Countywide : Schuller to Produce Soviet TV Programs

A representative from the Soviet Union Wednesday finalized a deal with the Crystal Cathedral’s Robert Schuller to produce inspirational prime-time television messages for Soviet citizens.

The formal contract establishes a new nonprofit joint entity called Spirit to Spirit and Heart to Heart, a church spokesman said.

Its objectives are to produce one 30-minute television program once a month during the next 12 months and to publish and distribute Schuller’s book “The Be Happy Attitudes” in the Soviet Union.

The contract solidifies plans made earlier this year when Schuller appeared on Soviet television, the spokesman said.

The contract specifies that Schuller’s messages are to be designed to “generate hope and dignity, moral support, universal values and truth and build on family and religious traditions.”

It also directs Schuller to provide “proof of God’s provenance” and “build an edifice for the Church in the Soviet Union.”

Schuller is to speak for 20 minutes. Ten minutes are reserved for classical music “hopefully by Russian composers.”

The programs, taped here in English, will be aired with subtitles on prime time on the Soviet Channel 1 and possibly other channels.

The Soviet branch of the new association will publish and distribute Schuller’s book, which has already been translated into Russian.

The contract was signed by Svyatoslav Rybas, director of Gosteleradio’s department of literature and arts, who had accompanied a film crew that spent a week filming a documentary on Schuller at Crystal Cathedral.

The documentary will be used to introduce the regular inspirational television programs, a church spokesman said.

The film crew is due to leave today for Washington, where it will interview “prominent Americans” before returning home Oct. 11.