National Bahá’í Review/Issue 58-59/Text

[Page 1]

A Gift of Three Lives[edit]

A Letter from The Universal House of Justice

To the Bahá’ís of the World

With feelings of deep sorrow we relate to the Bahá’í world the distressing circumstances surrounding the murder of three Iranian Bahá’í students, pioneers to the Philippine Islands.

Parvíz Sadiqi, Faramarz Vujdání and Parvíz Furúghí were among a number of Iranian Bahá’í youth who answered the call for pioneers. With eleven others they registered at the Universities in Mindanao with the intention of completing their studies and proclaiming the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh. These three had conceived the plan of making teaching trips to a rural area inhabited by Muslims. When on July 31st the authorities of Mindanao State University were notified that they had left the campus the previous day and had not yet returned, search parties were immediately formed and the assistance of the police and local authorities obtained. After enquiries and search, led entirely by President Tamano of Mindanao State University, the bodies of the three young men were found in a shallow grave. They had been shot, grievously mutilated and two had been decapitated. The bodies were removed and given Bahá’í burial in a beautiful plot donated for the purpose.

Immediately upon receipt of the tragic news, Vicente Samaniego, Counsellor in Northeast Asia, in close cooperation with the National Spiritual Assembly of the Philippines, acted vigorously on behalf of the Bahá’ís and was given the utmost cooperation and sympathy by the authorities, police, military and civil. A convocation was called, attended by more than 900 students, faculty members and University officials. Prayers were said in English, Arabic and Persian. The President of the University gave a talk in which he said that the murdered Iranian students are not ordinary students, for with them is the Message of Bahá’u’lláh which is the way to unity. The Council of the Student Body asked that their new Social Hall be renamed Iranian Student Memorial Hall. Three thousand people marched in the funeral procession and six hundred went to the burial site to attend the interment.

A dignified burial was conducted by the Bahá’ís in the presence of University authorities and friends.

The relatives and friends of these three young men, who gave their lives in the service of the Blessed Beauty, are assured of the loving sympathy and prayers of their fellow believers. The sacrifice made by these youth adds a crown of glory to the wonderful services now being performed by Bahá’í youth throughout the world. Bahá’u’lláh Himself testifies:

They that have forsaken their country in the path of God and subsequently ascended unto His presence, such souls shall be blessed by the Concourse on High and their names recorded by the Pen of Glory among such as have laid down their lives as martyrs in the path of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsistent.

Sept. 19, 1972 Haifa, Israel

—The Universal House of Justice

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Enrollment Procedure[edit]

This revised statement supersedes the article entitled "National Spiritual Assembly Revises Enrollment Procedure" published in the UNITED STATES SUPPLEMENT of BAHÁ’Í NEWS, March 1966.

The basic requirement for membership in the Bahá’í community is unreserved acceptance of Bahá’u’lláh, the Manifestation of God for this day. Acceptance of the Manifestation is essentially a spiritual act, which any person is capable of doing regardless of his educational or social status. Often a declarant’s understanding of Bahá’u’lláh’s station is purely intuitive and is not based on voluminous knowledge of the history and Laws of the Faith. "He hath endowed every soul with the capacity to recognize the signs of God," Bahá’u’lláh categorically asserts, adding: "How could He, otherwise, have fulfilled His testimony unto men, if ye be of them that ponder His Cause in their hearts." Thus, while there are no required reading and no required courses for declaration of faith, two essentials are required at the outset: namely, understanding of the station or reality of the Manifestation, and the recognition of Bahá’u’lláh in that station.

Shoghi Effendi’s secretary, writing on his behalf on November 28, 1939, stated that: "The essential is not that the beginner should have a full and detailed knowledge of the Cause, a thing which is obviously impossible in the vast majority of cases, but that he should, by an act of his own will be willing to uphold and follow the truth and guidance set forth in the Teachings, and thus open his heart and mind to the reality of the Manifestation."

The qualifications of faith are given in the following standard set forth by the beloved Guardian:

Full recognition of the station of the Báb, the Forerunner, of Bahá’u’lláh, the Author, and of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the True Exemplar of the Bahá’í religion; unreserved acceptance of, and submission to, whatsoever has been revealed by Their Pen; loyal and steadfast adherence to every clause of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s sacred Will, and close association with the spirit as well as the form of Bahá’í Administration throughout the world.

In a letter dated July 13, 1964, concerning teaching of the masses, The Universal House of Justice elucidated the process of declaration:

The prime motive should always be the response of man to God’s Message, and the recognition of His Messenger. Those who declare themselves as Bahá’ís should become enchanted with the beauty of the Teachings, and touched by the love of Bahá’u’lláh. The declarants need not know all the proofs, history, laws, and principles of the Faith, but in the process of declaring themselves they must, in addition to catching the spark of faith, become basically informed about the Central Figures of the Faith, as well as the existence of laws they must follow and an administration they must obey.

Formal enrollment into the Bahá’í community is effected when: (a) the appropriate administrative body ascertains that the declarant is ready to be enrolled, countersigns the membership declaration card, and forwards it to the national office, and (b) the National Spiritual Assembly records the declarant’s name.

The Local Spiritual Assembly is responsible for the enrollment of all declarants residing in the area over which it has jurisdiction. A Local Spiritual Assembly may also enroll: (1) declarants who do not live under the jurisdiction of any Local Spiritual Assembly; and (2) declarants who live in the jurisdiction of another Local Spiritual Assembly. Often, in this highly mobile society, a person learns about the Faith during his travels away from home and may wish to establish his membership in the Bahá’í community immediately. In such instances, it should generally be regarded as a courtesy for one Local Spiritual Assembly to enroll a declarant on behalf of another. However, the enrolling Assembly

[Page 3]should, in that same spirit of courtesy, inform the Assembly with jurisdiction in the locality of the enrollee’s residence. The National Spiritual Assembly itself may on some occasions choose to enroll a declarant directly.

The National Spiritual Assembly also delegates the enrollment responsibility to the National Teaching Committee and its sub-committees.

The enrollment procedure should essentially be a joyful and confirmatory experience for the declarant. The atmosphere in which he is received into Bahá’í membership should be prayerful, loving, and educational. An important objective of this procedure is to determine whether the declarant is ready for enrollment—that is to say, those responsible for enrollment must be satisfied that the declarant has accepted Bahá’u’lláh and His Revelation, is basically informed about the Central Figures of the Faith, and knows that the Bahá’í Laws and institutions must be obeyed. This satisfaction need not be gained by means of rigid or formal inquisitions, but, rather, through informal, pleasant and substantive discussion in which the declarant is made to feel at ease while those responsible for enrolling him make a discreet appraisal of his readiness to enroll. The following statement, written by the Guardian’s secretary on his behalf, should be borne in mind:

The believers must discriminate between two extremes of bringing people into the Cause before they have fully grasped its fundamentals and making it too hard for them, before they accept them. This requires truly keen judgment, as it is unfair to people to allow them to embrace a movement the true meaning of which they have not fully grasped. It is equally unfair to expect them to be perfect Bahá’ís before they can enter the Faith. Many teaching problems arise out of these two extremes. (November 22, 1941)

Enrollment by the Local Spiritual Assembly[edit]

Although the Local Spiritual Assembly is responsible for verifying enrollments, it may, if it so decides, delegate the enrollment function to a committee composed of responsible persons fully conversant with the above-mentioned principles. Given the increasing rate of expansion, an Assembly could find itself doing nothing else but enrolling believers at the expense of neglecting its other pressing responsibilities and duties. Delegation of this function should, however, not put the Assembly out of touch with the membership of the community, and so it may wish to arrange special occasions on which the members of the Assembly can meet and greet groups of new believers whose enrollment has already been processed.

Enrollment by National Committees[edit]

Acting on authority explicitly granted by the National Spiritual Assembly, a committee may effect the enrollment procedure as stated above. The committee must be certain to fill out the registration card, endorse it, and transmit it expeditiously to the National Spiritual Assembly according to the established method. The committee may also delegate the enrollment function to reliable persons. Moreover, it may refer a declarant to a nearby Local Spiritual Assembly if that proves to be most convenient and expeditious: In such instances, the Local Spiritual Assembly should not refuse to assist.

Nurturing the New Believers[edit]

Writing on the importance of nurturing the new believers, The Universal House of Justice, in its letter on teaching the masses dated July 13, 1964, also states:

After declaration, the new believers must not be left to their own devices. Through correspondence and dispatch of visitors, through conferences and training courses, these friends must be patiently strengthened and lovingly helped to develop into full Bahá’í maturity. The beloved Guardian referring to the duties of Bahá’í Assemblies in assisting the newly declared believer has written: "... the members of each and every Assembly should endeavor, by their patience, their love, their tact and wisdom, to nurse, subsequent to his admission, the newcomer into Bahá’í maturity, and win..."

[Page 4]him over gradually to the unreserved acceptance of whatever has been ordained in the Teachings. Moreover, The Universal House of Justice, in commenting to the National Spiritual Assembly on the responsibility of the Bahá’í teacher, has written:

It is surely the duty of the Bahá’ís teaching the new believer to ensure that he is sufficiently informed of essentials of Bahá’í belief before and at the time he declares and to deepen him in his understanding of the Faith after he becomes a member of the Bahá’í Community. (February 24, 1969)

It is obvious, then, that the spirit of acceptance and enthusiasm of the newly enrolled Bahá’í is not sufficient by itself to sustain his development in the Cause. However, this is the logical basis on which everything else can be built—namely, acquisition of knowledge of the Faith, teaching, observance of Bahá’í Laws, and active participation in community life. Preserving this initial enthusiasm and directing it through the proper channels are essential to the development of the believer into Bahá’í maturity.

In addition to holding regular training classes for the benefit of new believers, Assemblies must see that they are encouraged to begin their own teaching and firesides; invited to and reminded of Feasts, Holy Days, conventions, and other important Bahá’í events; informed explicitly about their responsibility to the Bahá’í Fund; initiated into committee work as soon as feasible; and provided with many opportunities for learning more about all aspects of the Faith in an atmosphere of love, unity and fellowship.

Delegates' Expenses[edit]

Some State Conventions have tried in recent years to establish funds for defraying the expenses of delegates to the National Convention, and District Teaching Committees have been asked to administer such funds. It is important to understand that the administration of such funds would normally fall within the sphere of responsibility of the National Spiritual Assembly, since these Committees have not been given this function and the State Conventions have no ongoing administrative authority.

The National Spiritual Assembly is grateful for the spirit of concern and generosity shown by the friends on the matter of delegates' expenses, and would hope to be able to assist financially those delegates who are unable to pay their way. However, the present state of the Bahá’í Funds makes this impossible. Delegates who are unable to travel to the National Convention from their own resources are therefore requested to mail their ballots to the National Secretary according to established procedure.

The National Spiritual Assembly has noted that, in most instances brought to its attention, delegates have refused to accept financial assistance from Local Spiritual Assemblies or from State Conventions when it was offered to them. The National Assembly is pleased to inform the friends that the National Conventions have nevertheless been attended by the vast majority of the delegates elected at State Conventions.

Persian Bahá’ís Must Present Credentials[edit]

From time to time Persians claiming to be Bahá’ís appear in Bahá’í communities without any credentials from either their local or National Spiritual Assembly in Írán. Before being permitted or invited to participate in Nineteen Day Feasts or other activities, these persons must produce official evidence that they are registered Bahá’ís in Írán. This is in accordance with the repeated instructions from the beloved Guardian and The Universal House of Justice.

Occasionally the National Spiritual Assembly receives advance official information that Persian Bahá’ís are coming to the United States. Such information is held until word has been received that they have arrived and have a United States address. Therefore any questions about the Bahá’í status of individuals from Írán claiming to be Bahá’ís should be referred to the National Spiritual Assembly before they are accepted as members or visitors in the Bahá’í community. A [Page 5]wellgrounded Persian Bahá’í is well aware of this instruction and takes no offense when he is asked to produce his official credentials and is not invited to Nineteen Day Feasts until they are in hand. —NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í REVIEW, No. 39

Bahá’í Directory Changes[edit]

ASSEMBLY SECRETARIES[edit]

Arizona Ganado Chapter: Miss Penny Raeside, P.O. Box 786, Ganado 86505 Verde Valley: Delete the words "pro-tem"

Arkansas Fayetteville: Mrs. Helen A. Nott, Spring Brook Mobile Park #48, 72701

California Desert Hot Springs: New Secretary to be reported Concord: Delete the words "pro-tem" Fullerton: Mr. Clarence Guidici, pro-tem, 513 W. Williamson, 92632 Hermosa Beach: Mrs. Melinda Kmitta, 31-18 Court, 90254 Pacific Grove: Mr. Marvin Newport, P.O. Box B H, 93950 Redondo Beach: Mrs. Cynthia Berman, pro-tem, 310 S. Prospect Ave., Apt. 34, 90277 San Marcos: New Secretary to be reported Santa Barbara-Goleta J.D.: New Secretary to be reported Santa Cruz: Mrs. Betty Bane, P.O. Box 62, 95060

Colorado Arvada: Mr. John R. Johnson, 5714 Ammons St., 80004 El Paso County: Mrs. Jane Guyer, 1531 Cheyenne Blvd., Colorado Springs 80906 Fort Collins: Mrs. Carol Greene, pro-tem, 1117 W. Maple, 80521 Pueblo: New Secretary to be reported

Connecticut Hamden: Mrs. Barbara Mentelos, pro-tem, 509 Turnpike 06517

Georgia Baldwin County #321: Mrs. Thelma J. Koen. 205 Harrisburg Rd., Milledgeville 31061 Cochran: New Secretary to be reported

Illinois Carbondale: Mrs. Pat Sanders, pro-tem, 1204 Glenbeth Dr., 62901 Springfield: Mrs. Nancy Flood, 1317 N. 9th, Apt. 1, 62702

Indiana Fort Wayne: Mrs. Sharon Klemke, 5944 Turtle Creek Dr., 46816 South Bend: Miss Druzelle Brenneman, 218 Parkovash, 46617

Kansas Wichita: New Secretary to be reported

Louisiana Baton Rouge: New Secretary to be reported St. John the Baptist Parish #1: New Secretary to be reported Shreveport: Mr. John Fields, Jr., 3722 McWillie, Apt. D, 71103

Massachusetts Northampton: Dr. Thomas Sousa, pro-tem, Box 583, 01060

Michigan Ypsilanti: Mr. George Stone, pro-tem, P.O. Box 441, 48197

Missouri Kansas City: Mrs. Beverly J. Phillips, 9914 Wheeling St., 64134

Montana North Cheyenne Indian Reservation: Mr. Aaron Whiteman, General Delivery, Lame Deer 59043

New Jersey Morristown: Mrs. Deborah Meldrim, P.O. Box 322M, 07960

New York Town of Greenburgh: Mrs. Betty de Araujo, 100 E. Hartsdale, Apt. 3JE, Hartsdale 10530

North Carolina Raleigh: Mr. Tom Moore, 203 Chamberlain, 27607

Ohio Columbus: Mrs. Emily Chavous, 1470 Isabell St. 43211 Mansfield: Mrs. Joyce Mitchell, 286 W. 3rd St., 44903 Youngstown: Miss Betfijane Walker, 1414 5th Ave. 44504

Oregon Portland: Mrs. Elna-Dawn Tann, pro-tem 1530 N. Humboldt St., 97217

Rhode Island East Providence: Mrs. Mildred Keiser, pro-tem, 50 Nimitz, Rumford 02916

South Carolina Goose Creek: Mr. George D. Allen, P.O. Box 337, 29445 Greenville: Mrs. Rebecca Rochester, 7-D McDaniel Heights, 29601 Lancaster: Mrs. Sadie M. Stevens, 806 Pardue, 29720

Texas Dallas: Mr. James Busby, P.O. Box 15074, 75201 Eagle Pass: New Secretary to be reported Pasadena: Mrs. Priscilla Banks, 1010-A West Village Court, 77502 Waco: Mrs. Frank Williams, 521 N. 15th, 76707

Virginia Virginia Beach: Mrs. Sharon T. Collins. 3364 Malibu Palm Dr., Apt. 201, 23452

Washington Bellingham: New Secretary to be reported King County Councilman's District #6: Mrs. Joanna Cole, 10271-148th S.E., Renton 98055 Yakima: Mrs. Patrice Olsen, 1124 Fairbanks Ave. 98902

DISTRICT TEACHING COMMITTEE SECRETARIES[edit]

California Southern #1: Mrs. Shirley Macias, 8223 Blackburn Ave., Apt. 306, Los Angeles, 90048 Georgia-Northern: Mrs. Elaine Eilers, Chr., 208 Cumberland Dr., Smyrna 30080 Georgia-Southern: Miss Ann E. Kavanagh, 2415 Dawson Rd., Apt. V-4, Albany 31705 Idaho Northern: Mrs. Toni Pike, Chr. 1106 S. Main St., Moscow 83843 Louisiana-Southern: Mrs. Ella Didier, 4319 Stockton, Metairie 70001 Maine: Mrs. Arlene Jutras, Bolt Hill Rd., Eliot, Maine 03903 Nebraska: Mrs. Pam Wegener, Residence Director Men's Hall, Doane College, Crete 68333 Virginia-Southern: Miss Martha Dick, 3220 Oliver Rd., North East, Roanoke 24012 Virginia-Northern: Correct spelling of Secretary's name: Gawen

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The Matter of Parental Consent for Marriage[edit]

For assistance of the Local Spiritual Assemblies as well as the individual believers who experience difficulties in obtaining the consent of the parents of a couple wishing to be married according the Bahá’í Law, we quote the following paragraphs in a letter recently received by an individual believer from The Universal House of Justice:

Although a Bahá’í ceremony is required, it is not necessary that the parents consent to the ceremony; the only requirement is that they consent to the marriage. However, if consent be withheld because a Bahá’í ceremony is to be conducted, this must be accepted. The freedom of the parents in giving or refusing consent is unrestricted and unconditioned. They may refuse consent on any ground and they are responsible to God alone.

Although it is preferable to have the consent in writing, the fact that consent is given may be established in other ways. The necessary element is that the Spiritual Assembly responsible for certifying the marriage be satisfied that consent has in fact been given. For example, the Local Assembly could appoint one or more people who could testify that they heard the parents consent orally to the marriage.

Since there seems to be the impression in some quarters that when refusal to give consent to the marriage is based on racial prejudice, the law requiring parental consent may be waived, careful note should be taken of the statement that the parents "may refuse consent on any ground and that they are responsible to God alone."

Bahá’ís who marry without providing verified parental consent are subject to deprivation of their Bahá’í administrative rights and privileges.

NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í REVIEW No. 50

Gulfport, Mississippi Assembly at the time of its incorporation, Dec. 29, 1971. Bottom row, left to right: Mrs. Alice R. Brown, Secretary; Mrs. Thelma Johnson; Mrs. Barbara Meyers; Mrs. Jean Nicholson, Treasurer. Top row: Gordon Warren, Chairman; Joe Johnson; Lawrence Meyers; Fred Baker; Roy Brown.

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IN MEMORIAM[edit]

Mrs. Linnie Carter Birmingham, Alabama. (Jefferson County) Date unknown

Mr. Frank B. Dake Medina, Ohio Sept. 4, 1972

Mrs. Geraldine Davenport Salt Lake City, Utah July 18, 1972

Mrs. Lillian Flynn St. Louis, Missouri August 12, 1972

Mr. Larry Gordon Minneapolis, Minnesota August 31, 1972

Mrs. Ethel Holmes St. Augustine, Florida August 24, 1972

KNIGHT OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH Mr. Vandiver Jones Birmingham, Alabama. (Jefferson County) Date unknown

Mr. Nancen Kline Fort Wayne, Indiana August 18, 1972

Mr. Roy Marcus Birmingham, Alabama (Jefferson County) Date unknown

Mr. Harry Mills Ann Arbor, Michigan August 7, 1972

Mr. Allan Perlman Miami Beach, Florida August 21, 1972

Mrs. Denesbeh Todecoz Ganado, Arizona (Klagetoh Chapter) July 7, 1971

Mr. Ollie Vaughan Greenville, South Carolina Date unknown

Mrs. Maud Windover Grand Rapids, Michigan July 15, 1972

Channeling of Contributions to the Bahá’í Fund[edit]

Questions are frequently raised regarding the preferred channeling of contributions to the Bahá’í Fund. The beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, many times emphasized that each individual has complete freedom to contribute to whatever Funds he wishes. No one may attempt to direct or influence anyone else. Because we all wish to send our contributions where they will do the most good, it is helpful for us to remember that there are four major Bahá’í Funds: the Bahá’í International Fund, the Continental Bahá’í Fund, the National Bahá’í Fund and the local Bahá’í Fund. These major Funds are interdependent. The National Bahá’í Fund helps support both the Bahá’í International Fund and the Continental Bahá’í Fund through regular budgeted allocations. Thus, if your local Bahá’í Fund regularly sends contributions to the National Bahá’í Fund, those contributions will support not only the National Fund but, through it, the Bahá’í International Fund and the Continental Bahá’í Fund as well. From this we can see the great importance of regular, sacrificial local contributions to the National Bahá’í Fund—they help the work of the Cause to continue unhindered throughout the world.

Because so many national Bahá’í communities around the world receive financial support from the Bahá’í International Fund your National Spiritual Assembly has adopted a policy of meeting its monthly commitment to that Fund first, ahead of other obligations. This helps to assure steady world-wide progress. This practice is one which local Assemblies, groups and individuals may wish to adopt with regard to the National Bahá’í Fund.

Our continual concern should be to strengthen the ties of interdependence among the Bahá’í Funds while at the same time meet our spiritual obligation to support the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh materially by our actions.

Earmarking Contributions for Special Use[edit]

The subject of earmarking contributions for special use is dealt with in some detail in the revised Treasurer’s Manual which was recently mailed to all local Treasurers. It is worth re-emphasizing, however, that a clear statement of the objective of every contribution is needed. This is very important since it is necessary to determine how to make the most effective use of each earmarked contribution. Obviously the more information provided, the easier and faster it is to handle the transaction.

Individuals as well as groups and Assemblies should feel free at all times to send a contribution to whichever Fund they choose and to as many Funds as

[Page 8]they wish. The allocation of any earmarked contribution is faithfully observed, but we should remember that Shoghi Effendi regarded it as "an evidence of their absolute confidence in their national representatives" that the friends should "endeavor, however small at first, to contribute freely towards the upkeep and the increase of the National Bahá’í Fund, so that the members of the National Assembly may at their full discretion expend it for whatever they deem urgent and necessary." (Bahá’í Administration, page 54). "Whatever is contributed to the National Assembly for a specific purpose should be expended for that purpose only, but I would encourage the friends to send unlabelled contributions in order not to tie the hands of the National Assembly." (Dawn of a New Day, Letters to India, page 16).

National Bahá’í Fund[edit]

1972-1973 -Monthly Goal-

  • $200,000
  • $150,000
  • $100,000
  • $50,000

INCOME:

Kalimát ‘Izzat (Might) Mashiyyat (Will) Fiscal Year to Date
Regular Contr. $ 70,108.08 $ 76,247.54 $ 80,366.91 $ 688,805.03
Special Feasts Contr. $ 2,214.40 $ 38,922.52
Total Youth and Adult Contributions $ 70,108.08 $ 76,247.54 $ 82,581.31 $ 727,727.55
Estates $ 168.67 $ 54,110.74
Other Income $ 730.27 $ 6,948.91 $ 5,347.85
Total Income $ 70,838.35 $ 76,247.54 $ 89,698.89 $ 787,186.14
Budget $132,000.00 $132,000.00 $132,000.00 $1,188,000.00

Contributions may be addressed to: National Bahá’í Fund 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Ill. 60091

Calendar[edit]

  • November 23: Qawl (Speech)
  • December 12: Mahá’il (Questions)
  • December 31: Sharaf (Honor)

Bahá’í Holy Days[edit]

  • November 12: Birth of Bahá’u’lláh
  • November 26: Day of the Covenant
  • November 28: Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Bahá’í Holy Days on Which Work Should Be Suspended

  • Nov. 12: Anniversary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh

Special Events Days[edit]

November 12—Birth of Bahá’u’lláh Suggested theme: "Bahá’u’lláh—The Divine Peacemaker"

December 10—Human Rights Day Suggested theme: "Justice—The Divine Standard for Peace"

Deepening Institutes[edit]

Sponsored by Continental Counsellors

The Continental Board of Counsellors announces a further list of dates and places where the special deepening institutes on the Bahá’í Covenant and the Nature of Covenant-Breaking are being held. The list is not complete at this time. Many of this series have already been held, with enthusiastic reports on the attendance and inspirational quality of these gatherings. Because of the vital importance of the subject matter all registered Bahá’ís should endeavor to attend at least one of these institutes. You are most lovingly and cordially invited.

  • November 11: Wilmington, Delaware; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Tampa, Fla.
  • November 12: Charleston, W. Va.
  • November 19: Washington, D.C.; Clayton, Mo.
  • December 3: Wilmette, Illinois
  • December 17: Los Angeles, Cal.; Kansas City, Mo.

National Spiritual Assembly Meetings[edit]

  • December 8-10

Special Gatherings[edit]

  • November 23-26, Thanksgiving weekend in Bermuda, Deepening/Teaching