Reverend Robert H. Schuller, founder of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, has announced that he removed his son, Robert A., from his preaching duties on the church's weekly "Hour of Power" syndicated TV broadcast.
In a letter on the Crystal Cathedral website, the elder Rev. Schuller explains that he and his son "have been struggling as we each have different ideas as to the direction and the vision for this ministry as we move into the future." As the lack of a unified vision has grown, Schuller felt it necessary to ask his son to step down.
Citing Ephesians 4, Schuller says that he plans to have guest pastors from other large ministries - including Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church, Kirbyjon Caldwell of Windsor Village United Methodist Church, and evangelist Juan Carlos Ortiz, credited for influencing the revivals currently sweeping Latin America. Walt Kallestad of Community Church of Joy in Glendale, Arizona is scheduled to preach this Sunday.
The "Hour of Power" weekly television broadcast has played host to Christian music artists like Matthew West, Laura Story (featured in the above video with Rev. Robert A Schuller) and Phil Stacey, giving them an opportunity to share their testimonies as well as their music with a large television audience.
For more about the Hour of Power, and to read transcripts of artist interviews, visit the Crystal Cathedral website.
Check out the Joanne Brokaw's "Christian Music Year In Review," a look back at the stories you were talking about on the Gospel Soundcheck blog.
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I am not surprised to heaar about the Reverend Schuller's actions
against his son. I have always thought that Senior was a phony, and
this just helps solodofy my knowledge.
Once when I waas working at QVC, I introduced myself to the Rev.
He was there to peddle his book. When i APPROACHED him to say
hello, he asked haughtily if I was his driver. When I told him I waasn't but just wanted to say hello, he said, well have a nice day.
But then he seemed to realize he had missed an opportunity to
expand his influence. He then said in a boomi8ng voice "Have
a glorious day!" How phony!
Schuller senior isn't a phony, but he is Calvinist. His preaching follows, what I call, the 'right wing' Calvinist protocol. I still like to listen to him on occasion, because I'm very Ecumenical... I didn't listen to his son much. I don't have anything against him, I just prefer to listen to the elders (around the broadcast world, 54 is young). I've heard reports that the junior leaned more to the secular side than to the scriptural side. That may not be true, I never followed him much.
I used to watch the Hour of Power just because of him. The program isn't appealing to me at all without him!
I guess I'll just follow/ watch whatever he plans to do next!
Dissatisfied Viewer
I am very disheartened by this turn of events. I had reached a point in my life where I was not totally disillusioned by organized religion. I thought I had found an organization in which I felt comfortable. I enjoyed it's guidance and was happy to contribute to it. I found Robert "the junior" very inspiring. But to my dismay, orginizational politics has once again reared it's ugly head. If a church cannot agree to disagree in it's doctrines and direction, especially a father and son, and inspire it's followers with the word and teachings of Jesus Christ, then where are we to look for this guidance. Shame on the Crystal Cathedral for not drawing on the teachings of Christ and overcoming the differences with LOVE and COMPASSION...
I do not enjoy the Hour of Power as I once did. You can have people from all over the world speak but it seems like it should be grounded with a regular minister. As we get older (& I am one of those) the younger generation does not think as we do but they need to be heard.
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