Beyond Words®

Reflections on the Soul of Leadership

Written by Ruth Haley Barton, each reflection provides spiritual guidance and encouragement for those seeking to be in God for the world.

We have moved Ruth Haley Barton’s Beyond Words to Substack

New writing from Ruth will now be on Substack. This move allows us to bring our blog, podcast, and community together in one simple place — making it easier for you to stay connected and support our work.

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Cynthia

Cynthia’s Story: The impact of a Transforming Community in the life of a pastor

By Transforming Center |

My name is Cynthia and I am an ordained United Methodist pastor. Transforming Community came at the right time for me. I was looking for a spiritual director when I…

sunrise with two people silhouetted on a hill in the distance

It is the Lord!

By Transforming Center |

Happy Easter Monday, friends! Once again, Ruth invites us to celebrate the risen Jesus through five powerful post-resurrection encounters. We’ve reflected on these stories before, yet they continue to speak.…

Two Years Transforming: Forever Grateful

By Transforming Center |

By Nathan Albert For the last two years, I traveled to a monastery outside of Chicago every three months for…

stacked rocks

The Major Imperatives Within Mature Discipleship

By Ron Rolheiser, OMI |

“At a certain age our lives simplify and we need have only three phrases left in our spiritual vocabulary: Thank…

orange fallen leaves sit in rainwater on ground

Practicing Relinquishment: The Enneagram Goes on Retreat 

By Ruth Haley Barton |

“Every movement toward the humiliation of the false self, if we accept it, is a step toward freedom and inner…

Transforming Gift Creates Endowment Fund for Scholarships

By David Hughes |

When Anjuli Seth Nayak arrived for the first retreat of her Transforming Community, she was clearly a force to be…

Retreat: Invitation to a Counter-Cultural Practice

By Ruth Haley Barton |

 “I have lived too long where I am reachable.”–Rumi It is a wonderful thing to be invited—especially when the invitation…

man sitting on pew in old church

Retreat: The Gift and Necessity of Time Away with God

By Ruth Haley Barton |

 “If we don’t come apart for while, we will come apart after awhile.” –Dallas Willard Brad is a pastor whose…

Justice and the Inner Life

By Gary Haugen |

In October of 2004, I gave each of my colleagues at International Justice Mission two gifts: a blank leather journal…

Leadership Lessons from the Life of Moses

Part Four: Reenvisioning the Promised Land

By Ruth Haley Barton |

“We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.” —Bishop Ken…

FREE RESOURCE

Pay attention to the soul of your leadership with a FREE series written by Ruth Haley Barton

  • Reflections written for spiritual leaders delivered over 4 weeks
  • Includes guidance to listen to what your soul wants to say to God and what God wants to say to your soul
  • Every reflection includes a recording by Ruth that goes deeper into topic.
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