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Baha’

‘The real treasury of man is his knowledge. ’—Bahá’u’lláh

The Ameri 1can

Volume 19, No. 10 October 1988

Sacrificlo y accion

en esta era especial

A los Bahá’ís residentes en los Estados Unidos Bienamados amigos,

En el mensaje de Ridvan de este aio, la Casa Universal de Justicia nos saluda ‘‘en un espiritu de esperanza renovada,’’ compartiendo sus esperanzas de que ‘‘esta a la mano una expansi6n de la Comunidad del Mas Grande Nombre, tal como jamas se haya experimentado.”’ La promesa de tal crecimiento largamente anhelado nos da una amplia razon para regocijarnos. Sin embargo, su cumplimiento envuelve el logro de dos poderosas tareas que actualmente confronta el mundo baha’{.

La primera tarea es el completar el Arco en el Monte Carmelo para preparar el Centro Mundial a cumplir con el tremendo crecimiento de la comunidad y los desaffos de los siglos venideros. El segundo es la expansién de la comunidad baha’i a través de la ensefianza ‘‘en una escala y de una calidad, de una variedad, y de una intensidad que sobrepase todos los esfuerzos actuales.’’ ‘‘En este momento critico de las historia humana,” dice la Casa Universal de Justicia, ‘‘se nos llama a levantarnos en esfuerzo sacrificado, con nuestros ojos sobre las imponentes responsabilidades que tales desarrollos, colocaran sobre las instituciones baha’ is y los creyentes en todas las tierras. .

Ahora es el tiempo para actuar. No se debe desperdiciar ningun momento. ‘El

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‘The time to

To the Bahá’ís resident in the United States Beloved friends,

In this year’s Ridvan message, the Universal House of Justice greets us ‘‘in a spirit of renewed hope,”’ sharing its expectation that ‘‘an expansion of the Community of the Most Great Name, such as has not yet been experienced, is, indeed, at hand.’”” The promise of such long-desired growth gives us ample reason to rejoice. Its fulfillment, however, involves the achievement of two mighty tasks currently facing the Baha’i world.

The first of these is the completion of the Arc on Mount Carmel to prepare the World Center to meet the tremendous growth of the community and the challenges of coming centuries. The second is the expansion of the Baha’i community through teaching “on a scale and of a quality, a variety, and intensity outstripping all current efforts.’’ ‘‘At this climacteric of human history,’’ the Universal House of Justice states, ‘‘we are called upon to rise up in sacrificial endeavor, our eyes on the awe-inspiring responsibilities which such developments will place upon Baha’i institutions and individual believers in every TRA «54

The time to act is now. No moment can be wasted. “The way is now open for the Baha’i world to erect the remaining buildings of its Administrative Center, and we must without delay stride forward resolutely on this path.’’ Fifty million dollars must be ‘‘accumulated rapidly”’ as a reserve upon which plans for construction can be initiated. Regarding teaching, the Universal House of Justice explains that we must act now ‘“‘lest opportunity be lost in the swiftly changing

act is now!’

moods of a frenetic world. Let it not be imagined that expedience is the essential motive arousing this sense of urgency. There is an overarching reason: it is the pitiful plight of the masses of humanity, suffering and in turmoil, hungering after righteousness . . . They must be fe

In response to the challenges presented, the National Spiritual Assembly has designated the period from Ridvan 1988 to Ridvan 1990 as a time of intensive sacrificial action. We call upon every American believer to ‘‘lay aside your every minor concern’”’ during these two years and dedicate your time, your resources, indeed, your entire being to the achievement of the two primary tasks at hand.

The National Assembly has already initiated efforts to address the challenges placed before the Baha’i world. A $6.5 million operating budget was adopted this year with an additional $2 million pledged for the Baha’i International Fund and a goal of $2 million for the Arc. A nationwide teaching plan was launched at the National Convention to achieve entry by troops in the United States; activities that must spread to all parts of the country will be spearheaded by campaigns in Atlanta, Chicago, Massachusetts and San Jose, and by 12 regional conferences intended to mobilize a minimum of 12,000 believers to the field of service.

The success of these endeavors, and the ultimate accomplishment of the challenges presented by the Universal House of Justice will, however, depend upon the response of the individual believer. It is, Shoghi Effendi states, the individual ‘‘on whom, in

the last resort, depends the fate of the entire community.’’ It is you, the individual believer, who must contribute to the Fund. It is you who must teach. Without your help and support, nothing can be accomplished—not the plans of the National Assembly, nor even the plans of the Universal House of Justice. Without you every plan, no matter how carefully drawn, is, in the words of the Guardian, ‘‘foredoomed to failure.”

In a message to the American Baha’i community, Shoghi Effendi told us that opportunities that come to us will not recur ‘‘some for another century, others never again.’”’ Let us not fail to seize the golden opportunities now before us. The Guardian has promised: ‘‘However severe the challenge, however multiple the tasks, however short the time, however somber the world outlook, however limited the material resources of a hard-pressed adolescent community, the untapped resources of celestial strength from which it can draw are measureless in their potentialities, and will unhesitatingly pour forth their energizing influences if the necessary daily effort be made and the required sacrifices be willingly accepted.””

The National Spiritual Assembly prays that every individual believer may achieve, during this special period, a new level of sacrifice and action so that the Cause of God may soon become the Cause of all mankind.

With deep and abiding love for each of you,

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States October 1988 �[Page 2]2/ The American Bahá’í / October 1988

‘Every individual believer— man, woman, youth and child—

is summoned to this field of action; for it is on the initiative, the resolute will of the individual to teach and to serve, that

the success of the entire community depends.’ —Universal House of Justice, Ridvan 1988

Teaching ...

In addition to teaching .. .

Praying...

‘Let it not be imagined that expedience is the essential motive arousing this sense of urgency. There is an overarching reason: it is the pitiful plight of masses of humanity, suffering and in turmoil, hungering after righteousness, but “bereft of discernment to see God with their own eyes, or hear His Melody with their own ears.”’ They must be fed. Vision must be restored where hope is lost, confidence built where doubt and confusion are rife.’

�[Page 3]The American Baha’i / October 1988 / 3

Questions about the Fund?

The Baha’is of Snohomish had some...

\

“What will have to be curtdiled if the contributions are not increased sufficiently?”

© Contributions\ below, our national goal will slow the progress of many projects and programs. Our contributions to the\ International Fund,.repairs. to the House of Worship, direct assistance programs to 'Baha’i communities in the areas’ of Spiritual Assembly development, Persian i integration, refugee assistance, and administrative Services,are all | impaired when sufficient funds are not available. Further, the offices and committees of the National\Assembly are forced to reduce their activities. The-number of ‘regional conferences on external affairs has been reduced, and planned publications and video programs have been postponed. Virtually every agency is forced to’ reorder its plans continually when contributions waver.

“Does this mean there will be-layoffs of staff?””

© Two years ago, low contributions forced the National Spiritual Assembly, to lay off 30 employees at the National Center, the permanent schools, and the Native American and Louis Gregory Bahá’ínstitutes. Most of the agencies affected’ were. already short-handed. The National Spiritual’ Assembly is committed to maintaining the existing staff,As»vacancies do occur, they are filled, only with the. approval of the National Assembly,

“Does this mean that Bahá’ís will not beable to get The American Bahá’í?”’

© The American Bahá’í will continue to be published but will be significantly reduced from its normal size of about 32 pages to 8-16 pages.

“Will other publications cease to be published?”’

© The Significance of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation, the third in a series of deepening books produced by the National Teaching Committee, has been postponed along with some other teaching materials. Brilliant Star, the magazine for children, will reduce by one the number of issues scheduled for publication this year. Also, video productions set for release this year have been postponed. The Baha’i Publishing Trust, which operates independently of the National Fund, is not affected by the level of contributions.

“Will various committees be eliminated or severely cut?””

@ No committees will be eliminated; however, many committees, offices and schools have had large budget reductions. Expansion of the activities of the National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of External Affairs has been slowed. Staff support for the National Education, Development, Race Unity and Women’s Committees has been delayed. Programs and services for the Area Persian/American Affairs Committees have been sharply reduced. Administrative services to the national community are hampered by staff shortages and obsolete equipment. The net effect of low contributions is to slow the progress of the Cause. Important work becomes more difficult and

\

The Spiritual eeniy of Snohomish County Southeast, Washington, sent a letter to the

National Spiritual Assembly raising several questions about the National Fund. The Assembly expressed the hope that the answers to its questions would enable its community to consult at a deeper level and to make changes within itself to meet the needs of the Faith. That local Assembly’s concerns reflect a pattern of questions often asked of the National Spiritual Assembly. Therefore, we have taken this opportunity to share our responses to these questions with all of the friends so that every believer may gain a better understanding of some of the effects of the level of contributions on the capacity of the National Spiritual Assembly to meet the needs of the Cause.

takes much longer to complete:

“Will the teaching work be curtailed?”’

© Teaching is not done by committees, it is done by individual Baha’is. But the coordination of teaching projects, some 200 last year, and of focused efforts to reach American Indians, blacks, Chinese, Hispanics and others requires daily effort by the National Teaching Committee office. The support of the four large-scale teaching projects, the direction of 95 District Teaching Committees, the planning and execution of conferences and special events such as the International Youth Conference and. the Continental Indigenous Council or the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the visit, of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to America, and the solving of scores of problems that arise when people are in motion, all require adequate staff and resources, When resources are not available the work is not stopped completely, but its progress is slowed.

“What is the priority—local Fund or National Fund? Should the friends contribute more to local or more to National?” ‘

The Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, has instructed us that‘‘‘. . ,general and national interests of the Cause take precedence over local ones; thus contributions. to local funds are secondary to those of national funds.*’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice dated August 7, 1985)

“Should the local Spiritual Assemblies curtail obligations to DTCs, media committees, etc., to give more to the National Fund?”’

© The friends should contribute sacrificially to the National Fund. However, it is also important to support local activities. If a choice has to be made, then we must follow the Guardian’s instructions and support the National Fund. The ultimate answer, however, is to increase the number of believers who contribute and the amount each of us gives. Presently, the number of individual believers and Baha’i communities contributing regularly to the National Fund and to local funds is far below the Baha’i standard of universal participation. If each community were to increase the number of its active, contributing members, both our national and local goals could easily be met.

“Ts it possible that believers are giving to the Arc and the Huqtiqu’lláh and not giving as much to the Fund?”’

© Yes, it appears that the initial response to the needs of the International Fund—including the Arc—reduced contributions to the National Fund. The National Spiritual Assembly is making an effort to advise the friends that a large percentage of the contributions to the National Baha’i Fund also go to the International Fund to support the Arc. Regarding the Huqtqu’llah, the Persian believers have always been required to fulfill their obligation to the Huququ’ll4h; now, increasing numbers of American believers are contributing as well. The exact effect of this pattern on the National Fund is not yet known.

“Our understanding from the Writings is that we, as

individuals, should pay our debts first and then give to the Fund. Should the National Spiritual Assembly be borrowing to pay their obligations? Has National made efforts to become solvent by reducing their ad ded budget?” © Your understanding of the directive to individuals is correct: ‘‘. . .Our debts . . . should be considered

as sacred and take precedence over any other thing

. for upon this principle does the foundation of economic life rest.’’ However, as you can readily understand, the financial management of a national community is far more complex than personal finances. Individuals borrow to buy houses and cars, with the expectation that future income will repay the loans. This is necessary because money is not always available when it is needed. The National Spiritual Assembly takes out long-term loans to repair the House of Worship, and has a short-term credit line to meet its day-to-day operating needs when necessary. These loans are repaid by contributions. Because of the National Assembly’s flawless credit history, important, repairs to the Temple or other compelling priorities need not wait indefinitely. In addition, the National Assembly has taken several steps to stabilize

its financial foundation including a 10-year strategic

plan for all capital improvements which features a $600,000 annual set-aside fund, the appointment of a budget review, committee to manage expenditures and recommiénd mid-course adjustments, the appointment of a financial advisory committee comprised of financial professionals, and the implementation of an in-house austerity plan called ‘‘Cost Busters.””

“Do you have any suggestions that might help our community increase their contributions?’’

First, your community should do everything possible to intensify within itself a spirit of loving fellowship and to involve ‘“‘every man, woman, youth and child”’ in community life and in the shouldering of community responsibilities. A strong bond of true love and unity will foster spiritual prosperity among the friends and encourage universal participation and the spirit of sacrifice. Second, because some of the friends do not yet understand the relationship between their individual efforts and the redemption of humanity, you may wish to review relevant letters of the Guardian and the Universal House of Justice (such as Citadel of Faith, pp. 130-131, and the Ridvan 1988 message from the Universal House of Justice). Third, the spiritual healing we wish to bring to the world cannot be done through the efforts and resources of 60,000 people; that is why we must grow. The mandate given to us by the House of Justice is for teaching activities ‘‘on a scale and of a quality, a variety and intensity outstripping all current efforts.””

The final victory lies in the hands of every individual Baha’i. Shoghi Effendi has written: ‘‘This challenge, so severe and insistent, and yet so glorious, faces no doubt primarily the individual believer on whom, in the last resort, depends the fate of the entire community.” (Citadel of Faith, p. 130) NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA’{S OF THE UNITED STATES Robert C. Henderson William E. Davis Secretary Treasurer �[Page 4]4/ The American Baha’i / October 1988

Sacrificio de pagina 1

camino esta abierto ahora para que el mundo bahd’{ erija los restantes edificios de su Centro Administrativo, debemos dar pasos hacia adelante y sin demora resueltamente en este sendero.”” Cincuenta millones de délares deben de ‘‘acumularse rapidamente’’ como reserva sobre la cual podra iniciarse los planos de construccién. Concerniente a la ensefianza, la Casa Universal de Justicia explicéd que debemos de actuar ahora “‘no sea que la oportunidad se pierda en los estados de 4nimo rapidamente cambiantes de un mundo frenético. Que no se imagine que el oportunismo sea el motivo esencial causando este sentido de urgencia. Hay una razén abovedante: es la condicién lamentable de las masas de la humanidad, sufriendo y en agitacién, padeciendo hambre de virtuosidad. .Tienen que ser alimentados.

En respuesta a los desafios presentados, la Asamblea Nacional ha designado el periodo de Ridvan de 1988 al Ridvan de 1990 como un tiempo de intensa sacrificada accién. Llamamos a cada creyente americano a ‘que dejen a un lado cada interés menor’’ durante estos dos afios y que dediquen su tiempo, sus recursos, en si, su entero ser al cumplimiento de estas dos principales tareas que tenemos en nuestras manos. Asamblea Nacional ya ha jado esfuerzos para tratar los desafios puestos ante el mundo baha’{. Un presupuesto de $6.5 millones fue adoptado para este afio en adicidn a otros $2 millones prometidos para el Fondo Internacional Baha’i y una meta de $2 millones para el Arco. Una campafia de ensefianza nacional fue lanzada en la convencién nacional para lograr la entrada en tropos en los Estados Unidos; actividades que deben de ser esparcidas por todas las partes del pafs seran precipitados por los proyectos en Atlanta, Chicago, Massachusetts, y San José, y por doce conferencias propuestas a movilizar un minimo de 12,000 creyentes al campo del servicio.

EI éxito de estos esfuerzos y el logro final de estos desafios presentados por la Casa Universal de Justicia dependardn, sin embargo, de la respuesta de los creyentes individuales. Shoghi Effendi afirma que depende del individuo en quién, en tiltima estancia, depende el destino de la comunidad entera. Es usted, el creyente individual, quién debe contribuir al Fondo. Es usted quién debe ensefiar. Sin su ayuda y su apoyo, nada ser4 logrado—ni los planes de la Asamblea Nacional, ni siquiera los planes de la Casa Universal de Justicia. Sin usted, cada plan, no importa cudn cuidadosamente haya sido preparado, en las palabras del Guar

dian, est4 condenado al fracaso.

En un mensaje a la comunidad baha’{ americana, Shoghi Effendi nos dijo que las oportunidades que nos Ilegan no volveran, algunas por otro siglo, otras nunca mas. No fallemos en aprovechar las excelentes oportunidades ante nosotros. El Guardidn ha prometido que tan severo sea el desafio, tan miltiples las tareas, tan corto el tiempo, tan sombrio la perspectiva del mundo, tan limitado los recursos materiales de una comunidad adolescente bajo presién, los recursos inmesurables de la fuerza celestial del cual se puede extraer estan sin explorar, en sus potenciales, y sin vacilar indudablemente vertira sus influencias energéticas si se hace el esfuerzo diario y si los sacrificios requeridos son aceptados de buena voluntad.

La Asamblea Espiritual Nacional reza para que cada creyente individual pueda lograr, durante este periodo especial, un nuevo nivel de sacrificio y accién para que la Causa de Dios llegue a ser

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‘Vision to Victory’ is theme of 12 conferences set to open two-year period of sacrifice, action

At this year’s Convention, the National Spiritual Assembly launched a nationwide teaching plan designed to initiate the process of entry by troops in the U.S.; activities that must spread to all parts of the country will be spearheaded by large-scale teaching campaigns in Atlanta, Chicago, Massachusetts and San Jose, and by a dozen conferences intended to mobilize a minimum of 12,000 believers to the field of service.

The regional conferences, whose over-all theme is ‘‘Vision to Victory: A Two-Year Period of Sacrifice and Action,’’ have a four-fold purpose:

1. To deepen the friends’ understanding of the significance of the construction of the remaining buildings of the Arc on Mount Carmel, and to help prepare the World Center to meet the tremendous growth of the Baha’i community and the challenges of the coming centuries.

2. To inspire the friends to rise up in sacrificial endeavor to carry out teaching activities ‘‘on a scale and of a quality, a variety and intensity outstripping all current efforts.””

3. To encourage the friends, both in their individual capacities and through their collective efforts, to contribute to the Fund.

4. To inaugurate a two-year period (from Ridvan 1988 to Ridvan 1990) as a time of intensive sacrificial action.

Among the speakers who are expected to attend one or more of these conferences are the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears; two former members of the Universal House of Justice, David Hofman and H. Borrah Kavelin; members of the Continen tal Board of Counselors for the Americas, and members of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Listed here are the locations of each of the 12 conferences with dates (where available) and contact persons. Those areas for which dates are not confirmed will appear in a future issue of The American Bahá’í.

1. Atlanta, Georgia. Contact person: Megan Furutan, 404-250-0721.

2. Boston, Massachusetts. Date: November 5-6. Contact person: Jamshid Ashourian, 617-848-0914.

3. Chattanooga, Tennessee. Date: November 12-13. Contact person: Lois Osborne, 615-476-6248.

4. Chicago, Illinois. Date: December 17-18. Contact person: Lani Smith, 312225-1919.

5. Columbia, South Carolina. Contact person: Cynthia Carter, 803-772-7260.

6. Houston, Texas. Contact person: Flo Wilson-Davis, 713-531-0975.

7. Kansas City, Kansas/Missouri. Contact person: Carol LaVine (phone number not available at press time).

8. Los Angeles, California. Contact person: Lisa Janti, 213-933-8291.

9. New York City. Contact person: Hussein Ahdieh, 212-674-8898.

10. San Jose, California. Date: January 7-8. Contact person: Ron Gilpatrick, 408445-0639.

11. Seattle, Washington. Date: November 19-20. Contact person: Mahnaz Javid, 206-742-9216.

12. Washington, D.C./Alexandria, Virginia, Contact person: Dick Whitter, 202332-9121.

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the U.S.A.

The American Bahd'{ (USPS 042-430) is published monthly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, $36 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL 60091. Postmaster: Send address changes to Management Information Systems, Ba‘hd’ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Editor: Jack Bowers. Associate editor: Laura E. Hildreth. The American Bahá’í welcomes news, letters and other items of interest from individuals and the various institutions of the Faith. Articles should be written in a clear and concise manner; color or black-and-white glossy photographs should be included whenever possible. Please address all materials to The Editor, The American Bahá’í, Wilmette, IL 60091. Copyright © 1988 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in

BAHA’i NATIONAL CENTER Wilmette, Illinois 60091

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