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Volume 19, Issue 5

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The

Arnierican

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

Baha'i

Volume 19, No. 5

May 1988

Jenny Chong (left), manager of the Marchioness Industrial Corp. at the Asia World Hotel in Taipei, Taiwan, discusses the Faith with Anneliese Mayer-Harnisch, a Bahd’ from Arroyo Grande, California, and Lynn Wieties, a Bahá’í from Rolla, Missouri, during a visit to the Bahá’í National Center in Taipei. Ms. Chong, who was introduced to the Faith the day before after having had a

Teaching: key that unlocks door

Exciting developments are taking place in the realm of PersianAmerican affairs within the Baha’i community.

In many areas, great potential for integration of the Persian Baha’is is being demonstrated through teaching efforts.

In Dallas, Texas, for example, the area Persian/American Affairs Committee has increased its teaching activity, and individuals have shown exceptional resourcefulness and fire in their teaching efforts.

One Persian believer has been quite interested in teaching Hispanics. Speaking little English and speaking no Spanish at all could have been considered a problem

dream that a group ah people would come to give her an important message, declared her belief in Bahd’u'lláh the following day. The two Bahá’ís seen here were part of the ITTS (International Traveling Teacher Seminar), a group of 36 Bahá’ís who traveled last November to Southeast Asia, visiting Bahá’ís and taking part in firesides, public meetings and Feasts.

Noticias y reportes en Espanol en la pagina 24

for her, but she did not see this as an obstacle; she simply asked a Spanish-speaking friend to read a pamphlet on the Bahd’{ Faith while she video-taped her.

She has been taking the tape to the homes of Hispanics and leaving it with them, then coming back in a day or two to pick it up. Some of the people with whom she has visited have asked for more information.

In another instance in Dallas, a black Bahá’í who had often been involved in direct teaching was not really comfortable teaching that

Law would allow approval of Convention

House Subcommittee hears testimony on genocide from National Spiritual Assembly

The National Spiritual Assembly presented testimony March 16 at a hearing in Washington, D.C., before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and International Law which was considering H.R. 807, “The Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987.””

The National Assembly was represented at the hearing by its secretary, Dr. Robert C. Henderson.

Dr. Henderson appeared as part of a ‘concerned groups”’ panel whose other members were Hyman Bookbinder (for Elie Wiesel and the American Jewish Committee); William Haratunian, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Armenian Assembly of America; and Dith Pran, an author and photojournalist whose

to integration

way.

Recently, however, he has been teaching with a newly arrived Persian Bahá’í who speaks little English.

The American Bahá’í found that by going with a friend who is obviously on fire, his own interest in teaching the Faith has increased remarkably. Rather than dreading direct teaching opportunities, he now yearns for them.

The Area Persian/American Affairs Committee in Atlanta, Georgia, has also increased its teaching activity with dramatic results.

Since Atlanta is one of the four

See TEACHING page 4

tribulations in Cambodia were the basis for the movie ‘‘The Killing Fields.”

Also offering statements in favor of the Resolution were Sen. William Proxmire of Wisconsin; Richard Schifter, Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs; Victoria Toensing, deputy Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, Department of Justice; and Trisha Katson, director of legislative affairs for the Liberty Lobby.

A second panel of ‘‘concerned groups” was comprised of Paul Hoffman, a board member of Amnesty International; Stephen Klitzman, chairman of the International Human Rights Commi tee of the American Bar Association; Seymour Reich, president of B’nai B’rith International; Kathleen Stone, member of the Board of Directors of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute; and Alvin Steinberg, chairman of the National Planning Committee of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith.

H.R. 807, the Genocide Convention Implementation Act, makes genocide a federal crime, establishes penalties for commission of that crime, and defines the jurisdiction of the United States over acts of genocide.

Its passage is essential before ratification by the President of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, whose ratification was approved 83-11 by the Senate on February 19, 1986, after nearly 37 years of consideration.

During that time the Senate

x

DR. ROBERT HENDERSON Testifies before Congress

Foreign Relations Committee held many hearings on the Convention, favorably reporting it to the full Senate no less than six times.

The Convention has been in force since January 1951, and 96 other countries have become parties.

The National Spiritual Assembly began its support for U.S. ratification of the Genocide Convention in 1985, working with a core of 15 organizations which together coordinated the effort that led to Senate ratification in 1986.

To provide grassroots support for H.R. 807, the legislative component that puts into law the penalties to be assessed for the crime of genocide, the National Spir See TESTIMONY page 4

Vicki Hu Poirier is pictured with the tapestry she created commemorating the 140th anniversary of

the conferences at Badasht and Seneca Falls, New York, and debicting the contributions made by

Tdhirih and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. (Photo by Leslie Blair, Las Cruces, New Mexico, Bulletin)

Baha’i women play leading role in annual History Week dinner

Baha’is played a leading role March 10 at the annual Women’s History Week dinner in Seneca Falls, New York.

The event is sponsored by the the Business and Professional Women’s Club and the American Association of University Women’s Seneca Falls chapter, which turned over the program to the Bahá’í National Committee on Women.

The keynote speaker was Farzaneh Guillebeaux, a member of the Baha’i National Committee on Women who lives in Montgomery, Alabama.

In her address to the audience of 76 (about 12 of whom were Baha’is) Mrs. Guillebeaux spoke of the contributions to the equality of men and women made by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Baha’i poetess Táhirih and drew

parallels between their lives.

Táhirih’s involvement in the historic Conference of Badasht and Mrs. Stanton’s role in the first Women’s Rights Conference in the West as the writer of the “Declaration of Sentiments”’ took place within a few weeks of each other in June/July 1848.

Vicki Hu Poirier, a Baha’i from Las Cruces, New Mexico, who is an artist, designed a tapestry commemorating those events which was presented at the dinner to the residents and organizations of Seneca Falls.

The tapestry depicts Táhirih publicly removing her veil at the Conference of Badasht and Elizabeth Cady Stanton speaking at the Women’s Rights Conference of 1848 and includes statements made by each of them. �[Page 2]2/ The American Baha’i / May 1988

India’s House of Worship sees two million visitors in January

The Baha’i House of Worship in Bahapur (New Delhi), India, welcomed more than two million visitors ‘in January including about 50,000 on January 26, Indian Republic Day.

Between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. alone on that day, a record 25,000 people came to see the Temple.

Every avenue leading up to the central auditorium was packed with colorful, excited people who had come to see “‘Delhi’s equivalent of a dream in marble,”’ as the Temple was described in the Evening News, one of New Delhi’s daily newspapers.

The visitors were not only interested in seeing the House of Worship but wanted also to know who the Baha’is are and what are the teachings of the Faith.

Among the various school and college groups, one that stood out was that of 17 Ladakhi children from Lamdon Model School, Leh, accompanied by several teachers.

A teacher explained the meaning of Lamdon as “‘the torch which illumines the path.’’ Looking at the bright young faces of these students, one felt as if they were illumined by an inner joy.

Also visiting was a group of Mizo students from Pacchuki College, Aizawl, in the state of Mizoram.

The National Project for Education and Administration, which was conducting a seminar in Delhi, brought to the Temple participants from 13 countries in Asia and Africa.

The 21 members from Hindu, Muslim and Christian backgrounds had many questions to ask after seeing the Temple’s audio-visual program.

Also visiting were five American professionals sponsored by the American chapter of Rotary International. They had heard of the Faith through the music of

Chicago Baha’is set ‘Walk for Diversity’

A “Walk for Unity in Diversity” will be held in downtown Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, June 18.

The walk is sponsored by the Chicago Area Race Unity Task Force with the cooperation and help of the Spiritual Assembly of Chicago and the National Race Unity Committee.

The Task Force has invited about 140 civic and community groups and more than 1,000 churches in the Chicago area to take part in the walk.

Also contacted for support were the Office of the Mayor in Chicago, the National Spiritual Assembly, the Board of Counselors, the National Council of Christians and Jews, and all Baha’is within a 100-mile radius of Chicago.

If you would like to take part or to help in some way, please phone Bill or Mary Ellen Lembcke, 312-699-9786, for information.

Seals & Crofts and had visited the House of Worship in Wilmette.

Another group of 41 women from Rotary International was impressed both with the Temple and the Baha’i principles.

It was also interesting to welcome 55 American women from the ‘People-to-People Citizen Ambassador Program.”

Since they were in India to discuss women’s issues with their counterparts, they had many questions about Bahá’í programs for the progress of women.

When the Bahá’í concept of the equality of men and women was explained to them, they were i pressed, and said it was in keeping with the other progressive principles of the Faith.

A group of 60 pilgrims from the Bilaspur District of Himachal Pradesh, after touring several Hindu holy places in northern India, came to the House of Worship.

They listened with great respect to the Bahd’{ principles, after which one of them got up to say they would like to know more about the Founder of this religion.

The whole contingent of NCC Cadets from Rajasthan, in Delhi for the Republic Day parade, came to the House of Worship. Their squad leader said, ‘I wish we had more such places.’”

It was in mid-January that the audio-visual program, in English and Hindi, was begun. It gives information about the Temple and the Faith and has received a good response from the visitors, who have found it imaginative and informative.

The program, which runs about 18 minutes, is shown four times each in English and Hindi every day.

World Religion Day was observed January 20 with a special prayer service dedicated to peace and unity. Some members of the Gandhi Peace Foundation’s Delhi branch, as well as members of Vidyajyoti, a college of theological studies run by the Jesuit Order, participated.

One of the more prominent visitors in January was L.K. Advani, a well-known Indian politician who was paying a second visit to the Temple.

A minister in the government of the Peoples’ Republic of China, accompanied by his delegates, listened with great interest to information about the Temple.

Some of his colleagues sought more information about the Faith and were delighted to receive pamphlets in Chinese.

Justice A.K. Sen and Mrs. Sen again visited the Temple with members of their family.

Also, Prof. Bakshish Singh, director (humanities) of Indira Gandhi Open Universities, was happy to note after his visit that in a world full of religious strife, there are some people who are endeavoring to establish religious harmony.

written in a clear and concise manné should be included whenever possit

the U.S.A.

The American Bahá’í (USPS 042-430) is published monthly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, 536 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 ‘olor or black-and-white glossy photographs . 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

Lawrence Miller (right), a management consultant from Roswell, Georgia, presented an Assembly training seminar last November 21 in Seattle, Washington, whose focus was ‘leading, motivating and managing.’ Among the points

made; the effectiveness of leaders is defined by the behavior of their Sollowers; the followers ‘vote’ for or against their leaders by coming or not coming to meetings, deepenings, Feasts, etc. More than 100

Bahá’ís from 39 communities attended the seminar, which was cosponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Seattle and the District Teaching Committee of Washington Northwest.

If you really want to follow Master’s example, just try keeping your word

aa VIEWPOINT

When we look at what is involved in following ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s example, we are often overwhelmed by feelings that the task is so large that we hardly know where to begin.

May I suggest a simple goal that will help each of us to move toward being like the Exemplar?

Make a personal resolution to keep your word. That sounds so simple, but it is much harder to do than it sounds.

In our society, we often make empty promises—so often perhaps that we don’t even notice ourselves first making them and then not keeping them.

For example, how often do we say to someone, “‘I’ll call you,” or, “‘I’ll see you at Feast,’’ and then not call or go to Feast?

Can you imagine ‘Abdu’l-Bahá saying he’d call and then forgetting to do so?

The quality of trying to be trustworthy, which is another way of saying that our word is good, is one of the most important virtues to learn, both to make ourselves better teachers and to help improve community unity.

One learns, over time, not to make promises that one cannot keep, or to make empty offers of help or comfort.

As one grows in learning to consider keeping his word a high priority, he learns why Baha’u’ll4h says trustworthiness is the foundation of all order in society.

Keeping promises and knowing in your heart that you are trustworthy makes you look different.

It is such a rare quality that it shines as much or more than the more obvious elements of living the life such as abstaining from drugs, living in chastity, or simply

being kind to others. Those whom you teach will listen to one who holds his words as important.

Even more than teaching, trustworthiness improves unity.

Baha’is are not a ‘“‘natural’’ group, brought together by common backgrounds and interests. The little disappointments that one would forgive another like himself are harder to overlook in one who is different.

Usually, we are so desirous of unity that we overlook how often. we have been disappointed in other Baha’is because they did not keep their word, and how often we have disappointed others by not keeping ours.

Every improvement in individual Baha’is being able to count on the word of other Baha’is is an improvement in unity.

Not only does the community of Baha’is benefit from this, but our institutions as well. If an Assembly knows that a person who says he or she will gather information on its behalf will do so, or that a committee which promises to meet and draw up plans will fulfill that commitment, the Assembly can devote more of its energy to the business of teaching

This month’s column, ‘‘Keeping Your Word,’’ was written by Annette Hinshaw of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

and less to the sort of administrative tasks that should be unnecessary.

The goal of keeping one’s word is a definite, measurable goal. It is hard to judge whether you have improved in being kind; but you can count how many promises you make and how many of them you keep.

Knowing how you are doing is an important aspect of continued spiritual growth.

If you study the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and look at the many wonderful things He was and did, you'll find that His trustworthiness, the certainty that one could always count on Him, runs through it like a radiant strand of pearls. And it is a quality that any of us can cultivate.

Even those of us who sometimes have trouble being kind or patient or forgiving, as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was, can learn to see that we keep every single promise we make.

Baha’is are invited to take part in walks supporting UN Session on Disarmament

A peace walk in support of the United Nations Third Special Session on Disarmament has been organized by a Buddhist order of monks and nuns.

Participants will tread along two branches of the two-month walk, one from Chicago to New York City and the other from Bangor, Maine, to New York.

The two groups of walkers will converge June 10 at the UN building in New York. On the same day, an interfaith prayer service for success of the UN special session will be held at the Riverside Episcopal Church.

On June 11, a major national and international gathering in New York will express its support of the special session.

Those friends who are interested in taking part in the peace walk should contact the following individuals according to the route desired:

Chicago-New York City route, the Rev. Ishibashi,

New York, NY 10025 (phone 212-666-6440).

Bangor-New York City route,

Sri Beth Ingham, Peace Pagoda, Leverett, MA 01054 (phone 413-367-2202). �[Page 3]

LETTERS

“The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing “opinions.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

The American Bahá’í welcomes letters to the editor on any topic of general interest. The purpose of the “letters’ column is to allow a free and ‘open exchange of ideas and opinions, never to denigrate another’s views or to attack anyone on a personal level. Opinions expressed in these columns are not necessarily those of the National Spiritual Assembly or the editors.

Letters should be as brief as possible (a 250-word maximum is suggested) and are subject to editing for length and style. Please address all letters to the Editor, The American Bahá’í, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Many paths to involvement To the Editor:

There are many ways we can be involved in our community without being involved in a political manner (whatever the definition may be).

The society in which we live is, without realizing it, crying out for the Faith; we can take it to them in many ways.

We have been exhorted to “‘live the life’’ and to “‘let deeds, not words” be our adorning. How many of us a true participants in the community in which we live, oa merely our Bahá’í communi There are many ways of being active, from teaching or taking part in the city’s adult and/or youth classes to volunteering at the local hospital as a ‘‘candy striper.””

The Scouting program is always in need of volunteers, and often the local schools have advisory councils, local libraries have support groups, city committees need members—whether its the ‘‘sister city’? committee or rent mediation board.

Whatever we choose to do, we can apply the skills of consultation, the principles of unity, elimination of prejudice, investigation of truth, and many more.

How often do we hesitate to take part in something worthwhile for fear of becoming involved in “‘politics’’? Are we isolating ourselves and the wonderful Message we have been asked to share?

Pick some aspect of community life that interests you, whether it involves children, international relationships, art, youth, dance or whatever. The more you become interested, the more you’ll enjoy the time and effort you will give. Don’t forget about the principles of the Faith.

Participation in the larger community opens so many doors to the Baha’is. You can get to know others in your community: people who are looking for friends in an apathetic, uncaring world; people who also wish to participate in improving the situation around them; people who influence your community.

Your community service helps them and you. Your love for God and His servants will shine through everything you do.

I have become involved in our local YMCA. It’s basically a Christian organization, but one that believes in serving the needs of the community—with emphasis

on the family.

There are many excellent programs: swimming lessons, afterschool care, summer day camps, family camps, exercise classes, sports programs for children that emphasis learning and fun, and parent-child

Due to my {friendships at the Y, last summer’s week-long overnight camp took material from the Pasadena Children’s Peace Con Grammer’s ‘“‘Teaching Peace’ tape for ideas and activities for the week.

The theme was based on ‘‘Caring and Sharing,” and included making a peace quilt that has been hanging in the Y for the past year.

The Parent-Child program is ideal for adult participation, as it gives us an opportunity to do things with our children and with other parents and children.

Also, it’s great fun and enables you and your child to make new friends.

As Baha’is we believe in the oneness of religion. Let’s not isolate ourselves because of it.

Aileen Poehls Culver City, California About ‘soul mates’

To the Editor:

The question of “‘soul mates”’ is mentioned again and again, and it seems that a good many Baha’is cling to the idea that each person has a “‘soul mate.””

This is not so. Shoghi Effendi has written the following:

“There is no teaching in the Baha’i Faith that ‘soul mates’ exist. What is meant is that marriage should lead to a profound friendship of spirit, which will endure in the next world, where there is no sex, and no giving and taking in marriage; just the way we should establish with our parents, our children, our brothers and sisters and friends a deep spiritual bond which will be everlasting, and not merely physical bonds of human relationship.”” (From a letter dated December 4, 1954, to an individual believer and quoted in a compilation of the Universal House of Justice)

This is quite clear. One wonders why the friends continue to raise questions and issues on this point.

Margaret Ruhe Haifa, Israel

Nothing ‘wrong’ with race

To the Editor:

I would like to note a common misconception that is prevalent among well-meaning Baha’is.

[have heard the argument from several within this community that referring to a person’s race is not only insulting but also holds the potential for promoting racial prejudice.

Without a doubt, it is true that race is neither an entire nor an accurate description of any human being; yet it is also true that racial difference is an element of the human species.

Likewise, it is true that to refer to an individual as ‘‘that man with the beard” or “the woman with the blue skirt” or ‘those boys with red hair”’ is neither an entire nor an accurate description of those persons; yet such references are not controversial.

Perhaps this is because people tend to deny what is uncomfortable to them. Racial variety is a good example of this.

The problem, I believe, lies in the way in which reference to race

has been used in the past, outside of the Bahá’í community.

For the most part, connotations of superiority or inferiority were, and are, an aspect of noting another’s race. The Bahá’í concept of racial relativity, however, extends far beyond the popular conception of ‘‘color-blindness.’”

On this issue alone an excellent opportunity is given for the Baha’i ue to nee cay Seaeae itself from the ture, tases otras the pote eae que embrace of racial variety, and this is indeed something the world is greatly in need of.

A letter addressing this issue (January) suggested that we look at the Writings and the lives of the Founders of the Faith as a guidepost when grappling with this emotional issue.

Annamarie Honnold has feat vided a example from the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Vignettes, pp. 88-89) in which He welcomed a dark-skinned child and referred to him as a “‘black rosea

Before the child left, the Master held a piece of dark chocolate to his cheek, smiled and gave him a warm embrace.

The point here is that racial variety is not to be ignored, but is rather to be appreciated.

Isn’t it better to feel good about our attributes rather than to be so self-conscious about them that we feel we must be stripped of them?

Let’s think of ourselves as a garden of beautiful multi-colored roses instead of as an homogenous

brick wall. David Fierstien Evanston, Illinois Sexual prejudice runs deep

To the Editor:

During Feast we were discussing the equality of men and women in the Faith; it took only a few moments for several of the men and women to determine that our soommunty had no sexual preju The lack of discussion and the feeling that we had no problems bothered me. Later, I realized what I wished I had said.

I see women carrying out a large percentage of child care duties at Bahá’í events. These are mostly women who have small children

B Rol ch upobr

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Me

St Wel

The American Baha’i / May 1988 / 3.

themselves and are the most in need of spending time away from children.

If males, even those who have no children who need care, would spend time with these children, what a benefit to all involved!

Certainly no one could feel that these men are more valuable contributors to Feast than these women.

I see women talking at Feast and their opinions not being validated like those of men. Can it be that Bahá’ís place more value on the opinions of men than of women?

I see women taking on and doing more service type work in the community than men. Is it that the women’s time is less valuable than that of men?

Sexual prejudices that are deep in both men and women are largely unrecognizable. Part of our work as Bahd’fs is to let the light in on our darkness.

Elizabeth Donaldson Corvallis, Oregon

One good pat on back ...

To the Editor:

I felt inspired to write this after reading The American Bahá’í, and to tell you and every other Baha’i how important it is and how lucky we are to have The American Bahá’í.

Without it, how would we know what is going on with other Bahá’ís in this country—nay, in the world. Please keep up the superb work.

I felt so low, and after reading the newspaper felt like I was in the clouds. You need to be commended more often.

Bo Allen Pleasant Hill, California

(Thank you. We couldn’t agree more.—Ed.)

... deserves another

To the Editor:

Our Assembly is writing to thank you for the many wonderful teaching suggestions we glean from your pages every month.

The recent suggestions from the Office of Public Affairs that you carried have been a great help to us. As soon as we stopped advertising ‘‘firesides’’ and began offering ‘“‘enquirer’s classes’’ in an inter serving 1

spi adopting spiritual

helping us to

144 pages

THE WAY TO INNER FREEDOM

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Erik Blumenthal

In this positive and highly readable book Erik Blumenthal, ally respected psychotherapist and longember ol Counsellors, explains that freedom is an inner quality dependent on our own conscious choices. He provides ple step-by-step programme of self-discovery and ual development, emphasizes the importance of goals and striving to. overcome egotism, and demonstrates the role r develop self-confidence and sense of purpose personal deepening and giving to non-Bal

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stead, the number of seekers jumped from zero to five. The problem seems to have been a need to communicate clearly on our side!

We also noticed the ad asking for help in finding filmstrip projectors for the National Assembly of Guatemala. We had one sitting in a closet and were delighted to think of the use Guatemala could make of it.

Our plan is to contact our local chapter of Partners for the Americas, who travel to Guatemala frequently, as.they are our sister country for Alabama, and ask them to deliver the machine. That will help us build our relationship with another community group.

The articles that you carry on American Indian activities are perfect to pass on to our Indian friends in the area.

We could go on and on, but will simply close by urging everyone to read our wonderful paper carefully, because it is full of resources to use to help us teach, deepen and emerge from obscurity.

Make money? Good idea!

To the Editor:

We have been challenged. The planned completion of the buildings of the Arc on Mount Carmel requires a higher level of giving to the Baha’i Fund. There is a need to do things differently.

While there is certainly room in the budgets of many households to contribute a larger percentage of income to the Cause of God, we should also consider the possibility of substantially increasing our basic income. The amount of money in the hands of Bahá’ís can be a major factor in the amount of money that can be used to help build the Kingdom of God.

America is one of the few countries in the world in which it is possible for anyone to become wealthy. A person with the will, knowledge, imagination and effort can provide a needed good or service and be richly rewarded for doing so. It is time for Baha’is to consider entrepreneurship.

The wealth that has been flow See LETTERS page 35

the Continental Board of

jon plays in

our

$7.50

Order through your local n, or send check or

Baha’i Distribution Service, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.

O-N-E W.O.R.E.D

�[Page 4]4/ The American Bahá’í / May 1988

STORIES OF THE MARTYRS

FARID BIHMARD!

Farid Bihmardi, the son of two Baha’is who were married with the blessing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, was born in 1940 in Tabariyah, in the Holy Land.

He spent his childhood in several pioneering posts where his parents resided until, eventually, the Guardian instructed the family to move to Yazd, in central Iran.

Mr. Bihmardi spent 12 years in Yazd where he went to school, attended Baha’ classes and was involved in Bahá’í youth activities.

He also attended classes to learn English, photography and to play musical instruments such as the trumpet.

After graduating from high school, he worked for two years in a bank. On obtaining permission from the Universal House of Justice to take up residence in Tehran, he moved to that city.

There he entered the School of Journalism at the University of Tehran, but was unable to complete his studies.

Soon after, he went to the United States and spent about a year there. When Mr. Bihmardi returned to Iran, he started a business and took residence in a homefront pioneering post near Tehran. When the Islamic Revolution took place in 1979, Mr. Bihmardi decided to pioneer to Lebanon, but could not obtain a visa. He then returned to the U.S. for a second time and stayed there for a short period.

While in the U.S. he met Nuru’lah Akhtar Khavari, one of the Baha’ is of Yazd, who told him he was returning to Iran because it was the best time to serve the Faith.

On hearing this, Mr. Bihmardi decided to return to his homeland and serve the Faith in any way he could.

After returning to Iran, Mr. Bihmard{ visited families of the martyrs and prisoners as well as those who had lost their homes and belongings. In 1983 he was elected a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Iran.

On July 30, 1984, Mr. Bihmardi was arrested, and later was taken to the infamous Evin Prison where Iran’s political prisoners are generally incarcerated.

Mr. Bihmardi spent about two years in prison. During that time, no visitors were allowed, and only

See MARTYR page 13

Testimony

from page 1

itual Assembly asked Bahá’ís in key areas of the country to write articles or letters to their local newspapers or to phone their congressmen on behalf of their Bahá’í communities to urge passage of the legislation.

The Convention’s failure for so many years to win Senate approval is evidence of the deeply held opposition to the treaty and of the tenacity of the issues which some feel are raised by it.

Those issues include: whether such a human rights treaty is within the treaty power of the U.S.; whether the Convention might override provisions in the Constitution; whether it would affect the balance of power between Federal and state jurisdiction in criminal matters; and whether it would require extradition of U.S. citizens to other countries where they might be charged with genocide.

Other issues have been raised by the definition of genocide used in the Convention, the exclusion of political groups from that definition, the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, and the role of an international penal tribunal.

In September 1984, the Reagan administration announced its support of ratification of the Convention with the inclusion of three understandings and one declaration favored by the executive branch and Senate Foreign Relations Committee since 1970.

Senate passage in 1986 included provision for implementing legislation referred to in Article V of the Convention, which is the area addressed by H.R. 807.

The Bahá’í community was invited to send a representative to the Subcommittee’s hearing because of the widespread knowledge within the government of the persecution of Baha’is in Iran, the elements of which, as Dr. Hender .son pointed out in his testimony, constitute genocide as defined by the Convention.

“Most of us will agree,’’ Mr. Schifter told the Subcommittee members, ‘‘that genocide is not likely to take place within the borders of the United States.

“Our action on this Convention ... underlines our role of leadership in the free world on behalf of the cause of human rights.

“Tt is for that reason that we sincerely hope that the House will act on this bill at an early date and that it will soon become law.’”’

Following is Dr. Henderson’s statement to the Subcommittee on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly:

“Genocide is the ultimate crime against humanity. The United Nations Convention on Genocide to which, after decades of debate, the United States has recently adhered, defines the crime of genocide as ‘any one’ of five kinds of action, ‘committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group as such.”

“Thus the concept of genocide

Rights restored

The National Spiritual Assembly has restored the administrative rights of Dr. Abbas Bashir-Elahi of Vienna, Virginia.

is much broader than outright massacre and includes other measures designed to destroy groups of

people.

“The Baha’is, members of a worldwide religious community dedicated to peace, unity and brotherhood among all peoples, nations and religions, have been victims of genocide in Iran for more than a hundred years.

“Shortly after the inception of the Baha’i Faith in mid-19th century Iran, some 20,000 of its early followers were killed at the bidding of the Shi’ite clergy supported by the government. In the last 20 years the Bahá’ís of Iran have once again become victims of acts in every one of the categories ita define genocide. For example:

“The Convention defines killing as genocide, and the Iranian government has executed since 1979 more than 200 Baha’is, most of them leaders of the community.

“The Convention states that ‘causing serious bodily or mental harm’ is genocide; and thousands of Bahá’ís have been unjustly imprisoned and subjected to torture

to compel them to recant their faith.

“The Convention states that ‘deliberately inflicting ... conditions of life calculated to bring about (the) physical destruction’ of the group is genocide.

“Tran has not only confiscated all the Bahd’{ community property—meeting places, schools, hospitals, shrines and even cemeteries—but forced the Bahá’ís to disband all the elected assemblies which governed the Baha’i community and to give up all organized religious activity.

“The last two types of action defined as genocide involve ‘imposing measures intended to prevent birth within the group (and) forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.’ Iranian Bahd’{s have suffered these outrages as well.

“In supporting human rights throughout the world and in ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Prevention of the Crime of Genocide, the United States explicitly commits itself to an unrelenting struggle for the

elimination of what is undoubtedly the greatest evil of our century.

“The power and influence of the United States are indispensable for the achievement of victory in this struggle.

“The Baha’is make no specific proposals for legislation in support of the Convention, but they do wish to emphasize the spiritual and moral imperative that all laws necessary for the implementation of the Convention be passed, unanimously if possible, or at least by an overwhelming majority.

“During the first three weeks of March, Bahá’ís observe a fast, devoting the early hours of every morning to prayer and meditation, attempting to spiritualize their lives, and hoping to bear witness to the unity of humanity, to the need for protecting the weak, to the duty of succoring victims of oppression.

“It is in this spirit that we urge our representatives to approach the legislative task now before them.””

N. Mexico hosts Regional Conference on Growth

Inspiration, initiative, generosity and sacrifice marked a Regional Growth Conference held last December at Hummingbird Camp near Jemez Springs, New Mexico.

The event was organized after two members of the Northern New Mexico District Teaching Committee attended the National Growth Conference held in September 1987 in Wilmette, Illinois.

They were so moved by the conference, and especially by the talk given by Counselor Wilma Brady, that they decided to offer New Mexico “‘the gift of a conference.””

When Dr. Brady said, ‘‘Invite me, I’ll come,”’ the idea was set in motion and plans fell into place.

John Barnes (Dr. Brady’s nephew) and Marva King agreed to perform, donating their time and expenses; the Assemblies of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County and some individuals donated scholarships 0 22 people could attend at partial or no charge.

Area Bahá’ís agreed to give workshops on homefront pioneering, teaching Native Americans, and Persian/American relations.

Dr. Brady presented a workshop on “‘the most challenging issue,”’ spoke with the youth, and

Teaching

from page |

targeted areas of the National Persian/American Affairs Committee for minority teaching, a series of four teaching conferences was planned in different areas of the city for the purpose of initiating teaching among Atlanta’s minority groups.

Among the speakers who came to address the first such conference were Soo Fouts, Jack Guillebeaux, Riaz Khadem and Van Gilmer.

Those attending the conference, a large percentage of whom were Persian, studied the Persian translation of The Advent of Divine Justice.

More than 100 believers came to the event, held on the south side of Atlanta—an area which usually does not draw many conference participants.

gave the keynote address.

In all, 109 people from New Mexico, Arizona, Connecticut, California, British Columbia, El Salvador and Haifa, Israel, attended the conference.

In her keynote remarks, Dr. Brady reviewed the most recent Ridvan message from the Universal House of Justice and discussed the need for greater maturity in our methods of teaching and consultation.

Noting the location of the conference in the Southwest, she emphasized the spiritual values already present in the Native American cultures that will play a key role in the establishment of world

peace.

Counselor Wilma Brady addresses the Regional Growth Conference held last December in Jemez Springs, New Mexico.

Refugee Office seeks sponsors in U.S. for Khmer Baha’is soon to resettle here

The National Spiritual Assembly of Thailand has informed the U.S. Baha’i Refugee Office that there are about 300 Khmer Baha’i refugees who are already approved for resettlement in the U.S.

The majority of this group will be leaving in the next few weeks for five months of training in the Philippines in ESL and U.S. culture and will enter the U.S. by September 30, 1988.

The U.S. Baha’i Refugee Office seeks those in the American Baha’i community who are able to help these refugees by sponsoring them.

Sponsors accept the moral responsibility for providing airport reception, food, housing, help with documentation (such as social security registration), enrollment in language classes, and help with transportation for 90 days after the refugees’ arrival.

The sponsor should also be prepared to help the refugees respond to the demands of their new life in as many ways as possible.

Sponsors are not responsible for the costs of international transportation, medical care, schooling, etc., unless they sign affidavits that specifically state that they agree to underwrite such expenses.

They should be certain that they understand the responsibilities they are undertaking as stated in

the forms they sign, and keep copies of all such documents.

In order for these refugees to come to the U.S. this summer, they need assurance of sponsorship now.

More information about the commitments of sponsorship may be obtained by writing to the U.S. Baha’ Refugee Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

New York observes World Religion Day

On January 17, 75 people gathered at the Bahá’í Center in New York City for a celebration of World Religion Day.

The event, sponsored by the Baha’i Public Information Office of New York City and the Sunday Public Meeting Committee, included talks by Depa Awal from the (Hindu) Satya Sai Bhajan and the Embrace Foundation, the Venerable K. Piyatissa from the American-Sri Lanka Buddhist Association, the Rev. Clinton Gleen of the First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon, and Auxiliary Board member Tahereh Ahdieh.

At the end of their talks, two of the speakers were given copies of “The Promise of World Peace.’’ The Rev. Glenn, who had already received the peace statement, was given a copy of **‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the City of the Covenant.’’ �[Page 5]The American Baha’i / May 1988 / 5

TheNational Rahs] 9 Fund

Advancing the Faith around the World

‘Justice: Achieving Baha’i Concept’ theme of 1988 Justice Society meeting

The 1988 Conference and Annual Meeting of the Baha’i Justice Society will be held June 2-5 at the Bosch Bahá’í School near Santa Cruz, California.

The theme of this year’s conference is ‘‘Justice: Achieving the Bahá’í Concept.

The outstanding speakers includes:

° Wilma E. Brady, administrator-general of the Baha’i International Community and member of the Continental Board of Counselors for the Americas.

Juana Conrad, court administrator for East Los Angeles

Municipal Court, co-founder of Women for International Peace and Arbitration, and chairman of the Bahá’í National Committee on Women.

¢ Farhang Javid, president and chairman of the board of Acrowood Corp. and member of the board of directors of the New Era

‘Let your vision

be world-embracing.’ —Baha’u’llah

LOCAL Bahá’í FUND

(Ask your local Baha’i community

for the correct address)

NATIONAL Bahá’í FUND

Wilmette, IL 60091

CONTINENTAL Bahá’í

FUND

c/o Bahá’í National Center

Wilmette, IL 60091

Bahá’í INTERNATIONAL

FUND

P.O. Box 155

Haifa, Israel 31-000

PERSIAN RELIEF FUND

c/o Baha’ National Center

Wilmette, IL 60091

Bahá’í HUQUQU’LLAH

TRUST

Office of the Secretariat

21300 Avalon Drive

Rocky River, OH 44116

lineup of

BAHA'I JUSTICE Registration

Foundation.

Judge James F. Nelson of the

Los Angeles Municipal Court, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly.

¢ Frank Newman, retired Justice of the California Supreme Court and professor of law, University of California at Berkeley.

The Society’s Annual Meeting will include the annual report of its board of officers, the election of officers for 1988-89, reports from the Society’s task forces, and general consultation on the business of the Society.

The Bahá’í Justice Society is an association of lawyers, jurists, teachers, court administrators and others interested in promoting justice, world order, and the oneness of mankind through the elimination of prejudice, the establishment of equal rights for men and women, the peaceful resolution of disputes, the improvement of existing legal systems, and the establishment‘of ethical standards consisten with the principles of the Baha’i Faith.

If you are interested in the work of the Society, are considering becoming a member, or would like to hear what promise to be outstanding presentations, please plan to attend the conference.

Registration is $93 per person plus $32 for shuttle service to and from the San Jose Airport.

The single-day charge for participants is $6 plus meals. Shuttle information or directions for reaching the Bosch School by car will be sent on receipt of your deposit.

Some scholarships are available. For details, please contact Steven Gonzales, secretary, Baha’i Justice Society,

_ East Lansing, MI 48823 (phone 517-699-1312).

“Among the greatest of all services that can possibly be rendered by man to Almighty God is the education and training of children, young plants of the Abhd Paradise, so that these children, fostered by grace in the way of salvation, growing like pearls of divine bounty in the shell of education, will one day bejewel the crown of abiding glory.’’—Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 106, pp. 133-34

Time for ‘change,’ so Kalamazoo makes ‘special delivery’ to Fund

In Kalamazoo, Michigan, two seemingly modest ideas joined forces with a community-wide desire to collect money for the Arc: first, a bank in every home to save money, and second, a Naw-Rúz supper to raise money for the Are.

While she was vacationing at Disney World, Connie Alexander of Kalamazoo saw a bank with Disney characters on it.

“As I admired the bank,’’ she later said, ‘‘more and more it dawned on me that the bank could be used to save money for the Are.’”

She decided to analyze carefully how she spent her money between December and Naw-Rúz.

She weighed needs vs. wants, and if she needed something she would buy it, but if she merely wanted something she would put the money in the bank for the Are.

Ms. Alexander mentioned the idea at an Assembly meeting, and everyone was in favor of working together on the project.

Strength was added to strength when the Baha’is in Kalamazoo invited the isolated Baha’is in the

Ps Alex Zonyk of Kalamazoo, Michigan, helps count the coins raised Sor the Arc in his and nearby communities that were delivered in person April | to the Office of the Treasurer in Wilmette, Illinois.

SOCIETY CONFERENCE June 2-5, 1988

FAMILY NAME.

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY

Telephone: (H) ( ) (Ww) wae FIRST NAME SEX AGE | STREET ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP Note: No accommodations available for children other than infants. Please complete the following: ( ] I will bring my own linens/towels. { ] I will need school linens/towels @ $6/package. ( ] I will need transportation from/to San Jose Airport @ $32 roundtrip. { ] I am enclosing a deposit of $25/person for conterence registration { ] Please charge registration to my [ ] VISA [ ] MASTERCARD card No. Expires Mail to: Registrar, BJS Conference FOR FURTHER REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Bosch Baha'i School

500 Comstock Lane Santa Cruz, CA 95060-9615

CALL BOSCH BAHA'I SCHOOL 408-423-3387

Staff at the Office of the Treasurer at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette, Illinois, receive a

area to join them in the endeavor.

Each community member provided a bank in his or her home and deposited money otherwise destined for their ‘‘wants.””

Simultaneously, another Fund idea was blossoming in the hearts and minds of two other Baha’ is.

During a telephone conversation with her daughter, Yuki Hosada of Kalamazoo decided to prepare festive foods from her native Japan for the community to celebrate Naw-Riz. She and her daughter donated the cost of the food.

Special envelopes and a Fund box were decorated by a Baha’i family in Kalamazoo for voluntary contributions to the Arc in place of paying for the dinner.

The two ideas combined with the will and enthusiasm of the entire community. Plans were made for the Naw-Rúz party to be followed by counting the money from the two projects. Children and adults eagerly anticipated the thrill of both eveats.

After supper on Naw-Rúz, everyone joined in the count.

During the evening the children decided that they didn’t want to send a check to the Fund; that seemed ‘‘unfeeling’’ to them. They thought that the actual pen ‘special delivery’ of funds for the Are from the Bahá’ís of greater Kalamazoo, Michigan.

nies, nickels, dimes and quarters emptied from their banks would “light up the faces in the Treasurer’s Office!’”

As the counting continued, the crowning idea was expressed. They decided to deliver the money in person ‘‘to share and show their love for the Faith of Baha’w'lláh.””

At midday on Friday, April 1, three cars carrying 14 people ranging in age from six months to “80-ish’”’ arrived at the Bahá’í National Center from Kalamazoo.

Staff from the Baha’ National Center joined the visitors for lunch, Afterward, they toured the National Center offices.

The group was welcomed by Yvor Stoakley and Claudius Adebayo from the Office of the Treasurer and Nazi Nosrat and Jian Khodadad from the National Youth Committee Office who expressed appreciation and joy for their visit and their contribution to the Arc through the National Fund.

The children piled the rolled coins high on the table and told the staff about their activities and the ways they had saved the money.

See KALAMAZOO page 32

Where does the money go?

Inter-office personnel at the Bahd’ National Center take part in an ‘after-hours’ stuffing session sponsored by the National Teach

ing Committee to assemble ‘welcome packets’ for 1,200 new be lievers, �[Page 6]

Tr 2901 whe

6/ The American

Baha'i / May 1988

aaa a is ser THE STAGE IS SET ... for YOU to attend the 1988 International Youth Conference in Bloomington, Indiana, June 30-July 4! JUST A FEW OF THE PEOPLE AND EVENTS YOU WON’T

WANT TO MISS ...

Our beloved Hand of the Cause of God William Sears!

¢ International Counselor Hooper Dunbar!

Members of the Continental Board of Counselors Wilma Brady,

Robert Harris and Fred Schechter! 5

Challenging and dynamic discussion groups led by YOUTH and

adults!

¢ Amateur talent night! ... Call or write the National Youth Committee office if you have “‘talent’’ to offer!

A SPECIAL SESSION for YOUTH with the U.S. National

Spiritual Assembly!

Local service projects and blood drive! “Táhirih’’ play performed by Louhelen students!

° YOUTH presenters from around the world who have dedicated their lives to BAHA’U’LLAH!

° BE A PART OF THE MAIN STAGE! Your PEACE BANNER may be chosen to be part of the main stage if you send it to the National Youth Office by June 15!

BLOOMINGTON SERVICE PROJECT! From June 30-July 4.

Opportunities to serve as examples to each other as well as to be of SERVICE to one another! (Don’t forget to check the VOLUNTEER BOX on your registration form!)

THERE’S STILL TIME ... to register for this EXCITING International Youth Conference! Call the Conference Registration Number— 904-249-1863—for more information.

IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION ...

¢ Adults may attend the Youth Conference.

Are you registering a family member under Housing Plan C? Please

note that no bed is provided.

Are you chartering a bus? Please call the Registration Number and let us know your plans (904-249-1863).

The Universal House of Justice wishes for us to keep track of information on racial/ethnic backgrounds of those attending. Please help us

by not using such terms as “‘world citizen’’ or “‘human race”’ when filling out your registration form.

Do you need a SCHOLARSHIP? Please call the National Youth

Committee office for applications and information.

THE STAGE IS SET ... WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

The 1988 International Youth Conference may be the largest gathering of Baha’is in North America between now and 1992! What will determine the impact this event will have on the world? YOU WILL! This event can change your life! Some suggestions to help you prepare for IYC ’88:

¢ PRAYER WATCH: Beginning June 21, say the ‘‘Fire Tablet’’

every day for the success of the conference and the success of teaching before and after IYC ’88.

Schedule time to TRAVEL and TEACH after the conference.

(Refer to international, domestic and border teaching projects listed in The American Bahá’í.)

CALLING ALL CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO THE IYC ’88!

Excellent programs for children and parents are planned!

¢ A SPECIAL afternoon for the ENTIRE FAMILY that you’ll DEFINITELY want to SHARE with one another!

World Federalists host Yuma Baha’is

Peace Express routes

Attention youth! Parents! Children! The National Youth Committee has chosen several PEACE EXPRESS routes.

Along the routes, selected local Spiritual Assemblies will have teaching and service projects for YOU.

Pull out your maps and plan to travel along the PEACE ExPRESS routes.

While driving through Bloomington, Indiana, be sure to deepen your knowledge of the Faith, pray for the success of the conference, and meditate on your role in achieving world peace.

Remember: World peace starts with your own heart!

Don’t forget to bring a friend of the Faith with you to the con

ference!

He or she will have the épportunity to experience the true diversity of the human family, live the Baha’ life with you on your way to the conference, and learn more about the Faith.

Call the National Youth Committee office, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, 312869-9039.

BAHA’!I CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY

Street ~~ a

City Bahá’í ID ——

Ethnic Background

___I will accept the roommate assigned

Special assistance required (DISABLED NEEDS).

Will you be attending the special workshops

Sea Com aioe (nd

PLAN SELECTED: some time in service to the Bahá'{ Children’s Conference NBICyor Diet ele ganar Additional volunteers are also welcome. Please fill out this section. PARKING PERMIT Siew Would you prefer to teach? ___ Assist? AIRPORT SHUTTLE BUS $__ What age group(s) would you prefer to work with? SUB-TOTAL ico eee Number of hours and/or days you are willing wo offer. hes. days

$10 LATE FEE (after June 1) $__

TOTAL

PLEASE INCLUDE THE FULL. AMOUNT IN U. S. FUNDS.

‘One form per person

EE ETS tno Zipj

Phone # PLEASE CHECK ONE: I have enclosed the forms of the person(s) I wish to room with

Sex ——___—__

CONFERENCE ATTENDING (Check one):

Youth (age as of July '88) Parent (complete parent section below)

ae z

>) a) a tS}

Children’s (grade completed as of July, '88)

for the Hearing Impaired and Deaf?

ATTENTION, PARENTS ! Please complete the following section:

All parents bringing children (under 13) to the conference are asked to devote

Special skills/talents you can share

Registration

CUED Be Bu ais td

If you would like to volunteer, check area of preference: Security

‘Need deaf interpreter?

_ Ushering Children’s Conference

UNDER 18?

1,

Date

» parent of

Please have parent fill out this section, even if parent will be attending the conference

int , a minor, authorize the Baha'i National ‘Youth Committee to consent to any and all necessary medical or surgical treatment deemed advisable by any physician or surgeon licensed under the provisions of the Medical Pracuce Act effective while my child is attending this event.

Representatives of the Baha’i community of Yuma, Arizona, were invited to attend a meeting March 14 of the World Federalist Association, an organization founded to find a means to universal peace.

Last year, the World Federalists were able to help obtain congressional funding for a study on how the United Nations can be made more effective and responsive to the need for world peace.

At the March 14 meeting, Lester Smith, chairman of the World Federalists of Yuma, praised the Baha’i community for its commit ment to universal peace.

He also urged the association’s members to view ‘The Spiritual Revolution,’ presently being aired weekly on the local CBS-TV affiliate in Yuma.

As a result of the meeting, a fireside was held March 15 at which Mr. Smith was given a copy of ‘The Promise of World Peace’’ and was told about a Baha’i tape featuring Lee Brown discussing Native American prophecy, the United Nations, and the incomplete ‘‘circle of peace.”

Signature of parent

PUT ASEEEE Please fill out this section if you are being sponsored by someone other than a parent

7 . parent of + appoint nie to be my child's sponsor at the Baha’i International Youth Conference 1988. ‘The sponsor will serve as a good and kindly parent to my child and is fully responsible for himvher at the conference

Date Signature of parent

SAD UAAEREE 'f you have any musical, dramatic or artistic talents to share with the children’s program, please note:

CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE LOCO em LUE we bey. 8

MAIL FORM AND FEES TO: BAHA'I IYC '88 P.O. BOX 49147

JAX BEACH, FL 32250

�[Page 7]iP

On February 20, the Bahá’í Club at California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly), along with at least 11 other campus groups, put on a one-day peace conference entitled “‘Peace: A New World View’’ at the Pomona campus.

The result was outstanding! Well over 205 people from a broad range of ages, cultures, religions and ethnic backgrounds attended with standing room only in the main session and in the majority of workshop sessions that followed.

The conference was originally

conceived of when a seeker mentioned to one of the club members

meeting with the director

interested communi ty workers, staff, faculty and students.

At the outset, it was decided to

i including Promise of World Peace.””

The first half of the conference focused on the global issues of peace. Judge Dorothy Nelson, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, took part in a panel

of affairs which included exten sive quotes from the Writings. The second half of the confer ence was comprised of more than

During the entire conference there were exhibits from a number of peace groups including the Riverside Baha’ Library.

Many of the participants purchased books, shirts and other Baha’i materials.

A vast amount of teaching took place during and after the conference. One nearby fireside avraged 10-20 seekers during the three-week period that followed the conference.

The Cal Poly Baha'i Club would like to thank all those friends who devoted their time, energy and prayers to the success of this conference.

The following quote by the

lian sums up the needs of this

time: “The field is indeed so immense, the period so critical, the cause so great, the workers so few, the time so short, the privilege so priceless, that no follower of the Faith of Baha’u’ll4h, worthy to

See CAMPUS page 8

The American Baha’i / May 1988 /.7

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Do you want to save time, $10.00, and avoid on campus check-in and registration hassles? Then:

Register before June Ist.

Include full payment with your registration form.

Use one form per person.

CONFERENCE SERVICES

On campus dormitory housing is recommended. Most rooms have two single beds. A limited amount of single rooms is available to adults only. Linens and pillows are provided. Most rooms are NOT air conditioned. Air conditioned rooms are being reserved for those with special health-care needs. Fans may be rented on campus for $6. Those wishing to room together should enclose their forms in one envelope,

PLAN A -~ includes dormitory housing, double occupancy, 10 meals and registration fees per person for the entire weekend.

PLAN B — includes dormitory housing, single occupancy (for adults only), 10 meals and registration fees per person for the entire weekend.

PLAN C - (please read carefully) is designed to give families a discounted rale. A child or youth may register under this plan and not pay housing charges. ‘The two beds in the room must be paid for by two other family members registering under PLAN A. In order to use PLAN C there must be no more than 4 persons per room; PLAN C registrants must be accompanied by two people registering under PLAN A. No bedding or linen will be provided for those regestering. under PLAN C.

PLAN D — only applies for persons who are NOT planning to stay in dormitory housing. This is a conference registration fee only.

FEE SCHEDULE ADULT YOUTH. CHILDREN

PACKAGE PLANS 21&up 13:20 612 35 02

PLAN A. dormitory double 115.00 88.00 88.00 70.00 30.00

PLAN B dormitory single 13500 does not apply C dormitory discounted N/A 64.00 64.00 45.00 5.00 (family plan)

PLAN D 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 5.00

REFUNDS

Full refunds will be available if registration is cancelled prior to June Ist. After June Ist, a $15 service fee will be deducted.

Those wishing to stay in area hotels must make their own reservations (see list below). The Indiana Memorial Union Hotel, located on campus, is the official conference hotel. Mention the Baha'i conference when making all hotel reservations to ensure you receive the discounted rates.

BLOOMINGTON HOTELS - per night (Hotel rates do NOT include tax) Number of guests per room

one two three four

INDIANA MEMORIAL UNION 38.00 45.00 55.00 60.00 Woodlawn & 7th Street / (812) 332-6381

KNIGHTS INN 2950 35.00 38.00 41.00 1800 North Walnut / (812) 332-0820

HOWARD JOHNSON'S 38.00 44.00 49.00 54.00 1722 North Walnut / (812) 332-7241

RAMADA INN 47.00. 55.00 62.00 70.00

(under 18 free with parent)

42.00. 47.00 47.00 47.00 (under 18 free with parent)

1710 Kinser Pike / (812) 334-3252

HOLIDAY INN 2601 North Walnut / (812) 332-9453

HAMPTON INN 36.00 40.00 40.00 40.00

2100 North Walnut / (812) 334-2100

Information on area camping facilities is available from the registration office...phone (904) 249-1863

FOOD SERVICES

On campus meals are included with dormitory housing. Meals begin with breakfast on Friday, July 1 and end with breakfast on Monday, July 4 and will be served in campus cafeterias.

There are restaurants and fast food facilities near campus as well as in area hotels for those making their own housing and food arrangements.

Please note that on campus housing and food rates have been negotiated as a package to keep costs low. We cannot adjust rates for missed meals or partial use of dormitory rooms.

TRAVEL INFORMATION Indiana University is in Bloomington, located about 55 miles south of Indianapolis, Indiana. il ‘avelling car, ample parking is available on campus by purchasing a parking permit ($5.00 per vehicle).

if you will be travelling by air, the closest airport is in

Indianapolis, a one hour's drive to campus. Special shuttle buses

have been arranged between the airport and campus at a discounted rate of $20.00 round trip. Other services are available at a considerably higher cost. Look for Bahi’i information booths at the airport.

ON CAMPUS TRANSPORTATION

Buses will be available for on campus transportation. Attendees may pay 45 cents per trip or buy an unlimited use pass for $5.00 at the conference.

SPONSORSHIP for Junior Youth and Children

Everyone under the age of 15 not accompanied by a parent must have a same sex adult (21 & up) sponsor sharing the same room. The sponsor AND parent must complete and sign the sponsorship section of the registration form.

MEDICAL RELEASE for those under eighteen Everyone under 18 must have a parent fill out the medical release section on the registration form..NO EXCEPTIONS!

WHAT TO WEAR The weather will be HOT! Plan accordingly, but please remember that we will represent the Faith in Bloomington.

NURSERY SERVICES A cooperative nursery will be set up for the care of children under the age of three years. Parents will be expected to contribute some time to the nursery.

VOLUNTEERS

If you are willing to volunteer your services at the conference,.we would greatly appreciate it! Please fill out the volunteer section on the registration form and you will be contacted by the appropriate person.

QUESTIONS?

If you need help registering, please call the registration team at (904) 249-1863. Sorry, we cannot take your registration by phone. If you have not registered by June 15th, do not mail in the form, but call the registration team to advise us of the number in your party.

It’s the Bloomington Peace Banner fever! Be a part of the hundreds of youth arising to the call of the National Youth Committee to make peace banners for the International Youth Conference June 30-July 4 in Bloomington, Indiana. If you would like your banner to be on the main stage, contact the National Youth Committee office RIGHT AWAY! There is still space for YOUR

BANNER! Banners must be received in the Youth Committee office by June 15. They should be 3 feet high by 5 feet wide and represent the theme(s) of peace. Please attach ribbons to the corners so that several can be tied together. We look forward to hearing from you and seeing YOUR BANNER on the main stage!

Fifth ‘dance to eliminate prejudice’ held

On January 29, nearly 600 people attended the fifth annual “Dance for the Elimination of Prejudice’ sponsored by the Baha’i Association at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

A significant feature of the event has been the statement “Please bring friends of a different race or ethnic background’’ which has appeared on all literature advertising the dance since its

inception five years ago.

This year’s dance was especially timely in light of recent racial tensions at the university which gained national media exposure.

A local television station covered the dance and reported it on the 10 o’clock news that evening.

If you can’t pioneer— deputize!

�[Page 8]8 / The American Baha’i / May 1988

Louhelen’s Residential College ends first year

William Davis, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, speaks to an audience of 75 people (including 60 non-Bahá’ís) during a public meeting February 20 at the Nine Oaks Bahá’í School in Arroyo Grande, California. His topic was ‘Is Peace Possible?’ Soon after the Universal House of Justice released its peace state‘ment to the peoples of the world, the Nine Oaks School began a series of public meetings designed to acquaint the public with the contents of that statement. Each meeting also includes musical entertainment; Mr. Davis’ talk was preceded by Renaissance and Baroque music played by a chamber orchestra directed by John Warren.

Campus

from page 7

bear His name, can afford a moment’s hesitation.””

The Bahá’í Club at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan posted flyers expressing Baha’i principles and inviting students to firesides and - special events throughout the year.

The response was limited, and they were beginning to wonder whether the work was having any effect.

As they put it in a recent letter to the National Youth Committee, they ‘‘finally emerged with a twoday booth in the main concourse.”’

As a service project, the club agreed to sell peace materials for the Louhelen Baha’i School and advertised it as a non-profit service of the club.

According to the club, the items proved irresistible and they sold more than $200 worth, with the profits going to Louhelen.

The booth was great for teaching as well. The club arranged to have the introductory video ‘‘Unity in Diversity’ playing at the booth, which helped to draw interest, and they gave away ‘“‘by the score”’ copies of the peace statement, pamphlets, and schedules of local firesides to faculty, staff and students.

‘New Day’ campout set in Stockton, Illinois

The ‘‘New Day Baha’i Campout’’ will be held August 19-21 at Canon Camp, north of Route 20 and west of Stockton, Illinois.

The campout, for children and youth from kindergarten through high school, is sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Rockford.

To register or obtain more information, contact Dick Rundall,

_. Rockford, IL 61102, or phone 815-968-7725.

= EDUCATION X 4

The Louhelen Residential College in Davison, Michigan, is completing its first successful year of operation.

Fifteen young people from around the world took part in the program which is both a development project of the Louhelen Baha’i School Council and the first stage of a plan to establish a Baha’ university in North America, as envisioned by Shoghi Effendi.

During the last nine months the

students at LRC worked closely with one another, the staff, and the Louhelen School Council to establish the deepenings, firesides, standards and procedures that are an integral part of the Residential College experience.

Regular consultations were held to encourage the students to play a responsible, active role in the creation of a distinctive campus life grounded firmly in the Bahá’í Teachings.

To foster unity among the widely diverse group, students and staff adopted such practices as family-style dinners, weekly “family meetings,’ and prayer sessions.

The youth planned group activities such as mini-conferences, campus club events, roller skating, ice skating, trips and campus parties. They also visited the House of Worship in Wilmette and the Louis Gregory Institute in South Carolina where they helped with Assembly formations.

The student body is diverse, with students from Africa, Central America, Alaska, Israel and the U.S.

The National Spiritual Assembly has especially encouraged the participation of young people from Indian Reservations, from the inner cities, and from masstaught areas in the South.

Three youth from South Carolina and two Native Americans

were among the first class of students. The relied on the help

program of local volunteers who willingly gave their services in the Bahá’í Studies class, tutoring, counseling and working on committees.

Recruitment is under way eS the 1988-89 academic year. pagans dsommaltie abating students, with half of those being “first year’’ students.

Those interested in applying are encouraged to write to Louhelen Residential College, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

Study of religion, pyschology to open Bosch summer session

A Conference on Religion and Psychology, to be held July 9-14, is the first of nine summer sessions scheduled at the Bosch Baha’i School near Santa Cruz, California.

The conference will address such questions as: What is the study of the soul? How do we use the knowledge and skills of psychology in our own lives and as resources in our communities?

Professional psychologists are invited to submit (by June 15) pro Brilliant Star shines on science, inventions

An issue packed full of inven tions, stories, science and activities is what you'll find in the May/June issue of Brilliant Star magazine. In stories, you’ll learn about the atom, electricity and the Wright Brothers. And there’s a computer program for either Apple or Commodore that tests your knowledge of dinosaurs.

A history of sourdough is accompanied by a recipe. And of course, there’s a sprinkling of poetry, a ‘‘dot-to-dot’’ and an interesting collection—buttons!

Roger Davis discusses a child’s imagination in an article on the parents’ page entitled ‘‘A Child’s Discovery.””

Each issue of Brilliant Star is filled with interesting stories, activities and information to firm a child’s Baha’i identity.

Subscribe now by sending $12 for six issues (one year) to Subscriber Service, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Back issues and indexes are available upon request.

to non-psychologists as well, with a program for all ages.

Among the topics already received are:

¢ Examining one’s own and the other’s character in preparation for marriage.

¢ Nurturing healthy marriages and healthy children.

Participants from all religious backgrounds are welcome; professionals are urged to invite their colleagues.

To register, send a non-refundable deposit of $15 for each family member, indicating whether you prefer regular cabins or summer cabins and giving complete names of all family members and ages of children, to: Registrar, Bosch Baha’i School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. To register by charge card, phone 408-4233387.

Psychologists who wish to make presentations should send brief biographical information and a description of their proposal.

Participants are encouraged to invite their non-Baha’i colleagues. For more information, phone Molly King, program director, at 805-933-1253.

Concerned about racism? Want to do something about it with your child?

Attend the third Child Teacher Training Conference, to be held at Louhelen Baha'i School from July 6-11, 1988. Workshops focusing on Black/White race unity will be offered by many organizations including representatives from the Baha'i Faith. The purpose

is to help the teacher and parent work with children

on this critical issue.

For more information, contact:

Louhelen Baha’i School 3208 South State Road Davison, MI 48423 313/653-5033

or National Teaching Committee 312/869-9039

In January, children at the Sheltering Branch Bahá’í School in Ventura, California, inspired by plans to complete the buildings on the Arc in Haifa, put on a successful boutique/brunch fund-raiser. They made handcrafted items in their classes including hand

dipped candles and candle holders, Naw-Rúz and Ayydm-i-Hd

cards, friendship bracelets, reSrigerator magnets, candy jars and ‘sun-catchers.’ The event raised more than $600 for the ‘Arc of Love’ campaign.

Louhelen establishes program for arts

As an outgrowth of the Artists’ Conference last February at the Louhelen Baha’i School, funds were pledged and a program established to encourage visual and performing artists at Louhelen.

The Louhelen Council will host one artist at each week-long conference this summer. The artist will have time and space to pursue his/her work and can attend any part of the conference.

The artist will be expected to interact with the friends and help heighten the awareness of and appreciation for the place of art in the community.

Also, a public display or performance will be held on the Monday of each week.

Interested artists are asked to contact the Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

Names of Baha’ legal professionals sought

The National Spiritual Assembly would like the names of Ba ha’is who are in the legal profession (please indicate area of specialty). Relations with national organizations continue to develop, and opportunities arise in which the National Assembly must call upon individuals with specific expertise and competence to represent the Faith at national events. . Qualified individuals are asked to send a resumé or a description outlining their skills and experience to the National Spiritual Assembly Office of External Affairs, 1606 New Hampshire Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20009.

�[Page 9]The American Baha’i’/"May 1988 /’9

World’s first ‘peace flag’ was unfurled at Green Acre

-— EDUCATION

On opening day in 1894, where Indian chiefs of the past had gathered to talk of peace, Sarah Farmer, founder of Green Acre, raised the world’s first known peace flag.

On a double pole 85 feet high, this 36-foot banner of white read “PEACE” in large green letters. It was the symbol of the Green Acre ideal.

Concerning peace at Acre, Sarah Farmer wrote:

“There is a legend in Eastern countries that when a man first becomes conscious of his true nature as a child of God, he makes a pilgrimage still farther eastward until he finds a green spot, in which, under the grateful shade of a tree, he can lie down, and in his mind, see a vision of the City of Peace.

“Such a spot is our Green Acre—a place where beside still waters one may realize the peace that passeth all understanding— the peace which the world can never give nor take away.

Green

Louhelen schedules summer conferences

The Louhelen Baha’i School has scheduled the following Baha’i conferences in the next few months:

May 27-29: Parent/Child Conference with emphasis on preschool ages (one of a series of Institutes on Community Development).

June 2-5: Women’s Conference and Young Women’s Conference with Jane Faily, Jaci Delahunt, Ernestine Berkey and Shiva Tavana.

For summer programs, please see insert in this issue of The American Bahá’í.

Details about these conferences are available from the Louhelen Bahá’í. School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 313-653-5033).

“This is the Place: the Idea is too great to be put into words—it must be felt.’”

For nearly a century, people have come from around the world to Green Acre to share their values, their culture, their traditions in an atmosphere of peace and brotherhood that is Green Acre itself.

Sarah Farmer remained an active advocate of peace efforts throughout her life. On September 5, 1905, Sarah, said to be the only woman present on that occasion, attended in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, along with President Theodore Roosevelt and members of the diplomatic corps and foreign press, the signing of the treaty between Russia and Japan that ended the Russo-Japanese War,

On a recent trip to the Portsmouth Athanaeum (an old, prominent, private library) to locate potential information about the structure of the Inn to help with the restoration work, two of Green Acre’s researchers found beautifully preserved photos of some of the Japanese envoys to the peace treaty signing, with Sarah Farmer and Ali-Kuli Khan and his wife in front of the Ole Bull Cottage (the library) at Green Acre.

It seems that Miss Farmer took the liberty of congratulating the members of that significant historical event and invited them to Green Acre to share in its hospitality.

Only the Japanese contingent accepted; archival research has turned up lovely letters of apology from the Russian envoys and President Roosevelt for insufficient time in their schedules to socialize.

Copies of the photographs were ordered to be added to the Green Acre archives and the phone number left with the librarians.

Before the researchers could return to the office in Eliot that same afternoon, the Portsmouth Athanaeum called to ask for permission to include Green Acre in its itinerary for Japanese visitors

Sarah Farmer (seated fourth from right) with Dr. Ali-Kuli Khan, Mrs. Khan, and Japanese envoys

who often stop and ask for information and directions to sites associated with the signing of the Russo-Japanese peace treaty.

Those at Green Acre are excited about the prospects for teaching that may follow such an opportunity to share the school’s rich history of peace with the non-Baha’i world.

On opening day this July, as on so many in the past, the Peace Flag will once again be raised over Green Acre.

Near the original site, in the midst of the Sarah Farmer Peace Garden, it unfurls not only as a symbol of Miss Farmer’s vision and Baha’u’1l4h’s promise, but today, as the restoration progresses, as a symbol also of Green Acre’s future glory and her link with the world—as our “‘silent teacher’ continues to play her part in the unfoldment of the World Order of Baha’u’ll4h.

Boy Scouts:

Baha'i Unity of Mankind Religious Emblem for the Scouts of America

Girl Scouts:

Name, Address.

City State

How Price How Price Many Item each Total | |Many Item each Total Counselor's Guide $2.00 Counselor's Guide $2.00 Program Booklet Program Booklets: Tiger Cub and Cub Scout _|_$2.00 Brownie Scout $2.00 Boy Scout 2.00 Junior Girl Scout $2.00 Varsity Scout and Explorer_| $2.00 Girl Scout $2.00 Avard pin ae Total Price (includes handling charges) Boy Scout $8.00 Parenteitae Note: Girl Scouts award Cub Scout $2.00 Di vill be ave 2 Sub Scout $2.00 pins will be available soon Total Price (includes handling charges)

Zip

Please make checks payable to "Baha'i Services Fund." Send orders to: National Teaching Committee Baha'i National Center

Wilmette, IL 60091

Attn: Committee on Scouting,

lawn at Green Acre. (Photo courtesy of the Portsmouth Athanaeum)

to the signing of the Russo-Japanese peace treaty in 1905 with Miss Farmer’s ‘Peace Flag’ on the

JUNE 5, 1988

New Partnerships for the Planet

Please let us know how you TOTO DOR TOR CN

Global ‘Tomorrow Coalition 25.G Street, NW. Suite NENT

PTO ae 1889 F Street, NW. Washington, D.C. 20006 202-289-8156

�[Page 10]10 / The American Baha’i / May 1988

TEACHING

Summer is a great time to embark on traveling teaching

Summer’s coming! And what a wonderful time to embark on a traveling teaching journey.

If you are interested in traveling to teach within your own district, please contact your District Teaching Committee. For help in planning a traveling teaching adventure outside of your district, please contact:

Region I (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming): Marcia Veach,

Bend, OR 97701 (503-3881467).

Region 2 (California, Nevada): Sandra Huit, -Fair Oaks, CA 95628 (916-9610807).

Region 3 (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah): Terri Agahi, Phoenix, AZ

85023 (602-863-1919).

_ Region 4 (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota): Lynda Ochsner, 7

. Aurora, NE 68818 (402-694-6045). Region 5 No. 1 (Arkansas, OkJahoma): Will Sutter, _ Oklahoma City, OK 73104 (405-235-2802). Region 5 No. 2 (Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas): To be announced.

Region 6 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin): Katharina Hatfield,

_ New Richmond, OH 45157 (513-553-2194).

Region 7 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont): Isabella Eghrari, c/o Jacamar Real Estate, Smithtown, NY 11787 (516-5845823).

Region 8 (District of Columbia, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia): Sam Williams, P.O. Box 971, Yadkinville, NC 27055 (919679-2133).

Region 9 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia): Elizabeth Anderson, P.O. Box 1223, Athens, AL 35611 (205-233-3169).

If you would like to travel to raise the call of ‘“‘Ya Baha’u’lAbha’’ throughout more than one of the above regions, please contact Dale Sollars, the National Teaching Committee’s traveling teaching coordinator, for help in preparing your itinerary:

Traveling Teaching Office, Dale and Ann Sollars, P.O. Box 22, Blackfoot, ID 83221 (208-7854724).

All of the above regional coordinators and the Traveling Teaching Office may be contacted by communities who would like to invite traveling teachers to visit them.

By the way, a booklet entitled “Traveling Teaching,’’ which provides an overview of the role of the traveling teacher, is available from the National Teaching Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette; IL 60091, for 50 cents per copy.

Upcoming and Ongoing Teaching Projects

Milo Lac, MN ‘ANGUS COWEN PROJECT

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On the map above are listed the ongoing and upcoming teaching projects in the United States that have been reported to the National Teaching Committee as of April 1. If your community is sponsoring a teaching project that does not appear on the map, please fill in the form (to the right) and return it to the National Teaching Committee. If you would rather that information about your project not be published in The American Bahá’í, please indicate this in the ‘comments’ section. Best wishes for a successful project—we look forward to hearing from you!

Baha’is gather on U.S.-Canada border to map plans for teaching campaigns

On the weekend of March 26-27, Bahá’í friends met on both sides of the U.S.-Canadian border to share teaching plans and discuss ways in which the friends might help each other in their efforts.

The weekend events began Saturday afternoon in a roundhouse built by Francis Cree to serve as a center for learning Indian ways and as a meeting place for Baha’is near his home in Dunseith, North Dakota, at the edge of the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation.

About 50 people including 15 to 20 of the friends who had come down from Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba, attended the afternoon session.

The Americans were from North and South Dakota and Minnesota.

During the session, many of the Indian friends shared stories of how they had become Baha’is, what the Faith has given them, and how it has made a difference in their lives.

Mr. Cree, a Baha’i who is a renowned elder of a Chippewa tribe, led the events at a pow-wow Saturday evening. According to one participant, the underlying lesson imparted by Mr. Cree in his presiding comments was ‘‘the attitude of respect.’”

Dancers from several communities performed, and the Baha’is served dinner to the approximately 170 people who sat in rings within the interior of the large roundhouse.

Late Saturday night and Sunday morning, several of these

friends drove across the border to Brandon, where a teaching conference was taking place at the home of Dr. Jamshid Aidun. Forty to 50 people attended the conference, about 15 of whom were from the U.S. side of the

Name of Project: ‘Sponsor: Location:

Contact Person: Phone Number(s): Type of Project: Goal(s): Comments:

©) Teaching Projects—1988/1989 @

&

border.

Here, plans for the Continental Indigenous Council, to be held in August on the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota, were shared, along with plans for a major teaching campaign involving 15 Indian Reserves surrounding Kenora, Ontario.

Ways to help one another were discussed. The friends left that weekend with an overwhelming sense that unified action among Bahá’ís on both sides of the border is under way.

UC system names Baha’i student regent

Deborah Thorpe, a Bahá’í who is a junior chemistry major at the University of California-Davis, has been chosen by the Board of Regents to serve as student regent, the most prestigious student position in the UC system.

The student regent has full voting rights as well as access to closed sessions of the 30-member Board of Regents.

In reporting on her nomination to the position, the school’s newspaper, the Daily Californian, said “her faith in Baha’i, a religion that stresses universal community and social equality, prompted her to apply for the position of student regent.””

Return to: National Teaching Committee, Baha't National Center, Wilmette, IL_ 60091

Thumbnail sketches of four members of U.S. Chinese Teaching Committee

The U.S. Chinese Teaching Committee, appointed to coordinate and increase the many opportunities to share the Message of Baha’u’ll4h with Chinese people in this country, has focused primarily on teaching on college campuses and in larger cities.

The members of the committee are Chiu (Q.Q.) Buehrer, James Keenan, Iraj Kamalabadi, and Gisu Muhájir.

A fifth member, Albert Cheung, recently moved to Hong Kong, where his efforts are sure to be appreciated.

Chiu, who prefers to be called Q.Q., is Chinese and has lived in Wilmette, Illinois, for the past six months.

She is from Taiwan, where she met her husband, who pioneered there for seven years and speaks fluent Mandarin. She would be happy to correspond with anyone who is interested in Chinese teaching or culture.

James has recently returned to the U.S. from the World Center in Haifa where he worked for the past seven years.

He is a scholar of Chinese who is working toward a masters de gree in bi-lingual, mult-cultural education. He lives in West Boxford, Massachusetts, with his wife and two children.

Iraj recently moved to the north Boston area where he continues to be actively involved in Chinese teaching efforts in his area. He works in a civil engineering consulting firm.

Gisu is a student at Harvard University. She is to graduate this month with a masters degree in business and public administration.

Gisu has long been interested in the Chinese culture and people, and recently attended the International Chinese Teaching Symposium in Hong Kong.

Anyone who is interested in Chinese teaching may contact the Chinese Teaching Committee at P.O. Box 1889, Cambridge, MA 02238, or through the National Teaching Committee.

If you are traveling outside the United States for any reason, please contact the Office of Pioneering (312-869-9039) for information.

�[Page 11]

forts as well as the observable balance between expansion and consolidation in teaching activities across the country this year.

The level of maturity in consultation and direction of collective and individual teaching efforts shows a deepening commitment toward achieving one of the goals of the Six Year Plan, that of strengthening local Spiritual As ‘Baha’i classes’ draw seekers, enrollments

semblies.

The National Teaching Committee is also aware that there is often a time lapse between the initiation of a teaching effort and the fruition of that effort and is encouraging all individuals in every Bahá’í community to steadfastly continue and even intensify their efforts.

In light of its guidance and plea

‘Firesides,’ under new name, really ‘catch fire’

Pat and LaVont Steele of Augusta, Georgia, have initiated an innovative of fireside

method teaching. They call their firesides “‘Bahá’í classes,” which are offered in four- to six-week sessions with the

Guyana to press

‘Onward to Victory’ “Onward to Victory’”’ is the theme of an International Baha’i Conference scheduled to be held July 29-August 1 in Guyana.

The conference will focus on programs for youth and children, workshops, discussions, music and tours.

There will be workshops for the two weeks preceding the conference to help local and visiting Baha’is use their artistic talents (i.e., art, music, media, drama, public speaking) for the advancement of the Faith.

Extensive teaching projects are planned for after the conference.

For more information and a

i ion form, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

continue until the end of the course.

So far, the fireside classes have been successful.

Mrs. Steele got the idea to hold classes especially for seekers when a friend who was interested in the Faith told her, “I don’t know when I’m ready to become a Baha’i.””

She realized that we often take for granted our knowledge of the Process involved in becoming a Baha’i, and that the process is not always clear to many friends of the Faith.

The Steeles’ first series of classes, therefore, was entitled “On Becoming a Bahá’í,”’ and focused on specific principles, laws and procedures that a person might wish to become familiar with before making a decision to sign a declaration card.

During one class session, the declaration card itself was reviewed and discussed. By the end of the four-week course, two of the seekers who had been attending felt that they were ready to become Baha’is and asked to be enrolled in the Faith.

“I feel that it’s important to mention to others who may be interested in holding classes that we

have not found it necessary to have ‘official’ Bahd’{ speakers,” Mrs. Steele said in a recent interview. ‘‘We seem to do better just sharing aspects of the Faith and bringing in the principles through discussion.”

Nor have the Steeles found that it is important to involve the entire Bahá’í community in their fireside activities.

Fireside teaching is, after all, an individual responsibility, and often, when a community is involved, individual members tend to forget their unique responsibilities.

Visual aids were found by the Steeles to be especially helpful in providing a world-wide perspective of the Faith to those who are only familiar with the local Baha’is.

The videos and filmstrips also add variety and provide an enjoyable break from the intensive atmosphere of studying the principles of the Faith.

Now that the course entitled “On Becoming a Bahá’í’”’ has been completed, the Steeles have embarked on a new course of study based on the new study booklet “‘The Word of God,’’ which is available from the Baha’i Publishing Trust.

lowa institutes use Word of God study booklet

The Word of God, a study guide to the Creative Word developed by the National Teaching Committee, was successfully used during three one-day institutes organized by the lowa Schools Committee this past winter.

The one-day institutes were designed specifically to reach members of the lowa Baha’i community who, for whatever reason, are not able to attend a week-long summer or winter school held during a certain time at one location in the state.

The planning committee got a

map, placed pins in areas where concentrations of Bahda’is lived, and drew circles outward to include isolated believers.

In this way, they were able to pinpoint Assembly areas in which no Baha’i would have to drive more than an hour and a half to reach that community.

The committee then asked those Assemblies if they would be willing to host a one-day institute. The Assembly’s responsibility would be to secure a meeting place, provide refreshments for an estimated number of attendees,

Pst

THE WORD OF GOD |;

. Only $2.00 per copy! i I Please send The Word of God at $2.00 each: a I Copies: Total: I . ' | ee I Secs: I i Cty ‘State Zp I = Phone I ! {Grd ono) Macleod Vica pee i ! Baha'i Distribution Service ' | 415 Linden Avenue Phone: 800/323-1880 I = Wilmette, IL 60091 312/251-1854 in IL *

Ca ee ee ee ee ee

and ask the friends to bring a dish for a noon-time potluck.

Many Assemblies responded with interest. The Assemblies were given a choice of topics and materials, and three chose The Word of God.

The institutes began at 9 a.m. with an hour set aside for greeting old friends and socializing.

At 10 o’clock the actual deepening began. After a lunch break at noon, the deepening continued until 3 p.m., after which the sessions were wrapped up with an evaluation.

Participants who were asked to comment on The Word of God gave the following responses:

“Tt really helped me to get a better perspective of the meaning of the Word.””

“Very well-organized material —I liked the progression from the basics to the in-depth.”

“It’s a good examination of an astounding subject.’”

Not only is The Word of God useful at one-day institutes, but also for deepening on the community level, and even for smaller groups of friends.

It is also suitable for individual study and for new as well as longtime believers. Students can create their own pattern of study by using the sections that can best help them to learn.

Copies of The Word of God may be ordered by using the form at the left.

The American Baha’i / May 1988 / 11

Teaching Committee adopts personal teaching plans

to the American community, the members of the National Teaching Committee have decided to do as much as they possibly can to accelerate the rate of expansion of the Faith in this country and have

They have shared these plans with the other committee members and have agreed to pray faithfully every day for the success

Pictured on the day of her Bahá’í declaration is Stacie James (center), the reigning Miss Nevada and second runner-up in the 1988 Miss.

of each member’s efforts.

The National Teaching Committee members decided to take this action after learning of the adoption of such a teaching project by the members of the National Youth Committee.

The committee felt that other committees, groups or individuals might wish to adopt similar teaching plans.

America pageant. With her are two other new Bahá’ís from Las Vegas, Albeny Smilinich (left) and Elizabeth Larkin.

1988 Miss Nevada, four other dancers in Las Vegas show become Baha’is

When Stacie James was competing for the Miss Nevada title last year, she was asked to tell the 11 judges who she thought was the most important figure of the 19th century.

Without hesitation, she replied, “Baha’u’llah,”” and gave the judges an eloquent explanation.

Apparently, the judges were impressed, and Miss James, who was not yet a Baha’i, won the Miss Nevada pageant and went on to become the second runner-up in the 1988 Miss America pageant.

Along with four other stars of the Folies Bergere show in Las Vegas, Miss James has become a Baha’i within the last year, largely as a result of the teaching efforts of Bill and Laura Garbett, who also star in the show.

Although the Garbetts have been teaching the Faith among their show business colleagues fo the past 10 years, their efforts have only recently borne fruit.

Of the five new Bahá’ís, all have been attending the Garbetts’ firesides.

Miss James had been coming to those firesides for about six months before happily announcing to her Baha’i co-workers in February that she was ready to declare her faith in Baha’u’llah.

As Miss Nevada, Stacie often speaks to groups of young people on the hazards of drug and alcohol use.

She is presently traveling across the country with the Miss America’ Tour.

years to come.

vice.

‘Peace ... The Promise’ video

The National Teaching Committee highly recommends the use of the video tape ‘‘Peace ... The Promise’’ for fireside and proclamation activities. While this video tape is based on the Baha’i International Peace Conference held in San Francisco in 1986, it is not a video that is tied to a particular time, but rather, like the peace statement itself, can be used as a teaching tool for many

It moves quickly through the peace conference and interviews with those at the conference; however, the focus is not on the conference itself, but on a statement by the Bahá’í Faith about peace. It can be used at firesides as a way to begin a discussion centered’ around many of the teachings of the Faith. It is also suitable for proclamation events, to share with the general public in a brief but captivating way the teachings of the Faith.

The video tape is available from the Bahá’í Distribution Ser

�[Page 12]12/ The jAcnexican Baha'i / May 1988

SY,

FOR NEW BAHA'IS...

Human being’s true purpose is to know and love God

The individual’s purpose in life is described in many ways in the writings. Bahá’u’lláh says that our purpose is to ‘‘know” and to “love” God, and ‘that we have been created ‘‘to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization’’ (Gleanings, p. 65).

‘Abdu’l-Bahá adds that the purpose of life for a Baha’i is ‘‘to acquire virtues” (Paris Talks, p. 177).

Through the teachings of Baha’u’ll4h we receive instructions and guidance in how to achieve our purpose—how to fulfill ourselves as spiritual and physical beings.

“The purpose of the one true God in manifesting Himself is to summon all mankind to truthfulness and sincerity, to piety and trustworthiness, to resignation and submissiveness to the Will of God, to forbearance and kindliness, to uprightness and wisdom. His object is to array every man with the mantle of a saintly character, and to adorn him with the ornament of holy and goodly deeds.’ (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings, p. 137)

Baha’u’llah’s Writings are filled with guidance on how we should live, and the qualities we should strive to develop. This helps our progress in this life and prepares us with the capacities we will need for life in the next world.

Although we are to strive to gain divine virtues, the life of the individual Baha’i is not the life of a spiritual recluse. While providing guidance in all the fundamentals of a strong personal spiritual life—prayer, fasting, meditation—Baha’u'll4h_ requires that we be involved in this world.

For example, He calls upon us to work, to engage in the arts, a trade, or a profession. This work He has raised to the level of worship when performed to the best of our ability in service to humanity.

Baha'u'llah asks that we put concern for others above concern for ourselves; that we look always for love and unity, and that we avoid hurting others in any way. “Abdu’l-Bahá indicates that the highest station for a Baha’s is that of servitude.

In the Baha’i Faith there is no clergy; therefore, ‘‘the service once rendered by priests to their

is the service every single

is expected to render individually to his religion.”’ (Letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, in The Individual and Teaching, p. 39)

Besides living a life that reflects the qualities enshrined in the teachings of Baha’u’ lah, the individual believer can assist the progress of the Faith through teach

From the Writings...

“‘Be generous in prosperity and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer to the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men. Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkNess, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts. Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility. We pray God to protect thee from the heat of jealousy and the cold of hatred. He verily is nigh, ready to answer.’’ (Baha’wllah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, pp. 93-94)

.

Discuss the above passage with the Baha’i who taught you the Faith, or with another believer. Together, consider the following questions:

Make a list of the qualities Baha’u’ lah refers t this passage. Is

this merely a listing of qualities, or do you think there is some reason for the ordering of those qualities? If so, what do you think is its significance?

Which qualities do you think are the most important? Are some of

the qualities basic to acquiring others?

© ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says that the teachings of Baha’u’ll4h should be lived, not just read: ‘‘There is a vast difference between the soul who merely reads the words of Baha’u’llah and the one who tries to live them.” How can you establish a personal, systematic effort to acquire divine qualities? How would prayer, meditation and deepening support your effort? Select one or two of the qualities mentioned above and make a plan for personally developing ee in yourself.

The Baha’i Writings cover nay the individual’s development including the qualities that we should strive to obtain, the ways in which we can guide our own spiritual development, and the role of the individual in the growth of the Faith. The following are a few references available from the Baha’i Distribution Service that address this topic:

The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh

Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh

Some Answered Questions, by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, especially pages 177262

The Imperishable Dominion, by Udo Schaefer, which, in chapter 12, “The New Man,”’ reviews and offers references to those qualities that Baha’u’ll4h calls on us to obtain.

ing, supporting the Funds, and deepening in the Writings.

“The healthy development of the Cause,” the Universal House of Justice states, ‘‘requires ... the dedicated effort of every believer in teaching, in living the Baha’i life, in contributing to the Fund, and particularly in the persistent effort to understand more and more the significance of Baha’u’llah’s Revelation.”” (Wellspring of Guidance, p. 25)

The House of Justice also states, ‘In addition to teaching, every believer can pray. Every believer can strive to make his ‘own inner life and private character mirror forth in their manifold aspects the splendor of those eternal principles proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh.”

“*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.””

Participation in these activities not only helps the Faith to grow, it draws a measure of divine power to the individual. In this way, believers not only work to transform themselves, but also other individuals, and, ultimately, to change society as a whole, thereby bring ing the blessings of Baha’u’ll4h’s Revelation to all humanity and establishing the promised Kingdom of God on earth.

“If every believer will carry out

these sacred duties,” the Universal House of Justice writes, “‘we

shall be astonished at the aecession of power which will result to the whole body, and which in its turn will give rise to further growth and the showering of blessings on all of us.’’ (Wellspring of Guidance, p. 38)

Individuals changed by Baha’u’llah’s teachings demonstrate awesome power of His Revelation

In the history of the Faith, there are many individuals who have been transformed by Baha’u’llah’s Revelation. These people attained such a high station, in both their personal character and their services to the Cause, that they stood out as proof of the divine power of His Teachings.

“Is the testimony of those acceptable and worthy of attention,’’ Baha'u'llah asks in the Kitdb-i-Igdn, ‘‘whose outward behavior conforms with their inner life?

“If these companions, with all their marvelous testimonies and wondrous works, be false, who then is worthy to claim for himself the truth? I swear by God! Their very deeds are a sufficient testimony, and an irrefutable proof unto all the peoples of the earth, were men to ponder in their hearts the mysteries of divine Revelation.” (Kitdb-i-Iqán, pp. 224, 226)

One example of such an ii ‘i dual was Nabil-i-Akbar (not the same person who wrote the epic history The Dawn-Breakers). Nabil was one of the most learned people in Persia. In 1853 he became a Babi, and met Baha’u’ll4h in 1859, before the declaration of His mission. Nabil-i-Akbar tells the following story of that meeting:

“The more I observed (Baha’u’llah) the less I discovered any sign which could point to His claiming a station. On the contrary, I observed in Him nothing, either in word or deed, except humility, self-effacement, servitude and utter nothingness. ...

“It was through my vain.imagining that in the gatherings of the friends I always used to occupy the seat of honor, assume the

function of the speaker and would not give an opportunity to Bahá’u’lláh or anyone else to say anything. One afternoon, Baha’u’ll4h arranged a meeting in His house. ...Again, I occupied the seat of honor. ...

“In the course of the meeting, a certain question was asked. Having satisfied myself that no one in the room was capable of tackling the problem, i began to speak.

“All the friends were silent, except Baha’u’ll4h Who occasionally, while agreeing with my exposition, made a few comments on the subject. Gradually He took over and I became silent.

“His explanations were so profound and the ocean of His utterance surged with such power that my whole being was overtaken with awe and fear. ..,

“After a few minutes of listening to His words—words of unparalleled wonder and majesty—I became dumbfounded ...1 felt deeply ashamed and troubled that I was occupying the seat of honor in that meeting.

“I waited impatiently until I saw that His lips were no longer moving when I knew that He had finished talking. Like a helpless bird which is freed from the claws of a mighty falcon, I rose to my feet and went out. There, three times I hit my head hard against the wall and rebuked myself for

my spiritual blindness.” (The Revelation of Bahd'u'lláh, Vol. 1, pp. 92-95)

Nabil-i-Akbar attended another meeting at which Baha’u’ll4h spoke and was awed by His wisdom and the significance of His

He asked Baha'u'llah what His station was, and readily accepted

Him. Afterward, Nabil-i-Akbar devoted his life to the service of the Cause, traveling to various parts of Persia to teach, and suffering much persecution. Shoghi Effendi indicated that Nabil was one of the Apostles of Bahda’u’llah.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá said of Nabil-iAkbdr: “‘When his eyes were opened to the light of Divine guidance, and he breathed in the fragrances of Heaven, he became a flame of God.

“*...with all his powers he kept on spreading the Faith and setting forth its proofs, and was a guiding lamp to many souls. He was exposed to danger at all times ...

“Like a candle, he was using his life; but in spite of his sufferings he was was never dispirited, rather his joy and ardor increased with every passing day. He was eloquent of speech; he was a skilled physician, a remedy for every ill, a balm to every sore. ...

“*A sign of guidance he was, an emblem of the fear of God. For this faith, he laid down his life, and in dying, triumphed. He passed by the world and its rewards; he closed his eyes to rank and wealth; he loosed himself from all such chains and fetters, and put every worldly thought aside. ...

“Praise be to God, at the end he was made the recipient of heavenly grace. Upon him be the glory of God, the All-Glorious. May God shed the brightness of the Abha Kingdom upon his resting place. May God welcome him into the paradise of reunion, and shelter him forever in the realm of the righteous, submerged in an ocean of lights.” (Memorials of the Faithful, pp. 1-5)

�[Page 13]UNITED NATIONS

UNQ&A

Did you know that in April 1951, Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh, the Bahá’í International Community’s representative to. the United Nations, attended a UN Non-Governmental Organizations regional conference in Istanbul, Turkey, that was conducted in the palace of Sultan Abdu’l-Hamid, who persecuted Baha’u’ll4h? (From The Bahá’í World, Vol. XII, p. 607)

One of the responsibilities of the U.S./UN office is to represent the National Spiritual Assembly at the United Nations. There has been such representation for more than 40 years.

Question: What year did the U.S./UN office obtain a separate identity from the Baha’ International Community?

Answer: The National Spiritual Assembly, a non-governmental organization, has sent a representative to the United Nations since 1947. In 1948 the eight existing National Spiritual Assemblies were recognized collectively as a “Bahá’í International Community,”? and were represented at the UN by the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States. This continued until 1967, when the Universal House of Justice assumed direction of the Bahá’í International Community, leaving the National Spiritual Assembly of the U.S. with its original role of national non-governmental organization.

Q: What is the difference in status at the UN of the U.S./UN office and the Baha’ International Community?

A: The U.S./UN representative is accredited to the United Nations Department of Public Information as an official national nongovernmental organization with observer status. As an observer, the U.S./UN representative is free to attend all open meetings of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and other UN organs, departments and specialized agencies. The Bahá’í International Community has consultative status with ECOSOC and UNICEF, and has the ability to make statements on behalf of the Baha’is to the Human Rights Commission and other ECOSOC bodies.

Q: What UN-related committee has twice presented an award to the U.S. Bahá’í community?

A; The U.S. Committee for UNICEF has given the National Spiritual Assembly several awards for service to the world’s children. According to Nancy Mondschein, a former NSA/UN representative at one of the ceremonies, a UNICEF executive was heard to say, ‘If you need to have something impossible done, ask a handful of Bahá’ís. They will do the job.”

Q: What educational institution allowed a candidate for a degree to be assigned as an intern to the Bahda’{ U.S./UN office for degree credits?

A; Princeton University allowed Brian Lepard, a Woodrow Wilson Fellow, to fulfill a part of his degree requirements as an intern at the U.S./UN office under

See UN page 21

Ottawa to host 13th Baha

The 13th annual Conference of the Association for Baha’i Studies will be held October 7-10 at the Skyline Ottawa Hotel in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

This year’s theme is ‘‘Toward a Global Civilization: An Interna tional Conference on the Spiritual Foundations of Culture.””

The conference coincides with the beginning of the United Nations’ World Decade for Cultural Development, the purpose of which is to “promote ... the pres

Dr. Ray Johnson named headmaster of Canada’s new Maxwell Baha’i School

The National Spiritual Assembly of Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ray Johnson as headmaster of the Maxwell International Baha’i School at Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia.

Mr. Johnson served from 197183 as principal of the New Era Baha’ School in Panchgani, India.

Since returning to the U.S. from his pioneering post, he has been employed as a public school superintendent and as a university professor in educational administration.

Both Mr. Johnson and his wife, LaNelma, have a rich and varied background in Bahd’{ education as well as professional experience in residential school life.

The Maxwell School Committee is reviewing applications for other staff positions and hopes to announce the total staff membership by the end of May.

Martyr

from page 4

one letter was delivered from him to his family.

The message expressed in that letter was that the family should not be discouraged by present adversities but should work for universal peace and the unity of mankind.

While imprisoned, Mr. Bihmardi was subjected to severe harassment and torture. It is reported that at the times when he was taken out of his cell for interrogation, two guards had to help him walk.

On June 10, 1986, Farid Bihmardi was hanged in Tehran. His family was unaware of the execution, and found out about it a few days after he was buried by the authorities.

The Universal House of Justice has called Mr. Bihmardi ‘tone of the outstanding Bahá’ís in the Cradle of the Faith.

“‘He was under torture for a prolonged period of time, but his endurance was a source of encouragement to other Baha’ prisoners who were witness to his suffer

DR. RAY JOHNSON

Requests for information about admission to grades 7-9 are increasing daily, and interviews with prospective students will soon be scheduled.

The school is to open in September.

Several activities have already taken place there including the annual National Convention in May. A National Baha’i Summer School is to be held at the school from July 8-19.

Since an important element of the Maxwell School is service, the school has organized a ‘‘Youth Year of Service’ for Baha’is ages 18-25 years. It is designed to be educational as well as an intensive deepening experience.

Young Baha’is who are interested in an opportunity for service, or parents seeking admission for their children, should write directly to the Headmaster, Maxwell International Bahá’í School, Box 370, Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia VOR 2WO, Canada.

"Whoso ariseth, in this Day, to aid our Cause, and summoneth to his assistance the hosts ofapraiseworthy character and upright conduct, the influence

lowing from such an action will, most certainly, be diffused throughout ihe whole world.”

Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 334.

Baha’i delegate at UN conference of Commission on Status of Women

Mary Sawicki Power attended the annual meeting March 14-23 in Vienna, Austria, of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

She was one of some 20 representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) taking part in the meeting.

“‘A heartening development,’’ Ms. Power reported, ‘‘is that time was allotted for the discussion of a number of substantive issues including violence toward women in society and the family, education for peace, and the special needs of rural women.”

The U.S. delegation was headed

by Maureen Reagan.

Ms. Power represented the Baha’i International Community and presented a statement on actions for rural women. In all, 18 statements were submitted to the Commission by non-governmental organizations.

Ms. Power is a long-time delegate, having represented the Baha’i International Community for more than 15 years.

She is vice-president of the Committee on the UN Decade for Women and a member of the Executive Committee of the U.S. National Council of Women.

The American Baha’i / May 1988 / 13

ervation of the fundamental spiritual, social and human values on which life in different societies is based; (and) to stimulate cultural activities as an expression of identity...” (draft plan of action, UNESCO, 1986)

The 13th annual Conference will provide a forum for the presentation and discussion of ideas on the general theme of cultural development.

The program will include several parallel workshops and participatory activities allowing for more extensive discussion by smaller groups on topics of special interest as well as on themes introduced in the plenary sessions.

Areas of special interest that will be incorporated into the conference sessions include:

Culture and civilization

Plenary sessions will be limited to one hour, while workshops will range from one and one-half hours to several hours, depending on the theme, its treatment, and the level of interest.

Also included will be cultural presentations and interpretations by three distinct cultural groups:

108 Peace...

Video

Peace .. . The Promise i highlights the Conferenc

Culturally diverse mus

historic event

Cassette

for all.

commanding talk.

of P. €ace &

The Prom

A vision of peace in song, dance, and word make this video a joy to watch and a useful one to own. Used in conjunction with the Peace Statement or by itself, it will set the mood for a lively attention-getting presentation on peace and the Baha’i Faith

28 minutes long arid

and dancing

Presentations, including the keynote address of Eryin Lazlo and the closing addré

e Impact on several non-Bah the diversity, sincerity, and love that permeated this

Produced by the National Spiritual Assembly

Used with the video or by itself, the San Francisco peace Conference addresses of reknowned scientist and writer Ervin Lazlo and of National Spiritual Assembly Secretary Robert Henderson are stimulating listening

Ervin Lazlo, co-editor of The World Encyclopedia of

Peace and member of the Club of Rome, gives the ~ keynote address ‘‘Is Peace Possible?"’ His opening statement that peace is not only possible, but necessary and coming, is just the beginning of his

¢ Robert Henderson gives a thought-provoking closing address, “Peace, the Promise,"’ reminding us that we have nothing to fear during these times of convulsive changes—as they will only serve to release the potential inherent in the noble station of humanity,

Bahda‘i Distribution Service 415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091

Price valid only in the United States

Studies Conference

indigenous people of North America, French Canadians, and North American blacks.

On Friday, October 7, the following Professional Interest Seminars and Institutes of the Association will meet: Agriculture, Arts, Business and Economics, Consultation and Conflict Resolution, Environmental Design, Marriage and the Family, Science and Technology, and Women’s Studies.

Conference registrants are encouraged to stay at the Skyline Hotel, at which special conference rates have been arranged. The hotel’s toll-free telephone number is 1-800-268-1332 (in Ontario, 1-800-268-1444).

When phoning, please identify yourself as a Bahd’{ Studies Conference guest.

The Association invites presentations and suggestions for presentations for this three-day event.

Submissions should be made by August 15 to the Executive Committee of the Association for Baha’i Studies, 34 Copernicus St., Craw: Ontario KIN 7K4, Can

<b,

bt =

of Robert Henderson participants, moved by

of the Baha'is of the United Siates VHS and Beta $25.00

From the Baha'i Publishing Trust

$8.00

�[Page 14]14 / The American Baha’i / May 1988

The Six Year Plan

inspiration and Guidance at One’s Finger Tips!

The dispensation inaugurated by Baha’u’ll4h will last for 500,000 years. One of the hallmarks of His dispensation is a new level of maturity of the human race. In recognition of this maturity, Baha’u’ll4h ordained that there would be no clergy, that each individual would be responsible for independent spiritual investigation and spiritual growth. An important aid in this independent investigation and spiritual growth is the study of the Bahda’{ writings.

The Baha’i writings have been translated into some 750 languages. The Baha’ is who read English are’ especially. privileged because of the amount of Baha’ literature available. The bounty of Bahá’í literature in English is clearly reflected in the Baha’i Distribution Service Price List. A quick review reveals:

13 books of the writings of Bahd’u’'lláh

10 books of the writings and talks of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

9 books of the writings of Shoghi Effendi

4 books of the writings of the Universal House of Justice

16 books for prayer and daily meditation for adults and children

40 compilations from the Bahá’í writings dealing with a variety of topics

20 biographical works about the lives of Bahá’u’lláh, the B4b, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá or Shoghi Effendi

20 books on Baha'i history

32 books on social issues such as peace, race unity, the equality of men and women

41 books especially for children and youth

Many of these books are available in both hardcover and softcover or in inexpensive pocket-sized editions.

As the old proverb goes, ‘‘Where there is a will, there is a way.”’ A way to find the time for reading. A way to gain access to the literature. A way to plana program for studying the Bahá’í writings and literature.

‘To help the believers with their study of Baha’ literature, the Bahi’{ Distribution Service has reorganized its price list by subject matter. Listed below is a section of the reorganized price list highlighting the new videos that are currently available.

Encourage

the Believers

to Make Greater Use of Baha’i Literature

Ark of Destiny--Beta/VAS ‘Baha'i Faith: Through Baha'i Faith: Unity in Diveesteyeta/ Blessed Is ‘the Spot ( Education/Trustees--Beta/ VHS Films of AL Q. Paiei--Beta/ VHS “Greenlight Expedition=-Beta/VHS Heart of the Lotus--Beta/VHS Meet g the Master--Beta/VHS

VT Bahá’ís-Beta/VHS 1 VT

____ INDICATE BETA OR VHS WHEN oRDEEINGS) ‘

Bahd‘i Distribution Service ORDER FORM

415 Linden Avenue Wirnette 1. 60091 Date

PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE

New Books~ e

Marriage:

A Fortress for Well-Being

Back in print at last! This provocative presentation of the Baha’ teachings on marriage offers insight about how to apply these spiritual principles to the realities of everyday life. Marriage: A Fortress for Well-Being challenges today’s couples to contrast their attitudes, expectations and behavior absorbed from society with the model outlined in the Baha'i teachings. Included are such topics as:

¢ Foundations of spiritual union

The purpose of marriage

Preparation for marriage

The marriage ceremony

¢ Interracial marriages

¢ Prayers for marriage

Maintaining a fortress for well-being

Assistance from the Spiritual Assembly

e Remarriage

Formerly published as A Fortress for Well-Being

Now with a new name and cover

New foreword by Geoffry W. Marks and Amy Seidel Marks

Published by the U.S. Bahá’í Publishing Trust

HC $15.95 SC $8.95

The Way to Inner

Freedom

A Practical Guide to Personal Development

Tt

Way to

INNER PRERDOW

By Erik Blumenthal Author of To Understand and

Be Understood

In this positive and highly readable book, Erik Blu menthal, an internationally respected psychother apist:

Provides a simple step-by-step program of self-discovery and spiritual development

¢ Emphasizes the importance of adcpting spiritual goals and striving to overcome egotism

Explains why freedom is an inner quality dependent

on our own conscious choices

Demonstrates the role religion plays in helping us

develop our inner potential, self-confidence, and sense of purpose in life

Uses quotations from the Bahá’í writings in discussing many of the Baha'i teachings conceming individual values and behavior

‘Type: Hard Cover, Soft Cover, Poster, Cassette, Card, etc

Quantity | Title Amount

(Check ov Maney Order VISA or ManterCara_Expwaton dae, Total wiSA UPSor acs Mavercera 5: Amercan Earns TAB 5/88

OnoeneD er SH” TOW aiteren) SC $7.50 Name Name Published by One World ca = oy rare Zip Cay Tiare Zip Drawings Tome Prone Ro Wart Phone Na ««‘"vrehenememmn eco Verse Drawings | & Belief f Verse &

Belief

By Bernard Leach

Parnanih cach

ont woRDD

HC $19.95 Published by One World

New Books

The Guardian of the Baha’i

The definitive biography of Shoghi Effendi for a new generation of Bahá’ís: a moving tribute to one who shaped the destiny of the Bahá’í community—and the future of mankind.

A major event in Baha’i Publishing, The Guardian of the Baha'i Faith features an extensive collection of photographs of Shoghi Effendi never before published, as well as striking and dramatic photographs taken by the Guardian on his travels through Europe and Africa. These reveal aspects of his character which have long remained unknown, bringing the reader closer to Shoghi Effendi.

A fascinating insight into the vision, heroic labors and sacrifice of Shoghi Effendi during the 36 years of his Guardianship of the Cause of God, and a fascinating introduction to his. writings.

342 pages, including 69 pages of illustrations Cover design by Rúḥíyyih Khanum and Audrey Marcus with foreword by David Hofman.

Published by the U.K. Bahá’í Publishing Trust

HC $25.95 SC $12.95

Peace by the Year 2000

A Twelve Point | Proposal | |

By John Huddleston

In this remarkable book, well-known author John

Huddleston has integrated the principles of the peace

statement into a series of international objectives to

provide a thought-provoking and credible route to the

achievement of the Lesser Peace.

In a clear, jargon-free style, Mr. Huddleston:

¢ Examines the role of the Superpowers

Explores the root causes of war

¢ Presents the Baha'i view of world peace within the context of current political thought and international developments

Translates the principles of “The Promise of World Peace” into a series of practicable international agreements and objectives that would render aggression by one state against another virtually impossible

Describes briefly the higher goal of the Most Great

Peace

Achieving : |

Published by One World

SC $5.95

Bernard Leach was a potter of world renown whose life and work bridged the traditions of East and West. He first, heard of the Faith from Agnes Alexander in Japan during the first World War, accepted its teachings more than 20. years later, and dedicated much of his life to promoting its message of international understanding and unity.

This beautiful hardcover volume:

Combines delicate pen-and-wash illustrations and delightful verse with an impassioned profession of personal

faith in Baha'u'llah

Provides a rare insight into the personality of a great master craftsman

¢ Contains 82 black-and-white illustrations

¢ Makes an ideal gift for friends and relatives who are interested in the arts We have a new toll-free number!

‘1-800-999-9019 �[Page 15]The American Bahá’í / May 1988 / 15

Compilation New Concordance

The Available in June

A Concordance To the Writings of Baha’ u'llah

Writings Compiled by Lee Nelson

ea,

Bahd@ullah

opie bs

NELSON

‘A Concordance to the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh is an alphabetical index of all significant words from nearly all the writings of Baha’u’llah that have been translated into English. It has two primary Duos ip hep ne eens locate sought-after passages, and to group together passages that share a common word.

Presents more than 1600 reerencesto alte significant werd In 10 boks an 2cempltonscontarng

the writings of Baha’u’llah

Gives the location of the significant words and some of their context

Helps the user to unlock the hidden meanings in the Creative Word

¢ Includes a guide on how to use it

Covenant

The Covenant

“So important for the development of the Faith at this time is the understanding of the Covenant in all its aspects that it has been designated as a major theme of the Six Year Pian. It is our eamest hope that the new compilation, consisting of extracts which convey essential elements of the Covenant, will serve not only to deepen the understanding and love of the believers for the Covenant, but also to increase their level of conviction, and

From the Baha’ Publishing Trust

HC $49.95

their loyalty to the Cause and its institutions.” (Excerpt from a letter of December 1987 from the Universal House of Justice to

Indexed in A Concordance to the Writings of Baha'u'llah are the following works:

i Epistle to the Son of the Wolf Baha’i Writings on Music O God, My God... National Saul Asserts) Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah Consultation Peace fi me The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh The Covenant The Power of Divine Assistance This compilation on the Covenant, com- —_Kitab-i- Crisis and Victory Prohibition of intoxicating Drinks piled by the Universal House of Justice’s Prayers and Meditations Divorce Spiritual Foundations Research Department: The Proclamation of Baha’u’llah Excellence in All Things Trustworthiness © Contains clear, authoritative state- id saee eye and the Four Valleys rally ie a ae Universal House of Justice ments on what the Covenant is, how it ‘ablets ull juququ't Words of God works, and why it is important A Synopsis and Codification of the Kitab-iAqdas The Importance of Deepening Women Baha'i Education Baha'i Meetings/The Nineteen Day Feast

Includes six sections, each dealing with

particular aspects of the Covenant between God and the human race, expressed through the teachings and Administrative Order of Baha’u’llah

Contains 46 extracts, several of which

are published for the first time, and an index

Published by the U.K. Baha’ Publishing Trust SC $2.50

Teaching and

The following entry illustrates the format used in the Concordance:

How to use a concordance

KEY WORD ADMINISTRATION

ABBREVIATION OF SOURCE

ABBREVIATED KEY WORD

TB [ 89:25} constitute the fundamental principles for the a. of the affairs of men:

PAGE:LINE

The word “administration” occurs

ADDRESSETH — ADMITTED.

Proclamation only once inthe included sources of Booklets 89, line 25, of Tablets of Bana ulan, faites

The Perspective Series

Anew series of high-quality information booklets, beautifully designed and printed with four-color photographs throughout, will soon be available. These presentation booklets will be an aid to the teaching and proclamation work of the Six Year Plan. Appropriate for use in a wide range of activities from presentations to public officials to individual teaching efforts.

Nine titles are planned for the series which will explain the Baha'i perspective on a range of important topics.

First two available now!

The Baha’i Faith

An Introduction

Contains information about:

The basic teachings of Bahá’u’lláh

The Baha'i world community

The Houses of Worship

The historical background of the Faith, including details about the Central Figures

The Universal House of Justice

The Baha'i World Center

Social and economic development

the seven Baha’i Houses of Worship

Both are available in pkg. of 10/$9.95

‘When a key word occurs in more than ‘one book or compilation, each reference is listed in alphabetical order of the abbreviation of its source. Multiple occurrences of a key word with the ‘same source are listed In order of their location.

Although there are a large number of references, the search for a specific passage need not be difficult or timeconsuming. The choice of key words is a prime factor in simplifying the search. Key words that are less common naturally have fewer references. Thus, if there are several key words in the sought-after passage, the best approach is to select the key word that seems least common.

Social & Economic Development A Baha’i Approach

Addresses such issues as:

Group decision-making

Community development

Children’s education

The encouragement of women

The development of tutorial schools, agriculture and health care

Baha'i radio projects

International collaboration

Beautifully designed with 30 color photo graphs of Baha'is around the world

Published by the U.K. Baha’| Publishing Trust for the Office of Public Information, Bahá’í International Community

ADIURE TRL AM | ths

ADMINISTER

ADM

iy, these Props of ind

�[Page 16]16 / The American Baha’i / May 1988

‘Spirit of Master’ lifts sagging spirits in Barbados

PIONEERING

y

During a lull in Bahá’í activity in Barbados during the late 1960s, something happened that once again lifted the spirits of those who were struggling to give the Message of Baha’u’Il4h,

All of us at one time or another

The lone American pioneer had left Barbados and gone home. She had kept the Bahá’ís quite busy, even sending out a newsletter and teaching bulletin once a month.

We were all upset at first; many of us were new Bahá’ís and were under the administration of the Bahá’ís of the U.S. This left us feeling so alone in the world as they seemed so far away from Barbados.

We were trying to follow the Teachings of Baha’u’ll4h but not really understanding the role we had to play in the over-all Plan of God. We were not functioning as local Assemblies, but that is what we were without the title.

We had few Baha’i books among us, and although Feasts and firesides were held in homes in St. Michael and Christ Church, the task of reaching all the people of Barbados seemed a great one to accomplish.

We had little money for any projects; water and biscuits were often served at Feasts, and the friends sat on the floor.

We did have one car which was used to take some Baha’fs to functions, but most of us caught buses there and back.

Then came some good news: a pioneer couple would be coming after the National Bahá’í Teaching Conference in Chicago, which was one of six held throughout the world at the same time.

We also learned that other Ba

Philippines seeks U.S. pioneers

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Philippines has asked that individuals who are retired or living on fixed incomes consider settling in that country where there is a great need for pio For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-8699039.

ha’is were due to pass through Barbados on their way to pioneer posts in the region. Traveling teachers were also expected from various countries to stay either in Barbados or Trinidad and Tobago for three days.

The plan was to have a prayer session at the home of the Haynes fenly in Scotts Gap, Brittons

Erte Faghes chiktren were ca and were asleep when the Baha’is arrived late in the evening.

One was from Greenland (at that time the only Bahá’í there!). Two were from Iran and were pioneering to Trinidad as nurses (one of them is still there), and there were two from Canada, two from England and three from the U.S.

All colors, different accents,

The prayers started on time, and what a wonderful spiritual ex i it was. The Barbadian Baha’is wept with the strength of the spirit in that room. Prayers were chanted in Persian for the first time in Barbados.

said she had had a wonderful dream that night.

She said she had dreamed of a man with a white beard and long clothes seated among the Baha’is all night in the living room. She

ARISE RADIATE

BAHAMAS BARBADOS BELIZE COLOMBIA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC GRENADA GUADELOUPE JAMAICA MARTINIQUE MEXICO PERU PUERTO RICO ST. LUCIA

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

VIRGIN ISLANDS

“TRAIL OF MATCHES” CARIBBEAN ISLAND-TO-ISLAND TEACHING PROJECT

ST. VINCENT & GRENADINES

THE VICTORY CAPTURE

en ee ase

all you need is an reliance on Bahu lisie and an open mind.

The National Teaching Committee, the National Youth Committee and the Office of Pioneering are collaborating on plans for international and domestic traveling teaching trips this summer. We are planning teaching routes from the International Youth Conference in Bloomington, Indiana, through the southwestern states to the International Youth Conference in Juarez, Mexico, which will be followed by teaching projects in northern Mexico. Projects are also

being developed in the Caribbean and Central America. If you are interested in joining one of these projects, fill out the form below and send it to the Office of Pioneering for more details. The address is Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL

60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

YES, I am interested in international teaching projects. Please send me more information.

ADDRESS.

then asked if the Baha’is had come, and if so, if they had seen this man.

We explained that it must have

been ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and that He had indeed sat among the Baha’is that night—in spirit.—Carol Haynes

Best time to consider pioneering? 61 unfilled goals say ‘now’ is best

With the third year of the Six Year Plan now under way, the American Baha’i community has 61 pioneer goals yet to be completed.

Many of us may have assumed that we would go pioneering, but have not formulated plans about when we should go. The time is now!

Many factors contribute to the increasing difficulty in finding jobs abroad and, at the same time, to the dire need for individuals with the appropriate skills to go to Third World areas to help with social and economic development projects.

If you are uncertain as to whether your educational or vocational background is appropriate for international service, call the Office of Pioneering, 312-8699039, and consult with us.

If you are in high school, consider studying abroad for at least a year. Plan to do a year of service on completion of your high school or college education. Study abroad!

ARISE to serve and assist the community in its responsibility to fulfill the goals of the Plan.

If you are unable to go, DEPUTIZE another person to go in your stead.

Even a few dollars a month can translate into the opportunity of a lifetime for another to serve the Cause of God.

The Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khanum spoke of the pioneers as follows:

“‘Maybe the reason the pioneers

El Salvador slates June conference for TV production

ference on June 2-5.

The purpose of the event is to draft a project for the steady growth and permanent establishment of Baha’; television production in El Salvador.

Presently, the Baha’i community of El Salvador is producing and airing weekly half-hour Baha’i television programs.

Topics of discussion at the conference will include international networking for talent, materials and human resources; funding; growth in stages; international training for similar projects in other countries; identification of differences among Latin audiences; selection of a target audience; and program formats.

If you are interested in attending, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039.

are so precious to me is because so many believers cannot pioneer for some reason or other and many others do not feel the need to. So those who do pioneer are infinitely precious.””

Deadlines near for Fulbrights

The Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) administers Fulbright Scholar and Professional Grants in consulting, research and university lecturing abroad.

The 1989-90 competition includes 600 grants for university lecturing, more than 300 for research and more than 50 specifically designated as professional awards.

These grants range in duration from three months to a full academic year and are available in more than 100 countries. Awards are given in almost every academic discipline.

Benefits usually include roundtrip travel for grantee and spouse, a stipend to cover living costs (usually $1,500-$3,000 per month), tuition allowance for school-age children, and baggage allowances.

Basic eligibility requirements for a Fulbright award are: U.S. citizenship; Ph.D or comparable professional qualifications; university or college teaching experience (for full-time lecturing awards); and, for some assignments, proficiency in a foreign

Deadlines for applications for current awards are: June 15, 1988 (for Australasia, India and Latin

Middle East, and lecturing awards to Mexico, Venezuela and the Caribbean); January 1, 1989 (for Administrators’ Awards in Ger Fellowships and the Spain Research Fellowships); and February 1, 1989 (for France, Italy and Germany Travel-Only Awards).

pre“Fulbright Scholar Program Faculty Grants 1989-90" which includes descriptive information on specific grants and countries.

To receive application materials write to: Council for International Exchange of Scholars, 11 DuPont Circle N.W., Washington, DC 20036 (phone 202-939-5403).

For questions concerning the professional program, contact Gary Garrison, 202-939-5467.

Phone #

Country. Dates

Age

I want to Travel Teach to:

Baha'i I.D..

Please return to:

Office of Pioneering,

=

Baha'i National Center. Wilmette, IL 60091 or call (312) 869-9039.

Dominica sets Summer School in August Dominica, a lovely island in the West Indies, is holding its Baha’i Summer School on August 2-5. Anyone, especially youth, interested in helping with teaching youth and children’s classes is quite welcome. Traveling teachers are also warmly encouraged to come. If you are interested, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312

�[Page 17]The American Bahá’í / May 1988 / 17

BAHA’i SCHOOLS

BOSCH BAHA'I SCHOOL 1988 Summer Session

Summer ‘88 at the Bosch Baha'i School will offer a variety of classes designed to assist participants in “personal integration and growth, becoming catalysts for unity, advancement in the Baha'i family, meeting the financial needs of the community and being seen as an example of this enlarging unity."

THE CRITICAL CONNECTION: PERSONAL BEHAVIOR AND PEACE

All sessions (except Jr. Youth July 16-21 for age 12-15) will have programs for all ages. August 27-September 1 session is designed for young adults and youth.

Each day of each session will begin with a study of the Creative Word, selections from THE ADVENT OF DIVINE JUSTICE.

July 9-14

General Session Open to all -- Religion and Psychology: What is the “study of the soul"? Professional psychologists are invited to submit proposals for presentation, BEFORE JUNE 15. Among presenters will be: Harriet Allie, Roy Auerbach, Michael Bond, Richard DaBell, Tricia Hanson, Homayoun Mahmoudi, Lynn Mahmoudi, Barbara Waldron and others. Open to nonpsychologists. Program for all ages.

July 16-21

JR. YOUTH WEEK

Cabin Counselors and dedicated teacher-leaders guide Jr. Youth ages 12-15 in recreation, study, and creative activities. Sponsors not required.

July 23-28

General Session Open to all -- Dr. Samuel McClellan, a psychiatrist and member of the Auxiliary Board, will visit Bosch for the first time. His topic is Growth and the Unfolding Covenant: A Single Organic, Accelerating Process. Texts: Tablets of Baha'u'llah, Compilation on the Covenant (new).

For "The Sound of Music" in your community, and especially in the education of children, we offer again a workshop based on the teachings of Zoltan Kodaly. Recently trained at the Kodaly Institute in Hungary, Margaret McClellan will conduct these workshops.

July 30 - August 4

General Session Open to all -- Edward Diliberto will explore: The Historical Dialectic: Crisis and Victory -- understanding the processes, within and without the Faith, that accompany its progressive emergence on the world stage.

Nancy Dobbins (Ft. Worth, Texas) with vignettes of five actors in the great drama of our ge. Dawnbreakers, will bring us a glimpse of our spiritual predecessors.

August 6-11

General Session open to all -- John S. Hatcher of the University of South Florida will lead workshops on issues in his popular book, i Reality, Lucia Hatcher will teach in the children's program.

"The Promise of World Peace," Social Justice and the Rise and Fall of Ancient American Cultures. Mark Druss, anthropologist and archeologist, leads study of Maya, Aztec and Inca cultures as they demonstrate the unity of mankind and serve as a measure of social justice. Videos of recent discoveries in Mexico and Central America.

August 13-18

General Session open to all -- Baha'i Institutions as Models of Justice: the application of Baha'i Laws--how does it apply to me? Anna Lee Strasburg comes from the Office of the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly to clarify, encourage and challenge us.

Integration: A Subtler Aspect of Unity. Puran Stevens of the National Persian/American Affairs Committee will guide us to renew our commitment to

1988 Summer Schedule

i Rec! sith The Louhelen Baha’i School near Davison, Michigan.

spiritual integration. An opporutnity to give substance to our belief in the oneness of mankind and the destiny of the American nation.

The Best Method: Creative Receptivity. A skillshop with Jim Mulvaney. Member of the Bosch Council and Dale Carnegie Instructor.

August 20-25

General Session Open to all -- Leonard and Iris Bell of Washington will make The Critical Connection between individual behavior and world peace, particularly as we deal with The Most Vital and Challenging Issue.

Literature: A Bridge to Cultural Understanding. Selected ethnic literary works as a vehicle for understanding and appreciating the impact of cultural and societal experience on the individual. Ann Miller, graduate of UC Santa Cruz in Literature/Philosophy, will focus on the African-American experience. Brian Miller, doctoral student at UC Berkeley, will lead a workshop on Persian literature--classical and contemporary--in translation. Mentor for this session is Dr. Jalil Mahmoudi, who will introduce each day with a study of The Advent of Divine Justice (in both English and Persian).

August 27 - September 1

Young Adults and Youth

exploring values and making choices

developing goals for education and careers

considering a Year of Service and a life of service

Mentors for this week will be announced. Youth and young adults will facilitate discussion group and panel presentations.

September 3-4-5 A Weekend Retreat. See summer program for details. General Session open to all.

To register, please send a $25 deposit per person to the Registrar, Bosch Baha'i School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA., 95060. Phone reservations can be made using VISA or Mastercard, by phoning (408)423-3387. Prior to the beginning of summer sessions, office hours are 9am to Spm Pacific time, Wednesday through Sunday. Information phone, with taped session details and availability, is available 24 hours a day by calling (408)423-3093

GREEN ACRE BAHA'I SCHOOL 1988 Summer Program

Session 1-A July 1-3

"Personal Vision/Collective Vision" focuses on the spiritual enrichment of individual life and the interdependence of the individual and the community. Dr. Robert Atkinson

"From Vision to Reality - Each One Teach One" reinforces the eternal connection between all human beings emphasizing the need to teach all strata of society. Mildred Mottahedeh

Session 1-B July 3-8

10th Annual Summer Teaching Conference "Fire of Love -- Preparing the Way for Large Scale Growth" examines the relationship between the condition of the teacher and heroic action, entry by troops and the challenge of consolidation. Dr. Tahereh Ahdieh, Mara Khavari and Dr. Billy Roberts

"The Power of Prayer" offers every individual the means to personal transformation and prayerful communication. Mehrangiz Munsiff

Session 2-A July 8-10

"The Role of Equality in World Peace" explores current research and efforts which support the vital role equality of the sexes will play in the establishment of peace. Melinda Armstrong and Phyllis Ring

Session 2-B July 10-15

"Broadening Our Teaching Horizons" will stimulate new ideas and provide different perspectives that will lend assistance to the teaching work in this country. Morris Taylor

"A Pictorial History of the Bahá’í Faith" will include unpublished slides relative to the history of Iran at the time of Shaykh Ahmad, Siyyid Kazem, the Bab and Baha'u'llah. Golgasht Mossafal

Session 3-A July 15-17

"The Arc as Related to the Fourth Epoch" illumines the sacrifices necessary for us to exemplify in our lives if we are to accomplish the work required of us. Javidukht Khadem

Session 3-B July 17-22

2nd Annual Arts Conference

"Make the Vision a Reality” invites artists in every medium (music, drama, graphics, art, etc.) to interact in workshops exploring their ever-advancing role in the creation of world unity.

Session 4-A Arts Festival "Singing and Swinging and Making Merry" is an opportunity for artists, performers and craftspersons to accelerate an awareness of the arts. Saturday will be a family festival featuring the Farmer Family Memorial Lecture, booths, games, performances. No child care or children's classes. Sunday will include children’s classes, and a keynote address ("Building a Bahá’{ World Civilization of the Arts") followed by a panel of tespondents. Contact CREATIVE CONNECTION at Green Acre if you wish to display your talents or sell your wares.

July 22-24

Session 4-B July 24-29

"The Art of Spiritual Response" uses the Writings and proven techniques to assist participants in building stronger teaching and communication skills.

Michael Winger-Bearskin

"Celebrating, Commemorating and Sharing �[Page 18]18 / The American Baha’i / May 1988

Bahá’í Holy Days" promotes an understanding and appreciation of the significance of adjusting our lives to a new spiritual rhythm. Arlene Jennrich

Session 5-A July 29-31

"The Arc: Your Spiritual Destiny" illumines the spiritual significance of one's participation in completing the Arc and in strengthening National and Local Assemblies. Bill Davis

Session 5-B July 31-Aug 5

"Toward Spiritual Integration of the American Bahá’í Community" offers an in-depth consultation on building models of unity and diversity, exploring the unique characteristics of various cultures that make up the Bahá’í community including: Persian, Black, Cambodian, Hispanic, Laotian, Vietnamese and Native American. A limited number of scholarships are available to assist those who might not otherwise be able to attend. Inquire if needed. Sponsored by: The National Persian American Affairs Committee and the National Race Unity Committee

Session 6-A Aug 5-7

"Personal and Spiritual Growth Through Visionary Goal-Setting" will enable participants to identify and set targets for achieving their personal vision for spiritual and personal growth. Leonard Smith

Session 6-B Aug 7-12

"Law and Justice in the Age of Transition" will provide a thought-provoking reflection on the current "reality", the Bahá’í vision and how the two might eventually come together. Al Lincoln

"Music the Spiritual Food" is a study of Bahá’í Writings on music with emphasis on its role in child education, Bahá’{ community life, and individual spiritual development. Joany Lincoln

"Family Life on a Pioneer Post" will give a frank and realistic view of the joys and difficulties, advantages and struggles of pioneering through the experiences of the Lincoln Family

Session 7-A Aug 12-14

"Our Moment in Bahá’í History" will focus on building the Arc, our use of material resources, community development and our relationship with Institutions of the Faith. Michael Furst

Session 7-B Aug 14-19

"Marriage in the New World Order" will explore behavior and attitudes of marriage and family through the study of specific Writings, role play, discussion and lecture. Dr. Marvin Hughes

"Letters of the Living" is a study of the early Heroic Age with particular emphasis on the life and destiny of Mullá Ḥusayn, Tahereh and Quddús. Dr. Gity Banan Etemad

Session 8-A Aug 19-21

"The Election of the Universal House of Justice" is a look at the International Convention in Haifa with slides and stories Counselor Bob Harris

"The Welcoming Partnership (Men and Women Appreciating and Resolving Differences, a Matter of Universal Participation)" will address the issue of the oneness of mankind, via role definitions, gender hierarchies and societal expectations and relationships.

Robin Chandler

Registering at the Massanetta Springs (Virginia) School

Session 8-B Aug 21-26

"Successfully Teaching and Is There Life after Declaration?" aims to increase confidence in teaching through the Covenant, the Six Year Plan, listening, increasing contacts and moderation. Barbara Harris, Janet Richards and Rodney Richards

"Spiritual Battles Everywhere...Now, Where Did I Put My Weapons?" will look at real life and the processes of change in the Fourth Epoch. Counselor Bob Harris

Session 9-A Aug 26-28

"Harnessing the Power of the Pen: From Vision to Publication" designed for authors, perspective authors and would-be writers, is devoted to understanding the process of research, writing and publication. Dr. Betty J. Fisher

Session 9-B Aug 28-Sept 2

A Week of Intensive Study -- Register Early -Limited Enrollment. Please designate which program you are registering for by placing the word YOUTH or ADULT after the session number on your registration form.

YOUTH INTENSIVE STUDY (Ages 15 and up)

requires a high level of discipline within a structured environment with strict adherence to study, consultation, personal goal setting and spiritual bonding. Bobby Ahdieh, Linda Ahdieh and Dr. Jane Failey *(No sponsorship necessary -- medical release and youth contract required)

ADULT INTENSIVE STUDY "Why Twin Manifestations in the Bahá’{ Dispensation” will examine the Quran and the Bahá’{ Writings to understand why the Bab and Baha'u'llah revealed Themselves in one dispensation. Afaf Stevens

Session 10 Sept 2-5

Labor Day Weekend Special

"Heroines of the Faith" will integrate the arts, speakers, workshops and panels exemplifying how key women of the Faith inspire and inform our life today. Sponsored by: The New England Regional Committee of the Association for Baha’f Studies with the assistance of the Sarah Farmer Women's Center

For additional information and registration materials please contact Green Acre, 188 Main Street, Eliot Maine 03903 (207)439-7200

LOUHELEN BAHA'I SCHOOL 1988 Summer Session

May 27-29

4th "Annual Conference for Parents and Children". Special emphasis on PRESCHOOL children. Classes and activities for children 0-10, with workshops and activities for parents. Hank Wich, Barbara Hacker, Gary Stollack presenting on child development, family life, spiritual development. Special slide presentation Saturday evening on the role of art in the family.

June 2-5

"Women's Conference/Young Women's Conference" Two concurrent conferences dealing with the role of women during this phase of the development of the world order. Dr. Jane Failey, Jacqueline Delahunt, Ernestine Berkey and Shiva Tavana among the speakers and workshop leaders. Limited program for children will be offered to allow those attending to participate fully.

July 6-11

“Sth Annual National Teacher Training Week" Special emphasis on THE MOST VITAL AND. CHALLENGING ISSUE AND ON BLACK/WHITE RACE AMITY. An outstanding training program, sponsored by the National Teaching Committee, for teachers and administrators of local Baha'i children's classes. LSAs and local and regional Baha'i schools are encouraged to send respresentatives.

July 15-17, 17-20

"A Singular Experience" Conference for Singles. Come for the weekend or for all five days of fellowship, deepening, devotions, recreation, discovery, spiritual intimacy, workshops and discussions.

July 22-27 YOUTH WEEK. Classes, recreation, devotions,

consultation, and other activities, planned by Louhelen's Youth Board, for Senior Youth (ages 15 and older).

July 29-Aug 3

CHILDREN'S CAMP. Combines spiritual, educational, social, emotional and physical development for children in a camp-style program. Goal is to create an environment of positive ideas and attitudes leading to expanded personal awareness, improved self-image, matured social skills, new recreational skills and a renewed spiritual connection. Non-Baha'is welcome! James Lewicki and Gwen Taylor-Ghods, Camp Directors. Ages 7 to 10. (Children should be at least entering 2nd grade). Note special rates $135 per camper ($95 for each additional camper from the same family)

August 5-7, 7-10

FAMILY SESSION I

The Family Session themes are "This Climacteric of Human History" and include classes and workshops for all ages and family recreational, devotional, consultative and other activities planned to create an atmosphere in which new and enriching patterns of family interaction can be formed. Families or individuals can come for just the weekend or for the entire 5 days.

August 12-17

JUNIOR YOUTH WEEK

Classes, recreation, devotions, consultation, and other activities, planned by Louhelen's Youth Board, for Junior Youth (ages Il to 15). Adult teachers and senior youth counselors will facilitate this lively, spiritually enriching week!

August 19-21, 21-24

FAMILY SESSION II "

See FAMILY SESSION I above. Families and individuals can come for just the weekend or for the entire 5 days.

September 2-5

HOMECOMING WEEKEND

Traditional social occasion at which Louhelen alumni, old and new, gather for fellowship, recreation, inspiration and especially, fun. Annual Friends of Louhelen meeting scheduled. "Old-time" alumni especially requested to come!

Special Notes on Summer Sessions:

Outstanding children's programs (ages Il and under)

offered at all sessions, unless otherwise noted.

Devotions, singing, recreation, fellowship, service

opportunities at all sessions.

Poet-in-Residence and Artist-in-Residence Programs to

enhance cultural programs.

Weekly events (Beginning July 15):

Friday evenings: Register 4-8 pm; opening session at 8pm.

Saturday evenin; Performances, presentations by artists, writers and musicians.

Sunday afternoons, evenings: Beach Trip

Monday evenings: Center for Interracial Unity presentation; Fund presentation; sing-a-longs, bonfire, recreation.

Tuesday evenings: Variety show

Base rates (no dinner on registration evening; does not include linen, etc. Please contact Louhelen for details): Adults - $50/weekend...$132/5 day session

Youth - $44/weekend...$117/5 days

1 Parent + 1 child - $77/weekend...$200/5 days

1 Parent + 2 or more children - $100 wkend $265/5 days 2 Parents + 1 or more children - $120/wkend $315/5 days

For information, rates, or to register, call Louhelen at (313)653-5033 or write to Louhelen Baha'i School, 3208 S. State Rd., Davison, MI 48423

LOUIS GREGORY BAHA'I INSTITUTE 1988 Summer Session

June 4 Louis Gregory Days

July 10-Aug 6 Baha'i Youth Academy

Aug 12-14 South Carolina Summer School Sept I Dizzy Gillispee Concert Sept 16-17 Peace Fest '88

For detailed information about programs, please contact the Louis Gregory Institute at Route 2, Box 7l, Hemingway, SC 29554 (803)558-5093 �[Page 19]The American Baha’i / May 1988 / 19

NATIVE AMERICAN BAHA'I INSTITUTE 1988 Summer Session

The Native American Baha'i Institute will be a center of activity for the Navajo-Hopi Teaching Project, and will conduct on-going teacher orientation and deepenings. Volunteers will be invited to assist in a number of property development projects as well as with children's classes, youth activities, and consolidation work on the Reservation.

May 27-30 Navajo Nation Conference on Recovery to be held at NABI. This conference deals with alcoholism and other addictions and is hosted by NABI in conjunction with other tribal and community agencies. Baha'is are welcome to come and serve.

August 19-21

Navajo-Hopi Baha'i Pioneering Institute sponsored by the National Office of Pioneering. This conference is patterned after the International Pioneering Institutes and is designed to assist present and future pioneers to the Navajo, the Hopi, and other Native American reservations.

Workshops and deepenings for the translation of the Baha'i Writings into Navajo will be held periodically throughout the summer.

The annual Inter-cultural Council Fire is planned for this summer. Date to be announced.

Children's classes, youth activities and community deepening and development programs will be held throughout the summer.

Specific schedules and information about the service opportunities at NABI are available from: Native American Baha'i Institute, P.O. Box 167, Houck, AZ 86506, (602)367-5126, ext. 8595

Baha'i Regional Schools 1988 Summer Schedule

This summer promises to be an exciting, spiritually invigorating time for those of you who are planning to attend a Baha’i school. The Guardian encouraged youth in particular to attend these schools, and this year promises to be an especially good time for them to do so. We hope that each one of you will make every effort to attend a Baha’i school this summer.

—NATIONAL TEACHING COMMITTEE

ALABAMA

Dates: July 21-24, 1988

ic Monte Vallo State University, Monte Vallo, AL

‘or the love of Mankind”

Facilities: Private dorm rooms with baths. Meals at the school cafeteria.

Classrooms: Classes will be held in the various university classrooms and auditorium.

Recreation: Gym is available for basketball, volleyball, and other games. Also swimming, tennis, soccer and various table tournaments.

Rates: Write or phone the registrar Pre-registration: By July 1, 1988 Registrar: Parvis Anvar,

35630 (205)764-5168

Florence, AL

ARIZONA

Dates: Suly 1-4, 1988

Location: Belmont Properties, Flagstaff, AZ

Theme: “Roots to Baha'i Epochs”

Facilities: Campsites, hotels/motels nearby; meals provided

Classrooms: Children, youth, and adult (nursery facilities) Recreation: Rustic; volleyball, gameboards in lodge area Rates: Call for information Registrar: Roberta Mevis, AZ 85029 (602)375-0919

Phoenix,

ARKANSAS

Dates: August 13, 1988

Please call/write for more information:

Doris Jones, Sherwood, AR 72116 (501)8343227

CALIFORNIA Dates: August 27-31, 1988 Location: Pilgrim Pines, Yucaipa, CA

Theme: "Constructive Spiritual Living"

Facilities: Cabins, meals provided; participants should bring bedding and linens

Classrooms: Children, youth and adult ciasses Recreation: Swimming, volleyball Rates: Call for information Pre-registration: August 15, 1988 Registrar: Al Lewis,

90065 (213)223-7781

_ Los Angeles, CA

COLORADO EAST

Dates: July 5-10, 1988

Location: Long Scraggy Ranch, Buffalo Creek, CO Theme: “The Advent of Divine Justice"

Facilities: 8 person heated rooms, typical-remote bath and toilet, meals provided.

Classrooms: Children, youth and adult classes. Separated indoor facilities available - rustic

Recreation: Enclosed heated pool, tennis, volleyball, basketball, hiking.

Rates: 18-adult $65; 12-17 yrs $60; 6-11 yrs $55; 3-5 yrs $10; 0-2 yrs free; Pre-registration: June 10, 1988

Registrar: Donald Brayton, P.O. Box 1033, Woodland Park, CO 80866 (719) 687-3351

COLORADO WEST Dates: August 19-21, 1988

Location: Camp Illium, 5 miles from Telluride, CO Theme: “Raising a Spiritual Society"

Facilities: Rustic mountain location, dorms, limited family units, tent space.

Recreation: Volleyball, hiking, fishing

Rates: Contact registrar:

Registrar: Shirley Scott, _ Grand Jet., CO 81504 (303)434-5032 or Messel McHugh (303)247-0732

FLORIDA - SUMMER Dates: August 4-7, 1988 Location: Florida Memorial College, 15800 NW 42nd iami, FL 33054 Builders of the Arc" Dorms, dining hall/cafeteria; participants should

Facilities bring bedding and linen Classrooms: Children, youth, adults, air-conditioned

Recreation: Pool, gym, tennis Rates: Please call for information Pre-registration: July 15, 1988 Registrar: Kathy Munn,

33024 (305)966-7315

. Hollywood, FL

GEORGIA

Dates: July 21-24, 1988

Location: Middle College, Cochran, Georgia

Theme: "The Unfoldment of the New World Order: Preparing for the Entry by Troops”

Facilities: College dorms, dining hall

Classrooms: Children, youth and adult classes. Recreation: Volleyball, swimming pool

Rates: 19 - Adult $60; 13-18 yrs $55; 3-12 yrs $50; 0-2 yrs free; day students $15.

Pre-registration: July 1, 1988 - 5% discount for preregistering

Registrar: Janet New,

GA 30117, (404)834-0352

_ Carrollton,

GREEN LAKE CONFERENCE

Dates: September 16-18, 1988

Location: American Baptist Conf. Ctr., Green Lake, WI 54941

Theme: "Have your vision checked: Bring your contacts” Facilities: Wide variety-campsites, dorms, cottages,

Adults and children enjoy a Aina at Washington state’s Seabrook Bahá’í School

cabins, hotel rooms; meal package provided please call the conference center for specifics

Classrooms: Special programs for nursury, children, preyouth, youth, adults

Recreation: Acres of woodlands, indoor pool, bicycling, boating, fishing, tennis, golf, miles of scenic trails Rates: Call American Baptist Conference Ctr. directly (414)294-3323 or 1-800-558-8898 rates vary widely. Pre-registration: 0-20 ages pre-register as soon as possible. Watch for registration form in the June issue. Registrar: Sue Schaut, Sun Prairie, WI 53590 (608)837-8609

IDAHO

Dates: June 15-19, 1988

Location: Camp Sawtooth, Sun Valley/Kethum, ID Theme: “Unity - Family and Community"

Facilities: Cabins, family style dining, limited RV space available

Classrooms: Children, youth, and adults (co-op babysitting for children 1-3 yrs)

Recreation: Court ball games and cooperative games; crafts for all ages

Rates: 10 yrs - adult $75; 4-9 yrs $45; 1-3 yrs free; Facility Fee $37.00

Pre-registration: June 1, 1988 - after June 1, 1988 cost goes up $5 per person

Warm to ol days, cold mountain nights. Be prepared

for all kinds of weather. Unity feast and variety night. Registrar: Seme Newlin, _ American Falls, ID 83211 (208)548-2677

ILLINOIS - HEARTLAND

Dates: Suly 20-24, 1988

Location: Camp Wokanda, Chillicothe, Ill (near Peoria) Theme: This year we will offer a more relaxed pace with a wide variety of deepening topics and enrichment activities for all ages. The VanManens will join us to present music workshops, children's programs and entertainment. Facilities: Rustic cabins, tent camping, motels nearby, meals provided.

Classrooms: Children, youth, and adult classes. Recreation: Swimming pool, fishing, boating, hiking, optional activities m drama, art Rates: Call/write for information Pre-registration: June 30, 1988 Registrar: Scott & Debbie ‘Martin, Carmi, IL 62821 (618)382-3771

INDIANA Nur'u'llah

Dates: July 18-24, 1988

Location: Camp Kikthawenund, Frankton, IN (12 miles NW of Anderson)

Theme: “The Covenant: Bridge to the Future"

Facilities: Dorms, one for boys/men, one for girls/women. Tent or small trailer camping with hookups. Camp cooks prepare excellent meals in the camp dining lodge. Classrooms: Children, youth, and adults

Recreation: hiking; swimming in camp pool

Rates: 10-adult $77; 3-9 yrs $56; 1-2 yrs $40; 0-1 yrs $5; Pre-registration: June 27, 1988 - save 10% with preregistration

Registrar: George Ebert, 46952 (317)664-0553

Marion, IN

IOWA

Dates: July 22-24, 1988

Location: Simpson College in Indianola, South of Des Moines, Iowa

Theme: "The Covenant: Ark of Salvation"

Facilities: Dorms, air cond. rooms, classes and auditorium, �[Page 20]20 / The American Baha’i / May 1988

cafeteria type meals, camping facilities available Classrooms: Children, youth, adult classes; air-conditioned Recreation: Gym, track, pool

Rates: Food 6 yrs - adult $7/per day; 0-5 yrs free; dorms 11 yrs - adult $8.50 per night; 0-10 yrs free; facility charge $10.00 per individual. Registration fee $12 for adults and $6 for children 4 - 9 yrs. Pre-registration: June 20, 1988 Registrar: Bill Cave,

50158 (515)753-5233

_ Marshalltown, IA

KANSAS

Dates: Suly 1-4, 1988

Location: Rock Springs 4-H Center, Il miles South of Junction City, Kansas, on US 77

Theme: “The Emancipation of Women and Men" (Speakers: Jack and Fafar Guillbeaux)

Facilities: 8 person bunk-bed suites; dining room; veg etarian table available must pre-register with request. Classrooms: Modern facilities, rural setting, air-cond Recreation: Swimming, horseback riding, canoes, hiking, outdoor sports, crafts

Rates: Call for information, programs for age 3-adult Pre-registration: June 1, 1988 (Scholarships available, please inquire early) Registrar: Terry Karch, 66801 (316)342-5275

_ Emporia, KS

MARYLAND - DAYSPRING

Dates: July 29-Aug 1, 1988

Location: Frostburg State Uniy., Frostburg, MD

Theme: “The Exalted Word" (The school is situated in the mountains of Webster, MD. Dayspring will feature a challenging curriculum based on a study of various aspects of the Bahá’í Writings.)

Facilities: Food and lodging on site with camping facilities nearby.

Classrooms: Children, youth and adult classes Recreation: Swimming, nature walk & physical education facilities on campus

Rates: Call for information Registrar: Mavis Vaughan, 21207 (301)747-1302

. Baltimore, MD

MINNESOTA

Dates: August 24-28, 1988

Location: Camp Onomia, Onamia, MN

The “Challenges of the Fourth Epoch"

Facilities: Central camp cabin with private rooms for families or individuals; meals provided; partic’ ints should bring bedding and linens (linen rental $4); ¢ .ping/with bath facilities; campers can cook some of their own meals. Classrooms: Children, youth, and adult classes Recreation: Swimming, boating, shuffleboard, softball Rates: Call for information (There will be special weekend rates and program) Pre-registration: July 25, 1988 Registrar: Steve Grams, 56201 (617)235-6530

. Willmer, MN

MONTANA

Dates: July 17-23, 1988

Red Lodge, Red Lodge, Montana

“On Becoming a Bahá'{ Community"

ies: Lodge rooms; meals will be provided; participants should bring bedding and linen Classrooms: Adult, children, and youth classes Recreation: Hiking, fishing

Rates: Call for information

Pre-registration: July 1, 1988

Registrar: Jahan Lohrasbi,

59701 (406)494-6627

NEBRASKA

Dates: July 21-24, 1988

Location: Halsey 4-H Camp in the Nebraska National Forest, North of North Platte, NE

Theme: “Get It Together at Great Plains Bahá’{ School" Facilities: Cabins, dorms, tent camping; food provided; participants bring bedding and linen

Classrooms: Children, youth, and adult classes Recreation:. Canoeing, swimming pool, hiking Rates: Call/write for information Pre-registration: By June 30, 1988 for lower rates Registrar: Colin Taylor,

69101 (308)534-4939

Butte, MT

NE

NEW JERSEY

Dates: June 3-5, 1988

Location:: Georgian Court College, Lakewood, NJ Ther “Sacrifice: Arise in Heroic Response" Facilities: Call for information

Classroom: Children, youth, and adult classes Rates: Call for information

Pre-Registration: Call for information Registrar: Ed Segan, 08322 (609)697-2616

NORTH CAROLINA

Please call for dates and location

Diane McKinley, _ Carey, NC 27513 (919)481-0559

NEW MEXICO

Dates: September 2-4, 1988

Location: Call/write for location

Pre-registration: August 15, 1988

Registrar: Bob Moore, P.O. Box I5Il, Ruidoso, NM 88345 (505)258-4002

_ Franklinville, NJ

NORTH CAROLINA

Please call/write for dates and location Diane Mckinley, _ Carey, NC 27513 (919)481-0559

NORTH DAKOTA

Please call/write for dates and location

Lee or Linda Rorman,

58401 (701)252-9087

Jamestown, ND

OKLAHOMA

Dates: October 21-23, 1988

Location: Dwight Mission, near Vian, OK

Theme: “Fortress of Well Being”

Facilities: Dorms, family accommodations Classrooms: Children, youth, and adult classes Recreation: Hiking, volleyball, fishing

Rates: Call for information

Registrar: Shahrokh Khaze, P.O. Box 1814, Ponca City, OK 74602 (405)765-8504

OREGON EAST

Dates: August 13-16, 1988

Location: Wallowa Methodist Camp, Joseph Oregon Theme: “The Fourth Epoch: The Unfolding Pattern" Facilities: Cabins, camping, meals are provided Classroom: Children, youth, and adult classes Recreation: Outdoor activities

Rates: Please call/write for information Pre-registration: August 1, 1988 Registrar: Sharon Hayes,

97828 (503)426-3790

_ Enterprise, OR

OREGON WESTERN - BADASHT

Dates: August 10-14, 1988

Location: Camp Myrtlewood; SW Oregon near Myrtle Point Theme: "From Crisis to Compelling Victories”

Facilities: Heated cabins, showers, tent and RV space; meals provided in central dining area.

Classrooms: Children, youth and adult classes

Recreation: Hiking in iovely, forested Coast Range; swimming in stream (supervising lifeguard), field sports.

Rates: Children must be with adult sponsor

16 yrs - adult $54; 9-15 yrs $44; 2-8 yrs $33; 0-1 yrs $1.25; family rates maximum $175; full-time students $48 Registrar: Star Stone, . Roseburg, OR 97470 (503)673-3737

SOUTH CAROLINA

Dates: August 11-14, 1988

Location: Louis Gregory Inst., Hemingway, S Carolina Theme: "Champion Builders of the New World Order" Facilities: Dorms, meals provided

Classrooms: Children, youth, and adult classes Recreation: Outdoor activities

Rates: Call/write for information

Pre-registration: July 25, 1988

Registrar: Roy Jones, Louis Gregory Institute, Route 2 Box 71, Hemingway, South Carolina 29554 (803)508-5093

TENNESSEE

Please call for dates and location

Edie Osborn, 5010 Austin Rd., Hixson, TN 37343 (615)843-0120

TEXAS

Dates: August 25-28, 1988

Location: Bridgeport Conference Center, Bridgeport, Texas Theme: “The Writings: Don't live your Life without Them" (Concentrating on Advent of Divine Justice) Facilities: Closed campus, meals provided; participants should bring bedding and linen, air-conditioned; semiprivates available to families with children.

Classrooms. Children, youth, adults; air-conditioned Recreation: Swimming pool, hiking, group games, outdoor BBQ one evening, talent (or untalent) show

Rates: Adult $75; 2-8 $57; 0-2 free (sharing bed with parent and sharing dinner plate); day students 1/3 registered rates; facility fee $4.00

Pre-registration: August 15; $8.00 extra for late reg. No phone registrations, deposit required by August 15, 1988. Scholarships available. Sponsors required for youth under 15. Must receive sponsorship form by Aug 15. Sponsors must be same sex; plan on rooming with the youth. Only one child sponsored per adult. No admittance after 8:30 pm. Registrar: Dale Ricklefs, _ Georgetown, TX 78628 (512)869-1936 or (512)255-3612 Ext 402

VIRGINIA - MASSANETTA SPRINGS

Date: August 26-28, 1988

Location: Massanetta Springs, Harrisonburg, Virginia Theme: “Building the Ark"

Facilities: Lodge and hostel, camping facilities available,

additional lodging in nearby Harrisonburg, meals provided.

Classrooms: Children, youth, and adult classes.

Recreation: Swim, row-boats, tennis, hikes & table games

Rates: Lodging $12-$31.90 (2 nites);

Meals $22.50 (5 meals) under 4 free.

Registration fee: 12-adult $10; 4-11 yrs $5; 0-4 yrs free.

Pre-registration: July 26, 1988

Registrar: Sallie and Allen Ebert,

22601 (703)662-2096

. Winchester, VA

WASHINGTON EAST/IDAHO NORTH SHELTERING BRANCH

Dates: Suly 3-9, 1988

Location: Camp Wooten State Park, in the Blue Mountains, 30 miles from Dayton, WA

Facilities: Dorm-style cabins Bring sleeping bags, bedding. Parents must accompany children 8 and under. Some family cabins available. Meals family style. SUPPORT SERVICES PERFORMED BY THOSE ATTENDING Classrooms: Children, youth, and adult; classes held both indoors and out. Main lodge with fireplace, outside amphitheatres; some classes in cabins.

Recreation: Hiking, indoor heated pool, roller skating, tennis, volleyball, archery, fly fishing, canoeing

Rates: 21 yrs-adult $81; 15-20 yrs $55; 9-14 yrs $41; -8 $31; infants $21; family rate $280.

Pre-registration: Registrations accepted on a first come basis. Last year registration closed early. June 15, 1988 Deadline (Sheltering Branch is family school and provides a unique atmosphere of loving community life through a balanced program of devotion, study, recreation, music, and service. PLEASE WE CANNOT ACCEPT DROP-INS. Registrar: Gary McConnell, . Kennewick, WA 99336 (509)582-4273

WASHINGTON WEST

Dates: May 27-30, 1988

Location: Bay Horizon Park, Birch Bay, WA

Theme: “Consultation: A Tool to Build Unity Through Work and Play"

Facilities: Youth hostel, dorm, meals provided Classrooms: Children, youth, and adult classes Recreation: Gym facilities - outdoor activities

Rates: 13 adult $45; 4-12 yrs $30; family fee max $120 Registrar: Harry Taylor,

Arlington, WA 98223 (206)435-8245 ”

WASHINGTON WEST - SEABECK

Dates: August 14-19, 1988

Location: Seabeck Conference Center on Hood Canal in Seabeck, WA

Theme: “Consultation for Equality: Eliminating Prejudice of all Kinds”

Facilities: Motel-style rooms to live-in houses. The campus is an old lumber town that was deserted when the mill burned; family style meals in a large dining hall. Classrooms: Nursery, children, youth, and adult Recreation; Volleyball, tennis, horseshoes, boating, swiming, hiking.

Rates: (options high/low) - 18-adult $120/$140; 12-18 yrs $110/$130; 8-12 yrs $77-90; 3-7 yrs $61-72; 0-3 yrs free Pre-registration: August 1, 1988 Registrar: Harry A. Taylor, Arlington, WA 98223 (206)435-82

WISCONSIN

Dates: July 18-22, 1988

Location: Byron Center, HWY 41 near Fond du Lac, West 2 miles on HWY F.

Theme: “Embracing the Word" (This year we will study directly from the Writings. Every evening there are group activities with ever popular "Family Feud" & talent nite.) Facilities: Dorms and camping with electricity &baths Classrooms: Nursery, children, youth, and adult classes Recreation: Swimming pool, hiking, golf, field for games Rates: Complete wk 13-adult $130; 4-12 yrs $60; 0-4 $6. Pre-registration: June 30, 1988 (We reached capacity very quickly last year.) Registrar: Roy .DuVall, WI 53149 (414)363-8231

Mukwonago, �[Page 21]The American Baha’i / May 1988 / 21

= PUBLIC

INFORMATION

News from the Public Information Network:

© Storrs, Connecticut—Connecticut Daily Campus, the University of Connecticut’s newspaper, published a letter to the editor from the Bahá’í Club. The letter discussed ways in which universities can help to cure racial prejudice.

© Montgomery, Alabama—The Journal/Advertiser published an article about Fafar and Jack Guillebeaux which highlights the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran, the history and teachings of the Faith, and interracial marriage.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina—The Sun News published a two-page feature story about the Faith, the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, and the operation of WLGI Radio Bahá’í. The difficulties and rewards of operating a Bahá’í radio station in South Carolina were discussed at length.

Peoria, Illinois—The Voice has been publishing a column called “A Baha’i Perspective” written by William Irving. Recently, Mr. Irving has been writing his column to answer the question, “‘If the Bahd’{ Faith is supposed to bring about the oneness of mankind, then how will it help the black man (woman) to achieve some sort of equality with the rest of the world?”

Marion, Virginia—The Smyth County News recently published an article about the Payman family which describes the basic teachings of the Faith and how they affect the Paymans’ family life and attitudes toward learning.

Bahda’is join forces with black community to clean up cemetery

As an Ayydm-i-Hé service project, the Bahá’í communities of Fayetteville and Washington County, Arkansas, decided to forge bonds of friendship with the black community by offering to clear brush and overgrowth at “The Oaks’’ Cemetery, the resting-place for Fayetteville’s black community since at least 1867.

The offer was warmly received and announced at St. James Methodist Church whose con ‘ion was challenged to help the Bahá’ís carry out the task.

On Saturday, February 28, about 30 Baha’ is of all ages, tools in hand, were joined by more than 50 members of the black community.

In an atmosphere of great cooperation and excitement, a difficult area was cleared, accomplishing even more than was hoped.

Church members provided food and drink for all the participants. Many new friends were made and old friendships strengthened.

“The more one can give, the better it is...” National Bahá’í Fund Wilmette, IL 60091

Baha’i women take lead

WOMEN

=

Baha’i women played important roles in a conference to observe National Women’s History Week held during the first week in March at the University of New Hampshire in Durham.

Each day of the conference had a special theme: Relationships, the Physical Self, the Peace Movement, Spirituality, and the Arts and Sciences.

The event was sponsored by the University Commission on the Status of Women which hired Melinda Armstrong, a Bahá’í from Lee, New Hampshire, to make all the necessary arrangements.

She decided on the daily themes, contacted the speakers, arranged the artistic presentations and handled all the program scheduling.

Ms. Armstrong was helped by Valerie Cunningham, a Bahda’{ from Portsmouth, whose duties included providing transportation to and from the airport for the keynote speaker, Angela Davis.

During one of those trips, Ms. Cunningham was able to give Ms. Davis a copy of the peace statement.

Speaking at the session on the Peace Movement was Dr. Hoda Mahmoudi, a Baha’i who teaches at California Lutheran University. Dr. Mahmoudi is a member of the National Teaching Committee

Britannica Yearbook cites Faith’s growth

The 1988 Britannica Book of the Year includes the following statement under the heading “World Religious Statistics’:

“«...over 14 major religious systems are each now found in over 80 countries. Christianity, Islam, and the Bahá’í World Faith are the most global ...’”

The article includes a chart which shows that the Bahá’í Faith has a significant following in more sovereign and non-sovereign countries than any category other than Christianity and No Religion.

In that same volume, the House of Worship in India is mentioned under “‘Achievements in architecture’’ and again under ‘‘Achievements in engineering.”

These mentions of the Faith are important because of the stature of the publication and its specific references to recognized achievements and to the global nature of the Faith.

Second picnic slated

A second Baha’i International Picnic will be held June 26 at Queenstown Heights Park in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Last year’s picnic drew around 700 people. The Spiritual Assembly of Niagara Falls, which sponsors the event, hopes to double that number this year.

Cable TV network to use Baha’i spots

Global View Network, a new cable television network dedicated to international issues and public interest programming, has asked to use Bahá’í TV public service announcements. Three national cable TV channels and one program distributor have requested use of these public service announcements this year.

and a co-founder of Women for International Peace and Arbitration.

Dr. Mahmoudi spoke about how women’s decision-making in peace projects can help to resolve conflicts.

On the same program, Auxiliary Board member Mara Khavari of Portsmouth also spoke and presented slides of the 1985 United Nations Conference on

at history conference

Women in Nairobi, Kenya, which she attended as part of the Baha’i delegation.

The following day, as part of a session on Women and Spirituality, Afaf Stevens, a Bahá’í from Eliot, Maine, presented a paper on the role of women in the world’s major religions.

Another Baha’i, Erica Batdorf of Portsmouth, was the co-director of a program of mime and

movement theatre which closed the conference.

Entitled “Bitter Bliss,”’ the program illustrated the ways in which inequality manifests itself in a relationship.

Although Ms. Armstrong received little public recognition for her work, the conference was a success and received favorable coverage in the student newspaper.

About 300 noted each month

Approximately 300 mentions of the Faith are published cach month in local newspapers. This means that on an average day

about 10 newspapers publish specific mentions of the Baha’i Faith. Such references do not include advertising purchased by Bahá’ís.

Many of the references are indepth articles about the teachings,

structure and nature of the Faith or about the activities of Baha’is.

From February 20-March 20, 10 or more references to the Faith were published in local newspapers in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia.

A correlation cannot be drawn between large centers of Baha’i population and the number of news items published.

Occasionally, articles published in local papers are later printed in other cities. Some recent exam Press mentions of Faith show steady increase

ples:

An article mentioning the

Books, other materials in Persian, English are available

The following is a list of books and other materials produced and published by the National Persian/American Affairs Committee:

In Persian The Advent of Divine Justice

}.25)

Handbook for Newly Arrived Persians ($2)

Learning Arabic: A Self-Study Program ($30)

The Promise of World Peace, study edition (60 cents)

The Promise of World Peace,

presentation edition ($3)

Synopsis and Codification of the Kitab-i-Aqdas ($2.50)

Tablets of the Divine Plan, $1.80

The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, $2

The Baha’i Life, $1.50 In English and Persian

Bahar ($4)

Tushih-yi-Rahmani ($7) In English

Iranian Refugees in America: A Cross-Cultural Perspective ($1) Video Tapes in English (VHS,

Evening of fun, games and laughter in Asheville raises $62,000 for the Arc

On Saturday evening, January 30, che Baha’i communities of Asheville, Buncombe County and Black Mountain, North Carolina, got together for an evening of games, laughter and the audacious goal of raising $60,000 for the Arc Fund by 11 o’clock that night.

What is special about these communities? What do they have that no one else in the country does? Absolutely nothing.

With radiant spirits, they planned this ‘Noah’s Ark (Arc)’ costume party bearing in mind the Hidden Word of Baha’u’llah: “‘O Son of Man! Rejoice in the gladness of thine heart, that thou mayest be worthy to meet Me and to mirror forth My beauty.””

Everyone contributed, from the youngest believer, a little dragon who toddled forward to slip four pennies from her claw, to the oldest, a grey-bearded fellow dressed as a biblical figure suspiciously similar to Noah himself.

Nothing was auctioned, and no suggested donation established. The friends were asked to give as much as they could, but, as with the Fund, no one was pressured.

A party atmosphere prevailed, and the walls were lined with booths, all free of charge, with Gypsy fortune-teller, headsets in which to hear the Writings set to upbeat music, and places to

pledge such things as saying a teaching prayer each morning and evening for a week, or promising to bring a seeker to the next ‘Hub’ fireside.

The booths, the thoughtfully organized children’s program, and even the tablecloths, patterned with tiny animal footprints, added to the evening’s double ‘Arc/Ark’ theme.

The amount that each person donated was of no importance; the degree of sacrifice was.

The spirit of unity and fellowship that prevailed enabled the friends not only to meet the $60,000 goal, but to surpass it with a grand total of $62,222.04!

Beta, PAL)

The Feast ($30)

For a Drop of the Lover’s Blood ($45) Cassette Tapes in Persian

Non-Involvement in Politics

)

All of these materials can be ordered from the Baha’i Distribution Service, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091. Phone (tollfree) 1-800-999-9019.

UN

from page 13

the supervision of Nancy Mondschein, who holds a degree in education.

Q: Who are some of our former U.S./UN representatives?

A: eae include Mabel Garis,

Annamaric Sear ecient John Miller, Kathleen Javid, Mary Sawicki, Wilma Brady, Nancy Mondschein, Monirch Kazemzadeh and Shiva Tavana. The present U.S./UN Representative is Shirley Lee. ACTIVITY ALERT! Remember World Environment Day, June 5!

ii |; beautify neglected area of your neighborhood. Be creative. And don’t forget publicity.)

HUQUQU'LLAH

“It is indeed a most excellent favor, a boundless grace vouchsafed unto whosoever is privileged in this day to render service to the Cause of God and to offer the Right of God, for its goodly results and the fruits thereof will last as long as the kingdom of earth and heaven will endure. ”’—Bahd’w'lláh

Payments for Huqiqu’ll4h should be made to “‘Baha’i Huqiqu’ll4h Trust’’ and sent to one of the Trustees:

Dr. Elsie Austin P.O. Box 927 Silver Spring, MD 20910

Tel: 301-589-8481 Dr. Amin Banani ‘Santa Monica, CA 90402 Tel: 213-394-5449

Rocky River, OH 44116 Tel: 216-333-1506

Inquiries regarding Hugqiqu’ll4h should be referred to one of the Trustees or to:

Office of the Secretariat Baha’i Huqiqu’l4h Trust

Rocky River, OH 44116 �[Page 22]22. / The American Baha’i / May 1988)

CLASSIFIEDS

Classified notices in The American Bahá’í are published free of charge as a service to the Bahá’í community. Because of this, notices are limited to items relating to the Faith; no personal or commercial messages can be accepted Sor publication. The opportunities referred to have not been approved by the National Spiritual Assembly; the friends should exercise their own judgment in responding to them.

°

EMPLOYMENT

RESIDENT counselors are sought for the 1988-89 academic year at the Louhelen Residential College. The second year of this historic program begins in the fall of 1988 with up to 26 Baha'i youth from around the world taking part. Counselor’s duties include serving as personal counselor, assisting in planning the students’ devotional, teaching, social and recreational activities, and providing career and academic guidance. Two positions are open for individuals with excellent skills at relating to and communicating with young adults. The counselor must provide a strong Baha’i role model coupled with tolerance and understanding. Must be in good physical condition and have an energetic and enthusiastic manner. Position includes room, board and a weekly stipend. This would be an excellent opportunity for someone interested in pursuing graduate studies at one of several nearby universities, or for someone seeking a counseling internship position. Applicants are urged to submit a resumé to the Louhelen Residential College, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

‘THE GREEN ACRE Baha’j School is seeking applicants for summer positions including program assistant, recreation director, registrar, teachers for youth/children’s classes, cooks, kitchen helpers, librarian, housekeeping, maintenance, gardener and painter. Room and board and a weekly stipend are provided. Applicants should be able to serve from the end of June through September 5; shorter commitments will be considered. Those who are interested should contact the Green Acre Bahá’í School, 188 Main St., Eliot, ME 03903 (phone 207-4397200).

PEDIATRICS partner needed in Pendleton, Oregon, for a busy, wellestablished practice; referrals from other towns in eastern Oregon and excellent back-up from the University of Oregon Medical Center. A long-established Bahd’{ community in Pendleton is here to give support if you choose to pioneer to the Umatilla Indian Reservation or one of several nearby towns. For more information, contact Karen Tarlo (a Bahá’í), coordinator of the Family Birth Center, 503-276-5121, ext 365, or at home, 503-276-8033.

HOSPITAL in a small eastern town is opening a women’s pavilion and birthing center. RNs are needed; experience preferred. To apply, contact Pam Owens, Personnel, Heritage Hospital, Tarboro, NC 27886 (phone 919-641-7140). To contact Baha'is in this goal area, write to Mary Spires,

Rocky Mount, NC 27803, or phone 919-446-5889.

CHILDREN’S program teaching staff sought at Louhelen: child education coordinator, master teachers, teachers’ assistants sought for weekend conferences through the spring and summer. For details and to apply, contact the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI

48423, or phone 313-653-5033.

SERVICE to mankind and service to the Faith: an unbeatable combination for a nurse at St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton, Oregon. There are pioneering opportunities in several nearby towns including the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and you'll have the loving support of an Assembly formed 30 years ago. All nursing specialties are needed. Phone Karen Tarlo (a Baha’f), coordinator of the Family Birth Center, 503-276-5121, ext. 365, or at home, 503-276-8033.

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

THE BLUE RIDGE Mountains and the Cause of Baha’u’ll4h are calling you to respond! The Baha'is of Boone and Wautauga County, North Carolina, need your loving assistance in teaching the Cause in the lovely Blue Ridge Mountains. Boone, the home of Appalachian State University, is a growing resort area whose beauty is ever-changing. Employment is mainly through the university or in the fastfood business. If you are self-employed or retired with an income, or you want to come and look for employment, write to Carl or Lori Cordini, Boone, NC 28607, or phone 704-262-5857.

HOMEFRONT pioneers needed. Come to Garner, North Carolina, and help elect its first Spiritual Assembly ever! The Garner Group of eight needs only one more deepened, active Bahá’í to reach Assembly status. Garner, a small town, is south of Raleigh, the state capital. The completion of I-40 makes downtown Raleigh an easy commute. Durham, Chapel Hill and the famous Triangle Research Park are only 30-45 minutes away. N.C. State, Duke and UNC are all quite near, and Wake County schools are excellent. Garner offers small-town coziness and big-city convenience. For more information, phone Warren Rochelle, 919-772-1340, Corinne Mills, 919-779-1541, or Gregory Meyjes, 919-772-8631, or write to the Baha’i Group of Garner, c/o Warren Rochelle,

Garner, NC 27529.

WE WOULD be grateful to have a single Bahá’í live with our community’s two believers, deciding with us how best to serve the Faith in Franklin, New Hampshire. We are offering low rent to a second floor bedroom with kitchen privileges, etc., to our first floor. We live only half a mile’s walk from downtown, which has likely employers in banks, businesses, schools and shops; frequently advertising for help are the hospital and nursing homes (also close). Residents of Franklin have a small lake to themselves, with lakes region tourism nearby in the summer. Two downhill ski areas are five miles away, with more winter sports nearby. The seacoast is two hours away, the Green Acre Baha’i School less than two hours by car, and the nearest Assembly half an hour away. Also, four colleges are less than an hour’s drive from he We are eager to discuss possibilities with someone who is interested in becoming a part of our friendly, familyoriented community. Write to Carolyn and Ron Stoddard, P.O. Box 573, Franklin, NH 03235, or phone 603934-3303.

HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed to settle in Portage, Michigan, a lovely community on the west side of the state about halfway between Detroit and Chicago (and about three hours from each). The Bahá’í community of nine adults, five children and two youth needs others to help maintain the Assembly which may be lost when ‘one family relocates in the spring. The metropolitan Portage-Kalamazoo area of about 100,000 residents has several institutions of higher education: Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, Nazareth College, and Kalamazoo Valley Community Col

lege. It is the headquarters of the UpJohn Pharmaceutical Company and many small businesses. For information, please contact the Assembly at P.O. Box 604, Portage, MI 49081, or phone Irene Atkinson, 616-327-8682.

THE FIRST Indian Reservation in Oregon to have a local Spiritual Assembly is in jeopardy. The stark beauty of the Blue Mountains provide contemplative opportunities, and major employers are in health care and the state prison system. The Spiritual Assembly of Pendleton is ready to offer help in relocating. For information about the Reservation and housing opportunities, phone Maggie Bill, 503276-4429 or Jeaneane Morris, 503276-0689. To discuss employment opportunities, phone Karen Tarlo, 503276-8033.

KINGMAN, Arizona, would like to have the first local Spiritual Assembly in Mohave County. How can you help? Street teaching? Proclamations? Can you move here? Will help refugees locate work, housing, shopping, etc. If you can help Kingman grow, contact Gloria B. Troy, P.O. Box 6695, Kingman, AZ 86402, or phone 602-753-9422.

WANTED: black Bahá’ís to settle in Richmond, the capital of Virginia. We need more diversity in our Bahd’{ community and want to reach minority groups. Please help us with ‘‘the most challenging issue.’’ Our Assembly is not in jeopardy, but it is 100 percent white. Richmond is a lovely city with good climate, universities, and the many cultural advantages that a city of its size offers. Also, the unemployment rate is low. For details, please phone Bea Wiggins (evenings), 804-272-9494,

HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed in northwest Oregon. Portland’s goal area of St. Helens and five rural areas, which are a 40-minute drive from Portland, Oregon, or Longview, Washington. Only a handful of Bahá’ís presently there. Industry: Boise Cascade Pulp and Paper, Boise Cascade Veneer Plant, lumber, Trojan Nuclear Power Plant at Rainier, Oregon. Job market is poor; pioneers should be self-supporting or be willing to commute to Portland or places in Washington. Retired couples or those with independent sources of income are needed. Contact Peggy Estey,

Deer Island, OR 97054, or phone 503-3976950 or 503-397-6012.

ARE YOU an elderly Bahá’í(s) who could help save our jeopardized Assembly? Come live in a private care home in Newton, Kansas (30 minutes north of Wichita) with a young (34-35) Baha’ couple who have an eight-yearold son. Newton also has a nice senior center. Contact Monica Knopf,

Newton, KS 67114, or phone 316-284-2135.

HELP US win important goals for the Six Year Plan on the U.S./Mexico border. The District Teaching Committee of Southern New Mexico/West Texas needs homefront pioneers in areas where Assemblies are being elected but are not functioning. If interested in receiving a descriptive list of the 12 Assembly areas that need pioneers, please write to Liz Arrambide, - _ Anthony, NM 88021. Teachers, nurses, Spanish-speaking people, returning pioneers from Spanish-speaking areas, and college students are especially needed, but we need and welcome everyone who wants to come.

HOMEFRONT pioneers: come to Cary, North Carolina, whose fivemember community needs deepened, active Bahá’ís to make it a fully functioning community. Cary, a small city west of Raleigh, the state capital, is minutes away from the Research Triangle and Durham (home of Duke University), Chapel Hill and UNC, and N.C. State University in Raleigh.

For more information, write to the Spiritual Assembly of Cary, P.O. Box 4053, Cary, NC 27519, or phone Art or Diane McKinley, 919-469-2783.

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

EAST AFRICA: the Cornell Nutritional Surveillance Program (CNSP), in conjunction with UNICEF, seeks a research associate to undertake applied nutrition-related research and provide technical assistance to 10-16 national governments and offices of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in data collection, processing, analysis, reporting and use. Under supervision of the Senior Research Associate/ Deputy Director for Africa, has primary responsibility for the organization and daily implementation/management activities. Requires a Ph.D in nutrition, public health, or a closely related discipline with nutrition research emphasis; strong quantitative skills and proven ability to interact with government officials; field experience in African countries is essential. Initial contract is two years. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

GUINEA BISSAU: Jobs are available in repair/maintenance of air conditioners, pumps, cars, etc., and in building maintenance with international embassies. Also possible to start one’s own private business. Requirements include fluency in French and possibly Portuguese, but can be learned while there. Potential pioneer should plan an exploratory trip. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

BELIZE: Project Concern is seeking a management director, an experienced development professional to head country-wide activities in a primary-preventive public health care development program. Requires prior Third World type management and grassroots experience, preferably in Latin America. English language. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039.

LATIN America: CARE is seeking a regional technical adviser for small enterprise development. Involves training, preparing technical manuals, planning, design and evaluation. Requires a master’s degree in an appropriate field or experience in small business development including at least two years Third World experience in small business development, fluency in Spanish, valid driver’s license. Three-year contract. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

HONDURAS: director for the Foundation for Agricultural Research in San Pedro Sula, to direct international fund-raising activities. International experience preferred; some Spanish necessary. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

COSTA RICA: the Board of Directors of the College of the Humid Tropic Region is seeking a director for a new college northeast of San Jose, Costa Rica. Desirable qualifications include a doctorate in agriculture or a related field; practical work experience in agriculture or agri-business; ability to communicate fluently in Spanish and English; work ence in a developing country; a minimum of five years’ experience in educational administration; and demonstrated ability to manage complex systems. Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahd’{ National Cen

ter, Wilmette, IL. 60091, or phone 312- ©

869-9039.

SIERRA LEONE: CARE is seeking a health educator to develop training curricula materials for a staff working. in health and hygiene education. Responsible for over-all project administration and implementation. Requires a background in communications training, management experience in the development field. Health experience is preferred but not required. Two-year contract, effective immediately. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahai National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

NICARAGUA: the American Friends Service Committee seeks an epidemiologist to conduct training and collaborative research on_pesticiderelated health problems with an occupational safety and health project team in the Leon/Chinandega region. Requires epidemiological training, research experience, fluency in Spanish; training as a physician desirable. Salary, travel expenses, medical and vacation costs plus essential home costs. One-year assigment. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039.

MULTI-REGIONAL: international management consultants for shortand long-term assignments or permanent positions in developing and newly industrialized countries. Applicants should have a degree in finance, business, economics, industrial engineering, information technology, or a closely related field, five years as a consultant, and significant business, industrial management or operations experience. Ability to understand foreign languages is an asset. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039.

SCHOOLS

LOOKING for high school students or current college students to apply to attend Presbyterian College, a small liberal arts college in Clinton, South Carolina, with an excellent national reputation which received high marks ina U.S. News and World Report critique of colleges and universities. Splendid financial aid and scholarship ‘opportunities, and close relationships with faculty members. There is presently only one Bahd’{ attending, and more are needed to start a campus club and take advantage of a great teaching opportunity. Those who are interested may contact Seth Tucker, Box 683, Presbyterian College, Clinton, SC 29325, or contact the school directly by writing to Presbyterian College, Office of Admissions, Clinton, SC 29325.

CAMP Kamil in Wisconsin is seekg applications for the following positions: camp counselors, cook, camp nurse, and water safety instructor. This is a wonderful opportunity for Baha'is to share their skills with young. people and to become involved in an exciting outdoor program. The resi dential camp, sponsored by the Spi itual Assembly of Beloit, Wisconsin, will be held July 16-23 at a lakeside wilderness camp in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan surrounded by the Ottawa National Forest. Room and board are provided for staff. For more information, contact the camp director, James Lewicki,

Viroqua, WI 54665, or phone 608-6372743.

WANTED

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is seeking, at the request of the Universal House of Justice, original letters written on behalf of the Guardian to the following individuals: Grace Abbott, Edytha Ackerman, Charles Adams, Claribelle Adams, Howard Adams, Ruth Adams, nie Aftermaur, Rhea Akemann, George Aker and Vera Aker. Anyone knowing fam

�[Page 23]

CLASSIFIEDS

ily members or relatives who may have the letters is asked to contact the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

DISTRIBUTORS: individuals, groups or Assemblies are sought to serve as distributors of the “Mankind Is One’ sweatshirts and T-shirts. Distributors will receive compensation. Write to Reflections, Louhelen Baha'i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

RIGHT now, undiscovered, there are many historical letters, documents, programs, course outlines, photographs, tape recordings, furniture, relics and the like relating to the Green Acre Bahá’í School. These documents are in the hands of Baha’is as well as non-Bahá’í relatives who are unaware of their significance. As Green Acre works on its restoration, it feels the need to embark on a “‘treasure hunt”’ to collect historical records of the school as well as personal accounts of experiences from those who have attended sessions at Green Acre. Our goals are to help in making an accurate restoration, to produce a commemorative book, a thorough history of the school, and well-organized archives for future Bahd’{s before these records slip through our fingers forever. Please share with us the invaluable information, pictures, etc. you may have stored in your attic or elsewhere, or let us know if you would like to volunteer to help us collect information by dropping us a line: Green Acre Baha’i School, 188 Main St., Eliot, ME 03903, or phone 207-4397200. We will be happy to copy and return any original documents, photographs, cassettes and the like on request.

‘THE NATIONAL Baha’i Archives is seeking district convention voting lists for the years 1953-67 for the states of Washington, New Mexico, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky and Maine. Anyone having lists they could donate is asked to send them to the National Bahá’í Archives, Baha'i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

LOUHELEN Residential College is accepting applications for fall 1988. A maximum of 13 additional students (for a total of 26) are sought for enrollment in the program. Students live at Louhelen, have classes in Bahá’í studies, and take part in Bahá’í conferences, fellowship, social, recreational and devotional activities while enrolled in degree-earning programs at the University of Michigan-Flint or Mott Community College. For information and application materials, write to the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313-653-5033.

SINGERS: The Baha’i House of Worship Choir is looking for experienced singers to fill out its size and sound. This is an invitation to singers within driving distance of Wilmette to sing at the Mother Temple of the West on a consistent basis. Also, if you or your community know of any singers from minority backgrounds, we'd especially welcome their participation. We rehearse on Thursday evenings and sing for devotional services at least two Sundays per month. For a choir schedule or more details, contact the House of Worship Activities Office, 312-256-440, or Merrill Miller at the Bahá’í National Center, 312-8699039, ext. 295.

URGENT! The Bahá’í National Youth Committee of the Leeward Islands needs tents for historic, all-Caribbean July ’88 youth travel-teaching

project, and for the annual National Youth Camp-out. If you have a tent or tents you could donate, please contact Deborah Eckert, National Youth Committee of the Leeward Islands, Box 481, St. John’s, Antigua, West Indies.

WANTED: source for the chart entitled “‘The Cause of the Rise and Fall of Civilizations” by Ruth Moffett. Wish to purchase at least one—more if available. Write to Pat McGee, P.O. Box 19123, Amarillo, TX 79114.

1 HAVE a Ph.D in clinical psying for Baha’is in AAMFT psychology who have an interest in collaborating on articles or research, Would prefer persons with experience in research and writing, Please write to Christopher Jay Johnson,

Monroe, LA 71203, or phone 318-342-2039 (office) or 318-345-0482 (home).

SUMMER house-sitter(s) wanted on Navajo Reservation. Live in pioneers’ two-bedroom home while they are travel-teaching; stay for two weeks or more between June 12-August 13 and help with area teaching, consolidation or children’s classes with Native Americans. Contact Bill Bright,

Chinle, AZ 86503, or phone 602-674-5685,

THE NATIONAL Bahd’{ Archives is seeking the personal papers of New York City Bahá’ís including those of William Hoard, Frank Osborne, Arthur P. Dodge family, Howard MacNutt, James Brittingham, Herman Pauli and Roy C. Wilhelm, The archives is especially interested in original letters, diaries, personal recollections, manuscripts and photographs. Anyone having information about these or other papers of New York City Baha’fs is asked to contact the National Baha'i Archives, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

THE CENTER for Interracial Ui ty is seeking materials on models of interracial unity and to identify Baha’is who have worked and/or trained in that area. Please contact the CIU at the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

SEEKING your personal recollections, experiences and correspondence with Hands of the Cause of God for a work to be published. Your experiences, shared with the Bahá’ community, will prove invaluable to the present and future generations of believers, Write to Barry Harper,

Santa Fe, NM 87501, ‘or phone 502-982-8337 or 502-9898370.

THE FUTURE is in the hands of Baha’is. People who have envisioned the future and can communicate that vision can help with a science fiction work in progress. What will life be like in 50 years? Please write to Kent Johnson, Torrington, CT 06790.

I HAVE written a paper entitled “Psychological Factors for Spiritual Development and Sound Mental Health: The Perspective of the Bahá’í Faith”’ for submission to the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion ‘and am looking for qualified psychologists, psychiatrists or similar mental health professionals to review the paper and offer suggestions. Please write to Christopher Jay Johnson,

Monroe, LA 71203, or phone 318-342-2039 (office) or 318345-0482 (home).

FOR SALE

AUDIO cassette with John Robarts (“The Call to Pioneering”) and William Hatcher (‘Development of the local Assembly’) is available at a special price from Images International. Mr. Robarts discusses the preeminent station of those who arise to

pioneer for the Faith and tells the moving story of Clara Dunne, who, with her husband, Hyde, responded to the Tablets of the Divine Plan by pioneering to Australia and became the spiritual mother of a continent. Dr. Hatcher discusses the characteristics of the local Assembl; vice-oriented, spirit-le tion—and contrasts it with the deficient, power-based decision-making bodies outside the Faith. In English with summary in French. Order by mailing a check for $6.25 (regularly $7.99) including 10 percent for shipping and handling (minimum $1) to Images International, P.O. Box 1051, Dept. AB, Belchertown, MA 01007.

NO MORE sleeping beauties! Our young readers need decisive, couragcous, adventurous, intelligent, creative females to read about. This book ist for readers ages 2-20 years guides them to those books. It includes 100 stories, many from diverse cultures, many of non-traditional roles, several Bahá’í books, a brief synopsis of each book, and further sources. A good resource for children’s classes as well as for families, and as a teaching tool. And don’t forget, your sons need this too! Send $3 to cover the cost of printing and postage to Dr. Betty Martin, P.O. Box 431, Davenport, WA 99122.

BAHA'I books at half-price: Kalimat Press will sell titles that have been soiled, warped or otherwise damaged from shipping or storage for halfprice. Damaged copies of most Kalimat Press titles are now available. For more information, write to Kalimét Press, 1600 Sawtelle Blvd., Suite 34, Dept. A, Los Angeles, CA 90025, or phone 213-479-5668.

DO YOU want to make Feasts as meaningful for the children in your community as they are for the adults? “The Nineteen Day Feast Lesson Guide for Children,” a compilation of easy-to-teach lessons based on the Baha’i calendar for ages four and up is back in print. Designed to be used only during the business part of Feasts, the guide makes it possible for every adult to share the responsibility of teaching the children on a rotating basis. It’s that simple! The guide is a non-profit publication by Baha'is associated with the Local Education Adviser program. Copies of the current printing are $12 each (Texas residents please add 72 cents sales tax). Please make checks payable to BCC Publications, 12510 Rocky Knoll, Houston, TX 77077.

AUDIO cassette by Dwight Allen,

The American Bahá’í / May 1988 / 23

“Mining the Riches of Inner Diversity,” is available at a special price from Images International. Dr. Allen offers hints on understanding how we are all different inwardly and how to appreciate our diversity so as to teach the Faith using different approaches on a global scale. To order, send a check for $6.25 (regularly $7.99) plus 10 percent for shipping and handling (minimum $1) to Images International, P.O. Box 1051, Dept. AB, Belchertown, MA 01007.

AUDIO tape by Dr. Wilma Brady (“‘Facing the Tests Ahead””) and Greg Dahl (“Pioneering”) is available at a special price from Images International. Dr. Brady discusses the vital need for a deeper commitment to children and how the family is the foundation of a peaceful, orderly society; Dr. Dahl covers the four troubles besetting Baha'is of the West, dedicating our resoutces to the Cause of God, teaching, and leaving the cities. To order, mail your check for $6.25 (regularly $7.99) plus 10 percent for shipping and handling (minimum $1) to Images International, P.O. Box 1051, Dept. AB, Belchertown, MA 01007.

THREE NEW water color prints of Bahá’í Holy Places at the World Center is now available. The Shrine of the Bab, the Mansion of Bahjí and the stairs of Masra’ih were painted by Bonnie Wilder, a professional artist, while she was on pilgrimage in 1985. Each print is individually hand-processed in rich color and mounted with off-white mat behind heavy acetate and ready for framing. All are 12 by 15 inches including mat. An excellent gift for festive occasions. Since you can’t see them in advance, satisfaction is guaranteed or money back immi ately. Each print is $18 (which includes postage and any tax). Please specify title. Order from BCC Publications, 12510 Rocky Knoll, Houston, TX 77077.

A HIGH-QUALITY one-hour audio tape of the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears’ address last September to the friends in Vancouver, British Columbia, commemorating the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to Canada, is now available. It’s dynamic! It’s personal! It’s humorous! Send $6 per tape to: Greater Seattle Baha’i Metro-Media, P.O. Box 396, Seattle, WA 98111.

EXPOSE the name of the Faith to thousands of people through inexpensive public service rates through your local advertising company. Billboard signs can be purchased from the Lou

isville (Kentucky) Metropolitan Teaching Committee. Size available is 12 by 25 feet at $35 each. For more information, write to Navid Kanani,

Louisville, KY 40228, or phone (after 6 p.m. eastern time) 502-239-4628.

THE BAHA'I Faith: An Introduction is a highly professional video that is ideal for use at firesides. The viewer visits Bahá’í communities across the country and sees their commitment to unity in diversity. The 45-minute video is narrated by actor Alex Rocco. To order, send a check or money order (VISA/MasterCard also accepted) for $29.95 (plus 10 per cent for shipping) to Kalimat Press, 1600 Sawtelle Blvd., Suite 34, Dept. A, Los Angeles, CA 90025, or phone 213-479-5668.

QUALITY cassette tapes are available from the Greater Seattle MetroMedia Committee: MM/1—Address by the Hand of the Cause William Sears in Vancouver to mark the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s historic visit to Canada ($6). MM/2—ErnesBerkey, ‘“‘The Most Vital and Challenging Issue: A Mandate and a Commitment,”’ from Seattle's “November 1987 Indian Teaching Seminar ($6). MM/3-4—Management consultant Larry Miller of Atlanta, ‘‘Barbarians to Bureaucrats,”’ from the November *87 Northwest Assembly Training Seminar in Seattle (two tapes, $12). Also, the Western Washington Baha’ Resource Directory, $4. (Contains business, service and skill listings of regional Baha'is, Assembly directory, committees, treasurer’s reps, libraries, Centers, bulletins, Baha’i clubs, etc. Please send orders to the Greater Seattle Metro-Media, P.O, Box 396, Seattle, WA 98111.

PERIODICALS

CATALOG of summer conferences at the Louhelen Baha’i School is available from the Registrar, Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

AVAILABLE: indexes to Child’s Way and Brilliant Star magazines, $2 per year (please specify year). Debbie Bley, editor, 2512 Allegheny Drive, ‘Chattanooga, TN 37421.

A CATALOG of proclamation materials bearing the slogan “Wage Peace—Bahá’í Faith” is available from Kalimét Press. For a free copy, write to Kalimét Press, 1600 Sawtelle Blvd., Suite 34, Dept. A, Los Angeles, CA 90025, or phone 213-479-5668.

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Pa Recientemente hubo una Fiesta Bahá’í Latina en Evanston, Illinois, para celebrar Ayydm-i-Hd. Mas de 95 personas asistieron; la mayorta de las personas eran no aiid bahd’ts. En la foto se encuentran Leda Rasquin, esposa del Consul General de Venezuela, y Carlos Jiménez, quienes interpretaron varias canciones en la actividad.

Varias metas del Plan de Seis Anos que nos quedan por completar

A la comunidad bahd’t americana para la Fiesta de Baha Estimados amigos bahd’ts:

Ridvan indica el fin del segundo afio del Plan de Seis Afios. Es tiempo de llamarnos la atenci6n, para revisar las metas que fijamos al comienzo del Plan y planear nuestros siguientes pasos.

El Plan de Seis Afios, formulado por la Casa Universal de Justicia con la participaci6n de las instituciones locales y nacionales, indicaron el comienzo de una nueva etapa en el desenvolvimiento del Orden Administrativo—una etapa en la que hemos sido instrufdos por Shoghi Effendi para anticipar cambios revolucionarios en las condiciones del mundo y en el tremendo crecimiento en el tamajio, influencia, y en las responsabilidades de la comunidad baha’i. Este crecimiento, la Casa de Justicia ha notado que, ‘‘inevitablemente provocaré oposicién para probar y aumentar nuestra fuerza.””

Las metas del Plan de Seis Aiios hablan directamente sobre los cambios y los retos que se esperan. Ellos llaman para:

una expansi6n vasta de los recursos numéricos y financieros de la

Causa;

una demostracién mas firme y mundial del modo de vida baha’i,

que requiere consideracién especial de la educacién Bahá’í de los nifios y jOvenes, el fortalecimiento de la vida familiar baha’i, y especial atencién a la participaci6n universal y al enrequecimiento espiritual de la vida individual;

la aceleracién adicional de la maduracién de las comunidades

baha’is locales y nacionales y una consolidacién dinamica de la unidad de las dos ramas del Orden Administrativo;

la extension de la participacion de la comunidad Bahá’í internacional en las necesidades del mundo que le rodea; y

En el segundo aiio del Plan, la Casa Universal de Justicia lanz6 otra iniciativa mayor: el completamiento del Arco en el Monte Carmelo. El rapido completamiento del Arco esta directamente relacionado con el logro de las metas del Plan de Seis Afios, ya que el propésito de estos dos esfuerzos es el mismo—construyendo la mancomunidad Bahá’í, el Orden Mundial de Baha’u’llah.

Las metas que hemos fijado para nuestras comunidades locales y para la comunidad nacional reflejan estos propésitos en su totalidad. Ahora nosotros debemos evaluar nuestro progreso y preguntarnos si estamos triunfando en nuestros esfuerzos para establecer la fundacién para cambios mundiales. ,Nos conduciraén nuestros esfuerzos en la ensefianza hacia el crecimiento? Qué acciones estamos tomando para fomentar el modo de vida baha’i en nuestras vidas personales, en nuestras familias, y en nuestras comunidades baha’is? ;Qué estamos haciendo para fomentar y unificar nuestras asambleas espirituales locales? ;COmo cumpliremos las necesidades del Fondo para asegurar el continuo progreso de la Fe?

Como el Ridvan se acerca, le pedimos a usted que consulte en su Fiesta, en reuniones de su asamblea espiritual, y, donde sea posible, reuniones en su pueblo sobre su progreso local y sobre nuestro progreso nacional en el Plan de Seis Afios. También le pedimos a ustedes que analizen los pasos adicionales que se deben tomar para asegurar éxito en todos los aspectos y para compartir con nosotros los resultados de sus reuniones.

Finalmente, en cualquier ambiente que sus discusiones ocurran, dejen que sus corazones sean guiados por la ‘esperanza ferviente de la Casa Universal de Justicia que cada fiel creyente de Baha’u’ll4h examine su corazén y se vuelva con toda su atencién y con amorosa abnegacién a la consideracién de las metas del Plan de Seis Afios, y determine como tener un papel en logratlas.’’

Con saludos carifiosos,

Asamblea Espiritual Nacional de

los Bahá’ís de los Estados Unidos Robert C. Henderson, Secretario

Dorothy W. Nelson, Tesorera

21 de marzo de 1988

Diferente estilo para ensefar la Fe

ESPANOL

Pat y LeVont Steele de Augusta, Georgia, han iniciado un método innovador para la ensefianza en sus reuniones hogarefias.

Ellos aman sus reuniones hogarefias ‘‘Clases Bahá’ís,” las cuales se ofrecen en cursos de 4.6 semanas, con el entendimineto de que quién empieza a atender los cursos continuaré hasta el fin del

Los planes estan listos: ensefia la Fe

internacionalemente El Comité Nacional de Enel Comité Nacional de Jévenes, y la Oficina de Pionerismo estan colaborando en hacer planes para viajes de ensefianza internacionales y dentro de los Es tados Unidos para este verano.

Se estan planeando rutas que se originariran en la Conferencia de Jévenes en Bloomington, Indiana, y que viajaran por varios estados en el centro y el oeste de la nacién hasta llegar a la Conferencia Internacional de Jévenes en Juarez, México.

Luego de la Conferencia en México, los participantes podran atender varios de los proyectos de ensefianza en México.

También se estén desarrollando planes para viajes de ensefianza internacionales, especificamente en el Caribe y Cento América.

Los siguientes paises han pedido maestros viajeros para el verano: Las Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Republica Dominica, Granada, Guadalupe, Jamaica, Martinica, México, Peri, Puerto Rico, Santa Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad, Tobago, y las Islas Virgenes.

También habra un grupo de jévenes que estar viajando de una isla a la otra ensefiando la Fe en el Caribe.

Si alguien esta interesado o necesita mds informacion, por favor escriba a: Office of Pioneering, Baha’ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, o llame al 312869-9039.

El Salvador auspicia Conferencia de TV

4A usted le interesa promover los principios de la Fe a través de la television? jUsted tiene experiencia trabajando para la television?

~Desea usted conocer otros baha’is envueltos en la promocién de la Fe a través de la television?

Asista a la Conferencia Internacional Baha’i de la Televisién en San Salvador, El Salvador, del 2 al 5 de junio de 1988.

El propésito de la conferencia es el de proveer ideas para la promoci6n de la Fe Baha’s a través de la television.

Algunas de las areas que se discutiran en la conferencia son: materiales y recursos humanos, entrenamiento internacional para proyectos similares en otros paises, aplicacién a diferentes audiencias, formato para los programas, etc.

Para mas informacién, por favor escriba al: Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, o llame al 312-869-9039.

curso. Hasta ahora, las clases de reuniones hogarefias han sido exitosas.

La sefiora Steele tuvo la idea de tener las clases especialmente para las personas interesadas en la Fe cuando un amigo quien ha estado interesado en la Fe le dijo ‘Yo no se cuando estaré listo para hacerme baha’i.’’

La primera serie de las clases de los Steeles se titulé ‘Al hacerse baha’i”? y enfocé en los principios, leyes y procedimientos especificos las cuales una persona pueda que esté interesado en saber y quiera familiarizarse antes de tomar la decisién sobre firmar la tarjeta de declaraci6n.

Durante una clase, la tarjeta de declaracién fue revisada y discutida. Al final del curso de 4 semanas, dos de las personas interesadas quiénes habian estado asistiendo, sintieron que estaban listos para hacerse baha’is y pidieron ser inscritos a la Fe.

La sefiora Steele mencioné recientemente en una entrevista: “*Yo pienso que es importante el mencionar a otros quiénes es muy posible que estén interesados en tener las clases, que hemos encontrado que no es necesario tener oradores que sean bahda’is.

“Nos parece que hacemos me jor simplemente al compartir los aspectos de la Fe y traer los principios a través de las discusiones.’’

Los Steeles han encontrado que no es importante involucrar la comunidad baha’i entera en las actividades de sus reuniones hogareflas.

La ensefianza a través de las reuniones hogarefias es una responsabilidad individual, y a menudo, cuando la comunidad por completo esta envuelta, miembros individuales tienden a olvidarse de sus responsabilidades unicas.

Se ha encontrado que los materiales visuales ayudan mucho especialmente porque proveen una perspectiva mundial de la Fe para aquellos quienes solamente estan familiarizados con los baha’is locales.

Los videos y peliculas también afiaden variedad y proveen una pausa a la atmésfera intensa al estudiar los principios de la Fe.

Ahora que el curso titulado “‘Al hacerse bahd’i”’ ha sido completado, los Steeles han emprendido un nuevo curso de estudio basado en el folleto “The Word of God.””

Este nuevo folleto est4 disponible a través del Bahá’í Publishing Trust.

Ten como otra meta

proyecto de ensefianza personal

El Comité Nacional de Ensefianza ha estado extremadamante complacidos con las sefiales de las acciones y colaboraciones unificadas en los esfuerzos por la ensefianza al mismo tiempo que se nota el balance entre la expansién y la consolidacién en las actividades de ensefianza a través del pais este pasado aijio.

El nivel de madurez en las consultas y la direccién de los esfuerzos colectivos e individuales sobre la ensefianza demuestran un intenso compromiso hacia el logro de una de las metas del Plan de Seis Afios; el de fortalecer las Asambleas Espirituales locales.

El Comité Nacional de Ensefianza sabe también que algunas veces hay un tiempo lapso entre la iniciaci6n de un esfuerzo de ensefianza y el fruto de ese esfuerzo y esta estimulando a todos los individuos en cada comunidad baha’{ a que firmemente continuen y que intensifiquen sus esfuerzos.

Los miembros del Comité Nacional de Ensefianza, en luz de su guia y de peticién a la comunidad americana, ha decidido hacer personalmente tanto como puedan para acelerar la tasa de expansion de la Fe en el pais y cada uno ha disefiado un proyecto de ensefianZa personal.

Ellos han compartido sus planes con miembros de otros comités y han estado de acuerdo en rezar fielmente cada dia para el éxito de los esfuerzos de cada miembro.

Los miembros del Comité Nacional de Ensefianza decidieron tomar esta accién después de saber que los miembros del Co mité Nacional de Jévenes habian adoptado tal proyecto.

El comité sintié que otros comités y grupos de personas quizds quisieran adoptar proyectos de ensefianza similares.

Todo listo para la Conferencia de Jovenes en Indiana

jEl Escenario Estd Montado ... para TI para que atiendas la Conferencia Internacional de Jévenes en Bloomington, Indiana, este verano del 30 de junio al 4 de julio de 1988!

Algunas de las personas y de los eventos que no querrds perderte:

Mano de la Causa el sefior

William Sears

Jévenes de México

Varios jévenes de Latinoamérica y de otros paises internacionales

Sesiones especiales para los

nifios y adultos

Discusiones por las noches

con los Consejeros, los miembros de la Asamblea Nacional, miembros de varios Comités Nacionales

Proyectos de ensefianza y de

Vea JUVENTUD pagina 32

américana. za al 312-869-9039.

Mensaje de 19 Dias disponible en espafiol

Esta disponible para las Asambleas Espirituales locales la traduccién en Espafiol del Mensaje de la Fiesta de 19 Dias. 3

La traduccién esté disponible para ayudar en la integracion de los Baha’is de habla espafiol a la vida de la comunidad Bahá’í

Por favor de comunicarse con el Comité Nacional de Ensefian

�[Page 25]Slo leey USN sae Gaol as INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE

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‘The American Bahá’í / May 1988 / 25

Youth must be ‘living example’

consciousness of Baha’is and non-Baha’is alike.

We Baha’is know that the most effective way to teach the Cause is through the example we set in our daily lives and our interactions with others. This is a never-ending Process, requiring great effort at times when we are faced with insurmountable tests and difficulties.

Now that the Faith has emerged from obscurity and people are becoming increasingly sensitive about the degree to which we practice what we teach, the following statement written on behalf of the beloved Guardian assumes greater relevance than ever before: ““Words without the living example will never be sufficient to breathe hope into the hearts of a disillusioned and often cynical generation."”

This “‘living example”’ must be reflected in the conduct of all Baha’is if we are to make any significant headway in our present and future endeavors to build a spiritual and unified civilization. Youth have a unique and vital role to play in this regard, and this is centered around the elimination of negative and destructive attitudes which have characterized past generations and continue to erode the spirit and sap the vitality of human

progress.

While Baha’i adults may often experience difficulty in letting go of old prejudices and ways of thinking, the Baha’i youth (and children, for that matter), by reason of their young age, need not be concerned with this.

ing friendships. While older Baha’is are capable of doing this as well, it usually (but not always) requires of an adult Baha’i a conscious effort to befriend someone outside one’s cultural mind-set. This would also generally Bolt true for cross-cultural relations in society as a

The depth of cross-cultural friendship that can be achieved by youth, and the potential this can have on reshaping demonstrates that mere belief in

by their Such attitudes determine the degree to which heartfelt cooperation and understanding can be established at Se ee a ere aiaatace nie either promote or hinder the spiritual and material progress of the human family. It is hoped that all Baha’i parents will be diligent about their children

the general sense.—Jason Welch

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PUBLICATIONS

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Or. Elsie Austin P.0. Box 927 Silver Spring, MD. 20910

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The American Baha’i / May 1988 / 29

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sotley Gest Oaye 2 Nye Sy Cow Clb eS OW yr shal eS yo iS OSD ae edyayS) dalyd iadaten! Olge rigllsslgeg 1dle! (gb Dee 5) srleme 92 ste OG yz parle Sel way Ole | S62 Glade 9 SUES ok

aN �[Page 30]30 / The American Baha’i / May 1988

The month of March at the Bahá’{ House of Worship was devoted to the Fast and to preparations for the Naw-Rúz celebration. During the Fast, 15-minute noon-day devotions were held in the upstairs auditorium. A number of visitors attended regularly. It has been decided to continue the devotions throughout the

year.

The Naw-Riz celebration brought the largest number of Baha’is and their guests to an event at the House of Worship since last year’s National Convention. About 400 people filled Foundation Hall to capacity as they watched, listened and participated in musical presentations, a presentation on the significance of Naw-Rúz (did you know that it means not ‘‘New Year,’’ but ““New Day’’?), and a “‘seventh-inning stretch”’ of action songs for children of all ages. Children were presented gifts of “‘One Planet, One People ... Please”’ stickers and 3 booklet of prayers.

We are eagerly awaiting sis Siobaaruce ca Evesnien cable tale? vision on April 19 and 21 21 of the House of Worship Choir. The half-hour program is to include music ranging from Edward Kinney’s “‘Ya Baha’u’l-Abha”’ to the music written by Ravi Shankar for the dedication of the Temple in India. The locally produced Program will also include interviews with the director of the House of Worship and the choir director.

.

Registration for the Special Visit Programs at the House of Worship this month and in July are full, and the family program in July has a waiting list. A third program later in the year is under if an available date can be found. Watch this eee

“This tha tase otsvees stv wre aro bcginnbg to io bade ls of visitors to the House of Worship each day. Friends, we need guides to greet these visitors. We appeal to all Baha’is to consider a special sacrifice to serve at the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár.

Shoghi Effendi said, “‘I appeal to you, therefore, friends and fellow-disciples of Baha’u’ll4h, for a more abundant measure of self-sacrifice, for a higher standard of concerted effort, for a still more compelling evidence of the reality of the faith that glows within you. ...That the American believers, those stout-hearted pioneers of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, will unanimously respond, with that same spontancous generosity, that same measure of self-sacrifice, as have characterized their response to ... appeals in the past, no one who is familiar with the vitality of their faith can possibly question.”’ Referring to the dome of the House of Worship, the Guardian called it ‘a dome that shall stand as a flaming beacon and a symbol of hope amidst the gloom of a despairing world.” (The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 67-68)

Following are excerpts from a letter from one of our regular guides:

“About a year ago I began guiding at the House of Worship. I cannot begin to convey all the beautiful experiences that have taken place in that year! Friends, there are seekers everywhere. People are coming to the House of Worship. That is nothing new. What is new and growing more each week are the numbers of people inquiring into the Faith! We need you! When you have one or two guides on duty and 10, 20, 30 or more individuals, or groups, anxiously seeking answers—how many go away without them?

““So please stop wishing for the ‘entry by troops’ and start helping to make it happen. Begin now: pick a day and make a firm commitment to it! Prepare yourself. Say our beautiful teaching prayers at least once a day! If you keep asking, Bahá’u’lláh will keep ——- you as many seekers as you can handle and then

Believe me, by guiding you will teach, by teaching you will and by deepening you will want to guide and teach more! “‘So don’t let yesterday repeat itself as one lonely guide stood

on duty talking from 20 minutes to an hour with one seeker after

another and watching people who had been waiting to ask questions walk away without the answers. Why? There weren’t

enough guides!””

Baha’i fourth-grader explains Ayyam-i-Ha

Tahereh Ryland, a Baha’i fourth-grader from Boulder,

each day the class could talk about one of them.

With the help of the record “Happy Ayyam-i-Ha’’ by the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears, Tahereh was able easily to put together a speech that explained Intercalary Days. She then passed out cupcakes to her classmates, many of whom said they wished they could celebrate Intercalary Days too.

Can you ideority anyone in this picture?

The National Bahd’{ Archives isat the. far left in the back row. If

would like to identify the Bahá’ís you can supply any of the other in this photograph. Curtis Kelsey names, please write to the Na- 60091.

tional Bahd’{ Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL

Newest World Order faces challenging issues

The newest issue of World Order magazine confronts a number of challenging issues.

It begins with ‘‘The Promise of World Peace,”’ a statement by the Universal House of Justice ‘‘to the peoples of the world,” asking them to make a commitment to a world brought together by peace.

Two articles discuss barriers to achieving this peace: religious intolerance and discrimination, and racial prejudice.

In “‘Preventing and Combating Intolerance of Religion or Belief,” Prof. Roger S. Clark discusses steps for giving immediate

effect to the 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, and examines institutions for protecting individuals from unlawful governmental acts and non-governmental acts.

Dr. Mark Perry looks at the development of race relations within the Baha’i community of Chicago in the ’20s and ’30s in the context of racial views prevalent at the time.

He offers the experiences of individuals and institutions as they attempted to achieve racial amity

and to enter into the interracial marriages that helped make the Baha’is the only successfully integrated community in Chicago at the time.

This most recent issue of World Order is one you’ ll want to share with friends from many backgrounds. A subscription for one year (four issues) is $10; single copies are $3 each.

Send your check or money order to Subscriber Service, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. For more information, phone 312-869-9039.

World Onder 536 SHERIDAN ROAD, WILMETTE, ILLINOIS 60091 U.S.A.

Please enter my subscription to WORLD ORDER. | enclose my check, bank draft, or money order, in U.S. dollars, for the amount indicated.

Name

Address _

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Gift From

______ Baha'i 1.D. Number a

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Baha’ 1.D. Number _

—— | am interested in buying back issues of WORLD ORDER Please send a copy of the style sheet for writers.

RATES (circle one)

United /Canada | Year—$10.00 States/Mexico. 2 years—$18.00 All other 1 year—$15.00 countries darted} Aenea Allother 1 year—$20.00 countries (air mail) 2 years—$38.00

Payment must be enclosed

Participa en Conferencia en México

“Juventud Enlace de Paz’’ es el tema de la Conferencia Internacional de Jévenes en Juarez, México, que se llevard a cabo del 22 al 2A de julio de 1988.

El pasado afio hubo una Conferencia Internacional de Jévenes en Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Esa conferencia tuvo tanto éxito que se decidio tener otra conferencia este afio enfocando en el entrenamiento de jévenes baha’is como maestros de la Fe.

La conferencia en Judrez enfatizara la importancia de este dia, las responsabilidades unicas que tienen los jévenes baha’is en promover las ensefianzas de Baha’u’ll4h y establecer el Reino de Dios en esta tierra.

Habran oradores prominentes, entrenimiento internacional, even tos sociales, y habra disponible traducci6n simultanea al Inglés.

Se esta planeando varios proyectos de ensefianza para después de la conferencia. Haz tus planes para quedarte mas tiempo y participar en los proyectos de ensefianza.

Esta es tu gran oportunidad para participar en una Conferencia Internacional de Jévenes, aprender un nuevo idioma, conocer a nuevas personas y experimentar la belleza de una nueva y diferente cultura.

Si te interesa participar en esta conferencia 0 necesitas mas informacién, por favor comunicate con: Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or llama al 312-869-9039.

Special L.A. meeting honors Baha’i martyrs

On January 29, nearly 800 Baha’is in the Los Angeles area joined members of the National Persian/American Affairs Committee and Area Persian/American Affairs Committee at a special meeting to honor the more than 200 believers in Iran who have in recent years given their lives for the Cause of Baha’u’ll4h.

It marked the first gathering of the friends in that area in the recently completed auditorium of the Baha’ Center in Los Angeles.

The meeting was blessed by the presence of many relatives of the martyrs.

After a brief talk by Riaz Khadem, the names of the martyrs were recited and prayers, poetry and music offered in their honor. �[Page 31]The American Baha’i / May 1988 / 31

Teaching Committee notes reasons for limiting Indigenous Council to Indians and their families

NATIVE AMERICANS

The dates for the Continental Indigenous Council in Mobridge, South Dakota, have been set for

Four Navajo adults, youth embrace Cause in Houck Chapter

Four Navajo adults and one youth recently embraced the Cause of Bahá’u’ll4h in the Houck Chapter Baha’i community on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona.

These new believers, all of whom are members of an extended family headed by the grandmother, Agnes Yazzie, live five miles from the Native American Bahá’í Institute.

They learned of the Faith through their involvement with the ‘Pine Springs Singers,”’ a children’s group organized by Baha’is Ben and Lorraine Kahn to preserve and promote traditional Navajo culture.

Their enrollment reinforces the strength of the Houck Chapter community while it further represents the effectiveness of a social and economic development project, the children’s traditional singing group, as a contributing factor in the expansion of the Faith.

Baha’i Institute forms Addictions Task Force

The Native American Bahá’í Institute Council recently formed an Addictions Task Force, which has already taken dramatic steps in this area of social development.

As a result of contacts with workers in alcoholism treatment across the Navajo Reservation, the Baha’is are preparing to host a Navajo Nation Conference on Recovery over the Memorial Day weekend at the Native American Bahá’í Institute in Houck, Arizona.

At a recent Reservation-wide conference, about 500 Navajo counselors and administrators were invited to attend the upcoming conference, at which some 100-500 participants are expected.

This represents by far the broadest and most dramatic exposure of the Faith and the Institute to the Navajo public.

August 3-5 with participants invited to come on August | for two days of camping.

The National Teaching Committee has received a number of questions about why only Indians and their families are invited to

one of the fundamental teachings of the Faith is the unity of mankind.

Indeed, one of the long-term goals of this event is unity. However, the purpose of the Council is to give Indian Bahá’ís and non-Baha’is an opportunity to consult together.

It might be helpful to think of an orchestra and its preparation for performances. Each section of the orchestra practices by itself.

That is, the string instruments players practice by themselves, the horn players do the same, as do the woodwinds and those who play the percussion instruments.

Each woodwind player, for example, spends time practicing alone before joining the other woodwinds to practice and refine their contribution to the sym ony.

Finally, all join together to learn how to give the best possible performance.

Now, if the individual members of the orchestra were brought together for the performance, having learned only to play their individual part, it would take considerable time, and there would be much confusion. It would take many more rehearsals to make a performance worthy of presentation.

This is similar to the case of the Indian Baha’i community needing to have an opportunity to talk and consult with one another about their own cultural and religious background and its transformation through the acceptance of the Message of Baha’u’llah.

Because Indian spiritual ways are ancient, and the deepest understanding of their ‘‘teachings’? can best be facilitated through consultation and meditation, Indian people help one another to see whether and how the prophecies of old are being fulfilled and how there is really nothing to lose by the fullest acceptance of Bahd’u’ll4h’s Mes ec.

This consultation can best be facilitated in a gathering of Indians. There are several reasons for this, among them the inescapable fact that non-Indians usually come from a more assertive cul

American Indian Teaching Activitity April/May 1988

ture and, without meaning to.do so, dominate the group process and inhibit universal participation by those who are living by different cultural norms.

Another is that it is natural that a people would tend to distrust those who seemed to be asking them to adopt a new set of religious beliefs, obviously from a different culture—especially since that has been the message given to Indians by dozens of religious groups over the past decades and centuries.

To have an all-Indian group discussing the possibility of a new Messenger of God could be a healthy and powerful consultation,

In places such as Alaska, where this has been permitted and supported by the non-Indian Baha’ is, after several years there is no longer a need to have all-native councils because the native believers have voluntarily become active participants in all the affairs of the Cause.

There will be many opportunities in the future for Indian and non-Indian Baha’is to come together and share equally. But at this time, a need often expressed by Indian Baha’is is to come together with one another to talk and to consult about the ways in which Indian people can accept and contribute to the spread of the Cause of God.

The National Teaching Committee urges all Bahá’ís to encourage Indian members of their communities and non-Baha’i Indian acquaintances to attend the €ouncil meeting.

The Indian believers who are planning the Council have noted the prayer for the Central States as having particular significance to this Council: ‘‘O Lord, confirm me with the Holy Spirit so that I may call in Thy name amongst the Nations and give the glad tidings of the Manifestation of Thy Kingdom amongst mankind.”’

We ask for your prayers for the success of the Continental Indigenous Council.

MARRIAGE

Dreare

‘He shall judge among the nations, And shall rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning-hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.’ (Isaiah 2:4) During the past year, Wallace Hetaraka, a master carver Maori from New Zealand, visited several Indian nations in the southwestern U.S. The following news was recently received from him, to be shared with Indian people in this country: On December 19, 1987, the indigenous Bahá’ís of Whangarei, New

Zealand, presented a Taiaha (a traditional weapon of war) that had been converted into a Ké (spade or garden tool) to the National Spiritual Assembly of New Zealand, which in turn will present the gift to the House of Worship in India via the Universal

House of Justice. As they believe

that their tribe is the first in the world to have fulfilled the Biblical prophecy, they, through this gesture, are issuing a challenge to the Bahá’ís of the world to do the same with their weapons of war. (Pictured is a Maori warrior from New Zealand holding a Taiaha.)

Marriage:

e dating

A Fortress for Well-Being

Offers insights about applying the Baha’i teachings on marriage to the realities of everyday life. Examines the institution of marriage in the light of God's purpose for humanity. Challenges today’s couples to contrast their attitudes, expectations, and behaviors absorbed from society with the model outlined in the Baha'i teachings.

Addresses such topics as: @ preparing for marriage

e the equality of women and men

conflict resolution

¢ interracial marriage

e raising children

e assistance from the Spiritual Assembly ¢ divorce and remarriage

Formerly published as A Fortress for Well-Being

With a new cover designed by Mona Carloni, New Foreword by Geoffrey W. Marks and Amy Seidel Marks

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A FORTRESS FOR WELL-BEING

From the Baha’i Publishing Trust HC $15.95 SC $8.95

�[Page 32]32/ The American Bahá’í / May 1988

News in brief

Two Boston area Baha’is interviewed on radio

On February 17, two Baha’is from the Boston area, Robert Stockman and Brian Aull, were interviewed for 55 minutes on WEZE, a conservative Christian radio station.

Dr. Francis Beckwith, a Protestant who is the author of a booklet critical of the Faith, was a telephone guest. After discussing various points with him, the Bahá’í speakers took telephone questions from the radio audience.

°

The first International Baha’is in Recovery Conference will be held July 1-4 at the Chilkat Valley Bahá’í School in Haines, Alaska.

The conference is for Bahá’ís recovering from dysfunctional families and relationships, alcoholism, drug addiction and compulsive thinking or behavior.

Come share your experience, strength and hope.

For more information, contact Sid, 8217 Cedar Drive, Juneau, AK 99801, or phone 907-789-0808.

°

The Baha’is of Citrus Heights, California, recently raised nearly $2,800 for the ‘Arc of Love’ campaign with a sit-down dinner and auction.

The Persian dinner was donated by several families who got together to organize their activities.

A children’s menu was provided, as was entertainment both during dinner and before the auction.

The children also enjoyed a magic show and _ supervised games.

.

Last September, Bahá’ís in Colorado Springs, Colorado, received an invitation from the Divine Redeemer Catholic Church to speak to a class of eighth-grade students

Feast letter now available in Spanish

A Spanish translation of the Nineteen Day Feast letter is available to local Spiritual Assemblies.

The translation is available to help the integration of Spanishspeaking Bahá’ís into the life of the American Bahda’{ community.

Please contact the National Teaching Committee, 312-869-9039.

at the church’s school who were studying various religions.

Ruth and Walter Jensen accepted the invitation, and their talk was well-received by the students who took notes and wrote thankyou letters afterward.

The teacher was even more interested and attentive than the students, and later wrote to the Jensens:

“Thank you so very much for taking your time to come to my class and explain your faith.

“TI believe our world is uniting as we gain more understanding of one another. Your talk was excellent and you certainly had the students’ attention.”

.

In only one month, two Bahá’í youth from Garden Grove, California, and three from Tustin printed flyers and sent them to communities from San Diego to Santa Barbara, provided refreshments and entertainment including prizes, and conducted an auction, all for a fund-raising event for a new school in Jamshidpur, India. 7

About 150 people attended the

event, at which more than $760

SIX YEAR PLAN Update: March 31, 1988

Inter-Assembly Collaboration Project AFRICA

Provide traveling teachers

Provide public relations materials

Provide one resident teacher, preferably with qualifications to act as

building supervisor at the Amalika Institute

Provide traveling teachers
Provide traveling teachers
Provide English-speaking traveling teachers, preferably youth

Contribute toward renovation of the new national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds

Provide traveling teachers including Native Americans

.* Enrich Baha’ literature in Persian with help from the Persian Institute for Bahá’í Studies

Contribute toward the acquisition of a new national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds

Provide traveling teachers
Provide traveling teachers

Provide Spanish-speaking traveling teachers

Provide traveling teachers

Provide traveling teachers including those skilled in media and public

relations

Contribute toward the acquisition of a regional Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds

Border teaching projects

Provide Chinese-speaking traveling teachers

Provide traveling teachers
Provide traveling teachers

rovide traveling teachers

Provide traveling teachers

ASIA

Provide Baha’i teachers prominent in the field of entertainment

Provide two teachers to develop public relations expertise among

local believers

AUSTRALASIA

Provide traveling teachers

Provide traveling teachers

EUROPE

Cooperate in developing the Baha'i home for the aged

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION GOALS

Goals Filled

Receiving NSA

i

(3 youth)

z = |

2 = Bs

Costa Rica Costa Rica Dominica Dominican Republic (2 Spanish-speakii El Salvador Grenada Guadeloupe Haiti Jamaica

wueoBus Ef

Leeward Islands

Leeward Islands Martinique Mexico

Mexico

Peru

Puerto Rico

acklon

(5 Spanish-speaking}

St. Lucia

St. Vincent/Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago Virgin Islands

acon

India Japan Malaysia

oo

Samoa, Western Tuvalu

oo

Germany =

Germany at

was raised through ticket sales and contributions.

The five young Baha’is who planned and carried out this exciting event were Azita and Faranak Rooh-E-Gandom of Garden Grove and Helen Rohani, Mitra Bolbolan and Mehran Bushirie of Tustin.

.

Susan Fothergill, a Bahá’í from Huntington Beach, California, was a recent guest on the cable television series ‘‘Women and Men: Today’s Perspective’ whose producer, Denise Tohidi, is a Baha’i from Garden Grove.

The program is presented on Garden Grove’s access cable TV channel.

Mrs. Fothergill received two awards last year, one from the YWCA as designated by her employer, Beatrice/Hunt-Wesson, in honor of outstanding ability and performance; and the other from. the Volunteer Centers of Orange County for volunteer services rendered to the Youth Motivation Task Force.

Kalamazoo from page 5

“It’s important to give money

to the Arc because it helps our.

Faith to grow and it’s helping to bring about world peace,’’ said two of the children, Kathryn and Karen Lucatelli.

From the Baha’i National Center, the group drove to the nearby House of Worship and shared ina special tour.

Their journey completed, they returned to Kalamazoo wrapped in warm jackets and wreathed in the love they had brought with them and shared so generously.

Arise!

Boy Scouts are given Baha’i ‘unity’ emblem

On February 10, the “Unity of Mankind”’ religious emblem merit badge was officially presented to the Boy Scouts of America in Washington, D.C., by Butch Fuller and Tim Tyson, representing the National Teaching Committee.

The merit badges are available for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts who have completed the program to earn them. (Similar badges for Girl Scouts will soon be available.)

The merit badge program is one of several offered by the Boy Scouts of America that encourages young people to study their religion.

Those who are interested in the Scouting program may contact the Committee on Scouting, National Teaching Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091; phone 312-869-9039, ext. 228.

Juventud de pagina 24

servicios a la comunidad

Obras teatrales basados en la

vida de Táhirih por el grupo de j6venes de la Escuala Bahá’í Louhelen

Afiade diversidad, haz esta conJerencia un evento internacional a través de tu apoyo y participacién como iberoaméricano.

Todavia tienes tiempo para ... registrarte para esta EXCITANTE Conferencia Internacional de J6venes.

Si necesitas mds informacién, por favor escribe al: National Youth Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, 0 Ilame al 312-869-9039.

Si necesitas ayuda financiera, por favor de solicitar un formulario al: National Youth Committee Office.

Do you have a will?

goals?

312-869-9039. Clip & Mail

To: Yvor E. Stoakley

Office of the Treasurer Bahá’í National Center Wilmette, IL 60091

Preparing Your Will.” Name

Address

City, State, Zip Telephone (

Four Simple Questions

Does it include your entire estate?

Does it name every person and favorite charity (including the

Baha’i Faith) which you would like to benefit?

Have you revised your will to meet your changing needs and

Unless you answered ‘‘yes’’ to each of these questions, you should probably review carefully your needs and goals to determine how a will can best help you achieve them. The complimentary booklet offered below can help you. Send for it or phone Yvor E. Stoakley, Fund Development Director, at

Fund Development Director

Please send me a complimentary copy of ‘‘A Checklist for

ID No.

�[Page 33]BAHA’i NATIONAL REVIEW

The Bahd’f National Review, a publication of the National Spiritual Assembly, is published periodically as an insert to The American Bahá’í. It includes letters from the Universal House of Justice and policy statements from the National Spiritual Assembly on matters which are felt to be of special interest to the Bahd’{ community. Individuals and local Spiritual Assemblies are welcome to keep the insert in a separate reference file for future use. This month, ee Review centers around the year of waiting and Bahá’í

ivorce.

“Divorce is strongly condemned.”’ (Synopsis and Codification of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 42)

“God, exalted be His glory, disliketh divorce. ...”” (Baha’u’ll4h, compilation from the Universal House of Justice, “Extracts from the Bahá’í Teachings Discouraging Divorce’’)

“Regarding the Bahá’í teachings on divorce. While the latter has been made permissible by Baha’u’ll4h yet He has strongly discouraged its practice, for if not checked and seriously controlled it leads gradually to the disruption of family life and to the disintegration of society.” (Letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual, dated November 16, 1936. Compilation from the Universal House of Justice, ‘Extracts from the Bahd’{ Teachings Discouraging Divorce’’)

“Divorce should be avoided most strictly by the believers, and only under rare and urgent circumstances be resorted to. Moderi society is criminally lax as to the sacred nature of marriage, and the believers must combat this trend assiduously.”’ (Letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual, dated January 5, 1948. Compilation from the Universal House of Justice, “Extracts from the Bahá’í Teachings Discouraging Divorce’)

Assembly should not intervene until parties make request

“There should be no intervention into the marital affairs of individuals in a Bahd’{ community unless and until the parties themselves bring a problem to the Assembly. Prior to that it is not the business of the Assembly to counsel the parties.’’ (Letter written by the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, March 22, 1968)

Purpose of the year of waiting

“Tt is understood that two Bahá’ís who reach the point of strain where they feel a divorce is necessary need time to cool down and reflect, which is, of course, the purpose of the year of waiting.’’ (Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United Kingdom, August 3, 1981)

Sor the year of waiting

...it is necessary that Baha’is who intend to divorce be aware that they must consult with their local or National Assembly, that basically a year of waiting must ensue before divorce can be effected, and that the Assembly has certain responsibilities toward the couple concerned about which they will be informed through consultation with the Assembly.’’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, April 16,1967)

Date of beginning of the year of waiting

“Mr. _______’s assumption that the date of ... when he appeared before the local Spiritual Assembly of ...... is the effective date of the beginning of the year of patience is incorrect. As we said in our letter of ..... , the beginning of the year of patience should not be set without first investigating the matter and making an effort at reconciliation.” (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual. Assembly of the United States, December 23, 1966)

Consent of both parties not required

“Either party may apply for the year of waiting without the consent of the other.”’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia, November 23, 1970)

Physical separation required before year of waiting can be established

“The Baha’i Law requires that the parties separate for one full year before the divorce may be realized. This contemplates complete physical separation in the sense that they should not reside in the same dwelling.”’ (Letter written by the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia, April 23, 1964)

“The couple must realize that the year of patience cannot begin to run unless and until they are living apart, and it is for them to decide between them which will leave the home.”’ (Letter written by the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, December 2, 1965)

If one partner is not a Bahá’í

“‘With regard to the question of Baha’i divorce, the year of separation is necessary even though the non-Bahá’í partner to the marriage is the one instituting the divorce pro

May 1988

ceedings. ...”’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles, January 28, 1966) Year of waiting required whether one was a Bahd’{ when married or not

“‘As regards Bahá’í divorce as mentioned in your letter of June 12: Baha’is (whether one party or both are believers) should follow the Bahá’í law of divorce, i.e. one year of waiting, and not neglect this divinely given Law. Whether they were Baha’is when married or not has nothing to do with it.” (Letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles, June 12, 1952) Assembly should try to help reconcile couple before setting date

««,,,when a Spiritual Assembly receives an application for Bahá’í divorce it has the duty of trying to reconcile the parties before setting the date for the beginning of the year of waiting. If no reconciliation is possible, and actual repugnance is found to exist between the parties, then the Assembly may record a date which is the beginning of the year of waiting.” (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Alaska, May 24, 1972) Irreconcilable antipathy must exist before the year of waiting can be established

“When someone applies to a Spiritual Assembly for a Baha’i divorce, the Assembly must immediately investigate the situation and attempt to reconcile the couple. Only when it finds that real repugnance exists and after its attempt to reconcile the couple has been unsuccessful should it set the date for the beginning of the year of patience.”” (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, July 12, 1970)

If couple cannot be persuaded to withdraw application, the Assembly must conclude that irreconcilable antipathy exists

“When an application for divorce is made to a Spiritual Assembly, its first thought and action should be to reconcile the couple and to ensure that they know the Bahá’í teachings on the matter. God willing, the Assembly will be successful and no year of waiting need be started. However, if the Assembly finds that it is unable to persuade the party concerned to withdraw the application for divorce, it must conclude that, from its point of view, there appears to be an irreconcilable antipathy, and it has no alternative to setting the date for the beginning of the year of patience.”’ (Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, November 3, 1982) “Grounds’’ for a Bahá’í divorce

“The mere fact that one party to a marriage files application for Bahd’{ divorce does not make the setting of the year of waiting automatic. While consent of both parties is not required, as you correctly state, this does not mean that an attempt should not be made to consult both parties. In setting the beginning of the year of waiting, the Assembly is

and it should endeavor to assemble every fact pertaining thereto. In addition the Assembly has the duty of attempting to reconcile the parties.’’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, August 7, 1970)

“In the strict legal sense there are no ‘grounds’ for a Baha’i divorce. No question of misbehavior of either party is involved and the only condition under which a Baha’i divorce may be considered is the irreconcilable antipathy of the parties.’’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Alaska, May 24, 1972)

What constitutes “‘aversion””

“Concerning the definition of the term ‘aversion’ in relation to Baha’ divorce law, the Universal House of Justice points out that there are no specific ‘grounds’ for Bahá’í divorce such as there are in some codes of civil law. Baha’i law permits divorce but, as both Baha’u’ll4h and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá have made very clear, divorce is abhorred. Thus, from the point of view of the individual believer he should do all he can to refrain from divorce. Bahá’ís should be profoundly aware of the sanctity of marriage and should strive to make their marriages an eternal bond of unity and harmony. This requires effort and sacrifice and wisdom and self-abnegation. A Baha’i should consider the possibility of divorce only if the situation is intolerable and he or she has a strong aversion to being married to the other partner. This is the standard held up to the individual. It is not a law, but an exhortation. It is a goal to which we should strive.

“From the point of view of the Spiritual Assembly, however, the matter is somewhat different. The Spiritual Assembly should always be concerned that the believers in its community are being deepened in their understanding of the Baha’i concept of marriage, especially the young people, so that the very thought of divorce will be abhorrent to them. When an application for divorce is made to a Spiritual Assembly, its first thought and action should be to reconcile the couple and to ensure that they know the Baha’i teachings on the matter. God willing, the Assembly will

The American Baha’i / May 1988 / 33

No. 123

be successful and no year of waiting need be started. However, if the Assembly finds that it is unable to persuade the party concerned to withdraw the application for divorce, it must conclude that, from its point of view, there appears to be an irreconcilable antipathy, and it has no alternative to setting the date for the beginning of the year of waiting. During the year the couple have the responsibility of attempting to reconcile their differences, and the Assembly has the duty to help them. But if the year of waiting comes to an end without reconciliation, the Bahá’í divorce must be granted as at the date of the granting of the civil divorce if this has not already taken place.

“Tt can be seen, therefore, that ‘aversion’ is not a specific legal term that needs to be defined. Indeed a number of other terms are used in describing the situation that can lead to divorce in Bahá’í law, such as ‘antipathy,’ ‘resentment,’ ‘estrangement,’ ‘impossibility of establishing harmony,” ‘irreconcilability.’ The texts, however, point out that divorce is strongly condemned, should be viewed as ‘a last resort’ when ‘rare and urgent circumstances’ exist, and that the partner who is the ‘cause of divorce’ will ‘unquestionably’ become the ‘victim of formidable calamities.’ ’” (Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, November 3, 1982)

Back-dating the year of waiting

“Regarding the back-dating of the beginning of the year of waiting: though this is a matter within the discretion of the Assembly, normally it should not be earlier than the date of application for Baha’i divorce unless there is a good and sufficient reason.’’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, August 7, 1970)

“The Spiritual Assembly may, if it is satisfied that there is sufficient reason for doing so, establish the date for the beginning of the year of waiting retroactively. Whether established retroactively or not, the date set for the beginning of the year of waiting cannot be prior to the last date when the couple actually separated for the purpose of obtaining a divorce.”’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, September 26, 1972)

Reconciliation voids the year of waiting

“‘Tf, as a result of efforts at reconciliation, a normal marital relationship is resumed between the parties to a divorce, the whole process of divorce is considered to be abandoned. In case the parties later desire to divorce they must apply again for Baha’i divorce and the year of waiting must be commenced anew.”’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly, January 5, 1967)

“Regarding the question of voiding the year of waiting, should a couple share a common residence for one or two nights when the residence belongs to a third party, the House of Justice does not wish to make a ruling on such a general basis. In the casc you mention involving temporary residence in the home of the parents of one of the parties who are in a year of waiting, the House of Justice suggests you try to verify whether or not the purpose of the year of waiting has been preserved and if satisfied this is so, make your decision accordingly.’’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, August 2, 1981)

Dating during the year of waiting

“It is always the hope that, during the year of patience, affection between the couple will recur and that divorce will not be necessary. Therefore, although normal social relationships between each of the partners and members of both sexes are permissible, it is quite contrary to the spirit of the teachings for either party to be courting a new partner during the year of waiting. This should be made clear to the couple if necessary, and they should be exhorted to conduct themselves as Baha’is. However, this is not an area in which the Assembly should resort to sanctions if either or both of the pair disregard this principle. Naturally, if one of the parties conducts himself or herself in a way that is blatantly or flagrantly immoral the matter should be handled as any other similar case would be.’’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, March 6, 1974)

Husband is responsible for wife’s support during the year of waiting

“The House of Justice wrote to another National Assembly on April 5, 1970, as follows:

‘The only provision of Bahá’í law regarding the support of the wife is that which makes the husband responsible for her support during the year of waiting. This does not mean, however, that further support is prohibited; all such matters will require legislation in the future. At the present time it is the responsibility of the Assembly to arrange an amicable and just financial settlement between the couple, and any such arrangement must, obviously, take into consideration the financial situation of both parties and their relative responsibilities.’ �[Page 34]34/ The American Baha'i // May 1988 BAHA’i NATIONAL REVIEW

May 1988 No. 123

“While it is obvious that the Assembly should encourage t2e, freshest woe, bis, Bab sesponelbalites sn pays

the required support money, matters of support may be covered by the civil courts when a civil divorce is applied for, and, in such a case, the wife would, of course, be able to invoke whatever civil remedy is available. In any case, at the present time National Spiritual Assemblies should not normally apply sanctions in cases of failure to comply with support requirements.”’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, February 6, 1978) At the present time, the year of waiting must be observed even when adultery is proven

“The provisions of the Tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá regarding exemption from the year of waiting because of infidelity applies to both husband and wife. In a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer dated April 28, 1974, which is also included in the Bemly relcaend icomamentiom cn the eabicct, of, women. the

is

‘It is apparent from the Guardian’s writings that where Baha’u’ll4h has expressed a law as between a man and a ‘woman it applies, mutatis mutandis, between and aman unless the context should make this impossible.’

“This aspect of the Baha’i law of divorce, however, will need elucidation and supplementary legislation by the House of Justice. Therefore, at the present time, the year of waiting must be observed when adultery on the part of either party is proven.”’ (Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, February 11, 1986) At the present time, the husband is responsible for his wife’s expenses during the year of waiting even if his wife is

there is a Tablet from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá which states that the year of waiting is waived in the case of an unfaithful wife. This aspect of the Baha’i law, however, will need elucidation and supplementary legislation by the Universal House of Justice. Therefore, at the present time, in divorce cases such as the one you cited, the husband must still ob

during |.” (E-mail sent by the Universal House of Justice dated June 17, 1987) It is preferable that a civil divorce action not be instituted or finalized until completion of the year of waiting

“*_.. it is permissible, when necessary, to initiate civil divorce proceedings before the ending of the year of waiting. Obviously it is much more in the spirit of Bahá’í law for a believer to approach the Spiritual Assembly before initiating any civil proceedings, but if he does the reverse this is not a sanctionable offense.”’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, September 20, 1973)

“There is no Baha’i law requiring the removal of voting rights for obtaining a civil divorce before the end of the year of waiting. It is, of course, preferred that civil divorce action not be instituted or completed before the end of the year unless there are special circumstances justifying such action.” (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, August 20, 1974)

A Bahá’í is subject to sanctions if he remarries before completion of the year of waiting

“«... the believer will be subject to sanctions if he should marry a third party within the year of patience, not only because it is a violation of the year of patience itself, but also because even though a civil divorce has been granted, the Baha’ divorce cannot be granted until the end of the year of patience. For this reason no marriage is possible during the running of the year of patience unless the parties to the divorce remarry each other in a civil ceremony.” (Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Denmark, July 18, 1973)

“Even though a Baha’i has obtained a civil divorce, under Bahá’í law he cannot be regarded as divorced unless he has also obtained a Bahd’{ divorce; therefore, he is not free to marry. Should he attempt to marry and in the process violate the Bahá’í law governing marriage, he is, of course, subject to sanction.”’ (Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, February 13, 1975) If a non-Bahá’í partner obtains a civil divorce

“*.. If, as in the case cited, a civil divorce is granted to a non-Bahá’í partner before the end of the year of patience, a Baha’ { divorce cannot be granted until the end of that year. It has been known for a couple to obtain a civil divorce in this way and then become reconciled before the ending of the year, when they then had a civil marriage; from the Baha’i point of view they had never been divorced.’’ (Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the

National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, January 23, 1966) Bahá’í partner is released from the need to wait if the non-Bahá’í partner remarries

“If, however, such non-Bahd’{ partner actually marries another party before the ending of the year, then the Baha’i partner is released from the need to wait.” (Ibid.) Divorce proceeding begun before enrollment

“*You ask about the contact who wishes to declare her faith, having already initiated legal steps to divorce her husband. As this case is already in process before her declaration she does not have to observe Bahá’í divorce law.’” (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly, May 21, 1968) Should not announce new marriage plans while still legally married

“It is not within the spirit of Bahá’í law for one to become involved in the announcement of new marriage plans while he or she is still legally married to another. There is no objection to urging the friends not to go so far as to seek consent of parents before the divorce becomes final in all respects.”” (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to thes ene Spiritual Assembly of Australia, January 17, The year of waiting cannot be extended

“‘The date for the beginning of the year of waiting having been fixed, it is the obligation of the parties to make every effort to reconcile their differences and to try to preserve the marriage. The Spiritual Assembly has the obligation to offer them every assistance in this regard. But if, at the end of the year, harmony is not established, the Bahá’í divorce becomes effective, unless further waiting is necessary before the civil divorce is granted since the Baha’i divorce cannot be granted before the civil divorce is finalized. Other than this, there is no possibility for extending the period of waiting. Moreover, Baha’is should not prolong the process longer than is necessary.’’ (Letter from the Unira House of Justice to an individual believer, July 12, 1

A believer without administrative rights may but is not required to observe the year of waiting

“*... a Baha’i who has lost his administrative rights is not required to observe the year of waiting before divorce, but he may do so if he wishes. The Assembly should offer counseling on the divorce in any case.”’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, March 18, 1975)

Support of children

“It is preferable for the parties to the divorce to work out, in consultation with the Assembly, an amicable agreement as to the support of the children which could be submitted to the civil court and incorporated in the decree of divorce. Whatever the court decides, however, regarding provisions for support of the children, it is binding upon both parties, and, as Bahá’ís, they will obey the decree of the civil court regardless of where they may be domiciled in the future.’’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, April 26, 1967)

No Bahá’í marriage is necessary if a reconciliation takes place before a civil divorce and after the end of the year of waiting

“*As far as Baha’i law is concerned, divorce is automatically granted at the end of the year of waiting if reconciliation has not taken place, but since in the United States Baha’i divorce cannot become effective until the civil divorce is granted, should the couple be reconciled during the period between the end of the year of waiting and the time when the civil divorce would become effective, there would be no need for the parties to remarry according to Bahá’í law.”’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, May 1, 1967)

Relationship of civil divorce to Bahá’í divorce

“Questions are sometimes raised concerning the relationship of a civil divorce to the Bahá’í divorce. Undoubtedly your Assembly is aware of the fact that it cannot grant the Baha’j divorce even after the year of waiting until the civil divorce becomes final, but you may find it useful to have the guidance in the following extracts from a letter of the Universal House of Justice:

‘It should be pointed out that civil suit for divorce and Bahá’í divorce are two entirely different matters. ... recourse to the civil authority is only for the purpose of giving legal sanction to the divorce.

... mo sanctions should be imposed merely because the

believer has commenced a civil action for divorce before the expiration of the year of patience.’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Denmark, July 18, 1973)

“In general ... a Bahd’{ couple in Canada who are obtaining a divorce must, in addition to the Baha’i divorce, obtain a civil divorce, and the civil divorce decree will usually cover all such matters as division of property, provision of support and custody of children. The function of the Spiritual Assembly in such ancillary aspects of the di

vorce is thus advisory rather than judicatory. In order to prevent, if possible, a public dispute between Baha’is in front of the law courts, the Assembly should attempt to bring the couple to an amicable agreement about all such questions, which can then be submitted to the court for its endorsement. If the efforts of the Assembly are of no avail, then the matter must be left to the civil court to decide. (Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, January 13, 1983)

Obligation of the couple to obey the divorce decree

“Once the divorce decree with its related provisions has been handed down by the court, it is the obligation of both parties, as good Baha’is, to obey it and, if either is lax in so doing, the Assembly should advise him or her about his or her duties and press for their fulfillment. The wronged party, however, should at the same time be left free to apply to the civil authorities for the enforcement of the decision. Unfortunately, such enforcement is notoriously difficult, especially when the parties subsequently reside in different countries. It is here that the action of the Spiritual Assembly, reinforcing the decision of the civil courts, can be of help. Except in circumstances of unusual gravity or cases where the responsible party fails to obey a court decision to provide support for the children, an Assembly should not contemplate imposing sanctions for lack of compliance in these matters. Actual enforcement should normally be left to the action of the civil courts.’’ (Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, January 13, 1983)

Ignorance of the law

“In cases in which your Assembly has decided that the believer was ignorant of the law requiring him to have a Baha’i divorce before marrying another, and a civil divorce has already been obtained, your Assembly may in its discretion excuse him and he would be regarded as in the same status as one who obtained a divorce before becoming a Baha’i.”” (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, March 14, 1976) Granting of a Bahá’í divorce

“You should make it clear that a Baha’i divorce cannot be granted prior to the granting of a final divorce decree in the civil action nor before the expiration of the year of patience.’’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, June 5, 1966)

“It is the responsibility of the (local) Assembly to register the end of the year of patience and advise the couple of it. If the Assembly determines that the couple has not been able to be reconciled and that the year of patience has truly been completed, then they may grant the Baha’i divorce.’” (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, January 23, 1966)

Note: The date on which a Bahá’í divorce should be granted is either (1) the date of the completion of the year of waiting (if the civil divorce has been finalized), or (2) the date of the finalization of the civil divorce (if the year of waiting has already been completed). The date the divorce papers are received by the Assembly or the date the divorce is recorded in Assembly minutes is irrelevant.

No Bahá’í should impede the divorce process after the year of waiting is completed

“When a year of waiting ends without re-establishment of the marriage relationship, it is not in the spirit of the Faith for one party to delay or interfere with the civil divorce which thereafter must occur in order to legalize the Baha’i divorce.” (Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, August 1, 1978)

Annulment

“Under Bahá’í law it may be possible under certain circumstances to have a Bahá’í divorce without compelling the parties to observe the year of waiting, or to annul a Baha'i marriage. However, we have not as yet defined the circumstances; therefore, in the case you mention we leave it to the discretion of your Assembly to handle the matter as you deem advisable.’’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, December 23, 1969)

“If it is established that since the marriage ceremony irreconcilable aversion has developed and there has been no consummation of the marriage, the year of waiting, according to the statement on page 41 of the ‘Synopsis and Codification of the Laws and Ordinances of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas,” is not required.”’ (Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, May 22, 1987)

“Should either party, following the recital of the specifically revealed verse and the payment of the dowry, take a dislike to the other, before the marriage is consummated, the period of waiting is not necessary prior to divorce. The taking back of the dowry, however, is not permitted.” (Synopsis and Codification of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 41) �[Page 35]

10 YEARS AGO

Reports of victories in the El Centro teaching campaign continue to pour in from the rural Southern California farming center.

The campaign, which sprang from an appeal for help to the District Teaching Committee from the jeopardized Assembly in El Centro, is begun in March, and by the end of that month results in 25 enrollments in at least half a dozen communities.

Eleven of the enrollments are in El Centro itself, raising the number of adult believers there from seven to 18.

The Victory (Teaching) Team, which is to begin moving north of El Centro in mid-May, numbers some 60 members. ...

Auxiliary Board member Dr. William Tucker and his wife, Bernice (Bunny) Tucker, are honored in February by the Asheville-Buncombe County Community Relations Council for their work in helping to promote better human relations in that western North Carolina city.

The Tuckers are cited for their 20-year effort to bring greater harmony to the various races and religions in the community. ...

The first seven of 32 teaching events scheduled in connection with South Carolina’s ‘‘Year of 1,000 Plus 80”’ campaign are held.

The thrust of the campaign is to find 1,000 active believers and to raise up 80 new local Spiritual Assemblies in the state by April 1, 1979.

Since it began, some 14 communities have been reopened to the Faith, confirming the commitment of those who were taught several years ago, more than 200 of whom, although not visited by Baha’is for three to four years, still consider themselves Baha’is. ...

At its monthly meeting March 24-26 in Wilmette, Illinois, the National Spiritual Assembly continues the policy begun in Atlanta, Georgia, in February of making teaching an integral part of each of its meetings.

Despite an ice storm, 58 seekers attend firesides on Saturday at which members of the National Spiritual Assembly are the speakome «<i

The Green Acre Bahá’í School in Eliot, Maine, hums with activity the weekend of March 25-26 as students from throughout the northeastern U.S. gather for a conference whose purpose is to find ways to make college clubs more exciting and effective as teaching and proclamation tools. ...

On December 1, a bust of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is unveiled at the Carnegie International Center across the street from United Nations headquarters in New York City at a ceremony sponsored by the Bahá’í_ International Community and the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly.

The event draws guests from non-governmental organizations and the UN Secretariat, among them Dr. Ervin Laszlo, a member of the Club of Rome and author of its recent report, ‘‘Goals for Mankind,”’ in which the Faith is mentioned briefly. ...

Letters

from page 3

ing through our economy for the last few years has led to an orgy of consumption. For the Bahá’í entrepreneur, the goal would not be to own or consume, but to build.

The pride of ownership that the owner of a BMW or a Mercedes feels is puny compared to the joy a Bahá’í feels at the sight of the raising up of Baha’u’ll4h’s Divine institutions on the Mountain of God.

There are, of course, perils in becoming a Bahá’í entrepreneur.

The first of these is that the pursuit of wealth can become an allconsuming pastime. Money must not push from our hearts and lives the worship, study or service of God.

A second peril lies in the risk of failure that all entrepreneurs face. Bahd’u’ll4h does not promise success. Wisdom and care must be used in starting a business. Still, there is money to be made by people with talent.

The image that comes to my mind when I think of becoming an entrepreneur is that of a child who, wishing to give a nice present to a loved one, works to earn extra money so that the present will be special. Let us give the world a special present.

Brad Wright-Hulett Doraville, Georgia

Consistency with calendar

To the Editor:

Much of the world including the Universal House of Justice uses the logical Gregorian day/month/ year way of writing the date.

While we can’t change the American usage of Gregorian dates, we surely don’t need to continue to have a separate way of usage with our Bahá’í calendar!

Naw-Rúz this year was 1 Baha 145. Ridvan was 13 Jalal (not Jalal

13). Jeff Jeffries Burlington, Vermont

Tips on finding seekers To the Editor:

Our media committee in Houston has successfully used several approaches to obtain inquiries about the Faith.

One of these is to include in printed ads the statement: “‘If you would like a copy of the Baha’i peace statement, write or call

Emily Frye Chavous, long-time chairman of Columbus Assembly

Emily Frye Chavous, a member of the Baha’i community of Columbus, Ohio, for more than 40 years and chairman for many years of its Spiritual Assembly, died last December 24. She was 85 years old.

Mrs. Chavous was noted for her interest in and support of children’s education classes, having served for many years as children’s education coordinator.

She was also active in Baha’i extension teaching efforts which took her many times to Chillicothe, Urbana and Springfield, Ohio.

Her family has donated her Baha’i collections and memoirs to the Baha’i communities of Columbus and Bexley; her books will be used to initiate the Emily Chavous Baha’i Library in Bexley.

We then include the address and phone number of the Bahá’í Center. We have received a number of requests.

Besides a copy of the peace statement, we send the recent fact sheet from the National Center, various introductory pamphlets, and information about upcoming events at the Center. We then add these people to a mailing list that we maintain for notification of future events.

We have also developed a video library to include a number of the newest videos—‘‘Honor of All,’’ “Native Prophecies,” ‘‘Mona,”” “Heart of the Lotus,”’ etc.

We give releases about the availability of the videos to our community radio station which then announces them on the air. We usually do not mention the Faith in these releases; we simply give a number to call.

For a nominal rental charge, for funds to obtain more videos and as an incentive to return them on a timely basis, we loan them to those who request them.

This allows us to make contact with people who may initially be interested only in the video and later begin to ask about the Faith.

We also loan the videos to Baha’fs for firesides.

Jackie Cone Houston, Texas

Grief an element of love

To the Editor:

I am so grateful to Eileen Tyson (Viewpoint, February) for writing about her thoughts and experiences with grief because it is a topic that has absorbed my thoughts often since I became a Bahda’{ about four years ago.

I have pondered the question of grieving from a Bahá’í perspective because it seems to me that somewhere along the line some Baha’is got the impression that it was somehow not allowed for Baha’ is to grieve.

I recall, some years ago at a memorial service, turning to a fellow Baha’j to share my tears and sadness only to be told firmly that Baha’is are not supposed to

grieve. .

This was quite upsetting to me, as I was a relatively new Bahá’í and couldn’t understand why it was all right for me to grieve when I was a Christian but not all right as a Baha'i.

As Ms. Tyson and I both learned through experience and from studying the lives of Baha’u’ll4h and the Bab, it is not only all right but completely natural to express sadness at the loss of loved ones. However, it need not be a cause of sorrow to contemplate our own death.

It is vital for us, as Bahá’ís, not to deny ourselves the natural reaction of sadness and sorrow we feel when we are separated by death from the people we love because we are, more than ever, being examined closely by the rest of the world.

‘We can teach much about the Faith in the way we respond to the losses of those near and dear to us. If people of other Faiths—for example, those of the Jewish religion—who have a definite grieving process observe Baha’ is avoiding or ignoring the natural human response to the loss of a loved one, what impression will they get about the Bahá’í Faith?

It may even appear to those outside the Faith that perhaps we don’t hold our loved ones as dear as other people do—and certainly,

The American Baha’i / May 1988 / 35

nothing could be further from the truth.

We have the bounty and assurance of a glorious life hereafter, and truly there is no greater comfort to us in time of sorrow. Nevertheless, Bahá’ís are people too, and we hurt just as deeply as everyone else when we have to be separated, albeit temporarily, from longtime friends or family.

We cannot help being sad and grieving, because it is part of what makes us human. It is a natural process that unites us with all the members of the human family.

We grieve for another because it is the clear evidence of our deep love for one another—and isn’t that what being a Bahá’í is all about?

Lauren Schyberg Eugene, Oregon

The ‘coming world state’

To the Editor:

I would like to call your attention to a fascinating book, The Outline of History, by H.G. Wells, which was first published in two volumes in 1920 and has gone through many reprints since.

On page 1093 Mr. Wells tells us of the ‘‘coming world state’” whose outline, he says, is as follows:

“It will be based upon a common world religion, very much simplified and universalized and better understood. This will not be Christianity nor Islam nor Buddhism no any such specialized form of religion, but religion itself pure and undefiled; the eightfold

way, the Kingdom of Heaven, brotherhood, creative service and self-forgetfulness. Throughout the world men’s thoughts and motives will be turned by education, example and the circle of ideas about them ... (away) from the obsession of self to the cheerful service of human knowledge, human power and human unity.”” I believe that this book should be read over and over, especially the chapters on ‘‘The Nineteenth Century’’ and “The Next Stage of History.’” Gladys Gates Yucca Valley, California

Don’t drop accent marks

To the Editor:

I am writing in response to a letter from John Ives (March) concerning the use of the Bahá’í calendar.

I agree with Mr. Ives’ suggestion that we should use the Baha’i calendar more frequently ‘in our daily lives.

I disagree, however, with his suggestion that we drop the apostrophes and accent marks from Persian words.

Such accent marks are not only a part of the Persian language, they are a part of Spanish and other

‘Accent marks on Persian words help me (and other Hispanic Baha’fs) to pronounce a Persian word more correctly without having to ask a Persian Bahá’í to pronounce it for us.

Rauil Herndndez

N. St. Louis County, Missouri

Reanie Mae Adams George W. Drake Susie Middlebrook Marshallville, GA Fort Valley, GA Greenwood, SC Date Unknown 1987 Date Unknown Rouhanieh Alizadeh Marguerite Firoozi Abdolhossain Missaghi Mount Airy, NC Geneva, NY Beckley, WV June 15, 1987 November 30, 1987 March 8, 1988 Belle Anderson Stephanie Fowler Melford Nemitz Southampton, MD Yucaipa, CA Cleveland, OH March 6, 1988 March 1987 February 14, 1988 Frank Benjamin Flossie Fox Mary Stem Parker Daytona Beach, FL Darlington, SC Darlington, SC November 29, 1987 Date Unknown Date Unknown

B. Gordon Bennett Julius Frieson Jack Perrin

San Clemente, CA Chicago Hts., IL Atlanta, GA

May 28, 1986 April 1986 December 5, 1987 Henry N. Bohn Sybil P. Garrison John Powell Lynnwood, WA Capistrano Beach, CA Belton, TX

July 1987 March 11, 1988 Date Unknown Alma Burnap Mozzelle Giblis Ethel Price Miamisburg, OH Easley, SC Bishopville, SC February 19, 1988 Date Unknown 1986

Annie Moses Cain _ Levander Goodson Gustella Renshaw Bishopville, SC Darlington, SC Chicago Hts., IL September 1987 Date Unknown Date Unknown Annie Ruth Calhoun Pearl Heimforth Elizabeth Snyder Fort Valley, GA Manhattan Beach, CA Chicago, IL

Date Unknown March 1, 1988 February 25, 1988 Mattie Coates Nebraska Huggins Haywood Thompson Detroit, MI Lydia, SC Winter Haven, FL Date Unknown March 4, 1988 1987

John C. Collins George Jankins William A. Troy Yucaipa, CA W. Brookfield, MA —- Kingman, AZ July 1986 Date Unknown September 7, 1987 John Davis William F. Keye Eunice Van Sluizer Cleveland, OH Coeur d’Alene, ID San Francisco, CA February 2, 1988 Date Unknown October 5, 1986 Ester Davison Arvil King Marian White Ochopee, FL Wichita Falls, TX Bakersfield, CA February 26, 1988 Date Unknown January 13, 1981 Tuba Delnavazi Charlotte Livingston _ Bessie Williams Las Vegas, NV E. Pepperell, MA Easley, SC February 29, 1988 November 8, 1987 Date Unknown Don Diessner

Yakima, WA

February 26, 1988 �[Page 36]36 / The American Baha’i / May 1988

Solk/Hampton Roads (Virginia) area sponsored a musical celebration of World Religion Day at Old Dominion University with four choirs (including a nine-member Bahá’í choir) taking part. Pictured here is the choir from Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Ports Ads

from page 23

HAS a member of your Bahá’í community moved to Alaska, Hawaii or Canada? Give them news from home with a paid subscription to The American Bahá’í, Only $15 a year for firstclass delivery to any address with a ZIP code; air mail subscriptions for $20 for those who have moved farther away. Bahá’ís only, please. For more information, write to Subscriber Service, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

FILL IN the gaps! Back issues of Brilliant Star magazine are available. For information, contact Subscriber Service, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmete, IL 60091.

“REFLECTIONS” catalog listing “Mankind Is One” sweatshirts and T-shirts, tapes, books and other Bahá’í-related materials is available at no cost from the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 313-653-5033).

PERFECT for your firesides, teaching projects, summer schools and new believers: the special April °87 issue of Bahá’í News featuring the color photograph of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on the cover and filled with articles and stories about His visit to North America 76 years ago. Hundreds have already been sold, but there are some left at only $1 each. Send your check to Subscriber Service, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

IS THERE something special missing from your house? Are you looking for a new bedtime story, a song to sing, or a poem to enjoy with your children? Have you remembered to renew your subscription to Brilliant Star magazine? Bring Brilliant Star back into your children’s lives. A one-year

mouth, Later, about 35 Bahá’ís and 60 non-Bahá’ís attended a dinner in Portsmouth at which many of the singers had an opportunity to ask questions about the Faith. The evening ended with impromptu singing of Christian and Bahá’í songs.

ion is only $12 for six big,

ues. To subscribe, write to Subscriber Service, Bahdé’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

MISCELLANEOUS

ATTENTION, Bahá’í physicians: anyone who plans to attend the 8th World Congress of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War to be held in June in Montreal, Canada, please contact me so that we might organize a teaching event on world peace. Dr. Ilham Deloomy, Walnut Court, Highland Park, NJ 08904 (phone 201-545-5973).

THANK YOU, thank you to all the wonderful children who returned the letter to Brilliant Star magazine with their renewals! And thank your parents for allowing you to interview them!

THE BAHA’IS of Bellingham and Whatcom County, Washington, are getting ready to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Faith in that area and need your help. If you have ever lived in the area or pioneered there or know of pioneers and/or traveling teachers to or from the area, please write to the Spiritual Assembly of Bellingham, P.O. Box 103, Bellingham, WA 98825, or phone Lina Zeine, 206-734-6505. We are grateful to the friends who have responded but need many more!

Indians guests at party

In February, 75 American Indians were guests at a spirited Ayy4m-i-Ha party in Jay, Oklahoma, sponsored by the area District Teaching Committee and nine Bahá’í communities.

Responding to the warmth shown by their Baha’i hosts, guests commented that ‘‘not even at events held on the Reservation do so many people come together to celebrate ...””

To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving your copy of The American Bahá’í, send your new address and your mailing label to MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYS‘TEMS, Baha’ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, as soon as you know where you are going to move and what your new ad MOVING? TELL US YOUR NEW ADDRESS

This form may be used for one person or your entire family. Please be sure to list FULL NAMES AND I.D. NUMBERS for all individuals, ages 15 years or older, who will be affected by this change.

dress will be. A 1. ID# Title Full name—Please DO NOT use nicknames 2. ID# Title Full name 3. IDF Title Full name 4. ID# Title Full name B—NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS: C—NEW MAIL ADDRESS: House/Space #, Street or Description P.O. Box or other Mailing Address City State Zip City State Zip D—NEW COMMUNITY: Name of new Baha'i community Moving date

LZ Z

‘Area Code Number Area Code

Z Area Code

F—WORK TELEPHONE NUMBERS:

Please indicate in the right-hand space whose work numbers these are.

Number Name

G We receive extra copies because: ‘we do not have the same last name. We do not want extra copies, so please cancel the copy for the per‘son(s) whose name(s) and ber(s) are listed above.

the last names and addresses on our address labels do not match exactly. ‘We have listed above the full names of all family members as they should appear on the national records, their 1D. numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive only one copy.

BAHA’i NATIONAL CENTER Wilmette, Minois 60091

NON-PROFIT ORG. US. POSTAGE

{ PERMIT NO. 479 |

eet ed

Our household receives only one copy of The American Bahá’í. I wish to receive my own copy as well, and have listed my name, I ber and address above so that I may be put on the mailing list to receive my own copy.

——

‘Link for Peace’ theme of Youth Conference in Juarez, Mexico

ALASKA

Opportunity for full-time service at the Baha’ National Office

Need a dedicated Bahá’í in good health to assume responsibility for the following duties:

Handle all outgoing mai

Copy and collate materi

‘eep an ongoing inventory and order supplies as needed

Clean offices and maintain grounds

‘* Meet planes (sometimes at odd hours) and run other errands as

required

Carry out other tasks as requested

‘The Bahd’{ who fills this position needs a valid driver’s license and a willingness to work, He/she should be a self-starter and well-organized. A mechanical aptitude and knowledge of typing would be helpful but are not essential. In addition to the joy of serving Bahd’u'llh on a full-time basis, this position provides a one-room efficiency apartment, health insurance, and a small stipend for food and miscellaneous expenses. Interested individuals are asked to contact the National Spiritual Assembly Secretary, Janet Smith, at Anchorage, AK 99516, or to telephone 907-345-3740.

including bulk mailings

“Youth Link for Peace’’ is the theme of a Baha’i International Youth Conference to be held July 22-24 in Juarez, Mexico.

Last year’s international youth conference in Guadalajara, Jaisco, Mexico was so successful that the country’s National Youth Committee decided to have another conference this year, focusing on training Bahá’í youth as teachers of the Faith.

The conference will emphasize the importance of this Day, and the unique responsibilities the youth have to promote the teachings of Baha’u’llah and to establish God’s Kingdom on earth.

There will be prominent speakers, international entertainment, social events, and simultaneous English translations.

Please plan to stay after the conference and join the many teaching projects that will take

Now! Teaching pamphets in Spanish for only one cent each! Send your order to: National Teaching Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Phone: (312) 869-9039.

place in northern Mexico.

This is your opportunity to participate in an International Youth Conference, learn a new language, meet new people, and experience the beauty of a new and different culture.

If you are interested in taking part in this conference, or if you need any information about it, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039.

Auxiliary Board member Soo Fouts spoke on ‘Mankind’s Remaining Hope’ during a 20th anniversary observance of World Religion Day held January 17 at the Bahá’í Center in Atlanta, Georgia. More than 50 Bahá’ís

and their guests attended the event, which included music by Reginald and Natoli Colbert and poetry by Priscilla Jeanne. Here Mrs. Fouts (right) greets one of the Bahá’ís, Roya Rezzani. �

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