Televangelism Empire In Chaos Over Robert Schuller Family Split - Crystal Cathedral drama

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/31/ap/national/main4766128.shtml

Televangelism Empire In Chaos Over Family Split

Father-son Split Threatens Decades-old Televangelism Empire At Landmark Crystal Cathedral

GARDEN GROVE, Calif., Jan. 31, 2009

(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.

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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."

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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.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

1. tear that eyesore down

The Block needs a larger parking lot

[BrklynLiberal]

2. I just cannot bring myself to feel sad about that.

How many people could they have fed and/or clothed with the money it took to build that tribute to his ego?

wikipedia-
"The initial estimated cost of the church was $6 million, but the final cost was over $17 million (about $55 million in 2007 dollars)."

[SoCalDem]

3. Even before I clicked the link, I knew it was about MONEY

televangelism, the bastard child of the tent revivals of old, is just another money-making scheme, to enrich the "ministers"..always has been..always will be..

as long as enormous wads of cash flow in, everybody's content, but if the revenue stream gets shut down to a trickle, they fight over every crumb..

get the popcorn...

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Do we have a "yawn" smilie face?

[msongs]

5. so what does the bible say about rich people getting into heaven? nt

[Chulanowa]

6. The bible is only about the hommersekshuls and disciplinin' the wemminfoke.

Din'cha know?