Crystal Cathedral Endorses Offer to End Bankruptcy Crisis

By Adelle M. Banks
Religion News Service

(RNS) Crystal Cathedral officials have endorsed an offer from a nearby California university to purchase the glass-walled megachurch and end its bankruptcy crisis.

Despite their decision, church leaders say they are still hoping for a miracle that will prevent the sale, which could move forward in mid-November.

"Nothing is final until November 14!" said Sheila Schuller Coleman, senior pastor of Crystal Cathedral, in a Wednesday (Oct. 26) statement.

"We continue to pray... even though our board has had to reluctantly vote to accept a plan due to the deadlines required by the court."

Chapman University said the sale could be advantageous for both organizations.

"We are hopeful that the final decision will favor Chapman, because that outcome would provide the Crystal Cathedral Ministry with the opportunity to go forward using their highly distinctive campus, while providing Chapman with vital space to expand our health sciences programs," the school said.

In July, the university offered Crystal Cathedral $46 million for the 35-acre campus with a leaseback program that would allow it to continue worship services. In its statement endorsing the university's offer, the cathedral noted that it also provides the opportunity for the ministry to repurchase the buildings.

Cathedral officials had hoped to raise more than $50 million through a "miracle faith" campaign that started in July, the Los Angeles Times reported, but had raised only $172,775 by September.

If accepted, the deal with Chapman would seem to end hopes of Catholic officials to buy the iconic church to serve as a cathedral for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange.

Comments

[dieselis]

03:02 PM on 11/13/2011

One JESUS, then you have your religions supposedly all loving that same one Jesus of which there's 3000 plus variations. Just give me Jesus the Torah He studied from that should be matched by the Old Testament Bible but doesn't because of Mankind's fiddling and meddling, the New Testament Bible where Jesus closest followers all went and laid down their lives the same as JESUS did. The Catholic Church is the entity all Christian Churches deferred from for all you religious fanatics who have to have Christian religion. All you need however, is Jesus Son of GOD ALMIGHTY making HIM GOD also and the HOLY SPIRIT this is available to us all why taint it with religious doctrines tainted by mankind. Seek Jesus the way to GOD ALMIGHTY and likely the same. You see even the Apostle Paul spoke vehemently against denominations. So go straight to JESUS our High Priest and make you petition known. That's if you really want HIM in your life.
When I read all the things perpetrated against Jews and others in the name of Christianity, but really just to steal their wealth. Keep your Christianity just give me JESUS THE ONE THAT SAVES!!!

[No Regrets]

01:52 AM on 11/06/2011

Home Invasion Robbery - Because of the deep faith I developed in the Crystal Cathedral and my love for Jesus, these hard core criminals fled when I mentioned the name of Jesus -- pretty cool to see them bolt. Should have thought of that before all the trauma. My hope is for more to exercise basic mathematics. Time spent attacking anyone is time lost forever. The possibility of your dream becoming reality could be lost because of engaging in negativity. God has a dream with your name on it. Don't let it be given to someone else because of wasteful time spent criticizing others or their dream. If we are not ready, it can pass us by. Basic Math: Time spent on negativity is lost forever. Be a good steward of your time.

[rsttho557949]

10:15 PM on 11/01/2011

We know what will happen to the Crystal Cathedral if they link up with one of these "liberal universities" that sound Christian; it will be one of those all comers "inter faith" "chapels" that will promote the lie that "there are alternative roads to the loving God". My thing is this that if the folks at the Crystal Cathedral contacted people like me to preach and present the Gospel in a non compromising way, the people will come. What an aging leader doesn't need to do is reach out for young people or those living alternative life styles to keep the pew$ filled. God won't bless such a church and will end up like the Crystal Cathedral. The leadership needs to reach out to those committed Christians who are not ashamed of the Gospel and are not into "entertaining" the congregation with "feel good" sermons, but to tell the congregation that the Blood of Jesus, repentance and faith are no jokes. They don't need to "diss" the older people but respect and honor them as the Bible recommends how elders should be treated. But, I think its a terrible idea for the that church to get involved with a secular university that will turn it into a chapel; if that happens Pastor Schuler will be turning in his gave like a rotisserie chicken in his grave till Jesus returns!

[Hectrev1]

12:31 PM on 10/31/2011

They are so anti catholic that they would rather take less money from Chapman over the diocese higher offer. What a bunch of hypocritical bigots, It no surprise they are bankrupt financially, spiritually and morally.

[No Regrets]

11:53 PM on 11/07/2011

I am doing a case study and am looking for volunteers. I thought you might be interested. I am taking a dozen people who have your mindset and those who think extremely opposite - a dozen people that are hopeful, positive, forward thinking, dream-oriented, encouraging, and believing the best about people. I would like to see where each group ends up in the next 2-5 years. On one hand, you are the perfect example for this research. On the other hand, I hope you don't participate, because I believe in people no matter what. However, let me know if you are interested.

[Hectrev1]

11:27 AM on 11/08/2011

Well if you hope I don't participate why ask?

[Ricky Bobby]

07:32 PM on 11/09/2011

another possibility thinker?

[chrysostomos]

07:17 PM on 10/30/2011

looks like that "miracle of faith" campaign worked out really well- proof positive that miracles do happen is the factso few people were hoodwinked by these snake oil salespeople.

[smokeystover39]

06:38 PM on 10/30/2011

Too bad the Catholic Church missed out on the opportunity to purchase the Crystal Cathedral 'cause they could have pointed to it as proof of their new policy of "transparency".

[Bill J4321]

01:47 PM on 10/30/2011

I'm sure if they can't work it out, they can rent it to Superman.

[VirginiaDreaming]

09:09 AM on 10/30/2011

I went to a service there many years ago. The building is beautiful, but all through the service I kept thinking how many people could have been helped with the money spent on building this huge structure. To me that is the problem with Cathedrals, they are beautiful, but wasteful. Would Jesus really have used money to build large churches instead of spending it to help people?

[Hectrev1]

09:50 PM on 11/07/2011

A side of a hill worked for him just fine.