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Raised in the Missionary Baptist tradition in Ballinger, TX, Dusty Pruitt was a US Army officer in 1971 and discovered MCC when a subordinate, who just happened to be an MCC deacon, was assigned to her office and sought permission to attend church. Dusty is now a retired MCC pastor and says that MCC’s ministry is “Life-changing, life-giving, life-saving” and that other denominations just have no clue about the community of MCC.

Written (Survey) History

This history was collected via online survey.

What do you like to be called by your friends and family?

Dusty

 

Where were you born?

Ballinger, Texas

 

Do you have a life partner or spouse?

Yes

 

If you have a partner or spouse and feel comfortable doing so, please provide their name below.

Joanne E. Rhodes

 

If you have a partner or spouse, we would be honored to make note of any anniversary you celebrate. You may enter your anniversary date below.

2/14/2000

 

Did you grow up in a church? If yes, which one?

Yes; Missionary Baptist

 

When did you first discover Metropolitan Community Churches?

1971

 

How did you hear about MCC? Friend, family, advertising, Troy’s book, other? Please describe.

Other - I was an officer in the Army; Sandy McMillan was assigned to my office and was a deacon in MCC; she asked permission to attend church; I was looking for a church and thought she looked gay; anywhere she went I thought I might be welcome.

 

Describe your first visit to MCC. Please include the church’s name.

MCC Atlanta Georgia - John Gill, Pastor, December 1971. Even though the church didn’t have my “feel” or “sound” when communion was offered this little Baptist woman knew God’s Spirit inviting me and I went weeping to communion. I knew I was home.

 

How many years have you belonged to a MCC?

36

 

Who preached the sermon that you’ve never forgotten? Do you remember the name of the sermon? Where were you when you heard it?

Rev. Elder Freda Smith’s “Purple Grass.” The first time I heard it, I think, was at General Conference 1985 in Sacramento, California.

 

Who influenced you the most in MCC?

Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson

 

Describe how this person influenced you.

Nancy became truly my “soul friend” when she became the pastor of MCC Los Angeles and I was pastor of MCC Long Beach. We shared experiences and I believe it was a mutual relationship. “Soul Friends” are people who share deep spiritual experiences.

 

If you attend a MCC now, please give its name.

N/A - I am retired and attend a UCC

 

What do you like best about your local church? 

Attend a UCC Church.

 

What do you like best about the movement, ministry and community of MCC? Movement - Queer spirituality.

Ministry - Life-changing, life-giving, life-saving.

Community - other denominations don’t have a clue!

 

What was the moment when you felt most proud to be a member of MCC?

I felt most proud at Moderator Nancy Wilson’s installation at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. Her installation highlighted all the ecumenical witness that MCC has done over the years.

 

Have you attended a General Conference? If so please tell how many you have attended.

Yes nineteen of them. This will make 20.

 

What do you like best about General Conferences?

Worship and workshops.

 

What do you remember about the Inclusive (Including) Language Project? Or your first encounter with Inclusive (Including) language at MCC. 

I was involved in the Inclusive Language Project. It was, at the time, a very lively debate. Now it seems tame.

 

What do you remember about the ordination of women and people of color?

I think MCC still has the most ordained women, proportionately, of any denomination. We still lack something in the ordination of people of color, especially African-Americans. To our credit, we keep trying.

 

What do you remember about the beginning of ministry to the transgender and intersexed communities? 

Rev. Bill Renee Hein from Australia taught us in the beginning. She was elected an elder.

 

What do you remember about the growth of a community of children or a children’s / youth ministry at your MCC?

If you build it, they will come. We made room and gay men and lesbians who had children or grandchildren brought them to Children’s Ministry, then Sunday School and Youth ministry.

 

What do you remember about MCC ministry during the beginning of the AIDS pandemic and the transition of that movement to where it is today.

I remember the “GRID” - “Gay Related Immune Disorder” and the first cases of AIDS. I remember how we as the “gay church” wanted to deny what was happening and at one General Conference not long into the pandemic. Steve Pieters led us in a dramatic exercise which brought us out of our denial and into ministry to PWA’s.

 

What do you remember about our restructuring from Districts/Global Outreach to Regions? 

I was thinking about retiring and missed the Australia General Conference due to a secular job. From then on I was on the periphery of this debate. I think it is a good thing, however.

 

Please include any other memory or historical moment that you wish to share.
I remember the moment in worship when we moved from “singspiration” to “Praise and Worship”. It was a step at the 1991 or 1993 General Conference in Phoenix. The theme was “Behold I Set Before You an Open Door” I got the sense that we were marching around in front of this open door; I told Nancy Wilson I thought she was the one to take us through and she did. Take a look at that tape if you still have it and you will see what I mean.

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