Discerning Another Way Forward: Accompanying Young Adults in the time of Social Distance

Lean into that uneasy feeling of trying something new, do something different, and ultimately find what is authentic at this moment.

FTE’s 2021 grant applications are currently open for organizations to accompanying pastoral interns, mentoring programs for discerning young adults, and creating vocational discernment resources authentic for their community’s context.

Because of the pandemic, FTE is encouraging congregations and faith-based organizations not to propose the same projects they might in a time without COVID. Instead, we are asking those proposal creators to lean into that uncertainty of discernment that they are already so familiar with in their accompaniment of young adults.

Lean into that uneasy feeling of trying something new, do something different, and ultimately find what is authentic at this moment.

Though we hear every day a little more about potential vaccines, we know this will take time.

And we know that we are forever changed in how we work and relate to one another because of social distancing.

If you are considering writing a proposal, consider the questions below as a way to strengthen your proposal. These are the questions FTE hopes communities and congregations explore as they discern another way to accompany young adults discerning God’s call in their lives.

• How do these changes, due to COVID, look in a community supporting discerning young adults?
• What changes are we going to keep?
• How are we still creating those authentic relationships and communities of support while safely socially distancing?
• How are we showing hospitality remotely?
• Are we still holding space for deep questions and reflection?
• Are we exploring new ways of ministry?
• Where is God calling each of us during these unprecedented times?
• What next steps are we discerning to change how we accompany young adults in their discernment?

Do you have ideas? Do you have questions that are percolating about a potential grant project? Check out these three grants and their guidelines pages:

• Mentoring for Young Adults
• Pastoral Internships
• Vocational Resources

If you have questions please contact, Heather Wallace.