We Light The Way, Together
SDI's 2026 Annual Report
(Through May 1, 2026)
SDI has remained a beacon of light for all who wish to journey along with us as we hold our broken world — and perhaps our own brokenness — in kindness, compassion, hope, joy, and love. Through deep listening and discernment, the SDI board has developed a set of core values and principles to guide and nourish us in response to the cultural shifts, emerging invitations, and collective wisdom of our members. We remain steadfastly committed to growth and transformation as an organization, as professionals, as individuals.
Thank you for being a part of this community. Together we will light the way.
Westina Matthews, Chair, Board of Directors
Together, we will light the way.
Lighting the Way Together
We at SDI continue to affirm our shared calling: We light the way, together. This past year has reminded us how powerful even a single steady presence can be. Through spiritual companionship, we become gentle lamps for one another, offering deep listening, spacious silence, and compassionate witness that helps both companion and accompanied find the next faithful steps. In these times, this simple, profound practice becomes a quiet yet radiant force, illuminating paths not only for those we walk beside, but also for ourselves as we discover deeper wisdom, resilience, and connection within.
Together, we have tended this light through programs, rich community gatherings, trainings, and everyday encounters that honor the sacred in every person. As we look ahead, may we keep choosing to show up for one another with open hearts and grounded presence. In spiritual companionship, we never walk alone. We light the way, together.
-Rev. SeiFu Singh-Molares, SDI Executive Director
SDI Vision and Mission Statements
SDI Vision
To foster spiritual direction and spiritual companionship as a healing presence in the world, through our learning communities and offerings.
SDI Mission
Cultivating the Practices of Deep Listening and Spiritual Presence Across All Faith Traditions, Spiritual Orientations, and Beliefs.
SDI Core Values
- Lifelong Learning and Formation We believe in the ongoing cultivation of wisdom, skill, and contemplative depth through education, resources, supervision, and humble self-reflection. This principle guides us to model continuous growth, adapt to emerging needs, and equip spiritual directors/companions to accompany others with renewed insight and humility.
- Inclusivity and Belonging We hold that every person’s spiritual path, identity, tradition, culture, and life experience is worthy of honor and welcome. This value calls us to intentional, non-judgmental presence, dismantling barriers, and fostering sacred spaces where diverse voices enrich mutual accompaniment and collective wisdom.
- Community and Interconnection We affirm the sacredness of relational networks that sustain, support, and nourish those called to this work. As an organization and as practitioners, we commit to building authentic connections, through gatherings, peer groups, mutual witnessing, and shared contemplative practice, that prevent isolation, nurture resilience, and reflect the interconnected web of all beings.
- Compassionate Presence and Discernment We are guided by immanent deep listening and heart-centered compassion that inspires trust, healing, and sacred movement. This principle embodies empathetic accompaniment, non-judgmental witnessing of vulnerability, recognition of the eternal in everyday life, and discernment of the soul’s unfolding, bridging inner contemplation with outward love, joy, and transformative action.
- Growth and Transformation We embrace personal, professional, and organizational growth in response to cultural shifts, emerging invitations, and the call of the Spirit. This value invites courageous reflection, adaptation, feedback, innovation, and renewal, ensuring our practices remain dynamic, humble, responsive, and aligned with the ever-unfolding journey of the soul.
SDI Board Guiding Principles
- Attend to equity, power, and representation across geographies and constituencies in all board work.
- Ensure that the board work does not inadvertently center the perspectives of well-resourced or majority-culture board members.
- Actively cultivate full participation from all board members.
- Consider how meetings and processes account for time zones, language access, and resource equity across board members.
SDI Board of Directors
We hold that every person’s
spiritual path, identity, tradition, culture,
and life experience is worthy
of honor and welcome.
SDI Membership
SDI Membership is being a part of a global contemplative movement, contributing to peace, justice, and living in right relationship with all living beings. Your membership supports networking opportunities, publications, educational programming, outreach, and more.
SDI Membership has many benefits and we continue to increase the value proposition of the annual cost.
A SNAPSHOT OF MEMBER DEMOGRAPHICS, 2026
Total number of members as of 5/6/26: 5041
SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS AND ORIENTATIONS
“SDI is an organization fostering healthy, ethical spiritual direction practices and practitioners across the spectrum of spiritual beliefs to make spiritual direction more available to all who may seek it.”
-anonymous SDI Member
Community Gatherings
Our global community of spiritual directors and companions is a sacred treasure and a balm for a hurting world. Because community is more critical now than ever, SDI is reaffirming our commitment to offering healing, innovative, and unifying programming for our members.
SDI runs regular online gatherings for regional communities, as well as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, Multi-Spiritual, and Educators affinity groups. By coming together, we strengthen our collective ability to guide and companion others in their search for meaning.
In response to the expressed needs of our community, we have expanded our offerings to include many more free gatherings for SDI members over the past year. The first offering for SDI’s new Multi-Spiritual Gathering had almost 500 attendees.
“The Multi-Spiritual Gathering is exactly what this community has been wanting and waiting for! Thank you SDI!”
– Group Attendee
The I in SDI
SDI has identified global outreach as a top strategic priority moving forward. We have dramatically increased our educational offerings from around the globe, as well as our international community groups.
In 2025/2026, SDI convened communities in Europe, Africa, Canada, New Zealand, and continues to expand.
“SDI is the only global professional organization for Spiritual Directors/Companions and all spiritual care providers which has and continues to grow as the field of spiritual care expands.”
“SDI is a truly interfaith global learning community for all who are spiritual directors/companions.”
“SDI is a great unifying force behind global awareness of spirituality.”
SDI publishes a rich variety of publications to nourish your spiritual direction and companionship practices. This includes Presence, Connections, Listen, and SDI Press books, all written by spiritual directors and companions offering their wisdom, experience, and insight.
Presence Journal, SDI’s Flagship Publication, is published in print and on the web.
Listen is a free outreach publication to assist all spiritual travelers in the search for everyday encounters with the Divine.
Connections Newsletter is a members-only publication which offers a round-table forum where members of SDI tell stories about their experiences as spiritual directors, companions and wayfarers on the journey.
SDI publishes books to nourish your spiritual direction and companionship practices. Written by spiritual directors and companions offering their wisdom, experiences, and insights, our books are sure to inspire.
Webinars and Courses
SDI’s education offerings provide many opportunities for spiritual companions to grow in wisdom, deepen their practice, and stay renewed in their calling. Through webinars and courses led by experienced teachers, our global community comes together for learning, reflection, and connection—essential nourishment for the journey.
During 2025-2026, we’ve run many enriching online offerings, including:
Our spiritual Journeys and Pilgrimages excel at helping directors and companions to discover special places. These are truly exceptional trips filled with inspiration and enrichment. We believe in seeing the world in intricately unique ways, and we want to share our knowledge and passion for travel and spirituality with all spiritual directors and companions. Every SDI Journey is led by seasoned spiritual companions who are experienced in the local landscape, history, and custom.
“…one particularly poignant one for me was that I had brought along small stones representing aspects of my life where I need to let go and surrender. On the first day I chose to throw those stones into the river Loyola. I mentioned it to my walking companion who I had not really even met yet and as a true spiritual companion she immediately asked “can I hold space for you as you do that?” It felt wonderful to be seen and witnessed in what I was processing at the time, which was significant. I found my fellow pilgrims comforting, supportive, and encouraging. We took care of one another.”
– Journey Participant
SDI Staff
Ann Lancaster
Creative Services & Technical Coordinator
Ryan Hinson
Membership Services Manager
Judy Moi-Hoffman
Membership Assistant
Soko Mackay
International Communities Coordinator
Ravi Verma
DEIJB & Affinity Group Consultant
Reet Das
Marketing Consultant
Pegge Erkeneff
Presence Media Review Editor
Heather Gordon
Finance, Bookkeeping
Valerie Pickens, CPA
Finance, CPA
Coleman Scroggins
Attorney
Cyndy Brown
Major Gifts, Fundraising, Giving
2025 / 2026 Conferences
SDI conferences are widely regarded as visionary gatherings. With care and intention, SDI creates conference experiences that communicate faith and hope in the face of despair, bringing light into the deep darkness many feel in this current moment of global crisis. This year’s gathering continues that tradition, already drawing close to 500 registrations and reflecting a strong desire for connection, reflection, and renewal.
2025
2026
SDI FINANCIALS - FY 2024/2025
As a membership organization, we are extremely grateful to our members for their generous support. SDI has aligned our financial practices with our vision, mission and values as we obtain, manage and spend our funds. This in turn supports our community with educational programs, enrichment opportunities, and expanding affinity group engagement. We continue with our scholarship model to provide access so that finances are not a barrier to participation.
The following Condensed Financial Graphs shown below reflect Fiscal Year 2025 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025).
Click each graphic below for a larger version.
Join us as we light the way, together
Please consider supporting this work in whatever way feels right to you—by making a donation, becoming a member or renewing your membership, or joining a conference, free gathering, or educational offering. Each form of participation helps us continue to offer accessible programs and cultivate a community that welcomes all spiritual directors, companions, and explorers committed to being a healing presence in the world.
