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GARDEN GROVE – At least two longtime vendors for the Crystal Cathedral’s Glory of Christmas and Glory of Easter pageant say the megachurch has failed to pay them tens of thousands of dollars they are owed for the 2009 Christmas pageant and has not indicated when they will be paid.

Kristina Oliver, who owns Oliver Livestock Co. in Hemet, says the cathedral owes her more than $56,000. For 29 years, her family has been supplying the pageants with live animals – camels, goats, sheep, horses and donkeys – a much-touted feature of the Glory pageants.

Oliver sent a letter to Sheila Schuller Coleman, founder Robert H. Schuller’s daughter, who is now the head of Crystal Cathedral Ministries. In the letter, she talked about her daughters ages 3 and 1, her husband who has been battling cancer and the danger of her losing their home if she doesn’t receive the payment.

“I’ve been completely ignored without so much as a courtesy of a response or explanation,” Oliver said. “I understand the church has been hurting for cash…but the way I’ve been treated, with no courtesy or professionalism, is unacceptable.”

Cathedral administrators responded to the vendors’ complaints Thursday with a written statement saying they have seen a 30 percent to 40 percent drop in revenue. The church has “significant debt,” but they also have the assets to cover that debt, the statement said.

“As a result, there are vendors that we have not been able to pay in a timely manner. It grieves us that we are in such a position,’’ the statement said.

Last month, Crystal Cathedral administrators announced that continuing financial woes have prompted them to start shutting down all operations at their 20-acre campus in Rancho Capistrano, closing a church, preschool, retreat area, soccer fields, camping grounds and a conference and wedding center. The megachurch has put various properties up for sale, has laid off employees and suspended its “Glory of Easter” pageant this year. The cathedral has also scaled down its “Hour of Power” broadcasts viewed by millions worldwide.

Spokesman John Charles said the Cathedral is doing everything it can to strengthen itself financially and is not looking at bankruptcy as an option.

“We’re trying to avoid it at all costs,” he said.

Administrators say they will call a vendor meeting in a week to form a vendor committee and develop a plan to “treat all vendors equitably.”

But vendors say they are losing patience.

Juliet Noriega, who has made the costumes for the pageants and has managed the shows’ wardrobe for more than 25 years, says she is still waiting to be paid more than $10,000 for services rendered.

The Prescott, Ariz. resident said the pageants were her major source of income each year.

“But, of course, if they are not going to pay me, I’m not inclined to come back,” Noriega said.

She said it is unfair for the Crystal Cathedral to put her and other service providers at the bottom of the pile.

“If someone is going to put forth an effort, they should be paid,” she said. “I’m very concerned because what I’m owed is a substantial amount of money.”

Oliver says she has put in numerous telephone calls and sent several e-mails since the show ended in early January, but was only met with silence.

“I only heard back from the lady who organized the pageant saying that she didn’t know why the invoices weren’t being paid,” Oliver said.

Oliver did receive a response from Sheila Schuller Coleman on March 19 in response to her letter detailing her financial problems and her urgency to get paid.

“Dear Kristina,” Coleman wrote, “I have read your heartbreaking letter and I can only tell you how sorry I am. I have forwarded your letter to Gwen Myers who is controlling all our finances at this time. She will get back to you with her response. I will be copied on her response. God bless!!”

Myers responded to Oliver Sunday.

“Thank you so much for your ongoing support of Crystal Cathedral Ministries!” Myers wrote. “…As you know, the Ministry is experiencing severe financial difficulties and is currently unable to pay anything other than current payables. The Ministry does not have sufficient resources to address past due or aged payables at this time.”

Myers added: “The primary goal of the Ministry is to get its financial house in order to the point where there is a positive cash flow on a consistent monthly basis. At that time CCM will address aged payables with a payment plan that treats all entities and individuals equitably. Thank you for your patience!”

For more than a year, Crystal Cathedral has been trying to dig its way out of a $55 million debt. The megachurch has put its office building on Chapman Avenue for sale. The cathedral has also been seeking a buyer for the 20-acre retreat center at Rancho Capistrano.

The remaining 150 acres are in escrow to be sold to Continuing Life Communities, a developer that plans to build senior homes, as well as the city of San Juan Capistrano. City officials have said that they are looking at a variety of options for that property including a luxury hotel and a winery.

The church’s plan is to get about $60 million for both properties and get out of the financial hole. So far, they have not been able to complete the sale of either of those properties.

Noriega says she is not sure whether the church will even have a “Glory of Christmas” this year.

“It’s almost the end of March and the costumes have not even been picked up from the dry cleaners,” she said.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7909 or dbharath@ocregister.com