Posted on 01/29/2010 7:47:27 PM PST by Steelfish
Crystal Cathedral Laying Off Workers, Selling Property, Canceling "Hour of Power" In Some Markets January 29, 2010
The Crystal Cathedral, the Garden Grove megachurch, is laying off workers, selling surplus property and may be pulling its “Hour of Power” television show from eight markets in the wake of a precipitous drop in contributions.
[Updated at 7:40 p.m.: An earlier version of this post said the church was pulling its "Hour of Power" TV show from a dozen markets.]
The 7,000-member church has also canceled its “Glory of Easter” pageant, a popular reenactment of the life and death of Jesus Christ, which sold tens of thousands of tickets each year.
“This cuts to the heart of our ministry,” said spokesman John Charles. “It is sad news.”
Charles said that the church’s revenue dropped 27% from roughly $30 million in 2008 to $22 million in 2009. “Our indicators show that 2010 revenue will drop,” he added. “If it maintains, that would be fine, but we don't have a crystal ball, so we are cutting.”
The church, founded by the Rev. Robert H. Schuller more than 50 years ago, lost members in the wake of a family feud after he stepped down. His son, the Rev. Robert A. Schuller, succeeded his father, but stepped down in 2008 after disagreements. His sister, Sheila Schuller Coleman, is now the church’s leader.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
Robert Shuller jr. was FIRED by his sisters and their husbands, who wanted to take the ministry in a different direction. This is what jr said on the 700 club.
Just think positive thoughts and all will be ok.
Welcome to The Age Of Hope And Change.
Seeker friendly is’nt cutting it anymore. People need and desire the hard facts, of God, Salvation, and that is Hell is your final destination, if you are not Born-again!
Very nicely put. This church was a fraud from the get-go which not only merged Christianity with psychology but also with self-gain ala Joel Osteen. Indeed this is the state of all “family” organized churches.
Probably leveraged out and Ca. economy hurting congregants too. Also too many TV ministries as well and Robt. Schuller, Sr. getting quite old now—not as inspiring and viewership in decline?
Schuller Jr. wanted to preach the true gospel, now God is having His say.
Did the Shulers ever preach the truth of scripture?
Schuller has chosen to focus on what he believes are the positive aspects of the Christian faith. He deliberately avoids condemning people for sin, believing that Jesus “met needs before touting creeds. Once in relationship with God, Schuller emphasizes, someone who is sowing positive faith in his heart and actions will discover that the bi-product is a reduction of “sin”. He is known to say, “Sin is a condition before it is an action.” Known by many as the father of the “dreamer” movement (a new surge of inspiring preaching that has catapulted in popularity in the last decade), Schuller encourages Christians (and non-Christians) to achieve great things through God and to believe in their dreams. He authored the line, “If you can dream it, you can do it!”
Preaching style
Like his father, Schuller emphasizes the teaching of “positive Christianity”, sometimes “positive gospel” (not to be confused with the Prosperity Gospel). It is argued in some schools of theological thought that doing so overemphasizes grace over holiness.
However, where his father’s preaching tends to be heavier on psychological reference and lighter on scriptural reference, Robert A. Schuller’s messages rely considerably on scriptural reference, hermeneutics, and apologetics, making the role of “positivism” secondary and more in line with mainstream evangelicalism.
People need and desire the hard facts, of God, Salvation, and that is Hell is your final destination, if you are not Born-again!
Need, yes. Desire? No.
someone who is sowing positive faith in his heart
That sounds (creepily) familiar.
Some of the deep roots below Schuller are the same as those below the Word Faith heretics.
Did know the dad and the son stepped down. Wonder what the son does now for a living.
“Sin is a condition before it is an action.”
Maybe you didn’t provide enough context, but that hardly seems like a wrong statement, according to Catholicism, Calvinism or mainline Protestantism. Original sin... living in sin... slave to sin... all sound like conditions to me. Orthodoxy doesn’t use the term “original sin,” but very strongly holds the notion of sin (or sinfulness) as a condition. Or did he use that line to absolve people of their own fault in their sinfulness, along the lines of gnosticism, liberation theology, or something along those lines? As in, “people only sin because they’re in bad circumstances, so you can’t blame them”?
>>>“This cuts to the heart of our ministry,”
Translated, “This cuts to the heart of our begging”
I don’t mean to snark or be rude, but do these mega-churches do anything for others? The Mormons send young people all over the world. There are Catholic and Jewish hospitals and universities. I know of small little Baptist churches with thriving mission or community outreach programs.
Can somebody enlighten me about how these mega churches help others?
In as much as the soul of man has a hole that can only be filled by Jesus, and man’s spirit does desire to commune with God’s Holy Spirit. Although the mind and heart is in rebellion towards God, and thus tries to fill the emptiness with worship of false idols.
“I don’t mean to snark or be rude, but do these mega-churches do anything for others?”
An extremely excellent question, radiohead.
I hope we get an answer.
I would like to see the personal bank accounts of these folks.
His son, the Rev. Robert A. Schuller, succeeded his father, but stepped down in 2008 after disagreements. His sister, Sheila Schuller Coleman, is now the church’s leader.
Issues, Etc. interviewed Rob't A. Schuller., yesterday (audio here).
Interesting listen. In comparison, Schuller Junior is a lot sounder than Schuller Senior.
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