Rev. Robert H. Schuller has been ousted
from the Crystal Cathedral Ministries he founded, the
Orange County Register reported.
The 84-year-old Schuller founded more
than 50 years ago the Orange County, California-based Protestant
megachurch that is now being led by his daughters Sheila Schuller
Coleman and Carol Schuller Milner.
According to the paper, Schuller was
voted off the board of the Crystal Cathedral Ministries. He joins
his son, Robert A. Schuller, who was booted three years ago.
“A majority of that board consists of
paid employees of the church and that's a serious conflict of
interest,” Robert A. Schuller told the paper, adding that his
father wanted to enlarge the board.
“It's a very sad day and
unfortunately, I know how that feels,” he added.
Schuller had spoken out against
policies implemented by his daughters, including the church's
official stance against gay parishioners, which went so far as asking
the church's choir to sign an anti-gay covenant.
“I understand that Crystal Cathedral
Ministries teaches that sexual intimacy is intended by God to only be
within the bonds of marriage, between one man and one woman,” the
covenant reads.
Coleman told reporters that the
document is intended to “clarify expectations placed on them as
ministry leaders.”
Schuller disagreed with the policy.
“I have a reputation worldwide of
being tolerant of all people and their views,” Schuller said in
March. “I'm too well-educated to criticize a certain religion or
group of people for what they believe in. It's called freedom.”
He added that everyone is welcome in
his church: “We don't test anyone who comes to our ministry. We
don't require them to be Christian. We would not demand that they be
born-again Christians.”
Last year the board of the Crystal
Cathedral filed for bankruptcy protection, citing debts of more than
$43 million.