Registration for Exploration, a three-day event for young adults age 18-26, is now open. This biennial event is designed to help attendees listen, discern, and respond to God’s call to ordained ministry, as they explore their gifts for service as a deacon or elder in The United Methodist Church. Exploration is a program of the office of young adult discernment and enlistment at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM).
This year’s event will be held November 3-5 in Portland, Oregon. Young adults who have a sense that God might be calling them to ordained ministry, who have wondered what ministry in The United Methodist Church is all about, who would like help sifting through issues involved in an ordained vocation, or who want to learn more about The United Methodist seminaries and theological schools should attend this event. Exploration is part of GBHEM’s strategy to enable and resource leadership within the church.
“Exploration is an amazing experience where youth and young adults can gather, and in the midst of community, discern their calls together,” said Rev. Dr. Trip Lowery, director of young adult ministry discernment and enlistment at GBHEM. “The United Methodist Church does not have a shortage of youth and young adults feeling called into church leadership. Exploration is a space where those feeling called can continue to discern what their next faithful steps should be, even if they discern those next steps are not into ordained leadership.”
There are several ways to live into vocational ministry in The United Methodist Church. Speakers and workshop leaders from various ministry settings will facilitate discussion about the diverse ways of living into a call to church leadership.
Exploration seeks to respond faithfully and effectively to The United Methodist Church’s focus on increasing the number of young adult clergy in our denomination by creating sacred space to challenge the most gifted and promising young people of our denomination to hear God’s call to ordained ministry.
Exploration creates opportunities for young adults to be in meaningful fellowship, passionate worship, theological reflection, and practical workshops as they discern whether God’s call on their life is to ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church and what faithful steps they can take in response.
To register, or learn more about Exploration, visit ExploreCalling.org. More information about GBHEM can be found at GBHEM.org.
About GBHEM: As the leadership development agency of The United Methodist Church, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s mission is to lead and connect the educational and ministerial life of the church. Every elder, deacon and licensed local pastor benefits from our training and candidacy programs. Many young adults find help in clarifying their vocation and God’s call on their lives through our leadership and discernment programs. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @GBHEM.
