Issues related to the roles of Spiritual Directors within the Tres Dias ministry is generally a topic that most pescadores don’t think much about.  However, these roles are a frequent point of discussion and evaluation at the leadership levels of Tres Dias International (TDI).  Hopefully they are also discussed at the local Secretariat level because it’s important for communities to get it right!

There are a number of Policies and Best Practices that have been implemented over the years related to the qualifications and roles of Spiritual Directors.  The most basic requirement for someone to serve as a Spiritual Director is found in the Essentials Section 3.2.2 which says: “Spiritual Directors <must> be qualified to teach and counsel in spiritual matters by his/her church or denomination.”  That sounds pretty straight-forward, right?  Well, like most things in Tres Dias, the deeper we look, the more complicated and nuanced it becomes.

And if you are an Officer or Member of your local Secretariat, you should be aware of this issue since it could have an impact on your weekends with potential legal implications.

Over the years, the definition of “Spiritual Counseling” has evolved in the secular and religious realms, and in some Tres Dias communities it’s become more involved than it was ever intended.   We have reports of Spiritual Directors providing marital counseling, trying to assist with substance abuse issues, encouraging healing ministries, dealing with depression, and taking on other roles that, honestly, should not be part of a Tres Dias weekend.  These types of activities could even open the Spiritual Director and the community to legal liability if there was to be a bad outcome.

SO WHAT, THEN, IS “SPIRITUAL COUNSELING?”  Several years ago, TDI’s Policy Committee was tasked with answering that question.  In response, they created a Position Paper (which is a formal mandate, not just a suggestion) which can be downloaded HERE.

In summary, the extent of formal counseling done on a Tres Dias weekend MUST be limited to this definition:  “Advice that is given as the result of a face-to-face consultation on matters related to or concerning the Christian Bible and/or a person’s personal walk with Christ Jesus as displayed on the Tres Dias weekend.”

The Policy Document specifically prohibits “counseling” beyond this level.  Spiritual Directors are directed NOT to explore matters that are best suited for handling by professionals who are specifically trained in these areas, and, obviously, who would be available for appropriate follow-up and intercession.  The key point and take-away is that, within Tres Dias, we are not formally counseling these individuals.  Instead we are offering biblically sound advice within a very limited scope as they deal with personal issues that might arise from their interaction with the Holy Spirit on a weekend.

WHAT, EXACTLY, DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?  The role of the Spiritual Director is to help a candidate (or even a team member) walk through a spiritual truth that might be revealed to them on a weekend that they are having difficulty processing or understanding.  Since everyone reacts differently to the presence of the Holy Spirit,  the Spiritual Director’s job is to be a careful and sympathetic listener.  Praying with the person while sharing insights into the appropriate scriptures will generally enable the person to continue processing the new information effectively.

So if you see counseling occurring on your weekends that exceed this simple definition, be sure to alert your local Secretariat leaders.  It’s really that important!

So that’s it for this month’s blog.  Let me know what you think about this topic by commenting on our private Facebook Group (Click here).  It’s open to anyone who has attended a Tres Dias Weekend – I’ll look forward to seeing you there.

De Colores!

Jeff Mehl
President
Tres Dias International