Discernment Labs
Discernment Labs is an 18-month FTE program supporting faith leaders in guiding young adults’ vocational exploration and Christian ministry through funded, cohort-based research projects.
Funder: Forum for Theological Exploration
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026 (Collegiate and Congregational Cohorts) | April 2027 (Church-Related Organizations Cohorts)
Funding Amounts: Up to $15,000 per project; 18-month cohort participation; all participation expenses (excluding travel) covered.
Summary: 18-month cohort-based program for faith leaders supporting young adults in vocational exploration and Christian ministry.
Key Information: Applicants must already operate young adult programming in the U.S. or Canada; travel to Atlanta-area retreats required.
Description
Discernment Labs is an 18-month, cohort-based initiative by the Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) designed to empower faith leaders who support young adults in Christian ministry and vocational discernment. Participants engage with FTE’s DISCERN Together Framework, which includes six disciplines of discernment, peer learning, reflection, and experimentation. The program features opening and closing in-person retreats (near Atlanta, GA), ongoing online community engagement, and the development and implementation of context-specific projects. Each participant receives funding to support an experimental project in their ministry context, culminating in sharing learnings about supporting young adults’ discernment journeys.
