Ministry News

Passing the Torch(es)

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Friday, 12 June 2009 10:43

At the Crystal Cathedral in Orange County, Calif., founder Robert H. Schuller announced this week that he's turning over the leadership of the 10,000-member megachurch to his oldest daughter, 58-year-old Sheila Schuller Coleman. Coleman, a former schoolteacher, has been serving as the church's director of family ministries, in addition to overseeing its schools and children's and youth ministries. Though the transition was announced Sunday night and is effective immediately, Coleman says she never expected to lead the church. "Our church didn't even start ordaining women until 1973," she said. "I'm proud of my dad for doing this, and I hope I can serve as a role model for younger women who want to get things accomplished in this church."

In a letter posted on the ministry's Web site, Schuller said God spoke to him in the wee hours of the morning. "Give the message—cast my original vision for this ministry," he said God told him. "Don't worry. I have called your daughter Sheila, too. She is equipped and she will be your legs."

Schuller said he'll spend two more years "casting God's vision" for the ministry and his daughter will "put legs to the vision." In 2006, Schuller tapped his son, Robert A. Schuller, 54, to take over the church, but the younger Schuller left abruptly last year after a disagreement with his father. Juan Carlos Ortiz, who served as interim pastor, will remain as a teaching pastor.

Meanwhile, at The City Church in Kirkland, Wash., charismatic pastor Wendell Smith also kept things in the family by naming his son senior pastor earlier this week. Judah Smith, along with his wife, Chelsea, will begin serving as senior pastors of the 7,000-member, multisite congregation in September. Wendell Smith, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2004, will continue to serve as founding pastor of the charismatic church.

"This is an exciting time for The City Church and the right time for this transition to take place," Wendell Smith said. "Judah's leadership and preaching have greatly impacted our congregation and the thousands outside our church that follow his messages. We believe Judah and Chelsea will take us far beyond what we have seen in our first 17 years."

Late last year, cancer treatment forced Wendell Smith to significantly reduce his ministry involvement, but he said he has been able to resume many of his previous duties this year. After the leadership transition the elder Smith plans to focus on writing and overseeing The City Church's network of affiliated churches. His wife, Gini, will continue to serve as the church's executive pastor.

A frequent conference speaker, Judah Smith was pastor of City Church's youth outreach, Generation Church, which grew from one weekly service to seven in just three years. In January the younger Smith became The City Church's preaching pastor.

The City Church meets at several campuses across the Seattle area. A network of affiliated churches includes congregations in the U.S., Japan, Mexico and the Philippines. [charismamag.com, 6/11/09]