Umbanda temples, for the most part, are administered in accordance with the laws that regulate not-for-profit organizations. The structure, apparently simple, reports the inflow and outflow of capital based on receipts and other legal documents. The volunteer body, constituted almost always by unselfish participants, relieves the association of a greater administrative cost. Other donations, beyond the ones anticipated in the general assembly, complete the monthly budget, or finance construction, reforms, acquisitions of furniture, utensils, etc. This profile is applicable also to the services of assistance developed by the various temples. With the objective to generate resources to maintain a financial equilibrium, benefit events, raffles, bingo, fairs and campaigns are held by the community throughout the year.

Theoretically, the above administrative model is reliable. However, the practical reality is not so romantic. The “collateral effects” started to emerge when some projects, supported by the inconsistency of the volunteers, ended up losing their continuity. The unreliability of the efforts and donations rendered any budgetary planning impossible. It is not rare that temples regulate the level of participation and rights of their “filhos” (members) based on the values of their donations. The ones that give more or give more of themselves end up creating constraining situations for the ones that, for any reasons, are not in the same situation. From an administrative point, this does not matter. But from the spiritual point of view, this situation, without a doubt, is a source of fragility for the community.

Templo Guaracy does not escape this rule. In the first decade of its foundation, the “Templo Espirita de Umbanda Caboclo Guaracy”, as it was designated, experimented with many different administrative structures. All ran against the limitations mentioned above. The dizzying growth, associated with the expansion towards North America and Europe, required the creation of reliable and efficient methods. The decisions were not limited to technical changes. The reforms had to be done based on the administrative philosophy. The disturbance of the social balance for Templo Guaracy marked the beginning of the administrative reconstruction.

ADMINISTRATIVE PHILOSOPHY OF THE TEMPLO GUARACY OF BRAZIL

All spiritual, mediumistic, ritualistic and social assistance developed through TGB or in its name is free. – TGB counts with an associative body with equal rights. The association dues are voluntary and not mandatory. No one is discriminated against for any motives or nature. – The administrative services are, at their basis, executed by professionals. – Additional resources originate from professional projects in such as tourism, art galleries, conventions, and restaurants. – Each Templo Guaracy, created in Brazil or abroad, dedicates the collected worth to its own work. – No monetary value is transferred from one temple to another temple. – Volunteers offer their services to the community in accordance with the laws that regulate the voluntarism. – The events realized through TGB focus on socio-cultural integration. – The maintenance of the Temple and its social projects, among them the Vida Verde (Children) and G3 (Seniors), is supported by structural poles legally constituted.