The Reverend Elder Nancy L. Wilson (born 1950) is the Moderator of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC or Metropolitan Community Churches).
On Sunday, 29 October 2005, in Washington's National Cathedral, Rev. Wilson was installed as Moderator of the Metropolitan Community Churches in succession to the denomination's founder, Troy Perry.
Wilson was elected Moderator of the denomination of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) by the Church's General Conference in Calgary, Alberta in July 2005. In accordance with the Bylaws of Metropolitan Community Churches, Rev. Wilson's name was placed in nomination by the denomination's Moderators Nominating Committee and her nomination was ratified with the overwhelming endorsement of the lay and clergy voting delegates to the 2005 MCC General Conference. Wilson was installed as Moderator at Washington National Cathedral in 2005.
Under Wilson's leadership the denomination has deepened its long-standing commitment to Christian social justice, becoming known as "The Human Rights Church" in many parts of the world for its human rights work in Eastern Europe, Jamaica, and Latin and South America and for its commitment to marriage equality, employment and housing non-discrimination laws, legal protections for persons with HIV/AIDS, and the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons within communities of faith.
She is only the second person to serve as Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches, which was founded in 1968, and one of the few women to serve as the leader of an international Christian denomination.
Wilson has a long and distinguished record of service with the Metropolitan Community Church. She was the youngest person ever elected to the MCC Board of Elders in 1976 and served on the Board of Elders ever since except for a break between 2003 and 2005.
Wilson resides with her wife of 33 years, Dr. Paula Schoenwether. They both actively work for same-sex marriage equality, having married each other in Massachusetts. Wilson and Schoenwether were the plaintiffs in Wilson v. Ake, 354 F. Supp. 1298, in which they asked a Florida District Court to hold that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional. The court denied relief and held that DOMA was constitutional.
Prior to beginning her MCC ministry, Wilson was active in the United Methodist Church.
Education and experience
Wilson received her undergraduate degree from Allegheny College in 1972 before going on to study at Boston University School of Theology with a Rockefeller Fellowship. She also holds an M.Div. from SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Detroit, served as Vice-Moderator of Metropolitan Community Church during 1993-2003 and has pastored Metropolitan Community Church congregations in Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, and California. She is the former senior pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of Los Angeles, the Founding Church of the Metropolitan Community Churches international movement. She most recently served as senior pastor of Church of the Trinity MCC in Sarasota, Florida.
Local Church Pastoral Service: 2001-2005, Senior Pastor, Church of the Trinity MCC, Sarasota, Florida; 1986-2000, Senior Pastor, MCC Los Angeles, Mother Church of MCC; 1975-1979, Senior Pastor, MCC Detroit; 1974-1975, Senior Pastor, MCC Boston, Worcester, Massachusetts; 1972-1974, Associate Pastor, MCC Boston, Worcester, Massachusetts
Ecumenical and human rights work
Wilson has a deep commitment to ecumenical work and human rights. During 1979-1999, she served as MCC's Chief Ecumenical Officer, representing Metropolitan Community Church at the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.
She has also been active on behalf of HIV issues, prisoner treatment programs, and women's rights. She is the founder of the MCC Conference for Women in Professional Ministry.
In 1979, she participated in the first-ever meeting of gay and lesbian religious leaders at the White House with President Carter.
On April 6, 2010, she was guest of U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House Easter Prayer Breakfast.
Public speaking
Wilson was the Guest Preacher at the Earl Lectures at Pacific School of Religion (Berkeley, California, January 2002) and has been a guest speaker at Harvard Divinity School, Vanderbilt Divinity School, Allegheny College, Claremont School of Theology, and the University of Southern California.
