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New Membership Cards Are Issued
In January 1978 the National Spiritual Assembly issued membership cards to all members of the American Bahá’í community in good standing. The card replaces the membership card formerly issued by Local Spiritual Assemblies and by the National Assembly to believers outside the jurisdiction of a Local Assembly. The new card, which is green and slightly larger than the old card, will expire in January 1981.
The issuance of a national membership card makes it timely to review the purpose of the card itself. Please take note of the following:
1. The purpose of the Bah'a‘l membership card is to identify the bearer as a Bahá’í who possesses his administrative rights. Whenever a Bahá’í travels to another locality, he should present his card. Likewise, Local Spiritual Assemblies should always ask visiting Bahá’ís to present their membership card. Those unableito produce a card should not be allowed to attend the Nineteen Day Feast or other meetings that are for Bahá’ís only, unless their membership is verified by the National Assembly (see below).
2. If a Bahá’í does not receive his new membership card by late February, he should call the Office of Membership and Records between» 5 p.m. and midnight (CST) at the following number: 312-256-4403. Local Spiritual Assemblies and District Teaching Committees may also call this number to verify the mem BAHA’l PHONE NUMBER
To be used by Bahá’ís who do not receive their new national membership card by late February and by Local Assemblies and District Teaching Committees who need to verify the membership of traveling Bahá’ís or newcomers:
31 2/ 256-4403
Call between 5 p.m. and midnight, Central Standard Time.
bership of visiting believers who do not have a membership card.
3. The Bahá’í membership card provides space for identifying a person to be notified in case of death or serious injury. It also states that the bearer requests that all Bahá’í laws regarding burial be followed. The card should be signed upon receipt and kept in a place in one's purse or wallet so that both sides may be seen.
4. Local Spiritual Assemblies and District Teaching Committees will be responsible for retrieving the membership card from those whose requests to withdraw from membership in the Faith are accepted by the National Spiritual Assembly or who are deprived of their administrative rights.
Actions Announced From Convention
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly (through the National Education Committee) explore the possibility of bringing the concept of the Davison Bahá’í School project to each Local Spiritual Assembly for its consideration to develop locally.
ACTION: This will be done in due course. Meanwhile, the Local Assemblies and friends should proceed with their own plans for educating children in the Teachings of the Faith.
RECOMMENDATlON:Thatthe Local Spiritual Assembly Deepening Program be more flexible as to time, number of Assembly members needed to be present, and who may attend.
ACTION: The National Assembly agrees that the administration of the Assembly Development Program should be as flexible as possible.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly initiate a nationwide procedure for enrollment.
ACTION: The National Assembly already has acted on clarifying enrollment procedures for the national community.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly consider sponsoring, once again, the Nine-Uay Deepening institutes, but especially aimed at youth, and having only specifically trained Bahá’ís as coordinators.
ACTION: The National Spiritual Assembly is considering a variant of the deepening institute for youth.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly see that all new Assemblies receive the videotape portion of the Local Spiritual Assembly Development Program within the year of their formation.
ACTION: The National Education Committee is being asked to put together a one-session orientation for new Assemblies based on the materials of the Assembly Development Program pending the involvement of these Assemblies in the full program.
RECOMMENDATION: That_the National Spiritual Assembly encourage Local Spiritual Assemblies, Groups, and individual believers to meet weekly to pray for guidance and to adopt as a serious long-range goal that of changing the Bahá’í life style significantly to increase our activity, one means of achieving the latter being prayer and meditation.
ACTION: The exhortations in the available Writings of the Faith concerning the necessity for regular prayer and meditation already are abundant and the National Spiritual Assembly does not feel that it needs to give further emphasis to these subjects.
RECOMMENDATION: That new believers should be accepted into communities not just administratively but emotionally.
ACTION: The National Assembly refers all who are concerned with this question to the statement on “Enrollment Procedure" in Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies, pages 68 and 69, and “Nurturing the New Believers," pages 70 and 71.
RECOMMENDATION: That the Local Spiritual Assemblies be reminded that they are to handle the personal problems within their communities and report the actions taken to the National Spiritual Assembly and they are not to send the problem to the National Spiritual Assembly.
ACTION: The proposed action is being taken now.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly encourage the friends to discuss the meaning of meditation.
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National
I’ Review
ACTION: The next installment of the Comprehensive Deepening Program will be devoted to the subject of meditation.
RECOMMENDATION: That communities be ecouraged to increase their social activities to allow for opportunities for the believers to get to know one another.
ACTION: The National Assembly thinks this is a good idea.
RECOMMENDATION: Thatthe National Spiritual Assembly begin to assign now to the appropriate committee the responsibility of
promoting enthusiasm for consolidation in the United States. ACTION: The National Teaching Committee, the National Education Committee and the District Teaching Committees have as one of their primary responsibilities the promotion of consolidation in the United States.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly consider seriously when planning any conference with national focus including a built-in component for ongoing motivation.
ACTION: The National Assembly concurs with the idea that ongoing motivation should be a necessary component of conferences, and the provision for this is being made.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly sponsor regional conferences with selected Local Spiritual Assemblies to develop goals, followed by a meeting with the communities to commit them immediately to the goals outlined and to have a National Spiritual Assembly member or representative present.
ACTION: This idea is not feasible. However, the National Spiritual Assembly has advised the Local Spiritual Assemblies to adopt goals and has provided guidelines.
RECOMMENDATION: That “Each One Bring One" Conferences should be initiated around the country and those non-Bahá’ís who come should be invited during the Conference to come and enroll (patterned after Billy Graham—type meetings). The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears should be invited to these Conferences.
ACTION: The National Spiritual Assembly does notwish to pursue this idea.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly give more careful consideration to the planning of District/National Conventions to allow more time for consultation: extending National Conventions to 4 days; District/State Conventions to 2 days including social events, e.g. dinner, etc.
ACTION: Consideration is being given to better planning of Conventions, but it does not seem feasible to increase the time of these events.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly include some of the newly-published Prayers of the Báb in forthcoming editions of the Bahá’í Prayer Book.
ACTION: The Bahá’í Publishing Trust has been advised to consider including Prayers of the Báb in forthcoming editions of the Bahá’í Prayer Book.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Information Committee discontinue producing new materials and coordinate and stimulate the Local Spiritual Assemblies and Groups to use resources already available.
ACTION: The National Information Committee is acting on this advice.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly consider using the Bahá’í National Review for brief summaries of successful solutions to certain problems and as a forum for ideas in addition to its other functions.
ACTION: This suggestion is being passed on to the editors of The American Bahá’í and Bahá’í National Review.
RECOMMENDATION: That the Publishing Trust develop and publish a compilation on the Institution of the Continental Board of Counsellors and its Auxiliary Board similar to the one
published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom.
ACTION: The National Spiritual Assembly does not wantto undertake this project at this time. However, it will continue to make available to the friends all information concerning the responsibilities and functions of the Continental Boards of Counsellors and their Auxiliary Boards.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly consider launching a comprehensive media campaign in Los Angeles. San Francisco, Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C., funded by a special appeal to each believer (independent of the regular budget) with a goal of raising $500,000.
ACTION: The proposed media campaign is not practical.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly consider making the point to the community that it will take on a full-blown media campaign as soon as the friends come up with the funds.
ACTION: The National Spiritual Assembly does not wish to follow this recommendation.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly perrnitthe friendsto give opinions and responsesto TV and radio speeches on questions that should not go unanswered.
ACTION: Any person who wishes to respond to TV and radio programs may do so with the permission and guidance of his Local Spiritual Assembly.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly investigate the possibility of placing ads in youth-oriented magazines such as Seventeen and Hot Rod.
ACTION: The National Spiritual Assembly does notthink it a good idea to place Bahá’í ads in these magazines.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly and National Teaching Committee investigate thoroughly the Oregon Teaching Project that has proven so successful in order to utilize or adapt it to other areas.
ACTION: Evaluation of the Oregon Teaching Project is in progress.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly initiate a mass teaching project in the South utilizing experience of the past and using teachers who have been involved, but making certain that in whatever community such activity takes place there are believers living there who can consolidate the community thereafter.
ACTION: The emphasis on the national teaching programs this year is the Victory Campaign and the friends are urged to concentrate on this. However, the National Assembly is pleased to note that a conference was held in Knoxville, Tennessee, that addressed the question of teaching the masses in the South.
RECOMMENDATION: Thatthe National Spiritual Assembly make available to all Local Spiritual Assemblies who are interested the details of the Alaska Teaching Project and other such successful projects.
ACTION: The Victory Campaign is already in progress and it does not seem feasible to add any other project at this time.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly clearly state that ittruly believesthat directteaching as well as all other kinds of teaching are permissible.
ACTION: This recommendation indicates a lack of understanding of the term “direct teaching," and the friends are urged to study the compilation entitled, “The Individual and Teaching" to grasp the true meaning of their responsiblilities in the teaching field.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly keep a running score monthly of the status of the states accepting the challenge from California to redouble their numbers this year.
ACTION: The National Teaching Committee is keeping a monthly record of the achievements in the three states.
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RECOMMENDATION: Thatthe National Spiritual Assembly make
a special effort directed toward financing and implementing a
comprehensive correspondence teaching course.
ACTION: The National Spiritual Assembly is interested in the idea of a correspondence course but one cannot be produced immediately. This is a matter that will be looked into after the Five Year Plan.
RECOMMENDATION: Thatthe National Spiritual Assembly when transferring believers into our country who have particular language skills, etc., put them in contact with the individuals or committee responsible for activities in particular areas where their talents or skills are particularly needed.
ACTION: This is a good idea but it is not easy to act upon consistently as the National Assembly is not always informed of skills believers may have when transferred to the United States.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly prepare a speakers‘ list of knowledgeable believers for use of university/college clubs. ‘
ACTION: This is a matter for the National Youth Committee to act
upon.
RECOMMENDATION: Thatthe National Spiritual Assembly make available a list of national organizations that help those with social problems to all Local Spiritual Assemblies and District Teaching Committees for use of Groups to be used on a consultation basis to help believers who may have such problems, e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous.
ACTION: Local Spiritual Assemblies already have been asked to utilize social agencies and should themselves prepare a list of suitable agencies in their own areas.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly oc lntercalary Days Meaningful Time
The Báb showed the importance of the new Age which He came to announce by starting a new calendar. Bahá’u’lláh upheld this new measurement of time for the world of today and tomorrow. The Bahá’í year has 19 months and each month has 19 days. This comes to 361 days. However, the earth takes 365% days in its journey around the sun. That means there are four days (five in "leap years," that is, every fourth year) that must be added or put into the calendar. This is the meaning of the word “interca|ary" (pronounced in-TER-ka-la-ry). The lntercalary Days are between the 18th Bahá’í month (February 7-25) and the 19th Bahá’í month (March 2-20). ,
The lntercalary Days, called "Ayyam-i-Ha," have been named by Bahá’u’lláh as days to be specially devoted to hospitality,_ to the giving of presents and gifts, visiting and looking after the sick and the poor. These days and activities are both a joyous time of fellowship and service to others, as well as a time of preparation for the spiritual experience of the Fast which follows immediately after the close of Ayyam-i-Ha. First comes the happy expression of Bahá’í love and brotherhood carried out in actions of kindness towards others, and then comes the time of the Fast when we Bahá’ís seek our full ration of spiritual food through special remembrance of God.—Based on letter from the National Spiritual Assembly of India, Bahá’í News (U.S. Supplement, p. 2, February 1967.
casionally supplement the Feast letter with brief recordings by the Hands of the Cause of God, Continental Board of Counsellors or the National Spiritual Assembly members for use at the Feast.
ACTION: It is not practical to send recordings to the Feast.
RECOMMENDATION: That the National Spiritual Assembly encourage District Teaching Committees to take out yearly permits for bulk mailing to aid inexpensive direct mail campaigns.
ACTION: For several years, the National Teaching Committee has been encouraging District Teaching Committees to get bulk mailing permits.
RECOMMENDATION: That isolated believers be visited by the Counsellors and Auxiliary Board members to inspire these friends.
ACTION: The National Spiritual Assembly heartily endorses this recommendation.
True Significance Of the Fast Period
"Prayer and fasting is the cause of awakening and mindfulness and conducive to protection and preservation from tests. . ."‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’í World Faith.
“As regards fasting, it consitutes, together with the obligatory prayers, the two pillars that sustain the revealed Law of God. They act as stimulants to the soul, strengthen, revive, and purify it, and thus insure its steady development.
“The ordinance of tasting is, as is the case with these three prayers, a spiritual and vital obligation enjoined by Bahá’u’lláh upon every believer who has attained the age of fifteen. In the Aqdas He thus writes: ‘We have commanded you to pray and fast from the beginning of maturity; this is ordained by God, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers. He has exempted from this those who are week from illness or age, as a bounty from His Presence, and He is the Forgiving, the Generous.’ And in another passage He says: ‘We have enjoined upon you fasting during a brief period, and at its close have designated for you Naw-Rúz as a feast. . .The traveler, the ailing, those who are with child or giving suck, are not bound by the fast. . .Abstain from food and drink, from sunrise to sundown, and beware lest desire deprive you of this grace that is appointed in the Book.‘
“Also in the ‘Questions and Answers‘ that form an appendix to the Aqdas, Bahá’u’lláh reveals the following: ‘Verily, I say that God has appointed a good station for fasting and prayer. But during good health its benefit is evident, and when one is ill, it is not permissible to fulfill them.’ Concerning the age of maturity, He reveals in the appendix of that same book: ‘The age of maturity is in the fifteenth year; women and men are alike in this respect. . .‘
“The fasting period, which lasts nineteen days starting as a rule from the second of March every year and ending on thetwentieth of the same month, involves complete abstention from food and drink from sunrise till sunset. It is essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul. Its significance and purpose are, therefore, fundamentally spiritual in character. Fasting is symbolic, and a reminder of abstinence from selfish and carnal desires.“—Shoghi Effendi; through his secretary, Bahá’í News, March 1936.
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Bahál E'23%'33'
Maintaining Assembly Status is Essential
Once established, the Local Assembly should not be allowed to lose its status. Shoghi Effendi has stated that the Assemblies "must, at no time and under no circumstances, be allowed to diminish in number or decline in strength and in influence."
Therefore, one of the essential duties of Assembly members isto maintain the status of their Assembly and take every precaution to prevent it from becoming jeopardized. In this regard, the National Spiritual Assembly strongly advises each Local Assembly to establish as a primary goal the maintenance of at least 15 adult believers in its community at all times.
Maintenance of Assembly status also depends upon the measure of importance which the individual members give to their Godgiven duties. A point each Assembly member should bear in mind is that attention to the work of the Assembly is a fundamental obligation and the member should so organize his or her schedule that priority is given to Assembly business throughout the year.
An Assembly that becomes jeopardized because the number of adult members-in its community has fallen below nine should report the matter immediately tothe National Spiritual Assembly. This is a
Bahá’ís Who Travel Abroad Should Inform Goals Committee
Bahá’ís traveling to areas outside the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, should notify the International Goals Committee soon after they learn they will be going. The friends who are contemplating travel to certain sensitive areas, particularly in Eastern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, should be certain to notify the National Spiritual Assembly before leaving, so that it can give them important information about the condition of the Faith in that area.
Notifying the committee of international travel plans enables the National Spiritual Assembly to properly introduce traveling Bahá’ís to the National Assembly having jurisdiction over the area visited so that the Bahá’í may be of service to the host country. It also enables the traveler to receive vital information about the condition of the Faith in the country and addresses of Bahá’ís to contact upon arrival. Please notify the committee well in advance so that it will have time to correspond with both the traveler and the National Spiritual Assembly for the country to be visited.
Another reason for informing the International Goals Committee of travel plans is that it makes it possible for the trip to be counted toward winning the goal of 270 international traveling teaching trips given the American Bahá’í community by the Universal House of Justice in 1975. If a Bahá’í making a business trip has time to make his services available to the National Spiritual Assembly of the country to be visited, the trip can then count toward the achievement of this goal. Youth traveling abroad should inform the committee, as the trip may be counted toward fulfilling the goals of the Two Year Youth Plan as well as the over-all Five Year Plan.
The International Goals Committee may be reached by writing 112 Linden Ave., Wilmette, IL 60091, or by calling 312-256-4400.
critical situation requiring the most urgent and effective attention.
Under the circumstances, the Assembly should suspend all major projects that are not directly related to teaching. The remaining members of the community should then engage in intensive teaching activities, individually and perhaps in teams, so as to effect expansion of its membership from within its own locality. No time should be wasted. Waiting until the last minute to act can be disastrous. And requesting homefront pioneers to fill the void is not a reliable means of dealing with the situation. The numerical jeopardy of Assemblies can be avoided if each Assembly makes certain to maintain at least 15 active adult believers in its community at all times.
If an Assembly loses its status, the person holding its files and records should seek the advice of the National Spiritual Assembly as to their disposition.
Date of Naw-Ftuz, Feast Clarified
For the friends who may think that the Feast of Naw-Rúz and the Ninteen Day Feast of Baha are one and the same becausethey fall on March 21 , the following excerpt from a letter to the National Spiritual Assembly from the Guardian through his secretary on July 5, 1950, will clarify the misunderstanding:
“The Naw-Fluz Feastshould be held on March 21 before sunset and has nothing to do with the 19 Day Feast. The 19 Day Feast is administrative in function whereas the Naw-Fiuz is our New Year, a Feast of hospitality and rejoicing." (Quoted in Bahá’í News, October 1950 and March 1956.)
This instruction makes it clear that the Nineteen Day Feast of March 21 should be observed separately from the Feast of Naw—Ru2 which can be shared with members of the family and friends who are not Bahá’ís.
The hours during which the Naw—Flu2 Feast may be celebrated are after sunset on March 20 and until sunset March 21.
In light of the above instruction from Shoghi Effendi, Local Spiritual Assemblies must make provision for the holding of the Nineteen Day Feast (Baha, or Splendor) separate and apart from the celebration of Naw~Fluz. It would be ideal if this could be held before sunset on March 21, but if this is not possible it may be postponed to an early date in the month of Baha, well before April 9 which is the beginning of a new Bahá’í month (Jalál, or Glory).
In this connection we refer tothe following excerpt from the same letter from the Guardian quoted above:
“He would like to point out that if the believers gather before sundown on a certain date it does not matter if the meeting continues after sunset; it may still be considered as being held on the day they gathered."— Bahá’í News, March 1967.
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Membership Criteria In Non-Bahá’í Groups
The National Spiritual Assembly frequently receives requests from Bahá’ís asking whether they can join various organizations. Since there are thousands of organizations, it is impossible forthe National Spiritual Assembly to be familiar with the aims, purposes, and membership requirements of all organizations. However, here are a few general guidelines that individual Bahá’ís should consider before joining any organization, as well as comments about a few organizations that are often the subject of inquiry.
The chief criteria for membership in any organization are: Are its aims or objects compatible with the Bahá’í laws and principles? is membership open to persons of all racial and religious backgrounds? is it free of partisan politics?
The Guardian did not elaborate on what is meant by "secret organizations," but the term certainly applies to all those organizations whose aims and objects are not availalbe to everyone who wishes to know them and whose membership is not open to all persons without regard to race or religion. Furthermore, the organization must not engage in partisan politics. Neither should it be onethat would not be acceptable anywhere in the world. It is largely because the Free Masons engage in politics in some countries and are not acceptable in certain countries that the Guardian singled out Masonry for special mention, even though the general aims and purposes of the organization are of a very high order.
As for fraternities and sororities, membership in these is permissible provided membership does not exclude persons because of race, religion, or social position. ‘
Membership in the League of Women Voters is permissible unless and until it becomes involved in partisan politics. Discussion of political issues in itself is not forbidden to Bahá’ís but they cannot support any particular party.
As for membership in the Grange, we assume this is permissible ,
for Bahá’ís so long as it remains the educational and social movement we understand it to be.
If any Bahá’í is in doubt about a particular organization, he can consult the administrative institutions. in doing so he should supply all possible information so that a decision can be based on facts.
Purpose, Use Of the Bahá’í National Review
The Bahá’í National Review is a publication through which the National Spiritual Assembly informs enrolled Bahá’ís of important matters of national policy and explains various teachings of the Faith. It should be carefully studied and preserved for further reference and instructional purposes. Local Spiritual Assemblies, in particular, should keep all the issues of Bahá’í National Review on hand in a ready reference file.
The Bahá’í National Review is for Bahá’ís only and is to be distinguished from The American Bahá’í, which contains news of events taking place in the American Bahá’í Community and is written for the enjoyment and inspiration of the Bahá’ís. While it is permissible to share The American Bahá’í with friends who are close to the Faith, the Bahá’í National Review is for registered Bahá’ís only and therefore should be removed from The American Bahá’í before the latter is shown to anyone else.
The Masons
"As regards your question about Masonry, the Bahá’ís, the Guardian feels very strongly, must learn at the present time to think internationally and not locally. Although each believer realizes that he is a member of one great spiritual family, a member of the new World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, he does not often carry this thought through to its logical conclusion, which is that if the Bahá’ís all over the world each belong to some different kind of society or church or political party, the unity of the Faith will be destroyed, because inevitably they will become involved in doctrines and policies that are in some way against our Teaching, and often against another group of people in another part of the world, or another race or another religious bloc.
“Therefore, all the Bahá’ís everywhere have been urged to give up their old affiliations and withdraw from membership in the Masonic and other secret societies, in order to be entirely free to serve the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh as a united Body. Such groups as Masonry, however high the local standard may be, are in other countries gradually being influenced by the issues sundering the nations at present.
“The Guardian wants the Bahá’ís to disentangle themselves from anything that may in any way, now or in the future, compromise their independent status as Bahá’ís and the supranational natureof their Faith." (From a letter written by Shoghi Effendi’s secretary to an individual believer dated February 17, 1956.)
Non-Bahá’í Religious Organizations
“Concerning membership in non-Bahá’í religious associations, the Guardian wishes to re-emphasize the general principle already laid down in his communications to your Assembly and also to the individual believers that no Bahá’í who wishes to be a wholehearted and sincere upholder of the distinguishing principles of the Cause can accept full membership in any non-Bahá’í ecclesiastical organization. For such an act would necessarily imply only a partial acceptance of the Teachings and Laws of the Faith, and an incomplete recognition of its independent status, and would thus be tantamount to an act of disloyalty to the verities it enshrines. For it is only too obvious that in most of its fundamental assumptions the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh is completely at variance with outworn creeds. ceremonies, and institutions. To be a Bahá’í and at the same time accept membership in another religious body is simply an act of contradiction that no sincere and logically-minded person can possibly accept. To follow Bahá’u’lláh does not mean accepting some of His Teachings and rejecting the rest. Allegiance to His Cause must be uncompromising and whole-hearted. During the days of the Master the Cause was still in a stage that made such an open and sharp disassociation between it and other religious organizations, and particularly the Muslim Faith, not only inadvisable but practically impossible to establish. But since His passing, events throughout the Bahá’í World and particularly in Egypt, where the Muslim religious courts have formally testified to the independent character of the Faith, have developed to a point that have made such an assertion of the independence of the Cause not only highly desirable but absolutely essential." (From a letter written on Shoghi Effendi's behalf published in Bahá’í News, July 1935, p. 1.)
Bahá’ís who retain membership in religious organizations, particularly churches, are subject to the possible loss of their administrative rights of membership in the Bahá’í community.
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'7' N t' I
Bahai RZIIEJIS‘
Use of Caution Urged in Teaching Muslims
In the past year, the National Spiritual Assembly has received numerous queries from Local Spiritual Assemblies and individuals seeking clarification of the guidance urging Bahá’ís to refrain from teaching the Faith to Muslims and advising them to exercise caution in their association with Muslims. The majority of these queries indicate that the American Bahá’í community does not fully understand and take seriously the guidance on this subject. Thus, the National Spiritual Assembly finds it timely to reprint the policy for the edification of the community. The need to appreciate the wisdom of this guidance is underscored by the increased number of Iranian students attending American colleges and universities and the evidence of a greater degree of opposition to the Faith instigated by Iranian students throughout the country.
Since American Bahá’ís have a special affection for Persia, the cradle of their Faith, and for Islam, they frequently seek out students and visitors from Muslim nations, attempt to teach them the Faith, and invite them to Bahá’í public meetings, firesides, study classes, and summer schools.
As early as January 1926, Shoghi Effendi wrote the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada:
"Regarding association with Oriental travelers and residents in the United States and Canada, I desire to emphasize afresh the vital necessity for the exercise in these days of the greatest vigil Teaching Black Muslims
In recent months the National Spiritual Assembly has received a number of inquiries from Local Spiritual Assemblies about the advisability of teaching the Faith to the Nation of Islam (Black
_ Muslims). The National Assembly feels that the need to exercise
caution in associating with Muslims from Eastern countries should be applied to Black Muslims as well, because we do not know the degree to which the traditional Muslim view of the Bahá’í Faith affects the attitudes and behavior of Black Muslims, who in recent years have drawn closer in their views and practices to orthodox Islam.
Incorporated Assemblies Must Comply With the Law
To all incorporated Local Spiritual Assemblies:
Most states require their non-profit corporations to file an annual report and to pay a nominal yearly filing fee. All incorporated Local Spiritual Assemblies should determine if their state has such a requirement and it so, comply with its details. In most cases the department of your state that requires the annual report will send you a form to fill out. However, the statute is usually written to make it the responsibility of the corporation to file the annual report. The penalty for failure to file is usually involuntary dissolution of the corporation.
Union Membership Clarified
A decision to join a labor union and to take part in strikes it may call is left to the individual believer. However, a Bahá’í must be careful not to become involved in political causes which the union may promote. (For a discussion of the need to refrain from participating in politics, please see the November 1977 issue of Bahá’í National Review and Messages From the Universal House of Justice, pp. 44-50.)
ance and reserve, prudence and caution, on the part of the American believers in their dealings with them, either in an official or private capacity, whether in business transactions or for purely religious purposes. As the Movement grows in prestige, fame and influence, as the ambitions, malice and ill-will of strangers and enemies correspondingly wax greater, it becomes increasingly important for every individual and Spiritual Assembly to be on their guard lest they fall innocent victims of the evil designs of the malevolent, the self-seeking and the greedy." (Bahá’í Administration, pp. 101-2)
The Guardian also wrote, as quoted in the compilation Principles of Bahá’í Administration:
“The attitude of the friends towards Orientals should be one of great caution, according to the Master's own often-repeated and explicit instructions and warnings. Any believer in good standing would not leave his home community without a letterofcredentials, and certainly no Persians, claiming to be Bahá’ís, but lacking credentials, should be accepted until the Persian National Spiritual Assembly has clarified their status. They can, naturally, attend public meetings, but should not be permitted to come to the Nineteen Day Feast; the friends may associate with them, but should be very cautious, bearing in mind that many Orientals, who scorned, or were even actively against the Cause while living in the East, now find it convenient to pass as believers or friends of the Faith in a Western country where they are strangers."
While Bahá’ís must associate with followers of all religions and people of all lands, they must be on their guard lest unwise actions produce harmful results.
They should keep in mind that in most Muslim countries there exist ample opportunities to learn about the Faith. They should also remember that in many Muslim countries Baha‘Is live under constant pressure and that occasionally outright persecution breaks out, endangering their very lives. It is difficult to realize how deep hatred for the Faith can run and how our carelessness can imperil individuals and entire communities in certain countries.
American Bahá’ís should not attempt to teach the Faith to persons from Middle Eastern, North African, and other Muslim countries unless such persons are permanent residents of the United States. Such a Muslim who happens to be in the United States temporarily cannot be enrolled in the Bahá’í community by our National Spiritual Assembly but must be enrolled upon his return home by the appropriate Bahá’í institution in his country. Muslims temporarily in the United States should not be invited to any Bahá’í activities but should they come without invitation, they will, of course, be welcomed in a courteous and friendly manner.
Friends Shouldn’t Contact Prominent Persons Directly
In view of the fact that some of the friends do not know aboutthis instruction given to the National Spiritual Assembly by Shoghi Effendi and published in Bahá’í News several times, the National Assembly calls attention to the fact that contacts with persons of national and international prominence, whether directly or in writing, should not be made by individual Bahá’ís.
This is a function of the National Spiritual Assembly. However, the believers are free to make recommendations to the National Assembly that such contacts be made. The National Assembly in turn may wish to authorize some individual or Local Assembly to establish the contact, depending uponthe circumstances.
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Bahá’ís Forbidden Use of Alcohol
"Under no circumstances should Bahá’ís drink. It is so unambiguously forbidden in the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, that there is no excuse for them even touching it in the form of a toast, or in a burning plum pudding; in fact, in any way." (From a letterwritten on behalf of the Guardian by his Secretary to an individual believer, dated March 3, 1957.)
“The Assemblies must be wise and gentle in dealing with such cases (i.e., Bahá’ís using alcoholic beverages), but at the same time must not tolerate a prolonged and flagrant disregard of the Bahá’í Teachings as regards alcohol." (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian by his Secretary to the Canadian National Spiritual Assembly. Bahá’í News, June 1958.)
As to those believers who continue to drink, they should be lovingly exhorted, then firmly warned and eventually deprived of their voting rights. The number of times a person is exhorted and warned is a matter left to the discretion of each Local Spiritual Assembly, in consultation with the National Spiritual Assembly. The policy you adopt should not be one of removing the administra tive rights of the believers in a bureaucratic and automatic way, as this would be unwise and unjust. Your Assembly as well as all Local Spiritual Assemblies should courageously and continuously remind the friends of their obligation in this respect, handle firmly all flagrant cases. and use such cases, in a way that by force of example, they exert their influence upon the other believers. It must be made clear to the Local Assemblies that they should be willing to cooperate with the believers affected by such drinking habits, when any such believer promises gradually and systematically to reduce his drinking with the objective in mind of entirely abandoning this habit.
We feel sure that your National Spiritual Assembly will, "with wisdom, loving kindness and determination succeed in uprooting this evil from your ranks and bring aboutthe spiritual upliftment and advancement of the believers under your area of jurisdiction.
The Universal House of Justice November 12, 1965
Writings Strongly Discourage Smoking
The following is a letter written by the National Spiritual Assembly to the American Bahá’í community for the Feast of Sultan 134 B.E. and dated 10 January 1977.
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Our society is full of smoke. Some of it is produced by the pollution of the human spirit. some by physical agents. Frequently one has an effect on the other. An instance is the practice of smoking tobacco and other substances. In recent years wide pubIicity has been given to the evils of smoking and some civil authorities have gone as far as to adopt public policies to control this practice.
We Bahais know that the Laws of Bahá’u’lláh do not prohibit smoking, but we are fully aware that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá strongly discouraged it, as can be gleaned from His statement appearing in
Bahá’í World Faith, pp. 333-336. Still, it is a matter of individual decision whether one smokes or not.
Generally when we are not presented with a specific Bahá’í law in a given situation, we strive to find the answer by balancing the sense of our religious beliefs with the findings of science. In the case of smoking, quite apart from the scientific findings, the necessity for Bahais to be courteous is a key consideration.
Since more and more of the friends are expressing their discomfort when they are confronted by this practice within the Bahá’í community, we call upon all those concerned to consider the problems involved and to find solutions that will neither interfere with the individua|‘s freedom of choice in the matter nor cause him to offend those who are affected by smoking.
You will undoubtedly find helpful the following extract from a letter of the Universal House of Justice dated March 4, 1974, answering the questions of a believer:
. .In answer to such letters the Guardians secretary replied on
his behalf that Bahá’ís had no right to prevent anyone from smoking; that Bahais were free to smoke but it was preferable for them
not to do so; and that an issue should not be made of this matter. The use of tobacco, in common with other personal practices, should be subject to considerations of courtesy. The Bahá’í in his daily life, whether smoker or non—smoker, should always be conscious of the rights of those about him and avoid doing anything that would give offense.
“Believers have also raised the question about smoking during Bahá’í meetings. It is entirely within the authority of Local and National Spiritual Assemblies to prohibit smoking in meetings held under their auspices. An Assembly may well feel that it does not wish to raise an additional barrierto seekers by prohibiting smoking at public meetings in a society where it is the accepted practice to smoke. On the other hand, it might be wise for the Assembly to caution the Bahais to restrain their smoking at teaching meetings and firesides in case it is offensive to some seekers. in the case of Nineteen Day Feasts or meetings of Assemblies or committees, it is not right that friends who find smoking offensive should be made to endure it in Bahá’í meetings that they are required or expected to attend. If certain individuals feel that they must smoke, then arrangements, such as a break in the meeting, could be made for their convenience. it would. of course, be entirely inappropriate to smoke during the devotional part of a Feast, or at any other devotional gathering.
“It is to be hoped that the widespread publicity being given to the evil effects of smoking, both on smokers and on those who have to breathe smoke-laden air, will help to convince everyone of the wisdom of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in strongly discouraging Bahá’ís from smoking. However, Bahá’ís must be careful not to go beyond the Teachings in this matter and try to enforce as a law a matter in which Bahá’u’lláh has deemed it wise to allow freedom of decision.
With loving Bahá’í greetings, National Spiritual Assembly of
the Bahá’ís of the United States Glenford E. Mitchell, Secretary
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”’N ' I
Bahal R23?er\]A&/I
Treasurer Answers
0. Would it be appropriate forthe National Spiritual Assembly to contact directly communities that are not supporting the National Fund? What would be the best method of contacting such communities?
A. Twice each year, the Office of the Treasurer compiles a "Universal Participation List." The list divides communities into five categories: excellent (gave at least 75 per cent of the time); good (gave at least 60 per cent of the time); fair (gave at least 30 per cent of the time); poor (gave at least once), and non-contributing (did not contribute).
When the list is compiled, the National Spiritual Assembly sends letters of appreciation to those communities whose support of the Fund was “excellent" or “good." Before the National Treasurer's Representative program was begun, the information about “fair,” “poor" and “non-contributing“ communities was sent to each District Teaching Committee and the communities.were offered assistance in any areas of need.
We are currently evaluating ways in which NTRs might be used to contact these communities and encourage them to increase their participation.
0. Why was the contribution I sent for the month of Kamal credited to the month of Asma'?
A. Receipts are issued according to the date the contribution is received at the national office. If a contribution is mailed at the end of a Bahá’í month, it is likely to be counted in the ensuing Bahá’í month since it would probably not reach our office until after the Feast. A simple solution to the problem is to mail contributions at the beginning of each Bahá’í month. This will ensure that they are received in time to be counted toward the monthly goal.
0. If an Assembly sells something it owns to another Assembly, does the money received from the transaction go under the "Contributions” column or the “Other” income column? If it goes in the “Other” column, can it be spent on anything the Assembly wishes?
A. In our double entry system. one entry would be under the “Cash in Bank" column and the second entry would be under the
Tax Deductions,
The Internal Revenue Code permits deductions from taxable income up to 50 per cent of “adjusted gross income" for contributions to the National Spiritual Assembly and to Local Spiritual Assemblies. In the case of certain contributions of property, a 30 per cent limitation applies. Deductions may arise through direct gifts to the Faith or through expenses incurred on behalf of the Faith. Only gifts to the National or Local Bahá’í Funds are deductible—contributions directly to Bahá’í Funds outside the United States are not allowed as tax deductions.
Cash
Contributions of cash to local and national Funds are deductible, whether they are in the form of currency or checks. Either a canceled check or a receipt from the Treasurer can be retained as proof.
Property
Contributions of property can be deducted at its fair market value at the time it is contributed. In the case of stocks, bonds or other securities with quoted market values, the market value on the date
Questions on Fund
“Other" income. The money can be spent on anything the Assembly wishes.
0. A bank officer informed me that he could not find the Bahá’í Faith on the Internal Revenue Service's list of tax-exempt organizations. Are we on that list?
A. The Faith is on that list, but not under the name “Bahá’í Faith." We have a group exemption listed under “National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States." The National Spiritual Assembly and all Local Spiritual Assemblies are exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501 (c) (3) of the internal Revenue Code of 1954.
0. Two Bahá’ís in our community operate a part-time business partnership. May that partnership make a contribution to our Fund?
A. As long as the Bahá’ís are the owners, yes. If there are non-Bahá’ís who also are owners, it would be acceptable forthe Bahá’ís to give to the Fund what can be determined as belonging to them——i.e., their share or a portion of their share of the profits.
0. Can Local Spiritual Assemblies or Bahá’í Groups lend money to individuals out of their local Fund?
A. Such practice does not violate Bahá’í principle. However, each Assembly must decide whethersuch an action is appropriate, given the needs of the Faith at the time. The community has entrusted the Assembly with the responsibility of seeing that such funds are disbursed in the best interests of the Cause. The Guardian stated that we should help the needy, "but our contributions to the Faith are the surest way of lifting once and for all the burden of hunger and misery from mankind. . .our first obligation is to support our own teaching work." (Bahá’í Funds and Contributions, p. 17)
Q. Should another member of a community initial receipts for contributions made by the Treasurer?
A. A receipt is for record-keeping purposes and can be checked for accuracy against a community’s books and bank deposits. Accurate records are the significant point; it is not necessary that the Treasurer's receipts for donations be verified by another party.
Gifts Explained
of the gift determines the amount of the deduction. Gifts of securities that have appreciated in value since their acquisition offer unusual tax advantages that should be discussed with a tax adviser. Since gifts such as real estate, furniture, clothing and objects of art may be difficult to value for receipt purposes, a Bahá’í planning such a gift should obtain a written valuation by a professional appraiser. This valuation will normally be used as the basis for the deduction.
Future Interests
A Bahá’í may wish to contribute securities or other property to the Faith but reserve the right to the income from the property for the remainder of his lifetime. Since this area is quite technical, a tax adviser should be consulted before attempting this type of contribution.
Legacies and Bequests
Money or the value of any property left to the Faith under a will is ordinarily not subject to federal estate taxation or to state inheritance taxation.
