Spiritual Leader Membership
Join us in our mission to cultivate integrity within ourselves and in spiritual leadership.
The ASI community is dedicated to modeling a new, more evolved culture of spiritual leadership, where we, as spiritual leaders, embody values of goodness, transparency, and respect for all.
In our roles as spiritual leaders, we are dedicated to ongoing growth and to serving others with unwavering integrity.
Benefits of Membership
Join for the resources, stay for the community.
Ethical Framework Resources:
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Use the ASI Honor Code of Ethics as a reference document to support you in offering your spiritual teachings/services with integrity and in an ethical manner. By agreeing to abide by this code, you join a community of practitioners dedicated to maintaining trust, transparency, and accountability in their spiritual leadership.
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Sample Feedback Forms to utilize for your feedback request process
Professional Development and Community:
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Educational webinars with expert speakers
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Community Gatherings on current topics related to ethics and spiritual leadership
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Access to our Facebook discussion group
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Priority posting of articles specifically related to ethics in the spiritual community in our Media Library.
Peer Support:
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Connection with fellow spiritual leaders to authentically share, listen, and be vulnerable in a safe and confidential small group of peers.
Accountability Process:
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ASI will address any formally reported ethical concerns about a member's alleged breach of the Code of Ethics. This confidential process allows both leader and student to self-reflect and encourages growth with ethical integrity. If the process voluntarily goes to formal mediation, a financial contribution will be requested to pay for a professional mediator.
Recognition of Commitment to Integrity:
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ASI Member Badge of Integrity for your website and marketing materials
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Listing in our public Members Directory
Ongoing Resources:
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Additional educational and support benefits as ASI grows and evolves.
Is Membership Right for You?
At ASI, we recognize that spiritual leaders may need support with some of the items listed below, and ASI is here to raise awareness and provide education about these types of challenges. Please assess your alignment with ASI's core values of integrity, accountability, and continuous personal growth by privately answering these questions.
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As a spiritual leader, am I willing to take responsibility for maintaining the highest ethical standards and be accountable for any harm my actions may cause to students or clients, even when unintended?
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Am I willing to open to a deeper awareness of my personal needs, so I can ensure that my personal life remains in integrity with the values I teach and promote as a leader?
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Am I willing to solicit and respond thoughtfully to all feedback and implement a feedback process for my students and clients?
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Can I commit to changing my habits, behavior, and practices, where necessary, per the ASI Code of Ethics and Good Practice?
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Am I ready to engage in a movement that reimagines spiritual leadership for today's evolving spiritual culture?
At ASI, membership implies a commitment to uphold our Code of Ethics in both spirit and practice. While we do not have the resources or the intention to proactively monitor members’ conduct, we have a process in place to address reports of ethical violations raised by students, clients, or peers. This process includes gathering evidence, listening to all parties, and, when possible, offering mediation support. Revoking membership is a last resort, used only when a member’s conduct is found to be in clear and serious violation of our ethical guidelines, and when reconciliation or corrective action is not possible. Our aim is always to act with fairness, transparency, and integrity in protecting the values at the heart of ASI.
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Am I willing to engage in the process to address any ethical concern reports submitted to ASI about my behavior?
We hope that you are equally as passionate about integrity in spiritual leadership as we are. If the answer is “Yes” to the questions above, the next step in the application process is to watch the videos below for clear explanations of the Code and practical guidance on applying it to your life as a spiritual leader. (You may needs some time to watch the videos and please come back to finish the application when you have a solid understanding of each tenet of the Code.)
ASI Honor Code of Ethics for Spiritual Leaders with Educational Videos
1. Holding ourselves to the highest standards of ethics, right behavior, and professional competency, as commonly recognized by our peers.
2. Performing our roles as teachers in a caring and compassionate manner, in both one-to-one interactions and groups.
3. Respecting the rights, dignity, and safety of all students and fellow practitioners.
4. Fostering autonomy, empowerment, self-sufficiency, and emotional maturity in our students.
5. Treating students’ questions, concerns, doubts, and experiences with respect, and never trivializing or dismissing their enquiries.
6. Being self-aware, open, and humble about the limitations of our knowledge and experience.
7. Making only honest, realistic statements regarding the benefits of our teachings, practices, courses, and other offerings.
8. Refraining from giving counsel in matters outside of our areas of training and expertise, and making appropriate referrals as needed.
9. Being honest and transparent regarding business and financial matters relevant to our students, clients, donors, and other stakeholders.
10. Honoring the sanctity of privacy and maintaining the confidentiality of everything conveyed to us in confidence.
11. Abiding by local laws with respect to the disclosure of information in cases of sexual abuse, child endangerment, and the intention to harm oneself or others.
12. Using only with proper care and caution any techniques that can potentially cause harmful side effects.
13. Acknowledging that, regardless of our spiritual attainment, we are human beings with human personalities, limitations, drives, and needs.
14. Not seeking or presuming exalted privileges or glorified status because of our role as spiritual teachers.
15. Never manipulating, exploiting, or deceiving a student to satisfy our personal aspirations, needs, or desires.
16. Establishing and maintaining clear and wholesome professional boundaries with all students, employees, and associates.
17. Never abusing the trust of students by exploiting them with unfair, coercive, or deceptive attempts to obtain money or free labor. (This does not include reasonable fees for services, donations of money and time, or volunteer work freely offered.)
18. Being particularly mindful of sexual boundaries with students—and honoring them at all times.
19. Cultivating and practicing honesty, integrity, compassion, humility, and empathy.
20. Engaging in continuous self-reflection, learning, and holistic personal growth.
21. Regularly reviewing our motivations for serving as teachers and monitoring the integrity of our words and actions.
22. Encouraging feedback about our own methods and behavior—and taking that feedback seriously. This includes complaints submitted to the ASI.
23. Addressing promptly any personal issues, concerns, or challenges that might affect our professional competency.
24. Offering support to our colleagues and fellow ASI members, to the extent that we are able and available.
Membership Requirements
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Are you in a position of spiritual leadership, and do you offer guidance in one-on-one or group settings to students or clients? Are you an author, influencer, or blogger who focuses solely on spiritual topics and has at least 250 followers? (If you don’t meet these criteria, please consider becoming a Supporter.)
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Are you over 18 years old?
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Do you agree to abide by the ASI Honor Code of Ethics and Good Practice? Please review this code carefully before signing up as a member, as your students or clients may hold you accountable.
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Do you agree to implement and respectfully manage a Feedback Process for your students or clients?
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Will you take the necessary steps to be better informed and modify any personal and professional habits that might not be in alignment with the Code?
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Do you commit to engaging fully in ASI's resolution process if a plausible ethical concern is reported to us regarding your conduct? This involves collaboration with our Evaluation and Restoration Team and may include professional mediation.
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Do you agree to post the ASI membership badge of integrity on your website or social media profiles (if applicable) with the link to "What ASI membership means" to inform your client base of your commitment to integrity and ethics?
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Do you agree to watch the Educational Videos on the Honor Code of Ethics?
Apply Now
Please apply only if you're actively teaching/guiding others one-on-one, in a group setting or have 250+ followers as an influencer on spiritual topics. If you don't, but you resonate with ASI's goals, there are other ways to support the ASI. If you have further questions, please contact us.
* Required field.
Optional: Please enter the URL (address) of your website associated with your spiritual guidance/teaching service. This can be the URL of your Facebook webpage or YouTube channel (etc.) if you do not have an official website. Please use the format: example.com or www.example.com for your website URL.
Location Information
Please upload a square profile image below (200 x 200 pixels works well) for your directory profile. Acceptable file formats are JPG or PNG. Please keep your image file size under 100 KB.
Your answers to the next questions will help us identify ethical topics that are relevant to you.
Please be sure to carefully read the Honor Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Individuals before responding.
I have watched the educational videos and studied the Honor Code of Ethics and Good Practice. I agree to abide by the Code and implement the guidelines to improve ethical standards, competency and accountability for my impact as a spiritual leader.
I consent to receiving emails about Members events, updates, and the ASI newsletter, and I understand I may unsubscribe at any time. I understand my phone number may be used to contact me regarding my application. Please view our Privacy Policy for more information.
Disclaimer
By becoming a member of ASI, or participating in any of its webinars, personally and on behalf of my organization, I hereby waive any and all claims I may have against the ASI board members, advisors and fellow members. I release the aforementioned parties from all liability and agree not to sue for any personal injury I may sustain as a result of my participation in the ASI.
I also understand that the webinars and supportive documents that ASI shares are not meant to be used in place of professional medical advice. Nor are they a substitute for professional therapy. I understand that I am fully responsible for my mental, emotional and spiritual health. I further understand that any exercises and practices offered within an ASI webinar are optional, and that I can choose not to participate if I feel uncomfortable with any of the activities suggested.
I therefore absolve the ASI, its board members and its advisors of any and all liability with respect my personal and organizational participation.
The ASI reserves the right to refuse membership. Each application form is read carefully, and all details submitted are checked for authenticity. If an applicant is not who they claim to be their membership application will be denied. Please make sure that we are able to reach you at the contact information you provide in the application.
Please note: If you do not see the "Thank You" page after you click the submit button, please check each field in the form (marked with red) that may be required or needs correction due to formatting. The image upload is a required field. When your form is filled out completely and you click Submit, it takes several seconds for processing. Please wait at least 30 seconds and you will see a "Thank You" page.
Support the ASI
Although we offer ASI memberships free to remove all financial barriers, we ask for a voluntary $50 donation to help us fund the organization. Donations are ASI’s sole income, and most of the work done at ASI is on a volunteer basis. If you find value in our mission, please consider donating. ASI is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, and all donations are tax-deductible in the USA (receipt emailed).