Fourteen youth pilgrims and four adult chaperones from the Episcopal Diocese of Newark returned last month from a powerful, weeklong Civil Rights Youth Pilgrimage through the American South. Held from June 26 to July 2, 2025, the journey explored the intersection of faith and justice through immersive visits to key historic sites in Nashville, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Atlanta.
Led by chaperones Chris Whitaker, the Rev. Asa Coulson, Janelle Grant, and the Rev. Shayna Watson (Trinity Church, Washington D.C.), the pilgrimage invited young people to walk in the footsteps of Civil Rights leaders, meet modern-day activists, and reflect on how their Episcopal faith calls them to dismantle racism and build beloved community.
“We designed this pilgrimage to help our young people understand that the struggle for justice is not just a story from the past – it’s a living, breathing part of our faith journey,” said the Rev. Asa Coulson, one of the trip’s organizers. “Each stop along the way helped bridge the Gospel of Jesus with the ongoing call to action found in our Baptismal Covenant and the sacraments.”
The group began in Nashville, TN, where they were commissioned at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Chapel and celebrated Eucharist together as a newly formed community. In Nashville, the pilgrims visited Thistle Farms and the Center for Contemplative Justice, toured the Tennessee State Capitol, and explored the National Museum of African American Music – learning how music has fueled movements for justice and healing.
In Birmingham, the group stood on holy ground at the 16th Street Baptist Church and engaged deeply with exhibits at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. One of the most moving moments came during a private conversation with Judge U.W. Clemon, Alabama’s first Black federal judge, who shared his personal stories of fighting segregation and defending the rights of students during the Civil Rights Movement.
The journey continued in Montgomery, where the group visited the site of Episcopal seminarian Jonathan Myrick Daniels’ martyrdom and spent time at the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. These visits provided sobering and transformative insights into the history of racial terror and the modern struggle for justice.
In Atlanta, the pilgrims explored the King Center, Ebenezer Baptist Church, and Dr. King’s childhood home, reflecting on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. The pilgrimage concluded at the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing, where the group engaged in conversations on reconciliation, storytelling, and anti-racism work.
Reflecting on the experience, one youth participant shared, “This pilgrimage opened my eyes and heart in ways I wasn’t expecting. I knew about the Civil Rights Movement from school, but now I feel personally connected and called to do something. It made my faith feel real in a new way.”
Throughout the week, the group formed a community covenant, prayed and worshipped together, and supported one another through moments of challenge, hope, and transformation.
Chris Whitaker is a member of the First Third of Life Commission for Youth Ministry.
