Discernment Labs
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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 for the Discernment Labs are currently closed. FTE is presently running four cohorts, and new cohorts will begin in 2026. To be notified when applications are open for future cohorts, please click here to be added to our notification list.
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
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
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.
There are no cohorts with open applications at this time. To receive an email when applications open, sign up here.
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.