Co-CREATE
August 24 - August 27, 2026 • $550.00 Serenbe, GAA four-day learning experience where participants dive deeper into FTE's facilitation practices
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APPLICATIONS OPEN MARCH 1
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, especially with young adults. In recent years, FTE has shared its facilitation methodology and approach with practitioners to help diverse groups discern purpose and call, catalyze leadership, transform their communities, and ultimately create a better world.
Co-CREATE is a gathering to explore FTE’s facilitation training. This event is offered as an introduction to facilitation and as a follow-up for more experienced facilitators. Participants can expect to come away with a better understanding of when to use which facilitation tools and practical experience leading practices such as Word Cafe, Open Space, Holy Listening, and more.
Apply to attend Co-CREATE in August in Serenbe outside Atlanta, Georgia.
For more information or questions, please contact Community Engagement Manager, Marissa Akery.
Sign up here to be notified when Co-CREATE applications open up.
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
Take a deeper diver into FTE's way of facilitating people and organizations to align their purpose, values and action
Explore their facilitation method/approach to facilitation
Discover what type of facilitation to use when
Gain practical experience in leading practices such as Word Cafe, Open Space, Holy Listening, and more
- People who want to deepen their experience in the art of co-creating and facilitating FTE-like conversations and discernment experiences.
- People who want to build on what they already know about facilitation to expand comfort and skill in knowing which facilitation practices to use in what setting or scenario.
- 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 from August 24-27 in Serenbe, outside Atlanta, Georgia.
Yes! This retreat is designed for those who have participated in one of FTE’s Co-CREATE trainings or those with prior facilitation experience.
- Take a deeper diver into FTE's way of facilitating people and organizations to align their purpose, values and action
- Explore their facilitation method/approach to facilitation
- Discover what type of facilitation to use when
- Gain practical experience in leading practices such as Word 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 in Serenbe.
For more information or questions, please contact Community Engagement Manager, Marissa Akery.
No. You are responsible for the cost of your transportation to Serenbe.
Plan to arrive at Serenbe by 4 pm on Monday, August 24, and depart from Serenbe after breakfast on Thursday, August 27.