Reverend Elder Troy Perry—Called to Minister to those the Church had Rejected

Reverend Elder Troy Perry did not have an easy life as a child.  He lost his father at an early age.  He then endured abuse from his stepfather.  Yet, there was a limelight to early days.  His aunts were preachers within the community.  They were the ones that had a great influence on his entire life.  It was during this time that he knew that he was called to the ministry of God.

In his early teenage years he became a licensed Baptist preacher.  He was soon married and had two sons.  During this time he attended college and also was a preacher at a Church of God.  This also marked the beginning of the change of his life.  He began having relationships with other me.  He was found out and had to leave the church immediately.    He moved with his wife to California.  Yet, the end of their marriage was just in the horizon.  His wife learned of his indiscretions and they were divorced once again the church pushed him out of his ministry.

It was after this loss and several other bad encounters that Rev. Perry posted an Ad in the advocate.  It was the beginning of what we now know as the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC).  A worldwide denomination that reaches out to all those that have been rejected and hurt by other Churches.  Twelve people attended that first service.  Today there are approximately 300 churches in 22 countries and more than 43,000 people are members of the denomination.

We have to understand that MCC is a place of healing.  MCC is a place where people of different sexual orientation and gender identity can serve a God that loves all people.   Even though this was the starting point of MCC there is much more about the church than this.  MCC believes in an open communion table, has a belief in social justice and encourages laity ministry.  MCC has gone into an era that they are not only the Gay Church but the Church that welcomes all who need a place where they can serve God openly.

Rev. Elder Perry made this dream a reality.  MCC exists because of one man’s desire and calling to serve God.  He has become a social activist in the process.  He is taking the theory of inclusivity to all into the world.  He has fought for many issues throughout his life including anti-discrimination rights and marriage rights.  He has written books that explore his life. 

It is because of his call to serve God that Rev. Elder Troy Perry became a man with a mission.  He spent the next decades opening more closet doors from ordaining women, to meeting the president and helping during the HIV crisis.  He has shaped the world of Christianity by simply following God through all the bad times.  He is now retired as the Moderator of MCC, but still plays an active role in the life of the denomination that God created through him for those that were lost and hurting. 

Reverend Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson—Living proof that women should be in leadership roles in God’s church

Rev. Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson is a pioneer of women’s rights when it comes to clerical service.   She followed her call to ministry at a time when women were not being ordained.  She not only became ordained by the Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC), she also became the youngest elder of MCC. 

She was called to be Senior Pastor of five different MCC’s around the country.  She at one point was the senior pastor of MCC Los Angeles, which is also known as the Mother Church of MCC.  Then in 1993 she became the vice moderator of MCC.  She held this position for 12 years as she continued to be the senior pastor of the various congregations as she gave leadership to the entire denomination.

On the retirement of Rev. Elder Troy Perry she became the moderator of MCC.  This role is the top leadership of the entire International denomination.  She at this point left being senior pastor of the local church to take on the role of moderator.  She was installed at the Washington’s National Cathedral in 2005.  Rev Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson has led the MCC into the Church it has become today.  No longer is the Church a place for the GLBTIQA community to have a safe home, MCC is a place that is reaching out to all that need help. 

She is a social activist that has stood up for people that HIV.  She has worked for fair treatment of prisoners.  She has also been involved in women’s rights; this expands from women having the right to be clergy to stopping the slave trade.  She is the founder of MCC Conference for Women in Professional Ministry.  She is also very active in ecumenical work.   She became the Ecumenical Officer of MCC, representing MCC at the National Council of Churches and The World Council of Churches.  During this time of her service she worked on establishing MCC as part of both councils. 

In 2011 she was appointed by President Obama to the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.  She continues working on her social activities while also being a speaker at numerous churches and other events.   She is also the author of numerous books.  She is truly a woman that has shaped Christianity for both women and the GLBTIAQ community around the world.