Meet the Teaching Team

   FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

160 Clairemont Avenue, Suite 300, Decatur, GA, 30030
(678) 369-6755

© 2022 Forum for Theological Exploration

What is the Forum for Theological Exploration? 

The Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) is a leadership incubator that inspires young people to make a difference in the world through Christian communities. Since its founding in 1954, FTE has provided resources, events, networks, grants, and fellowships to cultivate tomorrow’s leaders, pastors, and theological educators. FTE provides a forum through which gifted, purposeful students, young adults, and partners explore their passion, purpose, and call.

Who is this course for? 

Why was this course created?

How will this course benefit me? 

Will I get a course certificate for completion?

Yes, if you meet the requirements set forth in the course you will receive a certificate that you can post to your Linkedin profile and download to share.

How much time will this course take?

You will need to invest about 5 to 10 hours into this course, including the Zoom community gatherings. 

I can’t make a community gathering call, what do I do?

FTE may choose to upload part or all of the community gathering discussions, but we’d recommend reaching out to the course teaching team with any questions you have during the course.

Can I participate in class from my cellphone?

Yes, NovoEd has a mobile app as does Zoom for the community gathering calls.

Discover Your Purpose

and Potential in Ministry

Are you being called to pastoral ministry but need guidance to determine your next most faithful step? If you want to clarify what your pathway to ministry looks like, this is the course for you. Together, we will explore and discover your unique skills and gifts for leading in a church or congregation. 

WHAT YOU'LL GET 

• Hear from Christian leaders who have heard the "sound of the genuine" and are leading change in their community 
• Be inspired by stories of role models and passionate pastoral leaders, learn how to identify your calling to promote freedom, equity, and liberation
• Participate in evidence-based practices and activities that will stretch your imagination or give you the knowledge necessary for enacting your next most faithful step 

COURSE MODULES

Define and discover your calling from God. Take this time to listen and reflect on your gifts, experiences, passions, and what's needed in the world to uncover your purpose.

Explore different ways for you to be mentored and called to mentor. Think critically about the insights shared by peers and the teaching team and takeaways you can apply to mentorship. 

Reflect on your experiences and the gifts within your community. Engage in practices and discussions to explore how and where you can be an agent of change.

Meet the Teaching Team

Rev. Darlene M. Hutto

Rev. Darlene M. Hutto, affectionately known to many in FTE's network as "Revvy Rev" is an ordained Itinerant Elder, African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). She is a creative lover of all things liturgical. At FTE she is responsible for partner relationship building, designing events, and overseeing work with young adult leaders. She engages in strategic initiatives and design and enjoys accompanying our FTE partners across the board. She holds a BA degree in Religion and Philosophy from Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, OH, and a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, Atlanta, GA. Reverend Hutto is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry degree at Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

   FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

What is the Forum for Theological Exploration?

The Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) is a leadership incubator that inspires young people to make a difference in the world through Christian communities. Since its founding in 1954, FTE has provided resources, events, networks, grants, and fellowships to cultivate tomorrow’s leaders, pastors, and theological educators. FTE provides a forum through which gifted, purposeful students, young adults, and partners explore their passion, purpose, and call.

Who is this course for? 

Designed for young adults aged 18 - 35 who are called to explore their leadership gifts and skills leading toward pastoral ministry. 

Why was this course created?

We created this course to help discerning young adults identify and explore how God might be calling them to use their gifts, passions, and ideas in the church through pastoral ministry.

How will this course benefit me?

Upon completion, you will join FTE's network of alumni which includes pastors, professors, deans, presidents of organizations, civil servants, and non-profit leaders who are leading their communities, congregations, and society. 

Will I get a course certificate for completion?

Yes, if you meet the requirements set forth in the course you will receive a certificate that you can post to your Linkedin profile and download to share.

How much time will this course take?

You will need to invest about 5 to 10 hours into this course, including the Zoom community gatherings.

I can’t make a community gathering call, what do I do?

FTE may choose to upload part or all of the community gathering discussions, but we’d recommend reaching out to the course teaching team with any questions you have during the course.

Can I participate in class from my cellphone?

Yes, NovoEd has a mobile app as does Zoom for the community gathering calls.

Social Justice & Service

Explore your next most faithful step after discerning what it might mean to serve your community, cause, or creation.

$199

Called to Pastoral Ministry

Designed for young adults aged 18 - 35 who are called to explore their leadership gifts and skills leading toward pastoral ministry.

$99

Designed for young adults ages 18-35

We want our students to become bold leaders and solve the problems that reflect their lives

- Rich Havard from Inclusive Collective 

Called to Pastoral Ministry

Designed for young adults aged 18 - 35 who are called to explore their leadership gifts and skills leading toward pastoral ministry.

$99

• Hear from Christian leaders who have heard the "sound of the genuine" and are leading change in their community 
• Be inspired by stories of role models and passionate pastoral leaders, learn how to identify your calling to promote freedom, equity, and liberation
• Participate in evidence-based practices and activities that will stretch your imagination or give you the knowledge necessary for enacting your next most faithful step

Designed for young adults aged 18 - 35 who are called to explore their leadership gifts and skills leading toward pastoral ministry. 

We created this course to help discerning young adults identify and explore how God might be calling them to use their gifts, passions, and ideas in the church through pastoral ministry.

Upon completion, you will join FTE's network of alumni which includes pastors, professors, deans, presidents of organizations, civil servants, and non-profit leaders who are leading their communities, congregations, and society. 

Have questions about our Called to Pastoral Ministry course? Fill in the form here and we will be in touch soon.

In this six-week online course, you will meet virtually with like-minded peers who are also discerning their vocational call. Together you will explore, listen, and reflect on what God has called you to do in the world. You will have access to an experienced teaching and leadership team in an engaging learning environment where you can imagine new possibilities as you go through this journey. 

Now is the perfect time to take your next most faithful step.

Why

Explore

Reflect

Next Step

Leverage the power and opportunities you hold and listen to the stories shared by passionate leaders on their vocational journey. Tap into the movement and voice of God and together make a change in the world.

Discover Your Purpose and Potential in Ministry

Are you being called to pastoral ministry but need guidance to determine your next most faithful step? If you want to clarify what your pathway to ministry looks like, this is the course for you. Together, we will explore and discover your unique skills and gifts for leading in a church or congregation. 

Think and reflect on what it means to be

In this six-week online course, you will meet virtually with like-minded peers who are also discerning their vocational call. Together you will explore, listen, and reflect on what God has called you to do in the world. You will have access to an experienced teaching and leadership team in an engaging learning environment where you can imagine new possibilities as you go through this journey.

Now is the perfect time to take your next most faithful step.

Define and discover your calling from God. Take this time to listen and reflect on your gifts, experiences, passions, and what's needed in the world to uncover your purpose.

Explore different ways for you to be mentored and called to mentor. Think critically about the insights shared by peers and the teaching team and takeaways you can apply to mentorship. 

Reflect on your experiences and the gifts within your community. Engage in practices and discussions to explore how and where you can be an agent of change. 

Why

Explore

Reflect

Next Step

Leverage the power and opportunities you hold and listen to the stories shared by passionate leaders on their vocational journey. Tap into the movement and voice of God and together make a change in the world.

When you know your "why" your what becomes more impactful because you are walking toward or in your purpose. 

- Comedian and non-profit leader Michael Jr. 

Called to Pastoral Ministry

Think and reflect on what it means to be Called to Pastoral Ministry 

Participant Experience

“If you feel uncertain but know God has called you to something, you can start at FTE. Here you will hear the voices of other preachers and teachers and leaders…You’ll come to learn that you may or may not have a lot in common with others, but one thing in common with everyone is that they all want to do the work of the Kingdom of God, whether inside or outside of the church.”

- Natalie Cortes, Called to Pastoral Ministry Participant '21

“This course brought me more excitement, inspiration, and clarity than I've felt in a long time. The reflection exercises, videos and interviews, and brilliant staff facilitation all rocked, but what really made the course for me was the interactions with peers -- in breakout groups, on the discussion boards, and even a two-hour phone chat."

- Becca Bedell, Called to Pastoral Ministry Participant '21

Course Instructor

WHAT YOU'LL GET

Course Instructor

Rev. Darlene M. Hutto

Rev. Darlene M. Hutto, affectionately known to many in FTE's network as "Revvy Rev" is an ordained Itinerant Elder, African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). She is a creative lover of all things liturgical. At FTE she is responsible for partner relationship building, designing events, and overseeing work with young adult leaders. She engages in strategic initiatives and design and enjoys accompanying our FTE partners across the board. She holds a BA degree in Religion and Philosophy from Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, OH, and a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, Atlanta, GA. Reverend Hutto is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry degree at Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

Rev. Darci Jaret

Dorlimar Lebrón

Course Mentor

Course Mentor

Rev. Darci Jaret is a bi-vocational pastor, advocate, art minister, enthusiast, and trans nonbinary human. They journey with Park Avenue Baptist Church's community in creativity and a non-hierarchical community. This ministry centers the work of abolition, artistic spiritual expression, anti-racism, and recovery from religious and theological trauma. Darci brings their creative gifts and talents to our worship and faith development programs, liturgy-building, and online branding. Darci also does case management for women and children-centered mental health programs in Atlanta. Journeying alongside people in need, while acknowledging a person's wholeness and dignity is paramount in Darci's case management method. Focusing care on people who are experiencing homelessness, and who have experienced financial trauma characterizes the other part of Darci's vocation.

Dorlimar Lebrón was born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York. She currently serves as Lead Pastor at the First Spanish United Methodist Church, also known as, "The People's Church" in Spanish Harlem. Dorlimar holds a Bachelor's in Sociology concentrating on Black and Latinx Studies from the City College of New York and a Master's in Divinity with a focus on Liberation Theology and Ethics from Boston University School of Theology. Her passion centers around de-cloaking, naming and resisting injustice in our society. She is a sister, a daughter, and a believer in change. She strives to create spaces where love, hope, peace, justice, and liberation are imagined, created and sustained.

Rev. Darci Jaret

Course Mentor

Rev. Darci Jaret is a bi-vocational pastor, advocate, art minister, enthusiast, and trans nonbinary human. They journey with Park Avenue Baptist Church's community in creativity and a non-hierarchical community. This ministry centers the work of abolition, artistic spiritual expression, anti-racism, and recovery from religious and theological trauma. Darci brings their creative gifts and talents to our worship and faith development programs, liturgy-building, and online branding. Darci also does case management for women and children-centered mental health programs in Atlanta. Journeying alongside people in need, while acknowledging a person's wholeness and dignity is paramount in Darci's case management method. Focusing care on people who are experiencing homelessness, and who have experienced financial trauma characterizes the other part of Darci's vocation.

Dorlimar Lebrón

Course Mentor

Dorlimar Lebrón was born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York. She currently serves as Lead Pastor at the First Spanish United Methodist Church, also known as, "The People's Church" in Spanish Harlem. Dorlimar holds a Bachelor's in Sociology concentrating on Black and Latinx Studies from the City College of New York and a Master's in Divinity with a focus on Liberation Theology and Ethics from Boston University School of Theology. Her passion centers around de-cloaking, naming and resisting injustice in our society. She is a sister, a daughter, and a believer in change. She strives to create spaces where love, hope, peace, justice, and liberation are imagined, created and sustained.