Discernment Labs

Connect with a community and strengthen your skills to develop faithful, bold leaders for the church.

Application Deadline Has Passed

Build your capacity and shape the next generation of leaders

Young adults need active communal support as they discern meaning, purpose, and God's call in their lives. FTE provides cohort-based Discernment Labs for leaders who accompany young adults in their vocational exploration of Christian ministry. This opportunity is centered on faith leaders who are interested in learning, experimenting, and innovating together in a peer learning experience to strengthen how they journey with and support young adults in discernment.

Applications are now open for two new Discernment Lab cohorts beginning spring 2024. These two cohorts will gather over the course of a year and are for leaders in denominational and congregational settings. Accepted participants will have access to an online community of support, grants up to $12,000, and FTE’s practices for discernment. In addition to virtual gatherings, FTE will host two retreats where participants can exchange ideas and collaborate in person.

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Cohort Benefits

A community of peers to explore questions about accompanying discerning young adults

All participation expenses paid (excluding travel)

Access to exclusive grants (up to $12,000)

Coaching from facilitators with 25 years of combined experience

Interested?

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligible participants must:

Be working in a congregation/church or a denominational context with young adults (between the ages of 18-30).
Be responsible for a budget and/or programming for young adults, if you are representing an institution.
Work in the United States or Canada.
Be able to commit to a 12-month learning journey of practice and engagement, including participating fully in in-person opening and closing retreats, and online meetings.
Be able to provide your own transportation to and from each in-person retreat (in the Atlanta area, March 2024 and March 2025).

The Denominational Cohort is designed for denominational and judicatory leaders who are responsible for designing or managing young adult vocational programming and/or mentoring young adult candidates seeking ordination.

The Congregational Cohort is designed for leaders who work with young adult ministries. These leaders primarily include professional and lay ministers in traditional and non-traditional worshiping communities.

Applications open August 1 and must be received by October 1.

FTE expects selected participants to commit to the following cohort dates.

Denominational Cohort:

March 3-6, 2024 Opening Retreat
April 2024-February 2025 Participate in 4 virtual gatherings throughout the year
May 2-3, 2024 Virtual Pitch Event on Mighty Networks
June 1, 2024 Grant Awards Made
March 9-12, 2025 Closing Retreat
June 1, 2025 Final Grant Reports Due

Congregational Cohort:

March 6-9, 2024 Opening Retreat
April 2024-February 2025 Participate in 4 virtual gatherings throughout the year
May 9-10, 2024 Virtual Pitch Event on Mighty Networks
March 12-15, 2025 Closing Retreat
June 1, 2025, Final Grant Reports Due

Please email Christina Repoley if you are currently a member of a Discernment Lab and have any questions

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There are two cohorts who were selected in 2023. The Collegiate Cohort and the Congregational Cohort begin this fall. We also have applications available for the next two cohorts, the Denominational Cohort and the Congregational Cohort, which will begin spring of 2024.

Notices of acceptance will be made by November 1.

In-person retreats will take place at the beautiful Inn at Serenbe, just 30 minutes from Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. All expenses will be covered for participants, excluding travel.

FTE will cover all expenses (excluding travel) for both retreats.

You may apply as either an individual or an organizational representative. Both individual leaders and organizational leaders should be interested in:

Building capacity and/or deepening your organizations' vocational accompaniment and discernment with its network of young adults.
Revamping programming with young adults to focus on or include vocational exploration and discernment of ministry.
Institutionalizing vocational discernment with young adults within the organization.

Please contact Christina Repoley for more information or questions about eligibility and applying. If you have technical issues with your applications email Allison Arsenault or send a message to us on our contact page.