Steve Smick Commits Suicide at Altar of Pastor Robert H. Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral

There is more drama following Pastor Robert H. Schuller and his Crystal Cathedral. Apparently Steve Smick, 48, walked into the church Wednesday morning, handed a church greeter a note, then knelt in front of a cross and shot himself in the head, leaving him dead at the altar. All this occurred at a suicide-prevention lecture.

According to the Orange County Register, greeters at the church said a man had shot himself in the head inside the main church. Betty Spicer, one of the greeters, said she welcomed the man as he entered the church asking him where he was from. The man, who had long-hair and was “a bit unkempt,” responded, “Around here,” Spicer said. Then he handed her a piece of paper folded over, with his driver’s license inside. “He was in a hurry,” Spicer said. The note, in bold marker, indicated he’d parked a pickup truck in the parking lot and had borrowed a gun from a friend, Spicer said.

The man went to the front of the church, knelt in front of a large gold cross, reached into a backpack and then put the gun to his head. Spicer said she thought the man was praying before she heard a loud pop. The man had a semi-automatic handgun and fired one round to his head, Lt. Ellsworth said. Source: OC Register

There is no connection between the man and the church. It is just so ironic that he chose that church to kill himself, considering that the same church is embroiled in its own scandal and the slow death of the Schuller dynasty.

Filed under: Apparent Suicide, Crystal Cathedral, Rev. Robert H. Schuller, Robert A. Schuller, Steve Smick

Televangelist Robert H. Schuller’s Empire in Financial Tailspin, Son and Recent Successor Robert A. Schuller Abruptly Resigns

Robert Schuller & Son Robert A. Schuller (Photo Chris Carlson)

Misery loves company. Well, once known as one of the America’s most popular televangelists, Rev. Robert H. Schuller is watching his life’s work and financial empire slowly crumble. You will remember Rev. Schuller for the “Hour of Power” broadcast from behind the walls of the shimmering, glass megachurch aptly named the “Crystal Cathedral.” Funny, as they say, all that glistens isn’t gold. Rev. Schuller has been a staple on television for more than three decades.

The church is in financial turmoil. It plans to sell more than $65 million worth of its Orange County property to pay off debt. Revenue dropped by nearly $5 million last year, according to a recent letter from the elder Schuller to elite donors. In the letter, Schuller Sr. implored the Eagle’s Club members — who supply 30 percent of the church’s revenue — for donations and hinted that the show might go off the air without their support. “The final months of 2008 were devastating for our ministry,” the 82-year-old pastor wrote.

News flash — it has been devastating for just about everyone in this country. Hey, whatever happened to the prosperity gospel these pastors preach? The Crystal Cathedral blames the recession for its woes. Yep, years of living lavishly at the expense of its congregants and ministry supporters. Isn’t this the same predicament Revs. Paula and Randy White (who are divorced), with their megachurch “Without Walls International Church” are facing after the Evangelical Christian Credit Union began foreclosure proceedings against them in November and has demanded the repayment of a $12 million loan on the church’s property? Wait, what about Kenneth Copeland Ministries’ brand of prosperity gospel, which amounted to nothing but a serious mismanagement of the hard-earned donations of supporters? Copeland has refused to release the salaries of his wife, himself and others. Gee, I wonder why?

Seems like the prosperity gospel is on Skid Row. Wow, these same high-flying icons coined this brand of spreading the Word — the belief that God rewards signs of faith with wealth, health and happiness — have run into some serious financial turbulence. Psst, Rev. Schuller and Co., it’s time for you to sow the same seed into your ministries as you begged your supporters to do. I am waiting for Oral Roberts to pop up saying that God has given him another mandate to get $1 million in 30 days. Folks, TV-based megachurches are on their way out. The days of the models of Rev. Schuller, Jimmy Swaggart, Oral Roberts, Quack-extraordinaire Benny Hinn and Rod Parsley are OVER.

The Schuller family drama is very interesting. They consider the church a family business, with the younger Schuller’s 2006 appointment to lead the Crystal Cathedral. But that all fell by the wayside. The church announced on Nov. 29, 2008 that Schuller Jr. had resigned as senior pastor, just a month after he was removed from the church’s syndicated broadcasts. In a news release, Schuller Sr. said: “Robert and I have been struggling as we each have different ideas as to the direction and the vision for this ministry,” only to replace him with a rotating line of guest pastors. Funny, another pastor who just can’t practice what he preaches — unity and love. Then they wonder why church membership is down and why donations are down drastically, all the while ignoring the real problem — themselves.

Filed under: Crystal Cathedral, Financial Tailspin, Kenneth Copeland, Megachurches, Prosperity Gospel, Rev. Paula White, Rev. Randy White, Rev. Robert H. Schuller, Robert A. Schuller