Early in my reporting career, I spent quite a bit of time chasing televangelists around. That was pretty normal in Charlotte, N.C., and the Pearlygate era rolled on after I had moved on out to Denver.
While researching one major feature, that meant spending time at the Crystal Cathedral, listening to the shimmering tones of the Rev. Robert H. Schuller, who was what he was and is trying to stay that way. He was the ultimate vague, happy-talk evangelical, a man who can channel the mainline Protestantism of the 1950s at will and sell it in the sunny suburbs.
Like many of the Evangelical Alpha Males, Schuller has been trying to gracefully hand his empire to his son. Things are not going well, all of a sudden. This past Sunday, I was in Southern California and, thus, had the luxury of reading the Los Angeles Times on dead-tree pulp as I headed home on an airplane. Thus, saw this story in the Metro section:
The Rev. Robert H. Schuller removed his son Saturday as preacher on the syndicated “Hour of Power” television show less than three years after handing over to him the ministry he began more than 50 years ago.
Schuller announced the removal of his son, Robert A. Schuller, in a statement read to some 450 Crystal Cathedral congregants by Jim Coleman, the church’s president.
“It is no secret to any of you that my son, Robert, and I have been struggling as we each have different ideas as to the direction and the vision for this ministry,” his statement read. “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.”
Now you would think, after reading that phrase “it is no secret to any of you,” that it would have been pretty easy for the Times team to figure out why Schuller the younger had been ousted. If you joined me in thinking that, you would have been disappointed (as I was) to learn that this was not the case.
I mean, it has only been two years since Schuller the elder handed over (kind of) the reins to his heir. What’s going on?
The story did tell us that the younger Schuller was supposed to put younger viewers in the pews and in the viewing audience. Did that happen? No one, it seems, knows.
The PR statement from the church was vague, vague, vague and so was this initial story. I was amazed. It was clear, from quotes drawn from church social-network sites, that the faithful were in the dark.
But the Times team went back to the well after the initial announcement and published a follow-up story a day later. So what do we know now? There is the stated reason and then a strange reference to what might be happening behind the scenes. Here’s the lede:
The schism between the Rev. Robert H. Schuller and his son at Orange County’s Crystal Cathedral arose over a disagreement about broadening the church’s long-running television show, “Hour of Power,” beyond a single personality — a move opposed by the younger Schuller, pastors involved in the matter said Sunday.
The elder Schuller announced Saturday that he was removing his son, the Rev. Robert A. Schuller, as the show’s only preacher three years after turning the program over to him. …
“The real minister’s name that we honor is Jesus, not Schuller,” he said to thunderous applause.
But, in the next chunk of the story, there is this:
Schuller built his worldwide ministry over a half century on the psychology of positive thinking and appealing to people turned off by the formality of traditional faiths. In contrast, his son’s sermons have been full of direct references to the Bible.
“I was called to start a mission, not a church,” Schuller told his audience Sunday. “There is a difference. … You don’t try to preach … what is sin and what isn’t sin. A mission is a place where you ask nonbelievers to come and find faith and hope and feel love. We’re a mission first, a church second.”
And all the people said, “Huh?” This sounds like there was a difference in theology at the heart of this split, not just a division over who gets to stand in the pulpit X number of times per month. Was the son too conservative? He paid too much attention to issues of sin and no enough attention to positive thinking? The younger man was more traditional in doctrine than the father?
Truly interesting. I hope the Times knows that it may have buried the lede. Input, inpute. We need input.
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Comments (16) |
October 27, 2008, at 10:05 pm
So what is Robert the younger’s reaction? There is no mention of this in the story. Did reporter Sam Quinones even attempt to speak with Junior?
Then, there was this in the LA Times article:
“Host” a church service? Is this Quinones’ word or is it a quote from the elder Schuller’s statement? If the latter, why is it not in quotes? Either way, it is strange.
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October 27, 2008, at 11:48 pm
Sounds to me like this is the difference: Schuller the senior wants to lead entertainment. Schuller the junior wants to leave Godly worship.
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October 28, 2008, at 5:32 am
Talk about not getting religion. The two articles almost contradict themselves. This is interesting news, if they could get the fact straight.
If the only minster is Jesus, then you would have to go with what he said. So you would have to quote scripture, sooner or later.
Very confusing.
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October 28, 2008, at 9:35 am
I wonder if the younger Schuller has been reading Willow Creek’s Reveal study, which found that when people come to church, they want to learn about the Bible.
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October 28, 2008, at 10:41 am
Something else missing from the story is much about how this church is governed. At least theoretically, in most churches it wouldn’t be possible for one pastor to remove another, at least not without approval from a board of some sort, and it some cases it would even be necessary to have a congregational vote. Is the board here in this church merely a rubber stamp from the elder Schuller? Is there any denominational accountability? What is the relationship between the church and the TV show — is the former merely a prop for the latter? These stories leave too many questions unanswered.
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October 28, 2008, at 12:50 pm
I have seen other press coverage (which I cannot now find) in which Schuller Sr. gives a theological rationale of sorts for the difference in their preaching styles. His argument is that he “was asked to start a mission, not a church,” and that since the goals of a mission and a congregation are different, the preaching must also be different.
I’ve now read a half-dozen or more articles on this, and only one caught this quote, which — whatever its theological merits — seems to be the closest thing to an official explanation released thus far. And not a word on the polity issues that “gfe” raises even though as I understand it from a visit some years back, the Crystal Cathedral is a congregation of the Reformed Church in America, and ought theoretically to be subject to its rules.
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October 28, 2008, at 12:52 pm
Sorry — that quote WAS in the LA Times article. Which makes it, for my money, the best piece so far on this mysterious family feud.
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October 28, 2008, at 5:35 pm
Being a member of this church and being at the meeting on Saturday and in Church on Sunday - Many stories are inaccurate. The truth is Robert A was not able to deliver the goods. Sermons were boring and not positive thinking.
Losing viewers and preaching to the already converted is not what the Hour of Power was ever about. It was always to bring people to Christ that would never sit down and watch a traditional church service. Also, it was not one persons decision. The RCA Classes of California, the board, the elders and so on all had to approve of this change.
It was extremely hard for Dr Schuller and his mother to do this. Just like any business owner trying to turn over what they built to their children and the children not being able to continue to build and grow the business.
You can watch the service this Sunday on Lifetime and the
statements released by the RCA and Crystal Cathedral are on
hourofpower.org
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October 28, 2008, at 10:00 pm
I’m glad to see Steve give some much needed perspective here. Having been a loyal viewer of the Hour of Power for nearly 20 years, I believe the church board had no choice but to make this tough decision.
I can only imagine the personal heartbreak the entire Schuller family is feeling right now, and I urge everyone to consider the feelings of those involved - a lovely family that has been and will continue to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ.
I pray that healing for this wonderful family will be both swift and complete
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October 29, 2008, at 10:47 am
Steve post is at best a half truth. The RCA Classis is being used as “spiritual cover” to legitimize a reprehensible act. The Hour of Power is not part of the RCA and it has no jurisdiction in this matter. You can contact the RCA to confirm this by sending a query to questions@rca.org. or http://www.rca.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=252&srcid=2225
Next, the elders were not consulted they were “told of the removal” just before it became public. There was never an option given for them to give their “approval.”
You can confirm this by going to http://www.hop1820.com Many of the elders are accessible on this site… send them a query you’ll find that Steve’s comments are simply false.
The idea that this was very painful to his mother and father also doesn’t pass the truth test. Consider this.: In politics when a member of the administration has a difference of vision with the president, the public presentation is, ” Mr. Johnson has tendered his resignation so he can go back to Kansas to spend more time with his family.” The President appears with the former staff member and praises his service. This is the “good will” PR protocol for high profile separations even if the public knows that there was a major falling out. The use of the word “remove”, or “ousts” clearly harmed Robert A. Schuller and one has to ask why a father and mother who care about their son would publicly humiliate him. Those of us who have been around know that they has been a steady campaign to disempower and cripple Robert A schuller. So we look at seniors public tears with mind jarring disbelief. Steve’s comments are disingenuous at best and parts of what he wrote are just outright lies. But don’t take my word for it use the links above and check for yourself.
The truth is, Steve and the Crystal Cathedral leadership don’t get that in 2008 you just can’t make false statements and get away with it. They are old school people who are use to being able to control the message as they do from the pulpit every week. Like Dan Rather, the don’t understand the power of blogs, citizen journalist and Internet powered word of mouth to uncover their misrepresentations. They miscalculated. Much more is coming.
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October 29, 2008, at 10:55 pm
Fascinating. There’s no perspective yet from Schuller the younger, which means either he’s not talking (yet) or that nobody has asked him (doubtful). I also have to say that, tmatt’s reference to the Alpha Male Evangelicals notwithstanding this seems a really VERY unusual way to run a church. In essence perhaps this story is less about religion as such than as the entanglement of family, business, and religion.
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October 30, 2008, at 9:01 am
I think WMS comments about my post are the untrue statements. The Classes is not a cover for anything. The fact is the CC has a lot of family members working in it. Not only the Schullers but others who protect each other or
as any family squabble can attack each other.
Not being privy to everything nor is anyone, Robert A did make a statement to the OC paper here is the link
I do not understand why a truthfull statement from me is trying to be disproved when it seems there is a spin doctor afoot
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October 30, 2008, at 9:02 am
Sorry here is the link
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/schuller-church-program-2207355-power-hour
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November 2, 2008, at 12:10 pm
I have been a faithful watcher, and financial supporter of the Crystal Cathedral’s TV ministry for several years. I was a bit apprehensive when Robert A Schuller took over as Senior Pastor, but after a few weeks, I began to enjoy his sermons even more than those of his father’s. I also enjoyed seeing the changes he made - like bringing the pulpit closer to the congregants. The TV program took on a younger and more progressive flavor which I will miss!
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November 3, 2008, at 10:18 am
Very interesting! It is not unusual for religious dynasties to suffer tensions because the son has theological differences with the father. a good example is that of Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel with his son. What is most interesting is that usually the son is the one whose theology is further removed from the Bible. In this case it is the opposite. The son wishes to return to the Bible
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November 11, 2008, at 3:15 pm
What Steve said simply isn’t correct. I’m a member of the church, and am a former Hour of Power employee, where I was for over 15 years. The attendence at the Crystal Cathedral has been in steady decline for over a decade, due in part to a national decline in church membership, but also due to the fact that the CC congregation is aging and dying off. The same has been true for Hour of Power viewership.
The Office of President of the Hour of Power, which consists of Jim Coleman and Jim Penner (both are brothers in law to Robert A Schuller) are atempting to lay blame for the decline on Robert Anthony, in an attempt to gain control of the Hour of Power for themselves. Robert Anthony is interested in getting the Gospel message out any way he can: internet, iPod, iPhone, video streaming, etc, even if this means a decline in dollars, and a decline in the television ministry. His brothers-in-law, however, want want to keep the Hour of Power like it was.
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