Billy Graham, learned a humbleness in following his calling and I feel for the family for way the SBC has venerated him.
Franklin is President and CEO of The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, as well as CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and has written 8 books. A lot of fingers in a lot of pies. Classic overachiever, admits it.

You’ve seen his inciderary statements in media. Example:

“But let’s use the weapons we have, the weapons of mass destruction if need be and destroy the enemy.”

He’s said a lot more that is on the public record, if you believe he has his act together, you are welcome to that opinion.

It isn’t about feelings, it is about sons being expected and required to take over. It does not make them qualified, or called to any kind of ‘ministry’ no matter how groomed they are. Given the bubbles they were raised in, they are surrounded by their share of synchophants.

Gordon Robertson is now CEO of The Christian Broadcasting Network and practised law.
He was positioned for the network leadership, and while he most certainly doesn’t exhibit his fathers public insanity, he plans to expand the business and speak out on the issues of the day.
His goal is to further CBN overseas.
To most people outside the US that simply means more televangelists lining their pockets and promoting US policy.

Ryan Dobson, author of 3 books including “Be Intolerant” is skirting the youth wing of his dad’s empire. Loves media, graduated from Biola and uses it to further the same issues his dad does. He runs Kor World Ministries with family members.

Jerry Falwell Jr. attorney, Chancellor of Liberty U and his brother Jonathan are running the family business. Jr. has no trouble crossing the political/church lines any more than his father did. (see fallout from his political endorsement December 2007)

We aren’t talking merely about the dangers of the theocon crowd, or the dominionist crowd or religious right varients - we are talking about the sons the head of The Moral Majority, The Christian Coalition, Focus on the Family, and The BGEA got thrown in.

They’ve been welcomed into the same political clubs their fathers helped found, have they known anything else? Of course not. You know exactly what James Dobson meant in his speech to the broadcasters. Time will tell how their lives and works unfolds.

I can’t speak to Chuck Colsen’s sons Wendell and Chris.
All I know about Swindoll is what I’ve read, don’t know what his kids are up too.
Kennedy didn’t have a son and we know Reconstructionists don’t let daughters lead.

Robert Schuellers son, Richard Roberts, Jay Bakker, Frank Schaeffer (I won’t go on) - all these men grew up in enormous privilege and in some cases dysfunction.

This is what James Dobson asked:

“It causes me to wonder who will be left to carry the banner when this generation of leaders is gone”

…”The question is, will the younger generation heed the call? Who will defend the unborn child in the years to come? Who will plead for the Terri Schiavos of the world? Who’s going to fight for the institution of marriage, which is on the ropes today.
…”What will be the impact on the conservative Christian church when the patriarchs have passed?”

Dobson’s idea of the mantle of leadership is just as much politically far right as anything on the political far left.
My point is the ‘mantle of leadership’ was given to priviledged sons and several have been quite happy to step into national leadership.

The question of impact is not who, the question is how.

However, that last paragraph on the sons is a bit overwrought, unless you have a particular case to make. Franklin Graham seems to have his act together, but Billy never was one of the theocon crowd that gets you rilled up.

I don’t see any of the sons of the big theocon leaders filling dad’s shoes as national figures; I actually got a good feel out of Jerry Falwell’s son as a preacher, but he’s not out to be Mr. Moral Majority 2.0. I don’t know that any of Dobson’s or Robertson’s sons being in line to take over their empires.

I’m tired of Dobson’s self serving whining.
If principled diverse conservative Christians can step up to the plate, good, pluralism requires it.

None of the sons have principles Mark, they’ve tasted power and priviledge and they are as bad or worse than their fathers.

You’re not going to see torches passed; the Christian Coalition athropied in time and Franklin Graham is important but not in the same vein as his dad. New leaders will emerge, many following in the general across-the-board-conservative approach of Dobson, while others may be more eclectic in their politics while being theologically conservative like Warren.