TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP:There are two types of Membership within the AISGA Organization:
Associate membership is open to persons who are:
Associate membership is a mandatory pre-requisite for full membership.
The criteria for full membership define the standards that are required for accreditation. Courses attended, experiential training/practice received are described. Membership duration, on-going supervision, knowledge of the code of ethics and the review of the criteria are specified. RULESInsurance Practising members are required to have Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance. Information is available through the membership secretary at info@aisga.org. Subscriptions and Fees Membership subscriptions, application processing fees and a late application fees will be determined annually by the Board of Directors. Each subscription shall be payable in advance and shall become due by the first day of April in each year. A late fee will apply after this date. Breach of Ethics The ethics committee may recommend the cancellation of entitlement to full membership when it is deemed necessary and appropriate to do so. Notification of such cancellations shall be conveyed in writing to the member concerned by the Secretary of the Association. CRITERIA FOR ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIPAssociate membership is open to persons who are:
Benefits of Associate membership:
What is required for associate membership? A yearly subscription fee for "Associate Membership" of €30.00 is payable in advance with a completed application form. NOTE: Associate members may not represent themselves as full members of AISGA. APPLICATION FOR ASSOCIATE MEMBERFor an application for associate membership, please contact the membership secretary at info@aisga.org and an application will be mailed to you. FULL MEMBERSHIP FEESProcessing fee: €20 (to be sent with completed application): Full membership fee: €100 (to be sent in only when notification of full accreditation has been received) Benefits of Full Membership Full members of AISGA have the following benefits:
CRITERIA FOR FULL MEMBERSHIPAll full members must first be an Associate Member. There are two paths by which Associate Members may gain Full Membership of AISGA: Path One:
Applicants are required to give evidence of having satisfactorily completed courses that include each of the following areas:
Minimum requirement is for a one-year full-time or two year part-time study at:
Course details and photocopies of all relevant certificates etc., must be submitted with the application.
Applicants are required to give evidence of having completed 80 hours practice of spiritual guidance including hours worked during training and of having received 40 hours supervision in relation to this practice. The supervised hours can include supervision by peers and supervisor during training. The “Supervisors Report Form” (page 6 of the Full Membership Application Form) must be fully filled in and signed by the supervisor as evidence of compliance with this clause in relation to hours of supervision and practice. This form must then be attached to the application form for full membership.
All applicants are required to give evidence of on-going supervision and renewal in their ministry by attaching photocopies of certificates of attendances etc., to their application.
All applicants are required formally to accept and abide by the AISGA Code of Ethics. (Full code of ethics is given to all associate members)
Practicing members are required to have Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance. (AISGA Group rate available by contacting membership secretary at info@aisga.org)
Application forms for full membership may be obtained from AISGA at Milltown Park, Sandford Road, Dublin 6 or via the info@aisga.org email address. The completed form, together with all relevant documentation, copies of certificates, supervisors reports and references, where appropriate, should be returned to AISGA at the above postal address along with the €20 processing fee (only – please do not include membership fee at this time).
Applications for membership are considered by the accrediting / credentialing committee who meets at least twice a year. They submit their proposals to the Board of Directors for approval. The applicant will be notified of the Board’s decision, and if the application has been successful, the full membership fee will become due for payment. The full membership commences when the fee has been received by AISGA. The certificate of full membership will be then awarded to the applicant. An applicant who is not successful with their application for Full Membership may continue membership as an Associate Member of AISGA and may re-apply for full membership at a later date.
Full Membership is for five years and is dependent upon payment of an annual subscription. Associate and Full memberships subscriptions will be determined annually by the Board of Directors.
After five years full members may make a formal application to renew their membership. They shall provide evidence of ongoing supervision and commitment to professional and personal renewal as per the code of ethics.
The accrediting / credentialing committee will review the above criteria and propose any changes to the Board of Directors for approval. Path Two: Equivalency Experienced Spiritual Guides who can show evidence of having fulfilled the criteria as stated in Clause A of Path One in equivalent ways, supported by two referees recognized by AISGA, may be admitted to full membership at the discretion of the accrediting / credentialing committee. Attention shall be given to all the relevant clauses of Path One. Two references must be submitted with the application form. APPLICATION FOR FULL MEMBERSHIPFull membership is open to associate members who meet the criteria for full membership. Please contact the membership secretary for a full membership application (Path One or Path Two) at info@aisga.org CODE OF ETHICSPREAMBLE Spiritual Guidance has a long history. Persons in search of a deeper relationship with God tend to seek out another who helps them on the journey. Models of spiritual guidance vary from the formal to the more informal. In the more formal approach, there is a structured relationship with clear presuppositions, specific aims and a corresponding methodology through which the Spiritual Guide provides a service to the client. Fees for this service are common. The focus for the meetings is firmly on the client's desire to deepen his/her relationship with God. Both the Guide and the client set up the working alliance and are attentive to the activity of the Holy Spirit within it. The Guide is one who is also personally engaged in the inner work of spiritual transformation. At the same time he/she continues to grow in the skills and expertise necessary for the task of spiritual guidance. The work is of care and friendliness (not friendship) directed at fostering the relationship between the client and God. Guides usually avail of supervision and are certified/accredited. In this broad sense, spiritual guidance can be regarded as a professional service, which needs to be governed by a Code of Ethics. This Code of Ethics includes:
What is the purpose of the Code of Ethics? The Code of Ethics serves as:
Who is it for? The Code is applicable to members'
TERMINOLOGY Spiritual Guidance Spiritual guidance may take place in a one-to-one or group setting in which a trained person helps another/others to grow in an ever-closer relationship with God and to live out the consequences of this relationship. Spiritual Guide A spiritual guide is the person who provides the service of spiritual guidance. Client The client is the person / persons who seek spiritual guidance. THE CODE The code has four sections: The first section focuses on the relationship between the Spiritual Guide and the Self. This section deals with issues such as personal development, formation, supervision, personal responsibility and the question of limitations. The second section addresses the relationship between the Spiritual Guide and the Client. It talks about covenant or contract, the dignity of the client, sexual boundaries, multiple relationships and confidentiality. The third section deals with the relationship between the Spiritual Guide and Others. Here the code addresses issues around colleagues, faith Communities and social responsibilities. Finally, the code has a section on resolving ethical issues. AISGA would like to express their gratitude to Spiritual Directors International for their help and ongoing support and encouragement. |