DISQUALIFIED
The Jomo K. Johnson Story: Faith, Race, & Systemic Silence
A new documentary from SMS Novel Films examines the intersection of faith, race, and politics in suburban America. When Black Lives Matter activist and UMC youth director Jomo K. Johnson was offered a position at the Pittsford Presbyterian Church, he believed he had found a new spiritual home. Instead, his activist past—and the internal objections it raised—led the church to rescind the job offer, 2 days after he signed the letter and began to relocate. 

"DISQUALIFIED" chronicles Johnson’s personal account of losing the role and uses it as a catalyst to still relocate to Rochester NY to launch and plant 5 affinity churches for people that are overlooked. Expanding beyond one man's story, the film features intimate interviews with local activists and residents in Pittsford and Rochester, NY, who share their own experiences with exclusion and the pursuit of justice. The resulting documentary paints a powerful and disturbing picture of the tensions playing out in community churches across the country.

AVAILABLE SEPT 14TH, 2026 / SIGN UP FOR WATCH PARTY 7PM EST
IN-PERSON VIEWING: PITTSFORD NY LIBRARY - OCT 7TH & 10TH.