By Lilly Fowler
c. 2010 Religion News Service
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (RNS) Christian author Carole Lewis stands at
the front of the church sharing her tale of woe: bankruptcy, a
daughter’s death, a husband’s prostate cancer, a home destroyed by a
hurricane. Pastor Sheila Schuller Coleman stands nearby, listening
attentively.
Neither Coleman nor the congregation seems particularly phased by
Lewis’ litany of tragedies. Instead, they wait for what everyone seems
to know is coming: a positive message.
And then, as if on cue, Lewis delivers.
“God has been so faithful to our family,” Lewis says, as Coleman and
others nod in agreement.
It’s an ordinary Sunday at the Crystal Cathedral, the gleaming
Orange County megachurch built on a message of transforming misfortune
into blessings. The hundreds of parishioners seem to crave the optimism,
with some murmuring “make it a great week” as they stream out.
It’s also a philosophy the Crystal Cathedral has needed now more
than ever.
Coleman, 59, who was formally installed as senior pastor on July 11
after nearly a year as interim pastor, is the latest member of the
Schuller clan to take the helm of the landmark church after a bitter and
public family feud.
Her father, the Rev. Robert H. Schuller, 83, founded the church in
the 1950s in his three-bedroom house where the choir rehearsed in the
living room.
“I was the first receptionist for the church at the age of 4,” Coleman recalled, laughing.
Coleman said growing up in and around the congregation made her feel
loved and inspired to help people. But church leadership wasn’t always
in the cards; her parents explained that women could not be ordained.
Her younger brother, the Rev. Robert A. Schuller, was always the heir
apparent.
The younger Schuller took over as senior pastor in 2006, just as
expected. But the new arrangement didn’t last long, as reports surfaced
of a father-and-son rivalry that simmered behind the church’s
silver-colored glass.
The family at the heart of one of America’s best-known evangelical
megachurches, who had reached millions of viewers worldwide through the
weekly “Hour of Power” program, wasn’t perfect after all.
“I’m just glad I didn’t grow up feeling that pressure,” she said, referring to the father-and-son tensions at the heart of the Schuller soap opera. “People don’t expect me to be just like Dad.”
Coleman, like her father and brother, attended Michigan’s Hope College, earning a bachelor’s in organic chemistry. When she wasn’t accepted into medical school, she settled into a life as a writer and educator.
She married and became the mother of four, helped edit her father’s
books and wrote some of her own, including the recent “Mommy Grace:
Erasing Your Mommy Guilt.” She taught in public schools and served as
principal at the Crystal Cathedral’s primary and secondary schools for
15 years, and recently finished her doctorate in administrative
leadership at the University of California, Irvine.
“My passion is for children,” she said. “I feel my calling is to reach, teach.”
Despite her focus on education, Coleman says she couldn’t help but
say yes to her father. After what she described as a middle-of-the-night
vision, he came to her and said: “Sheila, if I ask you to do this, would
you say yes?”
She did, but the move did little to dampen the tensions between father and son.
“All I can say about Sheila Coleman is that I thought she made a
decent teacher and school principal,” said Donna Schuller, Robert A.
Schuller’s wife, about her sister-in-law.
For her part, Coleman said she and her brother were never terribly close, given their four-year age difference. But she added that there has never been any animosity between them; she said she has always loved him.
“We are as in touch as we ever have been,” she said.
In a 2009 interview with Christianity Today, Coleman’s brother said
he was squeezed out of the “Hour of Power” broadcast when church leaders
“decided to no longer air my messages.”
“I was disappointed, sad, hurt, and angry,” he continued. “It was a
very difficult time, and quite frankly remains a difficult time.”
Others, however, blame a difference in preaching styles for the
rift. Longtime member Augustine Remlinger, 83, says the younger Schuller
relied on the Bible for his sermons, compared to his father’s gospel of
positive thinking.
Under Coleman, she said, people are slowly drifting back to the
church. “She knows what she’s doing now,” Remlinger said.
Remlinger’s daughter, Susie Stewart, 50, a homemaker, agreed.
“I think it was very hard for the church and for all of us as
parishioners,” Stewart said. “I think they’ve done the best they can.”
Coleman’s father attributes her success at the church to a shared
vision: “Sheila will be doing what I would be doing if I were in her
shoes,” Schuller said in a recent phone interview. “Focus on the
positives.”
That’s not been an easy task lately as the church faces a crippling
economic forecast. In May, the Crystal Cathedral sold its Rancho
Capistrano property to Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, which plans to
use it as a retreat center. The sale reduced Crystal Cathedral’s
mortgage to $35.5 million, Coleman said, but recent reports still
indicate a $55 million budget deficit and a 27 percent drop in revenue.
Coleman says the church has done what they can, given the current
economic climate and a diminished congregation, though she says the
cathedral’s Hispanic ministry has seen a huge boost in numbers.
“Things are turning around slowly,” she said. “I’ve had a huge, huge
mess to clean up.”
Others are more skeptical about the church’s finances, particularly
vendors and former employees who are still waiting to get paid.
“The Schullers aren’t hurting,” said Larry Grossman, a trumpeter in
the church’s “Glory of Christmas” mega-pageant for nearly 30 years. “I’m
sure they haven’t missed a check.”
Coleman says she and her father receive modest salaries, and that
she could have earned more if she had stayed in the public school
system. She does admit, however, that she craves to be liked by others.
And it is, perhaps, her father’s approval she wants most. A visit to
Crystal Cathedral suggests he is still the heart of the ministry for
many visitors.
Maxine Fahr, 45, a hospice nurse from San Diego, recently fulfilled
“a life-long dream” by visiting Crystal Cathedral. When she was 6,
doctors diagnosed her father with Hodgkin’s disease. Instead of going to
church, she would sit in front of the television, watching Schuller
preach.
She credits Schuller with influencing her way of thinking.
“I think no matter what happens in life that you get to have a
choice in how you react,” Fahr said. “I wish I could have shaken
(Schuller’s) hand.”
Coleman seems unfazed by the expectation that she’s supposed to save
the church without wandering too far from her father’s shadow.
“That’s the bottom line with people,” Coleman said, when asked about
the congregation’s acceptance of her as pastor. “They want someone who
will honor and love Dad, and honor and love them.”
Copyright 2010 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of
this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written
permission.
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posted August 6, 2010 at 8:53 pm
The father Schuller had a unique way of pastoring for the people in his church and for the TV members and watchers. It served the congregations well. Son Schuller would have done well if he had continued with the same type of preaching; it was what everyone wanted, and the stage was set for him to continue. He went his own way it sounds like and it didn’t work. Good blessings to his daughter, who will it sounds like continue with the Possibility Thinking, her father started so many years ago.
posted August 6, 2010 at 9:19 pm
But, but aren’t preachers supposed to be able to preach what they want where they want? That’s what Evangelical chaplains who only want to chaplain to Evangelicals tell us.
I guess that’s true in public places on public money maybe but not so much in church where profits are at risk.
posted August 7, 2010 at 3:27 am
The old man is a cantankerous blowhard. The only time the church seemed to be presenting the Gospel was when his son took over. If the plug was pulled on the son for preaching the full counsel of God, then the old man will have a lot to answer to the only One worthy of judging hearts and minds. Seems death is the only way to get the old fart out of the picture. Of that I’m POSITIVE!
posted August 7, 2010 at 9:46 am
I was very disappointed to see the young Robert Schuller, gone. I loved his sermans and the new life he brought into the Crystal Cathedral. I can tell Robert Sr… whon I have watched and finally was able to visit the Cathedral in 2009, is determined to have it his way or no way. This is a sad situation for us to see. He isn’t as sweet behind the scenes as I thought, he would be. I have lost interest in the church. No offense to Sheila, but it always sounds as though she is conducting a class room of children. You aare pacifying your father to please him, instead of trying to help your brother in his position. Four years difference in age and he was the only brother. You sound a bit self centered. I have children 10 years apart and closeness has nothing to do with the situation. They are there for eachother no matter what the age difference may be.I support Robert A. Schuller and hope for his return to the Crystal Cathedral. I am a senior, close to 80 yrs. I hope and pray to see the young Robert back on the pulpet again. Thank You for the time.
posted August 7, 2010 at 12:56 pm
I think the focus is suppose to be on the TRUTH, and sometimes, the TRUTH isn’t so positive. But it does lead us to GOD’S PEACE, LOVE, PROTECTION, And knowing that when you leave … the church building, it’s GOD of the universe, LARGE AND IN CHARGE of everyone and everything regardless of anyones acknowledgement. At the end …. EVERY (NOT some) knee WILL bow, EVERY (NOT some) tongue, WILL confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. So… when the CROSS is taken down… and GOD is removed from everything in the USA, (a nation blessed by GOD) JUST look around the world… and know that GOD GAVE US ALL FREE WILLS AND FREE CHOICES…. and look what we’ve done with it. GOD HELP US… AND GOD BLESS ALL THOSE WHO ENDURE THE PAIN AND SARROW OF all the dark hearted souls of this world. Dear LORD, I pray for all those “lost souls”. Father, forgive them for they know NOT what they do. (they are blinded) Give us all your supernatural strength to “see” even when the enemy is trying to “blind” us to your truths … just like he did with Eve, in partial truths.. whispering lies from the father of lies…. himself. Help to take EVERY (not just some) thought captive into Your obedience OUT OF PURE LOVE FOR US, TO PROTECT US, not to harm us. In JESUS name I pray, Amen
posted August 7, 2010 at 2:09 pm
When Robert Schuller started his church in his home, moved it to a drive-in-movie, and the first lovely church they built in Garden Grove, evangelical meanings was a good bit different than when the evangelical fundies took to the airways, etc. Schuller was 100% on with the Trinity teaching, but showed it in his unique way, much like Norman Vincent Peale did years before him. I believe Schuller was from the Dutch branch of Christian Church.
posted August 7, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Quote: cmaglaughlin: Seems like death is the only way to get the old fart out of the picture, of that I’m POSITIVE.
Spoken like a true fundie, or are you a troll? You people cancel out any credibility you are trying to get for your brand of Christianity by your disrespect, and insulting words for anyone you deem as not agreeing with you. His Church helped many people from the fifties and on and you are making fun of God’s servant.
posted August 7, 2010 at 3:55 pm
@henrietta…Go lay an egg. I don’t respect a jerk like Schuller who has robbed the public blind, owing his creditors millions and never returning their calls. You don’t need to worry about us trying to bring credibility. Just look at a bloody Cross and an empty tomb. Schuller’s disrespect of “little people” is legendary. Ask any flight attendant. His gospel is based upon not recognizing sin and the fallen nature of man, in need of a Savior. He’s the one who will have to give an answer on that great day. How about you? Do you recognize your own sin and need of a perfect, sinless sacrificial Savior for your own falling short of God’s standard of holiness? Or are you trusting in your own idea of how to receive eternal life? Best to do it God’s Way, the ONLY Way…His Son Jesus!
posted August 7, 2010 at 6:10 pm
You are truly a nasty person aren’t you? Because you repeat false gossip about someone doesn’t mean it’s true. The airline incident was blown completely out of proportion. Don’t question anyone about their relationship to Christ Jesus, who do you think you are? I was supporting Dr. Schuller because of your disrespect. You might think you are a Christian, but you can’t be because no Christian that I know would speak to people like you do. Your actions and words judge yourself.
posted August 7, 2010 at 7:59 pm
We’re NOT talking about me, we’re just stating facts concerning the complete bastardization of the Gospel by Schuller. Jesus called such people who portray themselves as such, “VIPERS,” who tout themselves as speaking for God, but are completely foreign to repentance because of their own ungodly self-righteousness, which will not cut it on Judgment Day. I’m not proclaiming myself anything but a sinner saved by grace.(Eph. 2:8-9). Like I said lady, what are YOU placing your trust in for YOUR salvation? Keep me out of it. I can question anyone’s salvation because of their misrepresentation of the Gospel. And the Holy Spirit would say, ‘YOU SHOULD, TOO”! When you used the term “fundie,” you exposed your true self. The “fundie” Gospel is a bloody Savior and His Cross. You need to crawl back under your rock, for the mountains of God’s wrath are ready to fall upon egg heads like you. Now go ahead, squeal like the pig you are!
posted August 8, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Spoken like so many “true Christians” cmag. Not a hint of grace. Nothing that should make anyone want to be like you. At least not any decent person.
posted August 8, 2010 at 6:11 pm
This is interesting and all but I want to know why we don’t have this story to chew over.
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I saw this on a list of AP stories and thought maybe it would show up here on B’Net but it didn’t. I Googled it just now and it’s been almost untouched by the news media.
Based on that I can understand why some Catholics might think their church has gotten a raw deal. I don’t think that but do think this story deserves a lot more coverage, including here.
posted August 8, 2010 at 6:47 pm
I often wonder about big business churches, some may be legitimate but I suspect some may just be supporting wealthy pastors’ lifestyles and legacies. I try not to judge folk’s doctrines unless it is way out of sync with the bible. we are called to use “righteous judgement” (discernment) so although we judge not we do use wisdom.
posted August 8, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Somehow if I wanted to attend a church, my choice wouldn’t be a huge building like that of the CC. It would be like going to a convention center to see a play/sport/concert. Not an atmosphere promoting community or closeness involved. Having watched (briefly) many, many years ago, I wondered what the attraction was to this play being acted out by Schuller and company.
posted August 9, 2010 at 2:34 pm
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