Bryan Fischer
Encyclopedia
Bryan Fischer is the Director of Issues Analysis for the American Family Association
(AFA). He hosts the talk radio program Focal Point on American Family Radio
and posts on the AFA-run blog Rightly Concerned.
He is a supporter of conservative causes, such as the right to life
and opposition to national health care, and has been active in city and state politics. Fischer's controversial comments on racial and ethnic minorities were cited by Southern Poverty Law Center
(SPLC) in explaining the hate group
designation they gave to the AFA in November 2010.
, and holds a graduate degree in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary
. Fischer served at the Cole Community Church in Boise, Idaho
and founded the Cole Center for Biblical Studies and was the church's director for thirteen years. Fischer then founded Community Church of the Valley and was senior pastor for twelve years. Before joining the board of directors of American Family Association, Fischer was also executive director of Idaho Values Alliance.
In 2004, he co-founded the Keep the Commandments Coalition, a group dedicated to keeping a Ten Commandments
monument in Julia Davis Park
in Boise, Idaho
. From 2000 to 2005, he served as a commissioner for the city's Park and Recreation Department.
In November 2010, the SPLC changed their listing of the AFA from a group that used hate speech
to the more serious one of being designated a hate group
. The SPLC's Mark Potok said that the AFA's "propagation of known falsehoods and demonizing propaganda" was the basis for the change. Fischer's anti-gay comments were given as an example by SPLC in support of the hate group designation.
American Family Association
The American Family Association is a 501 non-profit organization that promotes conservative Christian values, such as opposition to same-sex marriage, pornography, and abortion, as well as other public policy goals such as deregulation of the oil industry and lobbying against the Employee Free...
(AFA). He hosts the talk radio program Focal Point on American Family Radio
American Family Radio
American Family Radio is a network of more than 180 radio stations broadcasting Christian-oriented programming to over 40 states.-Overview:AFR was launched by Rev...
and posts on the AFA-run blog Rightly Concerned.
He is a supporter of conservative causes, such as the right to life
Right to life
Right to life is a phrase that describes the belief that a human being has an essential right to live, particularly that a human being has the right not to be killed by another human being...
and opposition to national health care, and has been active in city and state politics. Fischer's controversial comments on racial and ethnic minorities were cited by Southern Poverty Law Center
Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is an American nonprofit civil rights organization noted for its legal victories against white supremacist groups; legal representation for victims of hate groups; monitoring of alleged hate groups, militias and extremist organizations; and educational programs that...
(SPLC) in explaining the hate group
Hate group
A hate group is an organized group or movement that advocates and practices hatred, hostility, or violence towards members of a race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or other designated sector of society...
designation they gave to the AFA in November 2010.
Biography
Fischer has an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, and holds a graduate degree in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary is an evangelical theological seminary located in Dallas, Texas. It is known for popularizing the theological system known as Dispensationalism...
. Fischer served at the Cole Community Church in Boise, Idaho
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
and founded the Cole Center for Biblical Studies and was the church's director for thirteen years. Fischer then founded Community Church of the Valley and was senior pastor for twelve years. Before joining the board of directors of American Family Association, Fischer was also executive director of Idaho Values Alliance.
In 2004, he co-founded the Keep the Commandments Coalition, a group dedicated to keeping a Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
monument in Julia Davis Park
Julia Davis park
Julia Davis Park is the first park in the "string of pearls", the public park system found running through the middle of Boise, Idaho. It is centrally located within the city of Boise and is bordered by Broadway Avenue to the east, Capital Boulevard to the west, the Boise River to the south, and...
in Boise, Idaho
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
. From 2000 to 2005, he served as a commissioner for the city's Park and Recreation Department.
In November 2010, the SPLC changed their listing of the AFA from a group that used hate speech
Hate speech
Hate speech is, outside the law, any communication that disparages a person or a group on the basis of some characteristic such as race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, or other characteristic....
to the more serious one of being designated a hate group
Hate group
A hate group is an organized group or movement that advocates and practices hatred, hostility, or violence towards members of a race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or other designated sector of society...
. The SPLC's Mark Potok said that the AFA's "propagation of known falsehoods and demonizing propaganda" was the basis for the change. Fischer's anti-gay comments were given as an example by SPLC in support of the hate group designation.