Spiritist Groups, Centers or Societies
“These Groups, corresponding together, visiting each other, and transmitting to one another the results arrived at by each, may, even now, form the nucleus of the great spiritist family which will one day rally to itself all opinions, and unite all men in the common brotherhood of Christian charity.”
Allan Kardec (The Mediums’ Book – Chapt. XXIX – Item 334)
Although Spiritists have no special place or form of worship, Spiritist Groups, Centers or Societies are places at which we gather to study the Spiritist Doctrine and discuss how we can morally apply our knowledge and experiences to improve ourselves and contribute to the betterment of the world around us. It is no surprise then that these institutions undoubtedly play a major role within the Spiritist Doctrine and in the lives of those seeking to further understand the world around us (through serious studies).
But what does a Spiritist Institution actually do? Or what should it do? Let us take a look at what the International Spiritist Council advises on that matter…
What They Are
The Spiritist Groups, Centers, or Societies are:
• Nucleuses of study, fraternity, prayer, and activities practiced within the Spiritist principles;
• Schools of spiritual and moral education, operating according to the Spiritist Doctrine;
• Posts of fraternal assistance open to everyone in search for guidance, enlightenment, help, or consolation;
• Workshops which provide participants opportunities to exercise their inner growth through the practice of the Gospel in their activities;
• Places where the children, the youth, the adults, and the elderly have the opportunity to socialize, study, and perform activities together to unite the family under the guidance of Spiritism;
• Retreats of peace which offer participants opportunities for spiritual renewal and fraternal union through the practice of the maxim “Love one another”;
• Nucleuses characterized by the simplicity typical of the first congregations of the nascent Christianity; by the practice of charity; and by the total absence of images, symbols, rituals, or other exterior manifestations; and
• Institutions that represent the fundamental units of the Spiritist Movement.
Their Objectives
The objectives of the Spiritist Groups, Centers, or Societies are:
• To promote the study, dissemination, and practice of the Spiritist Doctrine, while tending to individuals who:
– seek enlightenment, guidance, and help for their spiritual, moral, and material problems;
– wish to get acquainted with and study the Spiritist Doctrine;
– wish to work, collaborate, and serve in any field of action the Spiritist practice has to offer.
Their Basic Activities
The basic activities of the Spiritist Groups, Centers, or Societies are:
• To conduct meetings for the study of the Spiritist Doctrine, in a programmed, methodical, and systematic form, open to individuals of all ages and every cultural and social standing, and aimed at enabling a deep and wide-ranging knowledge of Spiritism in all of its aspects.
• To conduct meetings for the explanation of the Gospel according to the Spiritist Doctrine, the practice of passes (laying on of hands), and to extend fraternal assistance through dialogue to those who approach the Spiritist Centers in search of enlightenment, guidance, help, and spiritual and moral assistance.
• To conduct meetings for the study, education, and practice of mediumship based on Spiritist principles and objectives, thereby enlightening, guiding, and preparing individuals for mediumship activities.
• To conduct meetings for the Spiritist evangelization of children and the youth, in a programmed, methodical, and systematic form, thereby assisting, enlightening, and guiding them within the teachings of the Spiritist Doctrine.
• To carry out the work of dissemination of the Spiritist Doctrine through all modes of social communication compatible with the Spiritist principles, such as lectures, conferences, books, newspapers, magazines, bulletins, pamphlets, hand-outs, radio, TV, posters, audio and video tapes.
• To carry out Spiritist assistance activities for the needy by helping them with their most pressing needs, and by enlightening them with the moral teachings of the Gospel according to the Spiritist Doctrine.
• To encourage and offer guidelines to individuals who attend their meetings toward implanting and maintaining the “Gospel at Home” practice, as sustenance for the spiritual harmonization of their families.
• To participate in activities aimed at the union of Spiritists and Spiritist Institutions as well as the unification of the Spiritist Movement by joining their efforts together; summing up their experiences; providing mutual help and support; improving Spiritist activities in general; and strengthening the actions of the Spiritists.
• To perform the administrative tasks necessary to their regular operation in accordance with their organizational structure and in compliance with all applicable local legislation.