Bahá’í World/Volume 25/Two New National Spiritual Assemblies

Bahá’í World/Volume 25 Two New National Spiritual Assemblies

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[Page 41]This article describes the formation in April 1996 of two new National Spiritual Assemblies.

TWO NEW NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES

he Bahá’í communities of São Tomé and Príncipe and of Moldova had more than the usual reason to be joyous at the 1996 Ridván festival. In addition to commemorating the 133rd anniversary of the Declaration by Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, of His prophetic mission, delegates throughout both countries gathered together at inaugural conventions to elect their first National Spiritual Assemblies.

The purpose of the 174 National Assemblies currently in existence around the world is to stimulate, unify, and coordinate by frequent personal consultations the activities of the Bahá’ís and the local administrative units under their jurisdiction, initiating measures and directing in general the affairs of the Faith in their respective territories. They also maintain regular contact with the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa, Israel. The manifold functions of a National Assembly

1. Two previously existing National Spiritual Assemblies, of Rwanda and Burundi, were unable to re-form at Ridván 1996 owing to political and social turmoil in those countries. [Page 42]include the publication of Bahá’í literature, formulation of national teaching plans, and representation of the Bahá’ís in relation to the civil authorities. The members of all National Assemblies constitute the electorate in the election, every five years, of the supreme administrative body of the Bahá’í Faith, the Universal House of Justice.

National Assemblies are themselves elected according to the principle of proportional representation, whereby adult members in hamlets, villages, towns, and cities gather in unit conventions to elect their delegates to National Conventions, at which the delegates elect the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly. This was the procedure followed for the birth of the Bahá’í world community's two newest national institutions.

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Moldova²

About 100 Bahá’ís from Moldova, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United States gathered together in Chisinau from 27 to 28 April 1996 to witness the election of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Moldova. Representing the Universal House of Justice was Dr. Ilhan Sezgin, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Europe, who read the statement of the House of Justice addressed to those attending the country's inaugural convention. The message declared, "Only through the healing Message of Bahá’u’lláh can the age-long rivalries and prejudices between races and peoples be overcome. It is your duty and high privilege to work towards the fulfillment of such a noble goal by spreading the life-giving Teachings to your fellow countrymen, by demonstrating through your own personal lives the transforming power of the Faith and by creating, in cities, towns and villages of your country, a network of sound and harmonious Bahá’í communities which can radiate the light of unity to all regions." Among those present at this gathering was Annemarie Krüger, Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for Moldova, who has witnessed the development of the Bahá’í community in that country from its inception to the election of its first National Assembly.

2. With the formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of Moldova, the Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Ukraine and Moldova became the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Ukraine. [Page 43]

NEW NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES

The first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Moldova.

It was Shoghi Effendi who initially called for the introduction of the Bahá’í Faith into the territory of Moldova at the launching of the Ten Year Plan³ in 1953. The first Bahá’í who visited Moldova with this goal in mind was Mrs. Krüger in 1974. As a result of her repeated trips and constant correspondence, the first Moldovan embraced the Bahá’í Faith in Chisinau in 1984. Later, with the easing of restrictions and changed political conditions, Bahá’ís from different parts of the world were able to settle as pioneers or visit Moldova as traveling teachers. In 1991, the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Moldova was formed and placed under the jurisdiction of the National Spiritual Assembly of what was then the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The following Ridván, there were 26 Bahá’ís and the administrative duties of this infant community were placed under the Regional Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova. It was not, however, until the Three Year Plan (1993-1996) that the numbers of Bahá’ís expanded rapidly—from 66 in June 1994 to 173 a year and a half later—allowing for the formation of the country's own National Assembly.

3. In 1953 the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, Shoghi Effendi, launched a ten-year teaching plan, among the goals of which were to bring the Bahá’í Faith to the main unopened territories of the world and to consolidate communities in territories where there were already Bahá’ís. During this period the number of National Spiritual Assemblies increased from 12 to 47. Those who arose at that time or later to open territories named as goals of the Ten Year Plan were named Knights of Bahá’u’lláh. [Page 44]

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of São Tomé and Príncipe

At the time of the launching of the Ten Year Plan in 1953 Shoghi Effendi also called for the Faith to be taken to the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, off the coast of West Africa. In response to his appeal, Elise Schreiber arrived in 1954 as a pioneer from the United States, thereby becoming a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for those islands. A small number of people was attracted to the Faith, despite severe trials and hardships, and a Local Spiritual Assembly was formed.

For many years, because of local circumstances, there were no Bahá’í visitors from outside the island. Then in 1984, under the sponsorship of the National Spiritual Assembly of Nigeria, efforts were intensified to reestablish the community, supported by collaboration with the Bahá’ís of Brazil, Cape Verde, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria, Portugal, and the United States. Traveling teachers from Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Portugal, and the United States came to assist in teaching and consolidation. By 1988 a Local Assembly was established in the capital city of São Tomé and three groups were formed in other cities. Kobina Fynn, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for the Bahá’í Faith in Africa, traveled frequently to the islands, encouraging and training the Bahá’ís; during a three-week visit in 1994 eighty persons accepted the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh. By that time there were twelve Local Spiritual Assemblies, with at least one in each of the seven

The first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of São Tomé and Principe. [Page 45]

NEW NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES

administrative districts. In July 1994 the National Teaching and Administrative Committee of São Tomé and Príncipe was appointed to spearhead the community's efforts to achieve that country's Three Year Plan goals. The community was further strengthened the following year through the efforts of traveling teachers from Angola and Brazil.

Whereas the first Bahá’ís on those islands had experienced intimidation and even imprisonment, on 7 October 1995 the São Tomé and Príncipe National Radio broadcast a detailed introduction to the Faith including mention of its status as an independent religion. By November of that year there were 17 Local Spiritual Assemblies in the islands, with two in Príncipe.

The first National Spiritual Assembly was established at Ridván 1996 with Fred Schechter, Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre, representing the Universal House of Justice. The preparations, both material and spiritual, for the birth of this new institution were made by its mother Assembly, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Nigeria.