The Songwriting Cohort focuses on justice-centered songwriting, exploring the historical role of songwriters in shaping social consciousness and teaching fellows to craft songs that inspire societal change.
SONGWRITING
The PAX Fellowship
In-Person Retreat
The Fellowship kicks off with an in-person retreat August 28-30 in Scottsdale, AZ.
12 Virtual Sessions
Instruction, learning, and connection with others journeying together for peace and justice.
2 Spiritual Direction Sessions
Attend one-on-one contemplative sessions for mental health and spiritual life.
One-On-One Check Ins
Meet with the Fellowship Director each quarter to check in on how you’re engaging with PAX Fellowship.
Monthly Keynotes
Featured voices from world-class speakers on faith, justice, and contemplation.
Mentorship + Instruction
Learn from expert facilitators in your area of focus and contribute to the PAX showcase.
The Songwriting Cohort focuses on justice-centered songwriting, exploring the historical role of songwriters in shaping social consciousness and teaching fellows to craft songs that inspire societal change.
It is designed for aspiring songwriters who want to grow, experiment, and develop their creative and technical songwriting skills.
Learning centers on writing songs that challenge injustice, engage the social conscience, and blend artistic expression with activism.
Sessions run biweekly from September to May, covering topics like context and calling, influential artists, songwriting structure, praise and protest, developing verses and choruses, and completing and presenting original songs.
Fellows participate in collaborative groups and online spaces, are expected to engage and follow community etiquette, and complete a culminating project.
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Early Admission is open February 16 to February 27, 2026. Early admission is only offered to those on our waitlist.
Open enrollment is open from March 2, 2026 to June 15, 2026, or when enrollment has reached capacity. There are a limited number of spots available in each cohort for a total of 100 fellows. -
PAX Fellowship In-Person Connection + Contemplative Retreat
Aug 28-30, 2026
Virtual sessions will take place on Tuesdays, 4pm-6pm PST / 7pm-9pm EST.Session 1: Sept 8, 2026
Session 2: Sept 22, 2026
Session 3: Oct 6, 2026
Session 4: Oct 20, 2026
Session 5: Nov 3, 2026
Session 6: Nov 17, 2026
Session 7: Jan 5, 2027
Session 8: Jan 19, 2027
Session 9: Feb 2, 2027
Session 10: Feb 16, 2027
Session 11: Mar 2, 2027
Session 12: Mar 16, 2027
Session 13: Mar 30, 2027 Keynote & Survey
Session 14: April 13, 2027 Showcase
Session 15: April 27, 2027 Goodbye Session
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The PAX Fellowship Connection + Contemplative Retreat kicks off the PAX Fellowship and is an integral part of the experience as a PAX Fellow.
Start Date: Friday, August 28 at 5:00pm
End Date: Sunday, August 30 at 1:00pm
Location: Franciscan Renewal Center
5802 E. Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85253
Just 20 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.Lodging, meals, and materials are included in the cost of tuition. Fellows are responsible for their own travel arrangements to the retreat.
Additional details will be included upon admittance to the PAX Fellowship. Should you have any questions about the Retreat and the impact it has on your cohort, please reach out to our Fellowship Director, Rachel, at fellowship@madeforpax.org.
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The cost for tuition per fellow is $2,005.50. While this figure reflects the true cost of architecting the fellowship per Fellow, we believe that opportunity for mentorship and instruction belongs to all Christians of color and we are committed to reducing financial barriers to participation. That’s why we’re offering three tuition tiers, affording you the agency to choose one that best aligns with your current financial circumstance.
These tiered tuition options are made possible by the generosity of donors and foundations.
Early Admission: Must be on waitlist
$350 x 2
Tiered Pricing
$400 x 2
$450 x 2
$500 x 2
First tuition payment is due within 3 days of Fellowship acceptance. The second payment is due 30 days after the first payment has been submitted.
Beyond our tiered tuition, if finances prohibit your participation, then we encourage you to consider asking your family, church, mentor, or employer to support your continued education by using the sponsorship letter provided.
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Hospitality and Belonging
PAX holds to Franciscan spirituality rooted in radical hospitality for all God’s image bearers. We honor each person’s God-given uniqueness, background, story, and identity, believing they can encounter the Divine through the created world, others, and experiences. We strive to uplift voices from diverse perspectives through embodied faith expressed under the tent of belonging. We welcome, accept, and affirm every individual’s worth as a reflection of God’s love made plain in creation. Our Franciscan way embraces the primacy of Christ and the richness of Christian faith expressed through incarnational presence. In our effort to pursue justice, peace, and care for all creation, we reject supremacy that harms image bearers or God’s beloved world.
Wonder and Tension
We understand that with diversity comes disagreement and tension. Therefore we value thoughtful dialogue and embrace tension, as these are key components of contemplative Christianity. We challenge PAX Fellows to wonder with the topics presented in the PAX Fellowship, and encourage thoughtful prayer and reflection. Our aim is to support Fellows in a deeper relationship with the Divine and others. Fellows are expected to interact constructively with those holding different denominational and theological perspectives. We recognize the difference between healthy disagreement and harmful behavior, therefore we do not allow bullying, harassment, hatred, or violence.
Contemplation and Action
We are contemplative activists. Our practice holds silence and stillness as sacred tools for transformation; personally and collectively. We draw from Black and Brown Christian faith traditions that have long practiced deep reflection, communal prayer, and creative resistance first practiced by the Desert Mothers and Fathers of North Africa and later embodied by the Civil Rights Movement. Contemplation for us is not withdrawal from the world, but a way of grounding our action in love, justice, and presence. Rather than emptying our minds, we fill our mind and heart with the knowledge and presence of Christ in our contemplative practice.
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View the full syllabus for the Songwriting Cohort here.
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The PAX Fellowship is for you if you…
identify as a Christian of color, are between the ages of 25-45, and practice a non-syncretic* expression of Christianity
can commit to attending the in-person PAX Fellowship Retreat in August 2026 in Scottsdale, AZ
are able to attend and engage in 12 virtual sessions between September 2026-May 2027
desire to be with Christians of different theological and denominational backgrounds with the shared values of justice, peace, and contemplation
maintain your sense of self in spaces with people of differing perspectives
engage in civil discourse and disagreement respectfully
wish to learn practical ways of Christian contemplation and apply these principles into your everyday life
seek opportunities to deepen your relationship with God
are committed to upholding the PAX values statement for the entirety of your engagement with our community and programming
*We define non-syncretic expression of Christianity as an expression of Christianity that does not blend, incorporate, or combine elements of other religions or belief systems, and is exclusively Christian in nature.
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Each cohort will vary in size, but each cohort will have a minimum of 5 people and a maximum of 15 people. Last year, the Songwriting Cohort had 15 Fellows.
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The PAX Fellowship kicks off with an in-person retreat in Scottsdale, AZ.
The PAX Fellowship Connection + Contemplative Retreat is the time to meet in-person with your Cohort and Facilitator, engaging in fellowship, instruction, worship, and community. You will also be able to connect + grow with other PAX Fellows and leaders in PAX community.
Lodging and meals are included in the PAX Fellowship tuition.More details included upon admission to the PAX Fellowship.
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Please reach out at fellowship@madeforpax.org and the PAX Team will get back to you as quick as we can!
FELLOWSHIP FAQ
Here are the most frequently asked questions about The PAX Fellowship.
TESTIMONIALS
Here is what PAX Alumni have to say about the Songwriting Cohort and the PAX Fellowship experience as a whole.
“PAX has given me space to breathe and actually take time to imagine and dream. Not only have I grown in my creative skills but I’ve experienced a deep sense of community and family who truly got me, where I could come just as I was and bring the fullness of myself into our space and know that I would be welcomed and loved. It has changed my imagination for what belonging can be and look like in future spaces and how I want to build that room for others.”
Rebecca Catoe
PAX Alumni | 2023-2024 Fellow
“PAX provides a space to learn, grow, and be in community with like-minded Christians of color. There is no other space like it! We share our vision, desolations, and Gospel-inspired dreams for the world based on our unique lived experiences, and we do so in an environment that wants to see the divine work assigned to each of our souls come to fruition and nurture the process. PAX is that soil.
Jessica Sun
PAX Alumni | 2024-2025 Fellow
“I was encouraged to have a space of likeminded believers of color to dream with, process with, and learn with. I have more newfound hope in the ways the body of Christ can be equipped to impact the world in intentional ways.”
Raechel Chen
PAX Alumni | 2024-2025 Fellow
