nation's best-financed parachurch ministries. Its board slashed $5 million from its $130 million budget, leading to the first layoffs in FOTF's 26 years. Fewer than 3 percent of the 1,300 employees in Colorado Springs received pink slips, but scores of open positions won't be filled, according to a report in the Colorado Springs Gazette.

Other cutbacks include reduced frequency of publications, lower merit pay increases, less travel, the closure of an employee cafeteria, and the elimination or trimming of unspecified programs.