Berkeley Divinity at Yale Welcomes Applicants for The Leader's Way Program 2026-2027

New Haven, CT — Berkeley Divinity School at Yale is excited to announce the commencement of the fourth cohort of The Leader’s Way program, set to begin on June 1-5, 2026. This year, we are delighted to announce that our Leader’s Way chaplain for the week will be the Rev’d Dr. Jamie Hawkey.

Welcoming Jamie Hawkey as the Leader’s Way Chaplain

We are honored to welcome The Reverend Dr. Jamie Hawkey as the chaplain for the Leader’s Way week at Yale. Dr. Hawkey brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in ecclesiology, ecumenical theology, and public life. Educated at Cambridge (MA, MPhil, PhD) and in Rome, the Rev’d Dr. Hawkey is Canon Theologian of Westminster Abbey, Chair of the Westminster Abbey Institute, and a Chaplain to HM The King, having first been appointed a Chaplain to HM Queen Elizabeth II in 2017. He is also a Bye-Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, and a Visiting Professor in Theology at King’s College, London. With his substantial contributions to theological dialogues and public theology, and his experience overseeing national liturgies as Minor Canon and Sacrist of Westminster Abbey, the Rev’d Dr. Hawkey is an invaluable addition to our program.

Leader’s Way Week in Residence: An Extraordinary Community of Innovators at Yale

The Leader’s Way Fellows are an extraordinary group of innovators committed to transforming the world with the power of the Gospel. This unique program begins with an immersive five-day residential experience at Yale in June. Participants will learn from esteemed Yale faculty and visiting luminaries, benefiting from a rich educational environment. For the second year in a row, Theodicy Jazz Collective, under the direction of the Rev’d Dr. Andrew Barnett, will be leading the group in its worship music throughout the week.

The Leader’s Way Home: Newly Renovated Berkeley Center

The newly renovated Berkeley Center will be the programmatic home for The Leader’s Way. With the recent completion of a donor-funded $6 million renovation, this state-of-the-art facility embodies our commitment to providing place-based theological education, spiritual formation, innovative learning, and community building.

The Leader’s Way Online: Ongoing Learning and Community

Following the week in residence, the learning journey continues with monthly online workshops designed to deepen understanding through active practice. These workshops will focus on essential topics such as prayer, resilience, and adaptive leadership. Fellows will also meet monthly in mentor-led peer groups to develop an Innovative Ministry project and provide support for their larger ministries. When fellows complete The Leader’s Way, they receive a Yale certificate.

Application Information

Applications for The Leader’s Way program are now open. Clergy and lay leaders called to innovation and transformation in ministry are encouraged to apply. Tuition is $3,500, with a limited amount of half scholarships available for those demonstrating significant financial need.

To apply or learn more about The Leader’s Way program, please visit our website or contact Dr. Brandon Nappi. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and early submission is recommended to secure a place in the program.

About Berkeley Divinity School at Yale

Berkeley Divinity School is the Episcopal seminary at Yale University. For over 160 years, Berkeley has prepared clergy, educators, and leaders to serve throughout the Church. Berkeley seminary students are Yale Divinity School students, with all students receiving full tuition scholarships based on demonstrated need. Berkeley’s commitment to forming leaders extends beyond seminary through the Transforming Leaders initiative, which includes The Leader’s Way podcast, online courses, workshops, and its flagship certificate program.