Reverend Wanda Floyd has long believed that God is a God of love. It’s a conviction that has guided her ministry through decades of service, activism, and community engagement—a belief deeply embedded in the DNA of the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), the world’s first denomination founded specifically to serve LGBTQ+ people.

Now, as the newly elected senior pastor of Love MCC in Las Vegas, Reverend Floyd is channeling that conviction into a renewed vision for inclusive faith in Southern Nevada. After serving the congregation for the past two years as a provisional pastor (a phase she describes as "dating each other"), she was officially voted in unanimously on March 30, 2025. Her installation service is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, at 11 a.m.

"A Church That Loves You Back"

Reverend Floyd’s journey with Love MCC has come full circle. “I first served here from 2014 to 2016 as an interim pastor after the previous pastor left,” she explains. Life then pulled her in another direction, but a decade later, after returning to Las Vegas, she reached out to her colleagues and said, "I’m here and ready to serve again."

Since rejoining the church, Reverend Floyd has brought not just pastoral experience but a wave of fresh energy. She has expanded community outreach through movie nights, events at The LGBTQ+ Center, Pride mixers, and even painting sessions with House of Pride. She understands that connection extends beyond church walls. “We try to find a balance between fellowship within the church and outreach outside the church,” she says.

Under her guidance, Love MCC has grown, both in attendance and in spirit. Visitors are becoming regulars, and the church's small space is starting to feel a little too cozy. But Reverend Floyd laughs off suggestions to knock down a wall. “No,” she says, “We’re planning to move next year.”

Rooted in History, Committed to Change

Love MCC is part of a larger story that began in 1968, when Reverend Troy Perry founded the Metropolitan Community Church in Los Angeles. “We were actually organized before Stonewall,” Reverend Floyd says with pride. “MCC had its first Pride march in June 1968. Stonewall happened in 1969. So in a way, we were the very first organized queer entity in the U.S.”

That early start set the tone for a legacy of activism. “Reverend Perry was a huge activist,” she continues. “He once attempted suicide, feeling abandoned by God, but survived and heard God tell him: ‘I’m not done with you.’ From that moment, he dedicated himself to creating a spiritual home for LGBTQ+ people."

MCC became a haven during the AIDS crisis, when many mainstream churches turned their backs. “We lost so many pastors during that time,” Reverend Floyd recalls. “Some cities had funerals almost daily. Women, including myself, stepped up to fill those roles."

MCC also pioneered globally recognized days of remembrance. “We started World AIDS Day,” she says. “We also founded the Trans Day of Remembrance. We’ve always been on the front lines."

Inclusive by Design

For Reverend Floyd, the relevance of MCC today lies in its unwavering commitment to radical inclusion. “People still need a safe space where they feel loved by God just as they are,” she affirms. "We provide that."

Her congregation reflects that ethos. From queer youth discovering their identity to elders who survived decades of rejection, all find sanctuary at Love MCC. “We’ve had people attend in drag, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in full regalia, and even Wiccans and Christian Buddhists,” she says. “As long as you come in love and respect, you’re welcome."

Worship at Love MCC is a tapestry of traditions. Raised Baptist herself, Reverend Floyd brings structure and passion to her sermons, often following a traditional three-point message. Services include elements from Catholicism, gospel, contemporary praise, and more. "We blend styles so everyone can find something familiar," she says. “We even offer candle lighting, which is important to many faiths."

Love MCC also prioritizes gender-inclusive and nonbinary language. “I refer to God as ‘God,’ not ‘He’ or ‘She,’ though if someone needs that imagery, we honor it,” she says.

Bringing Faith to the Streets

As visible as she is inside the sanctuary, Reverend Floyd is equally committed to presence in the community. “I’m on TikTok, Instagram—I go where the younger generation is,” she says. At Pride, she dons a clerical collar and a “Free Pastor Hugs” shirt. “I get some strange looks—but I also get a lot of hugs."

One of her most effective tools for outreach is simply showing up. Whether it's Trans Visibility events, DEI mixers, or movie nights at The Center, Love MCC is there. “We bring cards, we bring love, and we let people know they are welcome, exactly as they are,” she explains.

Even more importantly, Reverend Floyd knows that many in the LGBTQ+ community are still healing from spiritual wounds. “We teach a Bible-based lesson on homosexuality in the Bible at least once a year,” she says. “It helps people understand that not only does God love them, but that they were created queer on purpose."

Queer as Sacred

Reverend Floyd is quick to acknowledge the evolving language and identities within the LGBTQ+ spectrum. While she grew up hearing the word "queer" as a slur, she’s embraced it. “The younger generation reclaimed it,” she says. “We need to take back words that were weaponized against us—just like we need to de-weaponize DEI.”

She uses "queer" as an umbrella term for the many identities in the community. “It’s simpler,” she says. “I’m 61, and I can’t keep up with all the letters! But I use queer with pride.” Her associate pastor, Reverend David, prefers the word “tribe.” Both reflect the church’s deeply personal approach to language, culture, and spirituality.

The Power of Easter and Every Day

This year, Easter holds special meaning. Love MCC is currently working through a Lenten series titled "Everything in Between," exploring themes like righteousness and mercy, silence and shouting, grief and hope. On Palm Sunday, Reverend Floyd highlighted how Jesus entered Jerusalem to cheering crowds but remained silent. “He didn’t say a word until he was addressed by authorities,” she noted. “Even in silence, there's a message."

Looking ahead to Easter Sunday, she’ll preach about the empty tomb—the grief it symbolizes and the hope it brings. “I love Lent more than Advent,” she says. “It gives me space to be dramatic, to dig deep into meaning."

Vision for the Future

When asked about her hopes for Love MCC’s future, Reverend Floyd doesn’t hesitate. “I want us to be one of the major churches in the Las Vegas Valley,” she says. “I want us to be seen, known, and respected."

She envisions t-shirts for church events, greater visibility at Pride, and ongoing outreach to those who still feel lost or abandoned by religion. She also remains committed to consensus leadership. “I’m not a my-way-or-the-highway kind of pastor. But if I need to put my foot down, I will—respectfully.”

Floyd wants every visitor to feel not just welcome, but genuinely seen and heard. The church regularly holds open forums on fifth Sundays, inviting members to share their thoughts and shape the church’s future.

The Legacy Lives On

Despite the challenges of aging congregations and shrinking denominational affiliations, Reverend Floyd is confident that MCC's message remains vital. “We’re still here because people need to hear that God loves them unconditionally,” she says. “And because too many still hear the opposite."

Her parting message to the LGBTQ+ community of Las Vegas is simple but profound: “Live in your truth. That’s where your power is. When you live authentically, you tap into the life you were created to live. That’s where joy is. That’s where God is."

For more about Love MCC, visit https://lovemcclv.org. Join Reverend Floyd and the Love MCC family this Saturday for her installation service—and discover a church that truly loves you back.