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Crystal Cathedral Members Start Petition to 'Save' Megachurch (Feud in the Schuller family)
Christian Post ^ | 07/16/2011 | Anugrah Kumar

Posted on 07/17/2011 9:35:10 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

The Crystal Cathedral, Orange County’s landmark megachurch, now faces an online petition launched by senior members alleging nepotism and a doctrinal shift by founder Robert H. Schuller’s daughters.

“It is time to rise up and take our church back!” says the petition, soliciting signatures of Crystal Cathedral members, former members, friends and viewers of Schuller’s Hour of Power weekly show.

The petition, which had received over 330 signatures as of Sunday, seeks “a truly independent board,” meaning “no family member, no paid staff, and no paid contractors.”

The board of trustees of the Crystal Cathedral currently includes salaried employees apart from Robert H. Schuller’s daughters and son-in-laws. Schuller, who along with his wife Arvella founded the church in 1955, was removed as a voting member early this month. His son Robert A. Schuller was voted off the board three years ago. Their dismissals followed their attempts to induct members who had no self-interest.

“We have been in contact with the Classis and Synod of the RCA [Reformed Church in America] Denomination Headquarters, who governs our Church, and they will help us,” adds the petition. Once 1,000 signatures are obtained, the petition will be sent to the RCA, the denomination the church is affiliated with.

The feud in the Schuller family became prominent in 2008 when the founder’s daughter, Sheila Schuller Coleman, took control of the ministry after his son Robert A. Schuller’s departure. Robert H. Schuller, then 81, had given leadership of the church to his son.

Quoting longtime member Jim McDonald, The Orange County Register said Saturday a section of the church wanted the Schuller family to be transparent and was concerned about the large sums of money the church owes to creditors, and a “recent decision to move the church toward a Pentecostal-type service with praise music.”

The petition, posted on a new website started to bring supporters of traditional music together, also seeks to restore the long-established music of the Crystal Cathedral as presented by former choir director Don Neuen and pianist Roger Williams.

“In my opinion, the Reformed Church did not do their job over the years to protect us members, but they were not consulted by the cathedral administrators either,” McDonald said, adding that the Schuller children had brought down what their father built with their in-fighting, which is why it was time for them to leave.

McDonald recalled a meeting church members and elders had with Sheila Schuller Coleman in April 2010, which made no difference. When Robert H. Schuller was overthrown, they resorted to the petition seeking intervention of the denomination’s headquarters.

The megachurch, known for its iconic glass sanctuary but which owes about $7.5 million to unsecured creditors, filed for bankruptcy last October. The church owes money mainly to the vendors that provided services rendered for its Christmas pageant, overseen by Schuller’s second daughter, Jeanne Dunn, and her husband, Paul Dunn.

The church’s budget crunch forced it to lay off 140 people in a little over a year, cut 50 percent of its Hour of Power air time, sell assets and cancel key functions last year.

When founded over 55 years ago, the Crystal Cathedral was known as the Garden Grove Community Church and its first services were held in an Orange drive-in theatre. The construction of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove was completed in 1980 and cost $18 million.


TOPICS: Current Events; Evangelical Christian; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: crystalcathedral; robertschuller; ybpdln
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1 posted on 07/17/2011 9:35:17 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Have a fund raiser Pellet guns 5 shots for ten bucks


2 posted on 07/17/2011 9:39:23 AM PDT by al baby (Hi Mom!!! I know i was kidding)
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To: al baby

Question.Are we just shooting at the glass,or do we get a shot at some of the people involved?


3 posted on 07/17/2011 9:46:15 AM PDT by Farmer Dean (stop worrying about what they want to do to you,start thinking about what you want to do to them)
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To: SeekAndFind

I don’t even consider it a “church.” It’s a post-Christian cult centered around positive thinking and personality, not Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.


4 posted on 07/17/2011 9:48:30 AM PDT by .45 Long Colt
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To: SeekAndFind
I watched several televised church services from the Cathedral back in the 1990’s. Shuller was always smiling and the word "sin" was seldom mentioned.
5 posted on 07/17/2011 9:51:02 AM PDT by Huskrrrr
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To: Huskrrrr

RE: Shuller was always smiling and the word “sin” was seldom mentioned.

Schuller’s message is mostly about positive thinking and feeling good about yourself. His message is not very Biblically balanced.


6 posted on 07/17/2011 9:52:54 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (u)
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To: Farmer Dean

Oh Heavens! I just meant the glass. I drive by that place a lot. and i just would love to plink out a window or two I would never really do that it would just be kinda fun


7 posted on 07/17/2011 9:55:57 AM PDT by al baby (Hi Mom!!! I know i was kidding)
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To: al baby

I was just kidding...


8 posted on 07/17/2011 9:58:11 AM PDT by Farmer Dean (stop worrying about what they want to do to you,start thinking about what you want to do to them)
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To: SeekAndFind
"Robert H. Schuller, then 81, had given leadership of the church to his son. "

What the heck? Even most Baptist churches don't allow a pastor "giving the leadership" to someone else. What kind of Consistory do they have?

---(From a Baptist who grew up in a community chocked full of RCA churches)

9 posted on 07/17/2011 10:03:30 AM PDT by cookcounty (Nullius in Verba. "Take no man's word for it.")
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To: SeekAndFind

Met one of the daughters when they were crewing for the TV show. Escaped moments later.


10 posted on 07/17/2011 10:06:17 AM PDT by ArmstedFragg (hoaxy dopey changey)
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To: SeekAndFind

What happens when your “church’s” foundation is built on the ego one man rather than on the Glory of God.


11 posted on 07/17/2011 10:06:43 AM PDT by Adams (Fight on!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Aren’t these also the folks who practice ‘Chrislam’?


12 posted on 07/17/2011 10:08:39 AM PDT by 353FMG
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To: SeekAndFind
That's because they are phony basterds and money scammers.

The first clue was hidden in their lavish surroundings for all to see.

13 posted on 07/17/2011 10:11:15 AM PDT by PSYCHO-FREEP (Always Remember You're Unique.......(Just Like everyone Else.))
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To: Farmer Dean

But if i could it would be old man shuller pop him in the nutz wipe that carp eating grin off his face


14 posted on 07/17/2011 10:23:25 AM PDT by al baby (Hi Mom!!! I know i was kidding)
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To: SeekAndFind
“We have been in contact with the Classis and Synod of the RCA [Reformed Church in America] Denomination Headquarters, who governs our Church, and they will help us,”

'bout time. "Church as family owned franchise" is not normal Reformed church polity.

15 posted on 07/17/2011 10:46:34 AM PDT by Lee N. Field ("You fool! Don't you know every Taurus purchased brings us closer to TEOTWAWKI?")
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To: al baby; Farmer Dean
Hans: Karl, sheest em fenster.

Karl: WTF??

Hans: Shoot the glass!

Karl: Whatever. Learn some German, Hans!


16 posted on 07/17/2011 10:53:11 AM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: SeekAndFind

“”The construction of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove was completed in 1980 and cost $18 million.””

AND God was not impressed....but the people attending there sure were.


17 posted on 07/17/2011 10:53:23 AM PDT by Thank You Rush
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To: SeekAndFind
I hope they do take it back.

It might stop the local Catholic bishop (Tod Brown), who covets this monstrosity, from buying it.

18 posted on 07/17/2011 11:00:39 AM PDT by marshmallow (.)
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To: .45 Long Colt
I don’t even consider it a “church.” It’s a post-Christian cult centered around positive thinking and personality, not Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

I used to watch once in awhile, and I always had a bad feeling about it. I can't remember ever hearing about sin, judgement, repentance, and the blood of Christ. It did not take me long to figure it out.

Regards

19 posted on 07/17/2011 11:18:17 AM PDT by Mark17 (California, where English is a foreign language)
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To: SeekAndFind

Obviously, Crystal Cathedral is in the same shape as California is.. pity..


20 posted on 07/17/2011 11:19:22 AM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole...)
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