Present-Day
Problems: Contemplative Concerns
This
brings us up to the present-day: Women of Grace USA promoted
contemplative mystic Ruth Haley-Barton at last year's Leadership
summit which resulted in the refusal of several women from an Ohio
church that did not go because this teacher was the featured
resource. dr. Christy Hill, who teaches “spiritual Formation” at
Grace was also featured as a speaker at one of these events. Women of
Grace has been confronted by not just me but even after concerns have
been shared, they are AGAIN promoting Ruth Haley-Barton at the
upcoming summit this October. Read my email recently written to Women
of Grace and watch the Haley-Barton clips and links I include:
Sent
April 29, 2011:
Dear
Leaders of Women of Grace USA,
Greetings
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. My name is Steve Mitchell and I
pastor Garden City grace Brethren Church in Roanoke, VA. I also run a
discernment ministry called Power To Stand Ministries. I am writing
you in regards to the fact that Ruth Haley Barton was a featured
resource for last year's Women's Leadership Summit in October 2010:
“Led
by Chery Boehm, sessions focus on being aware of your needs as you
lead, keeping your soul while learning to live within limits both
personally and in community, and the spiritual rhythms of life
(especially in leadership). Much of the discussion is based on the
book, Strengthening
the Soul of Your Leadership — Seeking God in the Crucible of
Ministry
by Ruth Haley Barton.”
http://www.fgbcworld-blog.com/2010/10/23/womens-leadership-summit-held-in-ohio/
I
have been studying the contemplative/spiritual formation movement for
some time and have noticed that Ruth Haley Barton is a major
proponent of some very concerning doctrines related to this
phenomenon. I have also watched as many of these teachings seem to be
coming into the FGBC like never before. Featuring the teachings of
Barton at last year's summit was a great cause for concern among some
of us who know what she and the Transforming Center she directs are
currently promoting and teaching and wanted to make sure you were
aware of some of these concepts.
I
am prompted to write this letter in an effort to share these concerns
because of the fact that it appears that the upcoming 2011 Summit
will again feature Ruth Haley Barton or at the very least seems
influenced by her books. My concerns center around the fact that the
web page for the 2011 summit features a quote from her and a few of
the sessions seem to have borrowed from her book titles
(http://www.wgusa.org/events/leadership-summit/
Please receive this letter and the concerns shared here with an open heart of love and in the charity in which it is written. I have atempted to outline a few things that show my concern with Ruth Haley Barton and the teachings and teachers she promotes. What follows are some evudences for why I am concerned.
Ruth
Haley Barton Teaches on Youtube:
She
refers to herself as a “pastor” in this clip and her website
confirms that she has served on the pastoral staff of several
churches including Willow Creek. Barton then says participants in
this retreat will go into the “great
silence”
together. There's also a lot of terminology about solitude leading
from the transforming self.
All
of this is undoubtedly contemplative as per the new movements and are
unbiblical in their scope and extremes. Here are a few articles on
silence, solitude, and the contemplative movement:
The
link on her YouTube clip is http://www.NationalPastorsRetreats.com
which leads to her ministry at The Transforming Center and features a
description of the same contemplative concepts and a quote from
contemplative mystic Henri Nouwen. Please read the following articles
on why Nouwen is such a concern:
Also
on her YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TransformingCenter
we
are treated to a variety of clips in which she explains her personal
experience and need for the solitude and silence. I concede that much
of what she shares in these clips about solitude and silence is
correct, generally speaking. The subtle problems are that her mention
of “THE silence” as opposed to “silence” carry with it some
mystical connections. Also, one also wonders why, if she is able to
so clearly hear from God in these moments stolen away from the
busyness, why does He never seem to reveal to her that her assumption
of the role of a “pastor” is unbiblical. She does not meet the
qualification of being a “one-woman man”(1 Tim. 3:2, Titus 1:6)
and doesn’t seem to pay much regard to the fact that God's Word
doesn't allow for women to be in that role. Look at the endorsements
of who she considers spiritual authorities on the disciplines and
there is continuing concern.
Do
these facts have any bearing on whether or not it is wise to promote
the ministry of Ruth Haley Barton to the women of our fellowship?
On
this same YouTube channel we are introduced to clips about the
“Transforming Community” which is a two-year spiritual retreat
for pastors and those in leadership where they can get away and
become contemplative about their ministries. We see the testimony of
Rev. Melanie Hammond Clark who is co-pastor of a Presbyterian church
(http://www.youtube.com/user/TransformingCenter#p/u/11/OPofOTkJRWI
). Women in the elder or pastoral role seems encouraged by Barton's
ministry and why wouldn't they be because she is vocal about her own
role as a pastor?
In
her latest YouTube clips Barton is talking about her new book Sacred
Rhythms and claims:
“Ruth
Haley Barton provides teaching and spiritual direction that will
introduce spiritual formation to your congregation through guided
experiences in the spiritual disciplines.”
http://www.youtube.com/user/TransformingCenter#p/u/0/TAosKIHJ0ug
Many
will be introduced to a variety of sketchy teachers and influences in
the contemplative movement that she draws from and points others to.
The
Sacred Rhythms (also called “spiritual rhythms”) curriculum has
an extremely ecumenical
flavor to it as Barton reveals:
“The
idea of a 'rule of life' originated with spiritual leaders like St.
Augustine, St. Benedict, and Teresa of Avila. These spiritual leaders
crafted a way of life as a guide for monks and nuns who were living
together in community... So as we begin this journey together, it's
helpful to know that these disciplines are ones that spiritual
seekers down through the centuries have practiced in order to keep
themselves open to the transforming presence of God.”
http://www.youtube.com/user/TransformingCenter#p/u/0/TAosKIHJ0ug
“Monks
and nuns”? Teresa of Avila? She practiced mysticism and experienced
ecstasy and was even said to have levitated at times in her life. She
also claimed visions of Mary and Jesus and believed in holy water. (
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/search/search.php?zoom_sort=0&zoom_query=teresa+of+avila&zoom_per_page=10&zoom_and=0
)
Is
this promotion safe and healthy for our women? Are these Roman
Catholic mystics who we should be looking to emulate their practices?
Make
no mistake, “Pastor” Barton wants people not only to learn these
“disciplines” but she herself will be your guide:
“Each
session will include teaching and discussion about a particular
discipline, and then I will guide you in actually experiencing that
discipline.”
(http://www.youtube.com/user/TransformingCenter#p/u/0/TAosKIHJ0ug
).
Again
keep in mind that the evidence and endorsements indicate this to be
the mixture of truth and error found in the spiritual formation
movement that is so prevalent today. On the web page dedicated to her
new book ( http://www.thetransformingcenter.org/npr.php
)Barton features a quote by mystic Henri Nouwen. She is at the
forefront of introducing these practices and doctrines to many men
and women today and sadly it appears that she has found an audience
in our own fellowship as well.
This
is the center of Ruth Haley Barton's ministry and is located at The
Loretto Center which is a convent (
http://www.lorettocenter.org/directions.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdQTEnWdN10&playnext=1&list=PL00B08586F66A4B43),
a fact that I find very telling concerning her ecumenical
proclivities. This convent also features a mystical labyrinth
visitors can walk (http://www.lorettocenter.org/labyrinth.html
)
On
their What
We Do page
we read :
Our
Mission
We seek to strengthen the souls of pastors and leaders, equipping them to guide their churches and organizations to become spiritually transforming communities that discern and do the will of God in their settings. ( http://www.thetransformingcenter.org/ourmission.php )
We seek to strengthen the souls of pastors and leaders, equipping them to guide their churches and organizations to become spiritually transforming communities that discern and do the will of God in their settings. ( http://www.thetransformingcenter.org/ourmission.php )
While
this is an admirable statement one wonders how a woman who considers
herself a pastor and points people to catholic mysticism from a
convent can honestly speak of discernment and godly direction. This
seems inconsistent on a massive scale and any biblical Christian
should have “red flags” of discernment because of how unbiblical
this scenario is at the outset.
On
the About
Us page
we learn that Ruth Haley Barton “received her training in spiritual
direction through the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation
(Bethesda, MD) under the guidance of Tilden Edwards, Rosemary
Dougherty and Gerald May.” (
http://www.thetransformingcenter.org/ruthbio.php
)
“At
Shalem, we honor each individual spiritual path and welcome anyone
who would seek to learn from the contemplative way.” ( Ibid.).
On
the page where staff members feature their articles one can clearly
see the contemplative direction of the institute (
http://www.shalem.org/index.php/resources/publications/articles-written-by-shalem-staff
). Staff member Richard Rohr is a panentheist that promotes the
“Cosmic Christ”
With
influences like these, we must be extremely cautious of Barton as a
student from this institute.
“She
has also studied the Enneagram with Russ Hudson of the Enneagram
Institute.” (http://www.thetransformingcenter.org/ruthbio.php)
Finally,
even without reading all her books, barton reveals her influences on
the Transforming Center website with featured quotes by Henri Nouwen
( http://www.thetransformingcenter.org/npr.php
), John of the Cross (
http://www.thetransformingcenter.org/invitation.php
) and Fr. Thomas Keating
She
writes in Rest
for The Soul:
“The
concept of the true self and the false self is a consistent theme not
only in Scripture but also in the writings of the church fathers and
mothers. Thomas Merton and Henri
Nouwen (particularly
Nouwen’s The
Way of the Heart)
and Father Thomas
Keating
are contemporary authors who have shaped my understanding of this
aspect of the spiritual life.” (141)
“Church
mothers”?”True/false self” doctrines? I think her influences
and faulty beliefs are very evident here.
For
further reading on Ruth Haley Barton concerns:
Refutation
of Barton's “True self” doctrine:
http://apprising.org/2008/08/12/the-real-truth-about-your-true-self/
Finally,...
Dearest
Women of Grace leaders and teachers of the women of the FGBC, I
submit to you the above information with a heart of love and concern.
I believe the evidence clearly shows that the teachings and ministry
of Ruth Haley Barton is not only incompatible with a biblical
understanding of doctrine and practice in many areas but also a
potential and actual spiritual danger as she is introducing many to
an ecumenical, mystical, and unbiblical worldview, all under the
guise of being a discerning spiritual director (whatever that is).
The sad reality is that many have no idea about the danger of
spiritual deception and I fear that many will be sucked in to an
unbiblical understanding of God and spirituality through Barton and
her connections.
Could
I please ask you, in loving sincerity, to reconsider promoting
Barton's ministry and materials to the women of the FGBC given the
above obvious incompatibilities with biblical teaching and safe
ministry? Is there any other alternative that the women of the FGBC
could embrace and be taught at the upcoming summit? As it stands I
could not recommend any women in our church or district to attend
this summit and I am not alone in this area and this truly saddens
me.
I
realize that this is a lot to process and I want to make myself
available to meet with you any time, in fact I am pleading with you
to contact me when it is convenient. I am in Roanoke and am
completely and utterly willing to chat at length if need be about my
concerns for the good health of our fellowship and the cause of
Christ.
Please
contact me at 540-904-5420 or email me at powertostand@yahoo.com
. I would love to hear from any and all who would be willing to meet
with me from WGUSA in a spirit of charity and open dialogue. Thank
you for taking the time to read this.
In
Christ, Pastor Steve Mitchell Garden City GBC
I
received a response that stated that they would pray for discernment
and leading as to whether to continue to feature Ruth Haley-Barton at
the upcoming Oct. 2011 summit. I don’t know why anyone would have
to pray about featuring the dangerous teachings of a woman who has
demonstrated lack of discernment, usurps a 'pastoral role, and has a
proclivity for catholic contemplative mysticism. A real problem
here...
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