By Rev. John Elford Senior Pastor at University UMC Austin, Texas A number of years ago, the Council of Bishops issued a challenge called the Four Areas of Focus. One of the key pieces was the development of leadership and particularly the nurturing of young leaders in our churches. And so it’s a great irony to me that a clergy candidate like Mary Ann Barclay comes along—young, exceptionally bright, committed to Christ, called by God, passionate about ministry—and the response of our church is to close the gate and bar her from ordination in the church she loves and calls home. … Continue reading IN SUPPORT OF MARY ANN BARCLAY