Code of Conduct

Spiritual Directors International’s
Code of Ethical Conduct

Ethical conduct flows from the reverence for God, self and others but is not inevitably of every spiritual direction relationship. Therefore, these guidelines are meant to inspire members of Spiritual Directors International towards integrity, responsibility, and faithfulness in their practice of spiritual direction.

I. The Spiritual Director and the Self

Personal Spirituality

1. Spiritual directors assume responsibility for personal growth by:

a) participation in regular spiritual direction

b) following personal and communal spiritual practices and disciplines

Formation

2. Spiritual directors engage in ongoing formation as directors by:

a) continuing to discern their call to ministry of spiritual direction.

b) nurturing self-knowledge and freedom.

c) cultivating insight into the influences of culture, social-historical context, environmental settings, and institutions.

Supervision

3. Spiritual directors engage in supervision by:

a) receiving regular supervision from peers or a mentor.

b) seeking consultations with other appropriately qualified persons when necessary.

Personal Responsibility

4. Spiritual directors meet their needs outside the spiritual direction relationship in a variety of ways, especially by:

a) self care, wisely balancing time for worship, work, leisure, family and personal relationships.

b) addressing the difficulties multiple roles or relationships pose to the effectiveness or clarity of the spiritual direction relationship.

c) removing oneself from any situation that compromises the integrity of the spiritual direction relationship.

Limitations

5. Spiritual directors recognize the limits of:

a) energy by restricting the number of directees.

b) attentiveness by appropriate spacing of meetings and directees.

c) competence by referring directees to other appropriately qualified persons when necessary.

II. The Spiritual Director and the Directee

Covenant

1) Spiritual directors initiate conversation and establish agreements with directees about:

a) the nature of spiritual direction.

b) the role of the director and the directee.

c) the length and frequency of direction sessions.

d) the compensation, if any, to be given to the director or institution.

e) the process of evaluating and terminating the relationship.

Dignity

2. Spiritual directors honor the dignity of the directee by:

a) respecting the directee’s values, conscience, spirituality. and theology.

b) inquiring into the motives, experiences, or relationships of the directee only as necessary.

c) recognizing the imbalance of power in spiritual direction relationship and taking care not to exploit it.

d) establishing and maintaining appropriate physical and psychological boundaries with the directee.

e) refraining from sexualized behavior, including but not limited to, manipulative, abusive, or coercive words or actions toward a directee.

Confidentiality

3. Spiritual directors maintain the confidentiality and the privacy of the directee by:

a) protecting the identity of the directee.

b) keeping confidential all oral and written matters arising in spiritual direction settings.

c) conducting direction sessions in appropriate settings.

d) addressing legal regulations requiring disclosure to proper authorities, included but not limited to, child abuse, elder abuse, and physical harm to self and others.

III. The Spiritual Director and Others.

Collegues

1. Spiritual directors maintain collegial relationships with ministers and professionals by:

a) developing intra- and interdisciplinary relationships.

b) requesting a directee who is in therapy to inform his or her therapist about being in spiritual direction.

c) securing written releases and permission from directee when specific information needs to be shared for the benefit of the directee.

d) respecting ministers and professionals by not disparaging them or their work.

Faith Communities

2. Spiritual directors maintain responsible relationships to communities of faith by:

a) remaining open to process of corporate discernment, accountability, and support.

b) appropriately drawing on the teachings and practices of communities of faith.

c) respecting directee’s relationship to his or her own community of faith.

Society

3. Spiritual directors, when presenting themselves to the public, preserve the integrity of spiritual direction by:

a) representing qualifications and affiliations accurately.

b) defining the particular nature and purpose of spiritual direction.

c) respecting of all persons regardless of race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, marital status, political belief, mental or physical handicap, any preference, personal characteristic, condition or status.

Guidelines for Ethical Conducts
© Copyright 2000 by Spiritual Directors International.