The Rev. Robert H. Schuller, 83, announced today from the pulpit of his Southern California Crystal Cathedral megachurch, that after 55 years, he is going to step down and retire from preaching. He will assume the chairman’s role on the Cathedral’s board of directors.
The elder Schuller has officially turned over the reigns to his oldest daughter, Rev. Sheila Schuller Coleman, who has been co-pastoring with him for the past year. She will now lead the 10,000-member congregation – amid a host of significant financial challenges.
She said, “That was emotional for me, and I’m humbled and honored to be asked to take this responsibility. I truly know that God is here, he loves this ministry and my call is to help take the ministry into the future and to continue dad’s ministry.”
Actually this is Rev. Schuller’s second retirement announcement. He stepped aside in January 2006, installing his son Rev. Robert A. Schuller to lead the megachurch and head the Hour of Power television program. That came crashing down two years ago, when the younger Schuller left the organization after a bitter rift developed between father and son.
Robert A. is now associated with Dallas-based American Life Network, a cable channel aiming to produce family-oriented programming.
Coleman, 59, lives in Orange with her husband, Jim, and has four grown children.
UPDATE: October 17, 2010: The Crystal Cathedral has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, after struggling with debt for the past two years. The church is estimated to be $50-$100 million in debt. Their immediate problems involve $7.5 million owed vendors for advertising and services. They have attempted to make repayment arrangements but many have filed lawsuits.
According to a church spokesman, Crystal Cathedral’s Sunday services and weekly-telecast Hour of Power will continue for now.
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