Benefit film showing, panel discussion explore extraordinary experiences, discussions by women of faith
still from the film, "In to the Water", set in Bali.
When South Euclid United Church of Christ pastor Courtney Clayton Jenkins took a 16-week sabbatical and invited her friends to join her in Bali, none of them knew the ways this trip would impact each of their lives. But impact it did. The compilation of the women’s experiences is shared in two poignant documentaries directed by Jenkins that will premiere Friday, November 4 at 6:00 p.m. at Karamu House.
The first documentary, In to the Water, features Jenkins and her friends participating in a Balinese Hindu Water purification ritual and what they learn from the experience. The narration is a reminder that every day can be a new beginning and a new opportunity to renew faith and hope.
The second film, Come to the Table, is a sit-down with six friends who talk about navigating middle age, grief, and authenticity within the context of faith. As the women's lives have changed, their relationship with God evolves as well.
After the screenings, Helen Forbes Fields, CEO of YWCA Cleveland, will moderate a panel discussion with Jenkins and three of the women from the Table discussion: Tam Nickerson, a global trial optimization specialist in clinical research; Tomeka Robinson, a software developer; and Shanelle Smith Whigham, banker, activist, and community organizer. The discussion will center on the panelists’ newfound perspectives.
Rev. Courtney Clayton Jenkins
Jenkins took the sabbatical in part to reflect on how to reach people in new ways, a nod to her understanding of the general decline in church attendance.
"I'm always looking for ways to stay relevant," she explains. "Part of this was to go into a culture as a person of faith and not shift it but learn from it and to seek out my faith amidst other faith traditions."
Jenkins, who has a history of collaboration with the YWCA, was named earlier this year as a YWCA Woman of Achievement. She says it felt natural to donate proceeds from the evening to the YW's reFRESHed program. "reFRESHed is a personal growth series dedicated to empowering women on their journey towards self-discovery, professional fulfillment, and internal evolution and that is so much aligned with the spirit and message of these documentaries," she explains. "It really is a perfect way for these films to continue impacting women."
Tickets are $10.00 and available for purchase at longwalkproductions.org. KeyBank is the presenting sponsor of the event. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the YWCA reFRESHed program, which is dedicated to empowering women.
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