Vision Forum was an evangelical Christian organization based in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1998; its president was Doug Phillips, son of U.S. Constitution Party leader Howard Phillips. Vision Forum Ministries was a 501(c) non-profit organization which was closed by its board of directors in November 2013 after Doug Phillips' confession of marital infidelity and allegations of sexual abuse.[1][2][3] The associated commercial operation, called Vision Forum, Inc., continued to operate until January 2014, when it was announced that it too was shutting down operations. Vision Forum advocated for biblical patriarchy, creationism, homeschooling, Family Integrated Churches, and Quiverfull beliefs.

Events

The organization sponsored the Christian Filmmakers Academy and the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival.[4][5]

In 2007, the group organized an alternative celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, Virginia, saying that the official celebration did not give enough emphasis to the Christian perspective of the settlers.[6]

Jonathan Park

Jonathan Park is a radio drama series created by Pat and Sandy Roy at the Institute for Creation Research in the late 1990s that was later produced by Vision Forum Ministries.[7] The storyline revolves around the lives and families of fictional characters Dr. Kendall Park and Jim Brenan as they build a creation museum.[8]

After Vision Forum folded, ownership of the Jonathan Park series was transferred to CreationWorks, a ministry founded by series creators Pat and Sandy Roy, with one album released under that banner in 2014 before the series was acquired by Wise King Media in 2016.[9]

Albums

  • Volume 1: Jonathan Park: The Adventure Begins ISBN 1-929241-85-2
  • Volume 2: Jonathan Park: No Looking Back ISBN 1-929241-87-9
  • Volume 3: Jonathan Park: The Winds of Change ISBN 0-9755263-6-7
  • Volume 4: Jonathan Park: The Hunt for Beowulf ISBN 0-9787559-1-X
  • Volume 5: Jonathan Park: The Explorer's Society ISBN 0-9787559-6-0
  • Volume 6: Jonathan Park: The Journey Never Taken ISBN 1-933431-84-9
  • Volume 7: Jonathan Park: The Voyage Beyond ISBN 1-933431-86-5
  • Volume 8: Jonathan Park: The Copper Scroll ISBN 1-937460-15-0
  • Volume 9: Jonathan Park: The Whispering Sphinx ISBN 1-937460-62-2
  • Volume 10: Jonathan Park: The Journey Home ISBN 9-781941510-28-5
  • Jonathan Park Goes to the Zoo ISBN 1-934554-28-6
  • Jonathan Park Goes to the Aquarium ISBN 1-934554-29-4
  • Jonathan Park Goes to the Galapagos ISBN 978-1-933431-74-1
  • Jonathan Park Goes to the Amazon ISBN 0-982945-26-4

Criticism

Vision Forum was criticized for holding views that were demeaning of women and viewed them as property. Don and Joy Veinot of Midwest Christian Outreach interpreted Vision Forum's statement on "The Tenets of Biblical Patriarchy"[10] to imply that "women really cannot be trusted as decision makers" and "unless a daughter marries, she functionally remains pretty much the property of the father until he dies."[11]

Similar criticisms were voiced when a lawsuit was filed against Doug Phillips and Vision Forum by a woman who had worked as the Phillips family's nanny. Her suit alleged that Phillips had sexually abused her for years.[12] Phillips acknowledged an "inappropriate relationship" but denied all charges of sexual abuse, calling them "sensationalist and suggesting that they are motivated by a desire for financial gain."[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Ingersoll, Julie (June 17, 2014). "Doug Phillips' Biblical Patriarchy Scandal Moves to the Courts". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  2. ↑ "The Closing of Vision Forum Ministries". Vision Forum.
  3. ↑ Abby Ohlheiser (November 11, 2013). "An Infidelity Scandal Just Shuttered a Major 'Biblical Patriarchy' Organization". The Atlantic.
  4. ↑ "Christian filmmakers to discuss replacement industry for Hollywood". Catholic News Agency. July 23, 2007. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
  5. ↑ Kimball, Josh (January 4, 2009). "Over 700 Students to Converge Ahead of Top Christian Film Fest". The Christian Post. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  6. ↑ Geroux, Bill (April 11, 2007). "An alternative Jamestown fete: Christian group says it wants to shine more light on role of God". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  7. ↑ J.D. Sutter (January 14, 2014). "Vision Forum, Owners of the Jonathan Park Audio Drama Series, Is Shutting Down". Audio Theatre Central. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Jonathan Park FAQs from official Web site". Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Family Friendly Audio Drama Database - Jonathan Park". Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  10. ↑ "The Tenets of Biblical Patriarchy". Vision Forum. Archived from the original on March 5, 2010.
  11. ↑ Veinot & Veinot 2007, p. 4 – emphasis original.
  12. ↑ "Lawsuit" (PDF).

Bibliography

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