Robert Schuller Sr. is still calling the shots at the Crystal Cathedral. First, his son, and supposed successor, was forced out/resigned, and now, his daughter, Sheila Schuller Coleman, has been appointed lead pastor.
The initial report was that Schuller Sr. was "retiring," though Coleman quickly corrected that report. He will continue to preach apparently, and has now been appointed to a newly-created position that amounts to chairman of the board of directors.
The transition to a second generation of leadership can be tricky in large churches, but this one seems messier than many. The original problem had to do with declining revenues, a drop of 27% from 2008 to 2009, from $30 million to $22 million. Officially, the revenue drop is being blamed on the recession.
Some, however, were said to attribute at least part of the drop to Schuller Jr.'s preaching style. On the few occasions I've seen him, he seems more serious and less the showman than his father. Another way of putting it is that Schuller Jr.'s sermons were more traditional and directly Bible-based. At least, so I've heard from several members of the Crystal Cathedral.
Image: San Antonio Examiner
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