What are the Benefits of Membership in Spiritual Directors International?
The mission of Spiritual Directors International is to tend the holy around
the world and across traditions. There are many benefits to being a member:
Membership in an interfaith and global learning community that welcomes students, discerners and everyone interested in the ministry and service of spiritual direction, also known as spiritual companionship, spiritual accompaniment, and spiritual guidance. Become a member now!
- Global networking
- Annual multi-day conference and events about spiritual direction
- Annual Leadership Institute for the formation of program directors and faculty
- On-line listing in Seek and Find: A Worldwide Resource Guide of Available Spiritual Directors
- Connections, a newsletter for members published triennially
- Presence: An International Journal for Spiritual Direction, published quarterly
- Listen: A Seeker’s Resource for Spiritual Direction, published quarterly
- Copy of Spiritual Directors International Guidelines for Ethical Conduct
- Participation in website Members Only Forums
- Resources on our expanding website
- Access to discounted liability insurance
- Member discounts on publications and programs
The vision of Spiritual Directors International is to connect and network
spiritual directors and those interested in spiritual direction. To aid global
networking and learning opportunities, Spiritual Directors International offers
Internet and printed publications to share the news about events, retreats,
workshops, and programs that are of interest to the ministry of spiritual
direction or guidance.
Spiritual Directors International offers a free, on-line, global, searchable
database of more than 5,000 available spiritual directors from around the world
and across traditions. Members of Spiritual Directors International receive a
free listing in Seek and Find: A Worldwide Resource Guide of Available Spiritual
Directors, with the option to expand their listing to include more information
for an annual fee of USD$25.00.
Each year Spiritual Directors International sponsors annual events including
a Leadership Institute for those who work in the formation, training, and enrichment of spiritual directors. The Leadership Institute is followed by an educational conference
for those who are involved in spiritual direction. Participation
in the annual events is not limited to spiritual directors. Students, faculty,
chaplains, hospice care providers, ministers who provide pastoral care, etc. are
welcome at the events. At these events, the focus is on new work in the ministry
of spiritual direction as well as opportunities to help hone spiritual direction
skills and contemplative practices.
Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction is a journal for spiritual directors, formation and training centers and others in related fields such as pastoral counseling, ministry and transpersonal psychology. Presence journal is published in March, June, September, and December. Currently, Presence journal is read by more than 5,000 members and subscribers and can be found in major theological libraries, rabbinical colleges, seminaries, and formation, training and retreat centers around the world. Membership in Spiritual Directors International includes a subscription to Presence journal. Non-members may also subscribe.
Listen: A Seeker’s Resource for Spiritual Direction is a resource for spiritual seekers. Listen exposes seekers to the ministry of spiritual direction (also known as spiritual companioning, spiritual guidance, spiritual mentoring, spiritual accompaniment, Anam Cara, soul friendship) and assists them in their search for every day encounters with the holy. Listen sustains holy living. Listen is simple, inviting, contemplative, and educational. Listen is published in January, April, July, and October, and read around the world by more than 10,000 seekers, subscribers, and members of Spiritual Directors International. Listen is distributed to major theological libraries, retreat centers, spiritual direction enrichment, formation and training centers and individuals who express interest in receiving mailings from Spiritual Directors International. In addition to articles, program information, resources for retreats and education, Listen includes book reviews and poetry.
Connections is the official Spiritual Directors International newsletter where members learn of recent developments and news within the global network. The newsletter is published regularly through out the year.
Guidelines for Ethical Conduct is available in English and Spanish. A copy is sent to every member, and extra copies are available at a very low cost.
Membership Moments is a monthly e-mail newsletter that keeps members apprised
of information related to spiritual direction. Members receive the e-newsletter containing the monthly password, and have access to more archives of the past newsletters.
Members Only Website Forums
The Members Only section of the website is available for members who want to connect virtually by learning through Forums or access archives of newsletters and other information.
Discounted Liability Insurance
As a member of Spiritual Directors International, very affordable liability insurance rates are available, if you qualify.
(Spiritual Directors International does not underwrite insurance nor does
Spiritual Directors International have an opinion as to whether liability
insurance is needed or appropriate for individual members. As an educational
not-for-profit that supports the global ministry of spiritual direction,
Spiritual Directors International provides information about liability insurance
for those who request it. Each spiritual director needs to determine with the
guidance of his or her own legal and insurance advisors whether liability
insurance is advisable.)
