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| Edir Macedo | |
|---|---|
| Name | Edir Macedo |
| Birth date | 1945-02-18 |
| Birth place | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Occupation | Bishop, founder, businessman, author |
| Known for | Founder of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God; owner of RecordTV |
Edir Macedo is a Brazilian evangelical bishop, media entrepreneur, author, and founder of a large Pentecostal denomination. He is best known for establishing the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God and acquiring significant media assets, connecting him to Brazilian public life, political controversies, and legal disputes. His activities have linked religious movements, broadcasting networks, political figures, and global evangelical networks.
Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1945, he grew up amid urban neighborhoods and working-class communities that also produced figures like Pelé and Garrincha in Brazilian popular culture. He was raised in a Roman Catholic milieu influenced by devotions associated with Nossa Senhora Aparecida and the broader legacy of Catholic Church institutions in Brazil. His early exposure to charismatic and Pentecostal currents intersected with leaders from groups such as Assemblies of God and contemporary pastors whose ministries expanded in the late 20th century. Formal education included attendance at local schools in Rio de Janeiro (city) and later informal theological study influenced by televangelists associated with TBN-style media ministries and authors like Warren Wiersbe and Kenneth Hagin.
He entered full-time ministry during a period of rapid growth for Pentecostalism in Latin America, alongside contemporaries from movements such as Brazilian Baptist Convention and independent charismatic networks. In 1977 he founded the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, which expanded through a mix of street preaching, faith healing services, and television evangelism inspired by models used by Oral Roberts, Aimee Semple McPherson, and Reinhard Bonnke. The church developed organizational structures, international missionary efforts, and social programs that paralleled other transnational denominations like The Salvation Army and Hillsong Church. Its theology drew on prosperity teachings associated with figures such as Kenneth Copeland and drew criticism from theologians connected to Liberation theology and scholars at institutions like Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro.
Macedo built a media portfolio that linked his ministry to major Brazilian and international outlets. He acquired broadcasting assets culminating in ownership of RecordTV, which positioned him alongside other media magnates like Roberto Marinho of Globo and Silvio Santos of SBT. His holdings expanded into print, publishing houses, and real estate, intersecting with corporate groups such as Grupo Record and engaging executives with experience from Rede Globo and Rede Manchete. The media strategy echoed global televangelist integration seen with Christian Broadcasting Network and commercial networks in the United States and Portugal. Business ventures involved partnerships and transactions touching banking and investment circles comparable to entities like Itaú Unibanco and regulatory frameworks overseen by agencies such as the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service.
His career has been marked by multiple controversies, public inquiries, and legal proceedings. He faced accusations of financial impropriety, money laundering, and charlatanism that drew attention from prosecutors in institutions like the Public Prosecutor's Office (Brazil) and courts within the Superior Court of Justice (Brazil). Critics included journalists from outlets such as Folha de S.Paulo, O Globo, and investigators associated with Car Wash (Operation Lava Jato)-era scrutiny of elites. The Universal Church was investigated for alleged misuse of donations and labor practices, prompting debates in the National Congress of Brazil and among scholars at universities like University of São Paulo and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Defenders cited religious freedom protections under the Brazilian Constitution and rulings from courts such as the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil.
He has cultivated ties with Brazilian politicians, influencing electoral campaigns, appointments, and public policy debates. His relationships encompassed figures from political parties including Brazilian Labour Party (PTB), Liberal Front Party (PFL), and later interactions with leaders associated with Workers' Party (PT) and Liberal Party (PL). Media ownership enabled commentary on legislative matters debated in the Chamber of Deputies (Brazil) and the Federal Senate (Brazil), and his church mobilized voting blocs comparable to other faith-based movements in Latin American politics. Internationally, he engaged with leaders and organizations such as those in the United States Congress, evangelical caucuses, and transnational Pentecostal networks that connect to conferences like the International Charismatic Consultation.
He married and established a family that participates in the leadership of church operations and affiliated businesses, echoing familial governance seen in other religious enterprises like Souto family-run groups and dynastic business families in Brazil. His philanthropic initiatives included social assistance programs, shelters, and educational projects that partnered with municipal administrations in cities such as São Paulo and Salvador, Bahia. Philanthropic activity was sometimes coordinated with international NGOs and faith-based relief agencies akin to World Vision and Caritas Internationalis, though critics questioned transparency. He authored books and sermons distributed through publishing imprints and conferences that brought him into dialogue with evangelical authors and pastors across continents.
Category:Brazilian clergy Category:Television executives