In a somewhat surprising headliner at FoxNews.com, the Associated Press is reporting that Robert Schuller the elder is removing his son from the pulpit at the famed Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. You can read the story here.
The Crystal Cathedral and the “Hour of Power” program are incredibly well known. The church has an extremely large membership and their television ministry has expanded their influence. Schuller has made his mark as a friendly, warm personality who’s preaching commonly included uplifting and affirming messages. Under his leadership, the Crystal Cathedral intentionally remained light on theological or churchy language. This philosophy was carried forth in many corners of the church growth movement.
Though the reason cited by Schuller Sr. was a disagreement on vision, I wonder if it had anything to do with doctrine.
For many years I have studied the ministries that are based on a single personality. If Rev. Schuller does not have a sound and strong transition minister in place before he dies, his church will probably never continue in its current form.
The removal of Jr. signals the beginning of the end for Crystal Cathedral as we have known it.
Doug….Los Angeles
“For this lack of shared vision and the jeopardy in which this is placing this entire ministry, it has become necessary for Robert and me to part ways,” Schuller said.
This implies that the father (Robert H) has the vision that is God’s and not the son (Robert A).
I find this highly disturbing. Doesn’t God speak to us all? What does that say about this lack of faith, this inablity to look at change as a part of what God is doing ALL the time.
I imagine it is theological based. I also agree with Doug. It’s the beginning of the end.
We can have differences of opinions, as well as debate vigorously, but that is no reason to divide. Our strength is in our unity not our division. I pray this was done decent and in order. Time are changing and God is doing a new thing and if the old refuse to give up the law and not respond to the Spirit of the new vision, then God has to move forward. God is raising up a Joshua and Caleb generation and we are focused on doing the will of God by any cost.
With that been said, I don’t know the full story but trust me we will be seeing more of this.
I agree with Lisa…we haven’t seen the end of this debacle.
The Board of the CC should never have allowed this to happen the way it did. It shows that the Board is only a rubber stamp for Robert Sr.
Yes, Deana, this announcement is very distrubing.
There really needs to be an announcement of what is actually happening. Otherwise the rumor mill and media will go on a rampage.
I wonder if Robert Jr. and Robert Sr. families will be sharing Thanksgiving Dinner in the same house?
Is this any way to run a Christian church that is supposed to set an example?
I feel sorry for both sides.
Doug……………..Log Angeles
I meant to say: Los Angeles
I rather like Log Angeles…LOL
Thank God for Jr’s vision. To continue the ministry as a platform for Schuller philosophy would be a tragedy in this day and age. What the world needs is solid Biblical preaching. Thanks Jr. for introducing that to the Cathedral.
There’s another wise move by Jr. that Sr. probably doesn’t like. The high and mighty image of “me” has been diminished by a couple of noticable changes : first, Jr. no linger wears the ancient robe, second the pulpit has been brought down to a lower level from its high and might perch.
A few months ago while surfing the tv, and waiting to leave for church, I happened upon the CC broadcast. To my delight and suprise Richard Junior was preaching a superb Biblical sermon. For so many years I had never paused more than a few seconds on that broadcast before because it made me so sad that such an empty message had such a broad audience of watchers. Glory!! Now, finally someone was actually preaching the real thing. The true gospel. The message that brings forgiveness and a new life.
How sad, now, to read in Christianity Today that Richard junior was removed …
Correction: ROBERT Schuller(s)
Interesting thing about visions….. they are individual. In 1974 I began to attend the Garden Grove Community Church (later the CC). I went because I loved making money and I loved the success message of Robert H. Schuller. Certainly I was not seeking Christ.
R.H. did the job with his messages. He at first made me willing to consider Christ, then to be open to him. The background of the Sunday evening services, the home groups, the men’s groups and the special services, broke up the hardened, “fallow” ground (Jer 4:3, Hos 10:12) of my life. I accepted Christ, as did my wife and daughter.
R.H. is annointed to do a certain thing, and he does it better than most anyone. We followers of Christ, who have grown past what R.H. teaches, cannot judge him or his vision, just as we cannot judge Charles Stanley, who gets his congregation saved every Sunday and hasn’t gotten much past Heb 6:1 or even fully into Heb 6:2. In the same way, we cannot judge those who have gotten past those verses, and are functioning in a greater annointing.
If R.H. was supposed to change his vision somewhere along the way, and Robert A. Schuller saw the required change and intended to implement it, but R.H. couldn’t change, then there will be consequences. But if R.A. has his own vision, and it is not for the CC, then praise God he is leaving. Either way, our ONLY job is not to critique or to plant our own ideas there, but to pray that God will restore or start afresh HIS vision in the CC, and that this wonderful ministry will prosper, doing His will in the O.C.
My family and I left the CC (as it was then called) in 1980 to grow into a newer and more vital walk with Christ. There are those that have stayed on for over 30 years, reaching out around their congregation and around the world, and accomplishing just what the Lord has directed them to accomplish.
Let us pray!
Dynasties, attempted or achieved, are dangerous.