The focus of this category is on faith, religion, and spirituality in Michigan.
According to the Pew Research Center, Michigan residents are near the middle of states, as far as the percentage of the population who view themselves as being highly religious, with 53% of respondents indicating that they were. The most religious states were Alabama and Mississippi, with 77%, while the least religious states were Massachusetts and New Hampshire, at 33%.
Also according to Pew, the religious composition of adults in Michigan is overwhelmingly Christian, with roughly 70% of respondents identifying as such. Of all respondents, 25% identified as Evangelical Protestant, 18% as Mainline Protestant, 18% as Roman Catholic, and 8% as Historically Black Protestant, with Mormons, Orthodox Christian, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Other Christians weighing in around 1% each.
Of these, Roman Catholicism is the predominant denomination, as the Protestants are spread out between several denominations, such as the United Methodist Church, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Reformed Church in America, and several others.
Approximately 5% of respondents embraced non-Christian faiths, including Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu. The balance identified either as an atheist, agnostic, or nothing in particular. Although Muslims make up just over one percent of the state's entire population, Michigan has the largest Muslim population in the United States, particularly in the southeastern portion of the Lower Peninsula.
Roughly half of the respondents in Michigan said that religion was very important in their lives, while another 27% said that religion was somewhat important, 11% percent chose not too important, and religion was not at all important to another 11% of the population.
However, only 33% of Michigan respondents said that they participated in religious services at least once a week. Nearly 50% of adults in Michigan said that they seldom or never read scripture, while only 32% read scripture at least once a week. Only 36% believed that there are clear standards for what is right or wrong, while 62% believed in situational ethics.
A full 73% of Michiganders believe in heaven, but only 60% of them believe in hell.
As the region that was to become Michigan was inhabited by various Native American tribes for centuries before the Europeans came, we can assume that various Native American religions predominated during this period. The first Europeans to settle the region were the French, who brought Catholicism.
The Roman Catholic Church was the only organized religion until the 1800s, and St. Anne's Parish in Detroit is the second-oldest Catholic parish in the country. A Methodist society was formed near Detroit in 1810. After the War of 1812, new settlers coming to the area from the east included Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Baptists, Episcopalians, and Quakers, while the original French Catholics were bolstered by Catholic immigrants from various parts of Europe, German and Scandinavian immigrants brought Lutheranism, Dutch settlers formed the Reformed Church in America, and the first Jewish congregations were organized by German Jews in Detroit, with others arriving eastern Europe by the end of the 1800s. Both the Orthodox Christian Church and the Islamic religions were introduced by immigrants from the Near East during the 1900s.
Although faith, religion, and spirituality are the focus of topics in this category, local churches and other places of worship will be listed in the Cities & Town category representing their geographic location, while this category will include statewide religious institutions or topics relating to religion in Michigan.
Recommended Resources
American Baptist Churches of Michigan
The American Baptist Churches is a mainstream Christian denomination that was known as the Northern Baptist Convention from 1907 to 1950, and as the American Baptist Convention from 1950 to 1972. Covering ABC churches in Michigan, the regional office is headquartered in East Lansing. Its Central Area, Great North, Metro-Detroit, Mid-Michigan, and West Area divisions are featured, with a list of member churches associated with each provided, with contacts available.
https://www.abc-mi.org/
Baptist State Convention of Michigan
BSCM is a fellowship of about three hundred churches supported through a Cooperative Program and the Frances Brown State Missions Offering. Affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, the BSCM is headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan. Its organizational structure, staff, and its constitution and bylaws are posted. Event schedules, flyers, and registrations are published, and resources for planting new churches, strengthening existing ones, and other programs are included.
https://www.bscm.org/
Catholic Foundation of Michigan
Based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, the Catholic Foundation of Michigan serves the Catholic community of southeastern Michigan, assisting donors in providing for the long-term needs of the Catholic parishes, schools, ministries, and non-profit organizations in southeast Michigan. Featured is a mission statement, philosophy, and leadership structure. Ways in which contributions may be made are highlighted, various documents may be downloaded, and a community calendar is included.
https://catholicfoundationmichigan.org/
Established on the principles of Protestantism, although not a traditional follower of any specific leader of the Protestant Reformation, the denomination holds to justification by faith, the priesthood of believers, the authority of the Bible, religious freedom, and separation of church and state. Its foundational doctrines are highlighted, and a directory of churches within the state is presented, along with church statistics, ministry opportunities, and a calendar of events.
http://michigancog.org/
Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan
Created in 1995, the Diocese is headquartered in Saginaw, Michigan. Its history and mission are highlighted, and member churches are listed on an interactive map of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Any congregations not listed may submit their information or updates to be added to the site. Its ministries include the Coppage-Gordon School for Ministry, several camps, programs, and events for children and young adults, and other programs, which are highlighted here.
http://eastmich.org/
Consisting of seventy-five congregations in the southeastern region of Michigan, the Diocese is organized into seven deaneries providing local organization and collaboration, and a bishop, who serves as the chief executive and pastor of the diocese. Its deaneries, committees, councils, and trustees are introduced, along with an overview of its ministries and departments. Convention schedules, calendars of events, publications, and a blog are posted, along with a church directory.
https://www.edomi.org/
Jewish Historical Society of Michigan
Founded in 1959, the non-profit educational organization interprets and highlights the history of the Jewish religion and Jewish people in Michigan, and publishes Michigan Jewish History, an annual, peer-reviewed journal, and the Jewish Yearbook Collection, a gathering of yearbooks from Detroit-area high schools. Membership information, a calendar of events, and an overview of its programs and publications are put forth, along with videos and photographs.
https://www.michjewishhistory.org/
Michigan Baptist Bible Fellowship
Made up of a group of Michigan pastors who offer fellowship and encouragement to one another, the Michigan BBF was founded by G.B. Vick, pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Detroit and others, and is affiliated with the Baptist Bible Fellowship International. Its constitution and bylaws are posted, along with meeting minutes and financial statements, member pastor and church listings, contacts, a schedule of events, and a gallery of photographs.
http://www.michiganbbf.com/
Founded in 1963, the MCC is the official voice of the Catholic Church in Michigan, responsible for developing, coordinating, and managing programs for retirement benefits, health, dental, disability, and life insurance for Catholic charity and lay employees, as well as managing property and casualty coverage for Church properties throughout the state. Its organizational structure, advocacy issues, benefits, risk management programs, and departments are discussed.
http://www.micatholic.org/
Michigan Conference of the United Church of Christ
The UCC was formed in 1957 during the Uniting General Synod at the Music Hall in Cleveland, Ohio, with the joining of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches, and the Michigan Conference came together in 1963. Its history, board of directors, staff biographies, and a calendar of events are published to the site, with an overview of its programs and ministries, conferences, training, and a calendar of events.
http://www.michucc.org/
Michigan District of the Church of the Brethren
Originating from the Schwarzenau Brethren, the Church of the Brethren holds to the New Testament as its only creed. The Michigan District represents COB congregations throughout the state, currently all existing in the Lower Peninsula. A directory of member churches is put forth, along with a calendar of conferences and events, District news and announcements, and archives of its publication, The Brethren Bugle, in PDF format. Links to other resources are included.
http://www.michigancob.org/
