Co-CREATE: Another Way to Facilitate
August 24 - August 27, 2026 • $550.00 Atlanta, GAA four-day learning experience where participants explore FTE’s way of facilitation
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APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN
A better future is possible when we co-create spaces and focus on conversations that matter.
FTE has distilled 20 years of accumulated wisdom about designing and facilitating discernment experiences, particularly with young adults. For the past several years, FTE has shared its facilitation methodology and approach with practitioners in hopes of helping diverse groups of people discern purpose and call, catalyze leadership, transform their communities, and ultimately create a better world.
During the course of a four-day learning experience, participants will explore FTE’s facilitation practices for hosting meaningful conversations, playful co-creation, and discernment toward action.
Leaders who attend Co-CREATE will gain access to…
- FTE’s proven methods and practices of facilitation
- A community of peer facilitators to collaborate with
- A growing toolkit of facilitation practices and tools
- Exploration of their facilitation method/approach to facilitation
- Discover what type of facilitation to use when
- Practical experience in leading practices such as World Cafe, Open Space, Holy Listening, and more
Applications are due May 15, 2026.
For more information or questions, please contact Community Engagement Manager Marissa Akery.
Meet the Facilitators
Stephen Lewis is the president of the Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) and creator and co-founder of DO GOOD X, a start-up accelerator for under-represented, faith-rooted social entrepreneurs. He has more than 25 years of experience in corporate and nonprofit leadership as an organizational change strategist and a leadership development specialist, focused on inspiring the next generation of faith-inspired leaders and entrepreneurs to live and work on purpose. Stephen holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in banking and finance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master of Divinity from Duke University. He co-authored Another Way: Living and Leading Change on Purpose (2020) and A Way Out of No Way: An Approach to Christian Innovation (2021).
Christina Repoley directs and leads FTE's programs and initiatives centered on cultivating the next generation of diverse leaders for the church and academy.
I have been connected to FTE for over a decade. As a seminarian, FTE supported my own discernment and connected me to a network that helped me successfully found and grow Quaker Voluntary Service. After pouring my heart and soul into supporting young adults in discernment, ministry and service for nearly 10 years in the Quaker context, I am excited to now be able to support an even wider network of young adults discerning their call in the world and finding out what makes them come alive. FTE is uniquely positioned to be a prophetic voice for both the church and the world, while supporting current and future leadership of a diverse network of young people.
crepoley@fteleaders.org
678.369.6113
Darlene Hutto leads FTE young adult discernment experiences, dynamic worship, and event facilitation. She served on FTE’s staff for 16 years and brings a wealth of experience to the church, supporting young adults in vocational exploration.
It is exciting to know that my life’s passion and love for ministry serves a critical mass of young adults—that’s worth coming to work. FTE provides me the opportunity to be engaged in conversation and service with the larger church in a way that I could not be if I were in a specific ministry. I work with leaders of congregations and church-related organizations that support young Christian leaders, and in so doing, have the chance to impact young adults who are exploring their call.
dhutto@fteleaders.org
678-369-6112
Participants Can Expect To
Explore the foundation and vision for FTE’s way of facilitating people and organizations to align their purpose, values, and actions.
Dive into the methodology that informs FTE’s facilitation of discernment and vocational exploration.
Develop a plan for practicing facilitation in different contexts.
Discover what type of facilitation to use when.
Gain practical experience in leading practices such as World Cafe, Open Space, Holy Listening, and more.
- People who want to learn and deepen their practice in the art of co-creating and facilitating FTE-like conversations and discernment experiences.
- People who want to build their facilitation capacity, discover which facilitation practices to use when, and deepen their practice of vocational accompaniment and discernment with young adults.
- People who want to expand their facilitation toolbox and practice of facilitation, group discernment, and co-creation of faithful next steps.
The retreat will take place on August 24-27, 2026, at The Inn at Serenbe, just 30 minutes from Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
This event is for people with some experience facilitating and interested in learning FTE's approach and art to facilitating discernment, collaboration, and co-creation with diverse groups. Your experience need not be extensive.
- A community of peer facilitators to collaborate with
- A growing toolkit of facilitation practices and tools
- Exploration of their facilitation method/approach to facilitation
- Discover what type of facilitation to use when
- Practical experience in leading practices such as World Cafe, Open Space, Holy Listening, and more.
Yes, if they register to attend and cover their travel. On a case-by-case basis, persons will be subject to review.
FTE highly subsidizes the cost of this event. The registration is $550 and includes all expenses (excluding travel) for 3 nights of lodging, meals, and materials at the Inn at Serenbe.
No. You are responsible for the cost of your transportation to the Inn at Serenbe. The Atlanta airport is approximately 30 miles away.
Plan to arrive at the Inn at Serenbe by 3 pm on Monday, August 24, and depart from Serenbe on Thursday, August 2,7 after 11 am.
For more information or questions, please contact Community Engagement Manager, Marissa Akery.