A tearful Robert H. Schuller asks for help

Posted on October 25, 2010
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(27) comments

It was an emotional Sunday at the Crystal Cathedral. 84 year old founder Robert H. Schuller, in a tearful address, asked his congregation for help in turning around the church's massive debt that led to last week's declaration for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Here is some of what Schuller said:

"I need more help from you... If you are a tither, become a double-tither. If you are not a tither, become a tither. This ministry has earned your trust. This ministry has earned your help."

"I learned from my father that tough times never last... Tough people do."

Earlier last week, creditors declined to go along with the CC's repayment plan. Creditors had been working for months to work out a plan, but when negotiations broke down, CC ministries had no choice but to file for bankruptcy.

According to a church representative: "A few [of the vendors] didn't want to play ball...They tried to get ahead of the others. It became difficult for us to hold the coalition of vendors together."

Sources: OC Register / LA Times

QUESTION: What should a church do when it can't pay it's bills? Have you ever been involved with a church that had NO money? How did you deal with it?

Comments

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Ronnie on Wed, October 27, 2010

I agreed that this is reality. But if everything is honest human reaction, then thousands of churches need to be closed down, especially small churches who may be struggling with financial difficulties or lack of wisdom in its financial planning. Let us think biblical and to me, CC is part of the BODY and a matter of fact, all of us should pray that they get out of debt and be a testimony to the community again. Snowing or not!
Peter Hamm on Wed, October 27, 2010

The problem here, though, Ronnie, is, I think, gross financial mismanagement combined with a church that has simply not got any relevance to its particular community. It’s a perfect storm, and I really feel like something unsavory is at the root of it. I would not be surprised if this is not the worst news we see in the coming days.

It’s far different from the small country church that is struggling to pay its pastor this year. I doubt such churches have 8-figure debts that probably can never be repaid.
Ronnie on Thu, October 28, 2010

After 60 years of his ministry, I said this prayerfully with utmost respect for you, Peter, pls give him a break! Nobody knows what our AWESOME God can do!
Leonard on Thu, October 28, 2010

Peter,
I agree the world has changed, but one thing we have to be careful of is leaving out a generation of believers because their style is dated.

To say this church has no relevance to it’s community is overstatement at best. There are still quite a number of people who attend and are a part of CC.

Just saying…
Peter Hamm on Thu, October 28, 2010

But, Leonard,

How does a properly functioning church rack up this kind of debt? I mean… really…
Leonard on Thu, October 28, 2010

Peter, that is a great question but different that the relevance issue.

Our church lost 65% of its budget almost over night. There was no way to cut our budget fast enough. We had contracts and commitments based upon one budget and were stuck in the reality of another budget.

This situation created debt for us as a church, significant debt for a church our size. Literally overnight we went almost 16k in debt because of a shortfall.

Since that time we have paid back huge amounts, stabilized our finances through cutting the budget and growing the church and the people within the church.

It was painful and it some people left because they did not want to deal with the struggle.

I do not know why CC has struggled other that to hear what they have said about how impacting the economy has been on them. I assume their overhead is huge and to with a shrinking donor base along with a struggling economy some serious cuts need to be made. (probably a long time ago)

Debt snowballs so quickly too. If your budget is short 60k a month for 2 months, wow, you now need 180k in extra in a month. This economy does not afford that kind of giving.
Peter Hamm on Thu, October 28, 2010

That sounds rough, but we’re talking about 43 MILLION here, aren’t we?
Leonard on Thu, October 28, 2010

I am not defending their debt, I am saying that churches incur debt quickly and for a variety of reasons.
Peter Hamm on Thu, October 28, 2010

Oh, I understand that… big time…
BB on Tue, November 02, 2010

After listening to the many things coming from these family members, don’t know how they have earned anyone’s trust. Don’t say I am judging because I am not passing judgment. But, their own words indict them.
Daniel on Tue, November 02, 2010

How about someone tackling the question that was asked?
Rev. Rob Bagwell on Thu, December 09, 2010

As an X fundamentalist, I still remember something that I was taught: many men who have built great ministries, destroy them in their waning years. It is God’s Church, not man’s.