Crystal Cathedral files for bankruptcy amid mounting debts

[RamboLiberal]

Source: LA Times

Faced with mounting debts and decreasing donations, the Crystal Cathedral announced today it was filing for bankruptcy protection.

The move came as the Garden Grove church was struggling to pay its bills. “Budgets could not be cut fast enough to keep up with the unprecedented rapid decline in revenue due to the recession,” Senior Pastor Sheila Schuller Coleman said in a statement released by the church.
-----

The famed mega-church has suffered from financial troubles in the last year.

In January, the Crystal Cathedral announced it was laying off 50 workers and selling surplus property because of a precipitous drop in contributions.

The 7,000-member church also has canceled its "Glory of Easter" pageant, a popular reenactment of the life and death of Jesus Christ, which sold tens of thousands of tickets each year.



Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/10/crystal-cathedral-files-for-bankruptcy-amid-mounting-debts.html

[closeupready]

1. So even with taxpayer subsidies, they can't balance their books?

Are you freaking kidding me? :wtf:

[noel711]

25. Where did it say they got subsidies..??

No where in the article did it say this church was subsidized.

The "Faith Based INitiatives" are not given out willy-nilly to
any church. There are stringent guidelines to qualify.

Any church that applies must follow thru with its grants
as measures to serve the community, i.e. soup kitchens,
day care centers, homeless outreach, free clinics.
MOney isn't given to churches to support proselytizing,
or teaching their faith.

I doubt that the Crystal Cathedral does anything like that,
as their clientele is mostly upper middle class folks who
supported this church thru their own contributions.
And older folks who can't get to their own churches,
and find some comfort in their television broadcast.
Not that I approve, but that's where they got much of
their 'offerings.'

The Shuller's theology is ridiculous, but, the former
success of the 'church' is simply the free market at work.
Shuller's son, who took over after Dad retired, wanted to do
things his own way, thus the conflict.
I agree that any church should not be a dynasty, but
it is what it is.

This story is being repeated all over the country,
not just with high profile mega-churches, but even
city congregations with real outreach to help people.

[liberation]

31. Not paying taxes can be seen as a form of subsidy.

[L.Torsalo]

42. Valid point.

[closeupready]

48. 501(c)(3) organizations enjoy preferable federal and local tax treatment.

So sorry if I confused anyone.

[hatrack]

2. AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!

:rofl:

:evilgrin:

[DJ13]

3. Maybe the churches should start railing against usury

[hayu_lol]

5. Hopefully, one of the mega-churches going down...

can think of many others that deserve the same fate.

[Blue Owl]

4. I thought God was too big to fail?

Hmm... {gestures emptily}

[Richardo]

6. “Budgets could not be cut fast enough to keep up with the unprecedented rapid decline in revenue..."

That doesn't sound very Republican or Teabaggy to me :think:

[JuniperLea]

7. I knew God must be in dire straights...

All his helpers have been asking for money for so long. Maybe if they cut back on the makeup, hair styles, and fancy clothes?

I have to say, I can't help but shake my head every time I drive past that monstrosity... think of all the empty stomaches that wasted money could have filled... all the cold and hungry children it could have helped. Jesus preached from mountain tops and seashores. Maybe that was his intent for us.

[exboyfil]

10. I remember seeing the beginning of it being built

back in 1977 before we moved away to Mississippi. In the 1990s we attended church there one Sunday. I was not impressed. I guess it was a been there, done that, and got the t-shirt to prove it moment.

I really feel uneasy about the children of pastors taking over the ministry of congregations. Lutheran congregations are governed independently of the Pastor. The Pastor is called, but the governance resides with the congregation through the Church Council. In Cumberland Presbyterian the Pastor is not even a member of the congregation in which he/she serves. The fact that the Schulers appear to have a dynasty going presents troubling questions. Who actually runs the place? Many of the key offices are held by Schuler family members? Can anyone say nepotism?

[JuniperLea]

15. You've got that right, imho...

It looks very corporate hierarchy to me, instead of Church Council, which is what I'd always been used to as well. I'm pretty tired of what's going on in God's name... even though the hypocrisy has already shoved me to the agnostic side of the aisle, I still think there should be some respect.

[Old and In the Way]

8. That is the 'invisible hand' of the free market at work!

I'd check with the earthly owners of that operation to see where all the money went. They'll be more of these 'Gospel of Wealth' type operations going under...bet the congregates/stockholders end up taking this on the chin.

[SpiralHawk]

9. The Vatican (R) is next

Kartloads of Krappy Karma

[penndragon69]

11. God has spoken again!

Do you think that GOD has finally had
enough of these self righteous greedy
hypocrites and will now start smitting
them in Ernest?
We can only hope.

[L.Torsalo]

43. Since God doesn't "exist",

the failure of these "conjob-gregations" is squarely at the feet of the slick liars that run them.

[Ian David]

12. ...

[herbm]

13. I bet he still has a six figure salary and a church supplied home.

[awoke_in_2003]

18. add one more zero and I would agree. nt

[Joe Bacon]

44. And it's all tax free

Religion is the ultimate racket. Bullshit about The Invisible Cloud Being, fleece the flock, live like a King and it's all tax free!

[zenprole]

14. Please help me

I can't


stop




laughing ...

[progressoid]

16. Not to worry. Remember when Saddleback Church members coughed up over $2 million to save that place

I'm sure the sheeple of Crystal Cathedral will do the same.

[maxsolomon]

17. The older chapel is a real architectural gem by Neutra

(i can't find a good photo to post that will link)
4 years ago, i went to bask in the tackiness of the Crystal Cathedral but really enjoyed the older structures.

[AlbertCat]

19. The Chrystal Methodists may be able to help.

[kwassa]

27. I like that joke.

[Mumble]

20. The faithful..

need to pray for help and open up their wallets and purses. Preachers can't survive without generous donations or live without lavish lifestyles.

[TrogL]

21. I'll bid $1000 for the pipe organ.

I'm gonna need $49000 to move it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Cathedral_organ

[greiner3]

22. One down;

A million to go.

[AlbertCat]

23. One down;

I hope Muslims buy it and turn it into a Mosque.

[Bette Noir]

26. Now, there's a possibility...

[hunter]

28. I said in GD that Disney should buy it.

Welcome to the Church of Mickey Mouse:

http://wikiality.wikia.com/Mickey_Mouse

Disney Weddings, Disney Funerals, the Tomb of Disney... the possibilities are eternal.

[ezmerelda39]

29. I agree, but

it is still a little too close to ground zero for some people.....

[skepticscott]

24. If the government can do just fine by cutting taxes

you'd think a god-supported institution (attended predominantly by people who voted for candidates pushing tax cuts and tougher bankruptcy laws) would have no trouble coping with a downturn in revenue. And no doubt they prayed real hard for gawd to help them out of their troubles. How's that workin' out?

[Safetykitten]

30. Damn! And I was growing my hair to be weekend Jesus for the Christmas shows.

Guess I will have to settle for TBN.

[L0oniX]

32. Senior Pastor Sheila Schuller Coleman = vampire

[divideandconquer]

33. I bet Aqua Buddha could make a profit!

[underpants]

34. Megachurch Crystal Cathedral Ministries seeks bankruptcy protection

Source: CNN

Los Angeles, California -- The Southern California megachurch Crystal Cathedral Ministries will enter bankruptcy as it faces lawsuit-filing creditors and a rapid decline in donations because of the recession, church officials announced Monday.

An unspecified small number of creditors have sued the church and obtained writs of attachment, said church spokesman John Charles.

The ministry in Garden Grove, California, is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.

"In 1977, countless persons predicted that our plans to build a 2,800-seat all-glass church in earthquake-prone Southern California would never get off the ground, but we have made history," Coleman added. "Our announcement today to file for the protection of Chapter 11 is just one more chapter in the book that he is continuing to write -- and we know that God's plans are good -- we have no doubt his chapter will be good!"



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/10/18/california.mega.church.bankruptcy/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn

[madmax]

35. My poor Mom

Would send them a few dollars each month, not much maybe 5 or 10 but, for her that was a lot. I let her because it made her feel good and of course I helped her.

She didn't have much but, she would give to the Paralyzed Vets (which I think is great) and this church. I detest these mega Churches.

[Grassy Knoll]

36. Looks like the religious right.....

needs to give you holy rollers some of your " Non Profit " money back.

[givemebackmycountry]

37. You know,you read a lot of weird shit here on DU.

And if you have been around long enough like me, you have read some REALLY weird shit.
I mean, I have read some shit on DU that was SO weird and disturbing I thought about it for days after.
And now with the tea party handjobs it seems like every day brings us another gem.

I am going to file this away on my top 100 list of "weird shit I have read on DU" because it's priceless.

"In 1977, countless persons predicted that our plans to build a 2,800-seat all-glass church in earthquake-prone Southern California would never get off the ground, but we have made history," Coleman added. "Our announcement today to file for the protection of Chapter 11 is just one more chapter in the book that he is continuing to write -- and we know that God's plans are good -- we have no doubt his chapter will be good!"

An all glass church.
I guess they figured that no one would ever throw any stones?

I just HAD to do this... edit.

[demosincebirth]

38. I wonder what they done with the money. That church was packed every Sunday.

[exboyfil]

41. Check the staff list

of Schuller family members, and the fact that they will not reveal individual salaries. Maybe that will get you closer to what happened to the money.

Congregational churches should not be run like personal fiefdoms. Nepotism runs rampant in this church. Shame on the congregation members for allowing this to happen.

I wonder how toothless the Church Council is (or whatever governing body they use).

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/cathedral-261332-pay-church.html
GARDEN GROVE – Crystal Cathedral founder Robert H. Schuller, his wife Arvella, and their five children and respective spouses will all take a voluntary 50 percent pay cut for the next four pay periods, according to an e-mail from Sheila Schuller Coleman to all cathedral employees.

How can you have 12 family members feeding at the church trough?

Man you can't make this stuff up.

I remember when our old Senior Pastor reached Social Security age. He still wanted to stay in the pulpit, and we had no desire to see him leave. He zeroed out his salary for the next couple of years in which he served. His son-in-law would have made a good Senior Pastor for us when he left the pulpit (we would have had one or two Senior Pastors in between), but he was not called because of the perception of nepotism. Not all large churces (we have 4,000 members) are run this way. We have recently called a a early 40 something to our ministry, and we are blessed by his presence.

[DavidDvorkin]

39. May many others follow them

Amen.

[beac]

40. Guess they couldn't "pray away" the debt!

Funny how all those God-fearing conservatives have no problem stiffing some allegedly over-taxed "small business owners" -- what a GREAT example of Christian "ethics." :eyes:

[Crowman1979]

45. I don't think expensive and elaborate gathering places will bring Jesus back.

You'd think these people would do something simple, like buy some land, leave the nature intact and just sit down in the grass. But no, they assume that god has the same interior decorating tastes as Liberace.

[lunatica]

46. Well God's will is God's will

Bye, bye...

[Javaman]

47. Maybe this is the rapture/Armageddon/Apocalypse they have been screeching about all these years?

it is the end for them after all.

And instead of getting sucked up to heaven then got their wallets sucked dry. LOL

[L.Torsalo]

49. He who lives in a glass house,

shouldn't cast stones...or something to that effect. I like your supposition.These sham churches are getting their karmic desserts for years of spewing nonsense. Their effectiveness as political tools is also coming to an inglorious end. Best live a virtuous life, me thinks. LOL

[_ed_]

50. I hope this is the first of many

churches to go bankrupt and close down. It's 2010: let's stop pretending that there is a magic sky god, and stop wasting your money by giving it to these con-artists. Religion is the biggest scam ever perpetuated on people. The Catholics have pulled off nearly two centuries of unabashed theft.

[Taverner]

51. +100

And its happening