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

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.