PRESS RELEASE:

The Calling, a groundbreaking four-hour documentary series that follows the stories of seven young Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim Americans who are training for religious leadership, takes viewers into the unknown world of seminaries to reveal the real people "behind the robes."

Produced by a multi-denominational team of filmmakers, The Calling will air nationally on the Emmy and Peabody Award- winning series Independent Lens on Monday, December 20 and Tuesday, December 21 at 8:00 p.m. on KUED Channel 7.

This fascinating documentary follows seven dedicated young people on a dramatic journey as they prepare to become professional clergy. Embarking on life paths that demand tremendous personal sacrifice and commitment, these seminarians must uphold timeless truths in an era that values quick fixes and hot trends, and face a public that challenges the very relevance of their mission. A new look at an old job, The Calling presents a captivating look at how faith is lived today.

The Calling follows its subjects from their first days of training, through years of study, and into their early practice as religious leaders. We see them within and beyond the walls of school, wrestling with the sacrifices they've made to pursue this path. They debate theology and counsel people in crisis. We also get to know them as ordinary young people at the crossroads of their lives, struggling with doubt and fear, dating and family, and the myriad challenges of becoming an adult.

Although from different ethnic, geographic, and religious backgrounds, the young people featured in The Calling share similar traits: they're charismatic and likeable, driven and self-reflective, confident yet humble. Each is seeking to reconcile the modern world with their ancient faith, balancing egos with a desire to serve, and blazing new paths to leadership while preserving age-old traditions.

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