Strengthening The Soul Of Your Leadership With Ruth Haley Barton

We can't wait for you to hear this encouraging conversation between Ruth and Glenn Packiam, a pastor and author of The Resilient Pastor: Leading Your Church in a Rapidly Changing World. Glenn and Ruth shared their thoughts on why it's so hard for pastors to prioritize their life with God, performing our spirituality vs. cultivating a spiritual life, challenges facing pastors and the church, and what we’re learning about pastors' spirituality. We hope this conversation encourages you today.  Check out The Resilient Pastor and Glenn's podcast, "The Resilient Pastor Podcast."   You can preorder Ruth's next book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again! Want to be a part of the book launch? Learn more.   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Innocence from Music in Solitude   Support the podcast!  Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!     The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invite

Over on Patreon, we concluded season 16 with our fifth installment of our Ask Ruth series. This episode included questions specific to this past season on Transforming Leadership: Managing Anxiety Within Our Communities with Steve Cuss. Patrons submitted questions that arose from their listening of the podcast, and Ruth provided her trademark thoughtfulness, wit and wisdom in answering them. Today, we wanted to share an excerpt from this episode with all of our podcast listeners. The Ask Ruth series is available to patrons at both the $5 and $10 monthly levels. Patrons at the $10/month level also receive regular Beyond the Episode content when the podcast is in season. These episodes include conversations that go further or deeper than what was on the main feed episode or guided spiritual practices. We'd love for you to join us over on Patreon! You can sign up to become a patron and support our podcast ministry over on our Patreon page.

We are ending this season just as we started it: with Ruth going solo behind the mic. This time, she recaps Bowen’s 8 concepts, with particular emphasis on differentiation, encouraging us to reflect on what is ours to do in this work. Then, she shares about Bowen’s undeveloped 9th concept about spirituality, including some of her own ideas about the topic. What are the spiritual resources that will help us in this work of recognizing our anxiety and bringing a calm presence to our leadership? We close with a poem from our beloved Ted Loder.   Mentioned in this Episode: Guerrillas of Grace: Prayers for the Battle by Ted Loder   Steve Cuss Resources: Steve’s website Managing Leadership Anxiety, Yours and Theirs by Steve Cuss   General Resources for Systems Theory: Season 9 Episode 6 of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Podcast Season 9 Episode 7 of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Podcast Family Systems and Congregational Life: A Map for Ministry by R. Robert Creech Lombard Mennonite Pe

We’re nearing the end of our season on Systems Theory and leadership anxiety! In this last episode with Ruth and Steve together, the two give really practical help with concrete tools that can help diffuse anxiety. These tools range from personal to relational, and they are rooted in deep care for the soul of the leader. Finally Ruth and Steve discuss how Systems Theory informs and aids transformational leadership. Next week, Ruth will wrap up the season with one final solo episode of closing thoughts and wisdom on this important topic. Steve Cuss Resources: Steve’s website Managing Leadership Anxiety, Yours and Theirs by Steve Cuss   General Resources for Systems Theory: Season 9 Episode 6 of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Podcast Season 9 Episode 7 of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Podcast Family Systems and Congregational Life: A Map for Ministry by R. Robert Creech Lombard Mennonite Peace Center Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue by Edwin H. F

This week we invited two additional guests to tackle this tender and challenging topic. Ruth and Steve are joined by Pastor Tina Harris, a former pastor and lawyer and currently Transforming Center’s Cultivator of Community and Connection, and Pastor Marvin Williams, the pastor of Trinity Church in Lansing, MI, and a doctoral candidate doing his work in Systems Theory in Non- Majority spaces. These four pastors and teachers sit down to discuss whether Systems Theory is just a white person thing. They touch on code switching as it pertains to differentiation and the difference between chronic anxiety and real trauma, particularly generational racial trauma. They wonder what happens when majority culture is spreading an anxiety that non-majority culture has to carry, and how can System Theory help us to manage our anxiety and do better in the conversations around race that we so desperately need to have right now? This conversation is honest, challenging, and ultimately, hopeful. Mentioned in this episode: A Fa

Sometimes our greatest anxieties can surround areas of stuckness, places where we know what we are doing isn’t working, but we can’t seem to find our way out. This week, Ruth and Steve will discuss second order change and how we can recognize and dissolve our stuck patterns. How does paying attention to process over content help us with this? And how can changing our own behaviors actually change the behaviors of others? Find out all this and more in this episode.   Helpful to this episode: Everything Isn’t Terrible by Dr. Kathleen Smith   Steve Cuss Resources: Steve’s website Managing Leadership Anxiety, Yours and Theirs by Steve Cuss   General Resources for Systems Theory: Season 9 Episode 6 of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Podcast Season 9 Episode 7 of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Podcast Family Systems and Congregational Life: A Map for Ministry by R. Robert Creech Lombard Mennonite Peace Center Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue by Edwin H.

This week, Ruth and Steve are talking about differentiation. What is differentiation and how does it differ from individualism? Steve shares his framework of the Four Spaces and explains how paying attention to these spaces can help us differentiate and understand what is happening in a group. As we wrapped up, Steve shared a few practices that can help us with differentiation.   Mentioned in this episode: CODA (Apple +)   Steve Cuss Resources: Steve’s website Managing Leadership Anxiety, Yours and Theirs by Steve Cuss Calm, Aware, Present Journal kickstarter campaign   General Resources for Systems Theory: Season 9 Episode 6 of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Podcast Season 9 Episode 7 of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Podcast Family Systems and Congregational Life: A Map for Ministry by R. Robert Creech Lombard Mennonite Peace Center Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue by Edwin H. Friedman Extraordinary Relationships: A new Way of Thinking about Hum

Ruth and guest Steve Cuss continue to explore Systems Theory. This week they look at leadership, anxiety, and the false self. What are some examples of false selves and false beliefs and how do they relate to anxiety? What is the calm presence? Ruth and Steve’s conversation covers all this and more, including an invitation to participate in the practice of the Welcoming Prayer. Steve Cuss Resources: Steve’s website Managing Leadership Anxiety, Yours and Theirs by Steve Cuss Calm, Aware, Present Journal kickstarter campaign   General Resources for Systems Theory: Season 9 Episode 6 of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Podcast Season 9 Episode 7 of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Podcast Family Systems and Congregational Life: A Map for Ministry by R. Robert Creech Lombard Mennonite Peace Center Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue by Edwin H. Friedman Extraordinary Relationships: A new Way of Thinking about Human Interactions by Roberta M Gilbert Musi

This week, Ruth and Steve delve into the topic of family of origin and its impact on leadership. Why do we need to do the messy work of untangling our childhood issues? How do we carry childhood wounds into our leadership? How can genograms help us do this work? Ruth and Steve share their thoughts on these questions and more in today’s episode.   This week’s practice invites you to sit with the following questions: What’s a family trait that was an asset to you? What is a family trait that was a liability?  We encourage you to explore genograms, as well. Check out Steve's genogram key and questions to use with the key.   Steve Cuss Resources: Steve’s website Managing Leadership Anxiety, Yours and Theirs by Steve Cuss Calm, Aware, Present Journal kickstarter campaign   General Resources for Systems Theory: Season 9 Episode 6 of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Podcast Season 9 Episode 7 of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Podcast Family Systems and Congregational Life: A Map for Minis

Welcome to Season 16, Transforming Leadership: Managing Anxiety Within Our Communities. This season we will be exploring Systems Theory, also called Family Systems Theory. Many of us have seen the troubling Barna research about the extreme levels of burnout pastors are experiencing right now. As we look at Systems theory, we will be examining how it relates to and can transform our lives in leadership.    In today’s episode Ruth welcomes our season-long guest, Steve Cuss, a pastor and author of Managing Leadership Anxiety, Yours and Theirs. Steve and Ruth dive into the deep end of Systems Theory as they discuss the most powerful leadership tool: diagnosing and diffusing anxiety. What is chronic anxiety? How does anxiety spread throughout a group? How can leaders attend to their own anxiety in healthy ways? Ruth and Steve answer all this and more in this week’s conversation.   Steve Cuss Resources: Steve’s website Managing Leadership Anxiety, Yours and Theirs by Steve Cuss Calm, Aware, Present Journal kickstar

Welcome to Season 16, Transforming Leadership: Managing Anxiety Within Our Communities. This season we will be exploring Systems Theory, also called Family Systems Theory. Many of us have seen the troubling Barna research about the extreme levels of burnout pastors are experiencing right now. As we look at Systems theory, we will be examining how it relates to and can transform our lives in leadership. Ruth welcomes guest Steve Cuss, pastor and author of Managing Leadership Anxiety, Yours and Theirs, to help us unpack Systems Theory.   In today’s episode Ruth is flying solo to give us an introduction to Systems Theory. She lays the groundwork for the season by detailing Bowen’s 8 concepts, while also giving us a general idea of Systems Theory and how it relates to anxiety and leadership. We think this introductory episode is just what we need to help us dive into the deep end with Ruth and Steve. Resources used in today’s episode:  Managing Leadership Anxiety, Yours and Theirs by Steve Cuss Generation to G

We couldn’t leave you hanging in the darkness of Good Friday, so to wrap up season 15 of the podcast we are concluding with a conversation about Easter and the Resurrection. Ruth and Steve discuss the story of Mary and the empty tomb and what it reveals about the new order Jesus wants to bring. They marvel at the ways that Jesus cares for each of the disciples exactly as they need it most. Ruth encourages us to ask, what do we need from Jesus at this point? Are we willing to ask for it, or can we recognize the ways that Jesus is already meeting us in these needs? Join us for this discussion that invites us into the Easter season.   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus from Lent Music In Solitude   Mentioned in the episode: Bread of Tomorrow: Prayers for the Church Year by Janet Morely   Support the podcast! Patrons at the $10 level will receive a digital download of Ruth Haley Barton’s Lent: A Season of Returning. It includes Cycle C scriptures and space to journal your own t

Ruth and Steve guide us into Holy Week with the reminder of the importance of keeping vigil and a discussion on the temptation to fall asleep. In what ways do we turn our gaze away from that which is difficult to see? What does it mean to keep vigil with Jesus and how is it an expression of our intimacy with Him? This conversation will prepare us for Holy Week and the work of walking with Jesus until the end.   It’s not too late to join us for a VIRTUAL Stations of the Cross service on Friday, April 15 at 12 pm CST. Details and sign up here.   Lectionary Readings for Holy Week   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist   Mentioned in the episode: The Book of Common Prayer Support the podcast! Patrons at the $10 level will receive a digital download of Ruth Haley Barton’s Lent: A Season of Returning. It includes Cycle C scriptures and space to journal your own thoughts and prayers. This season, $10 patrons will also receive guided spiritual practices, like the Lectio Divina and Examen, that correspond w

We have arrived at Palm Sunday and this week Ruth and Steve discuss the disorienting swing the people create between hailing Jesus as King and calling for his crucifixion in a matter of days. It brought us to wonder, in what ways do we create our own agendas to put on Jesus, and how do we fall into the temptation to make Jesus the King we want him to be rather than allow ourselves to be challenged by the King he actually is? As we move into Holy Week, this conversation will challenge us to consider the ways we make Jesus into our own image and provide practices to combat that tendency.   Lectionary Readings for the sixth Sunday of Lent, Cycle C: Liturgy of the Palms: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29  •  Luke 19:28-40 Liturgy of the Passion: Isaiah 50:4-9a  •  Psalm 31:9-16  •  Philippians 2:5-11  • Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-49   Join us for a VIRTUAL Stations of the Cross service on Friday, April 15 at 12 pm CST. Details and sign up here.   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus from

We seem to be turning a corner during this week of Lent! Ruth and Steve discuss the lectionary readings for the fifth Sunday of Lent and the call to prepare ourselves for whatever new things God desires to do in us. This requires us to resist the temptation to cling to the past. In this conversation Ruth and Steve also ask us to consider how to discern when it’s time to put things behind us, how we perceive the new thing God is doing and lean into it, and what it means to move into divine forgetfulness when the situation calls for it.   Lectionary Readings for the fifth Sunday of Lent, Cycle C: Isaiah 43:16-21  • Psalm 126  •  Philippians 3:4b-14  • John 12:1-8   Join us for a VIRTUAL Stations of the Cross service on Friday, April 15 at 12pm CST. Details and sign up here.   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Returning from Lent Music In Solitude   Mentioned in the episode: “Help Me to Believe in Beginnings” from Guerrillas of Grace: Prayers for the Battle by Ted Loder Support the podcast! Patrons

This week’s temptation may bring us to the hardest, deepest places of Lent. We are talking about the temptation to be silent about our sin and the power of the practice of confession. Why are leaders especially tempted to hide our wrongdoings, and how can we use confession carefully, lovingly and honestly in our lives? Ruth and Steve use the story of the prodigal son and Psalm 32 to have an honest conversation about the importance and challenge of confession.   Lectionary Readings for the fourth Sunday of Lent, Cycle C: Joshua 5:9-12  •  Psalm 32  • 2 Corinthians 5:16-21  •  Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Prayer for Healing from Lent Music In Solitude   Mentioned in the episode: The Prayer Tree by Michael Leunig Support the podcast! Patrons at the $10 level will receive a digital download of Ruth Haley Barton’s Lent: A Season of Returning. It includes Cycle C scriptures and space to journal your own thoughts and prayers. This season, $10 patrons will also rec

This week Ruth and Steve address the temptation to invest in that which does not satisfy. So many of us leaders find ourselves turning towards escapist behaviors in our exhaustion and grief. How do we discern between what is distracting and what is satisfying? How can we abstain in order to give time to that which is most life-giving? How do we cultivate our freedom and choose our hearts' deepest desire through fasting? Ruth and Steve discuss all this and more in this episode.   Lectionary Readings for the third Sunday of Lent, Cycle C: Isaiah 55:1-9  •  Psalm 63:1-8  •  1 Corinthians 10:1-13  • Luke 13:1-9   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus from Lent Music In Solitude   Mentioned in the episode: Show Me the Way by Henri Nouwen   Additional Resources: Fasting by Scot McKnight Fasting: Spiritual Freedom Beyond Our Appetites  by Lynne Baab Support the podcast! Patrons at the $10 level will receive a digital download of Ruth Haley Barton’s Lent: A Season o

What is it about leaders that we seem to struggle so much with the temptation to take matters into our own hands and “help” God out when we distrust His plans or when we are impatient with His timing? And what is our transformational moment when we realize we’ve been pushing our own agenda and trying to take back control? This week Ruth and Steve discuss this temptation to impose our own will onto God’s will and the opportunity Lent provides to practice letting go of our own plans and surrendering to God’s will deep within.    Lectionary readings for the second Sunday of Lent, Cycle C: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18  • Psalm 27  •  Philippians 3:17-4:1  •  Luke 13:31-35 or Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Prayer for Healing from Lent Music In Solitude   Mentioned in the episode: The Human Condition by Thomas Keating Iona Abbey Worship Book   Support the podcast! Patrons at the $10 level will receive a digital download of Ruth Haley Barton’s Lent: A Season of Returning

Join us for Season 15, Lent for Leaders: With God in the Wilderness.  Ruth Haley Barton and Steve Weins will journey through Lent with a spirit of self-examination and desire for intimacy with God. Each episode will highlight a particular temptation found in one of the passages from Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary for Lent that is relevant for leaders today and Ruth and Steve will provide practices to combat those temptations.   In week one, Ruth and Steve examine the temptation of Jesus in Luke 4. How do we see these temptations to be relevant, spectacular, and powerful show up in our own lives? How can the practice of hiddenness be the antidote to this? What does it look like to fashion our own wilderness? We’ll discuss all this and more in today’s episode.   Lectionary readings for the first Sunday of Lent, Cycle C: Deuteronomy 26:1-11  •  Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16  • Romans 10:8b-13  • Luke 4:1-13   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Returning from Lent Music In Solitude   Mentioned

Our next podcast season begins next week! Season 15 will help us walk through Lent together. Steve Weins is back with Ruth and together the two will tackle this time that invites us to self-examination and intimacy with God. In this teaser episode, Ruth and Steve will share their hearts for this season of the podcast and their hope that these conversations will help you face your own temptations and provide practices that will create space to be strengthened in the wilderness with God.    Season 15 begins Wednesday, March 2. Episodes will drop each Wednesday, reading into the following Sunday of Lent.   Mentioned in this Episode Find all of our lent resources here. Guerrillas of Grace: Prayers for the Battle by Ted Loder   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus from Lent Music In Solitude Support the podcast! Patrons at the $10 level will receive a digital download of Ruth Haley Barton’s Lent: A Season of Returning. It includes Cycle C scriptures and space to journ