Michael Nason, Close Schuller Aide, Resigns : Executive Producer of ‘Hour of Power’ Program Leaving for ‘Personal Reasons,’ Minister Says

Michael Nason, a central figure in the growth of the Rev. Robert H. Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral and ministry, has resigned, Schuller and Nason said Friday.

Nason “has notified me that he will not be returning for the 1988-89 production season beginning in September,” Schuller said.

He added that Nason, 46, executive producer of the “Hour of Power” television program, is retiring for “personal reasons.”

“The heavy responsibility of fall programming will require more time than he can give at this time due to his personal situation,” Schuller said.

Not Linked to Cutbacks

The resignation is not connected with recent financial cutbacks in the ministry, the television minister said. Earlier, Schuller had blamed the national crisis in television evangelism for reduced contributions. But he said that the ministry’s income this month has been the strongest of any 30-day period in the past several years.

“This is my decision,” said Nason, who will also give up his duties as spokesman and public relations director for the Crystal Cathedral, a branch of the Reformed Church in America.

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time,” he said, adding that he is seeking new career challenges. “I spent a lot of time in prayer about it and talking with my wife,” KNBC news reporter Vikki Vargas, Nason said from his home in Laguna Beach. He added:

“I feel I’ve reached the mountaintop at Robert Schuller ministries and the Crystal Cathedral and I need new challenges and want to reach my maximum potential.”

Partner of Lundberg

He said he hopes to spend more time with the public relations and political consulting firm that he shares with Lois Lundberg, former chairman of the Orange County Republican Central Committee. One of Nason’s recent clients was Andrew Littlefair, an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination in the 42nd Congressional District.

Nason, who wrote Schuller’s biography, was a marketing consultant when he started working with the minister as a volunteer in 1971.

Then, he said: “No one knew who Robert Schuller was outside of Garden Grove. My biggest public relations challenge was to communicate about his message outside of California.” Pursuing personal contacts with television officials and adapting secular television techniques to Schuller’s televised worship service, Nason was able to expand the “Hour of Power” from 18 television stations to 146 nationwide. “I felt one of the reasons religious broadcasting was not effective to people at home is that they had been conditioned by secular television to be entertained, to be informed in a fast-paced way,” Nason said.

“It was an early decision to try to look at the program the way a secular audience would look at it, even though we’re trying to deliver a religious message.”

‘Incredible’ Visual Opportunity

When the Crystal Cathedral was built in 1980, Nason said he realized that the visual opportunity “of that building would be absolutely incredible on television.” One of his duties, he said, was to ensure that the television methodology did not interfere with the worship service.

Schuller said: “If he hadn’t put together such a wonderful team, we wouldn’t be able to continue without him.

“His retirement should not negatively impact our work because of the traditions, the systems and procedures that he has established.” Schuller had no comment on when, whether or how Nason would be replaced.