Ray McCauley

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Ray McCauley 
| image         =
| image_size    = 240px
| caption       =
| birth_name    = Raynor McCauley 
| birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1949|10|1|df=y}} 
| birth_place   = [[Johannesburg]], South Africa 
| death_date    =
| death_place   =
| death_cause   =
| nationality   = South African
| spouse        = 
{{Plainlist|
* Lyndia McCauley
* Zelda Ireland current wife after divorce they got married again
}}
| children      = 1
| parents       =
{{Plainlist|
* Jimmy McCauley (father) 
* Doreen McCauley (mother) 
}} 
| resting_place =
| occupation    =
{{Plainlist|
* Minister 
* Pastor
}} 
| notable_works = 
{{Plainlist|
* IFCC
* Rhema Bible Church
* NICSA
}} 
| alma_mater    = [[Rhema Bible Training Center]] 
| education     =
| years_active  = 1978{{ndash}}present
| website       =
}} 
'''Ray McCauley''' (born 1 October 1949 as '''Raynor McCauley''') is a prominent [[South Africa]]n religious leader, former Senior Pastor of Rhema Bible Church, President of the International Federation of Christian Churches (IFCC), co-chair of the [[National Interfaith Council of South Africa]] (NICSA), author and former champion [[bodybuilder]].<ref name=WhosWho>{{cite web|url=http://www.whoswho.co.za/raynor-ray-mccauley-5202 |title=Who's Who Southern Africa, Raynor McCauley |publisher=whoswho.co.za |accessdate=20 November 2012}}</ref><ref name=IFCC>{{cite web|title=Pastor Ray McCauley |url=http://www.ifcc.co.za/index.php/leadership/national-executive/item/pastor-ray-mccauley |publisher=ifcc.co.za |accessdate=20 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Press Statement by Pastor Ray McCauley on the Occasion of the Merger Between NILC and NRLF |url=http://www.rhema.co.za/Displaycustomlink.aspx?name=News%20article%204 |publisher=rhema.co.za|accessdate=19 November 2012}}</ref>

==Early life==
McCauley was born in [[Johannesburg]] on 1 October 1949.<ref name=WhosWho /> He took a keen interest in bodybuilding, is a Mr South Africa and took part in the [[Universe Championships|Mr Universe]] bodybuilding championships in [[London]] in 1974 where he finished in third place. He was also a nightclub bouncer for a time.<ref name=Howden>{{cite news|last=Howden |first=Daniel |title=Inside the most powerful church in South Africa |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/inside-the-most-powerful-church-in-south-africa-2006129.html |date=21 June 2010 |publisher=mg.co.za |accessdate=20 November 2012}}</ref>

==Ministry==
McCauley attended bible college with his first wife Lyndie at [[Rhema Bible Training Center]] in [[Broken Arrow, Oklahoma]] during 1978/9. On their return to South Africa the McCauleys started Rhema Bible Church under Rhema Ministries SA in the home of his parents, Jimmy and Doreen, which 13 people attended. Membership grew and the church moved into the former Constantia Cinema in [[Rosebank, Gauteng|Rosebank, Johannesburg]]. Under the leadership of Ray and Lyndie McCauley, the church outgrew its premises and moved to a warehouse in Jan Smuts Avenue in [[Randburg]], near Johannesburg before moving to its current premises. In 1985 the church moved into the newly constructed 5,000 seater auditorium in [[Randburg]]. The new church was dedicated on 16 June 1985 by Dr Kenneth E Hagin, the late founder of Rhema Ministries in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The auditorium was later upgraded to more than 7,500 seats to accommodate the growth of the church. Today the church has a 45,000 strong congregation, which is the single largest church congregation in southern Africa.<ref name=IFCC /><ref name=Howden />

Towards the end of the apartheid era, McCauley and his associates were involved in numerous critical events that helped with the peaceful transition to a democratic nation in 1994. During this time he interacted with leading churchmen like Archbishop Emeritus [[Desmond Tutu]] and Reverend [[Frank Chikane]].<ref name=IFCC /><ref>{{cite web|title=Historical Overview of Pentecostalism in South Africa |url=http://www.pewforum.org/Christian/Evangelical-Protestant-Churches/Historical-Overview-of-Pentecostalism-in-South-Africa.aspx | date=5 October 2006 |publisher=pewforum.org |accessdate=21 November 2012}}</ref>

McCauley is a well-known speaker at church events around the world.

==Controversy==
McCauley has been a controversial figure in South Africa.

Rhema Ministries has been accused of being a proponent of the [[prosperity theology|prosperity gospel]].<ref name=Howden /><ref>{{cite news|title=Rhema rakes in millions |url=http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-03-20-rhema-rakes-in-millions |date=20 March 2009 |publisher=mg.co.za |accessdate=20 November 2012}}</ref><ref name=Tolsi>{{cite news|last=Tolsi |first=Niren |title=For church and country |url=http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-11-13-for-church-and-country |publisher=mg.co.za|date=13 November 2009 |accessdate=20 November 2012}}</ref>

McCauley has led a controversial lifestyle, with many alleging that he leads a millionaire's lifestyle. McCauley has defended himself on numerous occasions with the argument that he only earns the salary of a chief executive of a medium-sized company.<ref name=Tolsi /><ref>{{cite web|last=Meintjies |first=Marvin |title=McCauley critics are racists, says Rhema man |url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/mccauley-critics-are-racists-says-rhema-man-1.70495#.UKyQN-Q3uz4 |date=27 July 2001 |publisher=iol.co.za |accessdate=21 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Don't mention the money |url=http://free.financialmail.co.za/07/1221/cover/coverstoryb.htm |date=21 December 2007 |last=Smith |first=Nicky |publisher=financialmail.co.za |accessdate=20 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120715042628/http://free.financialmail.co.za/07/1221/cover/coverstoryb.htm |archivedate=15 July 2012 }}</ref>

The location and construction of the church at the corner of Rabie and Hans Schoeman streets in [[Randpark Ridge]] also caused controversy with vehement objections from local residents.

McCauley's greatest controversy came with the divorce from his first wife Lyndie in 2000. According to the ministry, Lyndie McCauley instituted divorce proceedings for which the ministry believed she had no biblical grounds. The divorce caused a large portion of the then congregation to depart from the church. Shortly after the divorce, McCauley became romantically involved with a two-time divorcee, Zelda Ireland, whom he married in July 2001.<ref>{{cite news|title=Flock deserts shepherd Ray on his wedding day |url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=ct2001072820401877R500580 |date=28 July 2001 |publisher=iol.co.za|accessdate=20 November 2012}}</ref> In January 2010, Rhema Bible Church announced that McCauley and Ireland had separated and that divorce proceedings had been instituted by Ireland.<ref>{{cite news|title=Zelda and Ray Mccauley to divorce |url=http://mg.co.za/article/2010-01-29-zelda-and-ray-mccauley-to-divorce |publisher=mg.co.za |date=29 January 2010 |accessdate=20 November 2012}}</ref> After being divorced for over 2 years, McCauley and Ireland remarried in November 2013 at a ceremony described as "very modest and low-key" in [[Muldersdrift]] outside [[Johannesburg]].<ref>{{cite news|title=McCauley goes down the aisle again |url=http://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/love-sex/marriage/mccauley-goes-down-the-aisle-again-1.1614340 |publisher=iol.co.za |date=29 November 2013 |accessdate=29 November 2013}}</ref>

In 2009 McCauley caused waves politically when he invited the then unelected [[President of South Africa]], [[Jacob Zuma]], to speak at a Sunday morning meeting. This led to accusations of political bias.<ref name=Howden /><ref>{{cite news|author1=Ella Smook |author2=Gill Gifford |author3=Baldwin Ndaba |author4=Botho Molosankwe |title=Rhema Church denies endorsing Zuma |url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Top%20Stories&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20090316105307365C913038 |date=16 March 2009 |publisher=iol.co.za|accessdate=20 November 2012}}</ref> When Zuma took office in 2009, McCauley formed a new interfaith organization called the National Interfaith Leadership Council (NILC) which subsequently merged with the National Religious Leaders Forum (NRLF) to form the [[National Interfaith Council of South Africa]] (NICSA) in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Republic of South Africa President Jacob Zuma meets National Interfaith Leaders |url=http://www.info.gov.za/speech/DynamicAction?pageid=461&sid=3493&tid=3638 |publisher=info.gov.za|date=11 August 2009|accessdate=19 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=SACC excluded from interfaith council |url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/sacc-excluded-from-interfaith-council-1.455696#.UKt-HuQ3uz4 |date=19 August 2009 |publisher=iol.co.za |accessdate=20 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Minutes of Proceedings of National Assembly |url=http://www.parliament.gov.za/live/commonrepository/Processed/20110915/363723_1.pdf |date=13 September 2011 |publisher=parliament.gov.za |accessdate=20 November 2012}}</ref> McCauley and the interfaith organizations he represents have publicly defended Zuma and the ANC government on several highly controversial matters.<ref>{{cite news|title=Forgive Zuma, say Interfaith leaders |url=http://www.citypress.co.za/SouthAfrica/News/Forgive-Zuma-say-Interfaith-leaders-20100209 |publisher=citypress.co.za|date=9 February 2010|accessdate=21 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Greyvenstein |first=Ray |title=McCauley's anti-'Spear' tirade is not so sharp |url=http://www.iol.co.za/the-star/mccauley-s-anti-spear-tirade-is-not-so-sharp-1.1314417#.UKykCeQ3uz5 |publisher=iol.co.za|date=8 June 2012|accessdate=21 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Religions have no e-toll mandate |url=http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/content/en/citizen/opinion-leaders?oid=326209&sn=Detail&pid=146826&Religions-have-no-e-toll-mandate-- |date=5 October 2012|publisher=citizen.co.za|accessdate=19 November 2012}}</ref>

McCauley has also been a strong opponent of [[LGBT rights in South Africa|gay rights]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ray McCauley takes aim at gay rights|url=http://www.rainbowuct.org/content/ray-mccauley-takes-aim-gay-rights|publisher=rainbowuct.org|accessdate=20 November 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306094228/http://www.rainbowuct.org/content/ray-mccauley-takes-aim-gay-rights|archivedate=6 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rossouw|first=Mandy|title=Zuma's new God squad wants liberal laws to go |url=http://mg.co.za/article/2009-09-11-zumas-new-god-squad-wants-liberal-laws-to-go |date=11 September 2009 |publisher=mg.co.za|accessdate=20 November 2012}}</ref>

==Books and television==
McCauley has authored several books including ''Our God Is An Awesome God'' (1993), ''Walk In Faith'' (1998), ''Making Your World Different'' (2000), ''The Secret Place'' (2003), ''Expect More'' (2005), ''Bottom Line'' (2005), ''Choose This Day'' (2007), ''Live Long, Die Young'' (2008), ''Power & Passion'', ''Holy Ghost Fire'' and ''Purpose Powered People''. His biography, ''Destined To Win'' (1986), was written by Ron Steele.<ref>{{cite book|author=Ron Steele |title=Destined to win : a biography of Ray McCauley |year=1986 |location=Impala Park, RSA |publisher=Conquest |isbn=9780620103732}}</ref>

Rhema Television (RTV) broadcasts ''A New Day with Pastor Ray'' featuring teachings by McCauley.<ref>{{cite web|title=RTV What's On! | url=http://www.rhema.co.za/DisplayLink.aspx?group=RTV&name=Programme%20Schedule |publisher=rhema.co.za|accessdate=20 November 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links ==
* [http://www.rhema.co.za Rhema Bible Church]
* [http://www.ifcc.co.za International Federation of Christian Churches]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:McCauley, Ray}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:South African Christian religious leaders]]
[[Category:South African religious leaders]]