Our Story
The History of CSDA
Founded February 2011
CSDA was established as part of Grafted Life Ministries in February of 2011. The original name of the association was ESDA (Evangelical Spiritual Directors Association). Our founding mission was to provide community, professional support, and visibility for the growing number of Christ-centered spiritual directors practicing in evangelical environments.
At that time, the ministry of spiritual direction was little known in some church circles and was often confused with New Age practices. As a result, many Christ-centered spiritual directors felt isolated in their work, misunderstood in their churches, and had few avenues to promote their services. CSDA stepped into that gap with opportunities for community connection, professional development, and a public online directory for its members.
From the beginning, CSDA (ESDA) established standards for its spiritual director members to create a strong community and to provide greater spiritual-alignment information for individuals looking for their own director. To this day all members share three traits:
ONE
Agreement with a Christ-centered faith statement
TWO
Successful completion of a formal spiritual direction training program
THREE
Concurrence with CSDA’s Code of Ethics for Christian Spiritual Directors
In the first decade of operation
CSDA grew from its founding 20 members to over 800. In that same period, spiritual direction training programs exploded around the United States. This growth allowed CSDA to expand its community experiences and in 2017 it hosted its first yearly in-person Gathering for retreat and development. CSDA’s Annual Gathering has become a treasured place of connection for many of our members.
Unable to hold the in-person Gathering in 2021 due to COVID, CSDA offered its first virtual professional development seminars. Since then, virtual events, for both professional development and community connection, have become regular offerings through the association.
As CSDA entered its second decade
the leadership team at Grafted Life began praying and dialoguing about the future of CSDA. The membership continued to increase, and the ministry of spiritual direction was expanding around the world. How was Grafted Life called to steward this association into the future? In time it became clear that God was expanding the original vision of ESDA beyond Christ-centered spiritual directors who primarily served evangelicals. The association had already grown to include a wide range of directors from many denominations—liturgical, charismatic, from low church to high church and many non-denominational variations between.
In response, the Grafted Life team officially changed ESDA to CSDA in 2025 in order to be a welcome home to all Christ-centered spiritual directors. No matter their denomination, the spiritual directors of CSDA understand their work as Trinitarian and share the same Spirit of Christ.
In 2025
CSDA is the largest Christ-centered network of spiritual directors in the world, serving over 1300 spiritual directors emerging from over 120 formal training programs. The association remains committed to Christian ethics and best practices and to helping member directors grow their skills, knowledge and colleague connections over the lifetime of their ministry. The CSDA team continues to look for ways to strengthen the practice of spiritual directors, to champion excellence in the field, and to promote spiritual direction as a vital ministry in the church.
MISSION
To resource and refresh Christ-followers through the ministry of spiritual direction.
VISION
We exist to advance communal connection, collaboration and resources for the worldwide direction community.
Verse
“…to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
–Ephesian 3:16-17