Hubbry Logo
Troy PerryTroy PerryMain
Open search
Troy Perry
Community hub
Troy Perry
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Troy Perry
Troy Perry
Troy Perry
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Troy Deroy Perry Jr. (born July 27, 1940) is an American cleric who founded the Metropolitan Community Church, with a ministry with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, in Los Angeles on October 6, 1968.[1][2]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Troy Perry is the eldest of five brothers born to "the biggest bootleggers in Northern Florida",[3][4] Troy Perry and Edith Allen Perry. As early as he can remember, Perry felt called to preach, labeling himself as a "religious fanatic".[4] He was influenced by his aunts, who held street services in his hometown and who hosted Perry giving sermons from their home. Perry's father died fleeing the police when his son was eleven years old. After his mother remarried and moved the family to Daytona Beach, Perry was abused by his stepfather and ran away from home, not returning until after she divorced him.[5]

Perry dropped out of high school,[6] and became a licensed Baptist preacher by the age of 15 years.[7] After Perry expressed his attraction towards males, his pastor suggested he marry a woman to resolve these feelings.[3] He married this preacher's daughter, Pearl Pinion, in 1959, later remembering, "I was always interested in pastor's daughters because I thought they would make good preacher's wives. I didn't love her when I married her, but I did love her after our first year."[8] They had two sons and relocated to Illinois where Perry attended Midwest Bible College and Moody Bible Institute where he studied for two years.[9] Perry was the preacher at a small Church of God and sometimes had sexual relationships with other men but considered it youthful exploration. When he was 19 years old, church administrators told him one of the men had told them what they had done and he was forced to leave the church.[10] They moved to Southern California, where he pastored a Pentecostal Church of God of Prophecy. After Perry's wife found his copy of The Homosexual in America by Donald Webster Cory, their marriage dissolved. They divorced after five years of marriage.[3] Perry was directed to pray about being led astray by his homosexual feelings and later was told by his bishop to renounce himself in the pulpit and resign. Perry worked in a Sears department store and was drafted for the army in 1965, during which time he served two years in Germany.[11]

Founding the Metropolitan Community Church

[edit]

In 1968, after a suicide attempt, and witnessing a close friend being arrested at The Patch Bar, Perry felt called to return to his faith and to offer a place for gay people to worship God. Perry put an advertisement in The Advocate announcing a worship service designed for gays in Los Angeles. Twelve people turned up on October 6, 1968, for the first service, and "Nine were my friends who came to console me and to laugh, and three came as a result of the ad."[1][12] After six weeks of services in his living room, the congregation shifted to a women's club, an auditorium, a church, and finally a theater. In 1971, their own building was dedicated with over a thousand members in attendance.[citation needed]

Several MCC buildings have been targeted for arson, including the original Church in Los Angeles. Perry's theology has been described[by whom?] as conservative, but social action was a high priority from the beginning of the establishment of the denomination. Perry performed what Time Magazine described as the first public same-sex unions in the United States as early as 1968[13] and ordained women as pastors as early as 1972.[6]

Smithsonian Institution archives

[edit]

A collection of items from Perry and the Metropolitan Community Churches is held by the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. It was presented to the Smithsonian on the 51st anniversary of the founding of the church. It consists of personal items used by Perry in the founding of the Metropolitan Community Churches, historical Items from members and friends concerning Metropolitan Community Churches as well as Items that detail the work of the church and Perry in their struggle for equal and civil rights.[14]

Other artifacts and records donated to the Museum include:

  • The charter of MCC San Francisco describing the rights of membership;
  • General Conference program books from the 25th, 40th, 50th years that provide information about MCC's development;
  • An inclusive language hymnal from 1990;
  • The original pamphlet "Homosexuality: Not a Sickness, Not a Sin" explained MCC's belief about sexuality and spirituality.
  • An original copy of a 1971 issue of Life magazine with a photo of Perry marrying a couple at MCC Los Angeles;
  • An original copy of the Service of Faith and Freedom to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Stonewall at Alice Tully Hall in New York City.[14]
  • A small cross made of stained glass from one of the destroyed windows of the Los Angeles church in an arson fire in 1973.[15]

The bulk of MCC's historical records are preserved at the Center for LGBTQ & Gender Studies in Religion (CLGS) in Berkeley, California, and the ONE Institute in Los Angeles.[14]

Activism

[edit]
Perry in 1997

Perry held a seat on the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations in 1973.[citation needed] Perry worked in political arenas to oppose Anita Bryant in the Save the Children campaign in 1977, that sought to overturn an anti-discrimination ordinance passed by the city of Miami. Unsuccessful in Miami, he also worked to oppose the Briggs Initiative in California that was written to ensure gay and lesbian teachers would be fired or prohibited from working in California public schools. Beginning on September 4, 1977, Perry held a 16-day fast on the steps of the Federal Building in Los Angeles to raise funds to fight the initiative.[16] The Briggs Initiative was defeated in 1978.[17] Perry also planned the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1979 with Robin Tyler.[18]

On June 28, 1970, Perry, with two friends, Morris Kight and Bob Humphries, founded Christopher Street West in Los Angeles to hold an annual Pride Parade. It is the oldest gay pride parade in the world.[19][20]

In 1978, Perry was honored by the American Civil Liberties Union Lesbian and Gay Rights Chapter with its Humanitarian Award.[citation needed] He holds honorary doctorates from Episcopal Divinity School in Boston[21] and Samaritan College (Los Angeles) for his work in civil rights, and was lauded by the Gay Press Association with its Humanitarian Award.[citation needed] Perry has been invited to the White House on five occasions:[22]

  • in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter to discuss gay and lesbian rights;[23]
  • in 1995 by President Bill Clinton as a participant in the first White House Conference on HIV and AIDS;[24]
  • in 1997 invited by President Clinton as a participant in the White House Conference on Hate Crimes;[25]
  • in 1997 again as a guest of President Clinton as an "honoree" at a White House breakfast with President honoring 100 national spiritual leaders in the USA.
  • in 2009, along with his partner Phillip, by President Barack Obama on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Stonewall.[26]

On Valentine's Day 2004 he spoke to a crowd of gay newlyweds at the Marriage Equality Rally at the California State Capitol.[27] He retired as Moderator of the MCC in 2005, and Nancy Wilson succeeded him at an installation service on 29 October 2005.[28]

In March 2017, Perry became the first American citizen honored with Cuba's CENESEX award. Mariela Castro Espín, daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro, and a member of the country's National Assembly, and Director of CENESEX, presented the award. He was given the award for his long history of working for human rights and the rights of the LGBTQ community worldwide.[29]

Perry was named to the Stonewall 50 Wall of Honor made up of 18 community leaders including Wilson Cruz, Mandy Carter, Marsha Botzer and Stuart Milk, the gay nephew of slain San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk.[30]

Writings and media

[edit]
Rev. Troy Perry, founder of Metropolitan Community Churches
Perry preaching in 2006 at an MCC church in Minnesota.

Perry has written an autobiography, The Lord is My Shepherd and He Knows I'm Gay, first published in 1972 by Nash Publishing.[31] He has written a sequel to this book, titled Don't Be Afraid Anymore,[32] published in 1990 by St. Martin's Press and Profiles in Gay and Lesbian Courage[33] also published by St. Martin's in 1992. He is a contributing editor for the book Is Gay Good? and his life is covered in Our God Too: Biography of a Church and a Temple.[34]

In 2003, he completed 10 Spiritual Truths For Gays and Lesbians* (*and everyone else!).[35]

Perry's television appearances include

  • Virginia Graham Show, Sept 7, 1970[36]
  • Mike Douglas Show, Week of July 9, 1973[37]
  • Phil Donohue Show[38]
  • Tomorrow with Tom Snyder, June 4, 1974[39]

Early Appearance in Print Publications include:

  • Playboy Magazine, Sept 1973, Vol. 2, No. 9[40]

His film appearances include:

  • Sign of Protest,[41] Documentary, Pat Rocco Director, 1970
  • God, Gays and the Gospel,[42] Documentary, 1984
  • Upstairs Inferno,[43] Documentary, Robert L. Camina Director, 2015

Audio Appearances include:

  • StoryCorps Rev. Troy Perry,[44] Producers Liyna Anwar and Eve Claxton
  • QueerCore Podcast "The Joy of Rev. Troy Perry's Salvation, Podcast Producer, August Bernadicou, May 2020[45]

Print Articles on Perry include:

  • The Pastor Behind the Gay Marriage Ruling,[46] Christian Century, John Dart, June 17, 2008
  • Pride in the Pews,[47] Tablet, Maggie Phillips, June 23, 2021

Personal life

[edit]

Perry's mother became the first heterosexual member of the Metropolitan Community Church and supported her son until she died in 1993.[48] He was reunited with his younger son, Michael, and performed the marriage uniting him and his daughter-in-law, but remains estranged from his elder son.[49]

Perry has maintained a home in Los Angeles with Phillip Ray De Blieck,[50] whom he married under Canadian law at the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto. They sued the State of California upon their return home after their Toronto wedding for recognition of their marriage and won.[3] The state appealed[51] and the ruling was overturned by the State Supreme Court after five years in their favor.[citation needed]

Tributes

[edit]

In 2011, actor/playwright Jade Esteban Estrada portrayed Perry in the solo musical comedy "ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 5" which includes the song "I Will Follow You" sung by the character of Perry with music and lyrics by Estrada.[citation needed]

On October 6, 2018, a tribute to Perry on the 50th anniversary of his founding Metropolitan Community Church was held at the Los Angeles Episcopal Cathedral. Guest speakers and dignitaries included California State Sen. Kevin de Leon and attorney Gloria Allred. Rodney Scott, President Emeritus of Christopher Street West / LAPRIDE, presented the Troy Perry Awards.[52]

On June 11, 2021, the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball organization honored Perry, presenting him with the Dodgers Community Hero Lifetime Achievement Award at the eighth annual LGBTQ+ Night at Dodger Stadium.[53]

Bibliography

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Troy Perry

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

Troy Deroy Perry Jr. (born July 27, 1940) is an American religious leader and activist who founded the Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) on October 6, 1968, as the first created to minister specifically to homosexuals seeking affirmation within a religious context.
Perry, licensed as a Baptist minister at age 15 and later ordained in the Pentecostal tradition, was defrocked in the early 1960s after his was discovered by church authorities. After years of personal struggle, he convened the initial MCC service in his living room with twelve attendees, marking the beginning of a denomination that grew under his direction to over 300 congregations across more than twenty countries, with membership exceeding 44,000.
Among his notable contributions, Perry co-founded Christopher Street West in 1970, which organized the world's first officially permitted gay pride parade, and became the first openly homosexual appointee to the on . He received the American Civil Liberties Union's Humanitarian Award in 1978 for advancing , and continued activism by addressing national marches on Washington for lesbian and gay rights in multiple years, including 1979, 1987, and 1993. Perry moderated the MCC until his retirement in 2005.

Early Life and Formative Influences

Family Background and Childhood in

Troy Deroy Perry was born on July 27, 1940, in , to parents Troy Perry Sr. and Edith Allen Perry, becoming the eldest of five sons in the family. The Perrys operated as bootleggers in northern during Prohibition's lingering cultural echoes and beyond, a trade that positioned the family amid the economic and social dynamics of the rural South. This background underscored a household shaped by self-reliance and local notoriety rather than institutional prominence, though Perry's father held informal influence in community networks tied to informal economies. The family environment emphasized traditional Southern patriotism, exemplified by Perry's grandfather's service in the Civil War on the Confederate side, fostering an early sense of regional heritage and familial resilience. Raised amid fundamentalist Christian influences in a Southern Baptist context, Perry experienced a stable if insular childhood in the panhandle's conservative milieu until age 11, when his father's in an automobile accident disrupted the home dynamic and shifted responsibilities onto the young eldest son. This rural setting, with its limited urban diversity and strict social norms, provided scant encounter with alternative lifestyles, reinforcing a worldview rooted in familial duty and evangelical piety.

Initial Exposure to Pentecostalism and Ordination

Perry first encountered around the age of 13 after running away from home and relocating to live with his Pentecostal aunt and uncle in Georgia. There, he immersed himself in the vibrant, expressive worship services characteristic of Pentecostal traditions, which emphasized spiritual gifts such as and divine healing, and delivered his inaugural sermon in his aunt's church. This early immersion fostered a profound sense of divine vocation, as Perry later described feeling an irresistible call to preach from childhood, viewing himself as a "religious fanatic" compelled to proclaim the Gospel. Returning to Florida, Perry aligned initially with Southern Baptist congregations, where his fervor led to formal recognition as a minister at age 15 in 1955. Licensed to preach by a local Baptist church in Tallahassee, he prioritized ministerial duties over completing high school, conducting services and evangelistic efforts in traditional evangelical settings that upheld literal interpretations of Scripture and prohibitions on personal moral deviations. At this stage, Perry demonstrated unwavering adherence to the doctrinal standards of these fundamentalist communities, including emphases on personal conversion, biblical inerrancy, and separation from worldly influences. By age 16, Perry transitioned fully into Pentecostal circles by affiliating with the Church of God, a denomination headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee, known for its Holiness-Pentecostal roots and practices like sanctification and glossolalia. This move deepened his engagement with charismatic expressions of faith, where he continued preaching in orthodox frameworks without challenging core tenets such as the authority of the Bible or the necessity of holy living. His ordination—building on the earlier Baptist licensing—solidified his role as a recognized cleric within this tradition, enabling itinerant ministry focused on revivalistic appeals and spiritual empowerment.

Traditional Ministry and Personal Struggles

Early Pastoral Roles and Marriage

Perry began his pastoral career in as a teenager, receiving his to preach as a Baptist minister at age 15 in 1955. He initially served in small congregations within the Southern Baptist tradition before transitioning to Pentecostal denominations, reflecting his deepening commitment to charismatic worship practices. These early roles involved delivering sermons, leading services, and engaging in evangelistic activities typical of mid-20th-century evangelical ministry in the American South. In 1959, at age 19, Perry married Pearl Pinion, the daughter of his pastor, as a means of conforming to the heterosexual norms prescribed by his religious community, which viewed as a remedy for personal temptations. The couple welcomed a in 1960, prompting a relocation to , where Perry enrolled at Midwest Bible College and later while assuming pastoral duties at a local church. This period marked his adherence to traditional family structures and ministerial expectations, including family relocation to support denominational education and service. Perry continued pastoring in before returning to for additional roles and eventually moving to , where he was assigned to lead the congregation in Santa Ana by 1963. In these positions across states, he focused on growing attendance and fostering community ties within Pentecostal frameworks, achieving modest successes in congregational development amid the era's emphasis on doctrinal purity and moral . Despite these professional advancements, Perry later reflected on an underlying personal unease during this phase of conventional ministry and family life.

Emerging Awareness of Homosexuality and Resulting Conflicts

In 1962, Perry and his family relocated to , where he took on the role of at a congregation in Santa Ana, part of the metropolitan area. This move exposed him to more diverse urban settings, including nascent social networks in the region, which contrasted sharply with the rural Pentecostal environments of his upbringing. Throughout his early ministerial career, Perry had been aware of his homosexual attractions but endeavored to suppress them in alignment with Pentecostal teachings emphasizing spiritual discipline and moral conformity. These efforts included intensive , , and conformity to denominational expectations of heterosexual and life, though they yielded only partial and temporary success amid recurring internal dissonance. Church authorities eventually discovered a consensual sexual encounter with a male parishioner, leading to his forced and around 1963, which intensified his private turmoil without resolving the underlying conflict between his sexual orientation and doctrinal prohibitions. Following U.S. Army service from 1965 to 1967, Perry settled in proper, where renewed engagement with homosexual relationships amplified the psychological strain of reconciling his identity with evangelical convictions. The mounting pressure culminated in a failed in 1968, precipitated by the breakup of a romantic liaison and profound despair over perceived irreconcilability with his . This crisis marked a in his struggles, highlighting the causal friction between suppressed personal realities and rigid religious frameworks that viewed as sinful and amenable to eradication through spiritual intervention.

Founding of the Metropolitan Community Church

Decision to Start a New Congregation

Following his divorce and public acknowledgment of his , Perry was excommunicated from the of Prophecy, which viewed such orientation as incompatible with Christian . This rejection compounded his isolation, as traditional denominations offered no spiritual home for individuals seeking fellowship without condemnation. In early 1968, a with his partner triggered severe depression, culminating in a that Perry survived. During recovery, he experienced a profound spiritual epiphany, interpreting a divine message—affirmed through prayer—that compelled him to establish a Christian congregation affirming homosexual practice as reconcilable with faith. This vision stemmed from his conviction that God had not rejected him despite expulsion, motivating the creation of an alternative space for marginalized believers. Perry began informal outreach by placing advertisements in local publications inviting gay Christians to worship services, transitioning from personal reflection to organized action. These efforts culminated in the inaugural gathering on October 6, 1968, held in his , living room, attended by 12 individuals.

Initial Services, Growth, and Institutional Milestones

The first worship service of the (MCC) occurred on October 6, 1968, in the living room of founder Rev. Troy Perry's home in , attended by 12 individuals seeking a Christian community affirming of . Initial gatherings operated informally without a dedicated space, relying on Perry's residence and later rented venues amid limited resources and societal hostility toward gay-inclusive worship. By late 1968, the congregation had expanded sufficiently for Perry to perform the first public same-sex union in the United States that December, marking an early institutional commitment to recognizing homosexual relationships within a religious framework. Growth accelerated through word-of-mouth among alienated gay Christians, reaching hundreds of members by the early 1970s, with services shifting to larger rented facilities to accommodate increasing attendance despite challenges like attempts on meeting spaces and exclusion from mainstream ecclesiastical bodies. In 1970, MCC formalized as a denomination through a convening of leaders from five nascent congregations across U.S. cities, enabling structured and the of openly and , including women, which distinguished it from traditional Protestant groups by integrating homosexual practice into ministerial roles from . This milestone facilitated rapid proliferation, with affiliate churches forming in multiple states by mid-decade, transitioning the movement from a local startup to a networked fellowship emphasizing empirical to marginalized sexual minorities over doctrinal conformity with established denominations.

Archival Recognition and Documentation

In 2019, Rev. Troy Perry and representatives of the (MCC) donated a collection of 12 artifacts and records to the Smithsonian Institution's , including items related to the church's founding and early ministry. These materials, preserved permanently in the museum's archives, encompass historical records from MCC's origins in 1968, serving as primary evidence of the denomination's establishment as the first Christian body explicitly welcoming homosexuals. The deposit highlights the institutional effort to safeguard verifiable artifacts amid potential loss from the church's early, informal operations, such as handwritten notes and ceremonial objects from initial gatherings. Early MCC records, including documentation of the inaugural service on October 6, 1968, in Perry's living room with 12 attendees, bulletins from subsequent worships, and ledgers of the first holy unions—beginning with a public same-gender ceremony in , on April 15, 1969—form core artifacts preserved in specialized collections. These documents, held in repositories like the LGBTQ Religious Archives Network's MCC Historical Collection, provide empirical traces of membership rosters and sacramental practices during the denomination's nascent phase. Such preservation efforts ensure the availability of firsthand data on ecclesiastical innovations, including the integration of homosexual participants into liturgical roles, without reliance on retrospective accounts. The archival documentation of MCC's founding records plays a key role in chronicling the emergence of organized religious affirmation for homosexuals within during the , a period marked by post-Stonewall sociocultural upheavals and limited institutional tolerance. These materials, including Perry's personal papers spanning MCC's inception, offer causal evidence of how early denominational structures adapted to cultural pressures, such as denominational defrockings and societal stigma, while establishing precedents for inclusive . Repositories emphasize ' value as unaltered primary sources for understanding the interplay between religious and homosexual identity in an era of nascent LGBTQ advocacy.

Leadership and Expansion within MCC

Tenure as Founder and Moderator

Perry transitioned from founding pastor to the first Moderator of the Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) in 1973, an elected position that positioned him as the denomination's spokesperson, chief executive officer, and primary visionary leader. In this role, he directed the overall governance structure, including the establishment of processes for electing subsequent leaders and managing the denomination's strategic direction through bodies like the General Conference. His leadership emphasized visioning for growth, with MCC membership expanding from an initial dozen attendees in 1968 to over 43,000 members worldwide by the early 2000s, reflecting effective administrative oversight amid the challenges of pioneering a new denominational framework. As Moderator, Perry bore responsibility for upholding doctrinal standards as the primary spiritual leader, ensuring consistency across congregations while fostering clergy development through teaching and training initiatives integrated into denominational operations. He also handled to preserve organizational unity, navigating internal tensions that arose during periods of rapid expansion, such as disputes over local church autonomy versus centralized , without documented major schisms fracturing the fellowship under his tenure. Strategic decisions under his guidance included standardizing policies for emerging churches and maintaining fiscal and operational stability, which supported the denomination's survival through external pressures like arsons targeting MCC facilities in the 1970s. Perry held the Moderator position continuously until his retirement in 2005, after 37 years of overall leadership since founding MCC, culminating in the election and installation of Nancy Wilson as his successor on October 29, 2005. This extended service marked a period of institutional maturation, where he prioritized long-term over short-term gains, though membership growth began to flatten in later years consistent with broader trends in religious affiliations.

Denominational Developments and Global Reach

Under Troy Perry's leadership as founder and moderator, the (MCC) experienced rapid denominational growth, expanding from a handful of U.S. congregations in the early 1970s to hundreds of churches worldwide by the 1980s, with a primary emphasis on establishing ministries in urban centers to serve LGBTQ communities. This expansion was facilitated by Perry's organizational efforts, including the formalization of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC) structure in 1970, which enabled chartered affiliations and standardized governance across emerging sites. International outreach marked a pivotal shift from U.S.-centric operations, beginning in 1973 with the chartering of congregations in , , and London, England, and extending to dozens of countries by the decade's end through missionary travels and local . By the 1980s, MCC had adapted its model to global contexts, incorporating bilingual services and culturally tailored programs to sustain growth amid varying legal environments, while maintaining a focus on affirming worship for marginalized sexual minorities. The AIDS crisis prompted MCC to prioritize pastoral responses, with churches worldwide delivering counseling to those infected, supporting affected families, and performing a disproportionate volume of funerals for AIDS-related deaths starting in the early . These initiatives, coordinated through denominational networks under Perry's oversight, included for care ministries that integrated spiritual support with practical aid, reinforcing MCC's role as a frontline responder in urban epicenters of the . As MCC's global footprint broadened into non-Western regions such as , , and by the late , adaptations involved navigating local sociocultural barriers, such as establishing discreet house churches in restrictive settings while upholding core doctrinal commitments to inclusion. This evolution diversified affiliations beyond North American and European models, fostering autonomous regional clusters that addressed indigenous needs without diluting the founder's vision of universal outreach.

Theological Positions

Affirmation of Homosexual Practice as Compatible with

Troy Perry asserted that homosexual practice aligns with Christian doctrine, rejecting traditional interpretations of biblical texts as condemnations of in favor of contextual readings that prioritize God's inclusive love over cultural prohibitions. He contended that passages traditionally cited against same-sex relations, such as Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, address ritual impurity, temple prostitution, or exploitative acts rather than committed homosexual relationships, dismissing broader applications as historical misreadings disconnected from contemporary . Similarly, Perry viewed :26-27 as critiquing idolatrous excesses amid pagan worship, not innate or mutual partnerships. Central to Perry's was the emphasis on divine and relational fidelity, encapsulated in his statement that " came to take away our , not our sexuality," which reframes as liberating believers from rather than altering their . This perspective shifted focus from categorizations to affirmations of as the fulfillment of scriptural mandates, arguing that God's creation includes diverse sexual expressions as part of human wholeness. Perry maintained that denominations condemning homosexuals had "intentionally misread and misinterpreted their Bibles to please their prejudices," positioning affirmation as a return to authentic unburdened by societal biases. Within the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), Perry embedded this affirmation in foundational creeds and practices, declaring God's "inclusive love for all people" and the "holy integration of spirituality and sexuality" as core tenets that extend to blessing same-sex unions and ordaining LGBTQ individuals. While drawing from Perry's Pentecostal background—which conventionally deems homosexual acts sinful—MCC innovated by integrating charismatic worship with ethical divergence, viewing homosexual practice not as aberration but as compatible with holiness when expressed monogamously and lovingly. This doctrinal stance, as articulated by Perry, underscores Christianity's capacity for inclusion without necessitating rejection of traditional elements like scriptural authority or experiential faith.

Scriptural Interpretations and Doctrinal Innovations

Perry and the (MCC) adopted hermeneutical approaches that prioritize historical and cultural context over traditional literal interpretations of biblical texts on sexuality, drawing on methods akin to historical-critical analysis to argue that passages condemning same-sex acts address exploitative or idolatrous practices rather than consensual, committed relationships. For instance, the Sodom narrative in Genesis 19 is reframed not as a judgment on but as a condemnation of inhospitality and , with supporting references to :49 emphasizing pride, excess, and neglect of the poor over . Similarly, Romans 1:26–27 is interpreted as critiquing pagan ritual and hierarchical amid , excluding modern notions of mutual same-sex partnerships, while terms like arsenokoitai in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10 are seen as denoting economic exploitation, temple , or abusive dominance rather than as an orientation. Doctrinally, MCC innovated by affirming same-sex unions as sacramentally equivalent to heterosexual , conducting holy union ceremonies as early as the 1970s that parallel traditional wedding rites in and commitment, viewing them as blessed expressions of covenantal love compatible with . practices departed from historic norms by routinely credentialing openly LGBTQ individuals as without regard to , positing that scriptural qualifications for ministry (e.g., 1 Timothy 3) pertain to character and fidelity, not genital relations, thus elevating diverse sexual identities to full participatory equality in sacraments and leadership. These positions integrated elements of , interpreting ' ministry as a model for prioritizing the oppressed—including sexual minorities—as bearers of divine image, which reshapes to emphasize alongside personal . Worship styles blended charismatic Pentecostal influences from Perry's background, such as spontaneous , , and , with doctrinal emphases on inclusivity, fostering a where the affirms marginalized identities through experiential rather than strict adherence to patristic creeds. Such innovations mark a substantive shift from orthodox Christian traditions, which historically derived prohibitions on same-sex acts from direct textual prohibitions without contextual qualifiers permitting affirmation.

Advocacy Efforts

In October 1969, Perry led a nighttime march down in , carrying signs proclaiming "we're not afraid anymore" to demand the repeal of anti-sodomy laws criminalizing homosexual acts. This demonstration, involving a small group of participants, marked one of the earliest public protests organized by Perry following his founding of the earlier that year. In 1970, Perry organized a protest in response to the death of a male nurse, which he attributed to discriminatory practices against homosexuals in healthcare settings. That same year, he participated in the inaugural parade on June 28, commemorating the and advocating for decriminalization of same-sex relations, alongside secular groups like Christopher Street West. These actions positioned Perry as an early bridge between religious and activist communities seeking legal protections for homosexuals. Perry advanced marriage equality through direct challenges to state laws, performing the first publicized same-sex union ceremony on June 28, 1969, . In January 1970, he filed the inaugural lawsuit contesting California's prohibitions on , representing a couple denied a license, though the case was ultimately unsuccessful in altering statutes at the time. These ceremonies and legal filings defied prevailing norms that viewed homosexual unions as incompatible with civil law, drawing media attention and galvanizing support within gay rights networks. Throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s, Perry lobbied legislators and allied with secular organizations, including co-organizing the 1979 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights alongside activist Robin Tyler, which drew over 100,000 participants demanding federal and anti-discrimination measures. His efforts emphasized repealing sodomy laws still enforced in most states, contributing to incremental reforms such as Illinois's prior decriminalization and influencing broader coalitions that pressured state assemblies for change.

Responses to Anti-LGBTQ Violence and Tragedies

Following the arson attack on the UpStairs Lounge in New Orleans on June 24, 1973, which killed 32 people and injured dozens more in one of the deadliest incidents of anti-LGBTQ violence in U.S. history, Perry provided direct pastoral ministry to survivors. He visited victims in hospital burn units, offering emotional support and practical assistance amid widespread societal indifference, including from local media and authorities that often minimized the tragedy or made jokes about it. One notable interaction involved a severely burned who, while still hospitalized, received notice of his dismissal due to anticipated scarring that would make him "unfit" to teach children; the man asked Perry to help secure new employment, and Perry facilitated a position that allowed the survivor to continue his career. Perry's efforts extended to advocating for religious spaces for mourning, approaching local to host memorials when mainstream churches refused, underscoring his role in bridging spiritual care with crisis response for a stigmatized community. In response to subsequent hate crimes and mass violence, Perry issued public condemnations, framing them as symptoms of taught rather than innate and urging to combat societal tolerance of such acts. For instance, after the June 12, 2016, in Orlando that claimed 49 lives, Perry called for marches against hate during events, emphasizing resistance to ongoing threats targeting LGBTQ spaces. These responses influenced MCC's development of trauma-informed pastoral programming, prioritizing survivor support, memorial services, and advocacy for legal protections against violence, as seen in Perry's participation in the 1997 White House Conference on Hate Crimes convened by President .

Criticisms and Controversies

Theological Objections from Orthodox Christian Perspectives

Conservative Christian theologians and denominations adhering to traditional exegesis maintain that Troy Perry's establishment of the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) represents a departure from biblical sexual ethics by affirming homosexual acts as morally permissible within Christian life. They contend that Scripture unequivocally prohibits such practices, citing passages like 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, which lists "men who have sex with men" (arsenokoitai and malakoi in Greek) among those who will not inherit the kingdom of God unless repentant. This interpretation aligns with historical church teaching, viewing these terms as referencing active and passive roles in male same-sex intercourse, consistent with Greco-Roman cultural contexts Paul addressed. Critics accuse MCC theology of heresy for redefining sin to prioritize human experience over divine revelation, thereby inverting the biblical order where sexual conduct must conform to God's creational intent as male-female complementarity (Genesis 2:24; Romans 1:26-27). Traditional exegetes argue that affirming homosexual unions as sacramental equivalents to heterosexual marriage nullifies apostolic warnings against sexual immorality (porneia), which encompasses same-sex relations in both Old and New Testaments. Such innovations, they claim, echo ancient heresies like Gnosticism by elevating subjective orientation above objective holiness standards, leading to a diluted gospel that promises inheritance without transformation from sinful patterns (1 Corinthians 6:11). Empirical patterns reinforce these objections, as denominations adopting pro-homosexual reinterpretations have correlated with accelerated membership losses, suggesting reduced appeal among those seeking unaltered scriptural fidelity. For instance, data indicate bodies—several of which endorsed affirming stances by the 2000s—shrank by over 50% in U.S. affiliation from 1990 to 2020, contrasting with stability in confessional groups upholding traditional prohibitions. Conservative analysts attribute this to causal factors like perceived capitulation to cultural pressures, eroding doctrinal authority and fostering perceptions of inauthenticity among biblically literate adherents.

Internal Challenges and Denominational Critiques

The (MCC) under Troy Perry's founding leadership from 1968 to 2005 encountered substantial membership fluctuations, driven primarily by the crisis, which claimed approximately one-third of congregants by 1996 and strained organizational resources across multiple churches. Early rapid expansion in the and , fueled by Perry's charismatic to LGBTQ individuals rejected by mainstream denominations, saw congregations proliferate in the United States and internationally, yet this growth plateaued amid demographic shifts, including an aging membership base that averaged 28 years old in a 1973 anniversary poll. These losses and stagnation raised internal sustainability concerns, as the denomination transitioned from formal membership tracking to attendance metrics to better reflect fluid participation patterns. Governance challenges emerged from the centralized hierarchical model Perry established, featuring a single moderator position he held for over 30 years until declining re-election in 2005, prompting discussions on leadership succession and long-term viability without his personal involvement. While no large-scale schisms fractured the denomination during this period, tensions arose over doctrinal emphasis, with some internal voices questioning whether the heavy integration of social and political activism—embodied in Perry's "three-pronged gospel" of personal salvation, social justice, and universal reconciliation—compromised traditional Christian universality by prioritizing LGBTQ identity concerns. Perry countered such views by stressing that true identity derives from being "humble, spiritual human beings first," aiming to balance advocacy with broader inclusivity. Sustainability issues manifested in uneven congregational health, with verifiable expansion to hundreds of churches globally under but anecdotal reports of closures in under-resourced U.S. locales due to membership attrition from the AIDS era and competing secular LGBTQ organizations. These dynamics highlighted ongoing debates about whether MCC's niche focus, while pioneering religious affirmation for sexual minorities, inadvertently limited appeal to non-LGBTQ adherents and strained fiscal and pastoral resources.

Personal and Ethical Scrutiny

Perry's marriage to Pearl , contracted in 1959, produced two sons, Troy III and Michael, before ending in divorce in 1964 following his disclosure of homosexual experiences. Pinion relocated with the children, remarried, and restricted Perry's access to them until adulthood, resulting in years of estrangement that Perry later described as profoundly isolating. This separation imposed emotional and relational burdens on the ex-wife, who navigated single motherhood amid the stigma of her husband's departure for same-sex attractions, and on the sons, who grew up without paternal involvement during formative years. Post-divorce, Perry entered same-sex relationships shortly after his 1965 defrocking from the , including a partnership that coincided with the 1968 founding of the amid personal crises like a . Critics, such as Rev. Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition, have argued this sequence reflects a prioritization of over familial obligations, portraying Perry as "confused and unhappy" in resolving internal conflicts at the expense of spousal and parental stability. Such views align with broader theological critiques questioning whether in supersedes covenantal family commitments, as Perry's trajectory shifted rapidly from heteronormative roles to public advocacy without evident prolonged reconciliation efforts for his prior family unit. Perry has offered rare, introspective admissions of anguish from his 1965 excommunication, which amplified feelings of rejection and solitude after familial rupture, recounting in autobiographical accounts a "heartbreaking" void from lost ministry and kin ties. These disclosures, primarily in works like The Lord Is My Shepherd and He Knows I'm Gay (), highlight internal torment but stop short of extensive public reckoning with the collateral familial costs, framing personal trials as redemptive catalysts rather than ethical trade-offs.

Writings, Media, and Public Engagement

Authored Books and Publications

Perry's inaugural publication, The Lord Is My Shepherd and He Knows I'm Gay (1972, Nash Publishing), is an —as told to Charles L. Lucas—that chronicles his upbringing in a religious , ordination as a Pentecostal minister at age 19, dismissal from ministry upon disclosure of his , and establishment of the in 1968 to affirm homosexual practice within Christianity. A 25th anniversary edition appeared in 1996 via Universal Fellowship Press, the publishing arm of MCC, emphasizing themes of scriptural reinterpretation to reconcile same-sex attraction with biblical faith. In Don't Be Afraid Anymore: The Story of Troy Perry and the Metropolitan Community Churches (1990, ), co-authored with Thomas L. P. Swicegood, Perry recounts the institutional expansion of MCC from its origins in his home to a global network of congregations, highlighting doctrinal positions on and efforts to integrate LGBTQ individuals into ecclesiastical structures. Perry's third book, 10 Spiritual Truths for Successful Living for Gays and Lesbians (and Everyone Else!) (2003, Morris Publishing), presents a series of principles derived from his ministry experience, advocating , divine inclusion of homosexuals, and practical applications to counter societal stigma, distributed primarily through denominational channels. These works, often issued via MCC-affiliated or small presses after initial commercial releases, focus on personal and ecclesial history rather than academic .

Appearances, Interviews, and Speaking Engagements

Perry appeared on numerous television programs in the 1970s to defend the compatibility of and , including The Virginia Graham Show on September 7, 1970, where he discussed his experiences as a gay minister despite host disapproval. He featured on Morning News around April 1971, explaining the founding of the (MCC) as a ministry for gay individuals. Additional appearances included during the week of July 9, 1973, and , focusing on religious acceptance of . In 1983, Perry debated evangelist on regarding the morality of AIDS, arguing against blaming victims and emphasizing compassionate Christian response. Throughout the to , Perry participated in radio interviews and spots advocating for gay Christians, often highlighting scriptural interpretations supporting inclusion, though specific broadcasts from this era remain less documented in public archives. In later years, he continued media outreach, such as a 2022 episode on Get Used to It discussing his life's work. These appearances consistently emphasized MCC's mission to provide spiritual affirmation amid widespread religious condemnation of . Perry delivered keynote speeches at major events and conferences, serving as a featured speaker at all U.S. National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights events from 1979 to 2009, including leading a symbolic mass wedding ceremony in 2009 to advocate for equality. He addressed MCC General Conferences and gatherings into the , promoting the denomination's model of inclusive worship, as seen in his 2018 reflections on MCC's 50th anniversary at events in . Recent engagements include video messages for 2025, urging continued advocacy for LGBTQ spiritual justice. Internationally, Perry conducted speaking tours to promote MCC's expansion, including a 2017 visit to where he delivered a speech accepting the CENESEX Award for contributions to sexual diversity rights and engaged with local LGBTQ communities to discuss replicating MCC's affirming ministry structure. He traveled to MCC congregations worldwide post-retirement, delivering talks on faith and equality, such as discussions on U.S. presidential interactions at a event. These efforts focused on exporting MCC's doctrinal innovations without tying into activism.

Personal Life and Later Years

Relationships, Family, and Adoption

Following his 1964 divorce from his wife, Christine, Perry entered a long-term partnership with Phillip Ray de Blieck that lasted 18 years prior to their marriage. On July 16, 2003, the couple wed at a parish in , , , where same-sex marriage had been legalized earlier that year, making it one of the first such unions for an American same-sex couple seeking legal recognition unavailable in the United States. Upon returning to , Perry and de Blieck challenged the state's refusal to recognize their Canadian by filing a in 2004, arguing for equal spousal rights including inheritance, hospital visitation, and family protections under the U.S. Constitution's . The suit highlighted early legal battles over interstate recognition of same-sex unions amid evolving state laws, though did not grant full recognition until 2008's 8 debates and subsequent court rulings. Perry has described the marriage as a personal milestone intertwined with his advocacy for relational equality, without public details on children or further family expansion.

Health Issues, Retirement, and Recent Activities

Perry retired as Moderator of the Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) in 2005 after 37 years of leadership, with Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson succeeding him in an installation service on October 29. In March 2017, he suffered a heart attack while in receiving the CENESEX award for LGBTQ advocacy at the 10th Cuban Gala Against Homophobia and Transphobia. More recently, Perry was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, along with related conditions including , neuropathy in his feet, knee pain, , and swollen ankles, as reported by shipboard doctors during travel. Despite these health challenges, Perry has remained active into his 80s. In July 2025, at age 85, he delivered a video message marking and encouraging participation in the MCC General Conference's Transformational Weekend. He also completed an eight-week cruise through around late 2024 to early 2025, underscoring his continued physical vitality and engagement with the world.

Legacy and Impact

Achievements in LGBTQ Religious Inclusion

Troy Perry founded the Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) on October 6, 1968, in Huntington Park, California, establishing the first Christian denomination with a primary ministry to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons; the inaugural worship service drew 12 attendees in his home. This initiative addressed the exclusion faced by LGBTQ individuals in traditional churches, offering a space for spiritual affirmation grounded in Christian theology. Under Perry's leadership, MCC expanded significantly, growing to nearly 300 congregations across 22 countries and serving 43,000 members and adherents by the early 2020s, thereby creating global networks of inclusive worship and community support. The denomination's structure enabled localized ministries tailored to LGBTQ needs, including and advocacy, fostering sustained religious participation among marginalized groups. MCC pioneered the of openly LGBTQ starting in its early years, with Perry himself as the first defrocked minister to lead such efforts; this practice has produced serving in diverse roles like senior pastors and chaplains, comprising over half women as of 2013 data. By affirming regardless of , MCC modeled theological inclusion that influenced subsequent policy evolutions in mainstream denominations toward greater acceptance of LGBTQ leadership and rites.

Broader Influence, Limitations, and Ongoing Debates

Perry's establishment of the Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) contributed to the normalization of openly gay clergy within progressive Christian circles, influencing denominations such as the and to permit of LGBTQ individuals in subsequent decades. However, this impact remains confined to niche affirming communities, as evidenced by MCC's modest scale, with approximately 23,000 members reported in the latest by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. The denomination's growth has stalled relative to global Christianity's expansion, underscoring limited appeal beyond those seeking explicit LGBTQ affirmation, amid broader cultural shifts toward or traditionalist retention in evangelical and Catholic contexts. Critics from orthodox Christian perspectives argue that MCC's theological innovations, prioritizing sexual orientation affirmation over scriptural prohibitions on same-sex relations (e.g., Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26-27), compromise Christianity's doctrinal universality and invite erosion of core tenets like marital complementarity. Such views, articulated by organizations like the , contend that reinterpreting biblical texts to endorse homosexual practice dilutes the faith's transformative call to , potentially reducing it to cultural accommodation rather than transcendent truth. Proponents counter that exclusionary readings reflect historical biases, but empirical persistence of rejection by major bodies—evident in ongoing Vatican and Southern Baptist affirmations of traditional marriage—highlights unresolved tensions over scriptural authority. Post-Perry, MCC has evolved toward broader inclusivity, incorporating interfaith dialogues and emphases, yet internal challenges like disputes and declining U.S. attendance reflect adaptation struggles in a post-Christian . Debates persist on whether these shifts sustain Perry's vision of spiritual refuge or further alienate orthodox adherents, with conservative analyses questioning long-term viability absent with historic creeds. Empirical data on retention rates remain sparse, but the denomination's marginal footprint suggests ongoing marginalization within global , fueling discussions on the causal limits of identity-based reform in preserving institutional fidelity.

References

  1. https://lgbtqreligiousarchives.org/profiles/troy-perry
  2. https://revtroyperry.com/
  3. https://insidemcc.org/about-mcc/mcc-history/
  4. https://revtroyperry.com/biography
  5. https://theoutwordsarchive.org/interview/perry-rev-troy/
  6. https://www.timteeman.com/2020/07/08/how-troy-perry-metropolitan-community-church-founder-made-lgbtq-history-with-gods-help/
  7. https://www.lgbtqhp.org/post/rev-troy-perry
  8. http://www.glbtqarchive.com/ssh/perry_t_S.pdf
  9. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Troy-Perry
  10. https://pridesource.com/article/27081
  11. https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/perry-troy
  12. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-16-me-29451-story.html
  13. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/rac.2001.11.1.83
  14. https://www.glbtqarchive.com/ssh/perry_t_S.pdf
  15. https://one.usc.edu/archive-location/reverend-troy-perrys-metropolitan-community-church
  16. https://insidemcc.org/mcc-history-part-three/
  17. https://canyonwalkerconnections.com/long-road-marriage-equality-america/
  18. https://wrldrels.org/2016/10/08/metropolitan-community-church/
  19. https://www.washingtonblade.com/2019/09/25/mcc-church-founder-to-donate-artifacts-to-smithsonian/
  20. https://lgbtqreligiousarchives.org/troy-perry
  21. https://revtroyperry.com/smithsonian
  22. https://www.facebook.com/groups/gaybarchives/posts/2612439272434116/
  23. https://lgbtqreligiousarchives.org/collections/metropolitan-community-church-historical-collection
  24. https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/v53-3/pdf/ComingOut.pdf
  25. https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:%252F13030%252Fc8jd54bn
  26. https://qspirit.net/metropolitan-community-churches/
  27. https://celebrate.mccchurch.org/speakers-and-preachers/
  28. https://www.mccchurch.org/files/2018/11/Application-for-the-Office-of-the-Moderator-of-MCC-2019.pdf
  29. https://www.mccchurch.org/files/2016/09/Job-Description_Interim-Moderator.pdf
  30. https://www.outsmartmagazine.com/2007/04/resurrection-mcc-2/
  31. https://www.theliberalspirit.com/cast-of-characters-countdown-troy-perry-2/
  32. https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/pride-in-the-pews-troy-perry-mcc
  33. https://insidemcc.org/about-mcc/
  34. https://milwaukeemcc.org/about/history-of-the-universal-fellowship-of-metropolitan-community-churches/
  35. https://visitmccchurch.com/portfolio/how-mcc-helped-to-mobilize-the-fight-against-hiv-aids/
  36. https://www.religion-online.org/article/we-are-the-church-alive-the-church-with-aids/
  37. https://www.globaljusticeinstitute.org/vision
  38. https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1515&context=etd
  39. https://www.gaychurch.org/homosexuality-and-the-bible/some-talking-points-on-christianity-and-homosexuality/
  40. https://www.dennisjernigan.com/needhelp/963-pro-gay-theology-overview
  41. https://mccchurch.org/files/2009/08/MCC-FACT-SHEET_2011-Craig-Suggestions.pdf
  42. https://www.hrc.org/resources/stances-of-faiths-on-lgbt-issues-metropolitan-community-churches
  43. https://visitmccchurch.com/portfolio/does-mcc-really-welcome-lgbtq-people-in-all-of-your-churches/
  44. https://mccchurch.org/files/2016/08/BibleandHomosexuality.pdf
  45. https://themetchurch.org/about/homosexuality-the-bible
  46. https://www.mccnova.com/?page_id=2610
  47. https://mccchurch.org/files/2016/08/HolyConversations.pdf
  48. https://mccchurch.org/files/2016/08/Companion-Guide-to-the-2016-MCC-Statement-of-Faith-1.pdf
  49. https://mccchurch.org/files/2016/08/NotSinNotSick.pdf
  50. https://www.christianitytoday.com/1974/04/metropolitan-community-church-deception-discovered/
  51. https://www.losangelesblade.com/2017/06/03/rev-troy-perry-pain-joy-resistance-pride/
  52. https://www.christiancentury.org/article/2008-06/pastor-behind-gay-marriage-ruling
  53. https://revtroyperry.com/activism
  54. https://time.com/archive/6851548/homosexuality-gays-on-the-march/
  55. https://storycorps.org/stories/rev-troy-perry-062316/
  56. https://www.npr.org/2016/06/24/483134445/out-of-ashes-an-unwavering-resolve-thats-the-legacy-we-never-ran-away
  57. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10417940903060948
  58. https://www.washingtonblade.com/2024/07/26/i-heard-the-right-words-from-rev-troy-perry/
  59. https://revtroyperry.com/videos
  60. https://ag.org/Beliefs/Position-Papers/Homosexuality-Marriage-and-Sexual-Identity
  61. https://www.andrews.edu/sem/about/statements/seminary-statement-on-homosexuality-edited-8-17-jm-final.pdf
  62. https://www.focusonthefamily.com/get-help/revisionist-gay-theology-did-god-really-say/
  63. https://www.firststone.org/articles/post/responding-to-pro-gay-theology-part-i:-social-justice-arguments
  64. https://archive.org/details/lordismyshepherd0000perr
  65. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1973-29253-000
  66. https://www.amazon.com/Lord-My-Shepherd-Knows-Gay/dp/1885591454
  67. http://www.publishersweekly.com/9780312046910
  68. https://www.amazon.com/Books-Troy-D-Perry/s?rh=n%253A283155%252Cp_27%253ATroy%252BD.%252BPerry
  69. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNajAvP0nhA
  70. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clty9DLOftk
  71. https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/1.3332889
  72. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsEJ44zxPlo
  73. https://omeka.binghamton.edu/omeka/items/show/1214
  74. https://www.losangelesblade.com/2018/10/09/rev-troy-perry-celebrates-mccs-50th-anniversary/
  75. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYT_AikLtmo
  76. https://www.washingtonblade.com/2017/08/26/mcc-founder-reflects-cuba-trip/
  77. https://www.facebook.com/rev.troy.perry/videos/conversations-with-troy-presidents-and-the-white-house/1675193625949283/
  78. https://www.facebook.com/groups/joymcc/posts/10163377113160070/
  79. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/clergyman-hopes-wedding-promotes-gay-rights-in-u-s-1.399481
  80. https://www.advocate.com/news/2003/07/18/reverend-troy-perry-gets-hitched-canada-9311
  81. https://www.facebook.com/rev.troy.perry/
  82. https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2025/02/07/troy-perry-a-gay-prophet-for-our-time/
  83. https://resurrectionmcc.org/denomination-news/mcc-worldwide/
  84. https://insidemcc.org/clergy/
  85. https://mccchurch.org/files/2017/04/MCC-FACT-SHEET-February-2013.pdf
  86. https://www.equip.org/articles/answering-the-gay-christian-position/
  87. https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-the-metropolitan-community-church-which-has-been-telling-lgbtq-people-god-loves-them-for-50-years/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.