TDP Ministries
Rev. Troy D. Perry
St Papa Pride, Phillip, the Sisters, the other saints and the leathermen
Gifted preacher, pastor,
public speaker, and Founder of
Metropolitan Community Churches
Be sure to click on the Blog link up top to be taken to our latest news.
After 37 years of life changing and world changing ministry, Rev Elder Dr Troy Perry retired from his role as moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches in 2005. But not from his roles of preaching, public speaking and striving for social justice for GLBT people and all people around the world.
During his time as moderator of the denomination he met with many world leaders. Among them Archbishop Desmond Tutu and three of the currently seated Presidents of the United States. He has been invited to the White House by President Jimmy Carter, President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama.
Welcome to Rev Perry’s website, where we will explore the past, present and future of this exciting world leader’s life, through photographs, recordings, stories and ongoing events.
Photo by Phillip De Blieck
A photo of Rev Perry and his husband, Phillip Ray De Blieck. They were married in Canada, 2005.
Please feel free to leave your comments. We’d love to hear from you. Be advised – your comments will not appear immediately – they are moderated and must be approved before they will be shared on the page.
God bless you Troy! Gott segne dich!
I remember when… Early 1970′s a movie theater in Hollywood. Great sermon then and a blessing to all of us that were young and had forsaken religion as it had thrown us out. Am very happy now that I am much older that MCC has done well and continues to provide sustenance to all.
Rev Troy,
I still think about you all the time and remember our wonderful times we had in San Francisco and the Bay Area in the 70′s. My fondest remembrance is when we had the flat tire on the freeway comeing back from Fresno after dedicating a new mission there. The two of us were standing by the highway waiting for men to return with the repaired tire. We were discussing how we always had to tell people how and what to do because they just didn’t seem to think for themselves. When the men came back to the car they asked us why we hadn’t jacked up the car and one made a comment.
“Why do we always have to tell people what to do. Why can’t they think for themselves.” We just looked at each other and laughed.
I miss Jim Sandmire, Howard and all the other people we lost during the HIV epidemic. God Love em and God love ya. Keep in touch.
I moved from Concord CA in 1999 and retired to Sun City West, AZ. Just turned 77 in Aug. Still hanging in there. No MCC near me and no Gay Seniors in my area.
Richard Barber
Hello Rev Troy sorry you may have forgotten me we meet many many years a go in Adelaide have a look at my profile and see if you can remember the face I have a twin Brother and movie around from Adelaide to Melbourne and back to Adelaide and the moved to Sydney and now I live in Melbourne Australia hope to hear from you just saw a story and it reminded me of how nice you were
I’ve just found out that there was a documentary about Troy Perry. “CALL ME TROY”
How do I get a copy.
Dear Rev.Perry:
I have been a member of MCC Boston for many years.As a matter of fact,I became a member shortly after coming out.But my history is not why I am trying to get in touch with you.I am an artist.Most of my work is portraiture with occasional forays into other subjects.But I try,as much as possible,to say something about gay life as I experience it.
I have started a series entitled “Sons and Daughters of Stonewall”in which I paint portraits of as many of the leading GBLTQ thinkers and innovators of the day as is possible.I am also a long time former resident of California.I was born here in Boston but raised in California.What I am getting at is I would …no I need to have your portrait as part of this series.Would you be kind enough to entertain the possibility of being part of this effort?It would be as minimally invasive as possible.I would visit California(which for me would be wonderful)for a few days to photograph and do some sketching and perhaps a little color work.I would never impose on you to sit for any extended period of time.
Please look at my web gallery,especially “Rev.Michael Cooper” to get an idea of what I am about.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Ronald C. Gillis
The last time I saw and spoke with you was at the Women’s Club in Huntington Park, CA, in 1968…Remember Wally P. Hayes? He introduced you to me and since then we became friends. I also remember your side-kick Willie at that time. We use to hang out at the Islander; I worked at Branch’s’ Coffee Shop!
I’ll never forget you!
thank you, you are good man.
Thank you for the visit to Albuquerque, New Mexico. 2.25.12
Rev. Troy,
You may have already received the posting from our newspaper and online newspaper in Pensacola, but if not, I wanted to share it with you. Please find the link below. I enjoyed breakfast and the discussion. Thank you so much for your thoughtful care of us in your time here.
All:
Please follow this link (or copy and paste it) to see the very nice article written by Josh Cooper about Troy Perry. Also, please take time to flip through the photo gallery. PNJ John Blackie did an excellent job with the art. The story and one photo is published on the front of the local section in today’s paper.
http://www.pnj.com/article/20120220/NEWS01/202200316/Church-celebrates-35-years-victory-perseverance?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE
Tina Rayfield
Treasurer
Holy Cross MCC
Congratulations on your completion of 37 years of badly needed ministry for a too-long marginalized segment of the population. You have brought hope to thousands, perhaps millions, with your trail-blazing ministry! Thank you for being a TRUE pioneer! God bless!
Congradulations regarding the 35th anniversery of the Holy Cross Metropolitian Community Church. We regret not being able to attend the banquet celebrating that and the retirement of our friend Reverand Lee Carlton. Last month our prayers were answered and we moved directly into a beautiful apartment across from Cornerstone MCC. Sometimes there are hard choices to be made and this was one of them.
Deb wishes to talk to Pastor Sandy regarding a remeberance servive on June 24, 2012. I was between a teen and a man in New Orleans when the tragedy occured, but it will never be forgotten. Love in Christ,
Ken and Deb
Hello Rev. Troy! We had a wonderful conversation in ’75 or thereabout in Austin, TX. Glad to see you are still out there!
Just wanted to say hi.
PS why do you think the lgbt youth is so unaware of the struggle we elder lgbt survived and fought against the crap happening so widely today? Is our history that insignificant?
Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii. I am so excited. I just finished reading your book. THE LORD IS My SHEPPARD AND HE KNOWS IM GAY>>>>>>>AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I wanted to just say thank you!. For everything you went through and remained a true child of god. I finally had the nerve to come OUT when I was 38 years old. Now today at 44. Being able to be in an open and committed relationship for almost 5 years. And most importantly being able to say that I love JESUS. out loud and proud. This is truly the happiest I ever been in my life. I am a proud member of Vision of Hope MCC in Mountville Pa. with lead Pastor. Rev Deb Coggin. I serve as the vice moderator for the board of directors. I am both honored and humbled to be in this position. For years I floundered around in many churches, of many denominations looking for a church that would allow me to be my true athentic self. None compare to MCC. I am fully alive and able to feel and show the presence of god in every aspect of my life. Your story has, and will cont to be a inspiration to me. To you and yours I send blessings of love ,peace and continued success . Love You. Kim M. Paulson
Dear Rev. Perry,
I have heard of the MCC Church for years but never really new what it was. I was a minister in the Cleveland, TN Church of God and have been a closeted gay all of my life. I married and my wife became my best friend. However, when she passed away in 2006 she still did not know about me.
I so want to be involved in Ministry as it is all I have done, yet I have left the CofG after my wife passed because of feeling like such a hypocrite. I now live in Fairbanks Alask and of course we have no MCC Church here. How would I find out more about your church and possibly starting one in this area?
As many before me I have said many prayers of thanksgiving for your vision in founding Metropolitan Community Church. When we realized our daughter was gay, she was almost 4. My first concern was to find a place she could grow up in a healthy environment with the knowledge that she was perfectly normal and that God loved her no matter what any one told her. I found that home at Charleston MCC. She has grown up with a healthy self self image of who she is and what God’s plans are for her. None of this would have been possible without the help of MCC. We were parents raising a gay child. We definitely needed some direction. Through the wonderful support from MCC I think we did a rather terrific job. Elementry and middle school actually went rather smoothly, especially after I let the schools know I would sue their sox off if they did not make sure my child was safe. In high school we had the most wonderful support from the guidance department at West Ashley High School. Their head guidance counselor set up a workshop for the tri county area with AFFA and members of MCC to learn how to protect and guide the LGBT children in their school. All through her life MCC Charleston has been to guide and support. Thank you seems so inadequate to express the tremendous gratitude I have for your vision and perseverencethat has made our family’s life so much easier.