Father Joel, the priest at St. Francis Episcopal church, faces a multitude of problems within his family and church. He realizes the church is not reaching out to anyone but the well-to-do and successful. He is shocked to discover how deep the needs of the community have become. A young girl has been murdered, and drug usage in the high school has become a serious problem. His son has vanished, and the police want to question him concerning the murder. His daughter wants him to help another young girl trapped in an abusive family, but his hands are tied when she insists on denying the abuse rather than face possible separation from her brother by social services. Upset over the ineffectiveness of his ministry, Father Joel considers that it may be time to leave St. Francis and ministry.