Recognition and Re-recognition Application Process

The application process for AECSD recognition is as follows:

1.  Recognition is a collaborative process between the AECSD (‘the Council’) and Formation Programs, grounded in a relationship of mutual trust.

Therefore, the Council welcomes early engagement with a formation program (‘the program’) which is considering applying for recognition, even as early as the initial development stage in the process.

The Council will appoint up to two representative(s) to be available to work with the formation program throughout this contemplative process. A third Council member will also be appointed to critically review the application as well as to encourage other Council members to review the application and provide their feedback to Council.

2.  The director and /or team members of the program examine and assess their program in the light of the Formation Guidelines (2018, updated 2023).

They may make changes and adjustments to their program to ensure it aligns with the Guidelines.

3.  The program director submits their Application for Recognition Checklist [See Section 14 and Appendix B of the Formation Guidelines (2018)] to the Council, indicating they are confident their program aligns with the Formation Guidelines (2018) to the best of their knowledge and interpretation. (See below for links to relevant documents.)

Throughout this contemplative process the program director and representative(s) nominated by the Council discuss any issues arising from their joint review of the submitted checklist that may seem to hinder the program fulfilling the Formation Guidelines (2018).

4. The Council representative(s) consults with the Council during this ongoing process.

5.  At some point the Council representative(s) will arrange with the program director a mutually convenient time to visit the program to talk with the program team, supervisors, participants, and graduates (if possible), and which may include sitting in on selective sessions of the program, to experience the contemplative nature of the program.

6. This ongoing collaborative process facilitates the Council and program team’s discernment that the program aligns with the Formation Guidelines (2018).

7.  The Council representative(s) chosen to work with the formation program will present a written report to the Council recommending recognition, a copy of which is sent to the program director.

8.  The Council recognises the program, signs and issues the Certificate of Recognition, usually following completion of one cycle of the program. The program director may invite a Council member to celebrate this recognition with the program community.

9. While acknowledging the confidential nature of the intellectual property of all formation programs submitted for recognition by AECSD, we invite you to consider if you would be willing for your information (some or all) to be shared in a resource bank on AECSD website.

10. Following recognition, a Council representative will contact the formation program director to request their feedback on their experience of the recognition process, including:

• up to three things about the recognition process they most valued and

• how the recognition process might be strengthened.

The recognition process is marked by mutual trust, respect and affirmation.

The application process for AECSD re-recognition is as follows:

The above steps are the same for the re-recognition process, except that Checklist for Re-recognition allows programs to indicate any changes that may have occured since initial recognition was given, shortening the administrative process somewhat.

Application for Recognition includes a financial contribution towards the cost of administering the recognition process. The contribution is $850 for the current year (2026) for programs seeking recognition or re-recognition. Programs are also asked to cover the cost of transport and accommodation for an in-person visit.

For further information please contact:

The Secretary

Australian Ecumenical Council for Spiritual Direction

E. info@spiritualdirection.au