An Act of Love

The recent US Supreme Court decision upholding same-sex marriage rights may have settled the matter in the public realm, but in the bitterly contentious arena of American churches, the issue is far from over. This gripping documentary plays out like a courtroom drama as it charts the years-long struggle of Frank Schaefer, a Pennsylvania minister in the United Methodist Church, who was defrocked after officiating at his son's same-sex wedding. Schaefer's case, told here with raw candor by participants on all sides of the issue, moves from a small-town squabble over a controversial local pastor into an agonizing, church-wide referendum pitting traditionalists against reformers. Throughout his trials—both literal and spiritual—Schaefer's clear-eyed sense of spiritual duty remains unshaken, even as his career prospects and faith in his church are severely tested. The film chronicles both his family's personal struggle and the drama of a mainstream church facing sea changes in American moral attitudes. (Mill Valley Film Festival)