Welcome TO CONFIRM'20

​​​​​The Foundation For Christian Formation leads a series of weekend retreats for young confirmands of the United Methodist Church and for the adult leaders and mentors that accompany these youth on their confirmation journey. Since 2006, the Foundation has led over 100 confirmation events attended by 900-plus churches with more than 15,000 participants.

FCF Confirm Retreat Weekends are led by this team of ministers, artists, musicians and teachers: Gloria Hughes, UM Deacon, Sacred Artist and founder of Viacreativa, Faith Formation Consultant, Executive Director of the Foundation For Christian Formation, WNCC Church Vitality Strategist for the Appalachian District of the UM Church, Chris Hughes, UM Elder, Founder/Principal Partner in Christbearer Ministries, with 41 years in ordained ministry and 20 years experience in designing and leading confirmation retreats for the SE Jurisdiction of the UM Church, Kathleen Kilbourne, UM Deacon, Ministry Consultant, Women's Retreat Leader, 20 years in UM Youth Ministry and 20 years as Director of the Masters of Arts in Practical Theology and the Center For Deacon Education at Pfeiffer University, currently Academic Advisor, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC and Ed Kilbourne, MDiv, nationally known recording artist, singer, storyteller, and folk theologian, Keynote/Leader Sr Adult Vacation Bible School Series. These confirmation events have been affirmed and endorsed by hundreds of leaders of the UMC, among them Bishop Ken Carter (Florida Conference), Bishop Hope Morgan Ward (NC Conference) and Bishop Jonathan Holston (SC Conference).

     FCF Confirm events will help confirmands claim their identity as Christ-people in Christ-community, the Church, as they move toward owning for themselves the faith claimed on their behalf at their baptism. In addition, these retreats are intentionally designed to engage and spiritually impact the adults that accompany the confirmands on their journey. Program features include:

Interactive workshops focused on the vows of membership in the United Methodist Church, "Promises To Keep -- Our Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service & Witness"

Exploring and understanding the sacraments of Baptism and Communion, preparing to answer the claim and call of God in our lives

Our signature "stole making" small group process through which we help confirmands record highlights of their faith journey and witness to their emerging faith in their own words and symbols​

The culminating service of Receiving the Stoles - a sign of calling and commitment as part of the "ministry of all Christians"

Gospel storytelling and music by humorist, storyteller and folk-theologian, Ed Kilbourne

Process teaching with career Christian Educators and UM Ministers, Rev. Kathleen Kilbourne, Rev. Gloria Hughes and Rev. Chris Hughes.