Michigan Conference Cane

Photograph of the Conference Cane

The Michigan Conference Cane was created in 2019 on the merger of the Detroit and West Michigan Conferences. As the cane holder for the Detroit Conference was still living, this cane was not given until 2020.

The cane is presented to and held by the oldest living clergyperson who has been under appointment to the Conference (and predecessor Michigan Area Conferences) for a minimum of thirty (30) years. The thirty years need not be continuous, and the recipient need not be a resident of the state of Michigan at the time the award is made.

The body of the cane is made from wood from the church in Adrian where the Detroit Conference was founded. The cane contains wooden inlays from the first Methodist Church building in River Rouge, the desk of Seth Reed, the tree that overlooks the grave of Barbara Heck, wood from the pulpit of Robert Strawbridge, and the building in which Judson Collins converted to Methodism.

Michigan Conference Cane Recipients

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