Kimberly and Jen Reese, a lesbian couple living in Columbia, Missouri, are firm in their faith in the United Methodist Church. But when the institution voted to leave their policy that “homosexuality is not compatible with Christian teaching” untouched at the General Conference in 2019, they were left reeling.

Their frustration is widespread, but a large part of it lies with raising their children in a faith that is important to them as a couple but excludes them from various aspects of the church. They struggle with a core component of their lives being attached to a “but.”

“Our 13-year-old said it best when we were driving by a church that said ‘Open hearts, open minds, open doors,’” Kimberly said. “He said there shouldn’t be exceptions.”

This project follows the Reese family and other Columbia-area church officials and members as they navigate a decision that rocked the international Methodist community. A version of this project was published in the Columbia Missourian, which can be viewed here.