Ed Dobson
Encyclopedia
Edward G. Dobson is a Northern Irish
-American
who was an executive of the Moral Majority
and the pastor of a megachurch
in Grand Rapids, Michigan
. He is an evangelical author and Vice President for Spiritual Formation at Cornerstone University
.
In 1964, Dobson moved to the United States from Northern Ireland. He earned a BA (1970) and an MA (1972) from Bob Jones University
and later an EdD (1986) in higher education at the University of Virginia
. At 23, Dobson became Dean of Men at Liberty University
, "but before long he was also teaching New Testament survey, coaching the soccer team, and taking on more administrative duties. In time, Dobson was named vice president for student life as well as associate pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church
." When the Moral Majority was organized in June 1979, Jerry Falwell
named Dobson to the board. Three years later, the premiere issue of Fundamentalist Journal listed him as one of two senior editors; he became editor-in-chief two and a half years later and served as a voice of the Moral Majority. Dobson and another Liberty faculty member, Ed Hindson
, effectively ghost-wrote Falwell's The Fundamentalist Phenomenon (1981). With his mentor, Dobson also drifted away from fundamentalism toward more mainstream evangelicalism.
Nevertheless, by the late 1980s, Dobson had decided that the rationale behind the Moral Majority had been wrongheaded and that to a significant degree cultural problems could not be remedied through the political process. In 1987, Dobson left Liberty (just as Falwell became responsible for the empire of failed televangelist Jim Bakker
) and took the pastorate of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan
, where he remained for eighteen years (1987–2005). In 1993, Moody Bible Institute
named him "Pastor of the Year."
Dobson serves as an advisory editor for Christianity Today
.
After Dobson was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
(Lou Gehrig's Disease) in January 2001, he wrote Prayers and Promises when Facing a Life-Threatening Illness. In Spring 2008, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary
dedicated a "Dobson Study Center" in its classroom building to honor Dobson's long pastorate and television ministry in Grand Rapids.
In January 2009, Dobson was interviewed on Good Morning America
because he had attempted to live a year as Jesus had, observing Sabbath and Jewish holidays and festivals. Dobson said that he had voted for Barack Obama
on the grounds that Obama "was closer to Jesus's teachings."
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
who was an executive of the Moral Majority
Moral Majority
The Moral Majority was a political organization of the United States which had an agenda of evangelical Christian-oriented political lobbying...
and the pastor of a megachurch
Megachurch
A megachurch is a church having 2,000 or more in average weekend attendance. The Hartford Institute's database lists more than 1,300 such Protestant churches in the United States. According to that data, approximately 50 churches on the list have attendance ranging from 10,000 to 47,000...
in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. He is an evangelical author and Vice President for Spiritual Formation at Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University is an independent, non-denominational Christian university in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The university emphasises the trinitarian belief in the triune God and the literal interpretation of the Bible...
.
In 1964, Dobson moved to the United States from Northern Ireland. He earned a BA (1970) and an MA (1972) from Bob Jones University
Bob Jones University
Bob Jones University is a private, for-profit, non-denominational Protestant university in Greenville, South Carolina.The university was founded in 1927 by Bob Jones, Sr. , an evangelist and contemporary of Billy Sunday...
and later an EdD (1986) in higher education at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. At 23, Dobson became Dean of Men at Liberty University
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
, "but before long he was also teaching New Testament survey, coaching the soccer team, and taking on more administrative duties. In time, Dobson was named vice president for student life as well as associate pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church
Thomas Road Baptist Church
Thomas Road Baptist Church is a megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia. It currently claims 24,000 members and is headed by Jonathan Falwell.-History:Started in 1956 by a group of 35, including Jerry Falwell, Thomas Road now claims over 24,200 members...
." When the Moral Majority was organized in June 1979, Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Lamon Falwell, Sr. was an evangelical fundamentalist Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and a conservative commentator from the United States. He was the founding pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, a megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia...
named Dobson to the board. Three years later, the premiere issue of Fundamentalist Journal listed him as one of two senior editors; he became editor-in-chief two and a half years later and served as a voice of the Moral Majority. Dobson and another Liberty faculty member, Ed Hindson
Ed Hindson
Ed Hindson is an American Christian evangelist and current host of The King Is Coming, a syndicated television broadcast shown across the United States. Hindson has written more than twenty books that deal with Bible prophecy and the imminent return of Jesus...
, effectively ghost-wrote Falwell's The Fundamentalist Phenomenon (1981). With his mentor, Dobson also drifted away from fundamentalism toward more mainstream evangelicalism.
Nevertheless, by the late 1980s, Dobson had decided that the rationale behind the Moral Majority had been wrongheaded and that to a significant degree cultural problems could not be remedied through the political process. In 1987, Dobson left Liberty (just as Falwell became responsible for the empire of failed televangelist Jim Bakker
Jim Bakker
James Orsen "Jim" Bakker is an American televangelist, a former Assemblies of God minister, and a former host of The PTL Club, a popular evangelical Christian television program.A sex scandal led to his resignation from the ministry...
) and took the pastorate of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, where he remained for eighteen years (1987–2005). In 1993, Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute is a Christian institution of higher education and related ministries that was founded by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Since its founding, MBI's main campus has been located in the Near North Side of Chicago. MBI's primary ministries are education,...
named him "Pastor of the Year."
Dobson serves as an advisory editor for Christianity Today
Christianity Today
Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. It is the flagship publication of its parent company Christianity Today International, claiming circulation figures of 140,000 and readership of 290,000...
.
After Dobson was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
(Lou Gehrig's Disease) in January 2001, he wrote Prayers and Promises when Facing a Life-Threatening Illness. In Spring 2008, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary
Grand Rapids Theological Seminary
Grand Rapids Theological Seminary of Cornerstone University is a multidenominational evangelical Christian seminary located in Grand Rapids, Michigan...
dedicated a "Dobson Study Center" in its classroom building to honor Dobson's long pastorate and television ministry in Grand Rapids.
In January 2009, Dobson was interviewed on Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
because he had attempted to live a year as Jesus had, observing Sabbath and Jewish holidays and festivals. Dobson said that he had voted for Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
on the grounds that Obama "was closer to Jesus's teachings."
Publications
- Abraham: The Lord will Provide (1993)
- Blinded by Might (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999) with Cal ThomasCal ThomasJohn Calvin "Cal" Thomas is an American conservative syndicated columnist, pundit, author and radio commentator.-Life and career:...
- Daniel: Making the Right Choices (1994)
- King James Bible Commentary (1999)
- The Knowing Jesus Study Bible, NIV (2000) with Ed Hindson
- Mastering Conflict and Controversy (1992)
- Prayers and Promises When Facing a Life-Threatening Illness (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007)
- Starting a Seeker-Sensitive Service (1993)
- What the Bible Really Says about Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage (1986)
- The Fundamentalist Phenomenon (1st edition 1980, 2nd edition 1986) with Ed Hindson and Jerry Falwell
- The End: Why Jesus Could Return by A.D. 2000 (1997)
- The Year Of Living Like Jesus (2009)