All Church Event
From Reformation Roots to Musical Heights
A Pilgrimage of Faith and Witness
with Luther, Bach, and Bonhoeffer
April 8-16, 2026
Led by Deacon Mitzi Budde of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (Hickory, NC) and The Rev. Stewart Lucas of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church (Atlanta, GA), this pilgrimage invites you to travel through the heart of Germany where history, faith, and music converge. The trip begins on the Wednesday after Easter, April 8-16, 2026, with an optional extension to Prague, April 16-19.
From the printing presses of Mainz to the music halls of Leipzig, from the doors of Wittenberg to the silent witness of Berlin’s memorials, we will follow the paths of Martin Luther, J.S. Bach, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Along the way, we will reflect on the legacy of courageous faith and consider how it continues to shape our call to faith, discipleship, justice, creativity, and community today.
This trip brings together Episcopal and Lutheran pilgrims in a shared journey of spiritual exploration, worship, and friendship. Through prayer, travel, conversation, and shared meals, we’ll deepen our connection to God, to one another, and to the enduring story of faith. We invite you to contact Mitzi or Stewart for more information, and plan to join us at the informational meeting on June 22 to learn more about the itinerary, costs, and how you can be part of this transformative experience. Registration will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, opening online at noon on June 25.
The Rev. T. Stewart Lucas, a cradle Episcopalian, was born and raised in Macon, Georgia. With a family deeply rooted in the love of gardening, he pursued a degree in Horticulture from the University of Georgia. During his time there, he became actively involved with the Episcopal College Chaplaincy and discerned a call to ordination. Stewart went on to attend Virginia Theological Seminary, graduating in 2001. Just two days after graduation, he married his husband, Doug, and the couple moved to Maryland.
Stewart began his ministry as an assistant at churches in Baltimore and Annapolis. He later returned to Baltimore to serve as the rector of The Church of the Nativity, Cedarcroft. During his tenure, the neighboring Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter sold their building and joined the Episcopal congregation, forming a unique 'Lutherpalian' church family. Under Stewart's leadership, the combined congregations navigated grief, compromise, creativity, and growth, eventually expanding their campus by acquiring two additional buildings.
In the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, Stewart served in various leadership roles, including President of the Standing Committee, member of the Bishop Search Committee, and Deputy to General Convention. He continues to contribute to the broader church as a member of the national Lutheran Episcopal Coordinating Committee and the Commission on LGBTQ+ Ministry for the Diocese of Atlanta.
In August 2022, Stewart was called to be the Vicar of Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, where he coordinates worship planning, communications, parish life, and other duties as assigned. Stewart and his husband Doug, an accountant, reside in Sandy Springs with their Basset Hound, Esther.
Throughout his ministry, Rev. Lucas has been committed to fostering unity and collaboration within the Christian community, exemplified by his leadership in merging Episcopal and Lutheran congregations. He has also addressed contemporary challenges facing the church, such as declining attendance, by promoting innovative approaches to ministry. wbaltv.com
His dedication to inclusivity and service continues to enrich the communities he serves, reflecting his deep faith and commitment to the Episcopal Church's mission.
Contact | slucas@holyinnocents.org
Deacon Mitzi Budde is a cradle Lutheran and a native North Carolinian. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, she pursued her Master of Arts in Religion at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Master of Librarianship from the University of South Carolina, and her Doctor of Ministry in Ecumenism and Reconciliation from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.
After five years as Library Director and Assistant Professor at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Mitzi moved to Virginia [Episcopal] Theological Seminary in Alexandria in 1991, where she served as Head Librarian and Professor for 33 years. She managed the Bishop Payne Library, taught courses in ecumenism, and led Lutheran chapel teams. She was a faculty leader for seminary study trips to Italy, China, and Japan and served as the faculty advisor for “Your Story Matters” Bible study at the Trusdale Detention Center in Alexandria. Upon retiring from VTS in December 2024, she was honored with the title of Professor Emerita.
Deacon Mitzi is an ordained deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), now serving as Deacon for Older Adult Discipleship at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hickory. She lives in Hickory with her husband, John, and their three cats: Emily, Hattie, and Lottie.
Mitzi was an ELCA representative to the Lutheran Episcopal Coordinating Committee for sixteen years, where she chaired the task force on the exchangeability of the diaconate. She co-authored Daring to Share, a book that explores multi-denominational congregations in the U.S. and Canada, and she was editor and a writer for Hear My Voice: A Prison Prayer Book.
Ecumenism, reconciliation, and collaborative ministry have been central themes of Dr. Budde’s career. She believes that our Christian witness is stronger and more faithful when we speak together with a united voice. Contact: deaconmitzi@htlchickory.org