Posted on 01/02/2006 6:19:34 AM PST by xzins
Jan 2, 5:18 AM EST
Schuller's Son to Run Crystal Cathedral
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (AP) -- The Crystal Cathedral didn't have to look far to find its next senior pastor. Robert H. Schuller, head of the famed all-glass church southeast of Los Angeles, told his congregation Sunday that his son, Robert A. Schuller, will succeed him.
As founding pastor of the church, the elder Schuller, now 79, is considered one of the most influential religious leaders in the country. He plans to remain chairman of the board of international ministries and stay active in the church.
Robert A. Schuller, 51, will be installed as senior pastor on Jan. 22. He and his father will keep appearing together on the church's television show, "Hour of Power," which boasts a worldwide audience of 20 million.
"My father and I will continue as pulpit partners on many Sunday mornings for years to come," the younger Schuller said.
The Crystal Cathedral is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America and is its largest church, with a congregation of over 10,000.
Nothing wrong with it, I guess. It appears self-serving.
Any Reformed Church folks out there know if this is the official method for acquiring pastors?
I thought he'd left the Reformed Church over differences of theology.
It looks to me like he's just lightening his load.....he's no spring chicken.
Billy Graham passed the baton to his son years ago and restricts his activities pretty much.
No convoluted mystery theories here. Tempus just fugits.
Leni
These movements tend to last as long as there is an heir to pass it on to. However, the heirs are rarely as magnetic as their fathers and the thing slowly slides into oblivion. The World Wide Church of God was fine as long as Herbert was around, but the son splintered off early and then the thing split and went to the minor leagues. Oral Roberts son is OK, but not as charasmatic as the original.
World Wide Church of God was a cult under the father, and brought into evangelical community by the son. Which is more important, notoriety, or orthodoxy?
I don't think it really looks self-serving. The Rev. Schuller is pretty much responsible (after God, I'm sure he would say) for the Cathedral, the ministries, etc., isn't he? Why shouldn't he pass it on to his son? I used to watch his show every now and then, and his son seems every bit as capable as Dr. Schuller. I don't think either one think it is their charisma that fuels their ministry. If they are able to bring people to Christ, more power to them.
The Garner Ted, the son of Herbert, got kicked out because he was a womanizer. He had sex with a lot of women in the church. His father denied and lied for him until he couldn't maintain the charade any longer. Then Herbert gave Garner Ted the boot.
May be true - doesn't change the fact that the church under the father was a cult.
I wanted to clarify why Armstrong's son got kicked out of the church. It wasn't because of doctrinal differences. It was just plain old sex. Rumor says that Garner bedded about 200 woman in the church.
Yes, the Worldwide Church of God was a cult. Herbert Armstrong thought he was the last prophet before the end of time. Thousands fell under his spell, as if every word that came out of his mouth came directly from God. After his death, the church splintered into many smaller churches. It was really sad to see so many people fooled by a charlatan like Armstrong. Hopefully some are the wiser for it now.
I'm fairly sure how it appears to me, since I've heard the son and he is only a shadow of the father, but those are opinions and others might not share my opinion. On the other hand, there could be a sizable number that thinks it has an appearance of "family ownership."
The priesthood was an inherited thing in the OT, but the prophetic role was not, and the NT church leadership role was not.
In any case, the issue becomes this: If they truly are part of the Reformed Church of America, and if they followed the prescribed pattern for RCAs to acquire a pastor, then I have no real justification for picking at them.
My comment was not doctrinal. The movement is much weaker now than when the father was at his prime.
One reason for clerical celibacy: to keep livings from being hanbded down from father to son, thereby creating a clerical "estate".
Good point.
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