A spokesman for Crystal Cathedral
Ministries has denied reports that Rev. Robert H. Schuller has been
ousted from the ministry he founded after speaking out against the
church's anti-gay policy.
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.
The Orange County Register
reported that Schuller was voted off the board. And Schuller's son,
Robert Anthony Schuller, told the paper that his father was removed
after he had proposed adding new members to the board.
“He [Robert H. Schuller] was not
voted off the board,” said John Charles. “He is still board
chairman emeritus.”
According to a statement released by
the church, Schuller's position on the board has changed.
“Recently, the board of directors of
Crystal Cathedral Ministries voted to change Dr. Schuller's position
from that of a voting board member to the honorary Chairman of the
Board Emeritus, a non-voting position,” the statement read.
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.