The Playground
Ancient Christian Practices Reimagined for Today
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A year-long journey empowering ministry leaders to embrace ancient Christian practices for healing and transformation.
About the Playground
About the Playground
The Playground is designed for ministry leaders who are ready to pause, reflect, and rejuvenate. If you’re actively serving in a church or faith-based organization and seeking fresh inspiration for your spiritual life and ministry, this program is for you.
We recognize that thriving ministries begin with thriving leaders. The Playground offers you the space to reconnect with faith and play, so you can nurture your own well-being and bring renewed energy to those you serve.
Program Highlights
- 🌟 Year-long cohorts with virtual and in-person experiences
- 🛫 Immersive pilgrimages to sacred spaces
- 📚 Expert-led courses grounded in theology and ancient practices
- 🤝 Practical tools for bringing renewal to your community
Choose Your Course:
Choose Your Course
The Sabbath is the ultimate form of resistance to a world that doesn’t know how to slow down,” says theologian & farmer, Dr. Nate Stucky (Princeton Theological Seminary). Through this course, Nate invites you to dig deep—into both soil and soul—offering a fresh vision of rest and renewal. Grounded in the rhythms of creation, you’ll explore how Sabbath can restore balance to your life and ministry.
Pilgrimage: The Farminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, NJ
Approx. 5 Days, October 2026
Dr. Lakisha Lockhart (Union Presbyterian Seminary), a vibrant voice in Womanist theology, dares you to embrace joy, creativity, and laughter as profound expressions of faith. Through this course, you’ll celebrate the wisdom and lived experiences of Black women, exploring how play can heal and transform communities.
Pilgrimage: Martha's Vineyard
Approx. 5 days, Summer 2026
Step into the world of St. Francis with Dr. Timothy Johnson (Flagler College), a renowned scholar of medieval history and Franciscan theology. Tim reveals how the Franciscan way—centered on simplicity, humility, and spiritual discipline—offers timeless wisdom for creating a contemporary rule of life. This course equips you to find balance, purpose, and spiritual depth in today’s world.
Pilgrimage: Rome & Assisi, Italy
Approx. 12 days, Summer 2026
Key Features of The Playground
Key Features
🌿 Expert-Taught Restorative Practices: Discover ancient Christian practices like Sabbath, Play, and Rule of Life, each taught by a different theologian through their unique theological perspective, offering fresh insights to renew your faith and leadership.
💻 Hybrid Learning with In-Person Components: Experience a blend of virtual and in-person classes, designed to provide both flexibility and immersive engagement.
🛫 Pilgrimage Experiences: Take part in a sacred journey to spaces of renewal and reflection, where you’ll engage deeply with the theology and practices you’ve been learning in class.
💰 Well-being stipends: Receive stipends at key milestones to support your personal and professional growth throughout the program.
🌟 Congregational Impact: Receive practical tools to revitalize your congregation, equipping them with resources that foster spiritual renewal and transformation.
Your Journey through the Playground
Your Journey through the Playground
1
🌱 Learn
February–May 2026
Begin your journey with an in-person kickoff gathering, where your cohort’s theologian leads you through foundational classes on practices like Sabbath, Play, and Rule of Life. Afterward, continue learning through live Zoom sessions, diving deeper into these practices from the comfort of your home.
2
🌍 Experience
Summer 2026
Embark on a pilgrimage crafted by your theologian, bringing theology and practice to life in transformative sacred spaces.
3
📖 Teach
August–November 2026
Take what you’ve learned and teach the same course in your congregation or ministry context. With support from The Playground team and your theologian, you’ll lead 4–6 sessions, sharing the practices and theology you’ve studied to inspire renewal and transformation within your community.
Program Cost & Registration
Cost & Registration
$12000 $1000
Thanks to generous grant funding, participation fees for The Playground have been greatly subsidized. This reduced fee covers all program expenses per participant, including courses, cohort support, and the pilgrimage experience.
$1,000 Participation Fee Covers:
- 📚 Coursework and materials
- ✈️ Immersive pilgrimage (including travel costs)
- 💰 Wellbeing stipends awarded at key milestones
- 🤝 Cohort meetings and mentoring
- 🧳 Access to digital resources
Not Included:
- Travel to and from the kickoff gathering in St. Augustine, Florida.
Requirements:
- Be a ministry leader in a congregational setting.
- Attend The Playground Kickoff Gathering.
- Participate in monthly virtual classes over the year.
- Attend their course’s pilgrimage experience.
- Facilitate and teach the course (4–6 sessions) in their own context during the final phase of the program.
Wellbeing Stipend Details:
Participants will receive wellbeing stipends at key program milestones to support their renewal. These can be used for personal retreats, spiritual direction, self-care needs (e.g., childcare, spa services, fitness), or ministry resources like books or teaching tools.
Application Note:
Spaces are limited, and applying does not guarantee acceptance. Preference will be given to leaders serving in marginalized and under-resourced contexts.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE JULY 1, 2025
DECISIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AUGUST 1, 2025
DOWNLOAD THE PLAYGROUND INFORMATION PACKET
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
No, The Playground is not an accredited course, but it offers deep, transformative learning.
No, participants select one course track for the year. Applicants must specify which course they are applying for: Ecology & Theology: Sabbath; Womanist Theology: Play; or Franciscan Spirituality: Rule of Life.
Participants must be ministry leaders, attend the in-person kickoff, complete all online sessions, join the pilgrimage, and teach the course in their community.
Yes, the program is fully funded by a grant from Duke Divinity's Thriving Congregations Initiative via the Lilly Endowment Inc. Participants only cover travel to the Flagler College Forum in February 2026.
The Playground team is happy to contact your congregation for funding support, and scholarships may also be available based on need.
The well-being stipend can be used for self-care services, such as personal training, meal preparation, childcare, or counseling, with approval from The Playground staff. It is awarded in phases as participants complete the program.
Pilgrimage durations range from four to 16 days, depending on the course. Contact The Playground for specific details about your chosen track.
Our Staff
Our Staff
Contact Us
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the application process or program details, please contact us at theplayground@flagler.edu.