Fumbling the handoff

The story about the ousting of Robert Schuller Jr. from the pulpit of the Crystal Cathedral has been rumbling around the west coast for a few months.  I made reference to it back in December.  It has now hit the national press with this AP article in today's Washington Post.

It appears that revenues are down sharply.  The AP says that the Crystal Cathedral is blaming the decline on the recession.  That may indeed be true.  Many churches are saying the same.  Another factor is that so-called "television ministry"--as if there were such a thing--seems to have pretty much run its course.  The Crystal Cathedral's "Hour of Power" is one of the few remaining.

Schuller Sr. wanted to bring "preacher stars" to the pulpit to goose ratings and revenue which is where he parted ways with his son.  The interbuzz has it that Robert Schuller Jr. tended toward a less "possibility thinking" kind of preaching model than did his father.  His style is apparently somewhat more nuanced and traditional than the "rainbows and sunbeams" style of Schuller Sr.  Schuller Sr. seems to be attributing at least part of the revenue decline to his son's preaching.  Otherwise, why would he want to get different preachers? 

Churches which revolve around one individual often have trouble moving into the next generation even in good times, let alone bad times.

It's a problem common to personality driven ministries. Most have collapsed or been greatly diminished after their founders left the pulpit or died.

Members often tie their donations to the pastor, not the institution, said Nancy Ammerman, a sociologist of religion at Boston University. Schuller, with a style that blends pop psychology and theology, has a particularly devoted following, she said.

Say what you want about mainline protestantism, but there's an advantage to having "community-oriented" parishes as opposed to "individual-focused" ministries. 

 

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