Membership

Join us at ACSD

The Association of Covenant Spiritual Directors provides a team of vetted directors who provide visibility and advocacy for the practice of spiritual direction, support and resource for our members, and coordinate shared ministries with regional conference networks.

We invite all Covenant spiritual directors, including students, to become a member of ACSD. Membership dues are on a sliding scale of $40-$100 per year for full / associate members and $30-$100 per year for student members.

For existing members, click here to renew your membership.

Membership Benefits

Opportunities for individual growth for spiritual directors through supportive fellowship, continuing education, and individual encouragement
Opportunities for broader connection between Covenant-affiliated spiritual directors
Participation in forums for the sharing of ideas and resources related to spiritual direction
ACSD annual meeting and spiritual directors’ retreat in conjunction with the Covenant Midwinter Conference
Inclusion in a master listing of members (access for members only)
Members-only resources
A public profile on our Finding a Spiritual Director page. (not available for student membership)

Becoming a Member

Below you will find the steps to complete the full application process:

Fill out and submit your membership application
Invite your church leader to fill out a local church reference form
Invite someone in your life to fill out the personal reference form
Invite a member of your regional Covenant conference Network to fill out a network reference form
1. If you are not part of a regional Covenant conference network, please find a second person to submit a personal reference.
After your application and references are approved, you will receive directions on how to complete and pay

ACSD Membership Renewal Form

If you prefer to mail in your renewal form, download this PDF and mail to:

Attn: ACSD Membership
c/o River Life Covenant Church
4401 A St.
Sacramento, CA 95819
USA

Or email to admin@eccacsd.org

Personal Information

First Name*

Last Name*

Email*

Primary Phone*

Is this contact information different from your last application?*
YesNo

Mailing Address*

Would you like to continue as a member of the ACSD for 2025–2026?*
YesNo

If you do not plan to continue as a member of the ACSD and would like to share why, please email the president of the ACSD, Rev. Christina Burrows at burrows.christina@gmail.com

Are you receiving spiritual direction on a regular basis?*
YesNo

Please share more information:

Are you receiving individual or peer supervision on a regular basis?*
YesNo

Please share more information:

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I acknowledge that an annual fee must be paid to complete the application. The sliding scale is $30 - $100 for student members, and for full and associate members, it is $40 - $100. Any amount above the minimum is based on my ability to pay and/or a commitment to fund ACSD's scholarship goals.

Membership contributions go to support our association's operation and a scholarship fund to support those who want to attend our pre-Midwinter retreat, for contemplative or trauma-healing retreats for marginalized groups, and for training spiritual directors from marginalized communities.

Pay Electronically:
Venmo: @acsdspiritualdirectors
Zelle: admin@eccacsd.org
PayPal: see detailed payment instructions below

Make Checks Payable to "Association of Covenant Spiritual Directors":
ACSD
c/o Bruce MacMahon
2741 S. Goshen Way
Boise, ID 83709

Detailed Payment Instructions

How to remit annual dues to the Association of Covenant Spiritual Directors:

Zelle| Venmo | Check | PayPal

Zelle

This platform has moved from an on-line processor (such as PayPal or Venmo), to a bank-to-bank transfer agent. If your home bank has partnered with Zelle by joining the Zelle network, you should be able to send money to the Association from your home account using Zelle.

Initiate your home banking app on your phone or computer
Choose the ‘transfer and pay’ option on your home banking site or app
Select the option ‘send Money with Zelle’ (you should be transferred from your bank’s site to the Zelle site)
Select the ‘send’ option
Search for the Association using these prompts:
1. Association of Covenant Spiritual (the association’s enrolled name)
2. admin@eccacsd.org (the association’s enrolled email address)
3. If these prompts work as intended, the application should load up a payment page with the Association named as the recipient
On the ‘Payment’ screen, you input the desired amount to transfer (underneath the amount, you should see the source as your personal bank account)
Entering the amount will take you to a ‘Review’ screen
1. Use the Memo dropdown box, so you can add a note:
  Short description: ‘2025 dues from [put your name here]’
Hit the ‘Send’ button and you are done

Venmo

This platform supports your-bank-to-association transfers, but does not support credit card payment methods (such as PayPal). If you have set up a Venmo account using your home bank account as the source of transfers, then you can send money to the Association from your home account using Venmo.

Initiate your Venmo app on your phone or computer
Search for the Association using these prompts:
1. Association of Covenant Spiritual Directors (the association’s enrolled name)
2. @acsdspiritualdirectors (the association’s enrolled Venmo username)
3. If these prompts work as intended, the application should load up a payment page with the Association named as the recipient. You should see admin@eccacsd.org as the contact email address.
On the ‘Payment’ screen, you input the desired amount to transfer
On the ‘Payment’ screen, add a short description in the memo box:
1. ‘2025 dues from [put your name here]’
Hit the ‘Send’ button and you are done

Check

This ‘old-school’ method is available, and may be helpful for those members who are paying association dues directly from their Church or want to pay in another currency. The association is able to deposit foreign currency checks, with the bank converting funds to USD. Simply send the fx value that would ordinarily convert to the dues amount you are wanting to pay, given our 2025 sliding scale dues model.

Make out a check to ‘Association of Covenant Spiritual Directors’
Enclose a note or memo line on check:
‘2025 dues from [put your name here]’
Mail check to this address:
ACSD c/o Bruce MacMahon
2741 S. Goshen Way
Boise, ID 83709

PayPal

This platform is more of a ‘last resort’ option. It supports on-line payments, including payments via credit cards and accommodates foreign currency transactions. The reason this is a last resort though, is that the receiving bank will be my own personal account that I use for travel, and it has very little operating funds in it, so as to reduce risk. I use it when I travel overseas and only load it with very short-term travel funds. I will watch for association activity on the PayPal platform, and remit those funds monthly to my travel account, and then send the lump sum on to the Chase ACSD account. If you have a PayPal account, simply follow these steps:

Initiate your PayPal app on your phone or computer
Select the ‘Send Money’ option
Search for the Association using this prompt:
1. admin@eccacsd.org Spiritual Directors (the association’s enrolled email address)
On the ‘Payment’ screen, input the amount you are paying, and add a short description in the memo box:
1. ‘2025 dues from [put your name here]’
Hit the ‘Next’ button and you are done

Reference Forms

Network Reference Form Local Church Reference Form Personal Reference Form

Network Reference Form

As a reminder, if you are not part of a regional Covenant conference network, please find a second person to submit a personal reference.

If you prefer to mail in your reference form, download this PDF and mail to:

Attn: ACSD Membership
c/o River Life Covenant Church
4401 A St.
Sacramento, CA 95819
USA

Or email to admin@eccacsd.org

Applicant Information

First Name*

Last Name*

Name of Regional Conference SD Network*

Reference Information

Full Name of Reference*

Role*

Email*

Address*

The above applicant is currently a committed (covenanted) member of our Conference Spiritual Direction Ministry.*
YesNo

On the basis of our discernment of call, giftedness and spiritual maturity, we recommend that the association accept this person as a member.*
YesNo

Please give any further information about the applicant regarding recommendation for this ministry.

Date*

Local Church Reference Form

If you prefer to mail in your reference form, download this PDF and mail to:

Attn: ACSD Membership
c/o River Life Covenant Church
4401 A St.
Sacramento, CA 95819
USA

Or email to admin@eccacsd.org

Applicant Information

First Name*

Last Name*

Church or Recommending Body

Note: Must be a Covenant church for those applying for Full Membership into the ACSD

Church Name*

Church Email*

Church Address*

Questionnaire

The applicant has been asked to provide you with this form and a brochure describing the ministry of Spiritual Direction. Please complete the questions below:

How long and in what context have you known the applicant?*

What experience and gifts do you observe in the applicant that you believe recommend him/her to the ministry of spiritual direction? *

In your opinion, does the applicant show above average maturity in spiritual matters, have a teachable spirit, and show an ability to reflect spiritually on the complexities of life?*

What are some areas where you see possibilities for further growth and development in this applicant?*

Please give any further information about the applicant regarding recommendation for this ministry.

The above applicant is a member of our congregation and has made a presentation of the ministry of spiritual direction, and of his/her interest in becoming a member of the Association of Covenant Spiritual Directors. On the basis of our discernment of call, giftedness and spiritual maturity, we recommend that the association accept this person as a member.

Name of Submitter*

Date*

Personal Reference Form

If you prefer to mail in your reference form, download this PDF and mail to:

Attn: ACSD Membership
c/o River Life Covenant Church
4401 A St.
Sacramento, CA 95819
USA

Or email to admin@eccacsd.org

Applicant Information

First Name*

Last Name*

Personal Reference Information

Full Name of Personal Reference*

Email*

Phone*

Address*

Questionnaire

The applicant has been asked to provide you with this form and a brochure describing the ministry of Spiritual Direction. Please complete the questions below:

How long and in what context have you known the applicant?*

What experience and gifts do you observe in the applicant that you believe recommend him/her to the ministry of spiritual direction? *

In your opinion, does the applicant show above average maturity in spiritual matters, have a teachable spirit, and show an ability to reflect spiritually on the complexities of life?*

What are some areas where you see possibilities for further growth and development in this applicant?*

Please give any further information about the applicant regarding recommendation for this ministry.

Date*