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.

Epiphany – There and Back Again: An Unexpected Journey

By Ruth Haley Barton |

Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14;  Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12 Epiphany (Cycle C) and guidance for using the lectionary “Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” – Mary Oliver…

photo of a night sky reflecting on a still late with a sliver of sunrise peaking through the horizon.

Advent Week 3: A Time for Courage

By Adele Ahlberg Calhoun |

Lectionary Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18 Advent Calendar (Cycle C) and guidance for using the lectionary In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis…

Is the Average Church a Center for Spiritual Transformation?

By Ruth Haley Barton |

One of the great mysteries of my life as a pastor’s kid was the fact that many of the adults…

Part 3: Beyond Teamwork: Do Something Before you Do Everything

By Ruth Haley Barton |

Note: This is the third part in a series on becoming a community for discernment. You can read part one…

Part 2: Beyond Teamwork: When Leadership Community Is At Its Best

By Ruth Haley Barton |

“The more genuine and the deeper our community becomes, the more will everything else between us recede, the more clearly…

Part 1: Beyond Teamwork: Spiritual Community at the Leadership Level

By Ruth Haley Barton |

“Christian community is founded solely on Jesus Christ and in fact, it already exists in Christ. It is not an…

Soul Care: Dr. Ruth Haley Barton ’81 Ministers to Those in Ministry.

By Transforming Center |

by Michael Murray It’s a question pastors are accustomed to asking: How is it with your soul? Trained to lead…

Invitation to Discernment in Community

By Ruth Haley Barton |

Note: The following case study from the NEW Pursuing God’s Will Together is fictitious and yet it is all true.  Everything…

First Review of Pursuing God’s Will Together

By Jeffery James |

Thrilled to share with you the first review from our good friends at Hearts and Minds (Dallastown PA), a great…

Warning: Content may be disruptive to your understanding of Christian life, leadership and community

By Transforming Center |

Below are some of the early endorsements of Pursuing God’s Will Together: A Discernment Practice for Leadership Groups (InterVarsity Press,…

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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 each Saturday morning
  • 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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