CCUMC will host a free screening and following discussion in partnership with Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) and the team behind the documentary “An Act of Love” on May 1, 2016 at 6 pm. The film, which premiered at the prestigious Mill Valley Film Festival and won an Audience Award, tells the story of Rev. Frank Schaefer’s religious trials for officiating his son’s same-sex marriage and the ensuing controversy that made national headlines.
“An Act of Love” aims to elevate the conversation around LGBTQ rights, especially leading up to the 2016 General Conference. Held every four years, the General Conference is The UMC’s policy-making body composed of approximately 500 clergy and 500 lay delegates elected by their regional annual conferences around the world. RMN and ally organizations filed several pieces of legislation that would ban discrimination towards LGBTQ clergy and lay members employed in The UMC, allow clergy to perform same-sex marriages, and reduce harm toward LGTBQ children and youth—highlighting specific challenges faced by LGBTQ young people including family rejection, risk of homelessness, bullying and suicide. RMN hopes to motivate United Methodists to call on their delegates to vote for full inclusion for the LGBTQ community in The UMC.
In fact, RMN has created the campaign website rmnetwork.org/itstime to enable supporters and allies to share their stories and tell their General Conference delegates that “It’s Time” to reverse The UMC’s discriminatory treatment of its LGBTQ ministers and congregants.