Crystal Cathedral Orchestra conductor, Johnnie Carl, 57 years old, has taken his life

www.crystalcathedral.org ^ | December 17, 2004 | Dr. Robert H. Schuller is the Founding and Senior Pastor, Crystal Cathedral

[RonDog]

Here is a sad UPDATE, from www.crystalcathedral.org:

Press Release

Friday, December 17, 2004

Garden Grove, California

Dr. & Mrs. Robert H. Schuller are deeply saddened this morning to learn that Crystal Cathedral Orchestra conductor, Johnnie Carl, 57 years old, has taken his life. Mr. Carl has been in the employment of the Crystal Cathedral for nearly 30 years and is internationally renowned as a conductor and as a composer and arranger of over 3,500 musical pieces.

“Johnnie was a beloved member of our church family and close personal friend,” said Dr. Schuller. “He was a creative genius whose beautiful arrangements and superb conducting set new levels of excellence for sacred music. His music brought joy to the millions of viewers around the world who watch the Crystal Cathedral’s Hour of Power television program each week. Johnnie’s rich legacy of musical works will continue to inspire generations to come.”

“We extend our deepest condolences to the Carl family whom we know and love deeply. We will miss Johnnie greatly.”

Mr. Carl’s responsibilities at the Crystal Cathedral included co-minister of music, conductor and arranger of the Hour of Power Orchestra and the musical director for the Crystal Cathedral’s Glory of Christmas and Glory of Easter productions. Mr. Carl has served as teaching assistant and staff accompanist at UCLA and an adjunct member of the music facilities of Fullerton College (Fullerton, California), Hope International University (Fullerton, California), and Vanguard University (Costa Mesa, California).

Mr. Carl’s music has been performed by such notables as Roger Williams, Celine Dion, David Foster, The London Symphony, John Tesh, Lee Greenwood, Michael Crawford and many others. He earned a gold record for his work as arranger/orchestrator on Live from Red Rocks (John Tesh) and a four-time platinum record for his work on These Are Special Times (Celine Dion). Mr. Carl studied choral and instrumental music at UCLA and USC.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

* * * * *

Dr. Robert H. Schuller is the Founding and Senior Pastor of the 10,000-member Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. The ministry celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2005. Dr. Schuller is the host of the Hour of Power weekly television program that is viewed by millions of people around the word. The television program celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2005 and is the fourth-longest weekly television program.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I wonder where he is now.

[Molly Pitcher]

I'm confused. Is this related to the incident which happened there yesterday? The man who fired shots ended up taking his own life I heard a little while ago....

[Tax-chick]

How very sad. May God have mercy on his soul.

[RonDog]

See also the previous thread:

Report: Shots Fired In Crystal Cathedral
abclocal.go.com/kabc/news ^ | December 16, 2004 | KABC-TV (Channel 7 in Los Angeles)

Posted on 12/16/2004 6:32:00 PM PST by RonDog

Report: Shots Fired In Crystal Cathedral

GARDEN GROVE — A gunman fired shots inside the Crystal Cathedral on Thursday, police said, but it wasn't immediately known if anyone was injured.

The shooting happened about 4:45 p.m., said police Lt. Paul Prince. He said people within the cathedral grounds in Orange County were able to leave unharmed. The gunman, meanwhile, was believed to be loose somewhere on the cathedral grounds. Police quickly sealed off the area

"It is a fluid situation. We have officers on scene," Prince said.

The shooting took place shortly before two scheduled presentations of the world-famous cathedral's annual "Glory of Christmas" holiday show was to begin. The first was scheduled for 6:30 p.m., followed by another at 8:30 p.m.

The cathedral, a huge, shining glass-and-steel edifice not far from Disneyland and baseball's Angels Stadium, is home to the Rev. Robert Schueller's international Crystal Cathedral Ministries and claims a congregation of more than 10,000 members. The internationally televised "Hour of Power" is broadcast from there.

The cathedral's Glory of Christmas program began with the goal of becoming a holiday tradition in Southern California...

-- snip --

UPDATE from the Associated Press:

Gunman Kills Self at Crystal Cathedral

By LAURA WIDES

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. - A standoff between police and a church employee who opened fire with a handgun at the Crystal Cathedral ended early Friday with the man shooting and killing himself, police said.

No one was hurt when the man initially began shooting Thursday, and children in a day-care center were rushed to safety. The man remained inside the complex for several hours, and shot himself as officers tried to talk to him while he holed up in a bathroom.

"There was a dialogue, and then the officers heard the gunshot," Garden Grove police Lt. Paul Prince told The Associated Press.

Officers immediately forced open a steel door separating them from the man, and found him dead, Prince said.

Police had been attempting for several hours to get in touch with the man when he killed himself just before 2 a.m., Prince said. He had first gone alone to an office, and later moved to the bathroom where he shot himself.

Police declined to identify the man except to say he was a full-time cathedral employee, a member of its choir and in his 50s. They said he had threatened to harm himself throughout the standoff.

The incident began shortly before 5 p.m., less than two hours before the cathedral's annual "Glory of Christmas" holiday show was to begin. Police said the man fired about four shots from a handgun, but it wasn't clear if he was trying to hit anybody.

Children who had been in a cathedral day-cay center waiting for their parents were safely removed.

The cathedral, a huge, sprawling structure not far from Disneyland and baseball's Angels Stadium, is home to the Rev. Robert Schuller's international Crystal Cathedral Ministries and claims a congregation of more than 10,000 members. The internationally televised "Hour of Power" is broadcast from there.

Schuller, who was at home when the shooting occurred, came to the command post police set up near the cathedral and taped a personal message for the man, with whom he is acquainted. Police did not have the chance to play the message from Shuller or another message from the man's wife, but they did play him a message from a friend who had successfully intervened in past cases where the man had become despondent, Prince said...

CLICK HERE for the rest of that thread

[rep-always]

I don't have to wonder I know. Horrible thing to happen especially during the Christmas Seanson. May the Lord bless and comfort his family.

[xzins]

I just heard Fox say it is the same man

[rep-always]

Season.

[RonDog]

From www.johnniecarl.com:

Johnnie Carl, a native of Missouri, has served in churches for the past forty years. His numerous responsibilities have included Minister of Music (both choral and instrumental), pianist, arranger/orchestrator, and Minister of Youth.

For the past nearly thirty years he has served at the Crystal Cathedral and has written more than 3,500 arrangements. These arrangements include many different media including choral, instrumental, organ and orchestra, handbells, more than 200 hymn arrangements, and many others. His music has been performed by many different orchestras and performers including Roger Williams, Celine Dion, David Foster, Tom Scott, Daniel Rodriguez, Sir James Galway, Eugene Fodor, the London Symphony, the Pacific Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, John Tesh, Lee Greenwood, Robert Guillaume, Ken Medema, Michael Crawford, Larnelle Harris and others.

He also has served as Musical Director/Pianist for numerous Musical Theatre productions at numerous venues including both UCLA and the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre. Some of the productions have featured well-known artists such as Burt Reynolds and Dick Van Dyke. He was commissioned on three separate occasions to provide music for the Pope's visits to the United States (Los Angeles, 1984; St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York, 1994; Central Park, New York, 1995) and Easter sunrise services at the Hollywood Bowl.

He has earned a gold record for his work as an arranger/orchestrator on Live from Red Rocks (John Tesh) and a four-time platinum record for his work on These are Special Times (Celine Dion). Mr. Carl studied both Choral and Instrumental Music at UCLA and USC earning several awards and scholarships as a pianist during his undergraduate, graduate, and post graduate studies. including the prestigious Vincent Minnelli Performance Award.

His music can be heard weekly on the religious broadcast from the Crystal Cathedral, the Hour of Power. The program is seen weekly by more than thirty million people in 165 countries and can be viewed on The Discovery Channel each Sunday morning. Mr. Carl's current responsibilities at the Cathedral include Co-Minister of Music, Conductor/Arranger for the Hour of Power Orchestra, and Musical Director/Arranger for The Glory of Christmas and The Glory of Easter productions.

Mr. Carl has served as a teaching assistant and staff accompanist at UCLA and an adjunct member of the music faculties of Fullerton College (Fullerton, CA), Hope International University (Fullerton, CA) and Vanguard University (Costa Mesa, CA). Mr. Carl has been married to his wife Linda for twenty-six years. They have three children: Brandon (21), Evan (18), and Allison (13). His favorite hobby is scuba diving.

[philetus]

"I don't have to wonder I know."

Where is he?

[RonDog]

From www.seeing-stars.com:

If ever there was a "Hollywood" church, in the true sense of the word, it is the Community Church in Garden Grove, better known as The Crystal Cathedral. Ironically, it isn't even located in Hollywood; it's just a couple miles away from Disneyland, out in Orange County. But the Crystal Cathedral is pure show biz, from its movie star guest speakers to its artful use of the power of TV.

The largest glass building in the world, the Cathedral was built by the Rev. Robert Schuller. Schuller started out in 1955, as pastor of California's first "drive-in" church, in Garden Grove. (Yes, it was actually situated in an old drive-in movie theatre, and Schuller preached from the roof of the concession stand.) After significant success on the airwaves, Rev. Schuller opened the Crystal Cathedral in 1980.

Each week, the Sunday services at the Crystal Cathedral are broadcast live across the nation as "The Hour of Power," and they often feature Hollywood stars...

-- snip --

...Each year, the Crystal Cathedral puts on two major pageants: "The Glory of Christmas." (in December), and "The Glory of Easter" (in March). These dramatic religious spectacles blend religion & show-biz; they feature a cast of 200 in Biblical period costumes, a choir, flying "angels," live animals, and joyous music from a 70-piece orchestra. (You haven't been to church until you've seen live camels walking up the aisle, and an "angel" flying overhead on wires!)

[Mr. Jeeves]

A gunman fired shots inside the Crystal Cathedral...

I think we need to pass a law against gunmen. Every time you turn around, there is a gunman involved in something nefarious. Barbara Boxer should get right on it. ;)

[Rambler7]

Anyone who doesn't have to wonder, chances are, believes the other person is in hell. They know all about God's workings, no need to wonder. And usually not too many are going to Heaven, other than themselves.

[NordP]

"...Schuller, who was at home when the shooting occurred, came to the command post police set up near the cathedral and taped a personal message for the man, with whom he is acquainted. Police did not have the chance to play the message from Shuller or another message from the man's wife, but they did play him a message from a friend who had successfully intervened in past cases where the man had become despondent,...

So they didn't have a chance to play either of these tapes before 2 am? AND, they chose to play the friend's tape, before the minister and wife's tape? oooooK.

I'm shaking my head - this is all very weird.

What a waste.

[KidGlock]

So are you saying he is in heaven or hell?

Just wondering.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

My husband conducts a very fine chorus and they sang in the Crystal Cathedral on the Sunday after July 4 in 1996. I'm sorry to hear this news. This gentleman was probably there that day leading the orchestra.

[beyond the sea]

I don't have to wonder I know.

Just wondering, oh wise one.........would you tell a good friend of yours whose parents committed suicide that the parents went to hell? What's your answer?

[pelikan]

Well put... obviously this man was suffering. Yes, it is terrible that he ran around firing a gun but after 30yrs employment in a church I don't believe it was his usual behavior. It is also terrible that he committed suicide; I believe God will be more merciful in His judgement than some Freepers appear to be.

[beyond the sea]

So are you saying he is in heaven or hell? ........... Just wondering.

I believe he was just questioning the presumptious "all-knowing" poster from #6.

[beyond the sea]

You know where he is now? Fill us in, seer.