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 Televangelism Empire in Chaos Over Family Split

January 31, 2009
Televangelism Empire in Chaos Over Family Split
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 12:49 p.m. ET

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (AP) -- Once one of the nation's most popular televangelists, 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 is home to the ''Hour of Power'' broadcast, an evangelism staple that's been on the air 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, Schuller Sr. 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.

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.''

Today's increasingly fragmented media landscape is also to blame, said Quentin Schultze, a Calvin College professor who specializes in Christian media.

Church-based televangelism led by powerful personalities filled TV in the 1980s, but now only a handful of shows remain, he said. Among the struggling ministries are those of Oral Roberts and the late D. James Kennedy of ''The Coral Ridge Hour'' TV show.

''I don't see a scenario for maintaining a TV-based megachurch anymore. The days of doing that in the models of Schuller and Jimmy Swaggart and Oral Roberts are over,'' Schultze said. ''It's amazing to me that the 'Hour of Power' was able to keep going as long as it did.''

Through a spokesman, Schuller Sr., his family members and other cathedral officials declined to comment. The younger Schuller, 54, did not respond to an e-mail requesting an interview.

The elder Schuller, who called his weekly show ''America's Television Church,'' founded his ministry in a drive-in theater after moving to Southern California in 1955.

He studied marketing strategies to attract worshippers and preached a feel-good Christianity, describing himself as a ''possibility thinker'' and spinning his upbeat style into a 10,000-member church and a broadcast watched by millions worldwide.

The church's main sanctuary, the Crystal Cathedral, is a landmark designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson, with a spire visible from afar amid Orange County's suburban sprawl. Thousands make the pilgrimage to see where the broadcast is filmed before a live congregation.

The Schullers consider the church a family business and the younger Schuller's 2006 appointment was sanctioned by the Crystal Cathedral's parent denomination, the Reformed Church in America.

But the church announced on Nov. 29 that Schuller Jr. had resigned as senior pastor, just a month after he was removed from the church's syndicated broadcasts. In a news release, Schuller Sr. said: ''Robert and I have been struggling as we each have different ideas as to the direction and the vision for this ministry.''

The church has since instituted a rotating roster of high-profile guest preachers, including Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church, the Chicago-area megachurch, and evangelist Luis Palau.

Schuller Sr.'s daughters and sons-in-law remain involved in the church, some in key roles. But Juan Carlos Ortiz, the interim senior pastor, hopes to appoint a senior pastor with no ties to the Schuller family within two years.

On the church Web site, concerned members and TV fans have posted hundreds of comments protesting the upheaval, with some indicating they have stopped giving or will leave altogether.

Several angry viewers have launched petitions to get the younger Schuller back.

Melody Mook, a 58-year-old medical transcriptionist from El Paso, Texas, said she stopped her $25 monthly donation and is looking elsewhere for her spiritual needs. She said she dislikes the guest pastors.

''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.''

Others said they felt betrayed that the Schullers couldn't put God before their family spat.

''They have not been forthcoming at all,'' said John Dewart, an insurance agent from New Jersey who's watched for 30 years. ''Why can't a father and son work together for the glory of God? That's my big question.''

 2009/1/31 13:16
KathleenP
Member



Joined: 2008/4/3
Posts: 228
Maine

 Re: Televangelism Empire in Chaos Over Family Split

Perhaps judgement has begun in the house of God?


_________________
Kathleen

 2009/1/31 17:40Profile
rreighe
Member



Joined: 2008/12/23
Posts: 124


 Re:

Quote:
Perhaps judgement has begun in the house of God?



i dont understand what you are trying to say.


_________________
allan

 2009/1/31 18:52Profile
MrBillPro
Member



Joined: 2005/2/24
Posts: 3422
Texas

 Re:

Quote:

KathleenP wrote:
Perhaps judgement has begun in the house of God?



Wow! I wonder why God has waited over 2000 years to start this, Nah I think he might be doing a little pruning, so if you Pastors are not running a tight "responsible" ship, God probably will be coming to see you soon, are ya ready? ;-)


_________________
Bill

 2009/1/31 20:38Profile
KathleenP
Member



Joined: 2008/4/3
Posts: 228
Maine

 Re:

Sorry Alan for my vagueness. I guess it appears that MANY ministries are being shaken and tossed into various places of upheaval.

I guess my remark was implying that there are "behind the scene" circumstances in many of these larger organizations and I simply believe that God himself will be proving some to be built on sand as well as a rock.

Many sincere saints have supported like such men and maybe the Lord truly wants to reduce the flashiness and reveal the heart content itself.

Handing over authority to family members just seems to remind me that sadly there is more business involved here than an utter desire to feed the flock.

There was very little overhead and tension I'm sure, surrounding George Muller's ministry for example.

I do hope I've clarified things. Thanks and God bless.


_________________
Kathleen

 2009/1/31 20:53Profile
KathleenP
Member



Joined: 2008/4/3
Posts: 228
Maine

 Re:

MrBillPro. :-)


_________________
Kathleen

 2009/1/31 20:54Profile









 Re: Televangelism Empire in Chaos Over Family Split


To Natan4Jesus:

I also believe it is God placing judment on the Crystal Cathedral, the Hour of Power.

I attended this Church in the early 1970's and never heard any of the following statements made in the pulpit (nor found it in his books, which are nothing more than self help, "raise your self up by your own bootstraps", psychology books):

1. That I was a sinner and in need of a savior

2. Without salvation, I would spend eternity in hell after I died.

3. That God sent His Son to this earth, who became a man, and lived a perfect, sinless life, and was sinless, yet He went to the cross and took my sin, and all the sin of humanity upon Himself, and that He was buried, and rose from the grave in a resurrected body 3 days after being crucified, and that He is now alive in heaven, at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for all those that believe in Him, and Worship Him as Lord, and He is coming back to this earth soon.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It took many years until I actually heard the GOSPEL. It was from a small church down the street from my home. The day I heard the message of the true Gospel (Christ Crucified), my heart was convicted of my sin, I repented, and asked for forgiveness, and asked Jesus into my heart.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I truly think that once Robert A. Schuller (the son) took off his robe and started preaching the Gospel is the day that Robert H. Schuller decided to banish him. The "board", consisting of Robert H. Schullers son-in-law (Jim Penner), is the one who ousted him. We are supposed to believe that Robert H. Schuller had nothing to do with it.

I live in the Southern California area, and as soon as I can find out where Robert A. Schuller ends up preaching, I will embrace him as a true man of God, and attend his Church.

Sincerely,

Walter

 2009/2/1 3:27
KathleenP
Member



Joined: 2008/4/3
Posts: 228
Maine

 Re:

Thanks so much for providing this info Walter. How I hope the banished son serves the Lord and sets the example.

The service where Evel Knievel gave his testimony is probably the most annointed sermon EVER delivered in that place.

What a humble babe in the Lord he was and people sat there stunned. It was marvelous and the requests to be baptized were incredible.

From the looks on the faces of many, you know he was speaking by the Spirit of the Lord and he had invited many unsaved friends to hear the word that day.

God bless. Kathleen


_________________
Kathleen

 2009/2/1 8:10Profile





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