November 1 is the deadline to apply to join the Michigan Conference’s Civil Rights Pilgrimage in spring 2026. Fill out the interest form to learn more and receive the application link.
Most world religions have a tradition of pilgrimage, visiting sacred sites in seeking the holy. In today’s culture, where devices, tasks, 24-hour news cycles, and political divides demand our attention, time away with those with whom we share high trust is in short supply. Pew research indicates 1 in 6 persons in the United States experiences feeling socially isolated all or most of the time, religion and faith are at an all-time low in this country, and a lack of connection to those who might seem different from us has increased.
The Michigan Conference’s Civil Rights Pilgrimage invites us into sacred space with fellow sojourners where we can experience individual and communal transformation. We are seeking individuals who wish to travel in community and engage with sites of historic oppression and resistance across the state of Michigan. The pilgrimage hopes to curate time and space where fellow travelers feel safe enough to be brave as they embody the challenging history of colonialism and its harmful effects on our shared humanity. Fill out this interest form to receive the application link.
Each day, participants will visit sacred sites that highlight civil rights work related to ethnicity, religion, race, gender, and orientation, grounding ourselves in contemplative practices, shared dialogue, and learning.
This pilgrimage by small bus will incorporate good food, music, art, and comfortable sleeping at hotels and retreat centers. Cultural and educational visits will be bookended with spiritual practices and discussions.
There will be two identical trips. We will be forming two, 13-person teams of participants based on applications and interviews. Teams will be limited to 2 applicants per institution, and priority will be given to candidates who intend to apply pilgrimage experience in their own community.
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- Trip #1: Friday, April 17 to Saturday, April 25, 2026
- Trip #2: Friday, May 8 to Saturday, May 16, 2026
The estimated cost of the trip for each participant is $2,675. Scholarships are available, so please do not allow the cost to discourage you from applying. As our team receives grants and other funding, we will communicate with applicants about price reductions. An initial $100 deposit will be due January 15, 2026, for accepted team members.
Our tentative itinerary includes stops in Mt. Pleasant, St. Ignace, Douglas, Grand Rapids, Novi, Flint, Dearborn, and Detroit.
Applications are due November 1. Fill out this interest form to receive a link to the online application. Questions may be sent to our trip organizers at [email protected].
Last Updated on October 27, 2025