Crystal Cathedral Ministries, an Orange County landmark and megachurch founded by television evangelist Robert H. Schuller, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Monday morning.
The cathedral owes about about $7.5 million to unsecured creditors. The bankruptcy filing seeks court protection from its creditors.
In a statement issued Monday, Senior Pastor Sheila Schuller Coleman said the bankruptcy filing was a necessity because a "small number of creditors chose to file lawsuits and obtained writ of attachment."
I saw that on Foxnews and I thought they said more was owed...in any case the problem don't simply start with fiscal irresponsibilty here-Pastor Sheilia? ::tonofbricks:
actually that would be a good idea because with out tax breaks churches could do and say what ever they want with out any restrictions (apart from normal civil).
Your church can do this now. No one is forcing them to take a tax exempt status. If you church wants to "do and say what ever they want" tell them to start paying taxes and do it.
Keep in mind, that if you do that (not be taxed exemped) them members will not be able to deduct offerings from their income tax.
I realize that is not the reason to give, but if an individaul is giving a sizeable amount to the church, then why give extra to the govt?
generally, I would say that restrictions placed on the church are not that unreasonable.
If it came to that point - ie no preching against abortion, homsexu@al , ect - that is a different story.
And that is as why as Christians, we need to get involved with local politics.
I would say that the churches have made a choice to trade away some of their autonomy in return for tax breaks. If they choose to go the other way, they can. This certainly doesn't illustrate a "state church".
I disagree.
If the pulpit can be monitored by the government and sermons modified to be agreeable with the government I don't know what else to call it.
Just because Our government is benelvolent with our churches doesn't mean its less so.
What happens when they want furhter restrictions?
And so it goes.
A "state church" is one that has no choice in the matter. Every church in our country has a choice. If they feel the restrictions are too heavy handed, they can give up the tax benefits and say what they like.
And once you take the benefit of having tax relief you have no choice in deciding whether or not you will speak about homosexuality or some other politically incorrect idea.
We can agree to disagree. In my opinion a "state church" is one that has no choice in the matter. All churches in the US have a choice so they are not a "state church". Your definition obviously isn't the same. We will continue to go in circles, so we might as well stop.