Schuller Ousted From Crystal Cathedral Board

Things continue to head south at the big glass church:

The Rev. Robert H. Schuller, who started his ministry in an Orange drive-in theater more than five decades ago, has been voted off the board of Crystal Cathedral Ministries, which has been torn apart by debt and familial disharmony for the last several years.

The church has not released information about the board meeting where Schuller, 84, was ousted, but his son Robert A. Schuller, who was himself forced out of the cathedral by his sisters and brothers-in-law three years ago, confirmed it Sunday.

He said his father wanted to enlarge the board, which was not received well by the others.

"A majority of that board consists of paid employees of the church and that's a serious conflict of interest," Robert A. Schuller said.

None of the board members or church officials could be reached for comment Sunday.

Schuller said his mother, a board member, voted against it, but was in the minority.

"It's a very sad day and unfortunately, I know how that feels," the younger Schuller said.

The place has been run like a family business for a long time, and unfortunately has fallen into hard times largely of their own making.