Fall of an Empire (Crystal Cathedral)

[marmar]

from the NY Times:

By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: October 23, 2010


GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — The 10,664 windows did not get washed this year at the Crystal Cathedral, the iconic glass church founded by the Rev. Robert H. Schuller, one of the original religious broadcasters. Volunteers are tending the church’s 40 landscaped acres, now that the gardeners have been laid off. And its renowned Christmas pageant — with live camels and horses, and angels flying overhead on cables — has been canceled for now.

The empire that Mr. Schuller built may be in jeopardy, tarnished by an unseemly family feud and a $43 million debt that even by megachurch standards is serious.

When the Crystal Cathedral, which many church historians call the nation’s first modern megachurch, filed for bankruptcy protection last week, Sheila Schuller Coleman, the senior pastor and Mr. Schuller’s eldest daughter, blamed the bad economy.

But the church was in trouble long before the economic downturn, according to church insiders and family members interviewed last week. It was already suffering from the botched succession of Mr. Schuller, one too many vanity building projects and changes in the religious broadcasting industry. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/us/24cathedral.html?_r=1&hp

[DireStrike]

1. That's actually a really pretty building

Maybe it can get turned into something more useful. Like a mall.

[mdmc]

2. ..

[ck4829]

3. It's a shame that they weren't more frugal

Because they aren't like your Jerry Falwell's and Pat Robertson's, theologically, they are very tolerant.

[Kolesar]

4. If they preach charity, brotherhood, compassion and humility, I am ok with it

Ok with it, but not in attendence. Breakfast with the Beatles, for me today.

[hayu_lol]

7. It would make a spectacular...

casino...what with all the moving colored lights and all.

[90-percent]

8. Breakfast with the Beatles?

It's breakfast with "Little Steven's Underground Garage" for me this morning. I love Sunday mornings!

-90% jimmy

[Kolesar]

9. Yeah, I hear "underground garage" advertised

I cannot remember where and I was listening.

There is a BwtB: http://wxrt.radio.com/shows/breakfast-with-the-beatles/

[GodlessBiker]

5. It looks like it could be the Tower of Babel.

[LiberalAndProud]

6. So Shuller's philosophy was "If you build it, they will give."

It seemed to be a winning formula for a while, didn't it? I always thought the Cathedral was a monument to Rev. Shuller's ego. I have no sympathy for their current financial troubles.

[CanonRay]

10. Good Riddance n/t

[bemildred]

11. Tsk. Wasn't there some sort of argument about who got to be the boss there?

:popcorn::popcorn:

[donco6]

12. Schuller just wasn't conservative enough.

He never was like the Rick Warren's of today. But that's what people are flocking to, now. Heh, I said "flocking".

[SpiralHawk]

13. Will megachurches start falling like dominoes?

[Arugula Latte]

19. If only I believed in a deity, I'd pray for that.

Alas, I do not.

[ensho]

14. wonder if the bldg. could be turned into an arboretum?

or however you spell it. spell check no help.

[NoPasaran]

15. The troublemaker in me would like to see someone buy it and convert it into a mosque

:evilgrin:

[knitter4democracy]

16. My aunt used to go there, was in the pageants, etc.

One of her weddings was there, too, with the 2nd in command at the time officiating.

While she spoke of the church hosting dozens and dozens of area groups, like AA and OA and the like, I found the place to be creepy whenever we attended while visiting her. Watching Schuller preaching from a plexiglass podium using his book and not the Bible was pretty surreal. I will say, though, they have an amazing organ in there. The pipes are huge, and when the organ player pulls out the stops, it's impressive. The acoustics are wonderful.

[Ikonoklast]

17. Cult of Personality fails after founder dies.

It's not really a religion at all, like most of the mega-churches it depends on the charisma of the founder.

[Vickers]

18. Oh look, it's Penis Church© !!!!! n/t

[quinnox]

20. That's too bad, I hope they can work out an arrangement

to save the church. I always thought this guy Robert Schuller was cool, I saw him a couple times preaching on tv and he seemed to be a smart and reasonable guy, kind of a laid back Californian type, and it is a beautiful building designed by a master architect.

I did think his son was creepy though, and lacked his father's charisma and didn't seem like a good preacher.

Maybe some other religious organization can buy the property, or something.