What Is Her.meneutics?
The Christianity Today women's blog provides news and analysis from the perspective of evangelical women. We cover news stories and books related to international justice and evangelism, pregnancy and sexual ethics, marriage, parenting, and celibacy, pop culture, health and body image, raising girls, and women in the church and parachurch.Her.meneutics is edited by associate editor Katelyn Beaty and online editor Sarah Pulliam.
books we're reading
« Journalists Slammed for Covering N. Korean Women's Hell | Main | The Duggars: the Anti-Gosselins »
June 11, 2009Schuller's Eldest Daughter to Lead Crystal Cathedral
Sheila Schuller Coleman to become her father's 'legs' in new role.
The Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Times reported late yesterday that Sheila Schuller Coleman, eldest daughter of the Rev. Robert H. Schuller, will become "co-leader" with her father of the Garden Grove, California, church. Coleman will replace senior interim pastor Juan Carlos Ortiz, who stood in for Robert A. Schuller after he parted ways with the Cathedral last fall over clashing visions for the ministry. "[Sheila] is taking over her brother's place," Donna Schuller, wife of Robert A., told The OC Register.
With a doctorate in business administration, Schuller Coleman, 58, is already deeply involved in running the 54-year-old ministry, as superintendent of Crystal Cathedral Schools, head of the church's family ministries, and program director for The Hour of Power. It looks like she has given at least one message on The Hour of Power, but does not preach regularly.
The Rev. Schuller shared in yesterday's ministry announcement that, after he told God he was too old to lead, God told him, "Give me two more years - 24 more months. . . . Don't worry. I have called your daughter Sheila, too. She is equipped and she will be your legs."
"Our church [affiliated with the Reformed Church in America] didn't even start ordaining women until 1973," Schuller Coleman told The OC Register. "I'm proud of my dad for doing this and I hope I can serve as a role model for younger women who want to get things accomplished in this church." She says her mother, Arvella, was deeply involved in the ministry, but always behind the scenes. Time will tell how the 10,000-member church will respond to having a woman in a more visible leadership position, or whether Schuller Coleman will ever become the 'mouth' of her father's ministry.
recent posts
tags
- 9/11
- abortion
- abstinence
- abuse
- adoption
- adultery
- advertising
- afghanistan
- africa
- agriculture
- AIDS
- American Idol
- anglicanism
- animals
- apologetics
- art
- atheism
- authors
- babies
- beauty
- beauty pageants
- bible
- bigfamilies
- biology
- blasphemy
- blogs
- bodies
- body
- body image
- books
- breast cancer
- breast-feeding
- breastimplants
- business
- california
- cambodia
- catholic church
- catholicism
- celibacy
- censorship
- charismatic movement
- children
- china
- church life
- church-state
- churchhistory
- churchlife
- circumcision
- civility
- clothing
- cohabitation
- compassion
- consumption
- contraception
- conversion
- corruption
- cosmeticsurgery
- counseling
- courts
- creation
- crime
- dalits
- dating
- death
- deaths
- deconversion
- democracy
- disability
- divorce
- dogfighting
- down syndrome
- drugs
- economy
- education
- embryos
- empathy
- employment
- entertainment
- environment
- episcopal church
- ethics
- eve
- evolution
- faith
- family
- fashion
- fatherhood
- feminism
- film
- florida
- food
- forgiveness
- friendship
- funding
- gardasil
- gender
- girls
- grief
- happiness
- harry potter
- health
- healthcare
- higher education
- highereducation
- history
- homelessness
- homoesexuality
- homosexuality
- human rights
- humor
- hunger
- immigration
- india
- international politics
- internationalpolitics
- internet
- interview
- iran
- islam
- IVF
- japan
- jesus
- jimmy carter
- journalism
- judaism
- justice
- kissing
- language
- leaders
- leadership
- legislation
- libertyuniversity
- life ethics
- lifeethics
- literature
- local food
- loneliness
- lutherans
- marathon
- marriage
- media
- medicalethics
- memoir
- men
- mentoring
- michael vick
- midwives
- ministry
- misogyny
- morality
- movies
- music
- natural disasters
- nature
- new york city
- news
- nonprofits
- northkorea
- notredame
- obama
- octuplets
- one-child policy
- one-upmomship
- onlinedating
- ordination
- orphans
- parachurch
- parenting
- pastors
- pentecostalism
- persecution
- plannedparenthood
- politics
- popebenedict
- population
- pornography
- poverty
- prayer
- pregnancy
- premarital counseling
- prostitution
- psychology
- publishing
- purity
- quiverfull
- rape
- realitytv
- relationships
- religiousfreedom
- research
- samesexmarriage
- sarahpalin
- science
- sex
- sex education
- sexuality
- shopping
- singleness
- sisters
- smoking
- sotomayor
- south africa
- southernbaptists
- specialolympics
- spirituality
- sports
- stay-at-home dads
- STDs
- stem-cell research
- students
- studies
- sudan
- suffering
- summer
- supremecourt
- surgery
- surveys
- tattoos
- technology
- teenagers
- television
- thearts
- theology
- top10
- toys
- transgenics
- TV
- twilight
- violence
- war
- weddings
- weight
- wives
- women
- women of note
- women pastors
- womenleaders
- womenofnote
- womenpastors
- womensordination
- words
- work
- writing
- young adults
- youngadults
Comments
No reason why she couldn't take it on as far as her femaleness is concerned. The greater concern is the nepotism here. First the ministry was 'bequeathed' to the son, now to the daughter.
The Church of Jesus Christ isn't a family organization or company that the lead minster owns, which can be handed onto the crown prince or princess. The fact that Schuller is the senior guy doesn't automatically mean that a family member should succeed him.
Posted By: Bev | June 11, 2009 3:18 PM
I am overjoyed to hear the good news of Shelia Schuller coleman may be taking over for her father. God called her and I pray no one stands in God's way. I am just so proud. i had a lot of hindering spirits, I pray she will be welcome to do what God called her to do. Where is the love in these Christians hearts? It appears that some of the Christians will give you the most problems in the church. A woman cal lead. A woman can bring forth the Word of God. I am just so excited!I will be praying for you, family, chuch members and the finances. I will be praying for unity in the church.
Posted By: Gloria Sullivan | June 11, 2009 4:56 PM
Can a woman be the husband of one wife? What good is a Christianity that rewrites God's Word to make it more comfortable?
Posted By: Chip | June 11, 2009 6:30 PM
Scripture does not allow a woman to have authority over a man.
A woman is not to be a shepherd.
Just because a woman has the ability to preach the word does not make it OK.
Posted By: Thad | June 11, 2009 8:43 PM
Her gender doesn't matter if she is still teaching the false doctrines of her father.
Posted By: David S Whittaker | June 11, 2009 9:39 PM
Having been a part of the CC for years, this is typical of Schuller and what we experienced. God always "talks" to him when he wants his way. He can't stand to let the church go on without him or have things "his way". The Empire is crumbling and he can't stop the inevitable.
Posted By: George | June 12, 2009 7:33 AM
The leadership of the Crystal Cathedral has always been cultic, and it appears as if it will continue as so. I, however, stand with Paul that in "every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice."
Posted By: Jim Roane | June 12, 2009 10:03 AM
I have appreciated Schuller's vision and ministry over the years from a distance and will pray for it's continued positive message. However, I am reluctant to call their organization a "church". It does not appear that the Body of Christ is being affirmed or built up. I would agree that it has become more about one man's heritage and less about God's vision and purposes. And yet, the amazing thing about God is that He can still use us for his glory, inspite of our imperfections and self-centeredness. All the great saints of scripture had their flaws.
Posted By: Rodney C | June 12, 2009 12:52 PM
I am surprised that The Crystal Catherdral is still around considering the non-evangelical route it has always taken in the name of Christianity! Perhaps Schuller uses a 5th gospel (The Gospel according to St Schuller) that Christianity is not aware of?!
Posted By: B. Hatem | June 15, 2009 2:07 PM
I am surprised that The Crystal Catherdral is still around considering the non-evangelical route it has always taken in the name of Christianity! Perhaps Schuller uses a 5th gospel (The Gospel according to St Schuller) that Christianity is not aware of?!
Posted By: B. Hatem | June 15, 2009 2:11 PM
I think the Crystal Cathedral and the Schuller family are such a scam. Enough of the accent, and the tonal changes in their voice. I think the elder Schuller was wrong to dismiss the younger Schuller and at that point, I stopped caring about the TV program and their ministry. It is so wrong and I wish it would be taken off the air. It is so ostentatious.
Posted By: Nancy | June 16, 2009 9:25 PM
What do you get when you add antilapsarianism, autosoterism, egoism, eudaemonism, indifferentism, latitudinarianism, omnism, probabilism, tolerationism, universalism, nepotism, and feminism? This story.
Posted By: Scott | June 16, 2009 10:38 PM
Good for her!
Posted By: Robyn | June 17, 2009 10:03 AM
It is hard to imagine the CC on the air 5 years from now.
Dumping Jr. was the last straw.
Posted By: Nodak | July 15, 2009 6:38 AM