As Schuller plans to step down, he and son reflect on past, goals

The elder reverend will still appear on the televised 'Hour of Power.'
Knight Ridder Newspapers
The Rev. Robert H. Schuller, speaking to a crowded New Year's Day congregation, announced that he will step down as senior pastor of the landmark ministries he built over the past half-century at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif.
"Faith brings stimulation to get going, do something," the Rev. Mr. Schuller said. "You achieve success, and you leave something behind that makes the world more beautiful for God."
Mr. Schuller said the ministry's board of directors had unanimously voted to name his son, the Rev. Robert Anthony Schuller, 51, the church's second senior pastor.
The installation will be Sunday.
The elder Mr. Schuller's new title will be founding pastor. He will keep his position as chairman of the church's international board of directors and will continue to be seen regularly on the ministry's internationally televised "Hour of Power."
Background
Ordained in 1950 by the Reformed Church of America, Mr. Schuller, 79, began his Orange County, Calif., ministry in 1955 with $500 and an outdoor pulpit atop the snack bar at the Orange Drive-in Theater. He went on to build his landmark 10,000-window Crystal Cathedral, opening its doors in 1980.
The "Hour of Power" is seen by about 10 million viewers worldwide.
The younger Rev. Mr. Schuller, in asking the congregation for its prayers, said, "I really believe God has called me since I was born. I am honored and humbled to accept this appointment."
Both men spoke about the mantle being passed at the landmark Crystal Cathedral ministry.
Q. Rev. Robert H. Schuller, what's ahead for you as you hand the ministry's leadership to your son?
A. I'll be 80 in September, and the biggest goal of my age 80-to-90 10-year plan ... is to raise $100 million for a permanent endowment fund to maintain these gardens and grounds, complete with flowers in perpetuity, to keep it in pristine condition for hundreds and probably thousands of years.
Q. Have you fulfilled your goals
A. I had only one basic contract to do only one thing: Build a church ... and I think we have built a church. Choosing my successor was the most important thing to perpetuate this ministry; we have done that. I wanted to finish 50 years.
Favorite moment
Q. Do you have a favorite moment from these years?
A. I've had a lot of them, but what I can say is that before every favorite moment, there was a pit. I had to pay a big price. It was usually the most trusted members of my congregation couldn't go along with me and they left. Often because of money. A lot of it was because of architecture. I am committed to great architecture. To me, it is spiritual. It's a commitment to leave the world more beautiful so that it can glorify God.
Q. How did you come to choose your son as your successor as senior pastor?
A. We had to get led by God, to be directed, to have feelings for the successor. And we had to move beyond our personal father-and-son relationship to a practical thing: Can he hold a television audience? And in the past two or three years, the positive response to Bob ... has really mounted to the point that we knew he'd be more successful in holding the market we have created.
Q. When did you know that you wanted to follow your father into the ministry.
A. I always knew I was going to be in the ministry. I've always known I was committed to Jesus Christ. I made a public commitment at a Billy Graham crusade in 1963. I was something like 8 or 9.
Looking ahead
Q. Like your father, do you have a 10-year plan?
A. Oh, we've got many, many plans. The biggest challenge for us in our community is aging. When I look at the congregation, I am, at age 51, younger than most of the people sitting in church. We want to become a postmodern church, which really addresses the next generation and the one after that. Postmoderns like the religious symbols and architecture, and I think you'll find a resurgence in traditional churches because of them.
Also, our goals are to break down the barrier that you need to come to church (physically) to be a member of a church. If we can get people together worshipping God in their homes ... and watching the "Hour of Power" ... and then they can break into small spiritual growth groups.
We have a fabulous program we are going to be implementing to help people experience emotional and spiritual healing. It is a tremendous responsibility. The means by which the message is communicated will also be significant -- like podcasting. We have to be on the cutting edge of technology.
Q. What are the obstacles?
A. It's leadership, getting people who are vulnerable enough to be honest and real into leadership roles. People who will grow through some of the struggles they personally deal with.
Q. What are your emotions on stepping down, Rev. Schuller?
A. The feeling I have is like graduating with a special degree from a special university that it took me 50 years to earn. There is a sense of great relief. And I'm proud of the grades I got.
Q. Will you continue in the church's public life?
A. At this age, I'm excited about relaxing and taking the time to go into a house and sit and visit and talk and pray. But I expect to have my voice heard and my face seen every Sunday on the "Hour of Power. "I'll still be chairman of the board, so I can observe what happens. I have a goal that, at the age of 100, I'll celebrate my birthday preaching a terrific sermon in the Crystal Cathedral. And then I think I ... will have proved the power of positive thinking.