Australian Ecumenical Council for Spiritual Direction

Preface

Codes of ethics for spiritual directors have been developed in many parts of the world. The Australian Ecumenical Council for Spiritual Direction (AECSD) offers a national code so that agreement on standards for the practice of this ministry might be achieved among spiritual directors within Australia. While this code follows the lines of other codes, it has added important norms associated with the education, formation and supervision of spiritual directors. Norms for ethical conduct within the Christian ministry of spiritual direction are essential. As this code provides guidelines for all aspects of the practice of spiritual direction ministry, may it also offer spiritual directors valuable material for prayer and reflection.

Preface

This document concerns minimum standards for formation programs for spiritual directors. It encourages the diversity in Australia of already-existing programs. Different formation programs are encouraged to apply these Standards flexibly. It is recognised that some already-existing formation programs may have entrance requirements and standards of formation and supervision in excess of this document. Encouragement is given to already-existing formation programs to maintain maximum autonomy in developing further their professional expertise. The Standards herein will provide a useful guide for those educators who may be structuring new courses for the formation of spiritual directors.

The Standards are set out under the headings of admission, curriculum, assessment, and the credentials of the core formation staff.

While this document concerns the Standards for formation programs, the Australian Ecumenical Council for Spiritual Direction recognises that there are many spiritual directors with obvious charism for the ministry who have not participated in a formal formation program.

The Australian Ecumenical Council for Spiritual Direction invites you to contribute to the ongoing development of this bibliography on the literature of spiritual direction. Please forward us the title of any book or article that you find helpful. 

The bibliography is catalogued according to two categories:

1. the contemplative stance of spiritual directors
2. contextual awareness of the factors that fashion the dynamic of accompaniment