Bahá’í News/Inserts/Issue 334/Individual Study and Group Discussion Part II/Text

Individual Study and Group Discussion Part II For Spiritual Reinvigoration

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FOR SPIRITUAL REINVIGORATION

What Every Bahá’í Should Know About Bahá’í Administration

References: The Covenant and Administration (C. & A.) Part II, pages 49-80 Trustees of The Merciful (T.M.) Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of a Local Spiritual Assembly The Bahá’í Community (B.C.)

(All texts available from Bahá’í Publishing Trust)

1. Why is the Administrative Order of Bahá’u’lláh characterized as “divine in origin”? (C. & A. p. 49)
2. What is the vital necessity of the Bahá’í Administrative Order? (C. & A. p. 52)
3. Name at least five root principles of the Bahá’í Administrative Order. (C. & A. p. 55)
4. Name the administrative institutions already functioning. By whom was each established?
5. From what source does the local Spiritual Assembly derive its authority? (C. & A. p. 57) (T.M. p. 1-2)
6. What is the area of jurisdiction of the local Spiritual Assembly? (C. & A. p. 60, par. 4)
7. Name at least nine functions of the local Spiritual Assembly. (C. & A. pp. 63-64) (By-Laws of L.S.A., Article III)
8. What should be the attitude of every member of the Bahá’í community to his local Spiritual Assembly? (C. & A. p. 60, par. 2) (T.M. p. 2, par. 2)
9. What are the prime requisites of members of the local Spiritual Assembly? (C. & A. p. 58) (T.M. p. 2)
10. Name at least five “spiritual responsibilities” of the members of the local Spiritual Assembly. (C. & A. pp. 58-59) (T.M. pp. 2-3)
11. Why are local Spiritual Assemblies referred to as “trustees of the Merciful?” What does it mean? (C. & A. p. 57) (T.M. p. 1; 15, par. 3)
12. Why is the principle of consultation essential in Bahá’í administration? (C. & A. p. 68)
13. Name three ways in which Bahá’í consultation differs from the usual methods of consultation.
14. What is the purpose of consultation at the Nineteen-Day Feasts and at the National Convention? (C. & A. p. 69)

[Page 2] 15. What process should be observed in consulting on any subject or problem, and what should be the result? (T.M. pp. 8-9)

16. If an individual Bahá’í asks the advice of one or two members of the local Spiritual Assembly (or the National Spiritual Assembly) on a personal or administrative matter, is this consultation? Give reasons for your answer.

17. If an individual is not satisfied with the decision of the Assembly, has he any recourse to further consultation? How is his appeal handled? (T.M. p. 9, par. 5; pp. 18-19)

18. What is the meaning, origin and purpose of the Nineteen-Day Feast? Why is it referred to as a divine institution? (C. & A. pp. 66-69) (T.M. p. 10)

19. Who may attend the Nineteen-Day Feasts and how must they conduct themselves? (C. & A. p. 68) (T.M. p. 11)

20. What are the three parts of the Nineteen-Day Feast? (T.M. pp. 10-11)

21. What readings may be used at the Nineteen-Day Feast? (Bahá’í News, Dec. 1958)

22. What type of topics are appropriate for consultation at the Nineteen-Day Feast? (T.M. p. 11—top p. 13)

23. Has the community the right to make decisions at the Feast? (T.M. p. 12)

24. What is the proper procedure for placing before the local Spiritual Assembly the suggestions and recommendations made during the period of consultation? (T.M. p. 12)

25. What responsibility has the local Spiritual Assembly in regard to recommendations proposed at the Feast during the period of consultation? (C. & A. p. 68)

26. Can the Nineteen-Day Feast be combined with any other meeting? Why?

27. What is the responsibility of the local Spiritual Assembly with respect to (a) enrolling new members; (b) deepening new believers; (c) inactive believers? (T.M. pp. 14-15; 25)

28. What are the necessary qualifications for membership on the National Spiritual Assembly? (C. & A. p. 73, last par.)

29. What is the relationship between the National Spiritual Assembly and the local Spiritual Assembly? (C. & A. p. 77)

30. What means of communication is there between the members of the community and the National Spiritual Assembly? (C. & A. p. 74, par. 2; p. 75, par. 1) (T.M. p. 26)

31. By whom was the National Fund inaugurated, what is its purpose, and why is it obligatory to support it? (C. & A. pp. 79-80)

32. Discuss the responsibility of the local Spiritual Assembly with respect to appeals from the National Spiritual Assembly to the local Assembly and to the Bahá’í community. For example, what should be done with this study outline?