Robert H. Schuller said a month ago that his son would no longer be the sole preacher on the church's television program.
The Rev. Robert A. Schuller has resigned as senior pastor of the Crystal Cathedral in Southern California after his father, the Rev. Robert H. Schuller, said his son would no longer be the sole preacher on the church's "Hour of Power" television program.
In October, the elder Schuller said differences between the two men over the "direction and the vision" of the megachurch and its related television broadcast had led them to "part ways." At that time, the younger Schuller remained as the church's senior pastor while the elder Schuller hosted the broadcast and invited a range of guest speakers to the pulpit.
A statement on Crystal Cathedral's Web site says its executive team has accepted the younger Schuller's resignation and he remains a member of the Reformed Church in America, the denomination with which the church is affiliated.
"It is expected that Robert will make an announcement soon regarding plans for his new ministry," reads the statement. "The leadership and congregation wishes him all the best as his plans unfold."
The Rev. Juan Carlos Ortiz, founder of Crystal Cathedral Hispanic Ministry, has been named interim senior pastor.
Crystal Cathedral spokesman John Charles said the elder Schuller's role has not changed at the ministry. The pulpit is being filled by a rotation of pastors around the country, he said.
As of Monday (Dec. 15), Charles said the younger Schuller had not yet announced his future plans.
Posted by Sarah Pulliam Bailey on December 15, 2008 4:34PM
Comments
"...in whom I am not well pleased."
Sad.
Posted by: Paul at December 16, 2008
Sad that the elder Schuller could not trully retire and allow for new progress. How sad when work becomes about man not God. I thought that the move of the younger Schuller was a great thing and a respected the elder for allowing for a fresh wind. How sad that it was not allowed to happen grow, change where needed and expand into new directions, looking forward not to the past, how sad.
Posted by: Dale at December 17, 2008
I fear the elder Schuller failed the ultimate test for a church planter. It is not enough to plant the church and lead it to prosperity...the final step is knowing when to let go and accept the fact it is the Lord's Church, not the product of your own hands. That is where so many fail.
Posted by: arnold at December 19, 2008
Long ago Schuller set aside the Scripture for something else. I remember 25 years ago his insistence that you could not preach the Bible and reach today's world. His programs that I have viewed are entertainment religion at its best: scriptural religion at its worst.
Evangelical empires may be teetering but the kingdom of God will move forward with the least of these. Maybe the cult personality worship of mega pastors will cease and the humble man of Nazareth will once again be heard.
Posted by: Jon at December 19, 2008
I am sorry to see this happen. I understand that Schuller the younger wanted to preach about Christ and the real stuff but his father wanted to talk about having a great attitude and getting up on the right side of the bed. The old man is a real caring good guy but after watching him all these years I never knew what he thought about Jesus. I hope I am wrong. cr
Posted by: Charles Riley at December 19, 2008
Preaching about Christ and the real 'thing' is also about attitude and getting up on the right side of the bed...Sometimes some of us need to develop new habits...of thinking and attitude the second we wake up in the morning...It has taken me many many years to realize this and DO IT!
(that was to the last commentator)
It is such a problem that everything can't be said in one sermon.
The long process of growing up in Christ is just that.
As for the 'correct' preaching of Chirst and the WORD, well that is depending upon what kind of "glasses" you are looking through.
If people want to know the Loving God in Christ then let them seek HIM first. This is not for lazy selfish people. It takes desire and for me it has taken decades f wrong ideas about God, from the bleak glasses of negative preaching, without really knowing or having a DEEP relationship with my Savior and God. The world and our humanness gets in the way of the Holy spirit inside us. He just waits patiently for us to NEED HIM, and finally we go to HIM. Yes, and we learn His Truth more and more. This goes on and off and on and off...How wonderful He is to Loves us with this amazing faithfulness to HIS Commitment to ME, (and you, too)! HE HAS GIVEN ME A GREATER DESIRE FOR HIM AND A DEEP TRUST AND CONTENTMENT IN HIM.
Posted by: susan at December 20, 2008
Susan seems to be saying that the elder Schuller's message is for mature Christians, not seekers - that he is implementing the latter part (discipleship) of the Great Commission. Is that conspicuously indicated by the ministry? Does he instruct seekers to go elsewhere for their own benefit?
I would prefer that the entire GC be implemented by each ministry, but I understand how one could see it as a command to the collective Church and not individual ministries.
Posted by: Chris (Jesdisciple) at December 24, 2008
Well, this is a surprise: sounds like a "little too much pride"
that went to young Robert's head.
and pride always goes before a fall/ or in this case resignation.
Might be wise to have someone new and fresh to bring some new
vitality to the C. C. ministry.
Posted by: Bob at December 26, 2008
NO, CHRIS, I AM NOT SAYING THE ELDER SHULLER'S MESSAGE IS FOR MATURE CHRISTIANS. IT IS A UNIVERSAL MESSAGE WHICH I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT NOT EVERYONE LEARNED IN THEIR EARLY YEARS OF LIFE, AND IN THE LIFE THEY HAVE BEEN LIVING. THE ELDER SCHULLER'S MESSAGE IS INSTRUCTIVE AND HELPFUL. PEOPLE ACTUALLY COME TO THEIR PERSONAL AND "BORN AGAIN EXPERIENCE" IN GOD'S TIME AND IN THE HEARING OF HIS WORD. THERE IS FAR TOO MUCH 'CREDIT' GIVE TO PREACHING, OR A ONE MOMENT IN TIME EXPERIENCE. GOD WORKS ON HEARTS THROUGH SO MANY WAYS IN THE COURSE OF ONE'S LIFE, SO IT IS BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND NOT BY ANY ONE MAN'S PREACHING OR STYLE. GIVE CREDIT TO GOD. WE ARE JUST TOO NARROW AND PICKY ABOUT WHAT 'WORKS'. IT IS GOD AND NOT US. NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHERE AND WHEN THE WIND BLOWS FOR A PERSON. THERE ARE MANY MESSAGES AND MANY MESSENGERS BUT GOD IS THE GIVER OF NEW BIRTH.
Posted by: susan at December 28, 2008
What a shame and a knock at the ministry.
Posted by: Shirley Hawkes at December 30, 2008
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