this is in the news...that crystal cathedral has agreed to a sell-out plan to chapman university (which is a conservative, semi-Christian college/univ. in the nearby small town of orange, on the edge of anaheim, in orange county) ...it's bittersweet news for those of us who follow the crystal cathedral from the ground level (actually attend the services, not just watch on tv)..the main problem being that for somany years we were urged & encouraged to keep giving for the final construction phase which including buying out several homes...so that they could build the hospitality center..which is a very nice building, but if it can't be sustained by an endowment fund..if we have to keep "digging deep" without ever getting out of the hole it begins to become very tiresome & less inspirational ...we want to know that eventually the crystal cathedral will become self-sustaining..that was the whole point of the endowment fund that was supposedly being established...& Schuller used to say he doesn't build or go into actionon anything if the money isn't in the bank...what happened to that claim ? we need to know that at some point the congregation become true members, respected as is for their (our) long-term commitment to the ministry..that's where a lot of the disillusion is entering in ...that were being taken for a ride ..& nobody takes anyaccountability, one leader blames this, another leader blames that., and the list goes on..And NOW we will hear for the NEXT 5 YEARS, "HELP SAVE THIS MINISTRY!"...its always about economics...albeit I'm thankful that Sheila has downplayed the weekly plea for money, but now I anticipate it will return for the next 5 years ..
