Richard A. Ray, Presbyterian minister, theologian, teacher, and churchman, died on Wednesday, April 10, at the age of eighty-eight. He was a distinguished preacher, pastor, college and seminary professor, author, administrator, and leader who poured himself out for the sake of Jesus Christ and his church.
Dick was born in New Orleans, grew up in Louisiana, Florida, and Georgia, and was a Boy Scout, earning the rank of Eagle. He earned his B.A. in Philosophy at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. While serving as a lifeguard and camp counselor in Montreat, North Carolina, he met Lila McGeachy in 1958 and married her the next year. He earned his B.D. at Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia, and his Ph.D. in Philosophical Theology at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland.
He served pastorates in Arkansas, Virginia, and Tennessee. For several years he was the managing director and acquisitions editor of John Knox Press, where he worked closely with many authors, bringing their books not merely to print, but to life.
He served as a professor of Bible and Religion at Stevens College, an adjunct professor at King College, a professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and President of King University, Bristol, Tennessee.
As a pastor, he served as the Moderator of Holston Presbytery and was on the Board of Directors for the Bristol Regional Hospital. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Grandfather Home for Children, Banner Elk, North Carolina. He served two terms on the Presbyterian Foundation Board and was Chairman of the Presbyterian Outlook. In addition, he was editor of Kerygma Bible Studies, and was a consultant for Presbyterians for Renewal. After moving to Montreat, North Carolina, he was a founder and Chairman of the Board of the Presbyterian Heritage Center.
Dick served on the Board of Reference of Theology Matters and wrote articles for the journal: “When Theology Burns" (Winter 2018); “John Calvin on Theatrical Trifles in Worship" (Summer 2019); “The Feast of Many Memories" (Fall 2020); “Theological Mystery of Words" (Winter 2021); “An Invitation to Combat" (Spring 2022); and “Encouragement for the Journey" (Summer 2023).
Trained as a philosophical theologian, Dick had a deep grasp of classical, medieval, and modern philosophy. He was also an astute and discerning historical and doctrinal theologian, and an expert in Reformation studies, the history of the Reformed tradition, especially the theology of John Calvin.
In his latter decades, he focused on the church fathers, namely, the writings of Athanasius, Augustine, Origen, Basil, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory of Nazianzus, Hilary of Poitiers, the Desert Fathers, et al. Specifically, he focused on the doctrine of the Trinity. “The doctrine of the Trinity,” he claimed, “is greater, more mysterious than all the billions of galaxies in this universe. It is more powerful and intellectually stimulating than anything in this world."
He was a gifted teacher, lecturer, church leader, speaker, and administrator. He was, above all, a dedicated and caring shepherd who helped thousands of people throughout his ministry. He also advised, counseled, and encouraged hundreds of pastors, especially members of the Foundation for Reformed Theology. In their home, Lila and he showed warm and gracious hospitality to dozens of pastors and their families every year for many years.
Dick was a prodigious reader, a highly skilled and perceptive listener, and a deeply engaging conversationalist with a broad range of intellectual, artistic, and cultural interests. Yet, as one Foundation seminar leader, John Burgess, reflects: "I know of no other person who was so theologically focused. He brought every conversation back to God."
One of the most skilled, loyal, and wise churchman of his generation, Dick was, above all, a dedicated minister of the Word of God. His love and commitment to Jesus Christ and his church were manifest throughout his life. And his deep love and concern for his own church, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), he expressed to his dying days. He kept the faith, fulfilled his ordination vows, and served the people "with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love."
He was a devoted and much loved husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by Lila, his wife of sixty-four years, his three children, English, Rod, and Alison, and their spouses, and their eight grandchildren.
He was an extraordinarily selfless, humble, modest, patient, passionate, loving, joyful servant of the Lord. He was to many a beloved coach, mentor, and friend, who was an awful lot of fun to be around. We will all miss him deeply, but we thank God for the great gift of his life and the privilege of having known him.
A service in memory for Richard Ray for the glory of God will be held on Monday, April 22 at 10:00 am at Anderson Auditorium in Montreat, North Carolina. There will be a reception to follow in the Anderson lobby. Sincerely, |
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