A 30 year old TV ministry based in California seems to have fallen into more than hard financial times.
The Crystal Cathedral is associated with Reformed Church of America, and has televised its Hour of Power program since the 1970′s. The property and the buildings are a tourist attraction, as a US mega-church, it is known for it’s architecture and it’s Christmas pageant, 4th of July service, celebrity appearances and positive message. The church in Garden Grove California is selling off some of it’s property and laying off staff.
Mysse declined to name those who were laid off, but said among those let go was the pastor who headed Crystal Cathedral’s Hispanic ministry.
Church Executive magazine, meanwhile, reported that executive pastor Jim Poit and his wife, Linda, who was director of children’s ministries there, were part of last week’s round of layoffs, as well as Deb Yurk, who had been brought on board by Poit as pastor of congregational life.
A church spokesman reportedly told the magazine they were “laid off” and went on to say that Poit, his wife, and Yurk “didn’t fit the vision of the new leadership.” While Crystal Cathedral’s media and public relations director, John Charles, confirmed with The Christian Post that Yurk and the Poits were among those who were let go last week, he declined to comment on the statement “supposedly” given to Church Executive.
All has not been well in the founders family.
The Schuller family sees the Crystal Cathedral as a family business according toThe Associated Press, and congregants were shocked when Robert Schuller Jr was removed from the TV show in October and his resignation was handed in a month later.
While founder Dr. Robert Schuller, 82 has stepped down, his son who was to take over, and has been in the televised service as senior minister since 2006. His departure in November 2008Â led to a petition for his return at the church website. It now appears the family rift was a bit deeper than the claimed 20 million viewers around the world were aware of.
The family is sorry for thrusting its problems on the rest of the congregation, an emotional Sheila Schuller Coleman told church elders during the meeting in which Robert H. Schuller was not present.
“This is one of the most difficult times we’ve walked through as a family,” she said, choking up. “I’m so sorry that the conflict in my family has meant so much hurt to all of you. We’re still trying to understand what happened to our family.”
She explained that a rift between her father and brother had deepened over time and was “exacerbated by external influences.” They even had family interventions, but nothing worked, Coleman said. The joint appointment of her husband, Jim Coleman; Jim Penner; and Chief Financial Officer Fred Southard to the newly created Office of the President in July, started a chain of “horrendous events,” she said.
“We were naive enough to believe then that it would make things better between my brother and my father,” she said. “But it made everything worse.”
…Jim Penner said Robert A. Schuller left the ministry because “he wanted it all.” The son wanted full control of the ministries including the post of president that Robert H. Schuller has held since he founded the ministry.
“But the board was not for it because they did not believe Robert A. was ready for that,” Penner said.
When the Office of the President was created, Robert A. Schuller got more upset, he said.
“It didn’t change his ability to lead the church because he was still the senior pastor,” Penner said. “But he was upset and never got past it.”
Robert A. Schuller and Poit had “tremendous freedom to make any changes they wanted,” Penner said.
“No one stood in their way,” he said. “As Robert H. Schuller is growing older, we need someone to take his place that can grow the church.”
Robert A. Schuller was not available for comment. But his wife, Donna, who worked with her husband in the ministry, said her husband “was controlled.”
“He was not given a free rein at all,” she said.
The Canadian offices of The Hour of Power are based in British Columbia. The show airs on 10 stations, CTS and The Vision Network and has an operating budget of about 4 million dollars a year. Robert Schuller Jr. is listed as a director for the Canadian office with Revenue Canada.
On March 21, 1979, the ministry received its tax deductible status as a non-profit charity. Though initially the ministry operated from the office of one of its board members, in August, 1980, the board of directors hired the first executive director and moved the ministry into its own office. As the number of Canadian television stations broadcasting the Hour of Power increased, additional staff was hired.
In October, 1982, the ministry moved into new offices in Richmond, B.C., and by 1988 the ministry was in a position to purchase the building they are currently occupying. The 2,500 sq. ft., two-story office in Surrey, B.C., was a great blessing, having saved the ministry thousands of dollars in rental payments over the years.
Hour of Power Canada’s core staff members have been with the ministry for quite some time: Director Rita Neal began in 1981, and Administrative Assistants Irene Sorensen in 1982, and Judy Johnstone in 1985.
The Hour of Power now reaches into the homes of 85% of the Canadian population. Viewers play an active role in the ministry through correspondence and financial support, with approximately 53,000 letters and e-mails received each year.
Crystal Cathedral - wiki
Crystal Cathedral – home
Orange County Register – The two Rev. Schullers
Upate: 29/03/09 Robert A. Schuller has started a church, his wife Donna is blogging here.
Update: 26/06/09 Sheila Schuller is taking over the Cathedral
Susan .. <>
New International Version (©1984)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
So – Jesus isn’t enough? You have to get away from him? I know the feeling.
More like, I must immediately take his yoke or spiritual surrender upon me. Then I will find rest in my life. As for me, I have found it.
Take care today AAB. Know He is at your hearts door waiting.
Got to go right now. I fix lunch for my husband on days I don’t work.
Good comment,as most “christians” are far too busy!
I must say that the word “christian” has become culturally irrelevant
I must say Christianity has become culturally unacceptable.
No one’s opinions mean anything to you unless they agree with you Brano. You are the reason religion and superstition exist. Deny the facts, spin the rest to make the literature and the history say what you want it to. Just as the Romans in 4th CE did – massage the record to fit the agenda – drive out every other god, myth, pagan or even discrepant version of the Jesus story. People are waking up to the fraud of the Constantina christian myth and are rediscovering exactly why this religion has hung around for so long. Once you inject state political power into any religion, it tends to flourish. Look at Islam. How many billion people did you say can’t be wrong? Doesn’t take a doctorate in theology to figure that one out. But you wouldn’t know about that would you, because you choose to stick your head in the sand and ignore all the evidence that goes against the traditional story of christianity. You’d rather live in the cuddly fantasy land you call faith than have your comfort zone rattled by something called truth.
I’ve been where you were. Ignorance is bliss isn’t it? Don’t you think it would have been easier to just sit and stay content believing the status quo like most lazy xtians? I dare you to take a chance and get out of the boat of christian scholars and prove that what the secularists are saying is wrong. I did.
….and I must say that “western christianity”,has become rather Laodicean
Contrasted by Christians, in other parts of the world who choose to be slaughtered{martyred} ,daily,for their “faith”
Persecution has always moved Faith further along
Brano ..
I wasn’t aware you were conversant with the works of Ferrell Till. What portions of his previous debates with Norman Geisler, William Lane Craig, and Young Earth creationism advocate Kent Hovind do you feel he scored lowest?
Since he is a strong advocate of an errancy list, which of his reviews and examinations do you most stronbgly contest, and why? Which scholars do you feel have adequately refuted him – please refer me to the materials and a copy of the debates.
How do you feel about his criticism of the 173,880-day fulfillment scenario of Daniel 9:24-27? Would you agree with his analogy of absurdities in the biblical story of the Tower of Babel?
Have you examined the geopolitical ramifications surrounding the burnt-offering requirements he examined which shows the improbability that enough wood would have been available in the Sinai region to offer the sacrifices commanded and to keep the fire on the altar burning perpetually? Do you agree or disagree, and why? What are your sources? What materials can you reference to show to indicate that others have successfully refuted his claims?
I am interested in knowing your views on Robert Turkel’s attempt to explain away Mark, Luke, and “John” made no mention of some of the amazing miracles on crucifixion day that “Matthew” included in his gospel.
As am I A@B. But don’t hold your breath for any kind of an answer. Brano’s only able to fling little tidbits of floor sweepings into the conversation. His evasive jibber-jabbering shows how little he really knows about such things.
Marina ..
He’s well read – I think – if you include “Evidence That Demands a Verdict” and “The Late Great Planet Earth” or “Why Christ Returns by 1988″.
….LMAO,as I consider the last readings ,“Evidence That Demands a Verdict” and “The Late Great Planet Earth” or “Why Christ Returns by 1988?…..as most humorus!
Kind Mr AtheistAtBirth: I have discussed these topics that you mentioned above at great length when I was 22 years old….If you would like to rehash and re-gurgitate these things…I think another mode of communication would be best…
Shalom-”The absense of all that is evil,and the presence,of all that is good”
Besides,rainbow fishing is very active at the moment
Brano ..
I hope you are better at fishing than defending your bullshit postings.
I am NOT on the defensive priendo!?
Then why do they force the issue that communistic principles are different from Atheism when the sole and primary belief has been met – which is the unbelief in God & any supernatural deity
I personally see the communistic pattern of thought as a higher level of Atheism
I say this because till date no government apart from the famous communist regimes can call themselves God free – LOL!
Read more: http://www.qatarliving.com/node/86510#ixzz1OuBHX5Kz
Sorry I fell asleep on the straw that fell off that last post.
You must have been in your “ivory tower”again,doing some quasi intellectual,pseudo intellectual,navel gazing….
Hello no .. I was merely looking down on you.
That works for me,as I really have nothing to “prove” to Mr Kind AtheistAtBirth
I enjoy Greek history,the smartest yet, most stupid people of the then known world
Oh,how quickly they disappeard,with all of their silly notions andf silly gods….yet,they were so “intelligent”…
Your trout awaits you … Ciao
ce vidiamo dolcezza
L’ignoranza non risparmia gli anziani
Io sono venuto ho visto ho conquistato….
Ho visto, ho conquistato, e mi è venuto.
pass the asigo and the 1985 Sassicaia
Lmao .. Something we can agree upon.
!
internet is awash with details of who in ministry is freemason. Schuller senior is said to be 33 degreer. can anbody tell me whether robert anthony is a freemason? seriously aare there any pastors about the place who are not freemasons?
I watched Crystal Cathedral last night and was astounded at the lack of attendance! Should have let the son keep going. The daughter isn’t able to minister effectively from the pulpit. The hispanic service afterward was PACKED to the rafters. That preacher is picking up the slack. Joel Osteen was slighted in a previous remark on this page. He’s a terrific minister! The Crystal Cathedral as we have known it in the past is simply that – past. I hope they’re able to heal and move on. They need a dynamic minister to lead the church. Pray for them.
It sounds to me that many of the comments come from people who do not understand that Christianity is commiting one’s life to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a personal relationship with Jesus, and the keeping of it requires faith and love.
That people diss Christianity doesn’t mean there is no Jesus, it simply means that people choose not to believe. That makes me sad, as soon and very soon we are going to see the Lord. I believe that the scene is being set for the biggest shake up this work has known since the flood in Noah’s time. For our Lord will come and every eye will see him, for those of us who call him Lord it will a glorious day, but for those who have rejected his teaching about forgiveness and the Kingdom of God, there may well be tears and much sorrow.
People there is time to change your attitude and turn to the Lord, He is a forgiving Saviour and He longs for the lost to come and be saved, and to know the promise of eternal life.
Maranatha… even so, come Lord Jesus
“It sounds to me that many of the comments come from people who do not understand that Christianity is commiting (sic) one’s life to the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Well Phyllis Pearson, you are wrong. Many of us HAVE committed our lives to JC and followed his teachings, prophecies and promises for most of the time we’ve been on this planet. Many of us even took his word literally to forsake all, deny self and follow him as he walked to find the sanctified life and truth. We exposed the fraudulent wolves who took advantage of the credulity that most Christians require to be a Christian in the first place and yet in our honest search for truth, we peered behind the veil of religion only to find that the great wizard of oz was not so great after all. If you get my drift. And the operative word here is “honest”.
“That people diss Christianity doesn’t mean there is no Jesus, it simply means that people choose not to believe.”
Really Phyllis? Well using your logic I could then insert any word in Christianity and Jesus to also be true. Do you really believe that all it takes for something to be real, is believing in it? What you believe about Jesus and god is someone’s hype from an ancient religion that only survived to this day because the powerful civilization out of which it was born embraced it and survived the clash of other rival civilizations and their gods.
“I refuse to prove that I exist,” says God, “for proof denies faith, and without faith, I am nothing.” – Douglas Adams
Phyllis .. “for those who have rejected his teaching about forgiveness and the Kingdom of God, there may well be tears and much sorrow.”
Sandwiched somewhere between one and two million citizens annually, are the actual numbers of Christians in the USA who are rejecting or earnestly inquiring about the tradition of the bible.
Is this the departure from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils as spoken of in 1Timothy 4:1?
Could the cause be an unpredicted consequence of the information age benevolently handing Christians access to information, which has previously been intentionally secreted from view? Or are we witnessing a global condemnation of Christian institution, partially because ordinary members of society use the accessible information to comprehend for themselves the fundamentals of scripture, and the realistic history surrounding the mythology of the bible, and to a certain extent the poignant repercussions over the deeds of it’s privileged.
Seems that Jesus is sleeping on the job these days.
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”[b]
13 “Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”[c]
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”[d]
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[e]
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”[f]
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[g
I don,t think Christianity is on the decline!
Must be something in the water….
Percentage of Christians Worldwide:
33% of the world’s population is considered to be Christian.
Top 3 Largest National Christian Populations:
USA – 224,457,000 (85%)
Brazil – 139,000,000 (93%)
Mexico – 86,120,000 (99%)
Adherents.com (2005)
Number of Christian Denominations:
There are approximately 38,000 Christian denominations in the world. This statistic takes into consideration cultural distinctions of denominations in different countries.
Biblical context Brano? Oh I forgot, context doesn’t matter when you fundies are desperately trying to make some kind … of …. point.
Thomas Paine (1737-1809)
PARIS, May 12, 1797
Letter To a Friend:
IN your letter of the 20th of March, you give me several quotations from the Bible, which you call the ‘word of God,’ to shew me that my opinions on religion are wrong, and I could give you as many, from the same book to shew that yours are not right; consequently, then, the Bible decides nothing, because it decides any way, and every way, one chooses to make it.
I love how atheists,pagans,agnostics…bla.. bla… bla…,flock to Christian Blogs,trying to show off their Quasi/Psydo intellect, reasoning and lienar ramblings..zzzzzzz
I have never gotten over the loss of Robert A Schuller leaving the ministry……he had become a wonderful part of my week when I could tune in to listen to all he preached. I loved the changes of moving the pultit down to be more in touch with the people, also he came at a very difficult time in our economy. I hate to say that Schuller Sr., is very mistaken by his ridget thinking of the times. His son only had the best at heart for this ministry and am sorry to see it going down the tubes. Unfortunely, Shiela tries hard but will never have the charism that her brother has. The legacy is dying right before our eyes……Wake up Dad!!
@Bev
Sorry to hear this. Personally I won’t miss the sanctimonious old windbag. Would you not agree that if this ministry was very important to God, that he would see to it’s survival? What is happening to the prayers of the thousands of adherents? Why are they not working?
Or, could it be this is merely a business enterprise, like any other corporate endeavor, if it isn’t well run and managed, it will diminish, and a video store will establish itself in the cathedral.
Which impressed you more – the splendor of the building, or the splendor of Schuller’s robes? If you look into scripture, are either of these things frowned upon by God?
A dying legacy? You really need to watch something else.