The Leader's Way Certificate Program

The Leader’s Way is a pilgrimage for the soul, a hope-filled laboratory for experimentation, and a daring incubator for new possibilities in ministry. We seek clergy leaders eager to stand courageously at the intersection of faithfulness and innovation in the service of creating more vibrant Christian communities. Distinguished Yale faculty will help Fellows mine our theological past and present for resources that can inspire us to meet today’s challenges in fresh ways. By the end of the residential component of the program, each Fellow will have identified an innovative project he or she wishes to pursue to help propel the parish and/or larger community. Peer groups and mentors will support Fellows personally and professionally in addressing this challenge by applying the learnings from the program. 

This learning pilgrimage of spiritual renewal also provides opportunities to slow down, pray, and rest in ways that can be difficult in daily life. Through communal prayer, contemplative practice, and collaborative reflection, we’ll listen deeply for how we are being called, nurtured, and guided by the Spirit. And, we’ll do all this by co-creating spaces of belonging where we can laugh, share honestly, and develop authentic connection.

Following the six-day residential program, the Program will continue with monthly online learning since we know that leadership programs are most successful when there is intentional continuation where concepts can be united with active practice. Thus, Fellows will meet in mentor-led peer groups to support their particular project and to delve into skills-based advanced ministry and management topics.

There are no easy answers to the urgent challenges facing the Church and the world today. The climate crisis, racial injustice, epidemic loneliness, and the reality that many people struggle to understand the relevance of faith in daily life constitute an opportunity for profound reflection, reimagination, and recommitment for spiritual leaders everywhere. If you are ready to choose a hopeful future where inspiring communities of faith are fulfilling their promise to be catalysts for compassion, justice, and human thriving, we invite you to join our mission at Berkeley at Yale, and we’ll join yours.

Fellows gain access to  contemporary theological research and scholarship from Yale faculty, uncovering innovative insights that have emerged since their seminary education. 

Through the analysis of ongoing case studies and an immersive visit to the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale, fellows delve into historical examples of groundbreaking innovation, drawing valuable inspiration for contemporary contexts.

Through small group reflection and mentor-led discussions, fellows build a robust network of mutual support, enabling them to share in the joys and navigate the challenges of ministry collaboratively.

Through a combination of lectures, ongoing reflection, and the examination of diverse case studies, fellows are empowered to identify the characteristics of vibrant Christian communities, fostering those best practices and innovative strategies in their ministries.