Narrative Summary
Interview with Micki Pulleyking by Ashleigh Hughes
Intimidated by the thought of a recorded interview with a quite remarkable individual, I
carelessly slid along the sidewalk covered in a thin layer of December ice. As I approached the
elevator, I felt a wave of nausea as I thought to myself, What if I don’t do this right? Is it
possible to mess it up? I don’t want to do this anymore, but I can’t back out now. Even the ding
of the elevator as it approached my floor didn’t interrupt my worried thoughts. The elevator
abruptly stopped and sent a quick pang of fear through me, one that I felt might cause a heart
attack. As I stepped off the elevator, I knew that I had to channel my anxiety and my fear
somewhere else. When I finally collected myself, I knocked on Dr. Micki Pulleyking’s office
door.
A warm, friendly voice passed over me, “Come in,” it said. I took a deep breath. Maybe
this won’t be difficult at all, I thought. A friendly face greeted me from behind a desk. As a
former student of Dr. Pulleyking, I noticed immediately that she still had a vibrant glow about
her. Fumbling with the digital voice recorder that I suddenly forgot how to use, I finally
remembered that the batteries weren’t in and placed it on the desk.
E. and E. Pulley welcomed Micki to the family in the 1960s. Both parents remained
devout members of the Church of Christ, each having roles in the church. Growing up, Micki
realized the influence the Church of Christ had on her own development, family, and
community. As a seventh-grader, Micki exhibited a blossoming intellectual way of thinking.
Though her Sunday school teacher and youth director became irritated at her insistence that some
components of youth lessons didn’t quite fit with her interpretation of the Bible, her parents
supported her inquisitive mind and her outgoing personality.
Missouri State University
Fall 2008
Religious Lives of Ozarks Women
2
During her undergraduate experience at (Southwest) Missouri State University, Micki
became exposed to many different ideas and theories. She took a particular interest in the issues
of religion and philosophy, forming questions about life and its purpose. Taking note from
influential members of the faculty, like T. Poe in the Religious Studies Department and J. Knight
in the Philosophy Department, Micki developed an even deeper intensity for insight and
continuous learning. Even before completing her undergraduate studies, she made the decision to
continue her education; graduate school seemed to be the best option. Even if she didn’t do
anything with her degree, she thought with certainty it would benefit her intellectually.
Still a member of the Church of Christ, she remained unsure of her ability to become a
minister; however, during a summer job at a Presbyterian church, she experienced church from
behind a pulpit and knew that this is what she wanted to do. Micki sought recommendation from
her beloved minister at the South National Church of Christ—he refused based on her gender. It
was then that she made a very tough decision. Though she had grown up in the Church of Christ
community, she felt she needed to find a church that would support her desire to preach. Then,
Micki found the Christian Church Disciples of Christ.
After receiving her master’s in divinity from Harvard, she became ordained in the
Disciples of Christ church. The Disciples welcomed her with open arms. After a year of leading
service only once a month, Micki decided to make more use of her ability. To adequately support
her passion for the classroom, she came back to (Southwest) Missouri State University. This time
it was to teach. She took a full-time lecturing position while completing her dissertation.
On a whim in the 1990s, Micki agreed to take a minister position at a Disciples of Christ
church. That year marked not only her new position, but also an event that proved to be life
changing. During the first months of her ministry, Micki was pregnant, but something went
Missouri State University
Fall 2008
Religious Lives of Ozarks Women
3
wrong during her term. For months she was in a hospital bed, on very strict bed rest. Her unborn
son, Micah, was experiencing poor development; due to a prematurely ruptured membranes, he
wasn’t receiving enough fluid. Support from the church came in abundance. The church
members visited, sent her food and flowers, and even held 24-hour prayer groups. Miraculously,
Micah was born alive and relatively healthy. About a month after his birth, doctors gave baby
Micah steroids to stimulate his lung development. Sadly, a side effect caused a hole to appear in
his intestine. Micah died. Micki, her husband, the church, and their community lost Micah. Even
after the heartbreak, she decided to stay with the church, not only for them but for herself as
well. She decided to put her dissertation aside.
After the birth of two healthy children and a closely developed relationship with her
church, Micki decided to continue her dissertation. She changed her topic to focus on the effect
of death on religious life. In the early 2000s, Micki’s father was diagnosed with terminal cancer,
and she raced to get her Ph.D. before her father passed away. The next year, she accepted her
degree from Boston University—her father was alive to share her success.
Currently, Dr. Micki Pulleyking, her husband, and their two children are members of the
Disciples of Christ Church. Dr. Pulleyking teaches at Missouri State University in the Religious
Studies Department, and remains very passionate about ministry, the university, and most of all,
the relationships that she has built throughout her lifetime.
Missouri State University
Fall 2008
Religious Lives of Ozarks Women