Southeast / Long Beach : Church, Pastor Part Ways After Vote

The Long Beach Metropolitan Community Church has decided to replace its pastor, the Rev. Dusty Pruitt, whose recent legal victory over the U.S. Army put her at the forefront of the battle for gay and lesbian civil rights.

After 15 years as senior pastor, Pruitt failed to receive a vote of confidence in polling among the church’s 130-member congregation. Although most church leaders are quiet about the reasons, one official said some members had “concerns about pastoral leadership” and the church’s future ministry.

As the church looks for new leadership, Pruitt is searching for a new flock to lead--so long as it belongs to the Metropolitan Community Church, a Christian church with international outreach to gays and lesbians. A relocation and changes in the services schedule have cost the Long Beach congregation close to 100 members in two years, but Pruitt is confident the church will fare well without her.

“The local church is going to be fine,” she said, adding that she has had to cut off her ties to the church as part of the replacement process. “I’m going to be fine, too.”

In May, Pruitt won a 12-year legal battle with the Army over being denied a promotion to major because she is a lesbian. The Army agreed to retire her with the rank of major and pay her full benefits when she turns 60.