First Release

2016

Updated RELEASE

2020

Director

Amanda Bluglass

Producer

Aden Hakimi

running time

60 minutes

Out of Order is a groundbreaking feature documentary revealing the complex and painful struggles faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQIA+) faith leaders as they confront entrenched bigotry and work to build loving support within their churches.

Many queer individuals  have quickly learned that rule changes don’t guarantee true welcome in their churches.

In spite of growing fear and suspicion toward LGBTQIA+ individuals, and transgender people in particular, a new kind of spiritual leader and movement for welcome is beginning the delicate work of winning acceptance beyond the wedding chapel.

The leaders of this movement are young LGBTQIA+ people of faith claiming a place in their church pulpits — and recognition in the everyday moments of church life.

The film draws timely attention to the joyful experiences and complex struggles of queer young people, the need for greater awareness and understanding of bisexuality, and the growing visibility of transgender individuals, offering a unique perspective on a trans person of faith.

Out of Order offers audiences a glimpse into what it looks like to navigate the reality of gender transition and lived sexual identity as a person of faith.

Context

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer families in the United States have won many secular and cultural victories in the last several years, but progress toward equality and acceptance has been slow within the Christian community.

Some Christian denominations have rejected the movement toward equality for LGBTQIA+ people in sacred spaces. Others have accepted structural changes that have created, to varying degrees, space for LGBTQIA+ families in church life and embraced marriage equality.

In response, conservative activists are increasingly rallying support for state and local bills designed to restrict the rights of LGBTQIA+ people.

The Rev. Mieke Vandersall

Mieke Vandersall, as a violin-playing, martial artist-practicing lesbian, defies stereotypical notions about pastors. She was one of the first openly queer people ordained as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

As the Founding Pastor of a worshiping community called Not So Churchy, and the previous Executive Director of Parity, she has ushered would-be clergy through the ordination process. She is currently still the Pastor of Not So Churchy and is also a fundraising consultant for religious organizations and congregations. Mieke owns the consulting firm Vandersall Collective, which serves congregations and organizations.

The Rev. Alex McNeill

Alex McNeill is a witty, Vespa-driving preacher with a penchant for bow ties. Throughout his journey to ordination, he has navigated obstacles and opposition to achieve a series of “firsts.” He was the first person to come out as transgender during the ordination process in his Presbytery. During the course of filming, Alex was hired as the executive director of More Light Presbyterians, which made him the first transgender executive director of a mainline Christian organization. In 2019, after 14 years, he became the first openly transgender man to be ordained as a minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A). Alex and his spouse live in North Carolina.

The Rev. John Russell Stanger

John Russell Stanger may have lived in India and NYC, but he grew up ridin’ horses and fixin’ fences on his family’s Texas cattle ranch. After coming out gay in seminary, he discovered his call to help others reconcile the rift between their sexual, gender, and spiritual identities. He joined the staff of Parity as a minister to LGBTQ youth and became the first openly queer Presbyterian to be ordained in Texas. After leading Parity as the Executive Director, he returned to the South and is now a pastor and therapist in private practice. He lives with his husband in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Rev. Bertram Johnson

The Reverend Bertram Johnson graduated seminary in 1996 and was ordained as a pastor in 2014. He is the first openly gay African American to be ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA). He now serves as an Interfaith Minister providing spiritual care to students at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. He and his husband, Jason, were married in 2019.

The Rev. Kai Moore

Kai Moore is a doctoral candidate in queer systematic theology, and is also a nerdy/artsy Presbyterian pastor who misses getting to lead worship on a regular basis. They are enjoying the grand adventure of non-binary gender transition while writing a dissertation about queer flesh, power, and Jesus' crucifixion called "The Scandalous Body of Christ." In the roller derby world, Kai is also known as Bruise Almighty and is a certified referee with the Women's Flat Track Derby Association.

DIRECTOR

Amanda Bluglass (UK)

Amanda is an award-winning British director/producer who makes films about real people, strong on story and big on beauty. Her strengths lie in understanding narrative structure and directing stunning photography. She has a strong visual eye and instinctive feeling for sound and music. Directing credits include internationally recognized multi award-winning short documentaries. Amanda has worked with BBC, Channel 4, NASA, Nike and London Olympics 2012.

Learn more: amandabluglass.co.uk

In 2016 Amanda was honored at the Parity Awards in New York City for her commitment to social justice in elevating LGBTQIA+ people of faith through documentary film.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

THEY bklyn (USA)

THEY bklyn is Julie Mack and Christy Pessagno. THEY loves telling stories through video and photography. When not making films with Amanda Bluglass, you can find them working with clients that include Ford Foundation, The Vilcek Foundation, NYU Stern, Columbia University, The New York Times, and the Lucie Foundation.

Out of Order is THEY’s first feature length documentary project .

Learn more: theybklyn.com

PRODUCER

Aden Hakimi (USA)

Aden Hakimi is a filmmaker and editor who has worked with Google, MTV, Logo, TBWA\Chiat\Day, MLB.com, Whole Foods, TEDx, Housing Works, and more. Out of Order is the fifth film he has helped produce and the third he has edited (his first doc feature). He is also the founder of Silver Crown, a Brooklyn-based creative agency.

Learn more: silvercrownnyc.com

Editor

Aden Hakimi
 

Assistant Editors

Danny Cooke, Michael Clark, Elizabeth Moore

Sound Editor

Casey Holford
 

Colorist

Danny Cooke

Anonymous

Janet Edwards

Aden Hakimi

Peggy Howland

Karen and Neil Kavey

Amy Lopez-Cepero

Hank and Margo Lopez-Cepero

Alex McNeill

Parity

Julian and Ruth Schroeder

Mieke Vandersall

The John A. Hartford Foundation on behalf of Ann Raffel

Dawn M. Adamy

Zahra Ladak

Paul and Nancy McNeill

Floria Nafei Hakimi

Dorothy Porter and Laurie Phelan

Doug Wingo

Thomas Winslow