Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Squandering A Legacy, And Building One: How Robert H. Schuller Lost The Crystal Cathedral, And How The Catholic Church Captured It., Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr, Terri Manley

Douglas J. Swanson, Ed.D APR

This case study shows how a failure to follow accepted strategies for organizational crisis management preceded and contributed to the demise of Robert H. Schuller’s Christian ministry and the loss of its iconic church, the Crystal Cathedral. The case study illustrates how the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, which had already engaged in strategic planning for a new house of worship, was able to take advantage of Rev. Schuller’s situation and acquire his ministry’s property for a fraction of its value. Data gathered through a narrative analysis of news media stories and interviews shows the clear superiority of the Catholic …