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Declaration and Enrollment
What Is the Difference between Declaration and Enrollment?
What Is Involved in Declaration and Enrollment?
Declaration is a statement of belief on the part of the individual. Enrollment is the process after declaration by which the Assembly or its agent nurtures the new believer into an understanding of his role in the Baha’i community.
‘The purpose of teaching is not complete whena person declares that he has accepted Baha’u’Iah as the Manifestation of God for this age; the purpose of teaching is to attract human beings to the divine Message and so imbue them with its spirit that they will dedicate themselves to its service, and this world will become another world and its people another people. Viewed in this light a declaration of faith is merely a milestone along the way—albeit a very important one. Teaching may also be likened to kindling a fire, the fire of faith, in the hearts of men. If a fire burns only so long as the match is held to it, it cannot truly be said to have been kindled; to be kindled it must continue to burn of its own accord. Thereafter more fuel can be added and the flame can be fanned, but even if left alone for a period, atruly kindled fire will not be extinguished by the first breath of wind.’’—The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated 25 May 1975 to all National Spiritual Assemblies)
‘After a person has declared his belief in the
Revelation of Baha’u’llah, he must, during the process of enrollment, become informed about the basic teachings of the Faith. To become a registered Baha’i, it is sufficient for a declarant to believe in Baha’u’llah, the Manifestation of God for this Day, and to recognize the stations of the Bab and ‘Abdu’]-Baha. In addition, he must understand that Baha’u’1lah has established laws and institutions which are to be obeyed. The
pamphlet On Becoming a Bahd’i gives the basic information needed by a declarant if he is to
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sustain this understanding at the beginning of his Baha’i life. It is our advice, therefore, that each declarant at least acquaint himself, preferably but not necessarily with the aid ofa teacher, with the contents of this pamphlet during the process of enrollment.’’—National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States (From a letter dated 3 December 1970 to all Local Spiritual Assemblies, State Goals Committees, and Summer School Committees)
