Family Research Council
The Family Research Council is a conservative political interest group that aims to champion marriage and traditional Christian family life. Their mission statement claims, "Family Research Council (FRC) champions marriage and family as the foundation of civilization, the seedbed of virtue, and the wellspring of society. FRC shapes public debate and formulates public policy that values human life and upholds the institutions of marriage and the family. Believing that God is the author of life, liberty, and the family, FRC promotes the Judeo-Christian worldview as the basis for a just, free, and stable society." The FRC is a non-partisan and nonprofit organization that aims to educate instead of supporting any particular candidate.
History
Dr. James Dobson decided to found the FRC after attending a 1980 White House Conference on the Family. While at this conference Dobson met and prayed with eight Christian leaders at a Washington hotel. The FRC was finally founded in 1983 to combat various media outlets that spoke against family life. Gerald P. Regier, the first President of the FRC, formerly worked in the Department of Health and Human Services under Ronald Reagan. He used various outlets to spread the FRC's message, such as testifying before Congress, providing reports for elected officials, creating legal briefs on family issues, securing appointments for government officials, and offering media commentary.
Gary L. Bauer became the next President of the FRC in 1988, and at this time the FRC became a division of Focus on the Family. Throughout the 1990's under Bauer, the FRC attempted to strengthen its network and experienced a rise in national attention. During this time the organization created a home office in Washington D.C. and a distribution center in Holland, Michigan. In 1992 the organization became an independent nonprofit organization.
In 2000, Keith L.Connor became the new president of the Family Research Council. Connor spent much of his time as president of the FRC to change their policy to focus on a Christian agenda. The organization know focused on preventing abortion, sanctity of marriage, humane care of the elderly, religious liberty, parental choice in education, and tax breaks for families. The organization also decided at this time that they wanted to be known more for what they support than what they oppose.
Tony R. Perkins, a former Louisiana legislator, became the fourth president of the FRC in 2003. Perkins' made the main focus of the FRC fighting for man and woman marriage, and opposing same sex marriage. Perkins also encouraged Christian religious leaders to become more involved in politics and established a new department of the FRC called Church ministries.