The Rev. Cory Jenkins & The Rev. Courtney Clayton Jenkins
Pastors, 30 & 29
/ Why they're interesting / The Revs. Jenkins, "seminary sweethearts" who met at Princeton Theological Seminary, both became ministers of historic Cleveland congregations at a young age. She's pastor of Euclid Avenue Congregational Church, founded in 1843; he's pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church, which dates back to 1849. It's rare for a married couple to both be ministers, rarer still for them to belong to two different congregations.
The Rev. Cory Jenkins
/ His biggest challenge / "Helping the church see that quite possibly, Shiloh moving forward will not necessarily resemble the Shiloh of the past." Most members live in the suburbs, but the church needs to welcome new members from its neighborhood along East 55th Street. "We [have to] embrace all, regardless of where people are in life or in their faith."
/ Innovation / Cory introduced a jazz service on Thanksgiving, where the local band Hubb's Groove plays gospel music. It's one way he hopes to keep the congregation's services vital, not habitual. "People can become captivated by the actual rituals and not fully tap into the relationship we have an opportunity to have with God."
/ Favorite Bible passage / Luke 4:18 — "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor." Cory says it helps him when he's "wrestling with the high standard God and people hold ministers to."
/ Theological differences / Cory says he knew marrying an aspiring pastor from another denomination would present a challenge. "Early on, even we couldn't see it." Courtney told herself she wouldn't marry another minister. "Most men in ministry prefer to have their wives, in ministry or not, with them, in their church," Cory explains. Instead, they're making their marriage work with advice from other clergy couples: "Don't compete, as far as preaching, as far as what our churches are doing."
The Rev. Courtney Clayton Jenkins
/ Her biggest challenge / Courtney became pastor of Euclid Avenue Congregational Church seven months after its building was destroyed by a lightning strike. Nothing in the seminary prepared her for that, except learning to think through challenges. She says the fire has pushed the church to evolve. "You think of the cartoons [in which] a lightning bolt is a great idea. I think it has shaken this congregation up."
/ Three firsts / Courtney is Euclid Avenue Congregational's youngest, first female and first African-American pastor. Her appointment reflects changes in the congregation, which has been multiracial since the 1950s. "I think that by being a woman who is in touch with my feelings, I can connect with a congregation that's gone through a really difficult couple of years."
/ Mentor / After seminary, Courtney interned for The Rev. Otis Moss Jr., the esteemed former pastor of Cleveland's Olivet Institutional Baptist Church. She says Moss taught her "how much ministry goes beyond Sunday" — how often church members struggling with work, pink slips or divorce need someone to listen every day of the week.
/ Challenging stereotypes / Courtney thinks her marriage to Cory challenges some United Church of Christ members' assumptions about Baptists, and vice versa. "It proves the love of God, that it moves far beyond the little details."
Interesting Couple
What intrigues them about each other
| Courtney says |
"My husband is extremely smart. But he is extremely compassionate. I think sometimes when people are very, very smart, they kind of lack the emotional piece. But he really is a phenomenal balance between head and heart."
| Cory says |
"We have, in many ways, balanced each other. As a result, I am a much more liberal conservative, and she is a much more conservative liberal."
