In his young adult years he led a scout troop, contributed to diocesan committees such as the Camp and Conference committee, lead several camps, represented the Diocese of Gippsland on the General Board of Religious Education (GBRE) and studied theology by distance education.
During this time he held a lay reader's license, often taking services of Morning and Evening Prayer in the Parish of Yarram.
From 1978 to 1981, Ray worked full-time with the young people of the Diocese of Brisbane, offering Bible studies, camps for various ages and assistance with youth groups, as well as providing training for Sunday school and religious education teachers and youth leaders.
His ministry as youth and children's worker in the parish of St Luke's Toowoomba from late 1981 to 1986, was punctuated by two years at Duke University in North Carolina, where he studied for his Master of Religious Education.
He has written a number of religious education programs and in recent years authored three Lenten study booklets.