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‘New prospects for teaching the Cause ... have unfolded’

Ridvan message from the Universal House of Justice

To the Bahá’ís of the world Dearly-loved Friends,

At this resplendent, festive season, we greet you all in a spirit of renewed hope.

A silver lining to the dark picture which has overshadowed most of this century now brightens the horizon. It is discernible in the new tendencies impelling the social processes at work throughout the world, in the evidences of an accelerated trend toward peace. In the Faith of God, it is the growing strength of the Order of Baha’u’llah as its banner rises to more stately heights. It is a strength that attracts.

The media are giving increasing attention to the Baha’i world community; authors are acknowledging its existence in a growing number of articles, books and reference works, one of the most highly respected of which recently listed the Faith as the most widely spread religion after Christianity. A remarkable display of interest in this community by governments, civil authorities, prominent personalities and humanitarian organizations is increasingly apparent. Not only are the community’s laws and prin

NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE ALI NAKHJAVANI, GLENFORD MITCHELL, HUSHMAND FATHEAZAM, IAN SEMPLE, PETER KHAN, DAVID RUHE, HUGH CHANCE, HOOPER DUNBAR, ADIB TAHERZADEH. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE APRIL 30, 1988

ciples; organization and way of life being investigated, but its advice and active help are also being sought for the alleviation of social problems and the carrying out of humanitarian activities.

A thrilling consequence of these favorably conjoined developments is the emergence of a new paradigm of opportunity for further growth and consolidation of our world-wide community. New prospects for teaching the Cause at all levels of society have unfolded. These are confirmed in the early results flowing from the new teaching initiatives being fostered in a number of places as more and

more national communities witness the beginnings of that entry by troops promised by the beloved Master and which Shoghi Effendi said would lead on to mass conversion. The immediate possibilities presented by this providential situation compel us to expect that an expansion of the Community of the Most Great Name, such as has not yet been experienced, is, indeed, at hand.

The spark which ignited the mounting interest in the Cause of Bahd’u’ ll4h was the heroic fortitude and patience of the beloved friends in Iran, which moved the Baha’i world community to conduct a persistent, carefully orchestrated program of appeal to the conscience of the world. This vast undertaking, involving the entire community acting unitedly through its Administrative Order, was accompanied by equally vigorous and visible activities of that community in other spheres which have been detailed separately. Nonetheless, we are impelled to mention that an important outcome of this extensive exertion is our recognition of a new stage in the external affairs of the Cause, characterized by a marked maturation of National Spiritual

See RIDVAN page 13

Baha'i

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

The American

"lláh

Volume 19, No. 6 June 1988

Chicago Bahda’is note progress in carrying out mandate to make community model of racial unity

In August 1987 the National Spiritual Assembly asked the Spiritual Assembly of Chicago to make Chicago a model of racial unity and black teaching that could be offered to the American Bahá’í community. Here

is the report of the first year of that effort. °

The Baha’i community of Chicago has been working since Ri van 1987 to reorganize itself in approach to the work of the Cause in order to revitalize the community and rise to the challenges facing us at this critical time in human history.

At the outset, the Spiritual Assembly identified a number of problems that were draining the spirit of the community. The most significant of these was an administrative structure that could not be supported by the handful of believers who were actively working for the Cause.

The staffing and maintenance of some 20 committees had become an almost impossible task; this orientation had numerous

undesirable side effects.

Some of the friends became burned out and withdrew from activity. A great deal of the Assembly’s time was spent filling the steady stream of vacancies on committees caused by resignations or inactivity.

Feasts had lengthy administrative portions and were lacking in spirit and fellowship. The over-all result was a reasonably diverse community without the deep spiritual bonds of affection and unity.

To address these problems, the Assembly took several steps.

First, all committees were dissolved and the friends, now freed from these administrative respon See CHICAGO page 34

Alice Bathke conducts a workshop on ‘The Role of Culture in the Bahá’í Faith, from a MultiRacial, Multi-Cultural Background’ during the conference on the equality of men and women

held April 29-30 in Phoenix, Ari zona, and sponsored by the Bah

National Committee on Women. See article on page 2. (Photo by Shirley Gitchell Johnson)

Pictured (left to right) are the members of the National Spiritual Assembly for 1988-89 who were elected at the 79th Bahá’í National Convention held May 19-22 at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wil Mlinois:

William Davis William Maxwell, Henderson (secretary), Chester Kahn, Jack McCants, Alberta Deas, James Nelson (vice mette, (treasurer), Robert

chairman), Firuz Kazemzadeh (secretary/External Affairs), and Dorothy Nelson (chairman). Next month in The American Bahá’í: complete Convention coverage.

Dynamic nationwide teaching plan is unveiled at National Convention

The National Spiritual Assembly announced at the 79th Baha’i National Convention in May a dynamic plan for accelerating the teaching work and for activities to raise funds for completing the buildings on the Arc on Mount Carmel.

The teaching plan was conceived by the National Assembly at the sixth International Convention in April after prolonged and repeated prayer in the Holy Shrines.

It includes a nationwide series of meetings to which the National Spiritual Assembly has invited two former members of the Universal House of Justice, David Hofman and H. Borrah Kavelin, as well as the architects for the Arc, Husayn Amanat and Fariburz Sahba.

Noticias y reportes en Espanol en la pagina 24

In addition to its own active involvement, the National Spiritual Assembly anticipates the participation of the Board of Counselors and their Auxiliary Boards for the purpose of gathering together large numbers of Baha’is to initiate large-scale teaching of all strata of society and to inspire an unprecedented outpouring of funds.

Presentations will explore the challenge of completing the Arc and the effects that will have on the world at large and the Baha’i community.

Focus will be placed on the Ridvan 1988 message from the Uni versal House of Justice and will include workshops on approaches to teaching, including those for youth, and displays of available materials. Parallel conferences will be held for children.

The conferences will be followed by the initiation of largescale teaching campaigns in at least four areas of the country.

The National Assembly has already received requests from local Spiritual Assemblies asking that their areas be designated for that purpose. Other communities who wish to be considered have only to write and ask.

The plan is scheduled to be implemented between September 1988 and February 1989.

See TEACHING page 26 �[Page 2]2/ The American Baha’i / June 1988

Committee on Women holds second conference on equality

More than 100 people attended the second in a series of regional conferences on the equality of men and women sponsored by the Bahá’í National Committee on Women and held April 29-30 at the Baha’i Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

The first of these conferences, held in February at Spelman College in Atlanta, focused on black women. The conference in Phoenix brought together American In

rticular needs, concerns and spiritual capacities.

A special feature of the gathering was the all-American Indian, Hispanic and Persian workshop facilitator staff and the primarily male-organized and staff child care center and support services.

A number of American Indian tribes were represented including Apache, Hopi, Navajo, Sioux and Tahuarmasa, with amiable preconference contacts with leaders of the San Carlos Apache, Chemehuevi, Gila River and Quechua tribes.

The keynote speaker, Jacqueline Delahunt, secretary of the National Teaching Committee, called the conference “‘historic”” because of its focus.

Ruby Gubatayao Lawson, a member of the National Committee on Women, urged American Indians to arise and fulfill their spiritual destiny as outlined by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Tablets of the Divine Plan.

Other speakers included committee member Fafar Guillebeaux; Roberta Maull, a member of the National Youth Committee; Manuela Villanueva of the National Hispanic Teaching Committee; Dr. Farshad Agahi, Alice Bathke, Elizabeth Dahe, Sandi Frazier LeBeau, Dr. Eileen Lourie and Joe Monteau.

The conference was chaired by Women’s Committee officers Juana Conrad and Marcia Gitchell.

A profoundly moving ancient tribal ceremony by an Aztec In dian group and a rousing dance by Mexico’s Ballet de Folklorico were performed under a starlit western sky and a brilliant rising full moon.

Two young Baha’; sisters, both Hispanic but one black and one white, performed a poignant interpretive dance to ‘‘The Greatest Love of All.””

Conference participants expressed a sense of a reawakening of ancient filial bonds between American Indians and Hispanics who have both inhabited the American Southwest for 500 years.

It was remarkable to one and all how the Revelation of Bahd’w'll4h, specifically through the principle of the equality of the sexes, served to bind together the hearts.

Jacqueline Delahunt, secretary of the National Teaching Committee, delivers the keynote address at the second regional conference on the equality of men and women sponsored by the Bahá’í National Committee on Women and held April 29-30 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Shirley Gitchell Johnson)

Workshop leaders Ruby (Gubatayao) Lawson (left), a member of the National Committee on Women, and Sandi LeBeau share a hug during the second regional

conference on the equality of men and women held April 29-30 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Shirley Gitchell Johnson)

Motivation: getting to the ‘heart’ of the matter

a VIEWPOINT

We all find ourselves asking “Why don’t more Baha’is contribute to the Fund?” “Why isn’t there more teaching going on?’’ “‘Why don’t more of the friends come to the Feast?’’

My experience as an Assembly member, member of a District Teaching Committee, and traveling teacher has helped me to understand that all of the concerns we share in the Baha’i community have a common thread that runs through them—motivation.

But exactly what is motivation and where does it come from?

Working in the quality assurance department of a large corporation, I am constantly aware of conditions that can affect the quality of my company’s products, one of which is job satisfaction, or motivation.

One of the most interesting theories of motivation that I have come across is that developed by

Some of the 19 children who attended the session February 21 at the Nine Oaks Bahá’í School in Arroyo Grande, California, work ed on a color drawing of the Arc on Mount Carmel which they presented to the adult group at the end of the day.

The American Bahá’í(

the U.S.A.

(USPS 042-430) is published monthly by the National Spiritual ‘Assembly of the Bahá’ís 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 written in a clear and concise manner; color or black-and-white glossy photographs should be included whenever possible. Please address all materials to The Editor, The American Bahá’í, Wilmette, IL 60091. Copyright © 1988 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. World rights reserved.

|. Printed in

Frederick Herzberg, professor of psychology at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio.

According to Mr. Herzberg, a motivated person is one who finds satisfaction in what he/she is doing, and is thus prompted by his own internal ‘‘generator’’ to keep on doing it.

The factors of motivation are those that deal with the causes of satisfaction—things that make people feel good.

In any situation—be it in the workplace or the Baha’i community—analyzing the causes of dissatisfaction and trying to eliminate them will not necessarily bring about satisfaction. The causes of satisfaction are not always the exact opposites of the causes of dissatisfaction.

The causes of dissatisfaction that may exist in a Bahd’{ community are related to such things as Assembly decisions, diversity, personal problems, economic status, Feast activities, disharmony, committee functions.

On the other hand, the kinds of things that bring satisfaction to Baha’is include achievement, acceptance, responsibility, affection, opportunities to serve, teaching, and spiritual growth.

The causes of dissatisfaction usually relate to the environmental or material aspects of one’s Ba+ha’{ life, and are a product of the critical-analytical process of thinking that we in the western world are accustomed to using.

The causes of satisfaction have to do with the content, or spirit, of Bahd’{ life; they are matters of the heart.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá tells us: “... all the sorrow and grief that exist come from the world of matter— the spiritual world bestows only Joy!” (The Reality of Man, p. 15)

Local Spiritual Assemblies often become absorbed with the causes of dissatisfaction in the Baha’i community.

The remedy for backbiting is to have a deepening on the topic so as to encourage the friends not to do it. If the Assembly detects a lack of support for its decisions, it holds a meeting with the community or schedules a deepening on Baha’i administration to help the friends understand the functions bres authority of the local Assem ly.

‘When the Assembly employs such strategies, it often conveys

This month’s column, “Motivation Within the Bahd’ Community,”’ was written by Theodore S. Heizer of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

certain unspoken messages to the community, such as: we want you to participate more, we want you to understand more, we want you to be more obedient.

If an Assembly turns its attention instead to things that bring satisfaction to community members, an altogether different set of messages comes through: you matter, you have a purpose here, your presence in this community is important to us.

Local Assemblies are not to be criticized for dealing with the causes of dissatisfaction; sometimes this is necessary. That Assemblies do this so often is to be attributed to the role of the institution, as distinguished from the role of the individual.

Shoghi Effendi makes the difference between the two quite clear: ‘‘... the Assembly is a nascent House of Justice and is supposed to administer, according to the Teachings, the affairs of the community. But individuals toward each other are governed by love, unity, forgiveness and a sincovering eye.”’ (The Bahd’( Life, p. 18)

Love, unity, forgiveness and a sin-covering eye—these attributes, which grow out of our love for Baha’u’ll4h and our efforts to assist His Cause, are the strongest factors of motivation in the Bahá’í community. And as the Guardian has pointed out, these are the attributes that govern the relationships among individuals.

These relationships bring about the spiritual awareness that will awaken mankind to Baha’u’ll4h’s healing Message.

‘Shoghi Effendi said: “The need is very great, everywhere in the world, in and outside the Faith, for a true spiritual awareness to pervade and motivate people’s lives. No amount of administrative procedure or adherence to rules can take the place of this soul-characteristic, this ea

ern community affairs.”” (The Bahd’ Life, pp. 12, 18)

What we must realize is that, whether we are talking about ways to increase contributions to the Fund, attendance at Feasts or teaching activity, or to decrease disharmony and indifference in the Baha’i community, the results we seek will not, in the end, be brought about by some spectacular campaign orchestrated by the institutions of the Faith.

Rather, they will be brought about by you and me, as we “‘become as true brethren in the one and indivisible religion of God.’” (Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 56)

In the words of the Universal House of Justice: ‘‘The secret of universal participation lies in the Master’s oft-expressed wish that the friends should love each other, constantly encourage each other, work together, be as one soul in one body, and in so doing become a true, organic, healthy body animated and illumined by the spirit.

“In such a body all will receive spiritual health and vitality from the organism itself, and the most perfect flowers and fruits will be brought forth.’’ (Quoted in the Bahá’í DayBook, p. 95)

Kean T. Oh, a Bahá’í youth from Poland, Ohio, was recently named the winner of a $2,000 1988 National Merit Scholarship. Kean, who is valedictorian at Poland High Seminary High School and president of the National Honor Society, plans a career in medicine. He is among 1,800 academic champions chosen by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. for their strong combination of scholastic and extracurricular accomplishment. �[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’ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

.

Thanks for new books

ng to commend the ing Trust, George Ronald, Kalimat Press, and One World for their recent publication of a number of scholarly: works which have widely expanded the range of materials available on the Faith and provided new tools for reaching out to the more learned in the society at large.

Among these books are The Purpose of Physical Reality (by Dr. John S. Hatcher), Science and Religion (Dr. Anjum Khurshid) and a series of works by Dr. Moojan Momen and his colleagues, Baha’i and non-Baha’i, on the history of the Faith that take a refreshingly new and scholastic approach. d

My sincere thanks to th friends who are devoting their time and energy to enhancing our understanding of this glorious Dispensation.

In addition to their potential as teaching and deepening tools, the publication of these books may encourage other able minds to become involved.

They could also serve as prototypes for younger Bahá’ís who may aspire to follow in the footsteps of these authors.

Dr. Bijan Massoumian Austin, Texas

One picture is worth ...

To the Editor:

Do we realize the power of motion pictures and television drama in reaching hundreds of millions of people?

I read that the U.S. is lagging behind in teaching the Faith. Do the Counselors, the National Assembly, the Auxiliary Board know of the power of the motion picture as a teaching tool?

American motion pictures are shown in theatres and on TV all over the world.

I believe that if we realize the power of the motion picture, this great teaching tool shall come about and we shall be flooded with a sea of troops.

Ron Mosseller Tryon, North Carolina

That about covers it To the Editor:

Now that the storm has passed, perhaps a voice of moderation can be heard.

The cover of the September/ October issue of Brilliant Star magazine carried an illustration

that many people found offensive. The December issue of The American Bahá’í carried a letter to the editor which opened with the words “I am offended,” then went beyond the bounds of moderation in expressing (in its author’s words) “‘righteous indignation’? over the ‘‘moral outrage’’ which that cover represented.

The editorial board of Brilliant Star responded to that letter, and to many others criticizing the cover, with exemplary restraint and a shining spirit of Baha’i humility.

The board acknowledged the justice of the complaints while trying to analyze the reasons for its failure to foresee the problem. It would have been inappropriate for the board to criticize its critics, but it would be unjust to leave the spirit of their criticism unanswered.

This letter is an appeal to those of us who write letters to the editor to remember the Guardian’s characterization of consultation as ‘frank and loving.””

The ‘“‘letters’’ column in The American Bahd’/ is the threshingfloor for emerging ideas and issues in our national community. It is our national convention in permanent session; the business portion of our Feasts in print.

Who among us would rise in either Feast or convention to unleash a blast of ‘‘righteous indignation” at the Assembly, the District Teaching Committee, or any other Baha’i (or non-Baha’f) agency?

And who among us can afford the spiritual luxury of saying “I am offended’ by anyone else? Did the Master ever use such words?

People are human. We make mistakes. Can we not assume, in the absence of clear evidence to the contrary, that the mistakes of others are made in good faith, without malice? Especially in our Baha’i service, let us concede one another the benefit of any doubt.

The staff of Brilliant Star has done and is doing a job with that publication that few of us could improve upon. They are producing a children’s magazine that performs the invaluable service of helping the next generation of Baha’is to build its Baha’i identity.

But far more than that, the quality of their product compares well with that of any other children’s magazine on the market, and bespeaks the depth of their devotion to and love for Baha’u’ lah.

If we feel otherwise, they would undoubtedly welcome our advice, expressed privately and directly to them. They would certainly welcome our assistance too.

Let us be patient, courteous, kind and loving with one another. We're building a new World Order, and no one has ever done that before; we’re going to make mistakes.

If we will accept that fact, perhaps it will be easier to be tolerant and forgiving. And perhaps we can receive forgiveness from others when we need it.

In His last words of guidance to us (Kitdb-i-Ahd, quoted in Tablets of Bahd’u'lláh, p. 220), the Blessed Beauty wrote, ‘‘Verily I say, the tongue is for mentioning what is good, defile it not with unseemly talk. God hath forgiven what is past. Henceforward everyone should utter that which is meet and seemly, and should refrain from slander, abuse and whatever causeth sadness in

eae And the beloved Master wrote, “O ye cohorts of God! Beware lest ye offend the feelings of anyone, or sadden the heart of any person, or move the tongue in reproach of and finding fault with anybody, whether he is friend or stranger, believer or enemy. “Pray in behalf of all and entreat God for forgiveness and bounty for all. Beware, beware that anyone rebuke or reproach a soul, though he may be an illwisher and an ill-doer. Do ye not look upon the creature, advance ye toward the Creator.”’ (Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Vol. 1, p. 45) Thomas F. Armistead Milford, Connecticut

A ‘ludicrous’ mistake?

To the Editor:

The item on page 32 of The American Bahá’í (February) about the Bahaa Esperanto Ligo contained a somewhat ludicrous mistake.

The Universal Esperanto Congress held last summer in Warsaw, Poland, did not mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Ludwig Zamenhof, the founder of Esperanto. It marked 100 years since the introduction of Esperanto, the international language.

Please, let’s get our historical facts straight! I have an idea that you'll receive a lot of corrections from many Esperanto-using Baha’is.

Edward F. Lacy

Houston, Texas

(No, so far yours is the first. Of course, we knew that it wasn’t the centenary of Dr. Zamenhof’s birth; the error simply slipped past us, as errors sometimes do.—Ed.)

Root of our problems

To the Editor:

Lately I have been thinking about the many problems that confront us today. What I have found is that many of these problems have a common root, and that root has to do with teaching.

How many of us sit down and analyze our methods of teaching? Are we really bringing the healing Message of Baha’u’ll4h to others, or are we simply dazzling them with high-sounding values that we ourselves do not follow?

MARRIAGE

From the Baha'i Publishing Trust HC $15.95 SC $8.95

The American Baha’i / June 1988 / 3

The largest problem by far in our present teaching efforts is the lack of follow-up teaching. We gather in hundreds of new believers each year, then leave them to themselves.

Many of these people work hard for a living and don’t have time to attend every meeting. Does anyone show them the simple courtesy of inquiring whether there is anything they can do to help, or call to let them know about activities scheduled in the community and elsewhere?

Are deepening programs scheduled so that they can attend at least one? If not, and if the Assemblies deem themselves too busy to bother with such concerns, then something is terribly wrong, for the Assemblies are then neglecting the people and have failed in their duty to humankind.

We are here to bring the Message of Bahd’u’ll4h to every member of the human race, not to see how many bodies we can bring into the Faith in a month or how many parties we can hold.

We must never, ever forget follow-up teaching and consolidation, or we will lose the people we are trying to bring into the Faith.

Deepening programs are our greatest asset in regard to followup teaching. And please stop fussing over how many Baha’ is we are bringing into the Faith!

One true believer is certainly worth 100 or even 1,000 others. Each true Baha’i is an immeasurable asset worth more than all the money you can imagine.

We know that we have succeeded in our efforts when we begin to care about and love our fellowmen; when we offer service to humankind for the sake of God alone; when the whole community pulls together to accomplish some worthy goal; and when we finally stop worrying about how much of anything any of us has.

You cannot quantify love, kindness, honesty or justice.

Galen Valentine Euless, Texas

What’s in a name? Plenty

To the Editor: “Can you identify anyone in this picture?””

How sad! Yet all of us have snapshots without the slightest clue to tell our grandchildren that this is Uncle James after we’ve gone to the Abha Kingdom.

I have a nice professional portrait of one of my great-grandmothers taken in the 19th century. If ‘only the photographer had scribbled even her initials on the back of it! I suppose everyone recognized her then, but now they are all gone.

Future generations might also appreciate our names and declaration dates written in the front of a few of our Baha’i books.

We are still early believers, and it might make interesting reading in the next century.

M. “Jeff” Jeffries Burlington, Vermont

No ‘joy’ for disabled

To the Editor:

Baha’i conferences are a joy! But I’d like to remind you to consider the disabled friends whenever you are planning one.

If a friend in a wheelchair were to attend, how would that person get to the conference rooms? Where would that person park? Are the restrooms accessible? And could that person enjoy all the activities?

Most people never even think about this. Many assume that any public building has to be handicapped accessible, but that is far from the truth, especially with respect to older buildings.

I am a Baha’i with muscular dystrophy. I can walk with a cane, but I tire easily, so I use an electric cart for long distances. Stairs are very difficult.

I would like to share an experience I had at a recent Baha’i conference to illustrate how important a little consideration and planning can be.

Arriving early to register, I found that I could not use my cart because there were about 15 steps to climb to get into the building. Hindsight tells me I should have gotten back into my car and gone home, but I’m a stubborn person and I had come a long way. And besides, who wants to miss a Baha’i conference?

So I climbed the steps and regis See LETTERS page 38

Marriage:

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 purpose of marriage prayers for marriage

e the equality of women and men.

© conflict resolution

interracial marriage

¢ raising children

@ 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

Baha’ Distribution Service

415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091

�[Page 4]4/ The American Baha’i / June 1988

TheNational Bahs’y

g

Fund

Advancing the Faith around the World

and peaceful future. hd’! youth of the world

“We applaud those youth who, in respect of this period, have already engaged in some activity within their national and local communities or in collaboration with their peers in other countries, and call upon them to persevere in their unyielding efforts to acquire spiritual qualities and useful qualifications. For if they do so, the influence of their high-minded motivations will exert itself upon world developments conducive to a productive, progressive ”’_The Universal House of Justice, letter dated May 8, 1985, to the Ba

Annual report of National Treasurer’s Office

Report of the Office of the Treasurer

“... the way is now open for the Bahá’{ world to erect the remaining buildings of its Administrative Centre, and we must without delay stride forward resolutely on this path.... It is impossible at this stage to give an accurate estimate of the cost of these projects. All that we can now say is that in the immediate future two objectives have to be met: to accumulate rapidly a reserve of fifty million dollars on which plans for the construction can realistically begin to be implemented, and to provide an income of between twenty and twenty-five million dollars for the Bahá’{ International Fund for each of the next ten years.” —The Universal House of Justice, August 31, 1987

The momentous announcement by the Universal House of Justice regarding the completion of the Are sparked a dramatic increase in earmarked contributions (e.g, International Fund, Arc, Indian Temple) from the American Bahá’{ community. In short, those who gave, gave more and should be commended.

But the challenge still facing our community is to maintain the strength of our National Fund whose contribution base dropped 14% to $7.55 million. Participation in the National Fund was also lower in 1987-88.

Closer collaboration with the Counselors and Auxiliary Board Members spearheaded activities by the Office of the Treasurer. Three new advisory committees, comprised of business and financial professionals, were appointed to help strengthen the National Assembly’s management of its assets and expansion of its financial resources.

Note: All Fiscal Year 1988 figures used in this report are estimated as of the time the report was prepared.

Earmarked Donations Up More than 100%

in $000) 1988 1987 ‘National Fund Donations $7,550 $8,768 14% Earmarked ‘ Donations $2,680 $1,285 +109% ‘Total $10,230 $10,053 42%

Spurred by the announcement regarding the completion of the Arc, earmarked contributions processed by the Office of the Treasurer increased more than twofold in 1987-88. (See table.) These gifts, which were over and above donations to the National Fund, helped maintain a pattern of overall growth in financial support of the Faith from the American Baha’fs. The National Spiritual Assembly heartily ap plauds the friends who have participated: in this outpouring of resources.

stories with each other. Advisory Committees Appointed

National Fund and Earmarked Contributions

National Fund

National Fund Suffers De cline in. Contributions The sharp decline in National

Fund contributions reminds us we

must persevere in the strengthen ing of our local and national institutions, including the Fund, as the processes of the completion of the Arc and the establishment of the Lesser Peace unfold.

In brief, the National Fund facts

are as follows:

+ Contributions totaled million.

+ Individual participation fell 5% averaging 7,219 per month.

+ Local Assembly participation fell 3%.

+ The National Fund deficit increased from $1.6 million to $2.7 million.

$7.55

Expenses Held Budget

Estimated expenses for the fiscal year are $8,672,000. This was 92% of the amount budgeted and represented an increase of 8% over a year ago. For a detailed breakdown of expenditures sce pages 16, 20, and 25.

Automatic Contributions

The Automatic Contribution System (ACS) now accounts for more than $980,000 annually, a 15% increase over the previous year. ACS: + Serves more than 2,800 individual subscribers and 65 local assemblies and Bahá’{ groups. Provides the National Assembly with a steady flow of funds. + Reduces the cost of processing

contributions.

Below

Closer Ties to Counselors and Auxiliary Board National Spiritual Assembly members, Counselor Robert Harris and Treasurer’s Office staff devoted a full day of consultation to the needs of the Fund and established a plan for keeping updated on the condition of the Fund and sharing inspirational

Mos

Earmarked

The appointment of three new advisory committees highlighted activity in the Fund Development area during the year.

The committees—Business Planning, Financial, and Fund Development & Estate Planning—have begun counseling Bahá’ís in the establishment of their own businesses to raise money for the Fund and encouraging an idea exchange among Bahd’f-owned businesses. They have drafted the first issue of an estate planning newsletter and developed investment and borrowing policies for the National Spiritual Assembly. Eighteen Bahá’ís with business and financial backgrounds served on the committees this year:

+ Business Planning Advisory Committee: Ted Amsden, Fred Bruning, Don Decker, Karen Kennedy, Anthony Reid, and Tess Ridgeway.

+ Financial Advisory Committee:

Michael Furst, Michael

Hampton, Grant Kvalheim, and

Jeffrey Mondshein.

Fund Development & Estate

Planning Committee: Bonnie

Barnes, Jane Campbell, Ronald

Carrigan, Steven Gonzales,

Rick Miller, Houtan Mosta ghim, Iraj Radpour, and

Deanna Recker.

New Believers, & Youth

Attention has also been addressed to the needs of special audiences. The Office of the Treasurer has joined other National Assembly agencies and offices in redesigning the initial communications to new believers to include a more immediate awareness of the sacred privilege of giving to the Fund. A group of educators and illustrators has been identified to assist in producing Fund materials for children. A youth Fund newsletter has been launched and a special fund event is planned for the International Youth Conference in June.

Children,

$ thousands

Estate Planning

Estate Bequests

Nearly 4,000 copies of the pamphlet, A Checklist for Preparing Your Will, have been distributed. A Persian language edition is also being prepared. A completely revised edition of the course Where There's A Will will be available in May. Estate bequests to the National Fund increased from $622,000 to $1,133,000 this year.

Fund Course for Summer Schools

A course on the Fund has been designed and offered to the 38 regional schools and 5 permanent schools and institutes for their Summer 1988 programs.

Fund Video

A special videotape relating our spiritual being with the material world, With All My Heart, has been produced for viewing at the National Convention, Town Meetings, Convention Reports, and the International Youth Conference.

National Treasurer’s Representatives

More than 100 National Treasurer’s Representatives continue to serve the community on behalf of the Office of the Treasurer participating in district conventions, conducting deepening courses, consulting with local assemblies, and collaborating with Auxiliary Board Members and their Assistants to inspire devotion and sacrifice among the friends.

Where Gone? The National Fund continues to support the Faith around the globe. (See the complete financial report on pages 14-27 and our regular feature in The American Bahá’í, “Where Does The Money Go?”) Your contributions this year helped: + Send $2 million to Universal House of Justice. + Send two National Spiritual Assembly members to Langenhain, Germany to participate with representatives of 17 other National Assemblies and the Bahá’í International Community at a conference on external affairs called by the

Has the Money

the

Universal House of Justice. Host a historic meeting of Tepresentatives from five National Spiritual Assemblies and the Bahá’{ International Community at the National Spiritual Assembly’s office in Washington, D.C. to discuss external affairs.

Send 6,000 free copies of U.S. Bahá’í Report to government officials, prominent individuals, journalists, and national organizations.

Send our delegates to the 1988 International Convention in Haifa.

Coordinate the procurement of facilities and services for the 1992 World Congress in New York.

Move the National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of External Affairs from New Haven, CT to Washington, D.C. to expand its contacts with the U.S. government and non-governmental organizations.

Produce two special slide programs: one on the importance of the Bahá’{ World Congress, the other to introduce the Faith to visitors at the Indian House of Worship.

Inaugurate the Louhelen Residential Program which attracted students from Ethiopia, Ecuador, Israel, Solomon Islands, Alaska, Arizona, South Carolina and South Dakota. Maintain a refugee office in Pakistan to expedite the settlement of Persian Bahá’í refugees in the U.S.

Provide complimentary copies of Bahá’í News to 147 National Spiritual Assemblies, all Hands of the Cause and Continental Boards of Counselors, all permanent Bahá’{ schools and institutes in North America and all pioneers from the U.S. Prepare and publish new materials including The Word of God, Effective Teaching, Building Unity of Thought on Teaching, Where There's A Will, An Introduction to Bahá’í Administration (Persian), America: A Nation of Immigrants (Persian), and Arise to Serve.

Hold six Pioneer Training Institutes attended by 194 per�[Page 5]sons, including the first nationally-sponsored institute for pioneers to the Navajo-Hopi District.

Support international service through 133 pioneers, 322 traveling teachers, the Youth Year of Service program and several special projects.

Initiate collaboration between Mexican and U.S. Teaching Committees to reach large Hispanic population in Mexico and Southwest U.S.

Hold the 25th Anniversary of the 1963 Council Fire in Southwest Arizona attended by over 300.

Support teaching activities resulting in more than 2800 new believers in the Samuel Bakare Project in Nigeria and 1200 in the Muhájir Project in Taiwan.

Send representatives to Washington, D.C. to facilitate the transfer into the American Bahá’{ community of more than 500 Bahá’{ refugees from Iran, Thailand, and Laos. Introduce the Faith to more than 200,000 visitors to the Bahá’{ House of Worship, foster the development of a House of Worship choir, and plant and maintain its world-renown gardens.

Send introductory packets, including Selected Writings of Bahf’u’lláh, to over 4,000 new. believers.

Distribute free of charge more than 600,000 copies of The American Baha’f.

Organize more than 1,500 Souvenir Picnics commemorating “Abdu’l-Bahá’s historic visit to America.

Locate more than 130 original letters from the Guardian previously missing from the Bahá’{ archives.

Provide 300 Welcome Packets and 600 Naw-Réz greetings to relatives of martyrs and new arrivals to the American Baha’i community.

Place five youth in the U.S. and 17 abroad as part of the Youth Year of Service program.

Develop a Summer Youth Intern Program at the National Center in which 17 youth participated.

Establish WLGI as the most popular radio station in its region.

Reproduce and distribute to more than 8,000 Persian believers in the U.S. a major letter from the Universal House of Justice addressed to the Persian Bahá’ís outside of Iran. Support the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Unity Choir, including performances in South Carolina and Atlanta, GA. Complete an engineering study of the ornamental concrete of the House of Worship and begin repairs.

Build a new classroom at the Native American Bahá’í Institute, complete Martha Root Hall at Bosch Bahá’{ School, and hire the architects to supervise the restoration of Green Acre’s Sarah Farmer Inn. Hold conferences on Interracial & Cross Cultural Marriage, Models of Interracial Unity, Substance Abuse, Integration, Youth, and Equality of Men and Women (focusing on Blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans).

Send a delegation to the

Decade of Achievement Women’s Conference in Washington, D.C.

Produce videos & films for teaching (The Bahd'f Faith: An Introduction), proclamation (Peace . . . The Promise), spiritual enrichment (Meeting the Master: Recollections of ‘Abdu’ |-Bahá, The Souvenir of ‘Abdu’ l-Bahd, and With All My Heart), explaining the meaning of the Arc, and documenting the 1988 International Convention.

Present the Peace Statement to the NAACP, the National Urban League, and the President of the Mormon Church. Increase teaching projects in the United States to more than 200.

Support unified teaching efforts between the Auxiliary Board, local Assemblies,

National Bahai Fund 1987-88 Contributions

Individuals $5,136,000

Groups $284,000

1987-88 Expenses

Property Maintenance

$1,101,000

Property & Equipment $697,000

Administration $2,520,000

Teaching $2,254,000

International $2,100,000

The American Baha’i / June 1988 / 5

Contributions Estimated 1988 1987 % Ohange Assemblies $ 2,130,000 $ 2,098,000 +2% Groups 284,000 226,000 +26% Individuals 5,136,000 6,444,000 -20% Total $ 7,550,000 $ 8,768,000 -14% Average Baha'i Monthly Participation Estimated 1988 1987 change Assemblies 750 780 3% Individuals 7,219 7,644 5% Operating Results Bssimated 1988 1987 %Ohange ‘Total revenue $ 7,594,000 $ 9,042,000 16% Total expenses 8,672,000 8,064,000 +8% Excess revenue (expenses) $ 4,078,000) $978,000 N/A Financial Condition Estimated 1988 1987 % Orange Assets $ 870,000 $ 1,289,000 32% Liabilities 3,538,000 2,879,000 +23% Fund balance (deficit) $ @,668,000) $1,590,000) +68% Contributions Participation Monthly goal—$500,000; last six months—$870,000 Goal per month (individuals) —10,000 vom 2 townnds ac ine fee ao 200 <4 § NANA § “MMLC | : NNANNNSNSSS N oNNSSSSNSSSS N b District Teaching Committees Auxiliary Board and their nor to deposit checks for

and individuals in at least 19 districts.

Open the collected papers of noted Bahá’ís Ellsworth Blackwell, Helen Ellis Cole, Paul K. Dealy, Winston Evans, Bertha Hyde Kirkpatrick, and Allen B. McDaniels to research.

Establish a Substance Abuse Task Force under the auspices of the National Development Committee.

Initiate production of recorded tapes in Talking Book format for the blind and visually impaired.

Hire a professional marketing specialist to survey and analyze the demographics of the American Bahá’{ community. Continue the research and writing of A Short Encyclopedia of the Bahd' { Faith. Provide health and life insurance benefits for all full-time staff at the Bahá’{ National Center, permanent schools and institutes.

Challenges Ahead

Our key challenges in the coming year will be:

To expand the understanding of the American Bahá’ís of the concurrent processes described by the Guardian: the completion of the Arc, the establishment of the Lesser Peace, and the continued evolution of Bahá’{ national and local institutions.

To continue to develop Fund education programs for children, new believers and youth. To strengthen our collaboration with the Counselors,

Assistants—particularly at the community level with National Treasurer’s Representatives.

+ To continue to draw upon the expertise of our financial and business professionals in developing programs to broaden our financial resources and more efficiently manage our assets.

+ To expand the use of the Automatic Contribution System and increase the regularity and participation in giving to the Fund.

Huqtqu’lah

Hugqtiqu’llah (Right of God) is a law revealed by Bahá’u’lláh in the Kit4b-i-Aqdas. Obeying the law of HuqGqu’llah purifies the material wealth we acquire throughout our lifetime by giving back to the Cause of God a portion of that which came from our Creator.

The Universal House of Justice has called for education about this important law as a goal of the Six Year Plan in anticipation of the day when it will be universally applied. At this time Hugqtiqu’ll4h is binding only on Persian believers and those believers who are required to observe this law in their native country. Other believers can pay HuqGqu’ll4h if they choose. Payments are deductible for federal income and estate tax purposes.

The Trustees of the the Baha’f HuqGqu’lláh Trust have directed the Office of the Treasurer not to forward any payments received from the believers for HuqGqu’ll4h

HuqGqu’ll4h in the National Fund.

Checks for HuqGqu’lláh should be made payable to “Bahd’{ Huqqu’ll4h Trust” and sent directly to one of the following Trustees:

+ Dr. Elsie Austin

P.O. Box 927

Silver Spring, MD 20910 + Dr. Amin Banani

Santa Monica, CA 90402 + Dr. Daryush Haghighi

Rocky River, OH 44116

The Distinctive Features of the Baha’i Fund

Sacred Obligation

Contributing to the Bahd’{ Fund on a regular basis is the sacred obligation of every sincere believer.

Voluntary Nature

The amount given is voluntary, and rests entirely with the individual—yet the amount is important. Every contribution is valued by the degree of sacrifice involved.

Privilege

Support of the Fund is a privilege reserved only for those who have declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

Regular and Sacrificial

Regular and sacrificial giving is a measure of a believer’s devotion to Bahá’u’ll4h and a cause of spiritual growth. �[Page 6]6 / The American Baha’i / June 1988

Six years as pioneers, and every minute a blessing

>

The Office of Pioneering recently received the following letter JSrom pioneers Jim, Becky, Mariah and Elizabeth Fairley in Tanzania.

°

We've been pioneering now for six years, and every minute of it a blessing—though not without tests and difficulties and boundless opportunities to learn patience!

Tanzania is known as the land of ‘‘namna,”’ which means, in Swahili, “‘there isn’t any,” the usual reply to requests for almost any commodity in the shops, especially from about 1981-85.

What we love most about Tanzania, of course, is the people, the radiant faces of some the beloved Baha’is here who sacrifice unimaginably in their day-to-day lives in service to the Cause—and the people in the villages and all over the country who are always ready and happy to stop and talk about God and His Messengers, the unity of religion and of mankind.

And the opportunity to serve— I know we are supposed to be sactificing, but we seem only to acquire bounties. How many Ba ha’fs living in the U.S. can serve ‘on two national committees, the local Spiritual Assembly and two local committees at the same time?

And how often do Baha’is in the U.S. get the chance to have a Counselor stay in their home for 12 days, or entertain three Auxiliary Board members and two pioneers for a few days?

What about participation in teaching projects that enroll a hundred or more new believers, open new localities, form new Assemblies, deepen existing Assemblies? Ya Bahd’u’l-Abha!

At times we feel tired and near exhaustion, but it’s for the Cause of God in this Day—this Promised Day, the Day so long awaited by all the prophets of the past!

We have met many wonderful people from around the world and can see the unity of diverse peoples develop before our eyes. We are living in one of the poorest countries in the world, yet our children are attending one of the best schools in the world.

We feel that our children are getting a better academic education here than they could get in any school in the U.S., to say nothing of the knowledge of different peoples, customs and countries they are receiving.

Our only sacrifice is living 11 time zones away from our families, but annual visits, telephone

calls and letters help us to keep in touch.

Our six years of pioneering have been on two continents—two years in Arusha, Tanzania, then two in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and now back in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. God has blessed us here with satisfying and rewarding jobs.

Jim teaches third grade, and I am guidance counselor and psychology teacher at the International School of Tanganyika. Iam doing exactly the kind of work I love, counseling students from diverse backgrounds and developing a guidance program to meet the standards of an international school setting.

Elizabeth is busy with music activities, performing in a play and studying for ‘O-level’ examinations. Next year she will begin the International Baccalaureate, a demanding college prep program.

Mariah is in seventh grade and enjoying gymnastics, swimming and friends.

During our first four and onehalf years as pioneers we experienced life without a car. Our first bus trip in Tanzania was an unforgettable experience—after waiting three days for the bus and battling through the crowds to get a seat, we traveled all night over a road like a washboard with dust flying in through holes in the floor—but what an adventure!

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

Anyone can travel teach .. .

reliance on Bahá and an open mind.

all you need is an Sees eee

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 Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL

60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

NAME ADDRESS.

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

Phone #

Country. Dates

agesai >"

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.

It was our first major teaching trip to Singida—almost at the end of the world, but not quite. The people there loved Elizabeth and Mariah and still ask about them any time a pioneer goes there.

Some exciting developments are taking place in Tanzania, among them:

1. A Baha’ school, the Ruaha Secondary Technical School, is in full operation in Iringa and is recognized by the government as being the best school in its area.

2. A community health education training project is under way in the Kigoma Region which is beginning to make a significant impact on the lives of the villag ers.

3. A Department of Rural Development is being planned to start operating soon in Iringa.

4. A series of successful national teaching projects is being carried out—the recent threemonth project in Kasulu area having resulted in 450 new believers and 10 new Assemblies.

Pioneering cannot be described or explained adequately. Gradually, our lives become transformed in ways that would not be possible outside of pioneering in a world community with all its adventures, spiritual challenges and opportunities.

We pray that God will help us stay at our post for a long time to come.

Thirteen prospective pioneers and two representatives from local Spiritual Assemblies took part ina Pioneer Training Institute held April 7-10 at the Bahd’{ National Center in Wilmette, Illinois.

Among the destinations of these Jriends are Aruba, Venezuela, Namibia, St. Vincent, Grenada, the Marshall Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Mr. Faizi: ‘These are fleeting hours. Every minute and second is valuable’

“O Lord! Enable all the peoples of the earth to gain admittance into the Paradise of Thy Faith, so that no created being may remain beyond the bounds of Thy goodpleasure ...’’—The Bab

.

This last month has seen additional believers arise to translate into reality the plea of this prayer. We at the Office of Pioneering are truly grateful to the now more than 140 pioneers who have arisen at the call of the Universal House of Justice and are taking steps toward the fulfillment of America’s spiritual destiny.

But what of the masses still waiting in the remaining goal areas? In the words of the Hand of the Cause of God Mr. Faizi, addressed to pioneers:

“If love is not translated in these days into tremendous sacrifice, it will remain unproductive forever. These are fleeting hours. Every minute and second is valuable.

“No sacrifice will be too great in the spiritualization of this

planet. ... In these God-granted opportunities, be sure that the friends will give all that they have for the redemption of mankind and the spiritualization of the globe.”

In the remaining 294 days of this phase of the Six Year Plan, 55 goals must be filled. Here is your God-granted opportunity. Please contact the Office of Pioneering, 312-869-9039.

"JBy the Lord of the Kingdom! If one arise to promote the Word of God with a pure heart, overflowing with the love of God and severed from the world, the Lord of Hosts will assist him with such a power as will peretrate the core of the existent beings." (Tablets of ‘Abdu'lBahd, p. 348.)

zuela.

Ecuador and Venezuela.

Venezuela sets youth conference

“Youth Serving Humanity” is the theme of an International Youth Conference to be held August 18-21 in Maracaibo, Vene Three Continental Counselors will be there: Dr. Farzam Arbab, Isabel de Calderén and Dr. Peter McLaren. The purpose of the conference is to promote the Youth Movement in Colombia,

Bring your ideas, experiences and enthusiasm to share and Jearn from the youth in South America! For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

�[Page 7]The Baha’i Club at Michigan State University has been holding “Peace Panel Discussions.”” The discussions are ongoing, and the first one, which dealt with the harmony of science and religion, was attended by about 65 people and reporters from the campus newspaper, State News.

Topics for future discussions are to include “Elimination of Prejudice’ and ‘‘Peace Through Equality of Men and Women.”

The article in the State News was headlined ‘‘Science, religion form intelligent men’s wings’’ and included quotes from Baha’i and non-Baha’i speakers and a quote from the Writings about science and religion being the wings on which man’s intelligence can soar.

The MSU Baha’i Club also marched with other students and clubs to honor the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In an article about that event, the Baha’i Club was mentioned as carrying signs saying ‘‘Prejudice Is a Handicap.’’ It also quoted a club member as saying, ‘“The cold weather makes you feel more like you’re really fighting to keep alive a cause ... and if ever there was a cause for all people it would be this one.’”

.

Attention all college-bound Baha’is and those already atten college! Northern Illinois University is on fire!

The Baha’i Club there is gaining momentum; however, some members will be graduating, and while the club is growing, they need energetic Baha’i students dedicated to carrying on the flame and advancing the Cause of Baha’u’ll4h.

This year the administration sponsored a ‘‘Unity Through Diversity’? week and is planning to make it an annual event.

The campus knows the Baha’i Club is an important force on campus. We can’t turn back now. Please consider Northern Illinois University.

.

Three great schools—Trinity College, the University of Vermont, and St. Michael’s College—are trying to form Baha’i Clubs.

If you would like more information about these schools or need information about enrolling in any of them, phone Heather Perkins, 802-434-2811.

.

The Baha’i Club at the University of Virginia recently sponsored a panel discussion on racism. According to club members, ‘‘The spirit of this event has noticeably affected the very foundation of this institution.””

The panel, titled ‘‘Racial Unity for Justice at the University of Virginia,”’ was held partly in response to a series of racial incidents at the school. It addressed racism from national and international points of view, as well as from the campus and individual

See CAMPUS page 16

2 aa

Are you ready for this awesome International Youth Conference, anticipated to be the largest gathering of Baha’is in North America between now and 1992?

The conference will be held June 30-July 4 on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington.

It’s actually a “‘triple conference’? for youth, children and parents with joint sessions in the evenings. Adults who are not parents are welcome to attend either the parent or youth sessions.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of their role in the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh and why “the stage is set for universal, rapid and massive growth of the Cause of God ...’”’ (The Universal House of Justice, Ridvan 1987)

Those traveling in cars, buses or caravans, either to or from the conference, be sure to travel along the ‘Peace Express’’ routes chosen by the National Youth Committee (see map).

Selected Baha’i communities have set up teaching and service projects for those traveling along these routes.

If you are interested in taking part in the Peace Express or would like to find out which cities will be hosting projects on your route, contact Sam Williams, P.O. Box 127, Yadkinville, NC 27055, or phone 919-679-2133 or 919-679

For those arriving at the Indianapolis airport, there will be information booths in the baggage claim areas.

It is best to register in advance for the conference to avoid the hassle of on-site registration. (Note: those staying in hotels must register under Plan D.)

Some of the exciting events:

• A special session for youth

with members of the National Spiritual Assembly.

• A FUNG run (don’t forget to

fill out your pledge sheet).

© Late-night sessions with Counselors, members of the National Assembly, the National Youth Committee, and youth!

• A dynamic play on the life of

the Dawn-breaker heroine, Ta Florida plans retreat for youth to study service, networking

The Florida Youth Conference Committee has planned a retreat to be held August 19-21 at a central Florida camp site.

The theme is ‘‘Service with a Smile,”’ and topics to be addressed are to include individual initiative, reliance on divine assistance, and the challenges of this Day.

Also included will be special sessions on networking among Florida’s youth.

For more information, write to the Florida Youth Conference Committee, .

_ Tampa, FL 33617, or phone 813-988-4180.

+ at

\2

The American Baha’i / June 1988 / 7

For registration information please phone 904-249-1863. On-site registration in Bloomington will be in Assembly Hall (directional

signs will be posted around campus).

for the International Youth Conference June 30-July 4 at Bloomington, Indiana

hirih.

Join the Bloomington service project. Volunteers are still urgently needed for the conference. There will be a volunteer booth on-site, and it is hoped that each one of you may dedicate two to 22 hours (or even more) for the ‘Cause.

Those who would like to volunteer are asked to contact the following people in the category in which you are interested:

Registration: Bill McSherry, P.O. Box 49147, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 (904-249-1863).

Children’s conference: Stephanie Jeffries,

Los Angeles, CA 90043 (213-2953984).

Security: James Mock,

. Tequesta, FL 33469 (305-575-9320).

Ushering: Layla Garrigues, National Youth Committee Office, Baha’ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (312-869-9039).

PEACE EXPRESS ROUTES

Intense Study Institutes strike responsive chord

The National Youth Committee is delighted to share with the Baha’i community the results of nine Intense Study Institutes that were held throughout the country during March and April.

Some comments from participants:

• “It was the best Baha’i activity I participated in in two years.’’

¢ “In that meeting each hour the youth drew nearer to one another and nearer to Baha’u’llah.””

© “I was very impressed with the results of this weekend. I rethought and re-decided a few things that I’m sure will improve my life. I look forward to doing this again and hope it will be longer next time.””

¢ “It significantly changed how I think about things and how I act now.””

• “Now when I read the Writings, I really study them and try to

understand what they are saying. I don’t just read them blindly.”

What is an Intense Study Institute?

An Intense Study Institute is a gathering mainly for the purpose of studying the Baha’i Writings in a controlled environment (no radio, TV, telephones, no gossip or

idle talk). It is characterized by an atmosphere of love and unity, to draw closer to Baha’u’ll4h.

What is the purpose of the Intense Study Institutes?

The purpose is to help the participants in the area of individual consecration to the Faith, and to raise the standard of Baha’i youth gatherings to regularly include intense study of the Writings.

Who can take part in an Intense Study Institute?

Anyone and everyone is encouraged to participate in the Institutes: young and old, Baha’ and non-Baha’i. The only requirement is that those who commit to them know that they are gathering to

study the Writings, to work hard, to give of themselves, and no: tc be lectured at or entertained

Will there be an Intense Study Institute in my area? Youth, adults, Assemblies, Groups, families and individuals are encouragea to hold an ISI in their area. The Nationai Youth Committee can help you find a facilitator, decide whai to study, and can send you information about how to hold an Intense

Study Institute in your area.

You can contact the Youth Committee c/o the Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone them at 312-8699039 for more details.

In January, Riaz Lohrasbi, a member of the Bahá’í Youth Committee of Nashville, Tennessee, won the Nashville Optimist Club award, presented to a student chosen by teachers at every high school for academic excellence and involvement in community activities and athletics. Riaz, a member of the soccer team and placekicker on the football team, was named to ‘Who's Who Among American High School Students,’ which recognizes the top five percent of high school students in America. �[Page 8]8 / The American Baha’i / June 1988

Green Acre’s Sarah Farmer Inn to be made safe

It is a hard fact that those lifesafety issues that are really the most important aspects of restoration are also the most costly, but the value of what they protect is truly priceless.

Without them, the future use of

the Sarah Farmer Inn at Green Acre would be jeopardized.

In reality, the building has unsafe for years, by even yesterday’s standards. In 1982 the National Spiritual Assembly reached a painful decision to close the Inn

cations media.

On contacting prominent persons

The National Spiritual Assembly wishes to remind the American Bahd’{ community that in all matters relating to the Faith, the National Assembly reserves the right to contact or to do business with national institutions and persons of national prominence. Therefore, without the explicit di National Spiritual Assembly, local Spiritual Assemblies and individuals should not initiate any action designed to take up matters of a Bahd’{ nature with representatives or agencies of the federal government, state legislatures or governors, nationally prominent individuals, national organizations, or national communi Please contact the National Spiritual Assembly at the Office of External Affairs in Washington: 1606 New Hampshire Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20009 (phone 202-265-8830) should your community wish to contact an individual or organization that falls into any of these categories.

‘ion or approval of the

to overnight housing of students owing to its unsafe condition in the event of a fire.

But a recent visit from the state Fire Marshal, Steve Dodge, confirmed the confidence shared by both the Restoration Task Force and the architectural firm of Aring-Schroder that the Inn can be made safe for year-round use.

Mr. Dodge emphasized that the most important life-safety issue is that everyone must be guaranteed a safe exit in the event of fire. Restoration design plans call for a number of improvements that will make this possible.

A sprinkler system to be installed throughout the building, but hardly visible, will ensure the fast extinguishing of combustion anywhere in the building before it has a chance to become a full-scale blaze; a state-of-the-art safety alarm system will alert occupants

immediately of any danger; emergency lighting will automatically provide lights in hallways and on stairs during a power failure; a new electrical system will diminish the possibility of a fire caused by old, worn wiring; and improvements to main traffic areas will allow everyone to exit quickly and safely if necessary.

The most exciting news is that these improvements will make it possible to preserve and restore the original New England turn-ofthe-century character of the structure.

Miraculously, the Sarah Farmer

Inn has survived nearly 100 years of use without a tragedy occurring. When the restoration is complete, such measures as these will guarantee that its comfort will not only be aesthetically pleasing and historically authentic, but quite safe as well.

CHILDREN'S TEACHERS’ TRAINING CONFERENCE ON

THE MOST VITAL AND CHALLENGING ISSUE

AND RACE AMITY

LOUHELEN BAHA'I SCHOOL « JULY 6-11, 1988 CHILDREN'S PROGRAM PROVIDED

“hands-on" conference everyone invited

5-day focus on these issues:

• The nature and history of prejudice and racism

+ Black and white identity issues

+ Models and strategies for cultivating race amity + The role of the family in combating racism

a practical conference for advocates of children

There will be time for sharing lesson plans, and for gathering and developing materials. A few of the agencies sharing materials will be the Children's Defense Fund and the YWCA. Keynote speakers include Jack Gillebeaux, Nat Rutstein and June Thomas. There will be workshops and performing

artists each day.

call Louhelen Baha'i School 313/653-5033 for fee & registration information

GREEN ACRE SCHOOL Summer Session—1988

Week No. 1. Session A, July 1-3: “Personal Vision/Collective Vision,’’ Dr. Robert Atkinson; “From Vision to Reality—Each One Teach One,’’ Mildred Mottahedeh. Session B, July 3-8: 10th annual Summer Teaching Conference, ‘Fire of Love—Preparing the Way for Large Scale Growth,’”’ Dr. Tahereh Ahdieh, Mara Khavari, Dr. Billy Roberts; “The Power of Prayer and Meditation,” Meherangiz Munsiff.

Week No. 2. Session A, July 8-10: ‘‘The Role of Equality in World Peace,”” Melinda Armstrong, Phyllis Ring. Session B, July 10-15: “Broadening Our Teaching Horizons,”’ Morris Taylor; ‘‘A Pictorial History of the pated Faith,”” Golgasht Mossafai.

Week No. 3. Session A, July 15-17: ‘‘The Arc as Related to the Fourth Epoch,”’ Javidukht Khadem. Session B, July 17-22: 2nd annual Arts Conference, ‘‘Make the Vision a Reality.””

Week No. 4. Session A, July 22-24: Arts Festival, ‘‘Singing and Swinging and Making Merry.’’ Session B, July 24-29: “The Art of Spiritual Response,’’ Michael Winger-Bearskin; ‘‘Celebrating, Commemorating and Sharing Bahai Holy Days,” Arlene Jenntich,

Week No. 5. Session A, July 29-31: “The Arc: Your Spiritual Destiny,’’ William Davis. Session B, July 31-August 5: ‘Toward Spiritual Integration of the American Baha’i Community,’ National Persian/American Affairs Committee and National Race Unity Committee.

Week No. 6. Session A, August 5-7: ‘Personal and Spiritual Growth Through Visionary GoalSetting,’’ Leonard Smith. Session B, August 7-12: ‘‘Law and Justice in the Age of Transition,’’ Al Lincoln; “‘Music, the Spiritual Food,’’ Joany Lincol Family Life on a Pioneer Post,’’ the Lincoln family.

Week No. 7. Session A, August 12-14: ‘Our Moment in Baha’ History,”” Michael Furst. Session B, August 14-19: ‘‘Marriage in the New World Order,’’ Dr. Marvin Hughes; ‘Letters of the Living,” Dr. Gity Banan Etemad.

Week No. 8. Session A, August 19-21: “The Election of the Universal House of Justice,’’” Robert Harris; ‘‘The Welcoming Partnership—Men and Women Appreciating and Resolving Differences,” Robin Chandler. Session B, August 21-26: ‘Successfully Teaching and Is There Life After Declaration?’”? Barbara Harris, Janet Richards, Rodney Richards; “Spiritual Battles Everywhere ... Now, Where Did I Put My Weapons?’’ Robert Harris.

Week No. 9. Session A, August 26-28: ‘‘Harnessing the Power of the Pen: From Vision to Publication,’’ Dr. Betty J. Fisher. Session B, August 28-September 2: A week of intensive study for youth with Bobby Ahdieh, Dr. Jane Faily, Michael Penn; and for adults (“Why Twin Manifestations in the Bahd’{ Dispensation?’’) with Afaf Stevens.

Week No. 10. Session A, September 2-5: 6th annual Regional Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies, ‘‘Heroines of the Faith.”

Arise! To Teach

�[Page 9]

+ EDUCATION

Throughout the years of the formative age of the Faith, the World Center has continually beckoned the friends to test their innate capabilities—to become transformed in the process of building both the material and spiritual foundations of Baha’u’llah’s new World Order.

Those individuals who were most intimately involved in the early groundbreaking and construction of the House of Worship in Wilmette received, in the process, the tests and bounties that made them new people, involved them in a process of sacrifice and endeavor that confirmed the enormity of this Revelation, and brought to fruition the spiritual capacities latent within them.

It was a process that transformed gnats into eagles of spiritual history.

Indeed, the times in which we are attempting to restore Green Acre are similar to the trying times of the world in which the House of Worship was built.

World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II are not that much different from our times of inflation, cutbacks, stock market crashes, higher taxes, dollar devaluation, unrest in the Middie East, the Panama crisis, and so on.

In a letter to an individual written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi and dated December 30, 1933 (in Bahd’{ Fund and Contributions, pp. 11-12), the Guardian advised that ‘‘...although you are unable to contribute financially as much as you did in former years you should not feel discouraged ... the best way in which you can effectively support the Temple Cause . by moral help which is your primary obligation to extend to those who are in charge of the building. ...It is the devotion, sincerity and genuine enthusiasm which in the long run can insure (its) completion ...’”

That same letter continues: “‘Material considerations, though essential, are not the most vital by

Add North Carolina, Tennessee to list of Summer Schools

The following schools were not included in last month’s listing of Baha’i summer schools:

North Carolina: July 30-August 3, Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory (near the mountains of North Carolina; private rooms and baths. Classes for children, adults and youth.) Theme: ‘‘The Word of God’’ from Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Contact Diane McKinley (evenings), 919-469-2783, or (days) 919-4696279.

Tennessee: August 12-14, Mounteagle. Classes for children, youth and adults. Theme: ‘‘Building the Ark of Salvation.’’ Contact Farshid Ferdowsi, 615-3773737.

Plan now to attend a summer school. If you missed the school listing in last month’s issue, please call to get it. The number is 312869-9039,

any means. For the resources of the community are limited. ...

“But despite all these material obstacles the Temple has made a steady progress and this alone is sufficient to convince every unbiased observer of the divine potency animating the Faith—a potency before which all material difficulties must inevitably wane.””

Likewise, despite years of financial difficulties, forced neglect and even some closures, Green Acre continues to be the spiritually transforming center as loved by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Now it needs help to survive, to become ultimately one of the great institutions of Baha’u’ll4h, which are our gifts to a sore-tried humanity.

In the spirit of the Guardian’s letter, the Green Acre Council, Restoration Task Force, FundRaising Committee and staff ask you to pray for them and for the success of their efforts to create and conduct appropriate programs, to service the spiritual needs of the friends and seekers who come to Green Acre, and to restore and improve the buildings and grounds.

From a presevationist’s point of view, the restoration of an historic property such as the Sarah Farmer Inn at Green Acre demonstrates both service and integrity.

Those who make efforts and sacrifices to preserve a piece of history are truly futurists. They are ensuring that the culture and resources of the past are not left behind, but are carried forward as civilization advances.

Once the Inn is preserved with historic authenticity, many from beyond the sphere of the Faith will flock to the site to see the results. The material accomplishment will act as a magnet, attracting the people to this blessed spot where the spiritual power of God’s redeeming message may nourish their hungry souls.

Such an undertaking kindles the spirit in several ways. It fosters new energy among the friends, as they continually discover the bounties and confirmations that wait to descend upon them when they arise in universal participation and self-sacrifice.

Not only does that energy serve to get the task accomplished, but its release stimulates the growth of the Cause and the believers as well.

Green Acre’s very existence is alive with spiritual history. Even before ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit in 1912, thousands of people who were filled with thoughts of peace and oneness came to Green Acre.

We know that the visit of the Master was a singular spiritual bounty, and that over the years a host of the Blessed Beauty’s faithful adherents have gathered there to come to know the reality of the Master’s words:

“‘Whensoever a company of people shall gather in a meeting place, shall engage in glorifying God, and shall speak with one another of the mysteries of God, beyond any doubt the breathings of the Holy Spirit will blow gently over them, and the earth shall receive a share thereof.”’ (Selections Srom the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 94)

The Master further states in that same passage that when such

gatherings are held in the utmost purity and consecration, ‘‘...from the site itself, and the earth ‘and air about it, one will inhale the fragrant breathings of the Holy Spirit.””

Green Acre’s greatest resource has always been human souls. The Hands of the Cause of God have inspired the believers there with their words; and, in the case of one child who grew up to be Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khanum, with their dancing feet on the recreation room stage.

The greater the diversity, the greater the spirit, and the Sarah Farmer Inn is a natural gathering place for that spirit. It has served and must continue to serve as one of those ‘‘collective centers’’ so crucial to the evolution of the Cause of God.

The increase in housing at the Inn will bring the spiritual benefit of greater numbers who will meet and be happy. Restoration seems a fair exchange for the additional spirit that the friends will both bring and find there.

As of this writing, the fundraising effort for Green Acre is approaching $130,000 of the $1.1 million needed by September 30 to begin the construction work.

While the fund-raising has been

The American Baha’i / June 1988 / 9

‘New’ Green Acre to act as ‘spiritual magnet’

Fire Marshal Steve Dodge (center) talks with architects and consulting engineers about safety con entrusted by the National Spiritual Assembly to Baha’is in the Northeastern states, Baha’is everywhere are invited and encouraged to contribute to this noble cause. We especially appreciate the prayers of the friends around the world.

Contributions earmarked for the Green Acre reconstruction can be sent to the National Treasurer’s

cerns at Green Acre’s Sarah Farmer Inn (see story on page 8).

Office or sent directly to: Restoration Fund, Green Acre Bahd’{

School, 188 Main St., 03903.

If you wish to know more about any of the work being done at Green Acre or receive a summer program, drop us a note or phone 207-439-7200 and we’ll be happy to respond and to add your name to our mailing list.

Eliot, ME

Green Acre: four spring sessions, four full houses

Spring programs at the Green Acre School hit the mark with four full houses in attendance.

The underlying goal of the Interracial and Cross-Cultural Marriage Conference was to illumine the spiritual and practical avenues of acquiring racial and cultural unity through interracial and cross-cultural marriage and transracial adoption.

Among the unique features of the weekend session coordinated by Vicki and Joel Nizin were an adult panel and a youth panel composed of individuals raised in

interracial and cross-cultural homes which gave an historical perspective to these issues and demonstrated that today’s youth place an emphasis on social concerns.

The second annual Connecticut at Green Acre Weekend kept the record-breaking crowd of 45 adults and 23 children happy.

Paul Tamburro, an American Indian Baha’i from New Hampshire, presented one of the most influential talks on the program, one that inspired many to learn more about American Indians and

teaching work in their midst. Other speakers were Dr. Nabil Ali, Kent Johnson, Shirley Lee and Sharon Ramsharran. Saturday evening featured a fund-raiser for Green Acre, which is privileged to be a part of efforts by entire states to share fellowship with all of their resident Baha’is. The Singles Conference provided a consultative environment in which men and women identified issues, problems and resources available to help meet the challenge of being single Bahá’ís in a

——_—_—____ See GREEN ACRE page 40

TE SET

Brilliant Star

O one year $12.00 (six issues)

Name _ Street

City —__

Send to:

State & Zip

Age of recipient

Enclosed is my gift of $ Brilliant Star Endowment Fund, established in honor of the Baha'i children of Iran, for the purpose of developing materials for children. I understand that my gift will become part of a perpetual fund whose earnings will support this purpose.

ee

O two years $23.00

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to the

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Baha'i Subscriber see Baha'i National Center Wilmette, Il. 60091

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

Teaching Hispanics topic of conference

Upcoming and Ongoing Teaching Projects

at Teaneck property a WeiTMenrmoccr sean wie anes Sa On April 9, with the collabora wapemer, Ez, ns, Bier Seioee tion of the National Teaching PROJECT eee eee eT Pas. ns ame’ Sepang Ipdanapote Committee and Auxiliary Board Butane *SANPSPRE nose \ eee ; monroe, / Siaeasin” — Prolecr Bult. member William Roberts, a meet- Br. 08 =e ea? cep. Saree oe wna Bie ga PROJECT LUA ing was held at the Wilhelm Ba- oe Lape Noose weseNrous ororpat || ERS /7 REM TOROIOW ST” Temas ha’i Properties in Teaneck, New sears hes ——_ maa oo \ Seek aT Jersey, which was attended by SSP cr 3208) pp eraee 074 Sessa rosect about 30 Bahá’ís active in teach- Satria Joes canon migesracsse PROuecT ing the Spanish-speaking popula- ye: ae > < = 50 projects) tion on the East Coast. ‘SOUTHERN OREGON NG Brovderce, i Those prescat, who came from | SBGiretmaat Semin” PN Wy foes Slee an area stretching from New Ongoing $03476-0510 co ee wi PROJECT eee Ses ca — Sie S (\ —— us ways to stimulate | — Jue.Aher Rarchaia ch inure Ga SCHERSEY PROJECT and accelerate teaching among | 9999. jee fee Mo, Proker Spanish-speaking people. eee 8061 NesibAGuecT Ba Sis = oo The meeting, held in the cabin | 1c snpie.ca Ea —— Filey Bote visited by the’ Master, ‘Abdu’l- | frewoenessics “Sse a ME enaccr pena POS r= ae be poe sty eat sen apes cok ae ee y a == ferized love, | "sees Tunis coos joy and harmony. From that same EBS A 21354-4622 A Ses eso ne Place, 76 years ago, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá | gendyn' | awe Gs h Cate — called on the Baha’is to unify and 21490 3098 PROJECT MIHDI es hs Hao ay to intensify their teaching efforts. Maton A mascot Se ote (Pies Pui SION 200 nue Auxiliary Board member Ta- Ongoing. Peet mes AZ, ‘Ongoing, {/ dares sad eee gk Paar BRORCTRAL PaVON sean Senet / wees re , Teminded the friends of Sacatas Kansas, re he 2 FL injunctions of the Universal phi yak Soong ARE at . emaens House of Justice to use imagina- GesentnosePnowct — Sialee sre URIVERSPV ny PROUECT ca 4 x cee Bs Beane Hi {EE mene 5 NARGRAP rexcunes commirree Sensis, AEERWaRepracct FETOWROSE vieiom SATBMAP yours comarrte Among recommenda- ernensee tions t ae toate the oot a se 3, a suse Soe ions to come irom the con- | Seiietae Brecon ies Redenta eg aire Sie,

sultation was the importance of teaching to the heart, not simply the intellect.

Another was to use current events that affect the Hispanic people as a focus for teaching.

Yet another concerned the importance of developing personal friendships and doing things together, not just teaching.

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 May 7. 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!

Second in “The Word of God” serie

The Covenant A Its Meaning and Origin and Our Attitude Toward It

• First there was The Word of God. The second booklet in a series of

study guides developed by the National Teaching Committee to act as a bridge to expanded study of the profound concepts found in the Baht Writings is now available.

The Covenant: Its Meaning and Origin and Our Attitude Toward It addresses eal of the Universal House of Justice in its Ridvan 1987 Me: concentrate on this theme, which “will enable us all 3 Obtain a deeper appreciation of the meaning and purpose of His evelation.

Like The Word of God, this booklet may be used for individual or group study. It may be used as a resource for prepare firesides, public talks, or seminar work at Bahá'f schools or institutes. New believers and longtime Baha'is will find it useful, educational, and uplifting. Order yours now!

‘The Covenant _ tind Our Alitude Yoserd It

Only $2.00 per copy! Copies: Total:

‘exp. dale

Teaching Institute

in San Fernando

As part of “‘The Spiritual Conquest of the City of the Angels” teaching campaign, a teaching institute for Spanish-speaking Baha’is was held April 1-3 in San Fernando, California.

The event was sponsored by the Hispanic Teaching Task Force of Los Angeles.

Prayers recited by children opened the institute, after which Auxiliary Board member Miguel Osborne spoke about the Plan of God, explaining that more than 40 years ago, Shoghi Effendi described the twin processes of disintegration and integration at work in the world.

The Baha’is, he said, must work to follow Baha’u’ll4h’s blueprint for building a new World Order of unity and spirituality that will result in the Most Great Peace.

Luis Chavez conducted a workshop on using the ‘Effective Teaching” workbook prepared by the National Teaching Committee. Participants discussed the meaning of teaching, how to improve one’s effectiveness in teaching, and preparing a personal teaching plan.

Auxiliary Board member Edward Diliberto talked about ‘‘The Great Role of the Faith: The Freedom of Humankind,” ‘‘The Role of the Common Man in the

On their return from the park, they gathered at the Baha’i Center in San Fernando to share their joy and sing “I am a Baha’i, I am a

Baha’. ...””

Name of Project: ‘Sponsor: Location:

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

©) Teaching Projects—1988/1989

——-——-—— 4

[EQ Return to: National Teaching Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091

Madsen gen gd oe os ee ei

And not only in larger cities

In some areas of U.S., sharing Message with Chinese can prove most rewarding

The opportunities to increase the diversity of the Baha’i community by teaching people from different cultural backgrounds in the U.S. are often greater than we suspect.

One of the areas of highest promise is sharing the message of Baha’u’ll4h with the Chinese community. There are several areas in this country where many Chinese live:

Cities with largest Chinese population (1980 census): New York, NY (124,764); Los Angeles, CA (93,747); San Francisco, CA (82,480); Honolulu, HI (52,814); Alameda (Oakland), CA (32,117).

Counties with the highest percentage of Chinese in the population (1980 census): San Francisco, CA (12.15); Honolulu, HI (6.93) Alameda, CA (2.91); San Mateo (Palo Alto), CA (2.75); Hawaii (Hilo), HI (1.82).

Other areas with large Chinese populations are Chicago, Houston and Boston.

This in no way means that the opportunity to teach Chinese people is limited to the larger cities. Many smaller towns, especially

areas in which to meet and associate with people of Chinese descent. The Universal House of Justice has stated:

“Emphasis is now being placed on reaching the millions of Chinese people who reside permanently outside China with the healing Message of Bahá’u’ll4h.””

If you are interested in finding out more about teaching Chinese, please contact the Chinese Teaching Committee, P.O. Box 1889, Cambridge, MA 02238, or through the Baha’ National Center.

Would you like a Chinese edition of the Dawnbreakers or the Hidden Words?!

If so, you may order Chinese literature from the National Teaching Committee, Bahd'f National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Phone: (312) 869 9039.

are excellent

�[Page 11]Exciting news! Assemblies show net gain of 12 at Ridvan

Ay vor

A preliminary report from the National Teaching Committee dated May 4 showed that although 99 local Assemblies were lost, 111 were gained at Ridvan. This is encouraging news! Last year, 197 Assemblies were lost and only 80 gained.

Through the persistent efforts of District Teaching Committees, local Spiritual Assemblies, Auxiliary Board members, their assistants, and large numbers of dedicated individuals, many new Assemblies were formed and many that had been lost in past years were restored.

In addition, many non-func

Building Unity of Thought on Teaching This booklet, a re-print of the article found in the December, 1987 issue of The American Baha'i, is available for

50 cents per copy.

Order yours today!

National Teaching Committee Baha'i National Center Wilmette, IL 60091

Sollars move on, new coordinator named for traveling teachers

Dale and Ann Sollars, who have been serving tirelessly as the National Teaching Committee’s Traveling Teacher Coordinator and assistant for the past two years, are moving to Haifa!

Sam Williams of Yadkinville, North Carolina, has graciously agreed to assume the responsibilities of office manager for traveling teacher coordinators.

To arrange for traveling teachers to come to your area, or to ask for help in setting up an itinerary, please phone Mr. Williams at 919679-2133 or 919-679-2623. You may write to him at P.O. Box 971, Yadkinville, NC 27055.

Kim Bowers, who had served as regional coordinator for Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, has also moved on to new challenges.

Taking his place is Riaz Haghpajuh, oe a

Addison, TX 75244 (phone 214-243-1540).

tioning Assemblies were helped to form again.

Most of the Assemblies that were lost this year could not be reformed because the membership in their community had fallen below the required nine adult believers.

Some were lost, however, because of the Assemblies’ lack of maturity: either they did not know how to have an election or did not understand the importance of gathering to elect the Assembly— and there was no one there to help them.

In addition, some Groups that have more than nine adult believers did not form for the same reason.

The Guardian made it clear that .in any locality where the number of adult believers reaches nine, a local Assembly should be formed.”’ Still, some of the friends wonder why non-functioning Assemblies are helped to form year after year when they seem to exist only on paper.

In the Baha’i Writings, no reference is made to “‘paper Assemblies.”” The Guardian often spoke of Assemblies in organic terms, as though they were living entities.

Although some local Spiritual Assemblies may be dormant, like seeds planted in the ground that have not yet sprouted, they are alive with potential and must be kept safe from harm until they respond to the water and warmth that is given to them and begin to mature.

We would not expect that a seed would grow to maturity as a result of being watered only one time per year. Nor can we expect Assemblies to mature when they are visited by Bahá’ís only one time per year—at Ridvan.

Helping Assemblies to mature is an ongoing process in which nourishment must be given regularly and consistently until they are able to function on their own.

Now is the time to begin working with dormant Assemblies to assure that they will become strong functioning Baha’i centers.

All Baha’is are responsible for helping these Assemblies to grow and mature. District Teaching Committees can organize consolidation activities in these areas; neighboring communities can help by adopting a dormant Assembly as an extension teaching goal.

Individual Baha’is can pioneer to these communities or visit them as traveling teachers.

Certainly, we will appreciate our efforts in raising strong Assemblies when the troops who will enter the Cause arrive and we can rely on all of our Assemblies to help in welcoming them.

Plan.

Nh is now imperative for every Bahá’í to set for himself individual teaching goals. The admonition of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to lead at least one new soul to the Faith each year and the exhortation of Shoghi Effendi to hold a Bahá’í fireside in one’s home every Bahá’í month are examples of individual goals. Many have the capacity to do even more, but this alone will assure final and complete victory for the

—The Universal House of Justice Messages from the Universal House of Justice, p. 35.

An _ unusual twist in fireside teaching takes place once every 19 days at the home of Hoda Mahmoudi and Rick Da Bell in Santa Monica, California.

Instead of the usual approach, in which those attending are addressed by an adult speaker, the speakers at these firesides are youth,

Generally, the firesides are attended by 10 to 20 people, most of whom range in age from 14 to 23 years. The goal of this approach is to enable the youth to teach other youth and adults.

After the talk, the meeting is opened up for questions and discussion. Often, the discussions lead the young people to consult the Baha’ Writings to more fully understand a concept or idea.

Another benefit is that one young participant, six-year-old Bijan, is also learning, by example, how to teach the Faith.

The discussions are followed by informal conversation, fellowship, love and unity. Most of the attendees stay and have a good time getting to know one another

The American Baha’i / June 1988 / 11

Some firesides with unusual ‘twist’

Among the young people at a recent fireside at the home of Hoda Mahmoudi and Rick Da Bell in Santa Monica, California, were (back row left to right) Maricela Martinez, Camile Mansouri, Soo without being in an old world “party’’ atmosphere. The hosts consider these fire roosh Majzoob, Naysan Mahmoudi, Ali Enayati, Jason Snibbe, Mandy Enayati, and (front row left to right) Chris Milo, Michael Mathenge, Jason Conrad and Laura Mansouri.

sides a highlight of their month— and they are, no doubt, a highlight for the youth as well.

Here are ideas to get you started Blacks, other minorities must be given Message

“Associate with one another,”? ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said during one of His last meetings with the friends in the United States, ‘‘think of each other and be like a rose garden.”

From the earliest days of the Faith in this country, the friends have been asked to make special efforts to share the Teachings with blacks.

Today, it is a goal of the Six Year Plan to reach blacks and other minority groups with the healing Message of Bahd’u’ll4h and integrate them into the mainstream of Baha’i community life.

Still, some of the friends are hesitant to make such efforts, as they do not ordinarily come into contact with blacks and are not sure how to begin to do so.

Therefore, the National Teaching Committee would like to offer some suggestions about ways in which individuals and communities may establish contact and make friends with blacks.

“Whoso ariseth among you to teach the Cause of his Lord, let him, before all else, teach his own self, that his speech may attract the hearts of them that hear him.””

These words of Baha’u’ll4h are some that we are all familiar with. They are associated with the importance of deepening in the Creative Word.

But the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, also stressed the importance of being knowledgeable about current affairs: “If the Baha’is want to be really effective in teaching the Cause,”’ he said, “‘they need to be much better informed and able to discuss ... the present condition of the world and its problems.’”

Our first suggestion, then, is that the friends who are unfamiliar with the issues of concern to blacks on world-wide, national and community levels familiarize themselves with these issues through newspaper articles and magazines for blacks, or through special television programs.

This will provide a basic awareness that can be essential in help ing to create bonds of friendship and understanding with those of the black race.

If a local college offers courses in Black Studies, taking one of these classes would not only give individuals an opportunity to learn about black culture but also to meet black classmates with whom they could begin to associate.

The friends might also consider becoming involved with local organizations whose membership includes a number of blacks.

These may range anywhere from leisure-oriented to serviceoriented groups. Or they may be organizations dedicated to the upliftment of black people specifically, such as the NAACP.

Baha’i communities may wish to contact black organizations and invite them to collaborate in spon soring local events such as observances of Black History Week, Juneteenth, or Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

These organizations may include churches whose membership is predominantly black. Many personal friends as well as friends of the Faith have been made through good working relationships with local community groups. These new friends may in turn be invited to firesides in one’s home.

Blacks are one racial minority in this country on which we have often been asked to focus our attention in teaching.

In any endeavor to ensure diversity, it takes time and effort for a gardener to see that an array of flowers is cultivated in a garden, but ultimately the total effect is brilliant.

New study guide proves useful, popular

The study guide entitled The Word of God, recently published by the National Teaching Committee, is proving to be a useful and popular bridge to the expanded study of the Baha’i Writings.

To provide a glimpse of how it works, an excerpt, the introduction to Chapter One, is given below:

“We cannot gain understanding about the Word of God through our own unaided efforts. The Word of God, Baha’u’llah says, is ‘far higher and superior to that which the senses can perceive.’ We

must learn about the nature of the Word by turning to the means God has provided—statements within the Word of God itself. This will be our method throughout the six lessons of this book. “We begin our study of the Word of God with a more familiar topic—the words of human beings. By exploring statements in the Baha’i Writings we will learn about the qualities and influence that words possess. On this basic understanding of the nature of words we can build, in lessons two

See GUIDE page 40

Ridvan!

Three more state capitals form Assemblies

Due to the “‘moving”’ endeavors of several homefront pioneers, the state capital cities of Dover, Delaware; Carson City, Nevada; and Charleston, West Virginia—which did not have local Spiritual Assemblies last year—were able to form Assemblies at

One of the goals of the Six Year Plan is to ‘establish a Spiritual Assembly in every state capital.’”’ Four such capital cities remain without Assemblies: Cheyenne, Wyoming; Pierre, South Dakota; Trenton, New Jersey; and Montpelier, Vermont.

Baha’is who are interested in homefront pioneering to one of these cities are asked to contact the National Teaching Committee (312-869-9039) for more information.

�[Page 12]12 / The American Baha’i / June 1988

Se

FOR NEW BAHA'S...

The laws of Baha’u’llah are a sign of His love and mercy

Imagine that you have been invited to a wonderful party. A good friend offers you directions on how to get there. The party is rather hard to find, so the directions are carefully prepared; there are, say, 10 different steps to the directions.

As you drive to the party, you follow steps one through seven. But at step eight, instead of turning right as the directions explain, you decide for yourself that you would rather go left. It’s your choice, of course, but, not surprisingly, you become lost and never do find the party.

Imagine also that you received the directions with nine other people. At different points, each of you chooses to disregard one of the steps in the directions to make his or her own choice. Not only would no one arrive at the party— no two people would arrive at the same place!

The laws given by the Manifestations of God are a set of “divine directions” guiding individuals and society. “‘They whom God hath endued with insight,’’ says Baha’u’llah, “‘will readily recog nize that the precepts laid down by God constitute the highest means for the maintenance of order in the world and the security of its peoples.”’ (Gleanings, p. 331)

Rather than being an arbitrary imposition of God’s will upon man, the laws of God are intended to help us reach a desirable goal— for individuals, achievement of their true purpose; for society, the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth.

‘Abdu’ l-Bahd informs us: ‘“The Laws of God are not impositions of will, or of power, or pleasure, but the resolutions of truth, reason and justice.”’ (Paris Talks, p. 154)

Baha’u’ll4h further explains that He has not revealed ‘‘a mere code of laws’’ but has “‘unsealed the choice Wine.’’ “Know thou assuredly,’’ He says, ‘“‘that My commandments are the lamps of My loving providence among My servants, and the keys of My mercy for My creatures. ...’’ Through His ordinances ‘‘the standards of victory will be planted upon the highest peaks.’’ (Gleanings, p. 332)

From the Writings...

In the following passages, Baha’u’llah describes how the laws of God are revealed over time within a Dispensation so that, through the mercy of God, humanity can gradually adapt to the full implications of those laws.

“Know of a certainty,” He says, “that in every Dispensation the light of Divine Revelation hath been vouchsafed unto men in direct proportion to their spiritual capacity. Consider the sun. How feeble its rays the moment it appeareth above the horizon. How gradually its warmth and potency increase as it approacheth its zenith, enabling meanwhile all created things to adapt themselves to the growing intensity of its light. How steadily it declineth until it reacheth its setting point. Were it, all of a sudden, to manifest the energies latent within it, it would, no doubt, cause injury to all created things. ...

“In like manner, if the Sun of Truth were suddenly to reveal, at the earliest stages of its manifestation, the full measure of the potencies which the providence of the Almighty hath bestowed upon it, the earth of human understanding would waste away and

• be consumed; for men’s hearts would neither sustain the intensity

of its revelation, nor be able to mirror forth the radiance of i light. Dismayed and overpowered, they would cease to exist.”’ (Gleanings, pp. 87-88)

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

© Some of the laws of Baha’u’ll4h have been applied only gradually in the West. One example is the law regarding the consumption of alcohol, which was implemented by Shoghi Effendi. Do you know of other examples? (One hint: the law of Huqu’qu’ll4h)

© Can we assume, based on the principles described above, that laws and 'teachings we may ds individuals find difficult to apply in current society—such as chastity or freedom from racial prejudice—are intended for a future time and that, therefore, we do not have to obey them now?

© The Kitdb-i-Agdas, Baha’u’llah’s Book of Laws, has not been, as yet, fully translated into English. How can we obey Baha’i laws if the Agdas has not yet been translated?

.

The following are a few references available from the Baha’i Distribution Service which address the topic of Baha’i law:

Synopsis and Codification of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas—This book has translated passages of the Aqdas and an outline of the content of Baha’u’ll4h’s Book of Laws. See especially pages 1-7, an introduction by the Universal House of Justice that discusses the issues raised in the passages and questions above.

Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh—See especially pages 289-341 which focus on the nature of Divine laws and teachings and the development of a good character.

God Passes By, by Shoghi Effendi—This book is the Guardian’s history of the first century of the Faith. It describes on pages 213-16 the content and importance of the Kitdb-i-Agdas.

The Imperishable Dominion, by Udo Schaefer—Especially chapter 10, pages 152-90, which focuses on the nature of Divine law and why we should obey it.

In considering the nature of divine laws, and the need to obey them, it is important to consider the distinction between divine law and the philosophies or laws of human beings.

With any philosophy, we are free to pick and choose among the teachings. They are, after all, only the opinion of one person, and are subject to testing, evaluation and revision by other men.

But the Teachings of the Manifestation of God are not the opinions or advice of one person. They are rather the will of God for humanity and are based on an understanding of the creation that far transcends human understanding.

It is not surprising, therefore, that the laws and teachings are often greeted with surprise and rejection by humanity—what person would claim to have the same viewpoint as God Himself?

Baha’u’llah explains that the Manifestation of God is the Divine Physician Whose laws are the healing remedy for the body of the world. The patient, He says, cannot challenge the knowledge of the all-knowing Physician:

“Were He to decree as lawful the things which from time immemorial had been forbidden, and to forbid that which had, at all times, been regarded as lawful, to none is given the right to question His authority. ... Whoso hath not recognized this sublime and fundamental verity, and hath failed to attain this most exalted station, the winds of doubt will agitate him, and the sayings of the infidels will distract his soul. He that hath acknowledged this principle will be endowed with the most perfect constancy.”’ (Gleanings, p. 87)

Simply by accepting the laws of the Manifestation, are we not, then, as human beings, surrendering our intelligence? Have we become sheep, prepared to be led astray? Have we sacrificed our freedom? All these are far from the truth.

Rather than binding or restricting us, divine law offers true freedom.

An example can be found in the function of traffic laws. Without such laws, cars would be almost unable to move in a crowded city. But because of the laws and each driver’s adherence to them, thousands of cars are able to move to their intended goals with perfect freedom.

“That which beseemeth man,”’ Bahá’u’lláh says, “is submission unto such restraints as will protect him from his own ignorance, and guard him against the harm of the mischief-maker. ...

“The liberty that profiteth you is to be found nowhere except in complete servitude unto God, the Eternal Truth. Whoso hath tasted of its sweetness will refuse to barter it for all the dominion of earth and heaven.”’ (Gleanings, p. 336)

Also, instead of sacrificing our intelligence, we are recognizing the limits of human reason and opening the door to faith.

“To whatever heights the mind of the most exalted of men may soar,’’ Baha'u'llah tells us,

“however great the depths which the detached and understanding heart can penetrate, such mind and heart can never transcend that which is the creature of their own conceptions and the product of their own thoughts. ... Whosoever pondereth this truth in his heart will readily admit that there are certain limits which no human being can possibly transgress.’’ (Gleanings, p. 318)

God will, in His way, guide us. Our responsibility is to determine for ourselves the truth of the claim of His Manifestation.

Once having recognized Baha’u’ll4h as God’s Manifestation for this Day, we can trust His laws to be guideposts in an age when humanity has forgotten its Lord and pursues its base and selfish desires.

A group of Bahá’ís holds an informal deepening session on the lawn in front of the Mashriqu’l-Adh

kar, the ‘centerpiece of Bahd’w'lláh’s plan for community life.

Baha’u’llah’s laws, ordinances concern individual, society, and worship of God

Baha’u’llah’s laws and ordinances can be divided into three categories: those regarding worship of God; those designed to benefit the physical and spiritual condition of the individual; and those intended to transform society.

The following are a few examples of each (for more information see On Becoming a Bahá’í, a booklet provided to each new believer upon enrollment into the community). Some of the laws mentioned here may seem to belong on more than one list: Devotional

Prayer—Bahda’u’llah revealed three obligatory prayers, one of which should be selected and read or recited each day (see pages 3-16 in Bahá’í Prayers).

Fasting—The fast takes place from March 2-21, and involves absiaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. This law applies to those from 15-70 who. are not traveling, pregnant or nursing, or ill.

Reading the Holy Writings— Baha’is are to read the Sacred Writings every morning and evening.

The individual

Teaching—Baha’is should tell those who are willing to listen about the coming of Baha’u’ll4h and about His teachings. There are many ways to teach—this especially includes teaching through our good character.

Marriage—As part of Baha’u’llah's law of marriage, Baha’ is are to’ have the consent of all the couple’s parents to the marriage; the purpose is to build unity in the family, and, to a greater extent, in society. Also, expression of a sex

ual relationship is reserved for marriage; Bahd’{s should be chaste outside of marriage and loyal to one’s spouse within a marriage.

Avoiding alcohol and drugs— Baha’u’ll4h and ‘Abdu’ l-Baha explain that alcohol and drugs harm not only the body but the progress of the soul. Avoidance of drugs does not include medicines that are prescribed and/or administered by a physician.

Society

Baha’i administration—Baha’u’llah Himself established the framework for and authority of Baha’i administration, including Assemblies and the Universal House of Justice. This is in marked contrast to religions of the past in which the followers, not the Founder, created the religious institutions. Baha’i administration is the nucleus and pattern of the future World Order which Baha’u’llah came to establish.

Mashriqu’l-Adhkár—A House of Worship, which will in the future be established in every community, is a centerpiece of Baha’w’llah’s plan for community life. People will gather each morning at the House of Worship to praise God before beginning their day. Around this building will be raised dependencies intended to serve humanity, such as a school, hospital or home for the aged.

Obedience to government—Baha’is should be obedient to their governments and avoid interfering in political affairs. At the same time, they should be active in society in advancing principles, such as the elimination of prejudice or the establishment of peace, that tee the teachings of Baha’wah. �[Page 13]

Ridvan

from page 1

Assemblies in their growing relations with governmental and nongovernmental organizations and with the public in general.

This recognition prompted a meeting in Germany last November of national Baha’i external affairs representatives from Europe and North America, together with senior representatives of the Offices of the Baha’i International Community, intent on effecting greater coordination of their work. This was a preliminary step toward the gathering of more and more National Spiritual Assemblies into a harmoniously functioning, international network capable of executing global undertakings in this rapidly expanding field. Related to these developments was the significant achievement of international recognition accorded the Faith through its formal acceptance last October into membership of the Network on Conservation and Religion of the renowned World Wide Fund for Nature.

At one of the darkest periods in the prolonged oppression of the dearly-loved, resolutely steadfast friends in Iran, Shoghi Effendi was moved to comfort them in a letter of astounding insight. ‘It is the shedding of the sacred blood of the martyrs in Persia,” he wrote, ‘which, in this shining era, this resplendent, this gem-studded Baha’i age, shall change the face of the earth into high heaven and, as revealed in the Tablets, raise up the tabernacle of the oneness of mankind in the very heart of the world, reveal to men’s eyes the reality of the unity of the human race, establish the Most Great Peace, make of this lower realm a mirror for the Abha Paradise, and establish beyond any doubt before all the peoples of the world the truth of the verse: ‘...the day when the Earth shall be changed into another Earth.’ ”’ Reflections

‘Gold Miners’ ready to take part in third Gold Fever Conference

From July 17-19, large numbers of ‘‘spiritual gold miners’’ are expected to converge for the third time on the historic Mother Lode town of Placerville, California, to take part in the spiritual ‘“‘Gold Fever’’ Conference.

The theme of this year’s conference is ‘‘Finding the Nuggets.”

The focus will be on ways to accelerate the teaching work by “mining” spiritual nuggets, those inspired new believers who will help us win the goals of the Six Year Plan.

Some of those already scheduled to speak include National Spiritual Assembly member William Davis and Auxiliary Board members Marsha Gilpatrick, Richard Groger and Javidukht Khadem.

The conference is lovingly dedicated to the memory of Counselor Angus Cowan of Canada whose presence and inspiration at the Gold Fever Conferences in 1977 and 1983 helped make them so successful for the 500 people who attended each of them.

For more information, please contact the conference coordinator, Darlene Taylor, _

Placerville, CA 95667, or phone 916-626-0341.

like these, in adducing such wondrous future consequences from the horrific suffering to which our Iranian friends are subjected, illuminate the opportunity and the challenge facing us all at this crucial moment in the fortunes of the Cause.

The great projects already launched must be pursued to their completion. The terraces below and above the Shrine of the Bab and the Arc on Mount Carmel must be completed, fulfilling the glorious vision of the efflorescence of God’s holy mountain; the second World Congress must be held in the City of the Covenant to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the inauguration of that Covenant; the steadily advancing work on the translation and annotation of the Kitdb-iAqdas, the Most Holy Book, must be brought to publication; the interest shown by the friends in the Law of Huqtiqu’ll4h must be cultivated; the pioneers and traveling teachers must go forth; the expenses of the Cause must be met; all objectives of the Six Year Plan must be achieved.

But the paramount purpose of all Baha’i activity is teaching. All that has been done or will be done revolves around this central activity, the “‘head corner-stone of the foundation itself,’’ to which all progress in the Cause is due. The present challenge calls for teaching on a scale and of a quality, a variety, and intensity outstripping all current efforts. The time is now, lest opportunity be lost in the swiftly changing moods of a frenetic world. Let it not be imagined that expedience is the essential motive arousing this sense of urgency. There is an overarching reason: it is the pitiful plight of masses of humanity, suffering and in turmoil, hungering after righteousness but “‘bereft of discernment to see God with their own eyes, or hear His Melody with tl wn ears.’’ They must be fed. Vision must be restored where hope is lost, confidence built where doubt and confusion are rife. In these and other respects, ‘‘The Promise of World Peace’’ is designed to open the way. Its delivery to national and governmental leaders having been virtually completed, its contents must now be conveyed, by all possible means, to peoples everywhere from all walks of life. This is a necessary part of the teaching work in our time and must be pursued with unabated vigor.

Teaching is the food of the spirit; it brings life to unawakened souls and raises the new heaven and the new earth; it uplifts the banner of a unified world; in ensures the victory of the Covenant and brings those who give their lives to it the supernal happiness of attainment to the good pleasure of their Lord.

Every individual believer— man, woman, youth and child—is summoned to this field of action; for it is on the initiative, the resolute will of the individual to teach and to serve, that the success of the entire community depends. Well-grounded in the mighty Covenant of Bahd’u’ll4h, sustained by daily prayer and reading of the Holy Word, strengthened by a continual striving to obtain a deeper understanding of the divine Teachings, illumined by a constant endeavor to relate these Teachings to current issues, nourished by observance of the laws and principles of His wondrous World Order, every individual can attain increasing measures of success in teaching. In sum, the ultimate triumph of the Cause is assured by that ‘‘one thing and only one thing” so poignantly emphasized by Shoghi Effendi, namely, “the extent to which our own inner life and private character mirror forth in their manifold aspects the splendor of those eternal principles proclaimed by Bahda’w’llah.””

Beloved friends—you who are addressed by the Best Beloved, the Blessed Beauty, as ‘‘the solace of the eye of creation,”’ as “the softflowing waters upon which must depend the very life of all men’’— we urge you, with all earnestness from the utter depths of our conviction as to the ripeness of the time, to lay aside your every minor concern and direct your energies to teaching His Cause— to proclaiming, expanding and consolidating it. You can approach your task in full confidence that this clear field of progress outstretched before you derives from the operation of that “God-born Force’? which “‘vibrates within the innermost being of all created things’ and which, “acting even as a two-edged sword, is, under our very eyes, sundering, on the one hand, the age-old ties which for centuries have held together the fabric of civilized society, and is unloosing, on the other, the bonds that still fetter the infant and as yet unemancipated Faith of Bahd’ The American Baha’i / June 1988 / 13

OUR NATIONAL

TO THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY AND THE AMERICAN BAHA’i COMMUNITY PLEDGE TO YOU OUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND REAFFIRM OUR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO COMPLETION OF THE ARC AND FULFILLMENT OF THE GOALS OF THE SIX YEAR PLAN. WE STAND READY TO RESPOND TO YOUR CALL AS WE ENTER THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PLAN AND PREPARE FOR CHALLENGES YET UNSEEN. WITH OUR LOVE WE OFFER OUR FERVENT PRAYERS FOR THE STRENGTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE HEROIC MEMBERS OF OUR SUPREME INSTITUTION. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA’iS OF THE UNITED STATES

MAY 3, 1988

u'll4h.””

Have no fear or doubts. The power of the Covenant will assist you and invigorate you and remove every obstacle from your path. ‘‘He, verily, will aid everyone that aideth Him, and will

remember everyone that remembereth Him.””

You have our abiding assurance of ardent and constant prayers for you all.

The Universal House of Justice

Ridvdi 128

Baha’is play leading role as Tampa Bay holds festive Interfaith Prayer Brunch

Thanks to the efforts of a handful of Baha’is and a core group of religious leaders, the Tampa Bay (Florida) area celebrated its religious diversity April 17 with an Interfaith Prayer Brunch.

About 350 people representing eight faiths gathered at the event to pray for unity and to express a need for continued cooperation among Tampa’s religious groups.

The idea for a prayer brunch was born last summer and was carried into action by the Interfaith Committee of Tampa which was formed last September 30.

The committee is composed of Baha’is, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, American Indians, Protestants and Roman Catholi

A number of top community leaders endorsed the first-time event by ‘‘signing on” to an invitation letter that was mailed to about 6,000 people.

Chamber of Commerce members, political leaders, religious groups and secular organizations also received a brochure presenting a challenge to the Tampa community to stand up for interreligious respect and cooperation.

The opening remarks were made by Mayor Sandra Freeman of Tampa, who admitted she had tears in her eyes and expressed the hope that the event would become an annual one.

The program included prayers, music and dance as well as keynote addresses on religious diver

sity and the importance of religious toleration in a divinely ordained plan of God.

Baha’i participation extended to musical presentations by the New Horizon Singers and the Peace Kids, a group of four racially diverse Baha’i children who sang ‘‘God Is Sufficient Unto Me”’ and ‘‘We Are Drops of One Ocean.””

The latter song was quoted the following day in the Tampa Tribune which called the Peace Kids’ presentation ‘‘one of the program’s most moving moments.”

The event also received coverage in the St. Petersburg Times, on a local TV newscast and on a delayed radio broadcast.

Young Baha’i inducted in Golden Key Society

Andrea Jane Atkinson, a Baha’i youth attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, has been inducted into the Golden Key National Honor Society.

Ms. Atkinson, a third-year National Merit Scholar with a double major in computer science and biology, is vice-chairman and treasurer of the UM Baha’i Club and an active member of the Society of ‘Women Engineers.

Her membership in the United Campuses Against Racism has been helpful in assisting students to cope with recent racial tensions at the university.

Chester Kahn (left), a member of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly, is pictured with two delegates from Africa at the sixth Bahá’í International Convention which was held April 29-May 2 at the World Center in Haifa, Israel. While there, the members of our National Assembly conferred with other National Spiritual Assemblies about matters of mutual concern and took part in the election of the Universal House of Justice (see election results on page 1). Next month in The American Bahá’í, we'll present full photo coverage of the sixth Baha’? International Convention. (Photo copyright © 1988 by Paul Slaughter)

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

Conversations

By John Hatcher

Dr. John Hatcher, author of The Purpose of Physical Reality, once again offers keen insight into many perplexing spiritual questions. This story revolves around Hasan, a thirteen-year-old boy whose parents were executed for being Baha'is. Since his parent's death when he was three, he has been cared for by his embittered Muslim grandmother. The story opens with the frail, shy Hasan coming to live with his mother's Baha'i sister and her family. Hasan, numb to the confusion, the sadness, and the anger he suppresses, begins to open up and neal ae de omnes ew. Cod througn: his Rew. Eanals family and friends.

This fictional story is much more than entertaining read-_

ing .. . itis challenging. Dr. Hatcher provides insight after mmpigntes young Hesaniearns sou: Conan ie Atel ‘aith. Throughout the story we are witness to the thoughtae conversations, the spiritually enlightening games, and a unique historical perspective regarding ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Baha'is near Haifa during the out-break of the First World War. This is absorbing Coe

for youth and adults. SC $11.95

Published by George Ronald The Dawning Place Sale Extended

The Dawning Place, by Bruce W. Whitmore, is a pictorial record and a comprehensive history of the hard-won successes and the heart-wrenching setbacks that accompanied the erection of the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette. This history demonstrates how the unity of the North American Baha'i community and the building of its administrative order were forged into being by the momentous task of raising funds and building the North American “Temple of Light.” 83 photos and illustrations.

From the U.S. Baha'i Publishing Trust

$9.95 HC and SC $4.95

Bookstore Goes to

Bahda’i International Youth Conference The Baha'i Distribution Service wili operate a fully stocked bookstore at the Baha'i International Youth Conference. This bookstore will be located on the second floor of the Student Union Building at the University of Indiana, Bloomington, Indiana, June 30 through July 4, 1988.

The bookstore will carry a wide range of Baha'i literature from the Baha'i Distribution Service as well as Conference souvenirs and materials from other vendors of Baha’i materials. In addition to being abundantly stocked, the bookstore will be easily accessible to Conference participants. The Student Union Building is the site of many of the scheduled events for children, youth, and adults, and the bookstore will remain open from early morning to late at night.

Come to the Conference, and take home the newest books and special Baha'i materials!

ORDER FORM

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ORDERED BY ‘SHIP TO (raterent

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Marriage: MARRIAGE | A Fortress for Well-Being si HC $15.95 janes: SC $8.95

Offering insight about applying the Baha'i teachings on marriage to the realities of everyday life, Marriage examines the institution of marriage in the light of God's purpose for humanity and 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: dating

reparing for marriage

the purpose of marriage

© prayers for marriage

the equality of women and men

conflict resolution

• interracial marriage

raising children

• assistance from the Spiritual Assembly

1. divorce and remarriage

Formerly published as A Fortress for Well-Being. With a new cover design by Mona Carloni

New Foreword by Geoffrey W. Marks and Amy Seidel Marks From the U.S. Baha'i Publishing Trust

Teaching And Proclamation Booklets

Two high-quality information booklets, beautifully designed and printed with four-color photographs throughout, are now available.

The Baha’i Faith:

Pkg of 10 $9.95

This booklet contains many color photographs showing Baha'is from diverse parts of the world and the seven Baha'i Houses of Worship. It gives information regarding the basic teachings of Baha'u'llah; the Baha'i world community; the historical background on the Faith, including details about the Central Figures, the Universal House of Justice, the Baha'i World Center, social and economic development, and the Baha'is and the United Nations.

Social and Economic Development

& Aer A Baha’i Approach "Fal Pkg of 10 $9.95

This booklet contains 30 color photographs of Baha'is from around the world. Its content addresses such issues as group decision-making; community development; children’s education; the encouragement of women; the development of tutorial schools, agriculture, health care; Baha'i radio projects; and international collaboration.

Published by U.K. Baha'i Publishing Trust for the Public Information Office of Baha'i International Community

The Creative Word

The U.S. Baha’i Publishing Trust celebrates the in of this inexpensive edition of Tablets of of the major works of Ba

Tablets of of | Baha’u’llah

PS $4.50

Shoghi Effendi characterized the sixteen Tablets included in Tablets of Baha’u’llah, all revealed after the formation of the laws and ordinances of the Kitab-i-Aqdas, as “mighty and final effusions of His [Bahá’u’lláh’s] indefatigable pen.’ They are Tablets that “must rank among the choicest fruits which His mind has yielded, and mark the consummation of His forty-year-long ministry.”

These significant and much-loved Tablets include the Book of the Covenant, the Most Holy Tablet, the Glad Tidings, the Tablet of the World, and the Tablet of Wisdom.

From the U.S. Baha'i Publishing Trust

Tablets of Baha'u'llah and the six volumes of the Creative Word listed below will greatly assist the friends in their deepening, teaching, and proclamation efforts.

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf is Baha'u'llah’s last work. It contains the compilation that He personally selected of the major themes of His Revelation. Epistle includes His promises and warnings to the people of the world.

PS $4.50

Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah is a survey of the writings of Baha'u'llah compiled by Shoghi Effendi. It includes Bahá’u’lláh’s writings regarding the purpose of life, our relation ship to God, and the source and outcome of the current world upheaval

PS $3.95

The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah are eternal spiritual truths reduced to their “inner essences’—153 powerful, concise

meditations. SC $3.95

Kitab-i-iqan: The Book of Certitude is Baha'u'llah’s argument of the truth of the Baha'i religion. He sets forth the grand re. demptive scheme of God, revealing the oneness of religion and its continuity and evolution through the successive prophets of God. This book contains the basic tenets of the Baha'i Faith

PS $3.95

Prayers and Meditations is a collection of nearly 200 prayers and meditations of Baha'u'llah that was compiled by Shoghi Effendi to “deepen . . . the spirit of devotion and faith in the friends” and “to charge them all the spiritual power’ néeded to accomplish the challenges of the Cause.

PS $4.50

The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys contains two letters written by Baha'u'llah. The Seven Valleys is Bahá’u’lláh's mys tical treatise on the stages through which the soul passes in its quest for God. The Four Valleys is a mystical treatise on the four ways in which the Unseen is seen, the four stages of the human heart, and the four kinds of mystic wayfarers,” in quest

of the Intended One. SC $3.95

A CONCORDANCE TO THE WRITINGS OF BAHA'U’LLAH (SEE FACING PAGE) IS INDEXED TO THE POCKET-SIZE AND HARDCOVER EDITIONS FROM THE U.S. BAHA’! PUBLISHING TRUST.

Order now through your �[Page 15]The American Baha’i / June 1988 / 15

uickly find a passage from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh

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A Concordance to the Writings of Baha’u’llah, compiled by Lee Nelson, is one of the most comprehensive tools available for finding and studying passages from the Creative Word. It lists alphabetically all of the significant words in the writings of Bahá’u’lláh and includes a portion of the passage in which the word appears. This concordance has over 160,000 references to key words and provides access to nearly all of the published English writings of Bahá’u’lláh.

a > E

NS Si N

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¥2

Fema ae OZa:

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A Concordance to the Writings of Baha’u’llah is a basic tool that belongs in every Baha’i library.

It has many uses, such as helping you to: A Concordance is indexed to these books: Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

e Find a favorite passage Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah Kitab-i-lqan

e Research specific subjects lat } Prayers and Meditations

The Proclamation of Baha'u'llah

e Prepare deepenings and compilations The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys . ete Tablets of Baha'u'llah e Prepare readings for firesides, Feasts, and Holy Days A Synopsis and Codification of Kitab-i-Aqdas

' ; Plus 24 compilations e Explore and study the variety of meanings of words and

groups of similar words How do | use a concordance? This concordance includes an easily understood

° Enhance understandings, expand scope, and narrow personal guide on how to use it. Here is one reference:

interpretations and misquoting of Bahá’u’lláh’s writings engin

ABBREVIATED KEY WORD

e Foster unity by focusing on what Baha'u'llah actually wrote Pa TEP ss ERulis ioe PuaIENL piceptcs ort uame Sb saaamig Stee

rather than on what Baha’is think He wrote ABBREVIATION OF SOURCE PAGE:LINE

Bahai Distribution Service 32:70022330 02% �[Page 16]16 / The American Baha’i / June 1988

UNITED NATIONS

Faith noted

UNQ&A

“*A wider horizon is opening before us, illumined by a growing and universal manifestation of the inherent potentialities of the Cause for ordering human affairs. In this light can be discerned not only our immediate tasks, but more dimly, new pursuits and undertakings upon which we must shortly become engaged.”” (The Universal House of Justice, Ridvan message, 140 B.E.)

°

Question: What is the United Nations Association of the United States of America?

Answer: The UNA-USA is an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit organization whose goals are to broaden public knowledge about the UN and to increase the effectiveness of international organizations.

The UNA-USA’s network of 175 chapters and 130 affiliated organizations serves as an effective source of information on the United Nations.

The UNA-USA also promotes U.S. policies on global issues and coordinates the annual observance of UN Day (October 24) in communities throughout the country.

Q: What is the Bahd’( role in the UNA-USA?

A: The National Spiritual Assembly is a member of the UNAUSA’s Council of Organizations. Through this affiliation, the National Assembly is part of a network of non-governmental organizations working to educate the general public on UN-related matters. As a member of the Council of Organizations, the National Assembly is entitled to two voting delegates at the UNA’s national convention.

Q: How do individual Bahá’ís Join the UNA-USA?

A; One can join the UNA simply by completing ‘a membership application and paying a membership fee. Being a member provides the opportunity of becoming active in one’s local UNA-USA chapter. A free membership brochure describing the work of the UNA is available from the UNAUSA publications department (address below).

Q: Why is Bahá’í involvement in other organizations such as the UNA-USA important?

A; Bahdé’i involvement at the local level provides opportunities to form ties with those interested in addressing global issues and to become a source of information to the Baha’i community.

As expressed by Shoghi Effendi, ‘‘Let him also (the individual Baha’) attempt to devise such methods as association with clubs, exhibitions, and societies, ... participation in social, cultural, humanitarian, charitable and educational organizations and enterprises which, while safeguarding the integrity of his Faith, will open up to him a multitude of ways and means whereby he can enlist successively the sympathy, support, and ultimately the allegiance of those with whom he comes in contact.”” (The Advent of Divine Jusice, 1984 edition, p. 51; 1963 edi ion, pp. 42-43) Q: How can Bahá’í participaSee UN page 36

INFORMATION

• Scottsbluff, Nebraska—The

Star-Herald published a letter to the editor from a person who had recently attended a Baha’i fireside. Her letter praised the Faith, the Baha’is, and the hope presented in the teachings.

© Lowell, Massachusetts—The Sun published two articles covering nearly a full page. One dis in newspapers from coast to coast

cussed the history and teachings of the Faith; the other was about a Persian Baha’i family.

© Indianapolis, Indiana—The Indianapolis Star published two articles about the Faith in the same issue in March. One story described a Persian family who went to Indianapolis as refugees; the other was an overview of the Faith. Within a week, the Jndianapolis Record published two articles in which the Faith was mentioned and a third about the U.S. State Department’s annual human rights review for 1987 which cites the persecution of Ba hé’is in Iran, Egypt and Morocco.

• Fort Lauderdale, Florida—

Westside Gazette published an article about how casual drinking is presented in the media and how this can affect children. The article stated, “I know of only one solution. We must look to the example of our Baha’i, Moslem and Mormon brothers and _ sisters. And give ourselves the Great Freedom of Not-Drinking all forms of booze.’”

© Roanoke, Virginia—Roanoke Times & World News published an article about local Baha’i Sherry Crump who recently re turned from five months helping at the Bayan Hospital in Honduras. Ms. Camp has returned to medical school at the University of Virginia.

• ¢ Blackfoot, Idaho—The

Morning News published an article about pianist Mark Ochu and his recent performance in Blackfoot. The writer interviewed Mr. Ochu about the theme of peace in his musical program.

• College Park, Georgia—The

Sun published a three-part series about the Faith and the Baha’i community of College Park.

UNA youth director to give two programs at Youth Conference

James P. Muldoon, director of Model UN and Youth Programs for the United Nations Association of the United States, will present two informational programs at the Baha’i International Youth Conference at Indiana University in Bloomington.

Those interested in international affairs and global issues will want to attend his presentations.

Model UN conferences will be one of the topics. These conferences, sponsored at both high school and college levels, simulate activities of UN bodies such as the Security Council, the General Assembly, or related committees.

Students assume the roles of diplomatic representatives to the UN and consider items from the UN’s vast agenda.

Through this role-playing, students gain a greater understanding of global issues and the complexities of the international system.

Many such sessions take place annually. Other means of participation in foreign affairs programs will also be discussed.

Additional information about UN activities for youth will be available at the U.S. Bahá’í UN booth at the conference.

There will be displays depicting the Baha’j role at the UN, literature from various UN agencies, and Baha’i statements made at the UN on such issues as the status of women, racial discrimination, peace, and development.

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

Campus

from page 7

perspective.

Since the event, the Baha’i Club has been experiencing large and regular attendance at its weekly firesides, and the members say they have ‘‘daily opportunities’’ to teach.

They also point to the respect of faculty, administration and student body for what they believe is another of ‘‘the many doors that have been opened through the bounty of Bahd’u’ll4h.””

The club concludes its report. by saying, ‘Perhaps one of the most visible effects of this event, for both the Baha’i Club and the Baha’i community here in Charlottesville, has been the realization of the potential that the University of Virginia possesses.”

Students at the Cobb County Bahá’í School in Marietta, Georgia, release balloons with a quote from the peace statement during the school’s annual Ayydm-i-Hé party in February. The quote read ‘World peace is not only possible

but inevitable.’ Each child signed his or her name, and a Bahá’í phone number was given along with the words ‘Bahá’í Faith.’ One person later called the Bahá’í Phone number to say he had found a balloon. The local news paper printed a brief article and Photo of the event. About 80 children attend the 10-year-old Cobb County Bahá’í School, which meets every Sunday during the school year.

Listing of references to Faith grows; six papers pick up article on WLGI Radio

ia PuBLic

INFORMATION

In the May issue of The American Bah@’t, nine states were listed with 10 or more references to the Faith having been published in local newspapers between February 20 and March 20, 1988.

Since then the Office of Public Information has received additional clippings. Five more states had 10 or more references to the Faith published in local newspapers between February 20-March 20. The states were:

Indiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina and South Carolina.

.

The article about the Louis Gregory Baha’i Institute and the operation of WLGI Radio that appeared in The Sun News of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina,

‘Peace Quilt’ given

On April 21, the Baha’is of New Fairfield, Connecticut, presented a ‘Peace Quilt’’ to the local public library.

The colorful quilt, with peace drawings by 20 children, was completed last October by the Baha’is of New Fairfield in honor of United Nations Day.

has been published in at least six other newspapers:

Brunswick News, Georgia, April 8.

St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, Florida, April 16.

Decatur Daily, Decatur, Alabama, April 10.

Daily Mountain Eagle, Jasper, Alabama, April 13.

Waycross Journal-Herald, Waycross, Georgia, April 14.

Island Packet, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, April 10.

Association’s Atlantic Committee schedules Philadelphia gathering

The newly formed Mid-Atlantic Regional Committee of the Association for Bahd’{ Studies will hold its first conference October 22 at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The theme is ‘Knowledge That Heals: Appreciating Racial Diversity.’”

The tentative schedule calls for two parallel sessions in addition to a keynote address and a tutorial. a evening program is also plan Brunswick,

a Ripriiion information will be available as the time of the conference approaches. For more information, contact Scott Duncan,

Pis secretary, cataway, NJ 08854,

Milwaukee given Community Access Award by local cable TV service for series on Faith

The Baha’i Office of Public Affairs for the Greater Milwaukee (Wisconsin) area has been given the Community Access Award for Religious Programming by Viacom, the cable television service for the Milwaukee suburban area.

The Baha’i Broadcast Media Task Force used ‘The Spiritual Revolution” series consisting of 13 half-hour interviews with various knowledgeable Baha’is about the Faith.

The series was obtained from the Baha’i Publishing Trust and adapted to the local market through the addition of an appropriate lead-in and wrap-up which explained how viewers could obtain more information about the Faith.

Dianne Loftus, chairman of the task force and editor of the series, used 1/2-inch format tape for the cable series and also recorded the edited series on VHS cassettes for et oa area firesides and other

the Be Baha’i Office of Public Affairs, Greater Milwaukee area, will submit the series for broad cast on other area cable TV networks in the near future. �[Page 17]Introduction

Riḍván 1988 marks the end of the second year of the Six Year Plan, It was a year of contrasts, of dramatic developments, and of strong signs of progress—and a year of a frustrating lack of growth,

The year began with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’ l-Baha’s visit to America. The occasion was commemorated in more than 1,200 gatherings of Baha’is and their guests, which, in scores of cases, included organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Beyond War, and a variety of peace, women’s, and social development organizations.

One of the highlights of this historic occasion was the Souvenir Jubilee Picnic hosted by the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears at the Wilhelm School in Teaneck, New Jersey. The anniversary also served as the occasion for the presentation of the peace statement to the Chairman of the NAACP before 3,500 delegates at the organization’s national convention. This presentation commemorated the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s speech to the fourth annual Convention of the NAACP, at which He stated that the elimination of prejudice and the unity of the races are fundamental principles of the Baha’i Faith,

During the year the Faith continued its emergence from obscurity. The National Spiritual Assembly found itself in the middle of a successful effort to complete the final step on an international convention against genocide and was one of the few groups invited to testify before a Judiciary Committee of Congress on the need for legislation for the implementation of the Genocide Convention.

The seminal event of the year was the announcement by the Universal House of Justice of its intention to complete the remaining buildings of the Arc on Mount Carmel. In its letter of August 31, 1987, the House of Justice explained that humanity has reached a turning point in its history and that the Baha’i community must prepare for tremendous growth of the Faith and revolutionary changes in its role in the world.

The dual emphasis of the House of Justice on a vast expansion of the number of new believers and on the need to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to complete construction of the buildings defines the focus of our efforts for the next 10 years. These challenges have become the central theme of activities in the American Baha’i community.

A first step toward meeting the new challenges was the meeting with our sister Assembly in Canada and with the Counselors resident in North America to formulate a plan to make a major confabution to the completion of the

The result was agreement on a broad-based plan of unified action—to publish a joint statement of our vision of the spiritual significance of the Arc; to produce a film featuring the Hand of the Cause of God -Amatu’l-Bahá Rihiyyih Khánum conveying Shoghi Effendi’s vision of the importance of this prophetic enterprise; to cosponsor a conference on initiating

the process of entry by troops; and to advance the progress of Indian teaching and of Persian integration.

Concurrent with the sudden expansion of our world-shaping responsibilities were major advances in international collaboration among National Assemblies outside North America and_ their agencies. The highlights included:

© the meeting in Langenhain, Germany, with the representatives of the Baha’i International Community and 15 European National Assemblies, Canada, and the United States to discuss the collaboration of their efforts to work with the governments of the world. The conference resulted in an immediate increase in cooperation among these institutions. A follow-up conference of representatives of the Baha’i International Community and the National Spiritual Assemblies of Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States was held in Washington, D.C., and New York to work out the details of collaboration on the external affairs work.

© the meeting in Langenhain, on a separate occasion, of the representatives of the National Assembly’s Office of External Affairs and its Office of Pioneering with their European counterparts to consult about the complexities of pioneering in Eastern European countries.

© the progress made by the offices of the National Assembly toward the achievement of the international collaboration goals of the Six Year Plan that we share with more than 30 countries in the acquisition of national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, education, pioneering, publishing, traveling teaching, and refugee settlement.

Growth

Despite a substantial increase in teaching efforts by Baha’is throughout the country and by the Counselors, the National Spiritual Assembly, and their agencies, enrollments have remained at a distressingly low level. It is our hope that steps taken by the Board of Counselors and the National Assembly and its agencies, in conjunction with increasing signs of unified action among the friends, will reverse this trend.

The Board of Counselors held soul-searching discussions about the slow progress of the teaching work and resolved that each Counselor and each member of the Auxiliary Board would take personal responsibility for teaching. In addition, the Counselors conducted deepenings on teaching, in Canada and the United States, with members of the Auxiliary Board and with the National Assemblies of both countries and their teaching and youth committees.

The National Assembly held a conference of all its committees and offices to discuss how each agency can contribute directly to the teaching work in the course of discharging its mandated responsibilities. As the reports of the committees and offices indicate, they have responded enthusiastically to the challenge and in many cases have already taken direct action. Teaching has become the integrating theme of the work of all the agencies of the national administration.

The National Spiritual Assembly has also appointed a Hispanic Teaching Committee, and the National Teaching Committee has initiated border teaching with the National Teaching Committees of

and Mexico.

At the grassroots of the community there are some encouraging signs. Statewide campaigns of unified action have been started in 19 states including Iowa, Massachusetts, Connecticut, California, Texas and Indiana; other states and districts are in the planning stages. Two hundred teaching projects were conducted during the year. Traveling teaching was increased sevenfold, with more than 700 teaching trips being made.

Reports of regularly scheduled community-based firesides increased from 256 last year to 395. Teaching among American Indians has remained a highlight of the community’s teaching work, and organized efforts to reach black Americans have grown steadily.

The National Teaching Committee has published a position paper, Building Unity of Thought on Teaching, and a deepening booklet entitled The Word of God which have been received with extraordinary enthusiasm by the community. Currently at press is the next booklet in the deepening series, The Covenant.

Development

The newly appointed National Development and National Education Committees are in the early stages of their work. As they proceed, their method of operation will rely heavily on field-based task forces and locally-originated pilot efforts. On the national level these agencies will operate as clearing-houses, collecting, evaluating and disseminating information about effective development and education activities. They will also serve a strategic planning and development function for the National Spiritual Assembly. The two new committees’ approach to their goals reflects a growing pattern of decentralization among national agencies, for the National Assembly regards the gradual decentralization of committee responsibilities essential to the growth and development of the community.

Other highlights in the area of development include:

© A banner year for the schools and institutes, which experienced increased attendance at Bahá’í and non-Baha’i sessions. Of particular note is the success of the Louhelen Residential Program, the Louis G. Gregory Baha’i Youth Academy, and WLGI Radio Baha’i.

© The exceptional progress of the Committee on Women in its efforts to stimulate discussion and action on women’s issues and the equality of the sexes and in its excellent work with prominent organizations including the International Council of Women, the American Association of University Women, and the Business and Professional Women’s Club.

@ A marked increase in Spiritual Assembly development activities supported by both local and national institutions.

¢ The Baha’i Publishing Trust’s completion of another financially sound year, its publication and

The American Baha’i / June 1988 / 17

Annual report of the National Spiritual Assembly

distribution of an increasingly diverse range of Baha’i writings and other literature and materials in a wide range of prices, and its increase in the acquisition and preparation of new manuscripts relating to the goals of the Six Year PI

© The support of scholarship through financial and other aid to the Association for Baha’i Studies and through the subvention of the three-volume Short Encyclopedia of the Bahá’í Faith, which has permitted the hiring of a full-time general editor and a part-time research assistant.

• A steady rise in both social

development and Baha’i education activities.

Integration

The efforts to foster unity in diversity within the American Baha’i community were vigorous and productive. The Persian/American Affairs Committee and the Race Unity Committee, often working together, conducted an unprecedented number (15) of integration conferences and institutes. The Persian/American Affairs Committee launched pilot efforts to involve Persian believers in minority teaching in three metropolitan areas—Dallas, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.—and has plans to start another project in Atlanta in May.

The Race Unity Committee consulted with many Baha’i communities about initiating teaching efforts aimed at black Americans.

Because more than 14 percent of the American community for whom we have current addresses are Persian believers, including many recently resettled refugees, the National Persian/American Affairs Committee expanded the number of Area Persian/American Affairs Committees to 22 and established a network of cultural consultants to facilitate the integration of our Persian brothers and sisters into the mainstream of community life.

The outstanding efforts of both the Persian/American Affairs Committee and the Race Unity Committee aided the friends in developing understandings and approaches that will help our ongoing efforts to integrate all races into the mainstream of the American Baha’i community.

Administrative services

Solid progress was made in the improvement of administrative services to support the national community and the agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly. Of particular note were the improvements made in the management of expenditures, information systems, and human resources. Also noteworthy was the National Properties Committee’s development of a 10-year plan for the management, repair and improvement of national properties. The plan will help assure the systematic maintenance and development of our properties and increase our control of the enormous costs attendant to those efforts.

Special concerns

Enrollments: Despite a substantial increase in teaching activities, the level of enrollments has not shown a corresponding increase. There are still less than two enrollments per Spiritual Assembly. Yet the Plan calls for large-scale

growth, The National Spiritual Assembly is encouraged by the wave of fresh teaching initiatives and is confident that they will result in an increase in the number of new believers. However, at this critical juncture in human history, we are impelled to reiterate the call of the Universal House of Justice for the Baha’i institutions and individual believers to ‘‘rise up in sacrificial endeavor,’’ their hearts filled with “unshakeable confidence in the guiding hand of the Founder of our Faith.”’ This is the standard of service that will enable us to secure the elusive goal of entry by troops.

Quality of Baha’ life: The Six Year Plan calls for a ‘‘firmer and worldwide demonstration of the Baha’i way of life requiring special education of children and youth, strengthening of Bahda’i family life and attention to universal participation and the spiritual enrichment of individual life. ...”” We are gratified to note the strong steps made by many communities in their struggles toward this goal. However, we see the need for Spiritual Assemblies to give special consideration to enhancing the spirit and improving the consultation of the Nineteen Day Feast and to the study of the Sacred Texts and the principles of Baha’i administration.

Youth: The lack of growth among youth is particularly distressing. Since the youth of today provide the leaders of tomorrow, the support and encouragement of Baha’i youth, as well as efforts to attract new enrollments among youth, must become the focus of attention of Baha’i communities and of young and old believers alike.

The Fund: The core of Baha’i communities and individuals who contribute consistently to the Fund has enabled it to grow steadily over the past 10 years. Now the staggering challenge of contributing a major past of the monies for the completion of the Arc and the financial requirements of the national community dictate that we give renewed consideration to the spiritual significance of regular contributions to the Fund. For the current generation of Bahá’ís to achieve the world-shaping goals of the Faith, we must achieve largescale growth and foster a systematic increase in the number of believers who contribute regularly.

Conclusion

Shoghi Effendi described the American Baha’is as ‘‘champion builders of an Order which posterity will hail as the harbinger of a civilization to be regarded as the fairest fruit of the Revelation of Baha’u’ll4h.”’ Simultaneously, he warned that the road leading to our great destiny is ‘‘thorny and torturous,”’ filled with ‘‘setbacks and reverses.’’ He urged every individual Baha’i not to let these golden opportunities slip from our emp, lest they be irretrievably

At this moment in Baháa’{ history, ripe with world-directing possibilities, it is appropriate that we conclude this overview by recalling these admonitions of the beloved Guardian:

“This challenge, so severe and insistent, and yet so glorious,

See REPORT page 19 �[Page 18]18 / The American Baha’i / June 1988

S.C. Coordinating Committee moves steadily forward

The South Carolina Baha’i Coordinating Committee was appointed by the National Teaching Committee to help develop the Faith in South Carolina.

The committee consists of seven members who coordinate the various aspects of community development in the state: Moses Richardson (homefront pioneering, traveling teaching); Alexandria Gore (child education); Jubin Matin (public affairs); Truitt White (youth); Betsy Haynes (Assembly development); Roy Jones (Louis Gregory Baha’i Institute administrator); and Kurt Hein (director of WLGI Radio).

In addition, Trish Reed has

been asked to coordinate activities involving the arts.

During the past year the committee has been actively engaged in helping local communities with their teaching and consolidation plans.

Nearly 10 traveling teachers from outside the state visited several Bahá’í communities. Included was a visit by the Atlanta Youth workshop to the Louis Gregory Institute.

Besides these visits, there were more than 70 visits to 26 communities up until Ridvan, while during the Ridvan period more than 230 communities were visited by local traveling teachers to help

elect local Spiritual Assemblies.

During the past year more than 15 homefront pioneers settled in South Carolina.

To help local traveling teachers and in relocating homefront pioneers, the Coordinating Committee organized two ‘Resident Teacher Training Sessions” and one institute for homefront pioneers.

For more information about traveling teaching or homefront pioneering in South Carolina, please contact Moses Richardson, c/o South Carolina Baha’i Coordinating Committee, Route 2, Box 69, Hemingway, SC 29554.

The committee has contacted more than 20 local Spiritual Assemblies in South Carolina to help them distribute the peace statement.

In addition to this, committee members meet regularly with local Assemblies to offer help with Assembly development as well as to encourage active teaching programs.

Equal attention is being given to events and activities for children and youth.

Recently, more than 40 young people from South Carolina attended a regional youth conference in Charlotte, North Caro lina, and plans were being made for several charter buses to carry youth to this summer’s International Conference in Bloomington, Indiana.

Youth and children have also been a part of the many statewide gatherings held during the past year such as Peace Fest ’87 at the Louis Gregory Institute; a race unity meeting held in February with members of the National Spiritual Assembly, National Teaching Committee and Race Unity Committee; and the ‘“‘No Turning Back from the Task Ahead”’ conference sponsored by the Auxiliary Board members for South Carolina.

Green Lake Baha'i Conference School Dates

September 16,17,18, 1988

Theme "Have Your Vision Checked: Bring Your Contacts"

Location South Central Wisconsin just West of the city of Green Lake

Site Green Lake Conference Center American Baptist Assembly Green Lake, WI 54941 A beautiful, 1,000-acre conference grounds with extensive meeting rooms, accommodations, and recreational facilities. Phone: (414) 294 - 3323 or (800) 558 - 8898 outside WI.

HAVE

Yo) Oo Be

Bring Your Contacts.

AND WE MEAN IT! Let's share this wonderful weekend with family and seekers. The whole conference will be geared for your spiritual friends.

Sade breakfast $2.10 Speakers _ Classroom Facilities primitive and deluxe campsites, | may buy meal tickets, use the lunch $3.10 National Spiritual Assembly Central meeting hall for adult inexpensive dorms, cottages snack bar, picnic facilities or at dinner $3.95 Secretary Robert Henderson general and Persian sessions. and cabins with cooking restaurants off the grounds. C. adults 12 and up Continental Counsellor Smaller classrooms in nearby facilities, luxury homes, and Vegetarian and specific diets breakfast $3.80 Don Otto Rogers buildings for nursery, children, | private rooms in lodges or at the | available by advance lunch $5.00 pre-youth, and youth classes lakefront hotel. RESERVE arrangement. dinner $6.45 Attractions and adult optional sessions. EARLY to insure a choice of Exhibition Hall featuring: housing! Reservations canbe | Rates Pre-registration Publishing Trust Bookstore, | Recreational Facilities | made by using the attached form | To calculate conference cost, Children, pre-youth and youth Bahd’{ publishers and suppli- Acres of serene meadows and or phoning the ABA at the add the following three items: MUST PRE-REGISTER ers, National committee woodlands with freely roaming | number shown above. 1. Conference fees . booths, Bahá’í artists and Geervand wildlife., Indoor pool, A.ovemightadults $12 | Brogram Information artisans: beet aa eon ten- ED ees (12 and up) bal fF ene for program inth ‘ nis, golf an les of nature leals served cafeteria style on : ; formation only: Pan tee ea ney Night | trails through hills and valleys. | site. Overnight guests MUST B.overtight chidren $7 | “Sue Schaut, Planning Ideal for photographers. take the meal plan unless there C. maximum family fee $35 tee Secretary ern Br ome eae a (parents and children) Tea ony De iging accommodations (house, cabin, D. day-guest adult $7 Sun Prairie, WI 53590 Lodging choices include: cottage, campsite). Day guests (12 and up) Phone: (608) 837 - 8609 | = ee)

E, day-guest child $7

(infant to 11)

2. Accommodation rates A. tots 0-5 NO CHARGE The following per person / per night rates apply to everyone age 6 to adult. B. dormitory style room with . central bath 1-2perroom — $15-26 C. rooms with semi-private bath 1-3 perroom $17-30 D. rooms with private bath 1-4 per room $22-43 E. campsites, cabins, cottages and luxury homes —contact the ABA directly for information.

3. Meal costs All overnight guests must take meal plan unless the accommodations have cooking facilities. A. tots0-5 NOCHARGE B. children 6-11

PARENT(S) NAME(S)

PRE-REGISTRATION for CHILDREN, PRE-YOUTH AND YOUTH Green Lake Bahá’í Conference

‘STREET ADDRESS

GREEN LAKE CENTER RESERVATION (one per family) ‘Mail to Reservations and make check payable to: ‘American Baptist Assembly —Green Lake, WI 54941 ‘Advance Deposit —Room: 1 Day Room Charge. Housekeeping/Camping, % total charge

Cancellation Fee — ‘Room: Between 2 weeks and 4.00 p.m. day belore reservation, '2 ‘deposit. Housekeeping/Camping: Between 30 days and 4:00 p.m. day before reservation. 2 deposit. After 4:00 p.m. day betore teservation, no refund, either class.

cry

‘Send Form Directly to: Laurie Kautz,

STATE zp

7 Wil (Emotional / physical needs, behavior [SAT

ii Attend SAT PM

RETURN BY AUGUST 27, 1988

“NO REGISTRATIONS ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE

aerate heen Pretorence

List below your First Name | Age | Title 2

{and the name of each family | if under |Mr, Mrs.| Conference

‘member accompanying you | 18 |Rev., etc] Attending 3. ace ee ue { plan to room with___ | desire single occupancy.

(Rieiatei i ee ake

Cem Seana eee ger oe

Tenapeg oss seerreaaet ene 27

‘Antal date_____ Circle Time: BB AM PM EVE

Departure date_____Circle Time: 88 AM PM EVE ‘BB = Betore Breakfast

1 not checked, a roommate may be assigned ‘Atvig by Car. Public Transportation__

1 using public transportation, please give Date, Time, City and Place to be met if known, otherwise send when finalized

C1 rrioay owner — NuMBER ATTENDING Confirmation.

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY

�[Page 19]Can you identify anyone in this picture?

This is a photograph taken in April 1938 of Bahá’ís in Binghamton, New York, and Scranton, Pennsylvania. If you know any one in the picture, please send the name(s) to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Network for Young Adult Baha’is sets Brookline conference on business ethics

The Network for Young Adult Baha’is, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Brookline, Massachusetts, is holding its first conference July 21-24 at Pine Manor College in Brookline.

The conference theme is “‘Establishing the Baha’i Ethic in Our Professions.””

The speakers will include Counselor Magdalene Carney from the International Teaching Center in

Report

from page 17

faces no doubt primarily the individual believer on whom, in the last resort, depends the fate of the entire community. He it is who constitutes the warp and woof on which the quality and pattern of the whole fabric must depend. He it is who acts as one of the countTess links in the mighty chain that now girdles the globe. He it is who serves as one of the multitude of bricks which support the structure and ensure the stability of the administrative edifice now being raised in every part of the world. Without his support, at once whole-hearted, continuous and generous, every measure adopted, and every plan formulated, by the body which acts as the national representative of the community to which he belongs, is foredoomed to failure. a ey (American Baha’ is) must strive, ceaselessly strive, ready for any emergency, steeled to meet any degree of opposition, unsatisfied with any measure of progress as yet achieved, prepared to make sacrifices far exceeding any they have already willingly made, and confident that such striving, such readiness, such resolution, such

, such sacrifice

will earn them the palm of a victory still more soul-satisfying and resounding in its magnificence than any as yet won since the inception of their mission.’” National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States Riḍván 1988

Haifa, and Auxiliary Board members Javidukht Khadem and William Roberts.

The idea to form a network for young adult Baha’is was born at last year’s meeting of the Association for Baha’i Studies at Princeton University and expanded during a meeting in January at the Green Acre Baha’i School.

In February, the Spiritual Assembly of Brookline, which decided to sponsor the Network, received the following cable from the Universal House of Justice:

“*Welcome initiative young adult Baha’is to create continental network among their peers to enhance their efforts in service Blessed Beauty. Assure loving prayers divine confirmations on behalf all involved.””

According to the Spiritual Assembly of Brookline, the Network is not an exclusive, autonomous organization but simply a vehicle designed to facilitate interaction at all levels of the Bahd’{ community.

Although its focus is the “young adult Baha’i,”” this by no means precludes the involvement of interested youth and more mature members of the community. In fact, everyone is welcome.

Seating at the conference in July is limited and will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration deadline is July 1.

For more information contact Vanda M. Khadem,

Brookline, MA 02167, or phone 617-566-6894.

Eighth Greenlandic Summer School set

The eighth Greenlandic Baha’i Summer School will be held June 26-July 1 at Nuuk.

This year’s theme is ‘‘Peace and Unity.”’ The speakers will include Counselor Don Rogers and Auxiliary Board member Lotus Nielsen.

For registration and other information, contact the National Teaching Committee of Greenland, P.O. Box 44, DK 3900, Nuuk, Greenland.

The American Baha

’i / June 1988 / 19

Baha’i peace essay, arts contest draw warm response in Dallas-Fort Worth

In 1987 the Baha’ Office of Public Affairs (BOPA) in DallasFort Worth, Texas, approached school districts in Dallas, Carrollton-Farmers Branch, and Plano to sponsor a peace essay and arts contests in those districts.

Last August, Rose Parker of Arts Magnet High School in Dallas enthusiastically welcomed the idea of such a contest in that school. The contest was announced on all the school bulletin boards in January and February.

On April 11, during an annual Women and Peace Conference at the school, at which were more than 400 students and faculty members, a certificate of appreciation and deluxe edition of “The Promise of World Peace’’ were presented by Zia Shamsy on behalf of the BOPA.

Afterward, some brief remarks were made about the Baha’i Faith and the purpose of the contest.

As a result, Mrs. Carrie Smith,

a Baha’i from The Colony, was invited to give a talk on women and peace to faculty and students at the school.

After presenting stories of blacks, Indians, and South Americans in dramatic form with references to the Baha’i writings, she received a standing ovation from the more than 100 people in the audience, who were obviously moved by her presentation.

A deluxe copy of ‘‘The Promise of World Peace’’ was then presented to the school library.

$87,000 raised for Arc

About 500 Baha’is attended a Naw-Rúz party in Falls Church, Virginia, at which $87,380 was raised for completion of the Arc on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.

The gala event, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Alexandria, included dinner, a speaker, and American and Iranian music.

HC $49.95

A Concordance to the Writings of Baha’u’llah, a basic tool that belongs in every Baha’ library, can help you to:

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A Concordance is indexed to these books:

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah

Kitab-iigan Prayers and Meditations

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The Proclamation of Baha'u'llah

The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys Tablets of Baha'u'llah

A Synopsis and Codification of Kitabi-Aqdas Plus 24 compilations

�[Page 20]20 / The American Baha’i / June 1988

B.E. 144: From nearly every standpoint, a banner year

MAY

• Twelve Bahd’{s who met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His historic visit to North

America share their memories May 1-2 during a celebration at the Bahd’ House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, of the 75th anniversary of the Master's dedication of the cornerstone.

The weekend's activities, given added significance by their beginning on the 12th Day of Ridvan, include an address by Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, vicechairman of the National Spiritual As

FIRUZ KAZEMZADEH

sembly.

Introduced Friday evening as the “living treasures’’ of the Baha’i community, the 12 who met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá share their childhood memories of sitting on the Master’s lap, receiving a hug or a gift, or some other special thing that happened while they were with Him.

• On May 4, members of the National Race Unity Committee present

a copy of the peace statement to John E. Jacob, president of the National Urban League, at the League’s national headquarters in New York City.

Representing the NRUC are its chairman, Dr. Roy Jones, and secretary, Marilyn Ellis Greene.

• On May 11, the government of

Egypt levies fines against 48 Baha’is and sentences them to a maximum three-year prison term for allegedly violating a law banning Baha’i activities in that country.

Nine who reside outside Egypt are convicted in absentia while two others are found not guilty after recanting their faith.

Presidential Decree No. 263, signed in 1960 by then-President Gamal Abdel Nasser, ordered the dissolution of all Spiritual Assemblies in Egypt.

© More than 500 cyclists take part May 17 in “Cycle Against Drugs,” a bike-a-thon sponsored by the Baha’i Cycle Club and Spiritual Assembly of San Bernardino, California, to raise money for a recently formed anti-drug task force, San Bernardino Community Against Drugs (SBCAD).

• On May 23, more than 45 people

from Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin gather at the Baha’i Center in Milwaukee for a conference whose theme is ‘Everything You Wanted to Know About Indian Teaching But Were Afraid to Ask.’”

The main purpose is to encourage people to consider service on Indian teaching projects in Wisconsin and the Chicago area.

• Also on May 23, Baha’is in the

Boston area use a chartered bus and 15 autos to “retrace the steps’” of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as they commemorate His journey in 1912 from Boston to Worcester, Massachusetts.

© More than 200 people attend a Baha’i-sponsored Race Unity Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which receives citywide support from government and ci groups and

helps focus attention on issues critical to race unity in that city.

© The 14th annual Conference of Nur, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and held May 29-31, draws a record attendance of more than 320 adults, youth and children.

JUNE

• More than a thousand Baha’js and

their guests gather June 27 at the Wilhelm property in Teaneck, New Jersey, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Souvenir Picnic hosted there by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His memorable visit to North America in 1912.

The day-long event, one of about 1,500 such picnics held across the country at the request of the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears, whose presence greatly blesses this one, is held in part on a makeshift stage under a circle of pine trees planted by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Himself in the backyard of the Wilhelm Cabin. A steady rainfall forces abandonment of the original plan to conduct the formal program of talks and entertainment at nearby Votee Park.

Mr. Sears gives the keynote address, after which a plaque is presented by the National Spiritual Assembly to Mayor Bernard Brooks of Teaneck for his work in promoting unity among all the people in that city.

Another special guest is state Sen. Matthew Feldman.

“Abdu’l-Bahá’s address to the first Unity Picnic in 1912 is read by Dr. Robert Henderson, secretary, and Judge Dorothy Nelson, treasurer of the National Spiritual Assembly, which holds its regular meeting that weekend in Teaneck.

se is the one event,’ says Mr. Sears, ‘‘that will always be associated with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to America.’” He urges the friends to use the occasion as a time to renew their teaching efforts.

• On June 29, the National Spiritual

‘Assembly’s United Nations office and the offices of the Baha’i International Community gather for an_ historic ‘open house to mark their occupation of a new suite of offices at 866 UN

LAURETTA KING

Plaza in New York City.

Special guest of honor at the ceremony, which is attended by more than 100 guests, is Glenford E. Mitchell, a member of the Universal House of Justice and former long-time secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Among those present are UN representatives from national and international organizations, other UN personnel, diplomats and friends of the Faith.

© During a performance at the Wolf Trap Theme Park near Washington, D.C., legendary jazz trumpeter John Birks (Dizzy) Gillespie, a Baha’ since 1968, receives messages from the Universal House of Justice and the National Spiritual Assembly congratulat

ing him on his 70th birthday and his 52nd year as a professional musician.

© One of the many picnics commemorating the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to North America is held in Arizona’s Navajo/Hopi District. Nearly 400 attend the event, which also honors the 25th anniversary of the great Pine Springs Bahd’{ Conference.

JULY

© “‘Let it be this generation!” is the rallying cry of some 1,700 young people from 32 countries who gather July

MARILYN GREENE

9-12 for a Baha’i International Youth Conference at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada.

At the conference, Baha’i and non-Baha’i youth consult together on ways in which they can work for peace so that world peace is achieved as a result of the efforts of this generation,

Among those who address the youth are seven members of the Continental Boards of Counselors: Eloy Anello, Farzam Arbab, Robert Harris, Lauretta King, Donald Rogers and David Smith from the Americas, and Agnes Ghaznavi from Europe.

Other featured speakers are Jane Faily, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada; Robert Henderson, secretary of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly; Auxiliary Board member Jack Lenz of Canada; and Kevin Locke, a Native American Bahá’í and well-known traveling teacher from South Dakota.

Among the stellar line-up of entertainers are Canadian recording artist Doug Cameron and his band, “Blue Velvet”; Canadian singer/guitarist Gordi Munro who recently completed ‘ 20,000 mile teaching trip in the U.S.; Youth Core, a group of 17 young non-Baha’is from Ontario; santour player Kiu Haghighi and pianist Rosamond Brenner from Illinois; and a Canadian dance troupe, ‘‘The Atlantic Workshop.”

Mr. Lenz, who besides being an Auxiliary Board member is a musician and composer for radio, television and films, produces a dramatic presentation on the life of the Bab entitled “Midsummer Noon” which is performed July 9 to commemorate the anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Bab. In a letter to those at the conference, the Universal House of Justice writes, “...You are called upon to demonstrate to your peers the power of the Revelation of Baha'u'llah through the nobility of your characters, the excellence of your morals, and the vitality of your spiritual discipline.

• On July 29, Edna True, the

daughter of the Hand of the Cause of God Corinne True and herself a former Counselor for the Americas and member of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly, celebrates her 99th birthday by presenting copies of

Bruce Whitmore’s book, The Dawning Place, to 19 young volunteers who are spending their summer working at the Baha’i National Center in Wilmette.

In turn, Miss True receives from the National Assembly a scroll recognizing her many years of service to the American Baha’i community.

• David Villanueva Villasefior, an

artist and sculptor who perfected the technique of permanent sand painting to help preserve for future generations that unique and important art form of the Navajo Indians, dies July 6 in New Mexico after a long illness.

AUGUST

© In a letter dated August 31, the Universal House of Justice discloses to the Baha’is of the world its plans to complete as soon as possible the remaining buildings comprising the Administrative Center of the Faith on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.

To do so, it says, will require the rapid accumulation of a reserve of $50 million and an income of between $20 million and $25 million for the Baha’ International Fund for the next 10 years.

“In this message,”’ the National Spiritual Assembly says in its response, ‘‘the Universal House of Justice reminds us of the spiritual energies and new impulse which the completion of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice has released and given to the advancement of the Faith.

“The Universal House of Justice explains that the vastly augmented World Center structure will be capable of meeting the challenges of the tremendous growth of the Baha’i community which the beloved Guardian has told us to expect, and calls upon us to prepare ourselves for that hour whose coming it is our task to hasten.”

• In response to a recommendation

from the National Persian/American Affairs Committee, the National Spiritual Assembly convenes a conference August 29 at the Bahá’í National Center to discuss the integration of Iranian Baha’js into the mainstream of the U.S. Baha’i community.

Taking part in the gathering are

GLENFORD MITCHELL

members of the Board of Counselors resident in the U.S.; the National Teaching Committee, Persian/American Affairs Committee, Race Unity Committee, Development Committee, and Youth Committee; the Office of Pioneering; and the directors of Administrative Services and Community Administration at the National Center.

At the request of the Persian/American Affairs Committee, the National Assembly selects The Advent of Divine Justice as the ‘“book of the year.”” Individuals and communities are encouraged to use this important work by the Guardian for intensive study and discussion of the implications of Shoghi Effendi’s analysis of the des tiny of America and the mission of the U.S. Baha’i community.

‘© What began as an idea for a modest service project by two Bahd’{s in the Los Angeles area blossoms into one of the most massive humanitarian medical relief airlifts ever undertaken.

Labeled Project HELP (Hospital Emergency Lift, Philippines), the airlift delivers free medical help in the form of doctors, medicines and medical equipment from Southern California to the poorest areas of the Philippines.

WILLIAM SEARS

no, saying she is “‘overwhelmed”” by the effort, receives the airlift’s 15 tons of donated medicines from the project leaders, Baha'is David Langness and Deanne LaRue, at a formal ceremony at Malacanang Palace in Manila.

The Project HELP airlift brings 25 volunteer physicians and health care professionals from Los Angeles to Manila with medicines and other supplies donated by hospitals in Southern California.

© On August 20, more than 300 people attend a Unity Feast in Eliot, Maine, that commemorates the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Baháa’s visit to the Green Acre Baha’i School.

• Frank McLemore, a Cherokee Indian Baha’i who is secretary of the

American Indian Teaching Committee, is the guest speaker at an American Indian Council Fire held August 23-24 at the Baha’i Center in Houston, Texas.

More than 70 people including 30 non-Baha’is hear Mr. McLemore speak on “Tribal People and the Holistic Approach to Life.”

© On August 15, a “Oneness of Mankind” march, organized by the Spiritual Assembly of Florence, South Carolina, is held in the downtown area of that

Ye

SEPTEMBER

• Bahá’ís from across the country

gather over the Labor Day weekend September 4-7 in the north Chicago suburb of Lincolnwood for a Conference on Growth sponsored by the National Teaching Committee.

The conference, held only a few miles from the House of Worship in Wilmette, addresses the statement by the Universal House of Justice in its Ridvan 1987 message to the Baha’is of the world: ‘The stage is set for universal, rapid and massive growth of the Cause of God. ...’”

Among the nearly 300 who take part in the event are members of national committees, District Teaching Committees, Regional Schools Committees, District and Regional Youth Committees, and regional traveling teacher coordinators. ~

The speakers include Counselors Wilma Brady and Robert Harris; Robert Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly; Gene Andrews and Jaci Delahunt of the Na

�[Page 21]tional Teaching Committee; Auxiliary Board member Soo Fouts; and Gail Etzenhouser, a member of the National Youth Committee.

• More than 300 Baha'is and their

guests are present September 4-7 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to that city on September 28, 1912.

A special guest is the Hand of the Cause of God Collis Featherstone who speaks to the group about service through social and economic development projects in Bahd’{ communities around the world.

© The Universal House of Justice reports that ‘‘on September 28 two Baha’fs were executed in Tehran.”’ Both

Amir-Husayn Nadi members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran, and both had been imprisoned since September 1984.

© The nearly 1,200 people who gather September 18-20 for the 28th annual Green Lake (Wisconsin) Baha’i Conference are asked to “Please Use the Service Entrance” because, as the 75th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to North America is being celebrated across the country, a life of service to the Cause as exemplified by the Master is the central theme of the world’s largest annual Baha’i conference.

The speakers at this year’s conference include Counselor Robert Harris; Jane Faily, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada; Auxiliary Board member Morris Taylor; Ernestine Berkey, representing the National Committee on Women; Manouchehr Derakhshani, secretary of the Persian/American Affairs Committee; and Daryush Haghighi, a trustee of the Hugiqu’llah.

© The presentation of a Peace Award to Travis Medlock, attorneygeneral of South Carolina, and the first two performances of a 16-member Baha'i ‘Peace Orchestra” are among the highlights of Peace Fest '87 which is held September 16-19 at the Louis Gregory Baha’ Institute near Hemingway, South Carolina.

The orchestra, which is on stage on ‘Thursday and Friday evenings, is led in its debut performance by renowned jazz trumpeter and South Carolina na

ALBERTA DEAS

tive Dizzy Gillespie.

On Saturday, a panel moderated by Auxiliary Board member William Roberts discusses the role of religion in bringing about a lasting peace. Among the panelists is Robert Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly.

It is estimated that about 85 percent ‘of the 800 people who attend Peace Fest ’87 are not Baha'is.

‘© During a ceremony held September 15 at United Nations headquarters in New York City, the worldwide Baha’ community is cited for its ‘ nificant and concrete contributions” to the UN International Year of Peace in 1986,

‘The Bahd’{ International Commu

nity is one of about 300 national and international groups designated as “Peace Messengers” by UN Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuellar.

© The Louhelen Residential College is opened September 6 with its inauguration ceremonies.

Fifteen students are enrolled in the first class. They have come from Ethiopia, Ecuador, Guatemala, the Solomon Islands and Israel as well as from Alaska, Arizona, Michigan, South Carolina and South Dakota.

Students live at the Louhelen School and are enrolled in degree-earning programs at cither the University of Michigan-Flint or Mott Community

PETER KHAN

College. They also take part in a Baha’i Studies class, a study skills class, a weekly deepening program, and a program of service at Louhelen.

© On September 26, 15 business and financial professionals from throughout the American Baha’i community assemble at the Baha’i National Center in Wilmette, Illinois, to consult with and advise the National Spiritual Assembly on its management of assets and expansion of the financial resources of the National and International Funds.

© Chester Kahn, a Navajo artist and member of the National Sy sembly, presents an exhibit of his works for the nearly 200 people who help celebrate ‘American Indian Heritage Week’? September 20-26 at the Baha'i Center in Houston, Texas.

© Bahd’fs and their guests from several states gather over the Labor Day weekend at the Bahd’{ Center in Los Angeles for the fourth annual Baha’i History Conference held in that city.

The purpose of the conference is to present research papers of scholarly interest and to discuss the present state of Baha’ history studies.

© Powell Lindsay, 82, a former Broadway producer, director, playwright and actor, and a Baha’i since 1961, dies September 22 at his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan, after a long illness.

OCTOBER

• On October 9, Judge James F.

Nelson, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, presents a copy of the peace statement “‘The Promise of World Peace’’ to Ezra Taft Benson, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture who is now president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon), at the church’s national headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah.

• More than 350 people gather October 22-25 at Princeton University in

New Jersey for the 12th annual Conference of the Association for Baha’ Studies.

Among those taking part are Counselors Farzam Arbéb and Donald Rogers and Douglas Martin, director of the Office of Public Information at the Bahá’í World Center in Haifa, Israel.

‘On October 22, immediately preceding the opening of the Association’s annual Conference, eight of its nine professional interest groups hold sem inars at Princeton.

• Also in October, the Universal

House of Justice cables inspiring news of teaching victories in Taiwan, Nigeria and Canada:

“*...Nearly 450 new believers declared since inception Muhájir Teaching Project late May 1987, 420 of whom entered Faith since June 19, representing over 28 percent increase total number Baha’is Taiwan so far. ...Six youth joined week-long teaching project in Balogun near Ife, Oyo State (Nigeria), August 17-22. Enrolled 802 majority Yoruba tribe. ... Through the efforts of a few dedicated Bahd’{ pioneers and traveling teachers, over 120 people have become Baha’is, raising number of Bahá’ís in this region (Fort Vermillion area, Alberta, Canada) to 300 in the span of a few short years. These new believers are almost exclusively from the native population of Canada. The most recent declarants came to the Faith as a result of deepening and teaching efforts launched this summer in memory of Gol Aidun. ..."”

© On October 3, the Baha’i Faith becomes the sixth world religion to join the World Wide Fund for Nature’s Network on Conservation and Religion.

© Thirteen Area Persian/American Affairs Committees are represented October 8-11 at the second annual APAAC Conference at the Baha’i National Center in Wilmette, Illinois.

The members meet with the National Persian/American Affairs Committee to share their experiences and concerns relating to the integration goals of the Six Year Plan and to acquire new understandings and skills that will be helpful in promoting the integration and participation of Iranian Bahá’ís in the life and work of the U.S. community.

Among the speakers are Robert Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, and Auxiliary Board members Javidukht Khadem and Morris Taylor.

As a part of the conference, participants visit the grave of the Hand of the Cause of God Zikru’lláh Khadem whose life was an example of the integration of East and West.

‘* More than 40 delegates from 24 agencies including the U.S. Baha’i Publishing Trust and Distribution Ser COLLIS FEATHERSTONE

vice take part October 27-30 in an International Baha’i Publishers’ Conference in London, England.

“Rediscovering Our Spirituality” is the theme of the third annual Conference of Spanish-speaking Baha’ is held October 16-18 in San Fernando, California.

'* On October 26-29, Counselor Isabel Pavén de Calderén visits the Wilmette area following two conferences in the U.S. with other Counselors, and pays her first visit to the Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette, thus fulfilling a long-cherished desire.

NOVEMBER

• The Universal House of Justice

cables all National Spiritual Assem

The American Baha’i / June 1988 / 21

blies informing them that it has accepted the resignations of two of its members, David Hofman and Borrah Kavelin,

“In view of the steadily increasing burden of work resting upon the members of the Universal House of Justice, which will undoubtedly grow still heavier during the years immediately ahead,” it says, “Mr. David Hofman

and Mr. Borrah Kavelin, after prayerful consideration as to the best interests of the Cause of God, have, in light of their advanced ages, requested permission to relinquish their membership on this body in accordance with Article V.2(c) of the Constitution

JANE FAIL ¥

of the Universal House of Justice.

“The House of Justice has regretfully accepted the resignation of these beloved members, who have rendered a quarter of a century of continuous and highly-valued service in the Holy Land. They will thus be able to continue their services to the Cause of God free from the inexorable pressure of work at the World Center. Since, however, the next international election is so near, we have requested them to remain in office until that time, and this they have readily agreed to.”

• The Universal House of Justice

calls a meeting November 26-28 of representatives of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Canada, the U.S. and 16 European countries.

At the meeting, which is held in Langenhain, Germany, site of the European Baha'i House of Worship, the House of Justice is represented by one of its members, Glenford E. Mitchell. Chairing the meeting is Wilma Brady, administrator-general of the Bahda’i International Community's office in New York City.

The consultation focuses on the relationship of National Spiritual Assemblies to governments in their countries. The excitement of the meeting is heightened by the news from New York that the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee has passed a resolution condemning human rights violations in Iran that includes mention of the Baha’is in that country.

• On November 15, more than 300

Baha’is from all areas of Massachusetts end a day-long teaching conference on a high note by dedicating “Project Massachusetts” to the memory of the Hand of the Cause of God Zikru’lláh Khadem.

• Members of the Bahá’í National

Committee on Women are among those who attend the National Women’s Conference Committee’s ‘‘Decade of Women on the Move’ conference November 19-22 in Washington, D.C. The conference brochure includes a full-page ad submitted by the National Committee on Women.

• Dr. William Maxwell, a member

of the National Spiritual Assembly, is the guest of honor November 21 as about 200 Baha’is gather to dedicate the new Baha’i Center in Nashville, Tennessee,

DECEMBER

• On December 7, the UN General

Assembly approves a resolution that expresses its “‘grave concern’’ over allegations of continued violations of human rights in Iran.

The measure, passed by a vote of 64-22, mentions specifically Iran’s persecution of Baha’is and calls for the continuation of the General Assembly’s ongoing investigation of the human rights situation in Iran.

• On December 10, the National

Spiritual Assembly hosts a reception at the International Club in Washington in recognition of Human Rights Day and the opening of its new Office of External Affairs in the nation’s capital.

A special guest, the Hon. Richard Schifter, Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, speaks on the topic of human rights in general and the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran in particular.

• The American Bahá’í produces

the largest edition in its 17-year history, a 48-page issue which addresses the many aspects of teaching the Cause of God.

© The annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion, held in December in Boston, marks a new level of activity on the part of the Faith.

For the first time, a session of the New England Regional Committee of the Association for Baha’ Studies is held prior to the AAR meeting. Its topic is the creation of a dialogne between Baha’is and Christians.

• Also in December, the Baha'i International Community learns that

five Bahá’ís who were imprisoned in Iran have been released on bail.

The five men, who were arrested together in Tehran in October, are released on December 17. Because several of them had held positions of leadership in the Baha'i community, the BIC had concern for their safety at the time of their arrest.

• At a statewide meeting held December 26 in Austin, Texas, members

of local Spiritual Assemblies and District Teaching Committees in that state agree to accept a challenge from California by becoming the second state to pledge to raise at least $1 million for the Arc on Mount Carmel.

MARSHA GILPATRICK

Actually, the Texans plan to raise $1.5 million between January 1988 and January 1989 with an intermediate goal of $500,000 by Ridvan 1988.

They also decide to place an even stronger emphasis on teaching efforts throughout the year.

The Texas campaign is to be conducted in much the same way as California’s ‘Arc of Love’’ campaign.

• More than 300 young Bahá’ís

from a dozen states attend a Regional Youth Conference held December 28January | at the Radisson Inn and Conference Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

See YEAR page 36 �[Page 22]22 / The American Baha’i / June 1988

CLASSIFIEDS

Classified notices in The American Baha’i 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

‘THE GREEN Acre Baha'i 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 Baha’i School, 188 Main St., Eliot, ME 03903 (phone 207-4397200).

‘TEACHERS and staff are sought by the Bahá’í owner of a private preschool/kindergarten in an area where three Bahá’í Groups need homefront pioneers. An excellent opportunity to teach Bahd’{ principles through personal example while helping to form Baha’i Assemblies. Several area Assemblies need more Bahá’ís for strengthening. Contact Linda Mortilaro, Las Vegas, NV 89102, or phone 702-876-6461.

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed in Clayton, North Carolina, on Ralcigh’s doorstep. Enjoy small-town life with a big city just down the road. Help make the Clayton community alive and active; there are only three active Baha’is in the town. With your help, Clayton can grow! For more inaati write to Mojdeh Barghas Clayton, NC 27520 (phone 919-553-3702), or the District Teaching Committee of Easteri North Carolina, c/o Warren G. Rochelle, Garner, NC 27529.

WANTED: Baha’i neighbors in the beautiful village of Virden (population about 300), an oasis in the desert of southwestern New Mexico. There is a home for sale: three bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, pecan trees, river water irrigation, space for a garden and livestock. Price: $35,000. Teaching jobs are usually available, and a doctor is needed in the nearby community of Duncan, Arizona. A perfect area for retirees or for a young couple who want a “backto-basics”” lifestyle. Please help us build a strong Bahá’í community. If interested, write to the Baha’i Group of Virden, c/o Elena Morrow,

Duncan, AZ, 85534, or phone (evenings) 505-358-2363.

place for retired couples or singles with their own income. Write to Shida Mali, Jacksonville, NC 28540 (phone 919-455-5704), or the District Teaching Committee of Eastern North Carolina, c/o Warren G. Rochelle, Garner, NC 27529.

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 Arram 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: Wake Forest, North Carolina, offers you the coziness of a small town with a big city, Raleigh, only a short commute away. Wake Forest is poised to double its population, so homefront pioneers can get in on the ground floor. The Assemblies in Raleigh and Wake County will help you as much as possible. Wake Forest is perfect for the retired couple or single! For more information, write to the District Teact ing Committee of Eastern North Carolina, c/o Warren G. Rochelle,

Garner,

NC 27529.

LEAVING for the pioneering field, and have an optical retail business for sale in rural Northern California; established for six years with three referring M.D.’s in the state’s fastestgrowing county. Must have valid ABO certificate for dispensing eyeglasses. No-interest terms available. Also available, separately or as a package deal, a four-bedroom home. Threeyear-old Assembly is in jeopardy. Call now! 707-263-1071 (days) or 707263-0724 (evenings and weekends).

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

TURKS and Caicos: urgent need. Assistant manager, Honda motorcycle sales, rental and service shop. Must have experience in motorcycle and bicycle mechanics, small engine maintenance and repair. Bookkeeping experience helpful; any experience with PCVs and/or furniture manufacturing a plus. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

TAIWAN: physiotherapist, podiatrist, medical oncologist, hematologist, internist-infectious disease, and anesthesiologist, all physicians, must be board certified in their specialty. Long term ions, would require training in Chinese language, at a 400-bed hospital with new building and expansion plans. Salary and benefits vary depending primarily on length of stay. For a stay of one year or more, salary, food and housing are provided. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

INDIA: general physicians, dermatologist, physiotherapist needed for six months for a volunteer organization putting its efforts into the total development of rural communities and serving the poorest population. Beautiful tropical/rural area in Kerala. Food and housing offered. For more information, phone the Office of Pioneering, Baha’ National ‘Center, 312-869-9039.

GUYANA: obstetrician and internist needed in September for a private 125-bed -hospital. Housing provided for a nominal fee plus salary and benefits. Travel allowance and one-year assignment. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

ST. LUCIA: short-term assignment 1988—pharmacist, June-September; ophthalmologist, June onward; surgeon, all months; anesthetist, April onward; RNs all months; X-ray tech licians; dermatologist, all months;

ENT, various months; urologist, urgently needed for various months. Short-term volunteers may volunteer for all months or part of the time. No travel or salary offered to short-term volunteers, but a stipend can be received if assignment is for six months or longer. Long-term assignments: family practitioner and internal medicine, December ’88 for one year; surgeon, December; anesthesiologist, January 1989. Long-term volunteers receive a salary. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

BRAZIL: physicians (MDs, internal medicine, FPs, pediatricians, GPs) needed to provide primary health care in a clinical setting in the Amazon area. Must speak Portuguese. Assignments range from one-month to longterm. Food and housing provided. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

JAMAICA: dentists (two), physician needed for a volunteer organization in the densely populated area of Kingston to provide a comprehensive program in health specifically for the poor, unemployed and unskilled people in the area. Facilities are in urban ghettos where health care is almost non-existent. Housing and transportation locally provided. Long- or shortterm assignments; no salary or travel expenses provided. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering,

Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL

60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

NICARAGUA: epidemiologist/occupational safety and health project. Position is for one year as member of a team to conduct training and coordinate research on_pesticide-related health problems in the Leon/Chinandega region of Nicaragua. Requires background and training in epidemiology; fluency in Spanish and physician training are desirable. For more information, contact the Office of

Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039.

SIERRA LEONE: program adviser is needed to serve as chief of party for a vocational project. Applicants should have a master’s degree, five to six years work experience, and two to four years project management experjience in Africa. Contract is for two years with possible extension. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039,

SOUTHERN AFRICA: architects, principal and senior, with a minimum of four years postgraduate experience as practicing architect needed for a construction project. Two-year renewable married status contract. Expat benefits convey importance of these positions. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

ALASKA: a beautiful and growing community with three Baha’is secks others to come and settle there. Immediate openings in health care field: psychologist, psychiatrists, counselors and substance abuse counselors. Minimum requirements are M.A. and two years experience; license preferred. Salary commensurate with experience and training. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

NICARAGUA: physician with specialty in rehabilitation or treatment ‘of paraplegics, occupational therapist or physiotherapist, technician in rehabilitation, and disabled person’s educator needed for 1-3 year assignments. Fluency in Spanish required; salary, housing and excellent benefits offered. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i

National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

BAHAMAS: looking for a works superintendent who will be responsible to the finishings agent and will control six expat supervisors and an Indian labor force. Experience in dry wall techniques, tiling and marble work is necessary. Must be at least 35 years old. Dry trades supervisor to report to the works superintendent and control the Indian work force. Experience in dry wall framing and sheeting, aluminum window and metal door installation and door and ironmongery fixing is necessary. Salary and paid leave included. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

KENYA: surgeon/radiologist, water developer, civil engineer to begin as soon as possible at 185-bed mission hospital. Deal with medicalsurgical emergencies and give spinal or epidural anesthesia. Informal teaching; no travel. Food, housing and stipend offered. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

KENYA: surgeon and general/family practitioners needed in July ’88 for at least one year of service in a hospital on the eastern slopes of Mt. Kenya. Busy outpatient department, active in MCH and FP work in the community. Local salary, food and housing provided; no travel. Salary will cover everyday expenses. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

NEPAL needs FP/GPs, TB specialists, pediatricians, internists, RNs, FNP, agriculturist and administrative secretary for short- and long-term positions and PAs with Third World and tropical medicine experience to work at a new hospital and clinic in Kathmandu. Quarters, hot lunches on duty days for six-month assignments. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

PHILIPPINES and Africa: teachers are needed for Peace Corps assignments. Applicants should have a BA/BS in elementary education or other disciplines and two years teaching experience, or an MS in education or math/science and six months teaching experience, or MS and two years of teaching in any discipline. Assignments are for nine months to one year and include training, monthly stipend, and all travel, living and incidental expenses. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL. 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

MARSHALL Islands: human services director responsible for organizing all psycho-social counseling of rehabilitation referral programs. Includes planning rehabilitation and preventive programs and referral/coordination and follow-up activities, during and after implementation. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

KENYA: physician needed for twoyear contract; teaching position. Serve with an organization that has been operational in Africa for more than 20 years. Travel expenses, room, board and in-country expenses provided. Special arrangements also provided for two years or longer with health and life insurance. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

GUINEA-BISSAU: Portuguesespeaking Baha’is who are registered nurses or who have a master’s degree in public health wanted for positions

as trainers responsible for guiding the development of nursing curriculum at a three-year project based in Bissau, the capital city. Preference given to candidates who have substantial international development experience, come from Third World countries, and/or speak English. Salary is in the range of $20,000 U.S. a year plus relocation allowance and insurance. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

NEPAL: infection control nurses (RN/MT), physical therapists needed by a non-profit group to begin in November ’88 for an 18-month assignment. Consultant to chief nurse of a 350-bed general hospital to establish and supervise infection control techniques and procedures for the wards, OR and OP department. Requires background knowledge and experience with antiseptic techniques and infection control methods; previous ‘overseas experience preferred. Stipend, room and board, and travel allowance. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

SOUTHERN Africa: quantity surveyor with minimum of four years experience for a construction project. This is a two-year renewable married status contract. Expat benefits convey the importance of the position. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

MARSHALL Islands: medical director-MD with MPH preferred, to be responsible for providing a high standard of clinical care to clients of the Community Health Center and to work closely with other members of the hospital medical staff. All positions are for a minimum of two years. Travel allowance, housing, salary and vacation are provided. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039.

MARSHALL Islands: managing director for the newly established Marshall Islands Development Bank. Assignment is to lead a team of six fulltime officers in setting up operations. Applicants should have experience in credit and investment in development banking in the Third World. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039.

BAHAMAS: sewerage engineer with master’s degree in civil engineering and minimum of five years experience in comprehensive planning, design and construction of sewage collection, pumping station, treatment and disposal facilities. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039.

SOUTH AFRICA: project development officer is needed to help make grants to black community groups under AID contract. Applicants should have two years overseas experience in grant . Preference will be given to those with previous AID work experience or work experience in Africa. Contract is for two years. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Ba‘hai National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

MARSHALL Islands: national health planner to provide technical assistance and necessary labor to assist health services staff in developing short- and long-term plans. Provide the expertise necessary to continue the computerization of a tracking system for medical record summaries, vital statistics, immunizations and other �[Page 23]

CLASSIFIEDS

areas as deemed necessary. Master’s degree in public health or related field plus two years of experience; administrative experience necessary. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

TAIWAN: public health nurse, infection control nurse, urologist, cardiovascular surgeon, administrator, respiratory therapist, and intensive care nurse needed by a developing 300bed hospital which needs fresh new ideas to improve medical standards. Positions are from 3-6 months and are teaching positions. Compensation will depend on experience. Food and housing are provided. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

SOUTHERN Africa: building supervisor for a construction project. Two-year renewable married status contract; minimum of three years as a building inspector required. Expat benefits convey the importance of the position. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

KENYA: network managment. Senior training expert to work at the African Regional Advanced Level Telecoms Institute. Degree or diploma in English or sciences; extensive experience in network performance, etc. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

MARSHALL Islands: an officer to work as the leading technical expert in Resources and Development including spearheading the development of fisheries activities into a major commercial sector of the economy. Applicants should have extensive fisheries development experience in small tropical countries. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

MARSHALL Islands: an agricultural officer is needed to work as the chief technical officer in the agricultural and animal husbandry division of the Ministry of Resources and Development including development of viable agricultural and husbandry projects in atoll conditions. Applicants should contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahd’ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-8699039.

EAST AFRICA: director with a Ph.D or equivalent, fluent in Swahili. Disciplines of particular interest to the college are economics, political science, international development studies; should be comfortable with administrative duties and sharing governance with students. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-8699039.

SCHOOLS

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 Bahd’{ School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313-653-5033.

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 Bahá’í 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 AMOZ Gibson Training Centre is preparing for an exciting summer session. We are expecting students from the Philippines, Ecuador, Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands, Canada and the U.S.’ Won't you join us to learn about international service, media and development technology? There will also be many Bahd’: teaching opportunities on the island. For a free brochure, write to the Amoz Gibson Training Centre for Baha’: Media, HC 02 Box 14765, Arecibo, PR 00612, ‘or phone 809-878-4189 before 9 p.m. EST.

FOR SALE

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 Baha’i studies, and take part in Bahd’{ 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.

THREE NEW watercolor prints of Baha'i Holy Places at the World Center are now available. The Shrine of the Bab, the Mansion of Bahjf and the stairs at 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 immediately. Each print is $18 (which includes postage and any tax). Please specify title. Order from BCC Publications, 12510 Rocky Knoll, Houston, TX 77077.

CASSETTE tapes available: (1) the Hand of the Cause of God William ‘Sears in Vancouver, B.C., to mark the 7Sth anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to Canada ($6); (2) Ernestine Berkey, ‘‘The Most Vital and Challenging Issue: A Mandate and Commitment,” from Seattle’s November 1987 Black and Indian Teaching Seminar ($6); and (3-4) management consultant Larry Miller, ‘‘From Barbarians to Bureaucrats,” from the November °87 Northwest Assembly Training Seminar in Seattle (two-tape set, $12). Also, The Western Washington Bahá’í Resource Directory ($4), which contains business, service and skills listings of Bahá’ís in the area, Assembly directory, list of Bahai committees, treasurer’s reps, libraries, Centers, bulletins, Bahd’s clubs, etc. Order from the Greater ‘Seattle Bahd’{ Metro-Media, P.O. Box 396, Seattle, WA 98111.

BOOKS, PERIODICALS 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 Bahá’í calendar for ages four and up, 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 Bahd’{s 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.

WANTED

THE NATIONAL Baha’i Archives is seeking copies of the following books in good or excellent condition: Principles of Bahá’í Administration (paper, 1956), The Promised Day Is Come (cloth, 1951, and paper, 1969), The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh (paper, 1955), and The Heart of the Gospel (cloth, 1960). Anyone having copies they could donate is asked to send them to the National Bahd’{ Archives, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

SEEKING information about memorial services for the Baha’ martyrs in Iran. Our Group is planning such a service in September and would like to know how other Baha’i communities have conducted this celebration of Faith. This request is also open to any Baha’i who would like to share his/her ideas on how this expression of courage should be presented to the public. Join our ad hoc committee by letter (all letters acknowledged); no meetings to attend! Write to Goffstown Bahá’í Group, c/o Phil and

Marilyn Ramsey, Manchester, NH 03102. NUR UNIVERSITY in Bolivia

needs an IBM compatible computer with a hard disk and printer for its USS. liaison office. If you would like to donate a computer and/or printer, please contact Steven Kozlow, University Liaison Officer,

Shelby, NC 28150, or phone 704-484-1697.

WANTED: youth! The Bahá’í Youth Committee of Grants Pass, Oregon (sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Grants Pass) is in desperate need of youth support for a service/teaching project July 28-31 in

The American Baha’i / June 1988 / 23

Grants Pass. Come camp out in the Pacific Northwest! For more information, phone Heather or Shannon Sul van, 503-476-0310. In Californi phone Marjan Sobhani, 707-576-1780.

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’ School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

HELP wanted to organize and man a booth at this year’s North Dakota State Fair to be held July 22-30 in Minot. Perfect opportunity for youth who may be doing service projects or teaching nearby. Will help as much as possible with accommodations. For more information, contact Rosalin Thingelstad, Minot, ND 58701.

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-Bahd’{ 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 Bahá’ís 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 Bahá’í School, 188 Main St., Eliot, ME 03903, or by phoning 207439-7200. We will be happy to copy and return any original documents, photographs, cassettes and the like on request.

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is seeking photographs of the following persons to add to its photograph collection: Rihfyyih Khanum, William Sears, ‘Alt Akbar Furiitan, John Robarts, H. Collis Featherstone, ‘AliMuhammad Varqé, Ugo Giachery, Edna True, Sarah M. Pereira, Velma Sherrill, David Ruhe, Hugh Chance,

Drawings Verse

ia

Borrah Kavelin, and Glenford Mitchell. Anyone having photographs that they could donate is asked to send them to the National Baha’i Archives, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

THE CENTER for Interracial Unity 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 Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

YOUTH

BAHA'I youth: interested in a career in international affairs? You can obtain a listing of employment opportunities in the UN, the U.S. government, and non-governmental organizations by writing for “Internships and Careers in International Affairs.” Send your order with a check for $7 to: UNA-USA, Publications Department, 485 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

ITEMS AVAILABLE

“REFLECTIONS” catalog listing “Mankind Is One’’ sweatshirts and T-shirts, tapes, books and other Baha’i-related materials is available at no cost from the Louhelen Baha’ School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 313-653-5033).

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. :

MISCELLANEOUS

I WOULD like to hear from other Baha’is who are active in Re-evaluation Counseling, using its principles and processes. How has it helped your spiritual growth? In what other kinds of settings and groups do you find it helpful? How is it affecting your personal relationships and parenting? Write to Betty Martin, P.O. Box 431, Davenport, WA 99122.

LISA ALTER, born June 1962, wishes to contact her mother, last name also Alter, who lived in New York at the time of her birth. Any information greatly needed and appreciated. Write to P.O. Box 340, New York, NY 10009.

WHEN the Experimental Aircraft Association holds its annual international meeting July 29-August 5 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, any of the friends attending the event are cor ‘See ADS page 32

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Mensaje para Ridvan de la Casa Universal de Justicia

A los bahd’ts del mundo Bienamados amigos,

En esta estacién resplandeciente, festiva, les saludamos a todos en un espiritu de esperanza renovada.

Un resquicio al cuadro sobrio que ha vertido una sombra sobre la mayorfa de este siglo actualmente abrillanta el horizonte. Se discierne en las nuevas tendencias que impulsan los procesos sociales que estan en vigor a través del mundo, en las evidencias de una tendencia acelerada hacia la paz.

En la Fe de Dios, es la fuerza creciente del Orden de Baha’u’ll4h mientras su estandarte se iza a alturas mds imponentes. Es una fuerza que atrae.

Los medios masivos estan prestando atencién incrementada a la comunidad mundial baha’i; los autores estén reconociendo su existencia en un numero creciente de articulos, libros y obras de consulta, una de las cuales de mayor Pprestigio recientemente anoté a la Fe como la religién mas extensamente esparcida luego del Cristianismo.

Un despliegue notable de interés para con esta comunidad por parte de los gobiernos, autoridades civiles, personas prominentes y organizaciones humanitarias es aparente en medida creciente. No sdlo se estan investigando las leyes y los principios, la organizacién y el modo de vida de la comunidad, sino que se esta solicitando su consejo y ayuda activa para el alivio de problemas sociales y la realizacién de actividades humanitarias.

Una consecuencia emocionante

de estos desenvolvimientos propiciamente unidos es la emergencia de una nueva paradigma de oportunidad para mayor crecimiento y consolidacién de nuestra comunidad mundial. Se han desplegado nuevos prospectos para ensefiar la Causa en todos los

niveles de la sociedad. Estas han sido confirmadas por los primeros resultados emanando

sefianza que se estan fomentando en un numero de lugares mientras més y mas comunidades nacionales atestiguan los comienzos de la entrada por tropas prometida por el amado Maestro y de la cual Shoghi Effendi dijo que daria paso a la conversién en masa.

Las posibilidades inmediatas presentadas por esta situacién providencial nos inducen a esperar que en verdad esta a la mano una expansién de la Comunidad del Mas Grande Nombre, tal como jams se haya experimentado.

La chispa que encendié el creciente interés en la Causa de Baha’u’ll4h fue la fortaleza heroica y paciente de los amados amigos en Iran, que conmovié a la comunidad mundial baha’i para realizar un programa de apelacién persistente y cuidadosamente orquestrada, dirigida a la consciencia del mundo.

Esta empresa inmensa, abarcando la comunidad entera actuando unidamente a través de su Orden Administrativo, fue acompafiada de actividades igualmente vigorosas y visibles de esa comunidad, realizadas en otras esferas que han sido detalladas por separado.

En la foto se encuentran algunos bahd’is, quiénes luego de asistir al instituto de ensefanza en San Fer aid ta nando del I al 3 Sueron al parque a ensefiar.

Seminario de ensefanza prepara a Bahda’is para la entrada en tropas

Como parte del proyecto de ensefianza ‘‘La Conquista Espiritual de la Ciudad de los Angeles,”’ se Ilevé a cabo un instituto de ensefianza para baha’is de habla espafiol del 1 al 3 de abril de 1988 en San Fernando, California, auspiciado por Las Fuerzas Especiales Hispanas de Los Angeles.

EI instituto comenzé con oraciones recitadas por los nifios.

EI Sr. Miguel Osborne, miembro del Cuerpo Auxiliar, hablé sobre el Plan de Dios, explicando que hace mas de 40 afios, Shoghi Effendi describiéd los procesos gemelos de desintegracién e integracién que operan en el mundo.

Estos procesos confirman el Plan de Dios que incluye el plan mayor, la rotura del viejo orden mundial el cual resultara en la Paz Menor; y el plan menor que significa la tarea de los bahd’is de seguir el plan de Baha’u’ll4h para edificar el nuevo mundo de uni dad y espiritualidad, resultando en la Mas Grande Paz.

EI Sr. Luis Chavez condujo un taller sobre la ensefianza usando el libro ‘Effective Teaching”? (Ensefianza Efectiva) preparado por el Comité Nacional de Ensefianza.

Los participantes discutieron el significado de la ensefianza, como mejorar la ensefianza efectiva, y terminaron preparando un plan personal de ensefianza.

El miembro del Cuerpo Auxiliar, el Sr. Edward Diliberto, hablo sobre ‘“‘La Gran Meta de la Fe: La Libertad de la Humanidad,”’ ‘‘El Papel del Hombre Comin en el Plan de Dios,”’ y sobre el Convenio de Baha’u’ll4h.

El instituto terminé con todos los participantes ensefiando en un parque en San. Fernando. A su Tegreso al Centro Baha’f, compartieron su entusiasmo y la cancién “Soy Baha’i, Soy Baha’i ...’”

Sin embargo, estamos impulsados a mencionar que un resultado importante de este esfuerzo extenso es nuestro reconocimiento de una nueva etapa en los asuntos externos de la Causa, caracterizada por una madurés notable de Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales en sus crecientes relaciones con organizaciones gubernamentales y no-gubernamentales y con el puiblico en general.

Este reconocimiento incité una reunién en Alemania en noviembre con representantes de asuntos externos nacionales bahd’is de Europa y América del Norte, juntos a representantes mayoritarios de las Oficinas de la Comunidad Internacional Baha’i, resueltos a efectuar mayor coordinacién de ‘su trabajo.

Fue éste un paso preliminar hacia la unificaci6n de mas y mas Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales en una red internacional funcionando armoniosamente, capaz de ejecutar empresas mundiales en este campo de expansién acelerada.

Relacionado a estos resultados se encontraba el logro significativo de reconocimiento internacional concedido a la Fe a través de su aceptacién formal en octubre a la membresia de la Red de Preservacién y Religién del renombrado Fondo Mundial para la Naturaleza.

En uno de los periodos mds oscuros en la prolongada opresién de los amigos bienamados, resueltamente firmes en Iran, Shoghi Effendi se conmovié para consolarlos en una carta de asombrosa perspicacia. ‘Es el derramamiento de la sagrada sangre de los martires en Persia’’ escribid, ‘‘el cual, en esta era brillante, esta edad baha’i resplandeciente, adornada de piedras preciosas, cambiaré la faz de la tierra al elevado cielo y, seguin ha sido revelado en las Tablas, alzara el tabernaculo de la unicidad de la humanidad en el coraz6n mismo del mundo, revelera a los ojos de los hombres la realidad de la unidad de la raza humana, estableceré la Paz Mayor, hard de este reino inferior un espejo para el Paraiso de Abhd, y estableceré mas allé de toda duda ante todos los pueblos del mundo la verdad del verso:

• ...el dia en que la Tierra sea convertida en otra Tierra.’ ””

Reflexiones como éstas, al aducir consecuencias futuras de tanta maravilla del sufrimiento horroroso al cual han sido sometidos nuestros amigos iranies, iluminan la oportunidad y el reto que nos enfrenta a todos en este momento crucial en las fortunas de la Causa.

Los grandes proyectos que ya han sido lanzadas tienen que ser perseguidas hasta que sean completadas. Las terrazas en la parte superior e inferior del Santuario del Bab y el Arco en el Monte Carmelo tienen que ser completadas, efectuando la gloriosa visién de la florescencia del monte sagrado de Dios; el segundo Congreso Mundial tiene que ser realizada en la Ciudad del Convenio para celebrar el centeno aniversario de la inauguracién del Convenio; el trabajo consistentemente avanzante de la traduccién y la anotacién del Kitab-i-Aqdas, el Libro Mas Sagrado, tiene que Ilevarse a publicacién; el interés mostrado por los amigos en la Ley del Huquiqu’ll4h tiene que ser cultivada; los pio

Queridos amigos bahd’is,

TAHERZADEH.

EI siguiente mensaje de la Casa Universal de Justicia ha sido transmitida a varias Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales, y se nos ha pedido citarselo para su informacién:

MIEMBROS RECIEN ELEGIDOS CASA UNIVERSAL DE JUSTICIA ALI NAKHJAVANI GLENFORD MITCHELL HUSHMAND FATHEAZAM IAN SEMPLE PETER KHAN DAVID RUHE HUGH CHANCE HOOPER DUNBAR ADIB

Con amorosos saludos bahd’ts, Departamento de la Secretaria I de mayo de 1988

neros y los maestros viajeros tienen que salir; los gastos de la Causa tienen que cubrirse; todos los objetivos del Plan de Seis Afios tienen que ser logrados.

Pero el propésito supremo: de toda actividad bahd’{ es la ensefianza. Todo lo que se ha hecho o se hard gira en torno a esta actividad central, la ‘“‘piedra angular de la base misma,”’ a la cual se debe todo el progreso en la Causa.

El reto actual requiere ensefianza en una escala y de una calidad, de una variedad, y de una intensidad que sobrepase todos los esfuerzos actuales. Ahora es el tiemPo, no sea que la oportunidad se pierda en los estados de 4nimo rapidamente cambiantes de un mundo frenético. Que no se imagine que el oportunismo sea el motivo esencial causando este sentido de urgencia.

Hay una razén abovedante: es la condicién lamentable de las masas de la humanidad, sufriendo y en agitacién, padeciendo hambre de virtuosidad, pero ‘‘privados de discernimiento para ver a Dios con sus propios ojos, 0 escuchar Su Melodia con sus propios ofdos.’”” Tienen que ser alimentados. Se tiene que restaurar vision donde se ha perdido la esperanza, poner confianza donde abundan la duda y la confusién.

En éstas y otras facetas, ‘“‘La Promesa de Paz Mundial’ ha sido disefiada para abrir el camino. Estando prdcticamente completada su presentacién a lideres gubernamentales nacionales, su contenido ahora tiene que ser transmitido, por todos medios posibles, a las gentes en todos sitios de toda condicién social. Esta es una parte necesaria del trabajo de ensefianza en nuestro tiempo y tiene que ser perseguida con un vigor que no disminuya.

La ensefianza es el alimento del espfritu; trae vida a las almas que no han sido despertadas y alza el nuevo cielo y la nueva tierra; iza el estandarte de un mundo unificado; asegura la victoria del Convenio y trae a aquellos que entregan su vida a ella la felicidad celestial del alcance del beneplacito de su Sefior.

A cada creyente individual— hombre, mujer, jéven y nifio—se le convoca a este campo de accién; pues el éxito de la comunidad entera depende de la iniciativa, la voluntad decidida del individuo para ensefiar y para servir.

Fuertemente cimentados en el poderoso Convenio de Bahd’u'll4h, sostenidos por oracién diaria y lectura de la Palabra Sagrada, fortalecidos por un esfuerzo constante para obtener en

tendimiento mds profundo de las Ensefianzas divinas, iluminados por un empefio constante para relacionar estas Enseflanzas a asuntos actuales, alimentados por el atenimiento a las leyes y los principios de Su maravilloso Orden Mundial, cada individuo puede alcanzar medidas incrementantes de éxito en la ensefianza.

En suma, el triunfo fundamental de la Causa esta asegurada por “‘una cosa y solamente una cosa’” recalcado tan agudamente por Shoghi Effendi, osea, ‘‘el grado al cual nuestra propia vida interior y nuestro propio cardcter privado reflejan en sus multiples aspectos el esplendor de aquellos principios eternos proclamados por Baha’wllah.”” 4

Bienamados amigos—ustedes a quienes el Mas Amado, la Bendita Belleza, se ha dirigido como ‘‘el solaz del ojo de la creacién,’’ como ‘“‘las fluyentes aguas de las cuales debe depender la vida misma de todos los hombres’’—les urgimos, con todo ardor desde las profundidades mismas de nuestra conviccién en cuanto a la madurez. del tiempo, que dejen a un lado cada interés menor que puedan tener y dirijan sus energias a la ensefianza de Su Causa—a proclamaria, expandirla y consolidarla.

Pueden acercarse a su tarea en la completa confianza de que este claro campo de progreso que se despliega ante ustedes se deriva de la operacién de esa ‘‘Fuerza nacida de Dios’’ la cual ‘‘vibra dentro del mds intimo ser de todas las cosas creadas’’ y que, ‘‘haciendo a veces de espada de doble filo, esté separando en nuestra misma presencia, los vinculos milenarios que por siglos han mantenido junta la fibra de la sociedad civilizada y la que esta desatando por otra parte, los lazos que todavia encadenan a la joven y ain noemancipada Fe de Baha’u’ll4h.””

No tengan miedo ni dudas. El poder del Convenio les asistira y les animara y eliminara cada obstaculo de su camino. “El, en verdad, ayudard a todo el que Le ayude, y recordard a todo el que Le recuerde.””

Les damos nuestra promesa perdurable de oraciones ardientes y constantes para todos ustedes.

La Casa Universal de Justicia Riḍván de 1988

Maestros Viajeros que sepan ESPANOL, favor de comunicarse con: National Teaching Committee (312) 869-9039

Se parte de la Conferencia en Indiana

Ya se acerca la fecha para la Conferencia Internacional de Jévenes en Bloomington, Indiana. Se esperan més de 6,000 personas en este evento internacional que tendré lugar del 30 de junio al 4 de julio de 1988. ;NO TE LO PIERDAS!

�[Page 25]The American Baha’i / June 1988 / 25

Cursos en el Centro Amoz Gibson

El Centro de Capacitacién “‘Amoz Gibson,” localizado en Arecibo, Puerto Rico, estara ofreciendo cursos y entrenamiento en los medios y tecnologia apropiada para el desarrollo espiritual, social y econdmico de los pueblos del planeta entero este verano.

EI primero de ellos sera del 13 al 24 de junio de 1988 y enfocaré en el servicio internacional baha’i.

Este programa esta disefiado para preparar a estudiantes sobre el pionerismo, viajes de ensefianza, como vivir en el extranjero, el uso de los medios, salud del viajero, comunicacién entre culturas, cémo aprender un idoma nuevo, y el espafiol.

Habra otro curso introductorio a los medios comenzando el 27 de junio hasta el 15 de julio de 1988. Los participantes tendran una vista general de los medios de desarrollo, ademas de la practica en los fundamentos de artes graficas, fotografia, presentaciones audio-visuales, la radio, la prensa, serigraffa y mucho més, incluso el disefio de campajfias utilizando una variedad de medios.

Otro curso intensivo enfocado en la tecnologia de los medios para la comunicaci6n y el desarroIlo comenzard el 18 de julio y du rara hasta el 5 de agosto de 1988

Las clases estan disefiadas para baha’is y otros interesados en servir en proyectos de comunicacién de desarrollo en una capacidad técnica.

Para mas informacién escriba a: HC-02 Box 14765, Arecibo, Puerto Rico 00612, o llame al 809878-4189 antes de las 9 p.m.

Un recordatorio

NO TE OLVIDES... de la Conferencia Internacional de Jévenes en Ciudad Juarez, México, del 22 al 24 de julio de 1988.

Forma parte del gran numero de jévenes bahd’is de alrededor del mundo que atenderan esta conferencia.

Hay varios grupos de jévenes bahda’{s que estan planeado viajar desde California, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Indiana y Nuevo México para asistir a la Conferencia en México.

Si necesitas mas informacién, por favor comunicate con la oficina del Comité Nacional de Ensefianza al: National Teaching Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, o llama al 312-869-9039.

En la foto se encuentran todos los participantes de la reunién sobre Ja ensefanza Hispana que tuvo lu gar en la Cabata de Wilhelm en Teaneck, New Jersey, el 9 de abril de 1988.

Se reunen en Teaneck Baha’is interasados en ensefiar Hispanos

El 9 de abril de 1988, bajo la colaboracién del Comité Nacional de Ensefianza y el miembro del Cuerpo Auxiliar el Dr. William Roberts, se celebré en la cabafia de Wilhelm en Teaneck, New Jersey, una reunién de unas treinta personas envueltas en la ensefianza de los hispanos en el este del pais.

Los asistentes, que procedian de estados desde New Hampshire hasta Carolina del Norte, consultaron sobre métodos para estimular y aumentar la ensefianza entre la poblacién de habla espafiola.

La reunion, la cual se llevo a cabo en la cabafia en donde el Maestro, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, estuvo hace varios afios atras, se caracteriz6 por un ambiente de amor, unidad, alegria y harmonia.

Hace 76 afios, desde el mismo

lugar, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá lIlam6 a los bahd’is para que se unieran e intensificaran los esfuerzos de la ensefianza.

En una inspiradora charla, la Dra. Tahereh Ahdieh, miembro del Cuerpo Auxiliar para la Propagacién, nos recordé que la Casa Universal de Justicia nos ha dicho que en todo trabajo de ensefianza hemos de usar la imaginacién, debemos ser eficientes y tenemos que imponernos en esfuerzos sacrificados.

Una de las muchas sugerencias fue la importancia de ensefiar al corazén, no solo al intelecto. Otra fue la de enfocar la ensefianza hacia asuntos de actualidad que afectan a los hispanos. Otra fue la importancia de formar amistades y convivir con ellos, no solamente ensefiarles.

ESTA ES TU PAGINA

Contribuye a ella. Solamente tenemos una pagina. teportes y fotos de las actividades en tu area. Por favor escribe y comparte tus ideas con el Comité Nacional de Ensefianza al:

National Teaching Committee Baha'i National Center Wilmette, IL 60091

Envia

Baha’is in Louisville arise to champion Cause

through ongoing Da

In February, Baha’is in Louisville, Kentucky, launched the Dr. Davoodi teaching project, which is to continue until the end of the Six Year Plan and includes several phases.

The first phase involves doorto-door teaching. On Saturdays, an average of 20 Baha’i teachers gather for prayers, after which packets containing teaching materials and neighborhood maps are distributed to groups of 2-3 who walk from house to house in their assigned area.

Those residents who are receptive to the Baha’is are invited to attend a fireside on the following Sunday, to be held in their own neighborhood.

It is not unusual for the Baha’is to be welcomed into homes to talk about the teachings of the Faith at length, sometimes for hours.

One resident asked them, “‘Where have you Baha’is been all my life?’””

Since February, three such receptive souls have declared their belief in Baha’u’ll4h and have been enrolled in the Faith.

In an effort to continue the teaching process by deepening the new believers and helping them to become integrated into the Baha’i

Pictured are many of the Bahá’ís in Louisville, Kentucky, who are taking part in the Dr. Davoodi Teaching Project which began in

community, several steps have been taken.

The new friends receive special mailings to inform them of meetings; they are visited with small gifts and brought Baha’i books to read; they are offered rides to Baha’i-sponsored events.

voodi Teaching Campaign

February and has so far seen three declarations among residents of that city.

This summer, the Baha’is will be offering to help in community service projects at a community center in the neighborhood in which they are focusing their efforts.

The Dr. Davoodi project is off to a marvelous start!

2.N.C. Baha’is named All-Star Scholars

Two young Baha’is from the Charlotte, North Carolina, area, Tiffini Lyn Snellings and Christopher David Rosser, are among 54 high school seniors designated 1988 All-Star Scholars in the annual competition sponsored by The Charlotte Observer to honor students for academic excellence and extra-curricular activities.

Miss Snellings, who is first in her class of 400 at North Mecklen Fifth Conference on Race Unity held in Madison, Wisconsin

On April 9, the Baha’ is of Madison, Wisconsin, sponsored their fifth annual Race Unity Conference. The focus of this year’s event was educational equality.

The keynote speaker, Dr. William Maxwell, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, discussed the need for changes in parenting to overcome barriers to equal education and racial harmony.

Dr. Maxwell, a social scientist who has studied parenting around the world, is the founder of the 1.Q. Foundation.

Dr. Maxwell was one of seven educators taking part in a panel discussion on education, all of whom agreed that changing racial attitudes must begin at home.

Another panelist, the dean of students at the University of Wisconsin, discussed proposed changes for the university’s curriculum requirements in response to increased racial incidents on campus.

About 65 people attended the day-long event.

NOTICE: The Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles, the sponsoring body of the Four Winds Conference and Teaching Project, has found it necessary to postpone the conference and project until further notice. The Assembly appreciates the loving support of all the friends for this teaching effort.

burg High School, was named 1988 Senior of the Year by the newspaper’s panel of judges.

When asked why she stood out from the others, the judges said it was because she is dedicated to helping others through education.

“In this me-too generation,” one of them said, ‘‘it struck us as very joyful.’’

As Senior of the Year, Miss Snellings was given a $2,000 college scholarship.

Mr. Rosser, who is sixth in his class of 663 at South Mecklenburg High School, is a National Merit Scholar who received a full-tuition four-year scholarship to the University of Miami.

Archives seeks letters on behalf of Guardian

The National Baha’i Archives is seeking, at the request of the Universal House of Justice, original letters written on behalf of the Guardian to the following individuals:

Kathryn Alio, John and Sophronia Aoki, Elizabeth Bailey, Kathrine S. Baldwin, Margaret F. Banurd, Dorothy Barbour, Helen M. Barbour, Helen E, Barrick and Isabelle Belyea.

Anyone knowing family members or relatives who might have these letters is asked to contact the National Baha’i Archives, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of San Antonio, Texas will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. We invite any and all Baha'is who have lived here to celebrate with us! A reunion weekend is planned starting Friday, June 17 through Sunday, June 19. For more information write:

Kathy Afnani 201-A Antler San Antonio, Texas 78213 or call: (512) 340-1577

Estén amablemente invitados!

SAN ANTONI

�[Page 26]26 / The American Baha’i / June 1988

A statement from the National Development Committee

To all Bahá’ís in the United States Dearly loved co-workers,

We wish to take this opportunity to introduce the newly appointed National Development Committee and to briefly describe its functions and objectives.

The committee has seven members, three women and four men, from diverse racial, geographic and professional backgrounds.

The National Spiritual Assembly has asked us to ‘‘assume a major role in the training and development of Baha’i Assemblies (and) Bahd’{ communities, and the fostering and supporting of projects of social and economic development.””

In approaching this task, the National Spiritual Assembly has emphasized to the committee the need for fresh thinking, so that its members can break away from ingrained habits and preconceptions and can open themselves to the divine guidance so abundantly available in the writings of the Faith.

As we have consulted together on the challenges and opportunities facing the American Baha’ community, we have become increasingly excited by the vistas opening before us, and are eager to share with you some of the themes of our consultation.

The Bahá’í community of Nashville, Tennessee, presented its 1987 Human Rights Award last December 10 to Dr. Laurence Grossman (pictured here), whose specialties include cardiology and internal medicine. In 1949, Dr. Grossman was the first physician in Nashville to integrate his waiting room, and in the 1950s, as president of the Nashville Academy of Medicine, he led a successSul effort to integrate that institution.

The Most Vital and Challenging Issue

As we consulted, we became increasingly aware that a conscious effort was required to keep ‘‘the most vital and challenging issue confronting the Baha’i community” an integral part of our deliberations.

We felt it important to consistently make this effort because it became clear to us that all development of the Baha’i community in America depends directly on our community dealing honestly and courageously with the issue of racial prejudice.

As the Guardian stated (in The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 34):

“A long and thorny road, beset with pitfalls, still remains untraveled, both by the white and Negro exponents of the redeeming Faith of Baha’u’ll4h. On the distance they cover, and the manner in which they travel that road, must depend, to an extent which few among them can imagine, the operation of those intangible influences which are indispensable to the spiritual triumph of the American believers and the material success of their newly launched enterprise.”

Collaboration among institutions

We have been greatly heartened by the warm spirit of collaboration that exists among the various committees and agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly, and between them and the members of the Continental Board of Counselors.

A large part of this committee’s time has been spent consulting with Counselors, members of the National Spiritual Assembly, and virtually every other committee and agency.

In the course of these meetings we have become ever more deeply impressed by the sincerity, vast experience, wisdom, and harmony of purpose among these precious souls.

We have no doubt that this spirit of unity and collaboration will be a hallmark of the Fourth Epoch and will serve as a catalyst for accelerating the growth and development of the American Baha’i community.

The challenge of diversity

One theme that recurred in all these consultations was the challenge facing the American Baha’i community as a result of its grow

The Area Persian/American Affairs Committee (APAAC) of

Maryland/Washington, D.C./ Northern Virginia has invited a group of Persian and non-Persian Bahá’ís to form what is known as the APAAC Workshop Chorus. The group, which comes together to learn songs from various cultures, performed publicly for the first time May 7 for some 200 area

Bahá’ís from more than 30 communities at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, The National Persian/American Affairs Committee has chosen the area as one of four pilot sites for its plan to increase the involvement of Persian Bahá’ís in teaching, especially among members of ethnic minority groups.

ing diversity, which is forcing us to examine afresh some of the most fundamental verities of our Faith.

For example, our sense of unity can no longer depend on everyone doing the same thing at the same time—the ‘‘one size fits all’ approach. Rather, we must think in terms of many diverse activities carried forward simultaneously in a coordinated, mutually reinforeing and harmonious manner, like the varied but interdependent functions of the organs and limbs of the human body.

As the Universal House of Justice wrote more than 20 years ago (in Wellspring of Guidance, pp. 38-39):

“The real secret of universal participation lies in the Master’s oft-expressed wish that the friends should love each other, constantly encourage each other, work together, be as one soul in one body, and in so doing become a true, organic, healthy body animated and illumined by the spirit.’”

In furthering these aims, those among us who have the gift of artistic, creative and insightful expression, with the power to penetrate barriers and inspire the heart, have a special role to play.

Realizing equality

A necessary component of our approach to these issues must also be the full and equal representation of both sexes, through whose richly different points of view we will find fresh resources and new insights. For, as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has stated:

“‘,.until woman and man recognize and realize equality, social and political progress here or anywhere will not be possible.”’ (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, 1982 edition, pp. 76-77)

Local initiative

As a consequence of our growing diversity, and in the spirit of the Fourth Epoch, we believe that the primary source of initiative for the development of Baha’i community life must now come from the local communities and the individual Baha’is.

The National Spiritual Assembly, with its broad view, can give guidance and coordinate activities that are regional or national in scope, but can no longer orchestrate the vast majority of activities undertaken by the friends.

We, as a national committee, therefore see our role as primarily one of providing supportive services and programs, such as coordination and facilities for the exchange of information. We expect an ongoing dialogue with the community so that our programs and services can best meet the most urgent needs of the community. Local Spiritual Assemblies

Local Spiritual Assemblies will clearly play a central role in the process of the development of the American Baha’i community.

The strengthening of these Assemblies in the art of consultation, their ability to solve problems through the application of the Baha’i teachings, and their capacity to provide spiritual leadership are critical needs at this time.

Community life

Development of the distinctive character of Baha’i life is also essential for the continued expansion of the community. Balance

between inward and outward growth is necessary for the health of the community. As the Guardian has written (A Special Measure of Love, p. 5):

“«..every outward thrust into new fields, every multiplication of Baha’i institutions, must be paralleled by a deeper thrust of the roots which sustain the spiritual life of the community and ensure its sound development.’”

Furthermore, as the problems besetting society become more acute, it is Baha’i communities, rather than the teachings themselves in their abstract form, that will increasingly attract public attention and draw people into the Faith (see Messages from the Universal House of Justice, p. 12). The unifying principle of teaching

In consulting on these themes, the committee has come to the conclusion that not only are teaching and Baha’i community life inextricably interrelated, but indeed that teaching should be the guiding and unifying principle of our communities.

Teaching, not administration, is, as the Guardian has written (in Baha’ Administration, p. 42), “the most essential, the most urgent of all our obligations.”

We must also remember that the term ‘‘teaching’’ encompasses everything from telling someone about Bahd’u’ll4h for the first time to a lifetime of increasing one’s understanding of and dedication to the Faith (see for example the pamphlet ‘Building Unity of Thought on Teaching,”’ by the National Teaching Committee, December 1987).

Committee projects and activities

These are the general principles that we feel must guide the work of the committee. Aside from identifying these principles, we are still in the early stages of setting priorities for our work, and we will soon be conducting a sample survey of the activities and needs of local Assemblies to help us in this process.

We will also be establishing in the near future an office at the Baha’i National Center in Wilmette, perhaps initially with a part-time employee, and will be looking for ways to use our office to facilitate communications within the community, both between the National Center and the local communities, and among local communities who share common interests.

In the area of preparing materials and providing services of use to local communities, we are undertaking the preparation of a comprehensive, indexed compilation of references from the Sacred Writings, the letters of the Guardian and Universal House of Justice, and policy statements from the National Spiritual Assembly to help local Assemblies in their deliberations.

The new ‘‘References for Local Spiritual Assemblies’ will be loose-leaf and modular in design, and we are pressing ahead quickly with the project in view of the urgent need expressed by many communities for such materials.

The committee recognizes that there are many ills besetting modern society to which Baha’i communities are not immune. One of these is substance abuse.

We have recently appointed a Substance Abuse Task Force to

advise the committee on the best approach for Baha’i communities in addressing this widespread affliction. We expect to follow this initiative with others in different areas, and would welcome advice from the community on how to proceed.

The committee is also concerned with social and economic development activities and projects. We believe that at this time such activities and projects should be initiated and sponsored primarily at the local level, in accord with the statement by the Universal House of Justice that ‘‘progress in the development field will largely depend on natural stirrings at the grassroots, and it should receive its driving force from these sources rather than from an imposition of plans and programs from the top.’’ (Message of October 20, 1983, to the Baha’ is of the world)

The committee will help by offering a clearing-house for information and experience, through its office at the National Center.

We will also be examining the implications for our long-range development goals, both nationally and locally, of the references in the writings to the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár and its dependencies.

But for now, we believe that each Bahd’{ must develop a deeper awareness of and concern for our fellow men and women, so that this human link between souls, this reaching out, will motivate us in all our Bahá’í activities including teaching and the development of Baha’i community life as well as service to the larger community around us.

We welcome any suggestions you may have that would help us to set priorities for our activities as a committee, or that you feel we might wish to pass on to local communities and/or individuals around the country.

Correspondence can be directed to us at the Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or you may phone us at the National Center, 312-869-9039, as soon as our office there is established.

With warm Bahda’i greetings, National Development Committee Jahangir Cyrus (Louisville, KY)

Greg Dahl (Washington, DC) Mona Grieser (Silver Spring, MD) Kurt Hein (Conway, SC)

Kathy Kelley (San Francisco, CA) Ed Peace (Williamsville, NY) Pat Steele (Augusta, GA)

Teaching plan

from page 1

A number of delegates to the National Convention, inspired and enthusiastic about the possibility of such help from the National Spiritual Assembly in the teaching efforts in their home communities, spontaneously offered their hometowns or districts as sites for the conferences.

The sites will be determined by the National Spiritual Assembly after assessing the community’s needs. :

Further details of the plan and other highlights of the 79th National Convention will appear in the July issue of The American Bahá’í.

If you can’t pioneer— deputize!

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Dr, Amin Banani

Santa Monica, CA. 90402

Dr. Daryush Haghighi

Rocky River, OH. 44116

Dr. Elsie Austin

P.O. Box 927

Silver Spring, MD. 20910

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NPAAC welcomes articles

The National Persian/American Affairs Committee at the Baha’i National Center welcomes submissions by the friends of English-language articles that deal with some aspect of cross-cultural awareness or spiritual integration in the Baha’i community.

We would like this column to be a forum for your ideas and suggestions on these issues. Articles can be in the form of a short story (fact or fiction), if preferred. Lengthy articles can be divided to appear in two or more issues of The American Bahá’í. More than one article at a time may be submitted.

Please send articles to NPAAC, Baha’i National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201.

All articles to be published in The American Bahá’í

are subject to editing.

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The American Baha’i / June 1988 / 31

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Ns Tptls Gyo gel Gol, S clayy 9 rely Lhe sp,5 dry, o> I SS pe Sage Nal Gyre WL PL �[Page 32]32/ The American Baha’i / June 1988

From the House

of

Worship

Pr an

House of Worship Activities staff members arrived at the Temple at 5:10 a.m. one recent morning just in time to see a glorious sunrise over Lake Michigan. As the rich colors of the dawn lighted the pale blue of early morning, we were reminded of the extra bounties given to those who serve the Mother Temple of the West. But the best was yet to come.

At 5:30 more than 40 Girl Scouts and leaders arrived at the House of Worship to take part in a special dawn prayer service. The girls had just completed an all-night tour of such ‘‘night shift’’ places as police stations, hospitals and fire departments— places where people work all night. Now they were to end the tour with a worship service.

Their leader had called the House of Worship several months in advance to ask if they could visit the Temple at the end of their all-night tour. It was decided to have the girls participate in a dawn devotional service with unity as the theme. The girls, although tired, read beautifully. We learned later that they had been given readings that morning, and therefore had little time to prepare. After the service of music and readings from the Baha’i Writings, everyone went to the Visitors’ Center for the slide program and a brief question-and-answer period before the girls went off to breakfast.

This was a heartwarming and exciting experience for everyone

-who took part; one of the special times you might find when you come to visit and serve at the Mother Temple. .

ld

The Bahá’í House of Worship stands majestically near the shores of Lake Michigan in grandeur and splendor, surrounded by its lovely gardens, pools and fountains—a beacon of light and symbol of hope for all the peoples of the world. But guides are needed to welcome the hundreds of visitors who come each day to share in the beauty and inquire about the meaning of this Temple of Light.

“Blessed is he who directeth his steps towards the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár at the hour of dawn, communing with Him, attuned to His remembrance, imploring His forgiveness. And having entered therein, let him sit in silence to hearken unto the verses of God, the Sovereign, the Almighty, the All-Praised. Say, the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár is in truth any House raised in towns or villages for mention of me. Thus hath it been named before His Throne; would that ye knew it.’’—Baha’u’llah, Kitáb-i-Aqdas

“*A new and inspiring approach to the solution of Universal Peace is made possible through the teaching of Baha’ u’ llah so it is said, and the Temple is being erected to send forth the message of love and peace to all mankind. With a war-ridden world struggling to recuperate from the many past conflicts, and nations again ready to spring at the throats of their neighbors, the Baha’i Temple stands as a monument of hope to all mankind. May the light of this brilliant architectural gem radiate to the darkest corners of the earth and instill an understanding in the hearts of all men, both rich and poor, that War does not pay.’’—F.S. Young, quoted in The Bahd’/ World, Vol. VI (1934-36), p. 405

“We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the Nations; that all Nations shall become one in faith and all men as brothers in the bonds of affection; and unity between the sons of men shall be strengthened; the diversity of religion shall cease and differences of race be annulled. So it shall be, these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the Most Great Peace shall come. ’’—Baháa’u’ll4h, quoted in The Bahá’í World, Vol. VI (1934-36), p. 405

As a part of its Ayydm-i-Hd celebration in February, the Bahá’í community of Grand Chute, Wisconsin, had the children buy gifts for an elderly gentleman, Joe Wardman, who lives alone and has no family or relatives. The children spruced up his apartment with brightly colored wall hangings, gave him two fish and a small fish tank to help keep him company, sang songs for him and recited a prayer. Pictured with Mr. Wardman are (left to right) Luke Fisher, Amelia Belknap, Jason Fisher, Alisha Damrow and Tierra Belknap.

Ads

from page 23

dially invited to call and introduce themselves to members of the Bahd’{ community of Oshkosh at one of these telephone numbers: 414-231-2547, 231-3052, or 233-4667.

ATTENTION social studies teachers: thinking about adding study of the United Nations to your curriculum? Write for ‘Teaching About the United Nations,” published by the United Nations Association of the United States. Order from: UNAUSA, Publications Department, 485 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017. The cost is $5.

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 of 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!

New booklet produced by Refugee Office in Persian for immigrants

The U.S. Baha’i Refugee Office has produced a new 50-page Persian-language booklet entitled “America: A Nation of Immigrants.”

The booklet is designed to acquaint recently arrived Persian refugees and immigrants (including Baha’is) with the customs and practicalities of life in the U.S.

The table of contents and section headings are in English and Persian.

The price is $2 plus postage. The booklet can be ordered directly from the Bahd’{ Distribution Service, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone (toll-free) 1-800-999-9019.

Jagdish Gandhi, a Bahá’í from Lucknow, India, holds a copy of the magazine produced by the Gandhis’ schools in Lucknow as Mrs. Gandhi looks on. The Gan dhis spent a week in California in April en route to the sixth Bahá’í International Convention in Haifa, Israel.

Delegates to International Convention from India visit friends in California

Two delegates from India to the sixth Baha’i International Convention in Haifa, Israel, stopped for a week in California in April to visit the friends there en route to the Convention.

Jagdish Gandhi and his wife, Bharti, gave several firesides including presentations at the Bosch School and the Baha’i Center in San Francisco.

The friends were most interested to hear how the Gandhis started a group of schools in Lucknow, India, which have grown to the point at which there are some 1,100 children attending and 1,000 staff and helpers.

All levels up to and including high school are included.

The Gandhis feel that much of their success has resulted from en couraging not only students but parents and teachers as well to become a part of the educational process by recognizing them for their contributions.

Each year, the outstanding students are honored together with their parents and teachers, which not only helps parents and teachers to become more involved but greatly increases the sense of family unity.

While in San Francisco the Gandhis were interviewed on KGO-TV on a program with an audience estimated at more than a million.

Later that day the peace statement from the Universal House of Justice was read on that same station.

Three-week course in media technology set for summer at Amoz Gibson Centre

“Media Technology for Development Communication,” an it tensive three-week course for Baha’is and others interested in serving development communications projects in a technical capacity, will be held July 18-August 5 at the Amoz Gibson Training Centre for Bahá’í Media in Arecibo, Puerto Rico.

Topics include alternative energy systems, appropriate technology, low-power broadcasting, village radio and other small media, and a general introduction to electronics.

The principal instructor is K. Dean Stephens, and the languages of instruction are English and Spanish.

The cost is $450 per student ($400 with early registration discount).

For more information, write to the Amoz Gibson Centre, HC-02 Box 14765, Arecibo, Puerto Rico 00612, or phone 809-878-4189 before 9 p.m. EST.

Naw-Rúz fund-raiser nets $200 in Arkansas

On March 20, the Baha’i community of Rogers, Arkansas, hosted a Naw-Rúz fund-raising dinner to which Baha’is and their friends came from Fayetteville, Washington County and Eureka Springs.

After the dinner, professional singer/guitarist; Bob and Linda Newman of West Fork entertained.

The more than 40 people present raised $200 in the “Spirit of the Roses.’”

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.

�[Page 33]Sitting Bull’s legacy of unity lends impetus to summer’s Continental Indigenous Council

NATIVE AMERICANS

Tatanka lyotake, or Sitting Bull, was among those who led the Dakota people during difficult years of wars, famine and subjugation on Reservations in North and South Dakota.

Though his people were eventually forced to surrender, he never signed a treaty with the government.

Around 1890, Sitting Bull sent invitation sticks to many tribes, calling them to come together to consult about the spiritual health and survival of the people.

Before the meeting could take place, however, Sitting Bull was killed by the police who feared an Indian uprising.

The Continental Indigenous Council, to be held in August at Mobridge, South Dakota, can help fulfill Sitting Bull’s desire. Now is the time to answer his call.

Let us come together from the east, the south, the west and the north to consult together. Our spiritual well-being, our families, the unity of our tribes, and the fulfillment of the prophecies of our people will be discussed.

The fifth Continental Indigenous Council is sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States.

All» Indian people and their families are warmly invited to attend. There will be many respected speakers and many opportunities to meet and to visit with one another, as well as small group presentations on alcoholism and other issues of concern.

The Council events will begin on Wednesday, August 3, and last

Oregon welcomes visit from well-known Lakota Baha’?i performer Kevin Locke

Kevin Locke, a Sioux Indian Baha’: who is a well-known flute player and hoop dancer, performed recently in southern and central Oregon.

Oregon Baha’i family profiled in series on Iranian immigrants

A family of Baha’is now living in Willamette, Oregon, was one of several profiled February 3 in a series of articles in the West Linn Tidings about Iranian immigrants in the U.S.

The articles detailed the changes that took place in Iran following the Islamic Revolution in 1979, changes that led most of the Iranians to remain here, and discussed some of the difficulties faced by the immigrants in adjusting to a new life in a country other than their homeland.

The Baha’i family, whose picture appeared twice on the front page of the section in which the articles appeared, consists of Ruhollah_ Piroozmandi; his wife, Ghodshi; their son, Farid, and daughter Fariba.

The Piroozmandis, the articles point out, were forced to leave Iran because of the persecution of Baha’is there, and, unlike some others, found adjusting to their new country somewhat easier ‘“‘because they joined a community of fellow Baha’is; both Iranian and non-Iranian.””

Using a unique combination of American Indian humor, eloquent speech, traditional music, dance and story-telling, Mr. Locke performed seven programs in the Klamath Falls/Chiloquin area including one at a mini-pow wow given in his honor.

In central Oregon, he presented four programs in the Madras and Warm Springs communities.

Local Baha’is reported that more than 700 elementary and junior high school students saw the programs at their schools.

Many of the same children brought their parents to two evening performances in Warm Springs that drew a total audience of 350.

Mr. Locke was interviewed by KWSO, the Warm Springs tribal educational/cultural FM radio station, which broadcast the interview twice before the second performance on the Reservation.

In his programs, Mr. Locke, who was accompanied by his daughters, Waneya and Kimimila, presented what he calls ‘‘positive perceptions” of the American Indian way of life to both Indian and non-Indian audiences.

He mentioned the Faith in a tactful and appealing way, and the audiences were enthusiastic in their reception of the programs.

After his final performance, before some 400 students at Chemawa Indian School near Salem, the students joined him in a round dance.

American Indian Teaching Activitity May/June, 1988

through Friday, August 5. Camping begins on August 1.

Camp sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis at Indian Memorial Park, Mobridge, South Dakota. The fee is $8 per camp site for up to 10 people, $4 if the head of the family is 62 or more years old.

“In these very days the Abhá Paradise must pitch its pavilions on the plains of the world. The lights of reality must now be revealed, and the secrets of God’s bestowals must now be made known, and now must the olden grace shine forth and this world change into the pleasure-ground of heaven, the garden of God.””

—‘Abdu’l-Bahá

For information about the Continental Indigenous Council, please contact the National Teaching Committee, 312-869-9039.

Young ‘Baha’ “fs in Lawndale, CaliSornia, braved high winds and torrential rains to take part April 23 in the Lawndale Youth Parade.

LOVE THE WORLD VTA

The American Baha’i / June 1988 / 33

Rock Reservation

South Dakota

noises and became thoroughly rain-soaked while proving indeed, as their banner proclaimed, that “Youth Can Move the World.’

Although the weather made it impossible to play their music, the Bahá’ís laughed, kicked up their feet, clapped hands, made musical

Fullerton fund-raiser draws 250 who donate $10,000 toward Arc

About 250 people including Bahá’ís from as far away as San Diego and Los Angeles attended a fund-raising dinner for the Arc on March 5 in Fullerton, California.

The event was sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Garden Grove.

Tickets were sold for the dinner of soup, sandwich, dessert and drink which was specially prepared and served by the Rooh-EGandom family who have a sandwich shop.

Entertainment was provided by the Los Angeles Bahd’{ Youth Workshop.

The net amount raised by the dinner and auction was $9,937.87, to which was added $62.13 from the local Fund for a total of $10,000 to be sent to the National Treasurer’s Office.

Teaching Fever Is CONTAGIOUS! — have YOU Caught the Fever Yet?

The Bahá’ís of Geen: Bay, Wi

consin, sponsored an information booth at a local mall last October as part of a Halloween ‘trick or treat’ walk for children. The booth received a first place certif ieate for decorating within the theme of ‘fall colors’ requested by the mall coordinators. The skeleton and clown seen here are Billy and Nicholas Pierce, respectively.

�[Page 34]34 / The American Baha’i / June 1988

WA

STORIES OF THE MARTYRS

HASHIM FARNUSH

Hashim Farnish was born in 1938 in Karaj, a small town about 20 miles west of Tehran. His father named him Hashim after his own father whom ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had entitled ‘‘Qarddshim’”’ (my brother).

Mr. Farnish spent his childhood and young adulthood in Karaj where he attended primary and grammar school and was graduated from high school.

Hardships and difficulties beset him during that period, however, because on the one hand, his father suffered from a prolonged illness which later led to blindness, and on the other, being a Bahd’{ brought persecution upon him.

Nonetheless, difficulties did not frustrate his plans to continue his education. He entered the University of Tehran, and after a few years obtained a B.A. degree in Persian literature.

After graduation, Mr. Farnish taught in high schools for a while, and later started his own business selling office equipment.

As to his Baha’j activities, in his youth Mr. Farntsh would attend Baha’i classes and take part in youth activities. For a long time, he served on the National Youth Committee of Iran.

Also, he used to conduct Baha’i classes, and thus create enthusiasm in the hearts of young Baha’is.

Moreover, he was a valued assistant to a number of Baha’i scholars such as ‘Abdu’l-Hamid Ishraq-i Khavari, Ahmad Yazdani, and Kaméalu’ddin Bakhtavar.

Mr. Farnish spent most of his free time serving the Cause: he would go travel teaching, conduct lecture tours and deepenings, and help the friends, especially the youth, to gain a better understanding and appreciation of the Faith.

In addition to his teaching services, he was a member of the local Spiritual Assembly of Karaj.

After the Revolution in 1979, Mr. Farnish intensified his Baha’i activities. Revolutionary guards, well aware of his services, were after him to arrest him and prevent him from rendering his services to the friends.

For a while he hid in the homes of his friends, but conscious of, and sensitive to, the probable dif See MARTYR page 35

Chicago

from page 1

sibilities, were asked (1) to pray daily and study the Writings, (2) to seek ways to share the Message with others, and (3) to take part wholeheartedly in the Nineteen Day Feast.

Meanwhile, the Spiritual Assembly decided to put a great deal of energy into making the Feast a spiritually nourishing occasion.

Shortly after embarking on this course of action, the community was offered the special help and support of the National Spiritual Assembly in an effort to make the Chicago Bahd’{ community a model of racial unity that could be offered as an example to a world that is growing ever more skeptical that such unity is possible.

In August 1987, the Spiritual Assembly of Chicago met with the National Spiritual Assembly and a number of national committees to consult about this enterprise and consider what course of action would be appropriate.

The result was not a well-defined set of specific programs of action, but a set of more general orientations and perspectives on the over-all direction of the community.

These orientations and the actions that have sprung from them may be summarized as follows: Strive for excellence in Bahá’í activities

For years the community had tried to do so many things that it was impossible to do them well; the expectation that others would not do their share resulted in a lessening of one’s own commitment. It was important to restore high standards of excellence in what we do.

Increase unity in the community

The bonds of genuine love and affection need to be made much stronger so we are really like a close family. This can only be achieved by spending more time together, both socially and at work. This goal is the focal point of everything else.

Draw the community closer to the Creative Word

The source of our unity lies in the Revelation of Baha’u’ll4h. Without its strong influence, our diversity will overwhelm us. There is a great need to increase the frequency and intensity of our contact with the Revelation so that it can more strongly guide and direct our activities.

Create a community environment that encourages teaching by the individual members

There was a consensus that real teaching success would flow from other activities if they were properly achieved. Unity in the community is a natural magnet that attracts people, Baha’is and non-Baha’is. Deepening in the Creative Word cannot fail to awaken a desire to teach in any conscientious soul; this desire can be encouraged in all the activities of the community.

Be ever vigilant in promoting race unity

The real cornerstone of our approach at present is the conviction that if we can create a true model of Baha’i unity within our own community, this will act as a powerful magnet to draw thoughtful inquirers into the Faith. A higher level of unity will also allow us to be bolder in inviting people to in vestigate the Cause.

We have a great deal of diversity in the community, and while we have not experienced open hostility in our community affairs, we are painfully aware that we fall far short of the Baha’i standard.

All too often we stop at a polite social level of mutual acceptance without achieving the deep bonds of affection and concern about the well-being of our fellow believers that must characterize the Community of the Most Great Name. We are struggling to find ways to increase the strength of these bonds.

Among the steps we have taken are these:

Feasts

Devotions were enriched with music and greater attention to detail; reporting was streamlined and consultation guided to spiritual topics of merit and importance. Proper provision for the participation of children in the Feast was made, as were efforts to improve the social aspects of the Feast.

Through purely voluntary efforts, the friends have begun to gather to eat together before each Feast. Attendance last summer nearly tripled over recent years, and has maintained a level that is double the average for 1986.

The quality of consultation has been greatly improved, with wider participation by the friends. The spirit of the Feast has entirely changed, and we feel that this has been a major success of this year.

Deepening

A monthly deepening series was initiated to address a number of important concerns. In an effort to set a standard of excellence and to draw the attention of the friends to the importance of deepening, it was decided to seek out distinguished members of senior Baha’i institutions to launch the program. Appearing so far have been:

Glenford E. Mitchell, member of the Universal House of Justice (August 6, 1987).

The Hand of the Cause of God Collis Featherstone (August 24, 1987).

Counselor Isabel de Calderén (October 26, 1987).

Counselors Robert Harris and Fred Schechter (November 12, 1987).

Auxiliary Board member Javidukht Khadem on the Arc (February 28, 1988).

A two-part deepening on ‘‘The Baha’i Concept of Spirituality” was held January 24 and 31, 1988, and Dr. Robert Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, has agreed to present a report on the sixth Baha’i International Convention held in April.

Consideration has been given to the establishment of a Baha’i school in Chicago.

The present thinking is to concentrate on expanding the deepening program. As the friends develop the habit of studying together on a weekly basis, the school can gradually be established around this activity.

A Spanish-language deepening has reunited the Hispanic members of the community with enthusiasm. An assistant to Auxiljiary Board member Javidukht Khadem, especially for Hispanic believers in the district, has been appointed.

Race unity

On November 15, Rita Starr

and Billie Mayo came from St.

Louis to conduct an all-day Race Unity Seminar. About 40 Baha’is attended including two Persians, a dozen blacks and about 25 whites, many of whom were from the suburbs.

On January 15, the Race Unity Task Force hosted a commemoration at the Bahd’{ Center in Chicago of the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Attending were 25 Baha’is and their friends including neighbors from across the street from the Center.

Plans are being made for a Walk for Race Unity to be held in downtown Chicago, culminating in an event at Grant Park. Many churches and other groups have been asked to participate.

Perhaps most important, the challenges of race unity have become the topic of much earnest and positive discussion in the community. This bodes well for the future.

Teaching

Teaching has been given considerable attention but gently by encouraging individual initiative rather than through centralized teaching programs. We have had 16 enrollments so far this year, and a number of others are seriously investigating the Faith.

Those who have enrolled are, for the most part, well-grounded in the Faith and have become active in community affairs.

Several successful firesides are ongoing including a regular bilingual fireside. At the present rate, it appears that we may experience this year in Chicago the largest growth since the end of the Nine Year Plan.

The Chicago Center

Two fund-raising dinners for the Center were hosted last December by members of an Hispanic deepening class and some of the Persian friends who formed an ad hoc task force to plan an international dinner-dance for the Building Fund. Tickets were completely sold out with about 350 Baha’is and their guests.

Public affairs

Our basic orientation has been to try and become a community that would invite examination and attract the attention of the public through the example of its unity.

We have made no particular external overtures, but find that we are now being sought out with increasing frequency and are encountering new opportunities to exercise spiritual leadership in Chicago. This, too, is a confirmation that our efforts toward unity are bearing fruit.

The chairman of the Assembly was invited to represent the Baha’i community of Chicago at a meeting with the Sister Cities Commission. Chicago and Kiev are the cities being considered. Members. of the commission had been informed of the great restrictions on the Faith in the Soviet Union, and were visibly impressed by the depth of our commitment to establishing unity.

Through our contacts with the National Conference of Christians and Jews, Baha’is were invited to the fourth annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast for Martin Luther King’s birthday, held January 15 at the Fairmont Hotel. Many contacts were strengthened and new ones made.

Perhaps the clearest sign of our heightened profile in Chicago was our participation in planning for a city-wide Interfaith Unity Week end on February 13-14.

The Baha’i representative had an influential role in planning the event, working closely with other ministers and the mayor’s office. The theme of the weekend was “One City, One People, Working Together.”

Summary

As we look back over the past year, we are encouraged by what has been accomplished and confirmed in the rightness of the basic direction that has been set. At the same time, we are even more aware of how much has yet to be accomplished.

Baha’u’ll4h has opened doors for us to demonstrate the Baha’i example in ways we could not have imagined, and our opportunities to exert real leadership in Chicago have multiplied several times. We feel that same sense of awe and excitement that aroused us when we met with the National Spiritual Assembly.

We are deeply grateful for the National Assembly’s guidance and loving encouragement. We hope that we can rise to the challenge you have given us and to become thereby worthy of the high station that has been bestowed upon this unique community.

Women encouraged to present papers at 13th ABS Conference

The Executive Committee of the Association for Baha’i Studies especially welcomes presentations from women of various racial and ethnic backgrounds for its 13th annual Conference which is to be held October 7-10 in London, Ontario.

You are encouraged to submit presentations and suggestions for workshops to the Executive Committee by September 1.

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

Also wanted are papers for consideration in the Association’s annual essay contest. Awards are given in four categories: high school, university, general, and multi-author.

All submissions for presentations, suggestions, and inquiries should be sent to the Association for Baha’i Studies, 34 Copernicus St., Ottawa, Ontario KIN 7K4, Canada.

Also invited are recommendations from others who might be interested in taking part in the event. :

© SON OF BEING!

Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My descent. Thy spirit is My place of revelation; cleanse it for my manifestation. -Bahá’u’lláh

Would your community like to have a Traveling Teacher who is well-versed in Christian doctrine assist in your teaching efforts? Contact: Nat'l Teaching Committee Baha'i National Center Wilmette, IL 60091

�[Page 35]

An overflow audience of more than 200 Baha’is took part April 2 in a statewide ‘‘Love and Fellowship’’ Conference in Eugene, Ore gon.

The event was sponsored by the District Teaching Committee of Western Oregon and hosted by the Spiritual Assembly of Eugene.

The keynote speaker was William Davis, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, who presented an informative overview of the stunning advances made by the Faith in the last 25 years.

Mr. Davis emphasized that the biggest challenge facing the American Bahd’{ community today is that of growth.

Oregon, he said, has a long his Nevada Bishop given — peace statement

Last December 16, members of Baha’i communities in northern Nevada presented a copy of the peace statement to the Most Rev. Daniel Walsh, Catholic bishop of Nevada.

The Baha’ delegation consisted of Joseph Galata (Sparks), Cathy Florentino (Washoe County South), Kristie Gilmere (Sparks), and Robin Gray (Lovelock).

The presentation was made in the rectory of the bishop’s office.

tory of achievement in service to the Cause, and the friends there must rededicate themselves and expand on that legacy of leadership in teaching and service. Following his talk, the friends watched the video of the San Francisco peace conference during which several noted leaders and scholars urged the Baha’is to take their message to the world at

The spirit of the gathering was high, so much so that two seekers declared their belief in Baha’u’ll4h during the morning session.

Among the other speakers were Mehran Adyani, a young refugee from Iran who told of his experiences up to and during his escape; Elahe Young, who spoke on the meaning and effects of martyrdom; and Auxiliary Board member Marchia Morey, whose topic was the need for Baha’is to include children and youth when planning a ities related to the Faith.

Honored during the afternoon session were 91-year-old Ruth Wenstrom, a Baha’i for 71 years and the oldest living Baha’i in Oregon; her daughter, 70-year-old Virginia Jensen of Tigard; and Virginia’s daughter, Susan Davis, who declared her belief some eight

events.

Baha’i economics experts sought

The National Spiritual Assembly would like the names of Baha’is who hold advanced degrees in economics. Opportunities arise in which the National Assembly would like to call on those with expertise in economics to represent the Faith at national

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.

San Francisco to sponsor Conference on Courtship, Marriage and Family Life

The Spiritual Assembly of San Francisco is sponsoring a Conference on Courtship, Marriage and Family Life at the Baha’i Center in San Francisco over the Labor Day weekend, September Deen

As a goal of the Six Year Plan, the American Baha’i community has been asked to encourage and support the improvement of Baha’i family life through the estab Martyr

from page 34

ficulties he may have caused them, he finally surrendered to the authorities.

To those who knew him, Mr. Farnish was a sensitive, kindhearted and loyal friend; he did not and would not let them down. He had a good sense of humor and was an exemplary father and husband.

Hashim Farnish spent nine months in prison. On June 23, 1981, he was executed with two other Baha’is by a firing squad in Tehran.

In a cable, the Universal House

Mr. Farnish is survived by his wife and two children.

Baha'is interested in Traveling Teaching in Mexico, please con

lishment of local and national programs on marriage and related topics.

The conference is designed to help one prepare for marriage. Because we live in societies that are lacking in moral values, we must sharpen our awareness and understanding of the Baha’i directives for choosing a marriage partner.

The Assembly looks forward to your participation in a weekend of exploration into the many facets of developing healthy life-long relationships that will become the bedrock of society.

The program will consist of talks, workshops, entertainment and social activities. Talks will be presented by a number of invited speakers including ‘some wellknown people from within and outside the Faith.

A special ‘‘fun night” will enable participants to display their talents and creativity. There will also be an International Dress evening, so don’t forget your native costumes.

The conference is designed for single adults and older youth. No child-care facilities are available.

People from minority backgrounds are encouraged to attend. Also, we would be happy to receive contributions from anyone who wishes to sponsor such individuals. If you need full or partial support, please contact your local Assembly.

Participation in the conference is limited to 500 people at most.

years ago.

Other early believers honored were Linda Choquette, Helen Bishop, Ethelyn Lindstrom, Martha Warren and Erich Reich.

The evening session featured songs by Karen St. James and Mr. Davis’ insights and personal ex The American Baha’i / June 1988 / 35

Eugene, Oregon, hosts ‘Love, Fellowship’ Conference

periences of the development of the Baha’ World Center.

He called on his daughter, 13year-old Hilary, who lived at the World Center as a young child, and she touched the hearts with her recollections of the Center staff and members of the Uni versal House of Justice.

The friends gladly accepted Mr. Davis’ challenge to arise to greater service, and the evening ended with Lydia McCarter leading the group singing to a teaching story on ‘‘entry by troops’’ in a village in Africa.—Elizabeth Shema

As part of the national ‘Week of the Child’ last April 10-17, youngsters at the Children’s Oasis PreSchool in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is owned by Bahá’ís Louis and Linda Mortillaro, released helium-filled balloons with the

legend ‘Wage Peace.’ Many of the older children asked the meaning of ‘wage peace,’ which gave Jan Irsfeld, a Bahá’í who teaches kindergarten at the school, an opportunity to explain Bahá’í principles of peace to them. The Mor tillaros are building another school in Las Vegas and hope to staff it with dedicated Baha’ teachers. If you are interested, Bi may contact them at 702-8768461.

Baha’ nurse inducted into honor society for leadership excellence

Vicky Miller, a Bahá’í from Richmond, Virginia, has been inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, an international honor society of nursing founded in 1922.

Membership in the society is awarded to bachelor’s and master’s candidates in nursing who achieve high scholastic averages and to graduates of college programs who achieve excellence in nursing leadership roles.

Mrs. Miller is employed as a staff nurse at Henrico Hospital in Richmond.

Counselor Donald Rogers (seated third from left) spoke February 22 to Bahá’ís in Atlanta, Georgia, explaining the station and duties of the Board of Counselors, outlining the functions of the Auxiliary Boards and local Spiritual Assem blies, and offering guidance for the remaining years of the 20th century. Pictured with Counselor Rogers are (left to right) Marion

Hatch, Dr. Robert Hatch, Margaret Burns (partly hidden), Vera Taylor and Eric Mandell.

© Most Holy Tablet ¢ Glad Tidings

Tablet of Wisdom

PS $4.50

Tablets of Baha’u’llah

The sixteen Tablets included in Tablets of Baha'u'llah were revealed by Baha'u'llah after the formulation of the laws and ordinances of the Kitab-i-Aqdas. Shoghi Effendi characterized these Tablets as “mighty and final effusions of His [Baha'u'llah's] indefatigable pen.” They are Tablets that “must rank among the choicest fruits which His mind has yielded, and mark the consummation of His forty-year-long ministry.”

These significant and much loved Tablets include the: © Book of the Covenant

Tablet of the World

From the U.S. Baha'i Publishing Trust

Bahda‘i Distribution Service

415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091 Tel. 1-800-999-9019

�[Page 36]36 / The American Baha’i / June 1988

Year in review

from page 21

The conference theme is “‘Bahd’{ Youth: Building the New World Order.””

JANUARY

• The Universal House of Justice

acknowledges the receipt in January of the third volume of the “Spirit of the Roses” journal, a gift from the American Bahd’{ community which documents by means of photographs and other memorabilia its efforts to further the Cause of God in memory of the loving sacrifices of the friends in Iran.

The journal and accompanying items, says the House of Justice, will be held in trust at the World Center until, eventually, they can be turned over to the Baha’i community of Iran, “‘there to remain as token of its spiritual triumph.””

© On January 24, nearly 300 Baha’ is in Massachusetts are present at Worcester to take part in Project Massachusetts’ second statewide conference for the Campaign of Unified Action.

The keynote address is given by Jaci Delahunt, secretary of the National ‘Teaching Committee.

© Baha'is from North Georgia are prominent among the thousands who march January 18 in Atlanta in the annual parade marking the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. More than 100 of the friends march behind a large banner that proclaims ‘Prejudice Is a Handicap.”

• Members of the National Race

Unity Committee and National Persian/American Affairs Committee gather December 29-January 3 at the Bosch Baha’i School in California for a session whose theme is “‘Spiritual Integration.”

Also present are Counselor Fred Schechter and Auxiliary Board member Marsha Gilpatrick.

© On January 24, more than 100 adult Bahá’ís and 25 youth take part in a conference on ‘‘The Most Vital and Challenging Issue”’ sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Portland, Oregon.

WILLIAM MAXWELL

FEBRUARY

© In spite of severe winter storms, Baha’is from across the U.S. manage to come together February 12 at the Baha’ House of Worship in Wilmette for an extraordinary conference called by the National Spiritual Assembly to forge a campaign of unified action among the institutions and agencies of the Faith in Canada and the U.S. to make a meaningful contribution to the completion of the Arc on Mount Carmel and to help bring about entry by troops into the Cause of God.

Among those present is Dr. Peter Khan, a member of the Universal House of Justice, who speaks about the relationship between the completion of the Arc and the establishment

of God’s Kingdom on earth.

Also taking part are five Counselors in the Americas: Wilma Brady, Robert Harris, Lauretta King, Donald Rogers and Fred Schechter; members of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Canada and the U.S.; several Auxiliary Board members and assistants to the Board; members of most national committees in the U.S.; and staff from the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette and the Office of External Affairs in Washington, D.C.

The focal point of discussions is the Universal House of Justice’s letter of August 31, 1987, in which the Supreme Body outlines plans for con HODA MAHMOUDI

struction of the remaining buildings comprising the Arc on Mount Carmel.

© On February 2, the Office of External Affairs hosts a luncheon for Sir Thomas Davis, former Premier of the Cook Islands, at the International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington, D.C.

‘The dozen Bahá’ís attending represent Pacific countries (China, the Philippines, Vietnam) and include Persians and members of the black and white races.

Sir Thomas, who was given a copy of the peace statement in 1986, responded by asking for and obtaining an audience with the Universal House of Justice.

© On February 3, the National Spiritual Assembly of Taiwan cables the Universal House of Justice the news that 1,165 new believers have been enrolled during its recent teaching campaign, representing a 74 percent increase in the number of Baha'is in that country.

© As of February 9, the National Spiritual Assembly Office of External Affairs reports, presentations of “The Promise of World Peace’’ have been made to 53 of 96 U.S. Senators (55 percent); 267 of 432 members of the U.S. House of Representatives (62 percent); and 27 of 48 state governors in the continental U.S. (56 percent).

Worldwide, between one and two million copies of the statement have been disseminated; it has been translated into 76 languages and presented to 198 heads of state (75 directly).

© Judith Oppenheimer, an archivist from the Baha’i World Center, visits the Baha’ National Center in Wilmette for a few weeks in January and February to work on a major project initiated by the World Center to find and catalog more than 2,000 missing letters written by the Guardian of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi.

© One hundred-fifty people attend the first in a series of conferences on the equality of women and men sponsored by the Baha’i National Committee on Women and held February 20-21 at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.

Each of the conferences is to focus ‘on a particular minority group. The first one, held during Black History Month, is directed toward black wom en. The keynote address is given by Dr.

Alberta Deas, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly.

© Representatives of six National Spiritual Assemblies meet February 18-21 in Washington, D.C., and New York City to discuss areas of collaboration in external affairs activities within their respective countries.

‘Among those taking part are the secretaries of five National Assemblies: Hossain Danesh, Canada; Francois Petit, France; Christopher Sprung, Germany; Hugh Adamson, United Kingdom; and Robert Hender © The 25th Commemoration Council Fire, “‘Circles of Peace,”” held during Ayyd4m-i-H4 near Tucson, Arizona, is blessed by the presence of the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears.

At least 20 Indian tribes are represented among the 500 people who gather for the event.

© The National Spiritual Assembly confirms the acquittal February 17 by the Egyptian Court of Appeals in Cairo of 12 Baha’is who were among 48 convicted in May 1987 of allegedly violating a law banning Bahd’{ activities in that country and sentenced to three years in prison.

© A pow-wow February 6 on the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation north of Houston, Texas, ends the third annual Health Care Fair sponsored for residents of the Resexvation by the District Teaching ‘Committee of Eastern Texas No. 2.

• The “Greater Boldness, Greater

Love’? Women’s Conference, held February 20-21 in Issaquah, Washington, surpasses all the aspirations of its planning committee, with some 300 people taking part.

‘Addressing the conference are Auxiliary Board member Marchia Morey; Dr. Jane Faily, a clinical psychologist from Canada and former member of that country’s National Spiritual Assembly; and the mayor of Issaquah, A.J. Culver.

© Inspired by California’s “Arc of Love”’ campaign, more than 100 Baha’is from Illinois gather February 20 in Decatur for a statewide meeting which focuses on the role that state will play in helping to build the Kingdom of God on earth.

‘Among the immediate goals set are

ADIB TAHERZADEH

to contribute $50,000 for the comple tion of the Arc on Mount Carmel by

Ridvan 1988; $500,000 from Ridvan

1988 to Ridvan 1989; and $1.5 million

from Ridvan 1989 to Ridvan 1990. MARCH

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

The National Assembly is represented at the hearing by its secretary, Dr. Robert C. Henderson, who appears as part of a four-member ‘“‘con cerned groups” panel.

Bahá’ís play a leading role March

10 at the annual Women’s History Week dinner in Seneca Falls, New York.

Keynote speaker for the event, which is sponsored by the Business and Professional Women’s Club and the American Association of University Women, Seneca Falls chapter, is Farzaneh Guillebeaux, a member of the Bahd’{ National Committee on Women who lives in Montgomery, Alabama.

Vicki Hu Poirier, a Baha’i from Las ‘Cruces, New Mexico, who is an artist, designs a tapestry commemorating the historic conferences in 1848 at Badasht in Iran and Seneca Falls and honoring the contributions made to them by, respectively, Táhirih and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

• Juana Conrad, a Bahá’í from

California who is co-founder of Women for International Peace and Arbitration, is one of 10 finalists for the 1987 ‘Woman of Conscience’’ award presented March 2 in New York City by the U.S. National Council of Women.

The recipient is the Rev. Susan D. Johnson, the first black woman pastor in a Baptist church in New York state and in any American Baptist Church

© On March 26-27, Baha'is from the U.S. and Canada meet along the border to share teaching plans and discuss ways in which they might help one another in their efforts.

The Saturday event is held in Dunseith, North Dakota, at the edge of the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, and the Sunday meeting in Brandon, Manitoba.

© Mary Sawicki Power represents the Bahd’{ International Community at a meeting March 14-23 in Vienna, Austria, of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

© Bahá’í women play important roles in a conference held the first week in March at the University of New Hampshire in Durham to observe National Women’s History Week.

Speaking at a session on the peace movement are National Teaching ‘Committee member Hoda Mahmoudi and Auxiliary Board member Mara Khavari.

The following day, Afaf Stevens, a Bahá’í from Eliot, Maine, presents a paper on the role of women in the world’s major religions.

APRIL

• All members of the National Spiritual Assembly are at the World Center in Haifa, Israel, in April for the

sixth Baha’i International Convention. Besides consulting with members of other National Assemblies from around the world, they take part in the election of the Universal House of Justice whose members are Ali Nakhjavani, Glenford Mitchell, Hushmand Fatheazam, Ian Semple, Peter Khan, David Ruhe, Hugh Chance, Hooper Dunbar and Adib Taherzadeh.

• In its Ridvan message to the Baha’is of the world, the Universal

House of Justice points to ‘the emergence of a new paradigm of opportunity for further growth and consolidation of our world-wide community. ...

“the paramount purpose of all Bahd’{ activity,” the Supreme Body says, “‘is teaching. All that has been done or will be done revolves around this central activity, the ‘head cornerstone of the foundation itself,’ to which all progress in the Cause is due.

“The present challenge calls for teaching on a scale and of a quality, a variety, and intensity outstripping all current efforts. The time is now, lest opportunity be lost in the swiftly changing moods of a frenetic world. ...

“Every individual believer—man, woman, youth and child—is summoned to this field of action; for it is on the initiative, the resolute will of the individual to teach and to serve, that the success of the entire community depends.””

Navak Khorvash, a Bahá’í youth from Lancaster, California, was graduated this year as salutatorian of her class at Paraclete Catholic High School. Among her many honors were the U.S. Presidential Academic Fitness Award, National Honor Society Membership, and Bank of America Achievement Award. The school principal, a priest, praised her broad-mindedness and good behavior as well as her scholastic achievements, She plans to attend the University of California-Irvine.

UN

from page 16

tion in UNA-USA make a difference?

A: The UNA-USA carries out various projects through which members may participate in making policy recommendations to the U.S. government and to the UN.

Currently in progress is a multilateral project for creating a more effective UN. Study panels have been formed by local UNA chapters to discuss policy choices facing the U.S. and the world community. Recommendations from these panels will be submitted to the national UNA-USA to be incorporated into a national consensus report that will be released on United Nations Day (October 24).

In 1987 the UNA released a blueprint for revitalizing the UN. The consensus was a product of the highest-level group of world leaders ever to consider the future of the global organization.

Some of these recommendations have already been adopted. Other important studies and recommendations, often developed through consultation on local and national panels, have been accepted and implemented by the U.S. and/or by the UN or its agencies.

Q: What if there is no UNAUSA chapter in my community?

A; If there is no local chapter in your area, one cam be started if specific guidelines are met. To find out more about starting a chapter in your community, contact Ms. Carol Christian, director of Field Administration, UNAUSA, 485 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

Q: How can I find out more about the UNA-USA?

A; Various publications are offered by the UNA including basic fact sheets and a bi-monthly newspaper on world affairs. Topics range from the UN and human rights to organizing a model UN club.

To receive a free list of publications, write to: UNA-USA, Publications Department, 485 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017. Request publication No. 55.

�[Page 37]ZENOBIA POWELL PERRY

Ohio Baha’i receives NOW History Award for her musical drama

On March 19, Zenobia Powell Perry, a Baha’i from Wilberforce, Ohio, received the Women’s History Award from the National Organization of Women, Ohio chapter, for ““Tawawa House,” a musical drama that depicts the early days of Wilberforce during the Civil War years.

Ms. Perry, a performing artist and composer who taught for 27 years at Central State University in Wilberforce, has written sonatas, chamber music, cantatas, song cycles, multimedia works, a symphony and a concerto.

She was honored in 1987 with an Ohioana Music Citation for her distinguished service to Ohio in the field of music.

Her art songs, including six of The Hidden Words, are the subject of a soon-to-be-published dissertation by Dr. Jo Lanier at the University of Chicago.

Ms. Perry has also composed several short four-part choral pieces using Bahd’{ writings that are appropriate for devotional services. If you would like more information about them, please contact the Baha’i Center, 13 E. Main St., Xenia, Ohio, or phone 513-372-7401.

he Six

Year

Plan

+ Carrying the healing Message of

Bahau'll4h to the generality of mankind

+ Greater involvement of the Faith in the life of human society

+ A worldwide increase in the translation, production, distribution and use of Bahi'f literature

+ Further acceleration in the process of the maturation of local and national Bahá’í communities

+ Greater attention to uni sal participation and the spiritual enrichment of individual believers

+ A wider extension of Baha’i education to children and youth, and the strengthening of Baha'i family life

+ The pursuit of projects of Social and Economic Development in well-established Baha't communities

Bahá’ís from Milford, Massachusetts, and other parts of the state took part May I in a ‘Freedom Parade’ in Milford commemorating the bicentennial of the signing of the Constitution. Leading the Bahá’í unit were three Bahá’ís carrying a banner which read ‘Uniting the World One Heart at a Time.’ Following the banner was a float carrying children of many races beneath an arc reading ‘Mankind Is One.’ A large globe was hung from the arc, and the float was adorned with flowers. The ‘Mankind Is One’ theme was repeated on the sides of the float in Italian and Portuguese. More than 35,000 saw the parade, after which the Bahá’ís received a trophy for honorable mention.

The American Baha’i / June 1988 / 37

News in brief

Pianist Mark Ochu presents series of concerts in Idaho

More than a thousand people in half a dozen communities in Idaho attended a series of concert/lectures presented in March by Mark Ochu, a Baha’i pianist from St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Mr. Ochu’s concert, ‘‘Keys to Peace and Harmony,” was given in Boise, Twin Falls, Buhl, Sun Valley, Blackfoot and Pocatello.

The tour was conceived and organized by a non-Baha’i group, the Magic Valley Peace Committee, whose chairman, Harry Massoth, is a Bahá’í, and was cosponsored by dozens of organizations ranging from county commissions and chambers of commerce to religious groups, peace organizations, colleges and busi Maisha Closson, chairman of the Central Florida District Youth Committee, has won first place in

a regional poetry competition sponsored by the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida. Her poem, entitled ‘Beneath the Pile,’ is a mother’s remembrance of her brush with death in a Nazi concentration camp when she was protected by lying beneath a pile of bodies. Maisha, a senior at Winter Park High School, is president of the Minority Student Union and was a second place winner in her school’s recent essay contest on the theme ‘Intellectual Freedom in America.’ She was an exchange student in Spain last summer, and this fall will be a scholarship student at Howard University in Washington, D.C., majoring in international business. Both of her parents are members of the Spiritual Assembly of Orange County (Florida) East.

nesses. Mr. Ochu’s concert in Blackfoot drew an audience of about 200, while a 30-minute television program in Twin Falls reached an estimated 50,000 people.

The second annual Equality Conference will be held Saturday, July 16, at Seneca Falls, New York.

The featured speakers are Auxiliary Board members Mara Khavari and William Roberts; Jaci Delahunt, secretary of the National Teaching Committee; Paula Drewek and Ed Phillips.

Also included in the day-long event at Mynders Academy in Seneca Falls will be workshops, tours of historic sites for children and youth, and participation in a parade aboard a Baha’i-sponsored float.

The conference coincides with the annual commemoration of the first Women’s Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls in 1848.

On Saturday, January 16, the Baha’is of Monmouth County, New Jersey, observed World Religion Day with a public meeting at the Middletown Public Library.

Two speakers, the Rev. George Frank, pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Holmdel, and Rodney Richards, an assistant to the Auxiliary Board, addressed the topic, “‘The Role of Religion in Achieving World Peace.”

Women’s Committee plans study guide on new compilation

Have you been postponing deepening on the Compilation on Women by the Universal House of Justice? Are you thinking that perhaps it’s time to re-read the compilation?

The National Committee on ‘Women is happy to announce that it will soon be printing a small study guide on the Compilation on Women. It was put together by Auxiliary Board member Ronna Santoscoy of Wichita, Kansas, with some revisions by the committee.

The committee will soon be contacting its liaisons with information about the distribution of these study guides.

Afterward, the audience of 25, both Baha’is and non-Baha’is, took part in an informal discussion followed by fellowship.

A copy of the peace statement was given to the Rev. Frank.

°

More than 110 people in the Memphis, Tennessee, area attended a Naw-Rúz party March 21 at the Germantown community center. The program, entitled ‘Unity of East and West,” included a presentation of East Indian and American Indian dances.

The celebration was reported on the late evening television news.

On March 26, 50 Baha’is from Colorado, Utah and Wyoming attended a conference on the Huqtqu’ll4h at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colorado.

The conference was sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Denver.

The speaker at the afternoon session was Dr. Amin Banani, a Trustee of the Huququ’ll4h.

In the evening, Sharon Babbitt spoke on ‘‘The Significance of the Arc on Mount Carmel.”’

The program also included a slide presentation on the Holy Land by Dr. Duane Troxel, an assistant to Auxiliary Board member Nancy Phillips, and music by Susan Lewis and ‘‘Nana.””

.

On November 24, the Louis G. Gregory Unity Choir was invited to perform at the Piney Grove Baptist Church in Andrews, South

Carolina, as part of a program honoring the pastor, the Rev. B.J. Gordon, on his 24th anniversary with the church.

The Gregory choir was invited after church members saw its performance during Peace Fest ’87 last September at the Louis Gregory Institute.

Choir members also were invited to dinner in the church parsonage, and the Rev. Gordon referred to the Bahá’ís during the formal program afterward as his “good friends.”

The Baha’i community of San Jose, California, hosted a recent fund-raiser for the state’s “Arc of Love”’ campaign.

The event began with a dinner prepared and donated by a 15member task force. The dinner was followed by a potluck dessert and an auction at which $7,200 was raised, half of which was sent to the National Center to support construction of the arc while the rest was deposited in the local Center fund.

About 25 Bahá’ís gathered at 5:30 a.m. March 13 at the Baha’i Center in Detroit, Michigan, for a Persian breakfast of boiled sheepshead with all the trimmings.

The meal was prepared by a number of Persian Baha’s men living in Detroit who worked through the night at the Center to provide the traditional dish.

The event was considered a great success and will be repeated next year on the last Sunday of the fast.

More than 60 adults, youth and children from South and Central Dade County (Florida) Bahá’í communities gathered in February

to celebrate Intercalary Days ‘Florida Style’ with beautiful weather, good food and many exciting activities. �[Page 38]38 / The American Baha’i / June 1988

Letters

from page 3

tered. Afterward, I found that the opening address was to be held in another building, one that required climbing about 40 steps (after a walk across campus).

After the opening address, we returned to the second floor of the first building (another 30 steps) for workshops, followed by lunch (across campus again and up a few more steps).

By this time I was a wreck. But I refused to give up. By the afternoon workshops some of the friends were carrying me up the steps. This was a kind and loving gesture on their part, but was immeasurably humiliating to me. It really takes an enormous amount of detachment to allow oneself to be passed around like a sack of potatoes and not feel degraded.

But the absolute worst part came when, at the end of the day, I discovered that there was an elevator in the first building after all. It was out of the way and unknown to the conference planners.

I went to my car and wept.

All of that pain, exhaustion and humiliation could have been avoided had one of the planners made inquiries before the conference and let the attendees know the results.

Please, friends, make handicapped access planning a required part of all conference planning. It takes little effort, but as my experience illustrates, it can make an enormous difference to some of us.

And have you noticed how few disabled people attend Baha’i conferences? Ever wonder why? Perhaps some are not as stubborn as

Elizabeth H. Donnelly Chattanooga, Tennessee

‘Banking’ on Fund

To the Editor:

A special fund drive for the Arc has been set up in our community, and I mention it because it may give others an idea to try similar activities. Our Assembly has asked me to write this letter.

A member of our community

recently gave each family a small plastic bank for Ayy4m-i-Ha. The banks were ordered from a gift catalog, and were accompanied by a letter containing ideas gleaned from The American Bahá’í and a Feast letter.

The letter posed the question, “How do you eat an elephant?’’ The answer: “‘One bite at a time.” Each family was urged to fill the little banks over and over as their “bites.”

The donor offered to count, roll and bank the money and to forward it to the National Baha’ Fund.

Families have responded well, and in our small community we raised $120 in the past month.

Members of the families report that they look forward to emptying their pockets and wallets of change and watching the coins mount up.

This fund has an aura of fun and excitement about it.

Patsy Bradley Mount Airy, North Carolina

‘Freedom’ and 1963

To the Editor:

In his book, Why We Can’t Wait, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. repeatedly raised the question of why the year 1963 signaled the beginning of the black freedom revolution. It seems as though that particular year held a special meaning which he couldn’t fully grasp at the time.

In the book, Dr. King wrote, “The bitter cold winter of 1962 lingered throughout the opening months of 1963, touching the land with chill and frost, and then was replaced by a placid spring.

“Americans awaited a quiet summer. That it would be pleasant they had no doubt. ... It would be a pleasant summer because in the mind of the average man there was little cause for concern.”

Summer came, he said, ‘and the weather was beautiful but the climate, the social climate of American life erupted into lightning flashes, trembled with thunder and vibrated to the relentlessly growing rain of protest come to life throughout the land. Explosively, America’s third revolution, the Negro Revolution, had be Then Dr. King asked, ‘Why

‘Look to This Day’ is the title of a new cassette tape of inspirational songs performed by singer/guitarist Robert Siemiaszko, a Bahá’í Srom Scottville, Michigan, and written in collaboration with his wife, Linda. Mr. Siemiaszko, who wrote the song ‘Tree of Life’ on the ‘Flight’ album, was the founder of the rock group Rotary Con

nection which he led in the 1960s and ’70s using the name Bobby Simms. The new cassette was recorded at the Bahá’í House of Worship studio in Wilmette and is being distributed by the Siemiaszkos’ own label, This Day Productions. For information, write to

Scottville, MI 49454, or phone 616-757-3161.

did this revolution occur in 1963? Any time would seem to have been the right time. Why 1963?

“Why was it this year that the American Negro, so long ignored, so long written out of the pages of history books, tramped a declaration of freedom with his marching feet across the pages of newspapers, television screens, and the magazines?

“‘Why in 1963, and what has this to do with why the dark threat of violence did not erupt in blood?”

The highlight of the civil rights movement in 1963 was the historic march on Washington, D.C., on August 28 when 250,000 people assembled at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial and heard Dr. King’s ‘‘I Have a Dream’’ speech.

To some in the crowd, it may have seemed like an impossible dream, but there were Baha'is present who knew that not only was the dream possible but that the basic foundation for bringing such a dream into reality had already been laid out by Baha’u’llah,

The Baha’is also knew the answer to why the year 1963 was so important to this cause, as four months earlier, on April 21, another little-known drama had unfolded in the Holy Land when Baha’is from nearly 100 countries assembled to elect the first Universal House of Justice.

It was said that upon the election of this august body a strong spiritual force was released which had a profound effect on the world of humanity.

As a black Baha’i, I sincerely believe that this was the same spiritual force that was behind the civil rights movement.

Roosevelt N. Wilson Claypool, Arizona

‘The Right of God’

To the Editor:

It is a wonderful bounty for the Baha’is of the West to be allowed to pay and to understand Huququ’ll4h. Of course, it is not required of us now; but we need to remember what the word Huququ’ll4h means: ‘“‘the Right of God.””

We might give additional thought to paying this now while the U.S. currency has value. It lost some of its value last year.

Part of these funds could go toward the building of the Arc, some to Third World countries to help them develop their Bahd’{ communities. No matter; it would be used wisely. And it is ‘“‘the Right of God.”

We need to be inspired to go forward in our thinking and planning regarding our relationship to Huqiqu’llah.

As Bahda’u’ lah has written: “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 Sruits thereof will last as long as the kingdom of earth and heaven will endure. ’’ (Quoted in The American Bahá’í, January 1988, p. 5)

Virginia H. Robare Duluth, Minnesota

Rethinking ‘handicap’

To the Editor:

I was glad to read about Bahda’is taking part in a parade against racism in Atlanta, Georgia; however, the photograph with the slogan ‘‘Prejudice Is a Handicap”’

suddenly struck me as being prejudicial itself.

When I first saw buttons with this slogan, some years ago, I thought it was clever and amusing. But seeing it in large letters, in this picture, I realized that, although well-meaning, it could be misunderstood because while “prejudice” is ugly, ‘‘handicap”” is not.

At a time when handicapped people are gaining national recognition from governments and the public; when hearing-impaired people recently went on strike and succeeded in having a hearingimpaired person named president of their own college, I think that Bahá’ís should be careful how they use the word ‘‘handicap.””

Saying that “‘prejudice is a handicap’’ may seem cruel and demeaning to handicapped people who themselves suffer from prejudices.

Furthermore, these people are not responsible for their handicap; they must live with it at the cost of much suffering and courage, while prejudice is an acquired disease which can be eradicated by education and good-will.

I would like to recommend that the National Race Unity Committee look into this matter and educate the friends accordingly.

Eliane A. Hopson New York, New York

Preserving our heritage

To the Editor:

We were delighted to read Brent Poirier’s letter (December) and share his sense of urgency about getting to work to preserve our rich Baha’i heritage for the future.

We are finding this especially true as we are engaged in a major restoration of the Sarah Farmer Inn at Green Acre Baha’i School, work that would be impossible without accurate and substantial archival information on the building’s original plan, work that has previously been done, Sarah Farmer’s vision for the school, records of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit, letters from Shoghi Effendi, etc.

As we work to organize Green Acre’s archives, we are certain that there are many articles we do not have of which even copies would be invaluable in preserving Green Acre’s history.

Many of these treasures are stored in attics, basements, and the hearts of the many believers who have worked so hard to perpetuate Green Acre so that it may one day achieve its glorious destiny.

We have found a handful of individuals who are thoroughly enjoying their volunteer work to help us collect this information. As Mr. Poirier pointed out in his letter, it is a most rewarding and pleasurable treasure hunt.

If any of your readers have Green Acre programs, course outlines, photographs, documents,

letters, tape recordings, or heartfelt reminiscences of the school that they would be willing to share with us, and/or if they would be willing to come to our aid to help us collect information for the archives, we would appreciate their contacting us at the Green Acre Bahá’í School, 188 Main St., Eliot, ME 03903 (phone 207-4397200). We would be happy to copy and return any originals upon request. Ray LaBelle, administrator Green Acre Bahá’í School Eliot, Maine

‘Group’ awareness

To the Editor:

To those Baha’i Groups who aspire to becoming local Spiritual Assemblies, we have a tip to pass along that proved very helpful to our community.

Since our Group registered with the National Center as an organized Group, we tried to practice the administrative duties that we knew we’d assume when we became an Assembly. We elected officers, as the Group formation report suggests, and added others as our needs grew.

We set up a yearly budget and kept formal records with the help of our National Treasurer’s Representative. He was asked to audit our books each year and to make suggestions for improvements.

Our secretary kept minutes of all meetings so there is some historical awareness as our community’s history lengthens.

This basic organization and sense of purpose enabled us to serve the Baha’i community in our area by taking responsibility for such events as Naw-Rúz celebrations, teaching and proclamation events, and other activities such as proclamations and seminars for Group treasurers.

These were always sponsored by the DTC or by our sponsoring Assembly, the Spiritual Assembly of Mentor.

The point of “sponsoring” is very important, if for no other reason than the fact that public liability insurance is afforded through an insurance policy held by the National Spiritual Assembly when sponsorship by one of the administrative institutions of the Faith is obtained.

Otherwise, group activities are unprotected from the standpoint of liability insurance.

By “‘practicing to be an Assembly” throughout the formative years, we found that when we finally were nine and became an Assembly at Ridvan 1987, some areas were now quite familiar to us. We also found that there were other immediate Assembly duties we had to undertake, and were happy that the years of practice had eased our pathway.

Grace M. Fountaine Corresponding secretary Spiritual Assembly of Willoughby, Ohio

India. Two sizes are available:

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NEW POSTER AVAILABLE FROM BDS.

The U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office has produced a stunning color poster showing a night view of the Bahd’{ House of Worship in

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Posters can be ordered from the Baha’i Distribution Service, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone toll-free,

All proceeds will go toward providing much-needed help for

�[Page 39]

10 YEARS AGO

Nearly 500 delegates from 107 National Spiritual Assemblies are present at the World Center in Haifa, Israel, April 28-May 2 for the fourth Baha’i International Convention and the election April 29 of the Universal House of Justice.

The newly elected members of the House of Justice are Ali Nakhjavani, Hushmand Fatheazam, Amoz Gibson, Ian Semple, David Ruhe, Charles Wolcott, David Hofman, Hugh Chance and Borrah Kavelin. .

About 33 inter- -Assembly meetings are held during the Convention to discuss cooperative projects and matters of mutual concern.

It is reported that some 50 National Spiritual Assemblies have achieved or nearly achieved their goals for the Five Year Plan. ...

At Rigvan 1978, with one year remaining in the Five Year Plan, 993 local Spiritual Assemblies are formed in the U.S. This means that the U.S. Baha’i community must form another 407 local Assemblies by April 20, 1979, to win the goal of the Plan.

Ellsworth Blackwell, a former member of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly and a longtime pioneer to Haiti, dies April 17 in Kananga, Zaire, after a teaching trip and meeting in Kasai.

After leaving Haiti in 1975, Mr. Blackwell lived for a time in the Malagasy Republic in Africa. He then pioneered to Zaire, arriving in April 1977 and serving there until his death at age 76. ...

The Spiritual Assembly of the Fort Hall Reservation in Idaho sponsors an ‘‘American Auction’’ on March 26, raising $130 for the National Baha’i Fund.

The auction is held in a Bahá’í home after a potluck supper, and is supported by about 20 believers from Fort Hall and nearby Pocatello, Blackfoot, Idaho Falls and Arco. ...

Ali M. Yazdi, a noted Baha’i lecturer and writer, dies February 18 in Berkeley, California, at the age of 79.

Mr. Yazdi, who was a schoolmate and close friend of the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, served as a member and chairman of many national Baha’i committees including the Geyserville School Committee, the Bahd’/ World editorial committee, a the Asia Teaching Committee. ...

On March 19, the Baha’i community of Waukesha, Wisconsin, holds one of its most successful proclamation events in recent years after accepting an invitation to take part in the city’s annual “Festival of the Churches.’”

The New World Construction Company, a group of Baha’i entertainers, performs twice in the main hall, while the movie, ‘And His Name Shall Be One,” is shown twice. ...

Arise! To Teach

Following two summers in which many new believers were enrolled in the Faith through a teaching project, the friends in Davenport, Iowa, are continuing in their efforts to see that the new Baha’is are deepened in the principles of the Faith, united with the Cause of Bahda’u’ll4h, and integrated into the Baha’i community.

In doing so, they offer an example of how communities may follow up expansion with consolida tion efforts.

On the first Saturday after each Nineteen Day Feast, those who are involved in the teaching project assemble at the home of the Davenport Teaching Committee’s secretary.

Here they pray together, consult on the teaching work, review the list of new Baha’is, decide which ones need to be visited, and divide into teams who then visit the new believers.

The Bahá’ís of Galveston, Texas, sponsored a United Nations Day celebration last October 24 whose speakers were Robert Ramirez, an Auxiliary Board member and television news anchorman, and Mrs. Shirley Quisenberry (pictured),

president of the Houston chapter of the UN Association. More than 30 Bahá’ís and 20 friends of the Faith attended the event, which was followed by a potluck fireside and a prayer breakfast.

The American Baha’i / June 1988 / 39

‘Fire in Heartland’ still burns in Davenport, lowa

All members of the Davenport and surrounding communities are welcome to attend the meetings and to pray for the success of the project.

The teachers are, for the most part, warmly accepted and welcomed into the homes of the new believers. Recently, on answering a knock on her door, one new friend exclaimed, ‘Oh! It must be a Baha’i teaching day!””

At Baha’i homes the teachers inquire about the well-being of the family, share news of community events, invite the friends to attend Baha’i functions, pray together, deepen, and make sure that Baha’i mail is arriving.

Those involved in the project feel that the most important aspect of their teaching work is building loving friendships with the new believers.

When genuine friendships are established, discussing the Faith takes place in a natural flow within a warm setting. Also, building friendships is an essential element in establishing strong community ties.

Progress is reflected in the participation of the newer community members.

One 11-year-old friend comes to Feast regularly and is an avid reader of the community bulletin; another new believer taught his mother the Faith, and she has been enrolled in the Cause.

Still another new believer has joined the teams of teachers going out on Saturdays.

Perhaps as a result of the spiritual energy released by the teaching activity, an interesting phenomenon is occurring in Davenport: people who heard of the Faith long ago are calling the Baha’i phone number in the telephone directory to learn more about the Faith.

Many relatives and friends of new believers are also learning about the Faith when Bahda’is come to visit.

As a result of these new contacts, several more new believers have entered the Cause of Baha’u’ll4h in the Davenport area since the teaching project began.

Clearly, the initial effort on the part of the Baha’is in Davenport to expand the Cause, followed by efforts to help the new friends become firm in their faith, is generating continued expansion and growth of the Faith.

IN MEMORIAM

Dorothy Marcic-Hai, a member of the Bahá’í community of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, was one of 10 women honored last November when the YWCA in LaCrosse presented its fifth annual Tribute to Outstanding Women. Mrs. Marcic-Hai, a professor of business management at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, is the author of five professional books for adults and four for children, Sounder of Hinuga Press in LaCrosse, and producer/host of a weekly radio program, ‘Mind Your Business.’ She was cited for her many contributions to the community in business affair

Our apology

Her many friends and relatives were no doubt greatly relieved to learn that the passing of Emma Link of Marysville, Michigan, was reported in error in the April issue of The American Bahá’í.

Ms. Link is aliveand well. We apologize for the ‘in memoriam’’ listing, which was the result of a clerical error.

"O loved ones of God! Each one of the friends must teach at least one soul each year. This is everlasting glory. This is eternal grace." —'Abdu’l-Bahá, The Individual and Teaching, p.13.

‘Baha’i Agriculture’ new information tool for food-related issues

Forty people from 25 states who are interested in agriculture have received the third issue of the quarterly newsletter “Bahai Agriculture U.S.A.””

Used as an information tool to allow Bahá’ís interested in agriculture, gardening and foodrelated health issues to communicate with one another, the newsletter has been encouraged by the Association for Baha’i Studies as an informational exchange for Baha’is in the U.S.

The Association’s own newsletter, ‘‘Bahá’í Agriculture,’’ links agriculturalists in 14 countries, presenting the international picture.

“Baha’i Agriculture’ is available for $2 (U.S.) per year from

Rene A. Steiner, 884 Riverside Drive, London, Ontario N6H 273, Canada.

San Leandro’s second fund-raiser: $1,500

On December 12, the Baha’i community of San Leandro, California, held its second fund-raiser to aid completion of the Arc at the World Center in Haifa, Israel.

The first such event, held six months earlier, raised $900 for the Arc. The community was both surprised and pleased to learn that its second event raised more than $1,500.

The fund-raiser began with an international dinner which was followed by an auction of many fine items including art works, jewelry and baked goods donated by the local community and some of those nearby.

Before closing the auction, a prayer for the Arc was read.

Ruth Abbott Octavia Fredricks Ella Puumann Lakeport, CA San Jose, CA El Paso, TX February 12, 1988 April 21, 1988 September 1987 Buster Adams Doris Gibson Rosa Redfair Lydia, SC Pasadena, CA Bishopville, SC April 8, 1988 Date Unknown February 1988 Norman Akien Erma Granahan Helen A. Salter Ruffin, SC Colton, CA Marion, IA August 10, 1987 Date Unknown February 19, 1988 Ethel Almond Diane Guidici Iraj Sami

Roswell, GA. Costa Mesa, CA Cypress, CA

1987 February 20, 1988 June 2, 1986 Annie Bell June Harris Wilbert Sauceberry Theodore, AL, Pasadena, CA Lockport, CA Date Unknown Date Unknown Date Unknown Isabel Boldes Roystine Hart James C. Scales Albuquerque, NM Riverside, CA Lac du Flambeau, WI May 6, 1987 March 29, 1988 June 15, 1987 Annanias Bowens Marjorie Horton Mattie Scott Blythe, CA Mt. Clemens, MI Orlando, FL

Date Unknown Beatrice Bryant

November 2, 1987 Cordelia Johnson

February 1988 Cleo Seabrook

Smoaks, SC Lockport, CA Ruffin, SC December 1987 1977 December 1986 Waley Bryant J.W. Kavanaugh Lonzo Staley Smoaks, SC - Lancaster, KY Denmark, SC Date Unknown Date Unknown May 1985 Thomas Busse Margaret Kemp James Stephens Federal Way, WA State College, PA Ruffin, SC

April 7, 1988 John C. Collins

March 20, 1988 Corine Kinsey

Date Unknown Betty Tiffany

Yucaipa, CA Jacksonboro, SC Amherst, NY

July 20, 1986 Date Unknown October 1987 Esther Davison Christine Lofstedt Hossein Tomlinson Ochopee, FL Indio, CA Santa Rosa, CA February 26, 1988 Date Unknown August 29, 1987 Normal Dixon William McCormick —_ Eunice Van Sluizer Macy, NE Jacksonboro, SC San Francisco, CA April 8, 1988 January 1988 October 5, 1986 Atanacio Farinas Helen B. Miller Gayle G. Varner Wapato, WA Sparks, NV Richland, WA Date Unknown 1987 February 27, 1988 James Faust Brian J. Miller Sean Vasquez Blackville, SC Lakeport, CA Wapato, WA December 1987 February 8, 1988 January 6, 1988 Romaine Firemoon Jose Luis Mosqueda _ OllyMae White Wolf Point, MT Sonoma, CA Wenatchee, WA February 10, 1988 February 1988 March 18, 1988 Stephanie Fowler Rachael Patterson Rosalie Woodard Yucaipa, CA Theodore, AL Theodore, AL March 1987 Date Unknown Date Unknown �[Page 40]4 / The American Baha’i / June 1988

A record-breaking attendance of 45 adults and 23 children was among the highlights of the sec Green Acre

from page 9

changing world.

Eighty-one participants attended sessions on Coping ... through Prayer, Meditation and Deepening; Becoming Your True Self; the Joys and Opportunities of Being Single; Single Parenting; Cultivating a Sense of Humor; the Reality of Becoming a Step-Parent; Dealing with Loss; and Marriage.

Classes were coordinated by Cornelia Leavitt and conducted by Bonnie Brown, Joanne Henderson, Ray LaBelle, Ben Salvage and Farzin Shakibanejad.

In an activity-packed two-day Women’s Conference, 81 women and one man explored the virtues exemplified by the Greatest Holy Leaf, Bahfyyih Khanum, as they

ond annual Connecticut at Green Acre Weekend held April 9-10 at

the Green Acre School in Maine.

sought to illumine the qualities that Baha’is must develop and exhibit to be instrumental in unifying humanity.

They took part in workshops conducted by Ann Clavin, Phyllis Gudger-Porter, Bette Roberts, Carol Rutstein, Afaf Stevens and Karen Streets-Anderson.

During the first day, which was ended by a period of relaxation and visualization guided by Fran Klippel, a network of support and friendship evolved as topics of mutual interest and concern were discussed.

By departure time on Sunday, participants were expressing the desire for more such conferences which allow the opportunity for concentrated attention on issues relevant to women fulfilling their role in establishing the new World Order.

Twenty-five attend ‘Women’s Weekend’ retreat at ranch near Loveland, Colorado

Twenty-five women between the ages of 15 and 85 years ‘met April 9-10 for ‘Women’s Weekend”’ retreat at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, seven miles west of Loveland, Colorado in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

The women prayed, sang, deepened, relaxed, hiked and cooked together and heard an address by Jaci Delahunt, secretary of the National Teaching Committee, who shared highlights of national teaching projects while pointing out the strengths and attributes that our American Indian Baha’i sisters offer to the Faith each day.

Guide

from page 11

and three, an understanding of the nature of the Word of God.””

The Word of God is suitable for individual study or group deepenings, and for new or long-time Baha’is. Its function as a study tool may be better appreciated when we consider the following statement:

“The purpose underlying the revelation of every heavenly Book, nay, of every divinely-revealed verse, is to endue all men with righteousness and understanding, so that peace and tranquillity may be firmly established amongst them. ...”’ (Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 73)

The Word of God may be ordered from the Baha’i Distribution Service, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone tollfree, 1-800-999-9019).

Other speakers included Knight of Baha’u’llah Kay Zinky, who told stories of Bahá’í women whom ‘Abdu’l-Bahá admired, and Lynn Barnes and Margie Hummel, who offered insights on how to balance one’s career, mothering, homemaking and Baha’ service.

Also lending her inspiration to the weekend’s events was Auxiliary Board member Carol Brooks.

On Saturday evening, a candlelight service of prayer and song honored the memory of Baha’i women who have left a legacy of service.

A “‘silent auction” of arts and crafts items donated by participants raised $150 to help complete the Arc on Mount Carmel.

For information about the 1989 Women’s Weekend, please contact Sharon Babbitt,

Loveland, CO 80537.

Teaching Hispanics in Nevada leads to four declarations

Recent teaching efforts by the Spiritual Assembly of Sparks, Nevada, among Hispanics in rural northern areas of the state resulted in four declarations among. a family from Puerto Rico.

To begin a well-structured consolidation program, two members of the Spiritual Assembly of Sparks, Mark and Nancy Jeppson, immediately became homefront pioneers to Fernely, creating an ‘‘instant community’’ of six Baha'is.

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please cancel the copy for the per‘son(s) whose name(s) and I.D. number(s) are listed above.

We have listed above the full names of all family members as they should appear on the national records, their ID. numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive only one copy.

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Isolated believers meet to ‘focus on growth’

Baha’is from small communities throughout Wisconsin gathered April 2 in Friendship for a con ‘ Nancy and Howard Hinterthuer of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, entertain during a conference for iso ference for isolated believers. About 60 adults and 25 children attended the one-day event, held

lated believers held April 2 in Friendship.

at a restaurant on the shores of the Castle Rock Flowage in central Wisconsin.

The conference theme was ‘‘Focus on Growth.”” The speakers were Auxiliary Board members Javidukht Khadem and Morris Taylor and Judy McGimsey, representing the National Teaching Committee.

Baha’is Nancy and Howard Hinterthuer of Cedarburg performed original music for the conference.

Both Mrs. Khadem and Mr. Taylor spoke about the perseverance needed to teach the Cause successfully in isolated communities, and both gave examples of steadfast Bahá’ís who held firesides for years before any seekers showed up.

Prayers were offered for teaching in the local community, which at that time numbered only two Baha’is.

That evening, after a fireside, a woman declared her belief in Bahd’u’ll4h, and the following day, another local resident declared. �