Crack in Crystal Cathedral's Leadership Widens
Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 | Updated 6:45 AM PDT
AP
Robert A. Schuller (left) poses for a photo with his father, Robert H. Schuller, outside the Crystal Cathedral on Feb. 9, 2006
The pastor known as Robert Jr. has resigned his post at Garden Grove's iconic Crystal Cathedral, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The Rev. Robert A. Schuller, ousted by his father in October as the pastor at the center of the 39-year-old Christian television program "Hour of Power," resigned his position as senior pastor and plans to open his own ministry.
Church founder Robert H. Schuller, 82, removed his son from show after three years into the job when he refused to rotate his role with other pastors, the church said.
The younger Schuller, 54, eventually gave up his position in late November, but church officials were not made privvy to his plans, according to Rick Mysse, a pastor with the Schullers denomination, the Reformed Church of America, which oversees the Crystal Cathedral and some 60 other churches in Southern California.
Mysse said 25 pastors were lined up to speak on "Hour of Power," a handful of whom have already recorded shows, including Lee Strobel and Bill Hybels.
The elder Schuller declined an interview with The Times about the split.
"This is probably too personal and too close," Mike Nason of the Crystal Cathedral told the newspaper. "I don't think he's going to do very well talking about it."
Previously, church officials said the two men lacked a "shared vision" of the church and TV show.
