Last Sunday Bishop Sally Dyck of the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church commissioned M Barclay as a deacon.

Barclay, who identifies as non-binary and uses the pronouns they/them, started working toward that goal a dozen years ago in Texas, but was rejected because at the time they identified as lesbian. They then moved to Chicago to work at Reconciling Ministries Network, which is dedicated to working for the inclusion of transgender and gender non-conforming people in the UMC.

During their time at Reconciling Ministries Network, Barclay felt ready to come out as transgender. Their candidacy for the clergy was approved, and Barclay was officially commissioned as a deacon in Sunday's ceremony. All new deacons go through a two-year provisional period, so Barclay will be ordained in 2019.

I hope the church will find itself at a new place in the near future when it comes to full inclusion. That said, M and the other candidates for commissioning and ordination are all a part of the church’s witness and outreach to people who need the good news of Jesus Christ.

--Bishop Dyck

The UMC is not united when it comes to its views on inclusion.

Reverend Thomas Lambrecht, who manages the United Methodist group Good News (an organization that's against same-sex marriage or gay clergy) said transgender people should be "welcome" in churches, but shouldn't be given leadership roles.

We would probably draw the line at leadership, seeing transgender persons as not qualified for leadership. It is premature for the Northern Illinois Annual Conference to move ahead to commission M Barclay, given the present state of knowledge and the questions her commissioning will raise in the minds of many faithful United Methodists.

--Lambrecht

Barclay will continue their work at at Reconciling Ministries Network and give sermons and workshops at Methodist churches. Although most Methodist clergy don't wear their collars every day, Barclay plans to do so.

I feel very called to do that. A visibly trans person who is an extension of the church — queer and trans people need to see that. They need to see themselves reflected in the life of faith.

--Barclay