Associated Press Religion Writer Rachel Zoll in New York contributed to this report.
ORANGE, Calif. (AP) — The wife of televangelist Benny Hinn has filed for divorce from the high-profile pastor, whose reputation as an advocate of prosperity gospel has attracted millions of followers and criticism from lawmakers and watchdog groups over his lavish lifestyle.
Suzanne Hinn filed the papers in Orange County Superior Court on Feb. 1, citing irreconcilable differences, after more than 30 years of marriage. The papers note the two separated on Jan. 26 and that Hinn has been living in Dana Point, a wealthy coastal community in southern Orange County.
"Pastor Benny Hinn and his immediate family were shocked and saddened to learn of this news without any previous notice," Benny Hinn Ministries said Thursday in a statement. "Although Pastor Hinn has faithfully endeavoured to bring healing to their relationship, those efforts failed and were met with the petition for divorce that was filed without notice."
Hinn is one of the best known advocates of the prosperity gospel, which teaches that Christians who are right with God will be rewarded with wealth and health in this lifetime. His TV broadcasts on the Trinity Broadcast Network, a Pentecostal broadcasting juggernaut, and other TV networks are seen by millions of people around the world nearly every day. He travels the globe in his ministry's plane, named Dove One, holding events he calls "Miracle Crusades" that include spiritual healings.
Hinn has never fully publicly disclosed how he spends the money he raises, but his vast ministry is believed to be a multimillion-dollar operation. There was no mention of finances in the court filing, which listed three recent Southern California addresses for the family.
Over
the years, Hinn has been the target of intense criticism from fellow Christians
and watchdog groups who call his teachings false and accuse him of raising money
only to enrich himself. He is one of
six televangelists under investigation by Sen. Charles Grassley, the Iowa
Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, over whether he complied with IRS
rules for nonprofits. Hinn has said on his Web site that external auditors
ensure his compliance with IRS regulations and that in 2008, 88 percent of the
money he collected was spent on ministry..Benny
Hinn Ministries is based in Grapevine, Texas
, and operates a church and television studio in Aliso Viejo in
Sorrell Trope, the attorney with the law firm representing Suzanne Hinn, did not return a call for comment. A woman at his office said the firm does not comment on divorce filings without the client's approval. J. Lee Grady, contributing editor of Charisma, a news magazine on the Pentecostal community, said Hinn's divorce is the latest in a string of high-profile ministry divorces and moral failures among the Pentecostal leaders, beginning with Ted Haggard's fall from grace in 2006. Haggard, who is married and has five children, admitted to receiving a massage from a male prostitute and buying drugs from him, but denied allegations he paid the man for sex.
Grady said in an e-mail Thursday that Hinn's followers will want an explanation for the divorce because of the high profile the couple had. "It will be devastating to the people who have supported Benny Hinn's evangelistic work around the world," Grady said. "Obviously because their ministry has been very public, they will need to issue a statement to their supporters to explain how this happened," he said.
Adrienne S. Gaines News – Charisma Online -
South African megachurch pastor Ray McCauley and his second wife, Zelda, are planning to divorce after nine years of marriage. The founder and pastor of 40,000-member Rhema Bible Church in Johannesburg, one of the largest churches in the nation, was "devastated" by his wife's decision to file for divorce, according to a statement from the executive board of the church and the International Federation of Christian Churches (IFCC), a ministry network McCauley leads.
"Both the leadership of the IFCC and Rhema Bible Church are of the firm belief that divorce is not desirable and should be the last resort," the board stated. "However, they would like to respect Mrs. Zelda McCauley's decision to file for divorce."
Zelda McCauley did not release a separate statement. McCauley and his first wife, Lyndie, divorced in 2000 after 24 years of marriage. He married Zelda, a former model who has reportedly been twice divorced, in 2001. He and Zelda separated in 2008 but later reconciled after receiving counselling. At that time, McCauley attributed their marital difficulties to fatigue and spiritual warfare but said their relationship had come through "better than ever."
McCauley plans to take time off from church leadership, and the executive board said it would "facilitate his recovery from this setback."
And this was after the happy couple had hit up their followers for more money to help Ray out of debt at his 60th birthday party!
By Karen Van Rooyen http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article165051.ece
His megachurch collects tithes and offerings of around R70-million a year and he lives the life of a millionaire, but Pastor Ray McCauley needs his flock to bail him out financially. His son, Joshua, 26, has gone cap in hand to about 100 close friends and family to help get his dad, the leader of the Rhema Bible Church, out of debt.
Joshua’s impassioned plea was attached to an invitation to McCauley’s surprise 60th birthday party at the Sandton Convention Centre on Thursday night in “Old Hollywood” style. “I would love nothing more than to help my father settle his existing debt and see him go into his 60s debt-free,” he wrote. “As his son, I have felt it in my heart and now humbly request that, should you be considering giving him a gift for his 60th, you consider participating with me in this endeavour.”
McCauley and his wife, Zelda, recently announced that they would be moving back to Johannesburg, after several years of flying from Durban – where they lived in a R6.5-million beachfront mansion – to lead services at the 40000-strong Randburg congregation. Depending on how the offerings went this week, this year’s gift is likely to be more substantial than the R2030 (c$A340) pair of Prada sunglasses Joshua bought for his dad in 2007. At the time, he billed the church for “Pastor Ray’s birthday gift”.
In his quest to help his dad, Joshua described how “from a young boy”, he watched his father “do his utmost to walk the talk. You may be aware of the challenges my family has faced, but no matter what the circumstances, I saw my dad be true to the convictions of his faith,” his letter read. “As his son, it is my greatest wish to honour him with a gift that I know will change his life forever.” Joshua has refused to reveal how guests responded. “I don’t believe it’s anybody’s business. I only gave that letter to his close private friends and family. It probably went to about 100 people,” he said. “The reality is that I did it without his knowledge.”
The charismatic pastor’s money woes come as a surprise, as he is believed to earn more than R100,000 a month (c$A16,600), and he and his wife have often hit the headlines over their penchant for the finer things in life. A few years ago, Zelda arrived at a Sunday Times interview carrying a Fendi handbag, and McCauley rode up on his Harley-Davidson motorbike.
Zelda once told the Sunday Times that the secret to her cleavage was Victoria’s Secret, the exclusive underwear range. “I particularly love French and Italian lace. It may be a bit pricey, but a girl has got to feel good about how she looks,” she said.
McCauley’s birthday was celebrated just days before the 30th anniversary conference of the Rhema Bible Church at the Dome, north of Johannesburg, this weekend. Guests at the conference included pastors Joel and Victoria Osteen, from one of the fastest-growing churches in the US, pastor Joseph Prince from Singapore and two-time Grammy winner Israel Houghton and New Breed. According to the church website, Karen Zoid, Joe Niemand and Kabelo were also due to perform. Thursday night’s birthday party was only for the “rich and famous,” according to a disgruntled church member. “Ordinary citizens and staff of the church were not invited. It’s an abomination what’s happening in that church,” he said.
McCauley has been under pressure over his lavish life-style. Last year he was criticised for spending R25,000 (c$A4000) on meals, including R365 ($A60) bottles of Meerlust Merlot, in just over a month.
Zelda, who grew up in an orphanage, said in a magazine interview in 2004 that she set aside Wednesdays for personal pampering, including Botox treatments and massages. “My appearance is important to me,” she said. “I believe God expects a wife to look good for her husband.” She said she also shared a weakness with her husband – shopping. “In America, we love hunting for bargains in big shopping centres such as Saw Grass Mill. We love giving to others just as much.”
http://www.freedom2b.org/topic/665 (2009)
My own sexuality had haunted me for much of my life. At school I was attracted to guys also during my two years National Service in the British Army although my sexual activity with those guys was very limited. This was back in 1954-1956 and there was virtually no one available to give advice or counsel to young men or women who had questions concerning their sexuality. The very few times I asked questions of older friends or others I was told that it was just a phase which would pass - I would grow out of it - or all I needed was a good woman! The professional opinion at the time was largely that Homosexuality was a mental disorder and that the only 'cure' available was usually 'electric shock treatment' or a prolonged period in a Mental Institution. Neither option was appealing to me! It is also important to remember that same-sex relationships were illegal and many caught engaging in such activity in a public place were sent to prison.
I took the accepted course which was to be married - I was just 21 and a virgin never having had 'real sex' with either gender - I married the girl I had been friends with for about two years. We did produce two children but there was never the passion which I was sure should exist between two people in a sexual relationship. I concluded that my wife was frigid but most likely I was just lacking enthusiasm as I still had private fantasies about having sex with guys. We divorced after almost seven years and for the first year my ex-wife had care of the children. I had no plans to marry again and began to investigate and indulge my gay desires in very 'vanilla' sex on occasional visits to London. I had a business in Kent about an hour south of the City. As far as I knew there were no Gay clubs or Saunas in London at the time, no doubt there were but without the existence of magazines such as Gay Times there was very little information available. I found just two Gay Pubs which were in Earl's Court but I was usually very reluctant to accompany strangers to their homes.
My plans to remain single and to seek a gay friend or friends came to an abrupt end when my ex-wife asked me to have the children as she and her new partner had been offered work overseas. I had been unhappy about the children each time I had visited them. They clung to me and there was always an emotional time when I had to leave them. I decided that I had to then take full care of them - my son then aged 7 and my daughter aged 5. I realised that it would be almost impossible for me to look after them adequately without help - my business was growing and required my full time attention. I moved from my small apartment and bought a house in the country with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. I advertised in 'The Lady' Magazine for a housekeeper and carer for us all. After numerous responses to my advertisement I found the perfect answer to my problem - an attractive Lady, also recently divorced with a 4 year old daughter, she was also a qualified nurse and we immediately got on very well together. After just six weeks we decided to get married and at first the relationship went well - even the sexual part was so much better than I had previously experienced. One year later and our baby boy arrived and for a while we continued to enjoy life as a family.
Without going into all the details, just five years later in we were ready to divorce. It was at this time that some old school friends and their wives came to counsel us and encouraged us to go with them to their Church of England Church. This was something I had previously decided never to do as I had been turned off Christianity by my years of attending a Cathedral School. Unfortunately we were both in a very vulnerable and emotional state by this time and we were desperately seeking a way out of our problems. Suddenly we were encouraged and promised that if we made the decision to be 'Born Again' we could start a new life together. We responded and after just a few weeks decided that we would sell everything - our business and home and emigrate to start a new life in New Zealand.
We bought a farm property with ocean and river frontages and decided we would use it possibly as a Christian 'retreat' or similar. We immediately became involved with the work of the ministry in a local Pentecostal church and used our property for Youth meetings and activities every week and virtually worked as full time unpaid ministers assisting the Pastor. We were seeking to know more and wanted to have qualifications to become ministers and possibly to have our own church. After five years or so in New Zealand we moved to Tulsa Oklahoma as we were accepted as students to attend Rhema Bible Training Centre there. After Graduation we moved to Perth as we believed that 'the Lord' told us to go there to begin a new work. During all this time I completely suppressed my homosexual tendencies. I had been told that God would deal with any problem and although I had been 'delivered' and spent much time in prayer and fasting - the thoughts were still there.
In Perth we began our ministry in a small hall but within a few months our congregation had grown to over 100 attending our Sunday morning service. We moved and leased a building which would hold 300-400 - again within a year or so we had to move to another building to accommodate 1000+ people. Finally another move to a building to cope with the 2000-3000 then attending. This was the largest single congregation in Perth and one of the largest five in Australia at the time. In 1989 our marriage was failing and my wife wanted to leave the ministry and the marriage - this was a difficult and sad time for us all and I decided to resign from the church and handed over the work to my son who had also attended Rhema with us in USA and had worked with us for several years. He was a popular and respected teacher in our Bible Training Centre.
It was incorrectly stated in an article in the West Australia that my marriage had ended as I had 'confessed to my son that I was homosexual. Yes - I told my son about my homosexuality a few years after I had resigned but it was never a factor or the cause of the divorce and he had not said that it was. I received an apology from the West Australian for this assumption.
After my resignation I came to terms with my sexuality and decided that I should spend the rest of my life (then aged 53) living how I wanted to live rather than how others thought I should live! I do not make an issue of my sexuality either in my day to day life or in my book "From Faith to Reason" which I published last year - I did not want the book to be primarily judged on the basis of my sexual preferences. My book is entirely about my change during the past years from a Fundamentalist Christian to a rationalist, realist, skeptic and an atheist - my sexuality had very little to do with this.
I am happy to say that during the past 10-15 years I have enjoyed the most personal peace than I had at any other period of my life. If you are Christian and still have questions or concerns about guilt, condemnation or judgement which may have been used to persuade you turn from your homosexual desires, I suggest that you seriously question the reality and evidence for your faith. I hope that my story will help others especially those who have struggled with their sexuality and the condemnation they may have received from their church or Christian friends.
Brian Baker. Author: 'From Faith to Reason" - [www.vividpublishing.com.au]