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[Page 1]

129: Year of the Final Mighty Thrust

Annual Report of the National Spiritual Assembly

On this auspicious occasion of Riḍván 129, when the entire Bahá’í world braces for the final mighty thrust toward a triumphant climax of the Nine Year International Teaching Plan, it rejoices our hearts to recognize that the homefront records for the eighth year of the Plan

will show over 4,800 localities where Ba hé’i reside—some sixty percent in excess of the goal of 3,000—and over 900 Local Spiritual Assemblies —three times as many as existed at the beginning of the Plan and twice as many as were required to meet the assigned goal of 600.

Turning immediately to the international scene, we hail, with profound gratitude to Bahá’u’lláh, the formation this Riḍván of a National Spiritual Assembly in Puerto Rico, which, until now, has been part of our homefront. Preparation for this significant event occupied much of our efforts during the year as did

several of our other international goals.

and obligations. The Community is now fully aware of the vigorous support the friendsgave to the remaining Oceanic Conferences called by The Universal House of Justice, especially those held in the following places: Kingston, Jamaica, to which a ship of American believers, joined by some of their Bahá’í brethren from Puerto Rico, the Leeward, Windward and Virgin Islands, journeyed; Reykjavik, Iceland attended by over 200 American believers; and Sapporo, Japan, to which, despite the great distance, many American believers went and at which our national community was officially represented by the Assistant Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly. During the year, 182 pioneers, including 10 students, filled posts in 57

countries, and 74 American youth participated in successful international youth projects in Europe, Latin America and the Pacific.

Meeting the Challenges of Success

These accomplishments both on the home and international fronts partially demonstrate the unbroken high tide of activity to which the community has directed its will during the last several years of the Plan. It appeared at the beginning of the year, preceded by the staggering victories announced last Riḍván when we formed over 300 new Local Assemblies—the largest number in this country in any one year——that the community had been experiencing a recession in the enthusiasm which had added to our membership in a single year some 20,000 believers, most of them in the Deep South. But what appeared to have been a lapse in enthusiasm could more properly be viewed as a pregnant respite, a pause for regeneration to meet the demands of the complex challenges brought by rapid strides in expansion. The statistical achievements this year fell short of the previous year’s markfor instance, only 14,000 were added to our membership. Nonetheless, the administrative initiatives designed to meet these new challenges were fertile with significance for the immediate future.

The principal among these administrative initiatives involved: the creation of five regional offices, one each in the four regions identified in the Tablets of the Divine Plan and in South Carolina, under the control of Regional Teaching Committees; the subdivision of the States of Idaho, West Virginia, South Carolina,_

MAY ‘1972

[Page 2]MAY ‘1972

Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and California, -in order to facilitate the administration of the teaching work; the establishment of 80 District Teaching Committees, successors of the State Goals Committees, charged with coordinating and stimulating the teaching and deepening activities of newly established Local Spiritual Assemblies, Bahá’í groups and isolated believers; the briefing of representatives of these Committees at the National Bahá’í Center so that they might get a better perspective of their res onsibilities; the holding of Seminars for members of Local Spiritual Assemblies in order to increase their understanding of Assembly functions and responsibilities; the establishment of a Data Processing Committee to effect the installation of a data processing system at the National Bahá’í Center so that the efficiency of handling the membership records may keep pace with the speed of our enrollments.

Commemorating the M’aster’s Life

The su_preme highlight of the year was the opportunity provided by the fiftieth anniversary of the passing of our beloved Master ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for the friends to reflect upon the unearthly significance of His earthly life; and to vindicate by a fresh consecration to the objectives of ‘the Divine Plan the glorious purpose of the unspeakable pain and suffering He endured. It was the occasion for the publication of two preeminent works: Memortals of the Faithful, a compendium of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s remembrances of seventynine early believers, most of whom followed Bahá’u’lláh into exile and prison; and the Fall 1971 issue of World Order magazine devoted entirely to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Seizing upon the spiritual dynamism of this same occasion, the Continental Board of Counsellors launched their program of largely successful, regional deepening conferences; the first was held on November 28-30 in Little Rock; the second and third were held simultaneously on March 30—April 2 in Fort Wayne and Reno.

The Phenomenon in the South

A major challenge to the homefront continues to be the phenomenon of enrollment by troops inthe South, particularly in South Carolina. The national community and, indeed, the world community were galvanized by the news of thousands enrolling in South Carolina; it had the effect of sparking enthusiastic teaching activities in States outside of the

VSouth—an effect, which, even now, per vades the community. But it is the nature of a phenomenon to pose questions to which answers may remain obscure until much experience has been gained. The response of the institutions to the situation in South Carolina has had to be flexible to treat the labyrinth of changing circumstances. We feel that sufficient perspective on the situation has now been

"gathered to render certain reliable con clusions. Some of the realities prevailing in South Carolina might best be summarized by quoting an excerpt from some suggestions for teaching the masses, which were attached to a letter written by The Universal House of Justice to National Spiritual Assemblies on July 13, 1964:

' In the course of carrying out such a tremendous spiritual campaign among the masses, disappointments may well be encountered. We tabulate a few instances that have been brought to our notice:

a) Visiting pioneers or teachers may find, in some places, newly enrolled believers not so enthusiastic about their religion as expected, or not adjusting to standards of Bahá’í life, or they may find them thinking of material benefits they may hope to "derive from their new membership. We should always remember that the process of nursing the believer into full spiritual maturity is slow, and needs loving education. and patience.

b) Some teaching committees, in their eagerness to obtain results, place undue emphasis on obtaining a great number of declarations to the detriment of the quality of teaching.

c) Some traveling teachers, in their desire to show the result of their services,‘may not scrupulously teach their contacts, and in some rare cases, if, God forbid, they are insincere, may even give false reports.

All the difficulties thus described are part of the picture in South Carolina; however, this fact must not detract from the genuineness and essential integrity

of the teaching work in that State. We (Continued on page 7)

[Page 3]REVIEW

TREASURER'S REPORT TO THE AMERICAN BAHA'| COMMUNITY

“The Guardian would advise your Assembly to continue impressing upon the believers the necessity of their contributing regularly to the National Fund, irrespective of whether there is an emergency to be met or not. Nothing short of a continuous flow of contributions to that Fund can, indeed, insure the financial stability upon which so much of the progress‘ of the institutions of the Faith must now inevitably depend.” Letter on behalf of the.Guardian dated July 29, 1935

Basic Princlples of Conlril:>u_ting_ Outlined by Slwoglii Effendi:

THE FUND IS THE BEDROCK OF ALL THE INSTITUTIONS WE ARE LABORING SO HARD TO CONSTRUCT.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FUND ARE COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY VOLUNTARY.

CONTRIBUTIONS ARE A SACRED OBLIGATION OF EACH BAHA’I. EVERY SINGLE BAHA’I SHOULD PARTICIPATE BY GIVING TO THE

FUND, NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE AMOUNT.

• REGULARITY OF GIVING IS AN ESSENTIAL CONSIDERATION.

• TO BE TRULY ME‘RITORIOUS,. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FUND

SHOULD INVOLVE SOME ELEMENT OF SACRIFICE.

• THE FUND SHOULD BE A REGULAR SUBJECT OF CONSULTATION

AT FEASTS AND ASSEMBLY MEETINGS.

In addition to contributing to the local Fund, individuals, Groups and Assemblies have the privelege of supporting the following: _

International Bahá’í Fund The Universal House of Justice Bahá’í World Center PO. Box 155 Haifa, Israel

For support of The Universal House of Justice in carrying out their world-wide responsibilities.

Continental’ Bahá’í Fund

418 Forest Avenue Wilmette, Illinois 60091

National Bahá’í Fund 112 Linden Avenue Wilmette, Illinois 60091

For support of the budget of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States.

For support of the work of the Continental Board of Counsellors for North America.

Bahá’í Wills and Bequests

It is incumbent upon all Bahá’ís to have a will made to provide for the disposition of their property after death as well as to to state instructions concerning Bahá’í burial. An attorney should be consulted to assure its legal validity and effectiveness. When making a bequest for use by

the National Spiritual Assembly, describe

the beneficiary as: “The body, elected by the Bahá’ís of the United States and known as the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, whose headquarters is located in the Village of Wilmette, County of Cook, State of Illinois.” [Page 4], MAY 1972

0 INTERNATIONAL P19714972

  EXPENDITURES

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

SUPPORT TO NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES

HOLY LAND CARE OF GARDENS HOSPITALITY TO PILGRIMS WORLD CENTER STAFF

UNITED STATES PIONEERS C UNALLOCATED BUDGET RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND HELP

SUPPORT I1 PERCENT)

UNITED STATES FOREIGN PROPERTY GOALS

NINE YEAR PLAN PROPERTIES . NATIONAL PROPERTIES

(7 PERCENT)

MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS OF:

BAHA’I HOUSE OF WORSHIP

O t 4

NATIONAL .. —'.—‘.‘ov‘v /

-.o out 4 OTHER NATIONAL PROPERADMINISTRATION—— .. <.*.jo,v.:.:¢,‘.}_‘ v was

' “¢“0‘ . ,

‘\‘u‘v o . I BAHA'l SCHOOLS (17 PERCENT) 3 ‘ lL'\?SL_:_I|§rSi_cE;REGORY BAH'A'I' NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY INSURANCE OFFICE oI= THE SECRETARY

OFFICE OF THE TREASURER

DATA PROCESSING

NATIONAL CONFERENCES .

AND SEMINARS (25 PERCENT)

PROCLAMATION, EXPANSION AND CONSOLIDATION

NEw EN ROLLMENTS BAHA'I' CAMPUS CLUBS THE AMERICAN BAHA'I

TEACHING AND DEEPENING MATERIALS

FILMS PUBLIC INFORMATION RAH'A'I’ HOUSE OF woRSHIP

[Page 5]REVIEW

Eight Years Into The Nine Year Plan

The Universal House of Justice in April, 1964, announcing the Nine Year Plan, called attention to two major themes, namely, “ . a huge expansion of the Cause of God and universal participation by all believers in the life of that Cause.”

Eight years into this plan we have witnessed an unprecedented expansion in every area of Bahá’í endeavor. Support of the Fund by Assemblies, groups and isolated believers has increased both in number and amount. We have seen contributions rise from $700,000 in 21964 to nearly three times this amount last year.

COMPARING SPECIAL GIFTS AND ESTATES WITH TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS

510. ‘1964 (hm ‘1972

TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS

MILLIONS

SPECIAL GIFTS AND ESTATES I W I I I I I I 64-65 65-66 66-67 67-88 68-69 69-70 70-71 71-72 72-73

Note that since 1964, special gifts and estate bequests have become less important compared to total contributions. Stated another way, the regular contributions of the friends are truly becoming the backbone of the Fund.

The Year 1971 - 1972 In Review

Looking at the year now ending, however, we cannot claim victory. A cause of great concern to the National Spiritual Assembly is the fact that last year onehalf of our Assemblies and two-thirds of our groups on the average did not contribute to the National Fund. Many individual Bahá’í's, it is also feared, deprived themselves of the bounty of contributing to the Bahá’í Fund either locally or nationally.

Last year our budget deficit was just under one-half million dollars while our cash deficit (expenses in excess of income) was just over one hundred thousand dollars. Only through the sacrificial contributions from many communities and individuals and curtailment of teaching services was our cash deficit held to this amount. . - ,

In referring to the Bahá’í world as the “body of mankind,” The Universal House of Justice in a later message wrote: ‘Therefore, in this organic, divinely guided, blessed, and illumined body the participation of every believer is of the utmost importance, and is a source of power and vitality as yet unknown to us . . . Not all believers can give public talks, not all are called upon to serve on administrative institutions. But all can pray, fight their own spiritual battles, and contribute to the Fund. If every believer will carry out these sacred duties, we shall be astonished at the accession of power which will result to the whole body and which in its turn will give rise to further growth and the showering of great blessings on all of us."

Next Year's National Budget

Considering The Universal House of Justice letter of March 31, 1970, which states: “You should, as your Community grows in numbers, enthusiastically take advantage of this bounty and blessing, demonstrating your own spirit of assurance and faith, by substantially increasing your budget in each of the remaining years of the Nine Year Plan,” our‘National Spiritual Assembly had no choice but to raise next year’s budget. The figure selected, and endorsed by the delegates to the National Convention, was

$2,500,000 or approximately $132,000 per.

Bahá’í’ month.

Next Year's National Youth Goal

The National Youth Goal was again established by the National Spiritual Assembly at $200,000 or $10,500 each Bah:-f1’ii month.

[Page 6]NATIONAL BAHA'I FUND ' MAY 1972

TREASURER'S ANNUAL REPORT

Fiscal Year Ending April 27, 1972

Old l97l—72 est. New 1971-72 V Income and 1972-73 Budget Expenditures Budget I N C O M E ' Regular Contributions A $1,551,500 Special Contributions ' 55,300 Estate Bequests \ 150,300 Subscriptions to Bahá’í News 32,500 Other Income h5,2o0 TOTAL INCOME $2,250,000 $l,83h,8o0 $2,500,000 E X P E N D I T U R E S INTERNATIONAL: Bahá’í International Fund $ h00,000 $ h00,000 $ h25,000 Continental Bahá’í Fund ’ 20,000 20,000 35,000 International Deputization Fund 15,000 15,000 15,000 Panama Temple Fund I ‘ 100,000 100,000 -oNine Year Plan Properties 30,000 -o— 25,000 International Goals Committee 265,000 237,900 235,000 United Nations Committee 3 000 3,900 " -o0 833,000 $ 776,800 $ 735,000 NATIONAL TEACHING: ' National Teaching Committee $ 290,000 $ 252,900 $ 316,800 Th§_American Bahá’í 32,000 27,600 39,800 Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute -o— -0- 50,000 Public Information Committee 83,000 72,100 65,600 House of Worship Activities Comm. h0,000 35,700 63,800 Bahá’í News Editorial Committee h0,000 67,200 35,200 Child's flaX_Magazine 3,000 _ 600 -oConventions -0- 19,900 -0National Schools Committee h,700 8,600 h0,000 National Service Committees 2 800 1,500 12,100

$ h9§,500 $ h86,100 8 623,300 NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION: National Spiritual Assembly and

Office of the Secretary '$ 225,500 $ 210,000 $ 259,200

Office of the Treasurer 66,500 77,700 100,000 Data Processing Committee 69,000 h8,hO0 , 85,500 $ 361,000 $ 336,100 $ huh,700

NATIONAL PROPERTIES:- National Properties Committee $ 18u,700 $ 197,300 $ ’276,100 Capital Improvements h5,000 88,500. 59,800 Insurance 17,000 lh,900 h5,000 Trusteeships 25 000 27,300 hh,h00 $ 271,700 $ 328,000 $ h25,300 UNALLOCATED BUDGET $ 288,800 $ 17,900 $ 271,700

TOTAL EXPENDITURES~ $2,250,000 $1,9hh,900 $2,500,000

[Page 7]REVIEW

applaud, with heartfelt gratitude, the teachers and pioneers whose heroic labors continue to sustain the campaign there. Truly miraculous achievements have been influenced by them, ‘and we must find ways to multiply and consolidate these achievements. Therefore, with the aid and advice of the National Teaching Committee, the National Spiritual Assembly adopted certain measures during the course of the year: (1) The State was divided into five districts, each with a District Teaching Committee, for more efficient administration of the teaching work; (2) A South Carolina Regional Teaching Committee with a full-time office was formed to coordinate the teaching work; (3) Some ten deepened Bahá’í couples were recruited to settle in the State as a prelude to a special appeal for a larger number -of consolidation pioneers to settle there later on; (4) Property was acquired for the establishment of a permanent teaching institute, the first in the history of our community, which is now under construction and is to be named in honor of the beloved Hand of the Cause of God Louis G. Gregory.

Moreover, the Auxiliary Board member‘

Thelma Thomas has spent most of the last several months in deepening and stimulating the friends there.

These are the first steps in what may evolve into a model for handling similar growth elsewhere. But the time is still too soon to predict the trends of growth, and so we must proceed with caution but with flexibility as well. The implications of this phenomenon require theserious consideration of all the institutions of

‘ the Faith and the individual believers,

who can be aided in their thoughts and actions by the letter from The Universal House of Justice entitled “Teaching the Masses” andpublished in Wellspring of Guidance. '

Direct and Indirect Teaching

A concomitant issue requiring immediate resolution among the friends is the question of direct versus indirect teaching. There is really. no conflict between these approaches to teaching, as each must be applied according to the circumstances of those being taught. The urgent call of The Universal House of-Justice to reach and teach every stratum of society

implies that different methods of teach ing must be employed if this objective is

to be attained. It could never represent an enlightened view to hold that all people can be taught by the same method. The instructions of the beloved Guardian are clear on this point. For example, as early as May 11, 1926, he wrote:

Whether it be by an open and bold assertion of the fundamental verities of the Cause, or the adoption of a less direct and more cautious method of 'teaching; whether by the dissemination of our literature or the example of our conduct, our one aim and

. sole object should be to help in the eventual recognition by all mankind of the indispensibility, the uniqueness and the supreme station of the Bahá’í Revelation. Whatever method he adopts, and however indirect the course he chooses to pursue, every true believer should regard such a recognition as the supreme goal of his endeavor. Whilst consciously la-boring towards the attainment of this end, he should, by supporting every branch of the administrative activities of his national and local assembly, seek and obtain the fullest information on the character and extent of the worldwide progress of the Cause, and strive to "contribute his share towards the strengthening of the spirit of solidarity among the component parts of the Bahá’í world.

In another letter dated February 20, 1927, Shoghi Effendi stated:

As to the policy that should be adopted with . regard to these Conferences and other Bahá’í activities in general, it appears increasingly evident that as the Movement grows in strength and power the National Spiritual Assemblies should be encouraged, if circumstances permit and the means at their disposal justify, to resort to the twofold method of directly and indirectly winning the enlightened public to the unqualified acceptance of the Bahá’í Faith. The one method would assume an open, decisive and challenging tone. The other, without implying in any manner the slightest departure from‘ strict loyalty to the Cause of God, would be progressive and cautious. Experience will reveal the fact that each of the methods in i.ts own special way might suit a particular temperament and class of people, and that each in the present state of a constantly fluctuating society, should be judiciously attempted and utilized.

The Immediate Goals

In conclusion, if we ‘are to discharge the ‘most important’ of the many ‘important’ duties facing us, as bidden by The Universal House of Justice, namely, every attainable goal of the Nine Year Plan, each member of our community,

[Page 8]MAY 1972

no less than the members of institutions and the delegates‘ themselves, must focus his attention on certain salient challenges: '

~—Fill theremaining 65 pioneering

goals in Africa, The Americas, Asia, Australasia, and Europe.

——Form a Local Spiritual Assembly in

the Falkland Islands.

-—Assist in the acquisition of the ‘re maining internationalproperty goals.

-—Raise up, as requested by The Uni versal House of Justice, a vast host of dedicated believers on the home , front as a fitting climax to the Nine Year endeavor. This implies that we must find the means to maintain an accelerated pace of expansion while at the same time giving equal emphasis to consolidation. Neither must be sacrificed for the other.

— Implant in our consciousness and

character the quality of-Bahá’í life.

-—Develop the maturity and effective ness of Local Spiritual Assemblies.

—M_eet the increasing financial needs

of the Faith.

To the beloved Hands of the Cause of God residing in our country, those tested and inspired standard-bearers of the Nine Year Plan; to the Continental Counsellors, members of an as yet embryonic institution whose star has already begun to rise"; to the members of their Auxiliary Boards, the indefatigable catalysts of community growth and development; to the Spiritual Assemblies, described by our beloved Master as “the potent sources of the progress of man, at all times and under all conditions”; to the national and local committees, the indispensable aux iliaries of a mighty Administrative Or-S

der; and, ultimately and most importantly, to the individual believers, of whatever rank, age, position, experience or learning, we direct this urgent plea, with

loving and anxious hearts, that they will‘

rededicate themselves at this final, fateladen juncture in the Nine Year Plan to those God-given tasks that will ensure for the world community a resounding consummation of this international endeavor -— another measure in attracting the disillusioned masses to the supernal claims of the King of Kings, which are, in truth, the object of their yearning.

— NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

National Bahá’í Fund

s 1921-1972

zoo ,ooo

150 ,ooo }

Monthly Goal

100,000

50,000

E. Bahá J alél (Splendor) (Glory) Total Year INCOME: Regular Contributions ...$ 81,469.40 $ 92,291.16 $1,551,454.16 Special Contributions . . . — 1,000.00 55,344.55 Total Contributions .$ 81,469.40 $ 93,291.16 $1,606,798.71 Estates . . . . . . . . . . . 5,523.27 1,045.96 150,299.06 Other Income 312.90 3,714.23 45,201.55 Total Income .$ 87,305.57 $ 98,051.35 $1,802,299.32 Budget . . . . . . . . . . . .$120,000.00 $120,000.00 $2,250,000.00

Deprived of Bahá'|’Adminis+ra+ive Rights

Because of his numerous and widespread violations of Bahá’í laws and standards of conduct, the National Spiritual Assembly has found it necessary to deprive , also known as , of his Bahá’í administrative rights and privileges. The Bahá’í Community" is hereby warned not

to receive him as a Bahá’í' entitled to hos- _

pitality and other assistance from the believers. His present whereabouts are unknown but he may be traveling in the Mid-West. WARNING: Believers should not provide hospitality or financial assistance to , a Spanish-speaking youth. During the past two years he has abused hospitality that was offered to him. He was deprived of his Bahá’í administrative rights and was told not to contact Bahá’ís, an instruction which he continues to ignore.

— NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY