Layoffs and other cutbacks are in the future for Crystal Cathedral Ministries in Orange County according to a statment issued Friday night on the church website and signed by megachurch founder the Rev. Robert H. Schuller.
Declining revenue is forcing church leaders to layoff employees, sell property in south Orange County, cut its "Hour of Power" broadcasts and cancel the annual "Glory of Easter" pageant.
Rev. Schuller said "it is with great sadness that the Board of Directors of the Crystal Cathedral Ministries announces that after long prayer and deliberation, the Ministry through the 2010 Glory of Easter production will not be held due to severe economic downturn.
"We ask that the entire church be united in prayer as we, the Crystal Cathedral congregation, share the triumphant message of Easter with those who regularly come to the campus and to our worship services.
"We remain extremely grateful for the dedicated leadership of Paul and Jeanne Dunn and the hundreds of dedicated volunteers who for 27 consecutive years have faithfully shared in portraying the Passion Week of our Lord.
"In my 2009 Christmas Eve message, I shared the sentence, "A Set Back is a Set Up for a Comeback" so we anticipate a positive turnaround in our country as we look forward to the 2010 Glory of Christmas and 2011 Glory of Easter. We dedicate ourselves to making that happen.
"To God be the Glory," Rev. Schuller said.
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The ministry also announced the poor economy is forcing closure of its 170-acre San Juan Capistrano campus, commonly known as The Ranch.
The Garden Grove-based mega-church has owned the property since 1982, hen 98 acres were donated by its previous occupant, the late Newport Beach usinessman John Crean, who made his millions in the motorhome industry.
