Lawsuit: Schullers flourished as church suffered

A complaint filed by creditors in bankruptcy court alleges that insiders benefited from their contracts while contractors went unpaid for services they provided.
By DEEPA BHARATH
Oct. 3, 2011

SANTA ANA – A lawsuit filed by creditors against several members of Crystal Cathedral founder Robert H. Schuller's family alleges that the older Schuller and his family members used their power and position to give themselves generous salaries, housing allowances and other benefits while the church struggled financially over the last nine years.

In addition, the complaint filed Friday states that Crystal Cathedral Ministries borrowed more than $10 million between 2002 and 2009 from endowment funds, which were meant to pay for specific items such as maintenance of the Walk of Faith memorial stones on the campus. The money was then used for regular church expenses and salaries, the lawsuit alleges. the rest