Robert A. Schuller, left, and his father, Robert H. Schuller, stand outside the Crystal Cathedral in Orange, Calif., in 2006. Just three years after the change in leadership from father to son, the church is mired in debt.
Posted on 02/02/2009 10:05:54 AM PST by NYer
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. - Once one of the most popular televangelists in the U.S., the Rev. Robert H. Schuller is watching his life's work crumble.
His son and recent successor, the Rev. Robert A. Schuller, has abruptly resigned as senior pastor of the Crystal Cathedral. The shimmering, glass-walled megachurch in Southern California is home to the "Hour of Power" broadcast, an evangelism staple that has been on the air worldwide for more than three decades.
The church is in financial turmoil: It plans to sell more than $65 million worth of its Orange County property to pay off debt. Revenue dropped by nearly $5 million last year, according to a recent letter from the elder Schuller to elite donors. In the letter, he implored the Eagle's Club members — who supply 30 percent of the church's revenue — for donations and hinted that the show might go off the air without their support.
"The final months of 2008 were devastating for our ministry," the 82-year-old pastor wrote.
The Crystal Cathedral blames the recession for its woes. But it's clear that the elder Schuller's carefully orchestrated leadership transition, planned over a decade, has stumbled badly.
It's a problem common to personality driven ministries. Most have collapsed or been greatly diminished after their founders left the pulpit or died.
Decline of televangelism
Members often tie their donations to the pastor, not the institution, said Nancy Ammerman, a sociologist of religion at Boston University. Schuller, with a style that blends pop psychology and theology, has a particularly devoted following, she said.
"Viewers are probably much less likely to give when it's not their preacher they're giving to," she said. "There's something about these televised programs where people develop a certain loyalty."
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Minitries should not be about buildings or best sellier books like Obama’s buddy Rick Warren. I do not think Schuller is a bad guy but big buildings and debt are not what Christianity is supposed be about.
"I feel hurt and confused and I'm not sure that I want to sit and watch when I know there's problems beneath the surface," she said. "You feel like you're in somebody else's church every Sunday."
The preaching styles of father and son are quite different. Surely the congregation must have realized that Dr. Schuller would have to retire at some point in time.
How large was the church building that Jesus ran?
I wonder what caused the falling-out between father and son.
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When construction wrapped God looked at what He had made and said, "Yeah, that's cool . . ." |
“Personaity-driven ministry” = “cult of personality”. The inevitable result of choosing a church based on feelings rather than on fact.
The inevitable result of WorshipTainment.
Yes ... my stepfather was once drawn to the Baptist Church but later realized that he only liked the pastor.
The inevitable result of WorshipTainment.
Lol .... I believe EWTN will be spared a similar fate because they have such a rich array of programs with different hosts. Saturday night they featuered The Story of St. John Bosco - a 3 1/2 hour RAI production. It was an excellent film that taught me much about life in the mid 19th century. God bless Mother Angelica!
The son was preaching the true gospel.
It's a call from God. That call can come to anyone.
Just because a father had it (and I'm not saying Schuller Sr. had a call), doesn't mean the son also has it.
I’ve read some accounts that the early church in Corinth had 50,000 attendees.
I'm not a Catholic, but for some reason I really dig that nice old lady.
I'm not a Catholic, but for some reason I really dig that nice old lady.
I dig the retro look. Reminds of the nuns I grew up with back in the 60s. All business ... and they could still shoot from the top of the key in that get-up.
I second that... LOVE “The Abundant Life”, LOVE Sunday Night with Fr. Groeshel, LOVE Adventures in Exodus bible study, and the other bible study program with Jeff Cavins.
EWTN has such a great selection of Catholic programing.
Worshiptainment........great word!
I suspect the problem is more that too many follow a “preacher” instead of following Jesus.
She's a sweetheart with tremendous faith, despite the obstacles she overcame throughout her life. She is such an inspiration.
LOL - same here. In fact I often find myself surfing over to EWTN for awhile. I like that sparky priest (monk?) too (Franciscan?).
Very few of these churches whether mega-churches or 20 people in Podunk survive the initial personality, mainly because they are based on that person’s personality. There is very little theology and it can be changed at the whim of the leader, and there are no roots.
I used to watch when I had 2 channels and I always thought Robert Schuller was a great motivational speaker. It was a pretty good Hollywood production.
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