Capital and the Cathedral

Robert H. Schuller's Continual Fundraising for Church Growth

Bibliographic Data

ID4517477
AuthorsGerardo Martí (0000-0002-4212-6897, corresponding author), Mark T Mulder
Year2020
Volume30
Issue1
Pages63-107
Publication date2020-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligion and American Culture A Journal of Interpretation (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1052-1151 • E-ISSN: 1533-8568
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/rac.2020.3
OpenAlexW3014657947
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited23

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

Art · Charisma · Church Growth · Economics · Liberian dollar · Management · Political science · Politics · Revenue · Law · Public Administration · Religion and Society Interactions · Religion, Society, and Development · Religious Tourism and Spaces · Finance

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