The Sad Demise of a Once Powerful Church

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   DrDeanCrosbyposted 13 years ago

   Although I think there are some valuable television ministries,in fact I was saved through one of them,many Christians have contempt for this type of religious practice.For them the article below will just set their contemptuous mindset into concrete.
   
   Personally I am deeply saddened by the demise of the Crystal Cathedral ministry.For over 30 years this church has provided spiritual comfort and emotional healing with their admittedly happy talk semi-Christian gospel,but real help nevertheless.However with the selection of their ministry by the Armed Forces (radio) Network for broadcast to the American military throughout the world,the spending of millions of dollars on a museum to honor the life of the pastor and the senior pastor's brazen practice of family nepotism,the demise of this once extremely influential mega church has been surprising only in its tardiness.Here is the latest chapter in a tragic story of church degradation :
   
   Nov. 17, 2010
   
   THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
   
   SANTA ANA The U.S. Trustee has filed objections in federal bankruptcy court questioning the salaries of three Crystal Cathedral employees two of them members of the founding Schuller family.According to documents filed over the last week, the U.S. Trustee, an employee of the Department of Justice who works in an administrative capacity with the court, questioned the need for a $132,019 housing allowance for Chief Financial Officer Fred Southard.
   
   
   
   
   The trustee also questioned the need for a $70,000 annual salary for Gretchen Schuller Penner, the youngest of Robert H. Schuller's daughters who produces the "Hour of Power" broadcasts. An objection was also filed to the $55,000 annual salary for Neyva Penner Klaassen, Gretchen Penner's daughter, who according to documents helps schedule musical guests for the Hour of Power programs.
   Marc Winthrop, attorney for the Cathedral, declined comment Wednesday. Jim Penner, Gretchen Penner's husband and teaching pastor, did not return phone calls seeking comment.
   
   
   
   The Garden Grove megachurch filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month after a series of financial problems prompted officials to cut about 150 members of its staff, suspend its iconic "Glory of Christmas" and "Glory of Easter" pageants and sell off several assets including its retreat center in San Juan Capistrano. The church is looking a $36 million mortgage and a total debt of nearly $60 million. The Cathedral owes about $7.5 million to unsecured creditors including many long-time vendors who provided services for the "Glory of Christmas" pageant.
   
   
   Court documents show that the Schuller family members alone make a little over $1 million in salaries each year.
   The U.S. Trustee questioned the need for Southard to serve as a chief financial officer when the church already has a full-time accounting staff. The trustee called for an evidentiary hearing to determine if Southard, who draws a $12,000 annual salary and gets a $132,000 annual housing allowance, should even continue as an employee of the cathedral. Southard has been employed as the cathedral's CFO since 1978.
   
   
   "There is no justification whatsoever for a housing allowance of this amount," the U.S. Trustee states. "Mr. Southard has failed to explain why such a housing allowance is necessary or appropriate, given this Debtor is in Chapter 11 and suffering financial difficulties."The trustee recommended that the housing allowance should be denied in its entirety, even if Southard is retained as a CFO.
   
   
   Objections were also filed with regard to Gretchen Penner and Neva Klaassen's salaries because their duties overlapped, according to court documents. The U.S. trustee recommended an evidentiary hearing to determine if either of their services would be needed, given the Cathedral's current financial health.
   __________________
   
   
   The Christian faith has not been designed to create success or find pleasure in or even tolerate this world but rather to OVERCOME it!
   
   

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      pylos26posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I see nothing sad about the demise of a mega liar.

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         qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         AMEN!

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      qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Dean Crosby...Dr. of what?

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   Daniel Carterposted 13 years ago

   Church is business, and they bought Babylon and are now paying a price. Yes, they inspired people along the way, but their addiction to the dollar was too powerful.
   
   Mother Teresa, Mahatma Ghandi, and others of such caliber had it right. The Crystal Cathedral rolled the dice and lost. Perhaps now their real ministry can begin, if they will forsake Babylon. But I doubt it. I think they are in for more of what they have already created.

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      Disappearingheadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      The house of cards is falling.

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      Disappearingheadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      The house of cards is falling.

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      IntimatEvolutionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I would like to applaud this post!

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   qwarkposted 13 years ago

   ...this comment refers to ALL aspects of "religious" belief: "THERE'S A SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE."
   If the shoe fits, wear it!

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   pylos26posted 13 years ago

   hello qwark
   was sup dude?

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      qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Settled in for the winter.
      Working out.
      No fishin' yet.
      I left "Sunrise Bch" City screwed it up.
      All else is the same...you?

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         pylos26posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I looked at some rv parks around Aransas Pass, but its about the same distance down to Tampa area. I’m headed down to the St Johns River first, then maybe on down on the Indian river and camp. Keep warm dude.

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   Paul Wingertposted 13 years ago

   I find it hard to believe that in this day and age that people fall into the mega church and mega BS!

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