Community of Practice

How might Christian institutions create conditions where young adults explore their calling to make a difference in the world through ministry?

Empowering young adults to shape a more hopeful future

FTE’s Community of Practice Cohort is a two-year journey with an emerging network of Christian institutions committed to accompanying young adults in vocational exploration and discernment for ministry. Through leaders’ participation in the cohort, they have the opportunity to develop resources and experiment with different discernment practices that help them accompany young adults on their vocational journeys.

Community of Practice Partners

Based in Chicago, Urban Village Church engages young, progressive Christians who care deeply about faith formation and how the gospel shapes a commitment to social justice concerns - primarily issues of LGBTQIA inclusion and anti-racist practices. The Inclusive Collective is a growing LGBTQ-inclusive and theologically progressive campus ministry in Chicagoland. With robust discipleship programming, they engage young adults in spiritual formation, leadership development, worship, community-building and service, and justice efforts.

New City Church is a multi-ethnic community with programming that reflects a deep commitment to anti-racism work based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Young adults at New City engage in worship, Life Together groups and classes focused on racial justice.

In addition to its nationwide network offering short-term urban immersion trips, DOOR is launching Next UP Leadership Cohort in Chicago, which will focus on nine months of leadership identification, faith formation, and shared learning around vocation and calling for young adults of color.

The Puentes Project works with a network of young Latinx Christian leaders who come together around immigrant justice with a Christian faith perspective. In addition to helping with immigration accompaniment and advocacy activities, they also host retreats for deep reflection and mutual support.

Working with young pastors, youth ministers, and lay leaders who serve Latino youth throughout the Greater Philadelphia area, the Esperanza Youth Leadership Initiative addresses the training needs of the local church and community to better evangelize, disciple, and inspire youth.

Dominican Youth Movement (DYM) USA provides young adults the opportunity to establish impactful relationships, build faith, and strengthen their commitment to God, community, family, social justice, and the Dominican Order. DYM USA includes nationwide Dominican Young Adult chapters exploring community, prayer, study and preaching; and intentional living communities.

Notre Dame Mission Volunteers-AmeriCorps (NDA) engages young adults for a year of direct service in economically disadvantaged communities across the U.S. The program is rooted in a values system that offers intentional opportunities for spiritual growth to those who are seeking something greater than themselves.

The Oregon Fellowship resources and supports young adults in discerning and exploring a call to ministry. Through their programs, the Oregon Synod/Together lab is preparing space for young adults who do not often have the opportunity to be identified, invited, and invested in by the institutional church and society.

The National Network of Young Adults recruits, trains, and resources young adults ages 18-35 through national and local events, leadership development opportunities, mentorship, and coaching, as well as digital content. By walking alongside young adults from college to theological education, their programs cultivate a culture of call and build a pipeline of transformational pastoral leaders to serve the church.

Re/Generation calls young leaders animated by liberatory, life-giving faith to reckon with the injustices of the Catholic institution while imagining new ways of being church. A national cohort of young Catholic visionaries and change-makers, Re/Generators cultivate the church we are called to be for a hurting world.