Crystal Cathedral Denies Ousting Schuller

Robert Anthony Schuller and his father, Robert H.
Schuller, pose in front of the Crystal Cathedral.
(AP Images/Chris Carlson)

Despite Monday’s reports that Robert H. Schuller was ousted from
the board of Crystal Cathedral Ministries, a church spokesman denies
the claim.

“He [Robert H. Schuller] was not voted off the board,” John
Charles, the Garden Grove, Calif., church spokesman told the Los
Angeles Times. “He is still board chairman emeritus.”

Instead, the megachurch claims the board opted to change the
84-year-old founder’s position. A day after Schuller’s son, Robert
Anthony Schuller, claimed his father was ousted because he wanted to
enlarge the board, the church released a statement.

“Recently, the board of directors of Crystal Cathedral
Ministries voted to change Dr. Schuller’s position from that of a
voting board member to the honorary chairman of the board emeritus, a
non-voting position,” the statement said.

According to the Times, Charles said Schuller will now be more available for
speaking engagements and a writing project. “He will also continue
to speak in the pulpit of the Crystal Cathedral and on the Hour of
Power and meet with staff in creative and vision-casting
meetings,” he said in Monday’s statement.

The church has struggled before with Schuller family
controversies. The elder Schuller stepped down as the senior pastor
in 2006 and his son took over the pulpit. The younger Schuller
resigned just two years later, shortly after his father removed him
from the Hour of Power television program. His sister, Sheila
Schuller Coleman, now serves as the church’s executive director.

Crystal Catherdral has also faced financial troubles, and is
currently on sale to escape bankruptcy. In a statement released in
May explaining the church’s reorganization plan, Coleman explained
that she will continue to look to her father for advice.

“Dad will continue to provide leadership for this ministry
through me for as long as possible,” she said in the statement. “I
have and will continue to defer to his wisdom and honor him for his
unprecedented accomplishments.”