I’m sorry I don’t feel more sorry for them. But Crystal Cathedral made a shit load of money over the years and then they squandered it all (and more) on pomp and majesty and excess. Did they think they’d ride high forever?
Crystal Cathedral founder the Rev. Robert H. Schuller on Sunday tearfully asked his parishioners for help in overcoming the megachurch’s bankruptcy and tens of millions in debt.
Schuller, 84, made the plea from the pulpit as he spoke publicly for the first time since the church filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Oct. 18.
“I need more help from you,” Schuller said, according to the Orange County Register. “If you are a tither, become a double-tither. If you are not a tither, become a tither. This ministry has earned your trust. This ministry has earned your help.”
The ministry took all the available money already and spent it poorly. Why ask your parishioners to risk financial ruin in order to dig you out of yours? Why not admit defeat and shut that monstrosity down and sell it off for as much as you can get? All donations will do now is pour good money down the drain. They can’t save your business, Robert Schuller. A lot of them are struggling, too. Do I have to dig out a bible verse now?
Proverbs 27:23 “Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.”
Moving on.
The church has said its money troubles are almost entirely the result of the recession, but others have blamed an inability to keep up with the times and leadership and succession problems that included a disastrous attempt to hand the church over to Schuller’s son.
Discernment Ministries posted an article that suggests why it was a “disastrous attempt.” It’s been noticed by those that study “personality driven ministries” that people don’t give to the church per se, they give to the pastor. And many who were loyal to Robert couldn’t stand seeing his son at the reins and might have given less (or none) on account of that.
Schuller’s daughter, Sheila Schuller Coleman, ended up assuming senior pastor duties.
She assured church members Sunday that using “Biblical” money management the church would get out of bankruptcy.
The congregation gave Robert Schuller a standing ovation near the end of his daughter’s remarks.
What’s biblical money management? Learn the Bible provides an answer to that but maybe she actually meant she was going to sign up with Biblical Money Management and learn to be responsible and less greedy.
What they need to do it shut down the whole thing, television and all, sell off all they can, pay off all they can, and if there’s anything left at the end and they still think they have a right to tell people how to live, there will probably still be people around who’d believe them and would gladly attend a smaller, easier to manage, church facility.
Just my unqualified advice.
One Minion's Opinion 