An inspiring documentary portrait of an unexpected queer activist, “An Act of Love” recounts the heartfelt and impassioned story of United Methodist Church (UMC) pastor the Rev. Frank Schaefer. In November 2013, Schaefer was put on trial in a church court at Camp Innabah in Spring City, Pa., for violating the covenant of the Book of Discipline. He had officiated at his son Tim’s same-sex wedding ceremony in Massachusetts in 2007.
Writer/director Scott Sheppard makes Schaefer’s case riveting. He shows how Schaefer, along with other Methodist pastors, including Beth Stroud and Jimmy Creech, have risked their careers and church credentials to fight for social justice. While the film’s politics are squarely on the side of equality, “An Act of Love” also gives voice to those who condemned Schaefer’s actions.
A queer ally, Sheppard spoke with PGN about making “An Act of Love.”
PGN: How familiar were you with the UMC and how did you learn of the Schaefer case?
SS: My father was a UMC minister. When I first heard this story about a church trial that was underway, it was a side of the Methodist Church I knew nothing about. I did not know about trials, or the antigay rules. I felt really connected to Rev. Schaefer and his son Tim; it was a father performing a service for his son. I had never considered what the situation would be if an LGBT child wanted to have his father officiate his wedding, which is not permitted by the UMC.
PGN: How did you gain the trust of the Rev. Schaefer, and how did you come to tell his story?
SS: I spoke with Frank Schaefer first. I knew I wanted the film to center around him, his story and his trial. I connected with him because I was a Methodist PK [preacher’s kid]. He appreciated that as a parent. He knew his kids would relate to me. We had a lot of life experiences in common as Methodist pastor family members. We related a lot, and had the same positive feelings for the UMC. I told Frank I didn’t want to make a film to defame the church or bring it down. We had a lot of love for the church except this one thing that was a real problem.
PGN: You give both sides of the issue the chance to tell their story. Can you talk about your approach to telling the tale without bias?
SS: It was important for me to show both sides and not to judge either side. Within my own extended family, there’s a history of United Methodists. I have relatives on both sides of this issue. I love all of them, but I don’t have to agree with them. I don’t see this as progressives vs. bigots. My goal with the interviews was to learn and get a sense of where they were coming from. They all believe they are doing the right things. Why did they do what they did? It’s a really relevant issue now that we have marriage equality in all 50 states. You have pastors facing the question of [being asked to] marry the people they baptized, and have known their entire lives. But because of the separation of church and state, [marriage equality] does not directly affect UMC policy. There is a social influence that makes the UMC behind the times culturally — more so than ever in terms of LGBTQ inclusion.
PGN: What do you think will happen regarding LGBT issues at the May 2016 General Conference, which is the next opportunity to change the Book of Discipline?
SS: That’s hard to say. That’s the question on everyone’s minds in the UMC. A lot of passionate people have been fighting for this for decades. And many of them are not hopeful. This May’s General Conference is the only shot until 2020. But that does not mean there won’t be a big shift in the next four years. A lot of people are in this for the long haul. They are fighting for inclusion because they were born in the UMC, grew up in the UMC and met their partners in the UMC.
“An Act of Love” will screen at the PFS Roxy Theater, 2023 Sansom St., at 7 p.m. Feb. 12-13. Each screening will also include a Q&A session with director Scott Sheppard and local United Methodists whose stories are part of the film. Panelists will vary each night, but will include: Debbie Schaefer (the Rev. Frank Schaefer’s daughter); the Rev. Bob Coombe (First UMC of Germantown, and Schaefer’s clergy counsel); Bill Ewing (Schaefer’s assistant counsel); and Beth Stroud (whose clergy credentials were taken in 2004).