Do you think there is
any benefit in those in
charge of Spiritist
Centres to stay for so
long in their posts?
I do not think it is
necessary for the
directors of Spiritist
Centres or those in
local and national
federations to remain in
their posts for too
long. The main problem
is that, with time,
their performance
declines and we miss the
opportunity to form new
leaderships. Everyone’s
creativity declines as
time goes on, situations
change and we tend to
repeat the same old
solutions to new
problems. Spiritist
managers and directors
should do their job
well, find solutions for
the particular issues
they were commissioned
to address and pass the
job to someone else when
their term ends.
Could we learn
management practice from
the teachings of Allan
Kardec?
The examples of Kardec
as a manager, an
administrator, were
visionary and
revolutionary. We still
need to learn a lot from
him on management. We
should not need to look
outside Spiritism to
find the solutions to
our problems. For
instance: authoritarian
practices are in
complete opposition to
the principles of
Spiritism. A Spiritist
Groups that does not
allow open and honest
debate of all problems
concerning their
members, that does not
allow their directors to
alternate in power is in
breach of the principles
of Spiritism.
Is there a risk of
factions being created
within the Movement if
you allow free elections
for managing positions
in Spiritist Groups?
What leads to the
creation of factions in
Spiritist organisms is
excessive pride, the
lack of open dialogue,
of clear rules on
governance and the
length of mandates. It
is only natural and
healthy that we have
different groups with
different views within
an organisation,
provided we keep the
dialogue in a good,
positive level.
Are we to expect
guidance from the
Spirits on
organisational matters?
Kardec made it very
clear in The Mediums’
Book and
Posthumous Works.
Good intentioned Spirits
do not intervene in the
resolution of
administrative problems
in Spiritist Groups.
This is our
responsibility, not
theirs. They guide us
through intuition,
hinting at the paths to
follow. If you have a
message from a Spirit
with clear instructions
on what to do on such a
matter, rest assured
that that is not an
enlightened Spirit.
What about the idea of
abolishing volunteer
work and employing
professionals to work in
Spiritist Centres?
I believe that is a
misconception, as this
proposal goes against
the true goals of
Spiritist organisations.
That would bring about
the capitulation of
spiritual, idealistic
principles in favour of
materialistic,
short-term values. In
the history of
management we have two
main approaches: one
that prioritises
efficiency and
productivity and another
one that puts the human
being at the centre. It
is easy to see which one
is in harmony with
Spiritism. When we talk
about efficiency, we
should take into account
the degree of
satisfaction of people
at work. That is a
modern concept.
Volunteers have the
opportunity to employ
their energy to help
other people. You can
have a small number of
professional staff, to
perform tasks that the
volunteers are not
capable of, but that
must be a small group in
the Spiritist Group.
Do you see any problems
in making use of
business practices in
the management of
Spiritist
organisations?
I believe it is a
mistake to adopt such
practices without any
reservations. I dare say
that many mistakes, from
a Spiritist perspective,
have been made in
Brazil. Private
companies are looking
for profit, and human
beings are not their
main priority. Spiritist
Centres must prioritise
the transcendental,
immortal aspects of
people. They may learn a
few techniques and
practices, but the
management practices
have to be different.
Is fund raising a major
problem?
Transparency is
paramount in fund
raising. Spiritist
Groups must prioritise
all activities that get
their members involved.
I do not agree with
asking for donations
from private companies
or making collections of
food at supermarkets.
Fine if there is no
other way, but then you
need to be very
transparent and make a
record of exactly how
much was raised. Those
figures need to be
assessed by the board of
directors.
How about Spiritist
Groups receiving public
funds?
I have seen cases of
presidents of Spiritist
Centres being forced to
sign partnerships with
the government to keep
their organisation
working. That is not
ideal, probably the
result of insufficient
planning, but a better
option than asking for
donations from the
private sector. I
believe it is important
for the Spiritist
Movement to remain
independent from the
State. It must fight for
its emancipation,
setting the example for
the emancipation of
society. Spiritism takes
a libertarian position
towards the State. It
admits it is necessary,
but does not recommend
becoming dependent of
it. We need to evolve
from a model from the XX
Century to a XXI Century
model. We need to form
new leaders, people from
different professional
areas. And we need to
develop sustainable
economic systems, aiming
at the survival and
growth of our
institutions. We need to
think, but think
different. We must put
into practice the
principles of Spiritism
with creativity. As
Kardec used to say, if
God gave us
intelligence, it is for
us to use it.
