SW For ChristianPost: The Day the Crystal Cathedral Died

Posted on 21. Nov, 2011 by Angie Wyatt in Blog

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I wrote an article for the Christian Post on the heels of the Crystal Cathedral’s sale to the Catholic Diocese of Orange. While the local church of Crystal Cathedral Ministries will continue to function in the same building for as many as three years, I consider November 17th “The Day the Crystal Cathedral Died.” You can read my article HERE.

The current Crystal Cathedral congregation size is reportedly 400 members – a fraction of its attendance when my father was senior pastor. Though, I believe the true numbers are closer to 200 people. After three years, any remaining church leaders and congregants will be forced to relocate. Clearly, they would need to select a new name at that time. The existing name would not make sense when meeting in an alternate location. The fact is that the Crystal Cathedral, as we have known it, has died.

In the next three years, I predict that the drama which has inflicted the church will continue. The leadership appears divided and they increasingly ease my grandparents out of the way. It’s probable that the church will dismantle before a move is necessary. BUT, let me be clear . . . churches don’t die. We, God’s people, are the church. I made a video about this which you can watch HERE.

Thank you for your kinds words, support and prayer.

For more Spiritual Wellness articles on the Crystal Cathedral, search ‘Crystal Cathedral’ and ‘Religion.’ Or, follow me on Twitter HERE.

crystal cathedral, hour of power, religion, schuller

25 Responses to “SW For ChristianPost: The Day the Crystal Cathedral Died”

Andy Heller

21. Nov, 2011

Sadly many people including myself feel the same way as you do Angie. All of this must be very heart breaking to your grandfather. To see his ministry end up like this is very sad and I am sure he privatley is troubled by it. I followed and supported financially the Hour of Power for many years….but it is not the same and hasnt been since your dad was forced out. After that I no longer contributed or watched unless your grandfather was preaching. I am exremley saddend by all this.
Swiss Rose

21. Nov, 2011

Angie, if your Grand Dad would not be a stubborn man and would have continued with your Dad, the CC would still flurish and a cosy place for believers. Your aunt Sheila posted a video http://www.chrystalcathedral.org . One statement is she earnestly believed in a miracle. Is she really so silly and has her eyes closed. I have difficulty to believe what a bunch of people all family members can do to destroy such a wonderful place. CC is history!!! – Blessings Rose
Swiss Rose

21. Nov, 2011

sorry, exact www is: http://www.crystalcathedral.org/
Sarah

21. Nov, 2011

A sad ending. Fortunately God doesn’t need buildings or a man-made hierarchy to accomplish His will.
Marc Schroten

21. Nov, 2011

I’m from Germany, 39 years old and I watched the Hour of Power since 1991. What happened is so bad, so sad, I don’t have words. I remember the “golden times” when your grandfather preached every sunday about hopes, possibities and the Bible, it was so beautiful and inspiring.
But let me tell you this very honestly, I was quite sure all the years that with the day of your grandfather’s death the ministry will also die. The footsteps are far too big and your grandfather was the face of the Hour of Power and he was the minstry. Your dad is also a great man of God but he isn’t your grandpa. Sorry when I sound very rough but this is what I think. It’s the same on BGEA. Franklin is good but he isn’t Billy.
But let me tell you this also – I’m very sure that your dad had a big chance and the potential to lead CCM for many, many years. The day your grandfather introduced Sheila as senior pastor I know it was the beginning of the end.
Today it is as it is and it’s a shame!
I’m not sure if things would be better if Chapman were the buyer!? Probably not because you dad’s sisters won’t earn enough money. The Roman Catholics will take care of the cathedral and the other buildings and that’s my only comfort and I think the only comfort of you grandparents…
Please let us know if your grandpa is fine and I hope there’s a christmas eve special this year and he could preach on it maybe for a last time if your aunts will let him.
God bless you and your family!
Jan-Michael

21. Nov, 2011

Thank you Angie for all your efforts and articles over this hard time. I pray this now, somehow, begins a healing for the family and the congregation.

I, more than ever now, thank God for my one opportunity to visit Crystal Cathedral in Oct 2008. Hearing your Grandpa say an opening verse, your Dad then deliver an inspired sermon ( his last there ) and Donna give a Blessing; I was so inspired and happy as was my wife that we made the trip.

We were able to spend a month in Palm Desert area, travel for a few days to stay next to the Cathedral, drive to Rancho Capistrano, then loop around Anzo Borago Desert, the Salton Sea and back to Palm Desert. But the focus of the trip was to get to sense the Cathedral and attend a service, see the “Walk of Faith” scripture paving stones and the sculptures. The positive sense in everything and everyone there, from the ushers, the shop assistants and visitors will stay with me forever! That feeling can never go and nothing can erase the memories. They are part of me and I feel Blessed.

Jan-Michael
Swiss Rose

22. Nov, 2011

Family Schuller, diged their own grave!!! – Only exception I see is evt. (I do not know, Arvella), Bobby, Angie, Anthony, Christina, Donna as wife from you dear Robert A. and yourself, RA. All others, sorry saying me this, all others are guilty and are real sinners! I tell it all because nobody is free of sins. I’m not an exception, not at all!!! – Blessings Rose
Jan-Michael

22. Nov, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving Day to all celebrating in USA!

http://www.jacquielawson.com/preview.asp?cont=1&hdn=0&mpv=3270942&path=83562

Dance! Dance! Wherever you may be….
Thank the Lord who has truly Blessed thee!
Dave Gomez

23. Nov, 2011

I watch this saga as a Catholic. It is interesting. A little sad. As best I can tell Angie is the most representative of what good might still come from it all.
Kenny O.

23. Nov, 2011

This is what your grandfather gets for treating his son so poorly. He was jealous of your father, Angie. And where did it get him? What goes around comes around. Your grandfather should’ve never directed the board to take Sunday preaching privileges away from your father because his sermons weren’t good enough/annointed. Your father’s sermons were excellent and very biblically based. A terrible, terrible way for Robert H. Schuller to treat his son Robert A. Schuller, Jr.
Swiss Rose

24. Nov, 2011

Kenny, Amen to what you tell ! – Are we all focusing on The Glory of Christmas ! Rose
Jeannette

26. Nov, 2011

We are from Fl and have had the opp. to visit CC twice, plus the Christmas special….Awesome Awesome!!! I have ALWAYS watched the Hour of Power due to superb music and the guest interview….Robert H. was fine…but then a REAL preacher stepped up and began to preach Jesus Christ as an evangelist….his son, Robert A.
But it was not to be….GREED, Need for POWER, JEALOUSY, etc.stepped in from the evangelists own sisters. What a horrible thing. Dr. Schuller and his wife raised wonderful kids, educated them, married them off. Then the CC and the family “implodes”….just as our nation is trying to do….turning on itself with bickering and horrendous activity…
As if that were not enough, the most fantastic ministers of music, organists and choir “QUIT” and they hire rock musicians who make the CC just one more ordinary church….The music had set the CC apart…but no more…
I gave, supported it, etc…..I still tape to see if there is a good interview or to see if we may be so fortunate as to have Compolo or Maxwell drop in to preach….but it doesn’t happen anymore….for the days of the legendary CC are over….
So when sister Sheila or her brother in law step up to preach, I just stop, delete and move on….what a shame, what a disgrace….I truly wonder, in his heart…does Penner think he has done right in the eyes of the Lord????
Kenny O.

27. Nov, 2011

Don’t forget Jeannette…..Penner was under the direction of Robert H. I blame Robert H. This just goes to show that we cannot put our faith in man. Man will fall. However, God will never leave us or forsake us.
Swiss Rose

27. Nov, 2011

Jeannette, thanks for being so open-hearted! You speak out of my soul. Glory of Christmas/Easter have been the best of the best. To cancel, was rediculous. I have been there in CC and seen both live. I can’t understand. As far as I know nobody was paied, so what…!!! CC was a half modern and half old fashioned Church. This mix was good, for all kind of people. Dad Schuller, I once loved and told him personally as he was in a Zurich Church 2005. I never in my wildest dreams thought that he can ruin all. – I feel dad Schuller could be for the conservative part and his son for the younger and more modern people, like I and that still in my early 50ties. Sheila, my opinion has a stern face expession. That’s no good for an interview or behind the pulpit. Sorry, everybody has her/his talents. But speaking to the puplic is not easy and in preaching as a person behind the pulpit we must see the love of Jesus shining through. I watched her, once or twice, but nothing she told reached me. In my heart I canceledd the CC immediately and never watched the other pastors from other big modern churches. They just have been there, because they have had the oportunety to speak on TV too and Daddy Schuller made it possible and they have once been excited of him. So dear siblings in Christ that’s enough for the moment, I have to go and get ready to go to my local Pentacostal Church.- Have a blessed pre-christmas periode. – Rose
Swiss Rose

27. Nov, 2011

Kenny, maybe Penner was a slave to RH. He certainly was paied for his job, agrreed with him or not, evt. resigned form his job. No regularly income anymore and finding a new job fast…??? – Rose
Angie Wyatt

27. Nov, 2011

Kenny, I really do not blame my grandfather. He’s 85 years old & his son was ousted when he was 82. Had this hostile take-over been attempted 10 years earlier, my aunts would have never pulled it off.
Swiss Rose

27. Nov, 2011

Had this hostile take-over been attempted 10 years earlier, my aunts would have never pulled it off. – How can you know it Angie? – Blessings Rose
Kenny O.

28. Nov, 2011

Angie, I viewed RA in an interview saying his boss (brother in law) was under the direction of RH to remove him from the Hour of Power/Sunday preaching. RA also said in the interview that he and RH did not speak for a longtime. Where is the Christianity in all the so called great leaders of the Crystal Cathedral? I would say there all a bunch of wolves-in-sheeps-clothing, false prophets/leaders with the one and only exception of the son, Robert A. Schuller. They will ALL be accountable for the horrible treatment toward him.
Swiss Rose

29. Nov, 2011

Very open-harted KENNY. I love it ! You hit the nail on the head !!! My opinion you tell the truth. – I think the very same. I expressed it as well, but for that blog people punished me and called me unfriendly and many other mean words. They juged me…!!! Certainly because the truth they coulden’t endure, to heavy load ! I can’t know RH inside out, impossible !!! But because I have good knowledge of human nature, I personally I’m convinced that all step by step started with RH, removal of RA and and… then came the family and helped him and brought the devil in. Happy Holidays!!! Rose
Swiss Rose

29. Nov, 2011

What a pity Angie that you can’t comment on my question from 27. Nov. and to clarify it. Or is nothing to clarify??? Blessings, Rose
mistah charley, ph.d.

05. Dec, 2011

In addition to the issues discussed here, the question of the legal ownership of the Crystal Cathedral is, I’m sure, a major contributor to the evolution of events. The ministry was treated as a “family business”, and it is my understanding that the sale of the CC will result in millions of dollars going to Schuller family members. This contradicts the intentions of the many donors, who wanted to promote a religious purpose, not enrich private individuals. It’s sad.

On the last day, we will face both justice and mercy. As Bob Dylan put it in one of his songs, “Are you ready to meet Jesus? Are you where you want to be? Will he know you when he sees you, or will he say ‘Depart from me’? Are you ready? I hope you’re ready.”
Elisabeth Jansen

05. Dec, 2011

I am from The Netherlands, Robert Schuller’s country of origin. I saw this coming, I am shocked and sad and relieved at the same time. I hope all those involved will do a reality check because something went really wrong. The best thing to do is to look into your hearts and pray about it. It is time the Messiah comes, for this world is rotten on so many fronts and it is not going to get better.

Best wishes and blessings to the Schuller family, everyone included.
Angie Wyatt

05. Dec, 2011

Mistah Charley, To be clear, I will not receive any money from the sale of the church. Also, last I heard, the judge had allotted $500K to be split between several family members. I don’t know what the specifics will amount to.

Elisabeth, Thanks for visiting SW.com all the way from the Netherlands!
Elisabeth Jansen

05. Dec, 2011

Thanks for your quick response, Angie. I will keep up with your topics on Facebook.
Jan-Michael

20. Dec, 2011

So now Robert H Schuller and family and Non-Catholics will not be welcome at Holy Communion at Crystal Cathedral! And Only Catholics can now be buried on grounds! Roman Catholic Diocese offers to assist moving remains buried previously to off the premises if families need help. This just is so wrong… I guess the new CCM team needed to not sell to another Non-Catholic group so they could keep their tiny congregation of less than 500., even at a lower price (Chapman University would have kept Building for ALL to worship in and offered 2 million more. No wonder even bankruptsy judge was confused.

My wife is Roman Catholic and I do not wish to dishonour their beliefs. In fact Rome gave me as a non-Catholic permission to take Communion though I am not Roman Catholic, after I wrote and was interviewed; told just examine my Heart and receive. I think The Holy Bible says that too

Jesus wants all who follow Him to receive and He did not make denominations. HE was a Jewish Rabbi on Earth in human form but God for all who follow Him.

At the stroke of midnight Dec 31, 2011 the CC deal with Diocese closes. Sad but Joyful too as I pray many are putting Jesus first Others next and Yourself last leaving all with J O Y †