Mary Ann Barclay (formerly Mary Ann Kaiser), was recommended for ministry by the Austin District Board of Ordained Ministry last year, but her ordination process was interrupted when the conference Board of Ordained Ministry refused to accept her because she is an out lesbian, read more by clicking HERE.  One of  Mary Ann’s former professors writes in support of her candidacy, noting that the experience of her queer identity is a gift to her ministry.  What if the Southwest Texas conference Board of Ordained Ministry made that same connection and recognized the multitude of unique gifts that are lost to … Continue reading A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CANDIDACY OF MARY ANN BARCLAY

— by Rev. Bill Hathaway As I listened to Mary Ann Barclay’s sermon on last Ash Wednesday, I was taken back in time, remembering the occasions when, as a member of Boards of Ordained Ministry in both the Southwest Texas and the Oklahoma Annual Conferences, I would encounter exceptional candidates for the ordained ministry. Mary Ann preached the sermon that will be part of the materials she submits to support her candidacy; and it was definitely in the top three of all the candidacy sermons I participated in evaluating in over sixteen years of service on the boards of two Annual … Continue reading REFLECTIONS FROM A FORMER BOARD OF ORDAINED MINISTRY CHAIR

In two months, Mary Ann Barclay will be interviewed by the Southwest Texas conference Board of Ordained Ministry on May 13th, 2014.  Last year her ordination process was interrupted when the same board refused to accept her candidacy.  Click HERE For more info. Mary Ann is a member of University UMC in Austin.  Read below to learn why Rev. John Yeaman and Rev. Richard Bates, both retired Southwest Texas conference clergy and members at University UMC Austin, believe Mary Ann should be considered a candidate for ministry based on the quality of her gifts, not based on the gender of … Continue reading RETIRED CLERGY at UNIVERSITY UMC #StandWithMaryAnn

BY REV. JEN STUART Rev. Stuart is the Associate Pastor at First UMC, Austin.  She recently wrote this letter to her congregation to explain why she is transferring from the Southwest Texas Conference to the Pacific Northwest Conference. I joined this church on Valentine’s Day 1999. My husband and I came with a curly-haired two-year-old daughter and lots of questions about God, marriage, and life in general. We found a community that held us and cared for us during the most trying times of our lives and celebrated with us during the good times. I have learned about trust, speaking … Continue reading WHY I AM LEAVING MY CONFERENCE

BY REV. GINNY HATHAWAY Rev. Ginny Hathaway and husband Bill are both retired UM pastors.  They moved to Round Rock, TX  following Ginny’s retirement from the Oklahoma Conference of the UMC. Ginny has an undergraduate degree from Univ. of Texas Pan American and graduate degrees from Incarnate Word College and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.  Ginny and Bill are affiliated with University UMC, Austin. It was a very good day Sunday at University United Methodist Church. Bishop Melvin Talbert was our guest preacher as we celebrated the third anniversary of this church becoming a Reconciling Congregation. This church has always had … Continue reading OUR BAPTISMAL PROMISE

by Rev. Monte Marshall, Senior Pastor Travis Park United Methodist Church, San Antonio, TX Southwest Texas Annual Conference Mary Ann Barclay is a candidate for ordination as a deacon in The United Methodist Church.  Her candidacy, however, is at risk because of opposition within the church to her sexual orientation.  In fact, Mary Ann’s name was recently removed from the candidacy list at the recommendation of the Board of Ordained Ministry of the Southwest Texas Conference and with the support of a narrow majority of the clergy members of the conference.  These actions took place despite a favorable recommendation from Mary … Continue reading AN APPEAL FOR DEEPER DISCERNMENT ……….. An Essay in Support of the Candidacy of Mary Ann Barclay