Ruth Haley Barton

Spiritual director. Teacher. Retreat leader. Author. Founding president of the Transforming Center.

Ruth was trained in spiritual direction through the Salem Institute for Spiritual Formation (Bethesda, MD) under the guidance of Tilden Edwards, Rosemary Doughtery and Gerald May. Educated at Wheaton College (IL), Northern Seminary (Lombard, IL) and University of Loyola Institute for Pastoral Studies (Chicago), she's also a student of family systems theory as it relates to congregational life (Lombard Mennonite Peace Center).

Ruth consults with leadership teams in church and organizational settings, providing teaching and guidance in the areas of spiritual formation, leadership development, and discernment at the leadership level. Ruth has served on the pastoral staff of several churches, including Willow Creek Community Church and has taught as adjunct professor at Wheaton Graduate School, Northern Seminary, and Mars Hill Graduate School.

Books:

  • Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry
  • Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation
  • Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God's Transforming Presence
  • An Ordinary Day with Jesus: Experiencing the Reality of God in Your Everyday Life, co-authored with John Ortberg
  • Longing for More
  • Equal to the Task: Men and Women in Partnership
  • Ruth: Relationships that Bring Life

 

 

 

 

 

::Close::

"I left feeling like my thirsty soul has been rejuvenated, like I had a long drink of cold water in the desert...."

"...an instrument to open windows for allowing God's fresh air to flow more freely into my life..."

"She has an uncanny understanding of what it means to be a dehydrated disciple/minister..."

"Down to earth, very wise spiritually, and very eloquent-this is a potent combination and one that is extremely helpful."