Posted on 10/27/2011 1:47:45 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Crystal Cathedral Ministries has chosen Chapman University to purchase its 40-acre Garden Grove, Calif., property as the megachurch tries to pull out of an estimated $50 million debt.
Chapman was among several interested buyers, which included Hobby Lobby and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. The university, which offered $50 million for the campus, will reportedly allow Crystal Cathedral to "continue serving its mission," by letting it lease, and eventually buy back its core buildings, The Los Angeles Times reported.
“Chapman University is pleased and honored by the Crystal Cathedral Ministry Board’s decision to select the University as the buyer of the church campus,” the school said in a statement Wednesday.
“We are hopeful that the final decision will favor Chapman, because that outcome would provide the Crystal Cathedral Ministry with the opportunity to go forward using their highly distinctive campus, while providing Chapman with vital space to expand our health sciences programs in fields where graduates are much in demand in California and nationwide.”
According to The Orange County Register, the decision by the board to endorse Chapman’s bid was made “reluctantly” “due to deadlines required by the court.”
"Though the preferred outcome of this bankruptcy is to raise the funds needed for the ministries to remain the owner of the entire campus, there loomed a deadline imposed by the creditors' committee to select between the two offers approved by the committee," Robert H. Schuller, founder of the Crystal Cathedral, reportedly said in a statement.
"All the creditors will be paid, and the Crystal Cathedral ministries will continue," he said, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The Crystal Cathedral filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last October as it faced lawsuits for the debts it owed vendors from the 2009 "Glory of Christmas" production.
Earlier this month, Schuller and his family were accused by creditors of profiting at their expense and at the expense of the congregation while the religious institution was undergoing bankruptcy. The Schullers were accused of drawing income from the ministry's endowment fund to cover their own salaries.
Schuller denied the allegations on Oct. 5 this year.
"This lawsuit makes serious and untrue allegations regarding myself and my family," he told The Los Angeles Times at the time. "It is unfortunate that I will have to defend this lawsuit only to prove what is true."
For the last several months, the Crystal Cathedral has been trying to collect $50 million through a fundraising campaign. But despite the megachurch’s attempts to prevent the sale of the church, a federal bankruptcy judge agreed last month to move forward with the sale as creditors look to be paid back.
Nearly 400 creditors were given a timeline to vote on a sale plan for the church.
While the Crystal Cathedral Ministries’ board is backing Chapman University’s bid, the selection of the buyer must be approved by the bankruptcy judge, Robert Kwan. According to the university, the hearing on confirmation of the reorganization plan is scheduled for Nov. 14.
"Nothing is final until Nov. 14," said Sheila Schuller Coleman, Crystal Cathedral's senior pastor, according to The Orange County Register. Pastor Schuller added that she
I know the pres. of Chapman. Good to see them do this.
“Crystal Cathedral” is a misnomer. The denomination has no bishops, so it’s not a cathedral, and from what I understand, it is made of glass and not crystal.
Seems the Right Rev lost sight of what a church is ultimately supposed to be about...........and it ain’t money.
When someone sues you for your coat, give them your hat, too. This isn’t exactly how Jesus said it because Jesus didn’t speak English.
Schuller was a “feel good about yourself” ministry. I guess it was knocked off the top by Olsteen.
Someone needs to teach Dr. Schuller a course on Christian stewardship.
Schuller is a false teacher.
Funny that we got so many articles about the Diocese bidding for them, and so few about Chapman University....
A fundraiser? I see they are still milking the cash cow.
Sigh. If you follow this board, Jesus was a false teacher to half the people. Good night sir/madam.
Any sale still has to be approved by the bankruptcy court and has to be in the best interest of the creditors. Just because the Crystal Cathedral has “approved” the sale doesn’t mean it will go through — they don’t have the final say.
Disgusting family. All about money.
Congrats to Chapman.
You can’t say no one told you.
Nor can you. Get over it.
“Get over it.”
Get over what?
The notion that only you hear from the Lord-—and you know exactly what I’m talking about, Pharisee.
“The notion that only you hear from the Lord-—and you know exactly what I’m talking about, Pharisee.”
So your saying it’s impossible for a person to distinguish between truth and falsehood unless they are some sort of religiously crazed Pharisee?
I think you know the answer.
Schuller was so heritical...he is in large part responsible for the seeker friendly prosperity gospel being preached as the “gospel” today ...no tears shed for the failure of this place.. I just hope the Joel Olsteen’s take note
RE: I just hope the Joel Olsteen’s take note
__________________
The thing about Joel Osteen that I notice when he is interviewed by the secular press is HE REFUSES TO TAKE A STAND ON ANY ISSUE AT ALL.
Be it abortion, gay marriage, extra-marital sex, heck, even Harold Camping’s end times prediction, he never, ever gives any biblical or moral guidance, preferring instead to retreat to the personal -— “I personally don’t approve of it” line.
Personally don’t approve of it? Does this mean that if others personally approve of it, it’s OK?
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