Code of Ethics:

Grounding in the Spirit
I commit to tending my own relationship with God through 

• Regular prayer, meditation, and reflection

• Receiving regular spiritual direction 

• Living contemplatively
   

Care of Self and Ongoing Formation
I commit to caring for my spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being by

• Nurturing self-knowledge and growth in awareness of my own patterns, biases, and limitations

• Ongoing learning to deepen my knowledge, understanding, and skill in spiritual 

direction

Accountability and Supervision
I recognize that I do not accompany others alone, and therefore, I commit to

• Participating in supervision with other spiritual directors

• Building a web of resources and seeking consultation when necessary

• Maintaining a list of other professionals for referrals

Reverence for those I accompany
I will honor each person as a bearer of the sacred and trust that God is already at work in their life, and therefore, I commit to

• Listening deeply to others’ stories and experiences

• Respecting and celebrating their identity

• Refraining from judgment

• Resisting the urge to control, fix, or direct outcomes

Respect for Freedom and Boundaries
I will respect the autonomy and freedom of those I accompany, and therefore, I commit to

• Establishing clear mutual expectations for the relationship (e.g. frequency of sessions, scope of relationship, fees, process for ending the relationship)

• Maintaining clear and appropriate physical, emotional, and relational boundaries

• Recognizing the imbalance of power in the spiritual direction relationship and taking care not to exploit it

Confidentiality and Trust
I will maintain the privacy of those I accompany and show care and compassion for them by 

• Holding all that is shared in confidence except in situations where there is risk of harm and a responsibility to seek help

• Acting as a mandated reporter when required including but not limited to, child abuse, elder abuse, and physical harm to self and others

Integrity and Competence
I will recognize the limits of my training, time, and experience and commit to

• Limiting the number of individuals I accompany at one time

• Continually evaluating my practice, both self-evaluation and checking in with those I accompany for evaluation 

• Avoiding direction with those where dual roles might exist

• Referring those I accompany to other appropriately qualified persons when necessary

Faith, Spiritual Communities, and Society
I will preserve the integrity of spiritual direction by honoring the trust placed in this ministry and contributing to a culture of respect, humility, and care, and therefore, I commit to

• Seeking opportunities to be spiritually available to those on the margins of society and those who are economically disadvantaged

• Living contemplatively

• Speaking out against injustice through compassionate presence, advocacy, and standing in solidarity with those who are marginalized

• Living in an ecologically responsible and sustainable manner

• Respecting and reverencing all persons regardless of race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, religion, spiritual tradition, national origin, marital status, political belief, mental or physical disability, any preference, personal characteristic, condition, or status