FTE’s Festival of Discernment

October 8 - October 11, 2025 • See FAQ for Price Atlanta, GA

FTE’s Festival of Discernment is a four-day experience where attendees will have unique opportunities to discern what’s next concerning God’s calling, their purpose, and the church’s future and work in the world.

APPLICATIONS OPEN APRIL 1, 2025

Discern a bold path forward.

All of us find ourselves at a pivotal moment in history, navigating profound transitions amidst social, political, and economic challenges. At times, the world feels broken and divided, and we are yearning for a sense of restored hope and renewed direction. Moments like this call us to dream, compel us to imagine, and invite us to discern the possibility of what’s next for us, our communities of faith, and for our small corner of hope in the world. Even in the face of growing uncertainty, discerning the possibility of what we imagine is impossible is the church’s strength and courage.

We celebrate this ancient, yet powerful practice called discernment. Amidst the challenges we face, faithful leaders continue to join together to discern a bold and faithful path forward. Our discernment leads to innovation and gives us a glimpse of what’s next and how the church will evolve, change and flourish in the days and years ahead. When we inspire the next generation to discern together, we build their capacity to reimagine what's possible in ministry and theological education, and we embolden them to lead innovatively in their local communities.

This year, FTE is hosting a national Festival of Discernment at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta, GA, in honor of the collective power of discerning together. Over four days, we are gathering artists and dreamers, pastors and priests, imagineers and fellow sojourners who accompany one another and others discerning a shared purpose and God’s call in their lives and what’s to come.

Come and join us if you have hope that our gifts are more than enough to discern a bold path forward and if you feel called to discern and live your life in response to a deep longing for what’s next.

Young Adult Cohort at The Festival of Discernment

FTE invites nominations and applications for young adults, ages 18-30, to participate in the Festival of Discernment this fall. Joining together with FTE ministry partners, participants in the Young Adult Cohort will be introduced to practices of discernment to explore God’s call in their lives, possibilities for what’s next for the church and its work in the broader community. Learn more about how you can attend as a young adult or nominate a young adult.

Participants Can Expect To
Deepen their capacity to discern together their purpose, passion and calling

Deepen their capacity to discern together their purpose, passion and calling

Learn from and with FTE and its partners about discernment disciplines and practices in diverse contexts

Learn from and with FTE and its partners about discernment disciplines and practices in diverse contexts

Listen and engage in deep conversations for building a more hopeful future

Listen and engage in deep conversations for building a more hopeful future

Encounter the power of community, connect with a diverse group of peers, and engage in meaningful discussions that foster personal growth and clarity

Encounter the power of community, connect with a diverse group of peers, and engage in meaningful discussions that foster personal growth and clarity

Frequently Asked Questions

This event is for FTE partners and young adults who are interested in exploring purpose, passion and call through discernment disciplines and practices. It is for those who want to network with a diverse and like-minded community grappling with similar issues in diverse contexts.

October 8-11 at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta, GA.

Discernment: Participants will deepen their exploration of FTE’s discernment framework and practice of discernment with others regarding God’s call in their lives, possibilities for what’s next for the church and its work in the broader community.

Imagination: Participants will cultivate their vocational imagination and excitement for different ways to live out their sense of call, or accompaniment of the next generation of leaders in their discernment.

Community: Participants will make connections, nurture community, identify and share resources to support and advance their collective discernment efforts.

If selected to attend, FTE will cover the cost of your lodging, programming and food. You will pay a registration fee and the cost of your travel. While the total cost per person for this 4-day event is $2,200, the discounted registration fee of $500 will go toward the cost of lodging, programming, and food. Young adults and Discernment Lab partners do not have to pay the registration fee.

Lodging (single rooms for partners, shared rooms for young adults), all meals, snacks, and event materials are covered. Transportation to and from the event is only covered for young adult participants, all other participants need to get themselves to and from the event.

The cost of airfare and ground transportation is covered for Young Adults only. All other participants will need to arrange for and cover their own transportation costs.

The event begins with an opening session at 5 pm EST on Wednesday, October 8 and ends after lunch on Saturday, October 11, 2025.

Young Adults: Heather Wallace

All other inquiries: Marissa Akery