Beware of Living in Glass Houses: Crystal Cathedral Files for Bankruptcy
You may have heard about Robert Schuller’s Chrystal Cathedral having to file bankruptcy. Financial bankruptcy is one thing, but the theological bankruptcy of the Cyrstal Cathedral was something they have been struggling with throughout Schuller and his daughter’s ministry there. Al Mohler had a very perceptive blog post recently setting forth the theological problems. Here is the ENI story about the financial bankruptcy.
California’s Crystal Cathedral files for bankruptcy protection
ENI-10-0716
By Adelle M. Banks
Washington, 25 October (ENI/RNS)–The Crystal Cathedral, the gleaming Southern California megachurch known for its “Hour of Power” television broadcast, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from creditors.
Senior Pastor Sheila Schuller Coleman said in an 18 October statement that the decision came after some creditors chose to file lawsuits against the ministry, Religion News Service reports.
“As is often the case, negotiations and decisions do not move fast enough to satisfy all parties,” said Coleman, who succeeded her father, the Rev. Robert H. Schuller, this year. “For these reasons, the ministry now finds it necessary to seek the protection of a Chapter 11.”
The church’s “Hour of Power” broadcast has been described as the most-watched Christian television programme worldwide. The building spans 415-feet (126.5 metres) in length, 207-feet (63 metres) in width and 128-feet (39 metres) in height. It features an all-glass covering that encloses the entire building.
Church officials cited the economy as the main cause for its financial trouble. Revenue dropped 27 percent, to about US$22 million, in 2009. In the last year, its staff was reduced by 140 and now totals about 200 people.
The church owes creditors US$7.5 million, said spokesperson John Charles, including the vendor who provided camels, sheep and horses for its annual “Glory of Christmas” pageant. Also unpaid are expenses for television equipment and bills for airtime on some television stations.
The ministry cut costs by reducing its airtime on domestic stations. It now airs on satellite and cable outlets such as Lifetime and the Trinity Network.
It also sold its Rancho Capistrano retreat property to Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church in May for US$22.5 million. But it remains about US$44 million in debt.
The ministry also halted its “Glory of Easter” production, which along with its Christmas pageant have attracted crowds for three decades. “It looks like the ‘Glory of Christmas’ will not happen either,” said Charles. “Every passing day it looks a little more like no.”
Despite the current financial picture, statements from church officials reflected the same positive-thinking mantra the Schullers have been preaching for half a century.
“We know we’ll recover,” said Charles. “We’re very optimistic. This will allow us to get a new beginning.” [379 words]
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Schuller taught nothing but American optimism with a thin layer of Christian references sprinkled on top. It was a sweet and gooey confection that appealed to those looking for some Sunday morning junk food. I remember watching him a few times when his show first aired and wondering why preaching such an insubstantial message had been so successful for him and his church. Looks like the message has lost its appeal.
It reminds me of an old joke:
A positive thinking Christian once admonished a co-worker when she talked about he rmohter being sick. “No, no,” the positive thinker warned her. “You mustn’t say your mother is sick; you must say that she only thinks that she is sick.”
A few weeks later, the positive thinker asked his co-worker how her mother was doing. The co-worker replied, “she thinks she died three nights ago.”
I visited the grounds of the Crystal Cathedral in March 2009 and found the campus huge in size with outdoor sculptures and polished stone Bible verses. The Crystal Cathedral was beautiful in an artistic way but seemed sterile, empty, temporary and fragile on the outside (I did not go inside). The outside sculptures of Job and other Biblical figures seemed more warm and direct to the heart than the cathedral itself. I wondered at the time about the financial expense of maintaining the buildings and grounds.
Jake hit the spot about the Crystal Cathedral’s message being insubstantial and sugary.
Bankrupt…. at last, their financial situation matches what their theological situation has been for a very long time.