Capital and the Cathedral: Robert H. Schuller's Continual Fundraising for Church Growth

Robert H. Schuller's Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, appeared to be the model of growth and stability among megachurches—until it imploded. Drawing on archival material and interviews, this article demonstrates how the seeming success of Schuller's church growth philosophy w...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
VerfasserInnen: Marti, Gerardo 1965- (VerfasserIn) ; Mulder, Mark T. 1973- (VerfasserIn)
Medienart: Elektronisch Aufsatz
Sprache:Englisch
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Veröffentlicht: Cambridge University Press [2020]
In: Religion and American culture
Jahr: 2020, Band: 30, Heft: 1, Seiten: 63-107
normierte Schlagwort(-folgen):B Schuller, Robert H. 1926-2015 / USA / Megakirche / Sozioökonomisches System
RelBib Classification:CH Christentum und Gesellschaft
KBQ Nordamerika
KDG Freikirche
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Robert H. Schuller's Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, appeared to be the model of growth and stability among megachurches—until it imploded. Drawing on archival material and interviews, this article demonstrates how the seeming success of Schuller's church growth philosophy was built on a precarious structure that demanded the continual management of flows of capital. In Schuller's vision, a church's capacity must always exceed a leader's projected plan for growth. Large capital projects stimulate revenue, yet borrowed funds are required to accommodate growth in membership that will produce income to pay off loans later. As new members join, however, structures expand, placing increased strain on mobilizing the loyalty of a wider constituency to uphold the charisma-bearing enterprise. Ensuring the credibility of pastoral charisma requires ever expanding infrastructure, which, in turn, demands increased funding for programs, staff, and buildings—a vicious spiral, exacting enormous strains for sustaining the entire ministry.
ISSN:1533-8568
Enthält:Enthalten in: Religion and American culture
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1017/rac.2020.3