By LORETTA FULTON

After spending parts of 14 summers at Duke Divinity School, Cisco College, McMurry University and Asbury Theological Seminary, Jeff Hatcher finally has made it.

On June 7, Hatcher, who is pastor of Wylie United Methodist Church, was ordained as an elder in full connection — a United Methodist clergy classification — during the annual meeting of the church’s Northwest Texas Conference. The ordination, presided over by Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe, capped a 17-year journey for Hatcher.

“That’s the final step,” he said.

Read Loretta Fulton‘s story the Reporter-News.

In photo at top Jeff Hatcher, pastor of Wylie UMC, is ordained June 7 at the annual meeting of the Northwest Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. His wife, Cheryl, and Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe lay their hands on Hatcher as part of the ordination. Submitted photo.