Bahá’í World/Volume 16/The five year international teaching plan 1974-1979

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[Page 107]

II

THE FIVE YEAR INTERNATIONAL TEACHING PLAN1974—1979

1. THE LAUNCHING OF THE FIVE YEAR PLAN

Excerpts from the message of the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís Of the world, Naw-Rúz 1974

‘A span of eighteen years separates us from the centenary of Baha’u’llah’s Ascension and the unveiling of His Almighty Covenant. The fortunes of humanity in that period no man can foretell. We can, however, confidently predict that the Cause of God, impelled by the mighty forces of life within it, must go on from strength to strength, increasing in size and developing greater and greater powers for the accomplishment of God’s purpose on earth.

‘The abundant evidences of Divine confirmation which have rewarded the strenuous and dedicated efforts of the Bahá’í community during the past decade are apparent throughout the earth and give incontrovertible assurance of its capacity to win the good pleasure of Baha’u’llah and answer every call made upon it in His service.

‘The Five Year Plan to which this community is now summoned is the opening campaign of these critical years. It is the third global plan embarked upon by the Army of Light in its implementation of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Divine Plan, that world-encompassing programme disclosed in His perspicuousTablets and described by the Guardian of the Cause of God as the Charter for the propagation of the Faith throughout the world. It was the Guardian himself, the beloved ‘sign of God’, who, through his exposition and interpretation of the Revelation, through his discipline and education of the Bahá’í community and through a series of national plans assigned to the various units of that community, forged the Administrative Order of the Faith and made it an instrument for the carrying out of this great Charter, and he himself designed and launched the first global plan, the unique,

brilliant and spiritually glorious Ten Year Crusade.The victories of that crusade implanted the banner of Baha’u’llah throughout the planet and the following Nine Year Plan reinforced and extended the bastions of the Faith and raised the number of National Spiritual Assemblies—the supporting pillars of the Universal House of Justice—to one hundred and thirteen, a number increased to one hundred and fifteen . . . at this Riḍván . . .

‘This Five Year Plan has three major objectives: preservation and consolidation of the victories won; a vast and widespread expansion of the Bahá’í community; development of the distinctive character of Bahá’í life particularly in the local communities. The achievement of these overall aims requires the accomplishment of particular tasks at the World Centre of the Faith, and by national and local communities.

‘At the World Centre work will continue on the collation and classification of the Sacred Texts; authorized translations of three compilations of Scripture will be made and published, namely, Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, prayers and extracts from the Writings of the Báb, greatly augmenting the fragments of His Utterance now available in the West, and of the Master’s works comprising a wide selection from the vast range of subjects illumined by His Divine wisdom; construction will begin On the building on Mount Carmel to serve as the seat of the Universal House of Justice and it is hoped to complete it during the Five Year Plan; further extension and beautification of the gardens and lands surrounding the Holy Places will take place; strengthening of the relationship between

107

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the Bahá’í International Community and the United Nations will continue; and efforts will be constantly made to protect the Faith from persecution and to free it from the restraints imposed by religious orthodoxy.

‘In the international sphere the erection of two Mashriqu’l-Afirkérs—one in India and one in Samoa—will be initiated; eight International Teaching Conferences will be held during the middle part of the Five Year Plan; two for the Arctic, one in Anchorage and one in Helsinki during July 1976, one in Paris in August 1976, one in Nairobi in October 1976, one in Hong Kong in November 1976, one in Auckland and one in Bahia, Brazil in January 1977 and one in Mérida, Mexico in February 1977.

‘Sixteen new National Spiritual Assemblies will be formed, their national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, Temple sites and endowments must be acquired; the dissemination of news and messages, so vital to the knowledge, encouragement and unity of the Bahá’í community, must be made efficient and rapid, and in anticipation of a vast expansion in the number of believers, of Local Spiritual Assemblies and of localities where Bahá’ís reside a coordinated programme of translating and publishing Bahá’í literature with the eventual aim of providing the Sacred Text and the teachings of the Faith to all mankind is to be developed—a programme which will include the founding of six Bahá’í Publishing Trusts and the continued subvention of Bahá’í literature, 409 inter-Assembly assistance projects are scheduled and, at the outset of the plan. 557 pioneers are called for . . .

'The proclamation of the Faith, following established plans and aiming to use on an increasing scale the facilities of mass communication must be vigorously pursued. It should be remembered that the purpose of proclamation is to make known to all mankind the fact and general aim of the new Revelation, while teaching programmes should be planned to confirm individuals from every stratum of society.

‘The vast reservoir of spiritual energy, zeal and idealism resident in Bahá’í youth, which so effectively contributed to the success of the Nine Year Plan, must be directed and lavishly spent for the proclamation, teaching, and consolidation of the Cause. Spiritual Assemblies are urged to provide consultation and the offer of guidance to Bahá’í youth who seek to plan

THE BAHA’l WORLD

their lives in such a way as to be of utmost service to the Cause of God.

‘The education of children in the teachings of the Faith must be regarded as an essential obligation of every Bahá’í parent, every local and national community and it must become a firmly-established Bahá’í activity during the course of this plan. It should include moral instruction by word and example and active participation by children in Bahá’í community life.

‘This Five Year Plan must witness the development in the world-wide Bahá’í community ofdistinctive Bahá’í characteristics implanted in it by Bahá’u’lláh Himself. Unity of mankind is the pivotal principle of His Revelation; Bahá’í communities must therefore become renowned for their demonstration of this unity. In a world becoming daily more divided by factionalism and group interests, the Bahá’í community must be distinguished by the concord and harmony of its relationships. The coming of age of the human race must be foreshadowed by the mature, responsible understanding of human problems and the wise administration of their affairs by these same Bahá’í communities. The practice and development of such Bahá’í characteristics are the responsibility alike of individual Bahá’ís and the administrative institutions, although the greatest opportunity to foster their growth rests with the Local Spiritual Assemblies.

“The divinely ordained institution of the Local Spiritual Assembly operates at the first levels of human society and is the basic administrative unit of Bahá’u’lláh’s World Order. It is concerned with individuals and families whom it must constantly encourage to unite in a distinctive Bahá’í society, vitalized and guarded by the laws, ordinances and principles of Baha’u’llah’s Revelation. It protects the Cause of God; it acts as the loving shepherd Of the Bahá’í flock.

‘Strengthening and development of Local Spiritual Assemblies is a Vital objective of the Five Year Plan. Success in this one goal will greatly enrich the quality of Bahá’í life, will heighten the capacity of the Faith to deal with entry by troops which is even now taking place and, above all, will demonstrate the solidarity and ever-growing distinctiveness of the Bahá’í community, thereby attracting more and more thoughtful souls to the Faith and offering a

[Page 109]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF BAHA’l ACTIVITIES

refuge to the leaderless and hapless millions of the spiritually bankrupt, moribund present order . . .

‘During the Five Year Plan Local Spiritual Assemblies which are being formed for the first time, are to be formed whenever there are nine or more adult believers in the relevant area, thereafter they must be elected or declared at Riḍván. National Spiritual Assemblies are called upon to assign, and encourage the Local Spiritual Assemblies to adopt goals within the overall framework of the Five Year Plan, to consult with them and to assist them to make great efforts to gradually assume their proper function and responsibilities in the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh. The friends are called upon to give their whole-hearted support and cooperation to the Local Spiritual Assembly, first by voting for the membership and then by energetically pursuing its plans and programmes, by turning to it in time of trouble or difficulty, by praying for its success and taking delight in its rise to influence and honour. This great prize, this gift of God within each community must be cherished, nurtured, loved, assisted, obeyed and prayed for.

‘Such a firmly-founded, busy and happy community life as is envisioned when Local Spiritual Assemblies are truly effective, will provide a firm home foundation from which the friends may derive courage and strength and loving support in bearing the Divine Message to their fellow-men and conforming their lives to its benevolent rule.

‘The deeds and programmes, all these multifarious world-wide activities to which you are summoned have but one aim—the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth. At every stage of this process and at all levels of Bahá’í responsibility, whether individual, local or national, you will be encouraged, advised and assisted by the divinely ordained institution of the Hands of the Cause of God, an institution powerfully reinforced by the successful estab 109

lishment of the International Teaching Centre. Through the emergence of this Centre the seal has been set on the accomplishment of the goal, announced nearly ten years ago, of ensuring the extension into the future of the specific functions of protection and propagation conferred upon the Hands of the Cause in the Sacred Text. Through the work of the International Teaching Centre, which supervises and co-ordinates the work of the Boards of Counsellors around the world, the love, the guidance, the assistance of the Hands, through the Boards of Counsellors, their Auxiliary Board members and their assistants, permeates the entire structure of Bahá’í society.

‘The Chief Stewards of Baha’u’llah’s embryonic world commonwealth have indeed assured to that growing community, the care for its welfare, for the development of its character, for its spiritual encouragement which are among the duties of their high office.

‘As the old order gives way to the new, the changes which must take place in human affairs are such as to stagger the imagination. This is the opportunity for the hosts of the Lord. Undismayed and undeterred by the wreckage of “long-cherished ideals and time-honoured institutions”, now being “swept away and relegated to the limbo of obsolescent and forgotten doctrines”, the world community of Bahá’ís must surge forward eagerly, and with ever-increasing energy, to build those new, God-given institutions from Which will be diffused the light of the holy principles and teachings sent down by God in this day for the salvation of all mankind.’

Each National Spiritual Assembly received a separate message setting forth the details of its respective goals, and these, together with the World Centre goals, are summarized in the analysis which follows.

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Interior view of Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri, during the first United States National Bahá’í Conference of the Five Year Plan held 29 Augusl~1 September 1974, when more than 10,000 Bahd’z's gathered to dedicate themselves to achieving the goals of the Plan.

Thefirst Teaching Conference of the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions ofEurape was held in Torshavn, Faroe Islands, 11418 August 1974 with forty-three Bahá’ís in attendance. Mrs. Betty Reed of the European Board of Counsellors is seen standing on the right behind the second row.

[Page 111]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF Bahá’í ACTIVITIES 111

2. ANALYSIS OF THE FIVE YEAR INTERNATIONAL TEACHING PLAN1974—1979

BAHA’U’LLAH, in innumerable passages of His Revelation, exhorted His followers to teach His Cause. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was the leading exemplar of this activity and in fourteen Tablets addressed to the Bahá’ís of North America, known as the Tablets Of the Divine Plan, revealed the charter for teaching. Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, established the pattern of teaching plans, at first national in scope and then, in several instances, extending beyond national boundaries until in 1953 he launched the Ten Year International Plan, the first global venture undertaken by the followers of Bahá’u’lláh. This world crusade not only succeeded in implanting the Faith throughout the planet but witnessed, through the election in 1963 of the Universal House of Justice, the completion of its administrative structure.

The Universal House of Justice, one year after its inception, called the Bahá’í world community to a further plan of nine years’ duration and indicated its intention of pursuing a series of plans designed to implement in its entirety the Divine Plan of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The Five Year Plan detailed in the following pages is the current phase of this process.

I

MAJOR OBJECTIVES OF THE FIVE YEAR PLAN

1. The preservation and consolidation of past Victories.

2. A vast and widespread expansion of the Bahá’í community.

3. The development of the distinctive character of Bahá’í life, particularly in the local communities.

II WORLD CENTRE GOALS

. Continued collation and classification of the Sacred Texts.

2. The preparation and publication of authorized translations of three compilations of Scripture:

(a) Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas

(b) Prayers and extracts from the Writings of the Báb

(c) Selections from the works of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

3. Initiation of the construction of the building on Mount Carmel to serve as the seat of the Universal House of Justice.

4. Further extension and beautification of the

gardens and lands surrounding the Holy Places.

. Continued strengthening of the relationship

between the Bahá’í International Community and the United Nations.

. Constant efforts to protect the Faith from

persecution and to free it from the restraints imposed by religious orthodoxy.

. The holding of eight International Teaching

Conferences—from July 1976 to February 1977.

111

GENERAL AIMS AND GUIDELINES

1.A great increase in the number of be lievers, Local Spiritual Assemblies and localities where Bahá’ís reside.

.The planning of teaching programmes

aimed at confirming individuals from every stratum of society.

.The need to have the Bahá’í community

represented broadly across the geographical areas of national jurisdiction.

. The offering of guidance to Bahá’í youth,

lending support to their activities, and utilizing their spiritual energy, zeal and idealism in promoting the Cause and in carrying out projects for specific periods of weeks, months, even a year or more.

. The education of children in the teachings of

[Page 112]112

11.

12.

16.

THE Bahá’í WORLD

the Faith to become a firmly established Bahá’í activity.

. The provision ofefficient and rapid dissemi nation of news and messages.

. A co-ordinated programme of publishing,

subventing and disseminating Bahá’í literature.

. Bahá’í communities at present dependent

on outside help to aim at becoming selfsupporting.

. Ensuring that increasing numbers of Local

Spiritual Assemblies are ‘broadly based’, ‘securely grounded’, and ‘efficiently functioning’.

. The adoption by Local Spiritual Assemblies

of goals of their own choosing within the framework of the plan, or the assignment by National Spiritual Assemblies of such goals to Local Assemblies.

Extension teaching goals to be spontaneously adopted by or assigned to an increasing number of Local Spiritual Assemblies to help the work ofgroups‘ isolated believers, or other Spiritual Assemblies in their neighbourhoods.

The encouragement of the believers by Local Spiritual Assemblies to gather each day during the hours between dawn and two hours after sunrise, in localities where such gatherings would fit into the pattern of the friends” lives, to listen to the reading and chanting of the Holy Word.

. The convening of teaching conferences de signed to take advantage of the presence of friends en route through various countries to attend the eight International Conferences.

.The fostering of cordial relations with

people of prominence and those in authority.

. The need to be alert and seize opportunities

to increase the recognition of the Faith through the incorporation of Spiritual Assemblies and the recognition of Bahá’í marriage certificates and of Bahá’í Holy Days. Increasing the use of mass communication facilities, wherever possible, to proclaim and teach the Faith.

' In Persia, towards the fulfilment of the goal of the Ten Year Crusade to erect a Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Tihrán, preliminary steps are to be adopted to pave the way for its eventual construction, circumstances permitting.

1 Known as Benin since 1976:

IV

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC GOALS ASSIGNED TO NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES

IV. 1. National Spiritual Assemblies which are

to make plans to accommodate the In ternational Teaching Conferences of 1976/1977

AFRICA (1)

Nairobi, Kenya, October 1976

AMERICAS (3)

Anchorage, Alaska, July 1976 Bahia, Brazil, January 1977

Merida, Mexico, February 1977 ASIA (1)

Hong Kong, B.C.C., November 1976 AUSTRALASIA (1)

Auckland, New Zealand, January 1977 EUROPE (2)

Helsinki, Finland, July 1976

Paris, France, August 1976

IV. 2. Countries where the construction of

Mashriqu’l-Adhkárs is to be initiated1

India Samoa

1V. 3. National Spiritual Assemblies to be

established

(National Spiritual Assembly responsible for goal in brackets)

AFRICA (9)

Burundi, with seat in Bujumbura (National Teaching Committee of Burundi)

Mali, with seat in Bamako(1vory Coast, Mali and Upper Volta)

Mauritania. with seat in Nouakchott (upper West Africa)

Niger. with seat in Niamey (Dahomey,2 Togo and Niger)

Upper Volta. with seat in Ouagadougou (Ivory Coast‘ Mali and Upper Volta)

Sénégal, with seat in Dakar (Upper West Africa)

Sierra Leone, with seat in Freetown (West Africa)

Somalia, with seat in Mogadishu (North East Africa)

Togo, with seat in Lorne (Dahomey, Togo and Niger)

[Page 113]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF Bahá’í ACTIVITIES 113

ijjfl W’s ”W * *

Bahá’ís attending the Teaching Conference of the Mediterranean Area. Cagliari, Sardinia; 27 December 1973—2 January 1974.

"" n _ ‘ V M ?.2 A ‘0...» ma» ' v: ‘4 ’ Bahd’z's from Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Chile who attended the Teaching Conference held in Lima, Peru; July 1974. The Hand of the Cause Abu’l—Qa’sim Faizz' is seen fifth from the left in the second row from the back.

[Page 114]114 THE Bahá’í WORLD

Bahá’í's attending the National Teaching Conference, Apia, Western Samoa; August 1974. The Hand Oftl1e Cause William Sears is seen standing in the centre oflhe last row.

Bahá’ís attending the National Teaching Conference, Oruro, Bolivia; September 1974.

[Page 115]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF Bahá’í ACTIVITIES 115

AMERICAS (3)

Bahamas, The, with seat in Nassau (United States)

French Antilles, with seat in Pointe-é-Pitre. Guadeloupe (Leeward and Virgin Is.)

Surinam and French Guiana, with seat in Paramaribo, Surinam (Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana)

ASIA (1) Jordan, with seat in ‘Ammén (Near East)

AUSTRALASIA (1) New Hebrides, with seat in Vila, Efate (South West Pacific Ocean)

EUROPE (2)

Cyprus, with seat in Nicosia (United Kingdom)

Greece, with seat in Athens (Germany)

IV. 4. National Spiritual Assemblies to be incorporated

(National Spiritual Assembly responsible for goal in brackets)

AFRICA (8)

Ethiopia (North East Africa)

Gambia (Upper West Africa)

Mali (Ivory Coast, Mali and Upper Volta)

Mauritania (Upper West Africa)

Réunion (Réunion)

Sénégal (Upper West Africa)

Sierra Leone (West Africa)

Upper Volta (Ivory Coast, Mali and Upper Volta)

AMERICAS (2)

French Antilles (Leeward and Virgin Is.)

Surinam (Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana)

ASIA (4)

Hong Kong (Hong Kong) Nepal (Nepal)

Singapore (Singapore) Turkey (Turkey) AUSTRALASIA (1)

New Hebrides (South West Pacific Ocean) EUROPE (3)

Austria (Austria)

Cyprus (United Kingdom) Portugal (Portugal)

IV. 5. Bahá’í Publishing Trusts to be formed

ASIA (4) Japan

1V. 6. National

Korea

Malaysia

Philippine Islands

A USTRALASIA (2) Australia

Fiji Islands

Spiritual Assemblies responsible for the translation and publication of Bahá’í literature in one or more of the

major languages of their areas1

AFRICA Benin (2) Botswana (1) Burundi (1) Central African Republic (1) Chad (1) Ethiopia (3) Ghana (2) Ivory Coast, Mali and Upper Volta (2) Kenya (3) Lesotho ( 1) Liberia and Guinea (1) Madagascar (1) Malawi (1)

AMERICAS Argentina (3) Bolivia ( 1) Brazil (1)

C hile (2)

C 010mbia (2)

ASIA Bangladesh (1) Burma (1) Hong Kong (1) India (15) Japan (1) Korea (1)

Laos (1)

Near East (1)

A USTRALASIA Fiji Islands (1)

Niger (2)

Nigeria (6)

Rhodesia (1)

Rwanda (1)

Sierra Leone (1)

South and West Africa (2)

Sudan (1)

Swaziland, Mozambique and Angola (1)

Tanzania (2)

Togo (2)

Uganda (2)

UpperWestAfrica(2)

Zaire (3)

Zambia (1)

Ecuador (1) Panama (2) Paraguay (2) Peru (1) Venezuela (2)

Nepal (1) Pakistan (4) Persia (9) Sikkim (2) Sri Lanka (1) Thailand (1) Turkey (1) Vietnam (1)

Gilbert Islands and Tuvalu (12

Tonga (1)

1 This list includes languages in which selections from Bahá’í Writings are to be recorded for the friends to memorize. 2 Known as Gilbert and Ellice Islands until 1976.

[Page 116]116 THE Bahá’í WORLD

EUROPE

Austria (5) Italy (1)

Belgium (1) Netherlands (2) Denmark (2) Norway (1)

Finland (2) Spain (1)

France (1) Sweden (3) Germany (8) Switzerland (1) Iceland (2) United Kingdom (1)

IV. 7. Properties to be acquired A. National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds AFRICA (10) Central and East Africa (2) Western Africa (8)

AMERICAS (4) Central America (2) North America (1) South America (1)

ASIA (2) South Eastern Asia (1) West Asia (1)

A USTRALASIA (1) EUROPE (2)

B. National Temple Sites AFRICA (15) Central and East Africa (3) Southern Africa (1) Western Africa (11)

AMERICAS (5) Central America (3) North America (1) South America (1)

ASIA (3)

South Central Asia (1) South Eastern Asia (1) Western Asia (1)

A USTRALA SIA (6) Australasia (2)

AMERICAS (5) Central America (3) North America (1) South America (1)

ASIA (3)

South Central Asia (1) South Eastern Asia (1) Western Asia (I)

A USTRALA SIA (3) EUROPE (2)

D. Summer Schools

AFRICA (1) North East Africa ( 1)

AUSTRALASIA (1)

E. District Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds and Institutes1

AFRICA (73)

Central and East Africa (38) Southern Africa (19) Western Africa (16)

AMERICAS (12) Central America (7) North America (1) South America (4) ASIA (75)

South Central Asia (21) South Eastern Asia (43) West Asia (11)

A USTRALASIA (5) Australasia (1)

North East Asia (4)

EUROPE(1)

F. Local Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds2

AFRICA (811)

Central and East Africa (476) Southern Africa (167) Western Africa (168)

AMERICAS (295) Central America (111) North America (6) South America (178)

‘District Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds are intended to be rather more substantial structures than the average local Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, and should be located in areas which form easily accessible, central gathering places for districts in which large numbers of Bahá’ís are living. Such a building can be used for district gatherings, for the holding of teaching institutes, conferences, deepening classes, etc. for the larger area, and could possibly accommodate the office of the district teaching committee.

1 Local Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds called for in the plan should be very simple structures to serve as focal ,points and meeting places for the local communities.

North East Asia (4) EUROPE (2)

C. National Endowments AFRICA (13) Central and East Africa (3) Southern Africa (1) Western Africa (9)

[Page 117]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF Bahá’í ACTIVITIES 117

,,

Bahd’z's attending a teaching conference held in Kigali, Rwanda, to study the significance and

purpose of Bahá’í institutions; October 1974. Seen seated in the second row (left to right) are

Auxiliary Board member Peter Mutabafl‘. C ounsellor Kolonario Oule. C ozmsellor Isobel Sabri and, at the extreme right, standing, Auxiliary Board member, Dr. ‘Ata‘u’lláh Ta’id.

Board of Counsellors in South America, held in Valparaiso, Chile; December 1974. The Hand

of the Cause Dr. Rahmatu’lláh M uha'jir is seen, hand uplifted, in the centre. To the left are the

Counsellors Leonora Armstrong, Athos Costas, Raul Pavo'n and Donald Witzel; in the same row, secondfrom the right, Mas‘dd K_hamsz'.

[Page 118]118 THE Bahá’í WORLD

. .‘1‘: i . ..' s ., -. * Bahá’ís attending the National Teaching Conference held at Sogeri Teaching Institme, Papua; 28 April 1975.

-4 _ ‘3». 516» "m4;

A

Bahá’ís attending the Regional Teaching Conference held in Bahá’í Hall, Karachi, Pakistan; 6 April 1975.

[Page 119]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF Bahá’í ACTIVITIES 119

ASIA (119)

South Central Asia (54) South Eastern Asia (55) West Asia (10)

A USTRALASIA (84) Australasia (65) North East Asia (19)

EUROPE (6)

G. Local Endowments

AFRICA (1,269)

Central and East Africa (714) Southern Africa (343) Western Africa (212)

AMERICAS (354) Central America (151) North America (7) South America (196) ASIA (47)

South Central Asia (30) South Eastern Asia (2) West Asia (15)

A USTRALASIA (5) Australasia (1)

North East Asia (4)

EUROPE (2)

IV. 8. Local Spiritual Assemblies to be established and localities to be opened

Local Spiritual Assemblies

AFRICA Central and East Africa 4,691 Northern Africa 35 Southern Africa 955 Western Africa 913 Total in Africa 6,594 AMERICAS Central America 969 North America 1,757 South America 2,291 Total in the Americas 5017 ASIA South Central Asia 7,280 South Eastern Asia 2,272 Western Asia 1,357 Total in Asia 10,909 A USTRALASIA Australasia 553 North East Asia 355 Total in Australasia 908

Localities

15,868 145 3,983 2,722 22,718

3,145 8,700 8,760 20,605

31,175 9,001

m

E U R OPE Europe 513 2,567 (10 circumstances permitting) Grand Totals 23,941 90,035

IV. 9. Incorporation of Local Spiritual Assem blies to be achieved

AMERICAS (892)

Alaska (25)

Argentina (9)

Belize (10)

Bolivia (18)

Brazil (35)

Canada (150)

Chile (9)

Colombia (40)

Dominican Republic (9)

Ecuador (14)

El Salvador (6)

Guatemala (15)

Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana (6) (Guyana 3; Surinam 2; French Guiana 1)

Honduras (15)

J amaica (12)

Leeward and Virgin Islands (6) (Virgin Islands 2; Leeward Islands 2; Guadeloupe 1; Martinique 1)

Nicaragua (9)

Panama (18)

Paraguay (9)

Peru (36)

Puerto Rico (6)

Trinidad and Tobago (6)

United States (400)

Uruguay (6)

Venezuela (16) (plus 1 0n Curacao Island)

Windward Islands (6) (Barbados 1 ; Grenada 1; Grenadines 1; St Vincent 1; St Lucia 1; Dominica 1)

ASIA (1086) Bangladesh (30) Hong Kong* India (500) Laos (8) Malaysia (250) Pakistan (50) Philippines (36) Singapore (4) Taiwan (8) Vietnam (200)

• Incorporate all L.S.A.s.

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A USTRA LASIA (167)

Australia (50)

Fiji Islands (10)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands (15)

Hawaiian Islands*

New Zealand (15)

Papua New Guinea (10)

Samoa (15)

Solomon Islands (15)

South West Pacific Ocean (6) (New Caledonia 2; Loyalty Islands 2; New Hebrides 2)

Tonga and the Cook Islands (3) (all on the Cook Islands)

E UROPE (183)

Austria (5)

Belgium (6)

Denmark (8)

France (5)

Germany (45)

Iceland (3)

Ireland (4)

Italy“?

Luxembourg (4)

Spain (33) (including 1 on the Balearic Islands and 3 on the Canary Islands)

Switzerland (20)

United Kingdom (50)

IV. 10. Inter-Assembly collaboration projects Legend:

A. Acquisition of properties

B. Teaching projects

C. Enrichment of literature

D. Settlement of pioneers

E. Travelling teachers

Assisting zones are shown in block capital letters: e.g. CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICA Receiving zones are indented and appear in upper and lower case roman letters: e.g. Southern Africa

Letters in brackets indicate type of project; figure following letter indicates number of National Spiritual Assemblies being assisted: e.g. (C1, D2, 132)

• lncorporate all L.S.A.s.

TPursue incorporation of L.S.A.s.

THE Bahá’í WORLD

Example: ASIA WESTERN ASIA

(C3, E5)

South Central Asia (A1, D4, E2)

The first entry indicates that the National Spiritual Assemblies in the zone of Western Asia are assisting three National Spiritual Assemblies within that zone in the enrichment of literature, and are assisting five National Spiritual Assemblies by sending them travelling teachers.

The second entry means that in the zone of Western Asia, the National Spiritual Assemblies there are assisting, in the zone of South Central Asia, one National Spiritual Assembly to acquire properties, four by offering them pioneers and two by sending them travelling teachers.

AFRICA CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICA (A1, 32, C3, D2, E6) Southern Africa (C1, D2, E2) Western Africa (132)

NORTHERN AFRICA Western Africa (D2) (circumstances permitting)

SOUTHERN AFRICA (C4, D2, E10)

WESTERN AFRICA (A2, C4, E6)

Central and East Africa (C2, D2, E2) Southern Africa (D2) Europe (D1)

AMERICAS CENTRAL AMERICA (B3, D5, E13) North America (E1) South America (D2. E4) Europe (E1)

[Page 121]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF Bahá’í ACTIVITIES 121

‘ S 9"“

X _

> ’ l x , ’ f A ,qjdy‘a . ~ ' - , Bahá’ís attending the Regional Teaching Conference held in Victoria, Cameroon ,' 18 May 1975. The Hand of the Cause Dr. Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir is seen in the centre of the last row.

• 3 "u? (‘3- " ymké

Bahá’ís attending the National Teaching Conference held in Bangalore, India; 23—26 May 1975.

[Page 122]122 NORTH AMERICA

(E3) Central and East Africa (D5, E5) Southern Africa (D8, E4) Western Africa (A3, D9, E11) Central America (A3, D12, E14) South America (A1, D12, E12) South Central Asia (D3, E2) South Eastern Asia (D5, E5) Western Asia (D1, E1) Australasia (A2, D5, E10) Europe (A1, B1, C1, D6, E14)

SOUTH AMERICA

(C1, D1, E11) Southern Africa (A1, D2, E1) Western Africa (D2, E3) Central America (D1, E4)

North America (E1)

Europe

(D1, E3)

ASIA SOUTH CENTRAL ASIA

(A1, B1, C1, D4, E5) Central and East Africa (E2)

Southern Africa (E3)

Western Africa (D1, E2)

North America (E1)

South America (E2)

South Eastern Asia (E5)

Western Asia (E1)

THE Bahá’í WORLD

SOUTH EASTERN ASIA

(C1, D1, E5) Central and East Africa (E2) Southern Africa (E2) Western Africa (E4) North America (E1) South America (D1) South Central Asia (C1, E1) Australasia (D2, E4)

WESTERN ASIA

(C3, E5) Central and East Africa (A2, D11, E4) Northern Africa (E1) Southern Africa (A2, D10, E1) Western Africa (A4, D9, E7) Central America (D6) South America (D9) South Central Asia (Al, D4, E2) South Eastern Asia (D4) Western Asia (E5) Australasia (B1, D3) Europe (A2, B1, C1, D3, E1)

A U S TRALA SIA AUSTRALASIA

(A3, B1, C3, D14, E13) Central and East Africa (E2)

Southern Africa (D1, E3) Western Africa (Al)

North America (E3)

[Page 123]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF Bahá’í ACTIVITIES 123

South America (E1)

South Central Asia (D1, E2)

South Eastern Asia (A1, C2, D4, E6)

EUROPE EUROPE

(A1, B13, C1, D2, E15) Central and East Africa (A2, D3, E5) Northern Africa (E1)

Southern Africa (Al, D4, E9) Western Africa (A2, D8, E6) Central America (A2, D3, E2) North America (E3)

South America (Al, D4, E4) South Central Asia (D2)

South Eastern Asia (D1)

Western Asia

(E1)

Australasia

(A1, B1, D3, E1)

IV. 11. Miscellaneous untabulated goals

A. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES TO SELECT ONE OR MORE BELIEVERS FROM LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AND TO TRAIN THEM TO HELP IN DEEPENING THEIR FELLOW BELIEVERS AND IN CONSOLIDATING THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES

AFRICA (29)

Botswana

Burundi

Cameroon Republic Central African Republic Chad

Congo Republic Dahomey, Togo and Niger Equatorial Guinea

Ghana

Ivory Coast, Mali and Upper Volta Kenya

Lesotho

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Nigeria

North East Africa Réunion

Rhodesia

Rwanda

Seychelles

South and West Africa Swaziland and Mozambique Tanzania

Uganda

Upper West Africa West Africa

Zaire

Zambia

AMERICAS (1 1) Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Panama Paraguay Peru Uruguay Venezuela

ASIA (12) Bangladesh Burma India Laos Malaysia Nepal Pakistan Persia Sikkim

Sri Lanka Thailand Vietnam

B. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES WHICH ARE TO ORGANIZE Bahá’í ACTIVITIES FOR WOMEN

AFRICA (31) Botswana Burundi

[Page 124]124 THE Bahá’í WORLD

The Hands of the Cause of God John Robarts and William Sears, Counsellor ‘Azt’z Yazdl' Of the

International T eaching Centre, members of the Continental Board of Counsellors in North

America, Auxiliary Board members and members of the National Spiritual Assemblies of A laska,

Canada and the United States are seen gathered on the steps of the House of Worship in Wilmette,

Illinois during a significant conference held in July 1975 to discuss the progress of the Five Year

Plan. Also attending the conference. but not presemfor the taking of the photograph, was the Hand of the Cause flikru’lláh fla’dem.

Bahá’ís attending the Regional Teaching Conference held at Marrgfe, C ameroon ; 25—26 January 1975. Dr. M ihdt' Samandari Of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Western Africa is seen at the extreme left, third row.

[Page 125]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF Bahá’í ACTIVITIES

Cameroon Republic

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo Republic

Dahomey, Togo and Niger Equatorial Guinea

Ghana

Ivory Coast, Mali and Upper Volta Kenya

Lesotho

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Morocco (circumstances permitting) Nigeria

North East Africa

Réunion

Rhodesia

Rwanda

Seychelles

South and West Africa

Sudan (circumstances permitting) Swaziland and Mozambique Tanzania

Uganda

Upper West Africa

West Africa

Zaire

Zambia

AMERICAS (26) Argentina

Belize

Bolivia

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Costa Rica Dominican Republic Ecuador

El Salvador Guatemala

Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana Haiti

Honduras

Jamaica

Leeward and Virgin Islands Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Puerto Rico

125

Trinidad and Tobago Uruguay

Venezuela

Windward Islands1

ASIA (17) Bangladesh Burma Hong Kong India Korea

Laos Malaysia Near East Nepal Pakistan Philippine Islands Sikkim

Sri Lanka Taiwan Thailand Turkey Vietnam

AUSTRALASIA (6)

Fiji Islands

Gilbert and Ellice Islands North West Pacific Ocean Solomon Islands

South West Pacific Ocean Tonga and the Cook Islands

C. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES WHICH ARE SPECIFICALLY CALLED UPON TO EXPAND THE USE OF RADIO AND/OR TELEVISION

AFRICA (1) Central African Republic

AMERICAS (25) Alaska Argentina Belize Bolivia Brazil Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Ecuador

1 Name changed in 1975 to National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Barbados and the Windward Islands.

[Page 126]126

THE Bahá’í WORLD

El Salvador Madagascar Guatemala Malawi

Honduras Mauritius

Jamaica Nigeria

Mexico North East Africa* Nicaragua Réunion

Panama Rhodesia Paraguay Rwanda

Peru Seychelles

Puerto Rico Trinidad and Tobago

South and West Africa Swaziland and Mozambique

United States Tanzania Uruguay Uganda Venezuela Upper West Africa Windward Islands West Africa Zaire ASIA (1) Zambia Japan AMERICAS (20) A USTRALA SIA (2) Alaska New Zealand Argentina Papua New Guinea Bolivia Brazil* EUROPE (10) Chile* Denmark Colombia Finland Dominican Republic Germany Ecuador Iceland Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana Netherlands Haiti Norway J amaica Spain Leeward and Virgin Islands Sweden Panama Switzerland Paraguay United Kingdom Peru* Puerto Rico Trinidad and Tobago D. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES WHICH ARE Uruguay SPECIFICALLY CALLED UPON TO HOLD NATION- Venezuela

AL TEACHING CONFERENCES

Windward Islands

AFRICA (29) ASIA (15) Botswana Bangladesh Burundi Burma Cameroon Republic Hong Kong Central African Republic IndiaT Chad Japan Congo Republic Korea Dahomey, Togo and Niger Laos Equatorial Guinea Malaysiai

Ghana *Summer school also specified.

Ivory Coast, Mali and Upper Volta TGoal is to hold at least 3 major inter—state Teaching Conferences.

Kenya 110021] is to hold at least 2 regional Teaching Conferences for

Lesotho South East Asian countries.

[Page 127]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF Bahá’í ACTIVITIES 127

- a < ~‘ :er mi" » A A 1 E04 Bahá’í’s attending the National Teaching Conference, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; 18719 October 1975. Auxiliary Board member R. Pepin is seen seated in the last row on the extreme right.

Bahá’ís attending the third Inter-Assembly Conference of Western Asia, Tihra’n, Irdn,‘

I 1 December 1975. In attendance at the conference were Hands of the Cause and representatives of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Western Asia.

[Page 128]128

Near East Philippine Islands Sikkim§ Singapore

Sri Lanka Taiwan

Thailand

AUSTRALASIA (11) Australia

Fiji Islands

Gilbert and Ellice Islands Hawaiian Islands

New Zealand

North West Pacific Ocean Papua New Guinea Samoa

Solomon Islands

South West Pacific Ocean Tonga and the Cook Islands

E UROPE (5) France Ireland

Italy Luxembourg Portugal

E. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES WHICH ARE TO DEVELOP AND CONDUCT CORRESPONDENCE COURSES

AMERICAS (6) Argentina Bolivia

Brazil

Panama Uruguay Venezuela

ASIA (9) Bangladesh India Japan Malaysia Pakistan Persia

Sri Lanka Thailand Vietnam

§Goal is to hold a National Teaching Conference inviting Bahá’ís residing on the Himalayan Ranges.

THE Bahá’í WORLD

F. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES CALLED UPON TO INCREASINGLY TEACH AND ENROL PEOPLE FROM SPECIFIC MINORITIES AND OTHER GROUPS

AFRICA (1) Zai're (Pygmies)

AMERICAS (7)

Alaska (Eskimos, Indians, Aleuts)

Belize (Mayas)

Chile (Easter Islanders)

Panama (immigrants from British West Indies)

Peru (Negroes and Chinese)

United States (those of Armenian, Basque, Chinese, Greek, Japanese and Spanishspeaking background)

Uruguay (Negroes)

ASIA (2) J apan Sikkim

A USTRALASIA (3)

Australia (Aboriginals and those of Chinese, Greek and Turkish background)

F iji Islands (Rotumans, Indians, Chinese and Euronesians)

New Zealand (Maoris and other Polynesians)

E UROPE (15)

Austria (Gypsies)

Belgium (students and visitors from former Belgian colonies in Africa)

Denmark (visitors from Greenland and the Faroe Islands)

Finland (Lapps and Gypsies)

France (Gypsies)

Germany (Gypsies and workers from Turkey, Greece and from countries of Eastern Europe)

Ireland (Gypsies)

Italy (Gypsies)

Luxembourg (Portuguese and other migrant workers)

Netherlands (Gypsies and people of Indonesian background)

Norway (Lapps)

Portugal (Gypsies)

Spain (Basques and Gypsies)

Sweden (Lapps, Gypsies and Finns)

[Page 129]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF Bahá’í ACTIVITIES 129

United Kingdom (Indians, Pakistanis, West Indians, visiting African students and Gypsies)

G. MISCELLANEOUS

(a) Transfer the remains of members of the Holy Family of the Báb (Persia)

(b) Continued acquisition of Bahá’í Holy Sites

(c) Establish an Institute of Higher Studies of the Faith (Persia)

(d) With a view to attracting great numbers to the Cause, develop intensive teaching and consolidation plans in at least three of the States visited by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (United States)

(6) Assume a major role in promoting the

spread of the Faith in the Far East (Japan)

(f) Greatly intensify the teaching work along the Black Sea Coast (Turkey)

(g) Develop the New Era and Rabbani Schools, and increase the number of village tutorial schools (India)

(/1) Develop the Bahá’í Education Trust recently established (Persia)

(i) Develop the existing Bahá’í schools (Sikkim)

(1') Study and implement as far as possible the use in schools and colleges of specially prepared text books on the Faith (United Kingdom)

(k) Cultivate opportunities for courses on the Faith in Canadian institutions of higher learning (Canada)

[Page 130]130 THE BAH/vi WORLD

80,000

GROWTH OF

THE' BAHA'I FAITH* 70,000

69,541

60,000

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL

ASSEMBLI ES

1953 ......................... 12

1963 ......................... 56 503'

1973 ......................... 113 54'3” “’ 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 2,425 ' 4.566

3,551 611 '53 '63 ‘64 ’68 '73 Ten Year Plan Nine Year Plan 1953-1963 1964-1973

"‘ A ximilur ('Imrl appearing in The Bahá’í World. ml. XV. (111/). I68. illuxtraledI/wnumlwr (z/‘lut'ulSpiritualAmemblies exmhlix/wzl (Ind ('L’IHI‘PA‘ where Balzti’ix raided m of [“v/n‘umjl' [973. T/u’figurcs given almve illuxlrulo I’M [7113/1101] (/3 0/ Riz'lvdn 1973. ’