Do you or your community feel called to a short-term global or intercultural faith experience (includes mission trips, service-learning experiences, pilgrimages)?
Pilgrims in Mission are enthusiastic groups or individuals who embark on a short-term experience with a Mission & Service global partner. Pilgrims engage with partners in the context of building and sustaining right relationships and build their intercultural competencies.
What does it mean to be a Pilgrim?
Are you
- actively engaged with the United Church?
- prepared for a “see, taste, touch” immersive experience?
- excited about the opportunity to share with your home community of faith upon return?
Explore the resources below and connect with People in Partnership staff at .
Recommended Reading
- Sojourning: A Leader's Guide for Short Term Mission Travel
A 94-page guide that helps you in the process of discernment, planning, travel, and continued involvement with your global hosts. Available as a downloadable PDF from United Church Bookstore. - The Problem with Little White Girls (and Boys): Why I Stopped Being a Voluntourist
A provocative and well-circulated blog by Pippa Biddle on travelling to help others. - Why “Voluntourism” Matters
A response to Pippa Biddle’s blog by John Julian of the Canadian Co-operative Association (Huffington Post). - The Code of Best Practice in Short-Term Mission
Guidelines from the Global Mission Roundtable of The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
Current Opportunities
For information on current opportunities, check out the Other Opportunities on the Job and Volunteer Opportunities page or contact . If you will be participating, review the tip sheets below in Downloads.
Designing Your Own Opportunity
Thinking about designing your own pilgrimage? Have a look at the Tip sheets and sample forms for Leaders under Downloads. We’d love to hear about your hopes and plans! Contact .
Downloads
- Tip Sheet for Participants: Preparing Well (36.14 KB) (Word)
- Tip Sheet for Leaders: Planning the Orientation (36.08 KB) (Word)
- Tip Sheet for Leaders: While There (37.32 KB) (Word)
- Tip Sheet for Participants: Meaningful Action Return (35.93 KB) (Word)
- Tip Sheet for Leaders: Taking Safety and Security Seriously (36.53 KB) (Word)
- Samples for Leaders: Safety and Security Responsibilities (36.47 KB) (Word)
- Code of Conduct for Volunteers Representing the Church (53.79 KB) (PDF)
- Samples for Leaders: Release Form - Global Learning Experiences (36.08 KB) (Word)