Crystal Cathedral files bankruptcy

The Crystal Cathedral Ministries filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday, October 18, 2010. The cathedral owes unsecured creditors over 7 million dollars, according to The Seattle Times online.

The Southern California church was founded by Robert H. Schuller, a popular television evangelist. The Seattle Times includes a statement issued by the church's leader, Senior Pastor Sheila Schuller Coleman which explains that the cathedral had no choice but to file bankruptcy after creditors chose to file lawsuits and refused to extend a moratorium to allow continued talks about a payment plan.

The Orange County Register reports that Jim Penner, a church board member, says that the church's debt is at 44 million dollars - which is a much higher number that what the Seattle Times reported.

A very popular program that takes place in the cathedral is "Hour of Power." The show has since had to cut its air time, send home its orchestra and professional choir singers; the choir is now composed of church volunteers.

The Orange County Register includes an interview with Kristina Oliver, who supplied the church with many props and such for the yearly Christmas pageant. Oliver is still waiting to get paid from the church. She was less than thrilled with Penner's attempts at negotiation saying:

"He offered to pay us 100 percent over the next 12 years. What kind of an offer is that?"


Crystal Cathedral's web site has a press release that asks members to donate money to help pay for the debt.

A follow up post will be made when more information is released.

By Nikky Raney
Journalist & Blogger