Crystal Cathedral’s Robert Schuller remembered at funeral service

Hundreds of mourners paid respects Monday to Crystal Cathedral and “Hour of Power” founder, the Rev. Robert H. Schuller.

The televangelist died April 2 of esophageal cancer at age 88.

His son, the Rev. Robert A. Schuller, held back tears during the funeral service as he talked about the bond he shared with his father over fishing — a passion they shared. He recalled a time as a child when he cried because his father went fishing without him.

“When he got back he took me aside and he said, ‘You know what, Robert, I’m never going to fish without you again,”‘ he said. “And he never fished without me again. He was true to his word.”

The funeral service was held in the courtyard plaza of Christ Cathedral, formerly home to the Crystal Cathedral megachurch. Now owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, which picked up the property in bankruptcy proceedings, the current name is a nod to the history of Schuller’s ministry.

“It’s the only place to have it,” Robert A. Schuller told City News Service earlier.

Christ Cathedral also will be the final resting place of the “Hour of Power” founder.

Dan Chun, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu, Bishop Charles Blake of West Angeles Church of God in Christ, and Bishop Kevin Vann of the Diocese of Orange all took part in the service.

“I know these men all very well and admire and respect them all,” Schuller said. “My father had so many friends. When it comes to pastors, that was one of his number one goals — working with other pastors.”

Schuller told CNS he and his father were passionate about fishing.

“We traveled the world together, looking for big fish, and we did quite well doing that,” Schuller said. “When I went away to college we had a competition for the biggest fish. It bounced back and forth.”

Schuller recalled catching a 500-pound marlin in Australia, and a 1,000- pound marlin in Cabo San Lucas.

It was an appropriate hobby given the biblical metaphor for Christian evangelizing, Schuller said.

—Staff and wire reports