Diocese of Monterey

Spiritual Directors Guidelines of Ethical Conduct

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

(Adopted from Spiritual Directors’ International)

Spiritual Director and the Self

Personal Spirituality

1. Spiritual Directors assume responsibility for personal growth by:
1. Participating in regular spiritual direction.
2. Following personal and communal spiritual practices and disciplines.

Formation

2. Spiritual Directors engage in on-going formation as directors by:
1. Continuing to discern their call to the ministry of spiritual direction.
2. Nurturing self-knowledge and freedom.
3. Cultivating insight into the influence of culture, social-historical context, environmental setting, and institutions.
4. The study of scripture, theology, spirituality, and other disciplines related to spiritual direction.

Supervision

3. Spiritual Directors engage in supervision by:
1. Receiving regular supervision from peers or from a mentor.
2. Seeking consultations with other appropriate qualified persons when necessary.

Personal Responsibility

4. Spiritual Directors meet their needs outside the spiritual direction relationship in a variety of ways, especially by:
1. Self care, wisely balancing time for worship, work, leisure, family, and personal relationships.
2. Addressing the difficulties multiple roles or relationships pose to the effectiveness or clarity of the spiritual direction relationship.
3. Removing oneself from any situation that compromises the integrity of the spiritual direction relationship.

Limitations

5. Spiritual Directors recognize the limits of:
1. Energy by restricting the number of directees.
2. Attentiveness by appropriate spacing of meetings with directees.
3. Competence by referring directees to other appropriately qualified persons when necessary.

Confidentiality

6. Directives for confidentiality extend beyond promising not to reveal the content of what directees share in the spiritual direction relationship.
1. Spiritual Directors do not reveal the names of those whom they serve in this capacity, past or present, nor do they allude to them in conversation (even anonymously.)
2. Directees should be encouraged to maintain reticence about the content of sessions, out of respect for the sacredness of the interior life.