By Dara Harper
Hendricks Chapel of Syracuse University has received an additional $500,000 from the Lilly Endowment Inc. to support the Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Ministry (FELM), which offers a dynamic and distinctive setting to form area leaders who are empowered to thrive within challenging times. This new funding builds upon the initial $1 million grant awarded in 2019 and will allow the program to help leaders thrive and enhance the communities they serve.
Hendricks Chapel, the spiritual heart of Syracuse University, is the student-centered global home for religious, spiritual, moral, and ethical life. Established in 1930 as a home for all faiths and place for all people, the chapel hosts 15 chaplains, more than 25 religious and spiritual groups, and sponsors over 2,000 programs for more than one million annual attendees. As a central contributor to life and learning at Syracuse University, Hendricks Chapel helps to prepare engaged citizens, scholars, and leaders for participation in a changing global society.
FELM is a direct expression of the mission of Hendricks Chapel and affirms Syracuse University’s longstanding commitment to be welcoming to all. The Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Ministry was launched in partnership with Le Moyne College and is part of the Lilly Endowment’s Thriving in Ministry Initiative. Since its inception in 2019, the program has become a high-impact leadership development experience for clergy and other faith-based community leaders of various ages and levels of experience. Participants engage in classroom learning, personal coaching, and project-based ministry design, all aimed at fostering spiritual depth, leadership capacity, and vocational fulfillment.
Rev. Devon Bartholomew, a former FELM participant and current chaplain at Hendricks Chapel, reflected on how the program broadened his mindset and methods. He shared that FELM “helped me approach my ministry context and challenges through several other perspectives,” a shift that continues to influence his work with students and the broader campus community.
Founded by Rev. Brian E. Konkol, vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel, and Rev. David McCallum, S.J., former vice president for mission integration and development at Le Moyne College, FELM has grown into a nationally-renowned program with a strong network of faith leaders who are shaping ministry in Central New York and throughout the nation. The program is administered by the College of Professional Studies at Syracuse University, with Le Moyne College contributing to program design and assessment.
FELM is currently led by Konkol as Faculty Chair, with Karin Botto serving as Lead Facilitator and Program Designer, Marie Paul in the role of Project Management Training Lead and operational support offered by Clarissa Flores. Botto, who is a Senior Human Resources Business Partner at Syracuse University, holds a doctoral degree in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University, and a Masters of Science in Training and Organizational Development from Saint Joseph’s University. Marie Paul is Senior Integrated Planning Lead at Lockheed Martin and holds a Bachelor of Science from Le Moyne College. Clarissa Flores is Assistant Director of Field Education at Harvard Divinity School, and holds a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. “We have an outstanding team supporting FELM that is highly dedicated to creating a rich learning experience for our program participants,” said Botto.
The additional funding from the Lilly Endowment will allow FELM to expand its generational and geographical reach, deepen its impact on campus engagement, and strengthen its sustainability for years to come. Since its inception, FELM has supported various leaders in overcoming challenges while helping them discover their unique gifts and callings, and these efforts will evolve to meet new challenges and opportunities in the years ahead
When asked about her involvement in the program, Rev. Sharon Baugh of Hope Chapel AME Zion in Utica, New York, spoke to the FELM program’s lasting impact. “I realized leadership is not only about what I accomplish, but how I show up with humility, courage, and authenticity,” said Rev. Baugh. She also shared how the friendships and wisdom she gained from other fellows continue to shape her ministry, and she emphasized that FELM reminded her that ministry is both global and local, with lessons shared across contexts strengthening the work done at home.
Those who participated in FELM have since gone on to serve in key leadership roles, bringing innovation and transformation to their respective faith communities. Cathy Mackey, principal of St. Mary’s Academy in Baldwinsville, New York, described how FELM helped her navigate resistance to change. She found a sense of inner peace in learning that organizational struggle does not necessarily mean a change is wrong or unnecessary, but rather that change itself is difficult. This insight, among many others, provide Mackey with confidence to lead with clarity and conviction.
“This continued investment from the Lilly Endowments affirms the value of our efforts with the Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Ministry and allows us to keep investing in our area faith leaders,” said Rev. Brian Konkol. “I am grateful to the countless people who have helped to make this all possible, and I am left excited to witness all the future has in store.”
For more information about FELM, including how to apply, please visit the program website.