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[Page 1]"The real treasury of man is his knowledge"—Bahá’u’lláh Goals of Plan, construction of Arc, Ridván message key consultation

Tribute to Mr. Sears Inspires 81st National Convention

The goals of the Six Year Plan, construction of the Arc on Mount Carmel, and the Ridván message from the Universal House of Justice were at the forefront of consultation during the 81st Bahá’í National Convention held April 26-29 at the House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois.

After considering these and other weighty issues, the delegates paused Saturday evening to join the National Spiritual Assembly and its guests for a loving and inspiring tribute to the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears who blessed the Convention with his presence.

As was the case last year, the Convention was preceded by a day-long deepening for delegates on the purpose of the National Convention and the role of the delegates. The session was conducted by Counselors Shapoor Monadjem and William Roberts.

Again this year, the Convention welcomed David Hofman, retired member of the Universal House of Justice, who addressed the gathering on Sunday morning.

Attending the Convention as special guests of the National Spiritual Assembly were Abulqasim Afnán, his wife, Mind, and Mr. Afnán’s brother, Hassan Afnán.

The Afnán are relatives of the Báb, and Abulqasim Afnán, who lives in England, served as caretaker of the House of the Báb in Shiraz. He was in this country visiting his brother, who lives in San Diego.

Focused consultation was centered on the three goals set forth last year by the National Assembly as being of primary importance during the remaining years of the Six Year Plan—expansion of the Faith in this country; fostering the maturation of local Spiritual Assemblies; and the education of children, youth and adults—and on the Ridván message from the House of Justice.

On Saturday morning, delegates assembled in Foundation Hall at the House of Worship to elect the National Spiritual Assembly for 1990-91. Its members are:

Dorothy W. Nelson, Robert C. Henderson, William Davis, Kevin Locke, James F. Nelson, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Juana Conrad, Alberta Deas and Jack McCants.

Of the 171 delegates eligible to vote, 152 cast their ballots in person and 12 by mail.

Shortly after hearing the tellers' report, the new National Spiritual Assembly held its first meeting and elected officers for the coming year: James Nelson, chairman and assistant secretary; Dorothy Nelson, vice-chairman; Robert Henderson, secretary-general; Firuz Kazemzadeh, secretary-External Affairs; Juana Conrad, assistant secretary; and William Davis, treasurer.

While the election of the National Spiritual Assembly was taking place, non-delegate visitors to the Convention enjoyed a tour of the Bahá’í National Center and Publishing Trust.

The Saturday evening session, at the National College of Education in Evanston, began with music by the 31-member Tennessee Bahá’í Choir conducted by Tom Price.

Dash Crofts, a member of the choir, was then joined onstage by his former partner, Jim Seals, to perform "Passengers," a song written especially for Mr. Sears.

More music, taped for the occasion by John Barnes, preceded the introduction of Mr. Sears by James Nelson, who referred to the Hand of the Cause as "America's wake-up call."

Mr. Sears, accompanied to the stage by his wife, Marguerite, wasted no time in waking up his audience, evoking tears and laughter with moving and humorous stories of their courtship and his introduction to the Faith.

That was accomplished, he said, through Mrs. Sears' gentle insistence on his reading Nabíl's narrative, The Dawn-breakers.

After finishing the book while on vacation from his position as a radio announcer in Utah, he said, "I told Marguerite I wanted to join."

"You want to become a Bahá’í?" she said, barely able to contain her excitement.

"No," he replied. "I want to become a Bábí!"

Of course, Mr. Sears became a Bahá’í, not a Bábí, pioneered with Marguerite and their family to South Africa, distinguished himself as a fearless and dynamic teacher of the Cause, and in October 1957 was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God by the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi.

He brought with him to this year's Convention that same copy of The Dawn-breakers, signed by the Guardian, which had so greatly influenced his decision to become a Bahá’í.

"When $1 million was needed some years ago to put WLGI Radio Bahá’s on the air," he said, "Marguerite and I had started the drive with $1,000 of our...

The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears and his wife, Marguerite, show their precious copy of The Dawn-Breakers, signed by the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, which they donated to the National Spiritual Assembly to use in any way they see fit to raise funds for construction of the Arc.

BIC helps plan UN's 'Earth Day 1990' celebration as 42 astronauts launch 'Decade of Environment'

Earth Day 1990! And what a day it was at the United Nations.

On April 22, a program sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme was held. Assembled for the celebration of "Only One Earth" were 42 astronauts and cosmonauts from 13 countries. It was their space traveler's view of earth from outer space that inspired the theme of the ceremony.

Mentioned on the program as one of the two organizations taking part in planning and producing the event was the Bahá’í International Community.

Hugh Locke, director of the Office of Public Information for the BIC in New York, coordinated the event and helped with fund-raising.

Earth Day 1990 launched the "Decade of the Environment" and marked the beginning of a long-term commitment to building a safe, just and sustainable planet.

The climax of the program was the appearance, one by one, of the astronauts and cosmonauts on the stage of the General Assembly. As each name was announced, his photograph was flashed on a giant television screen overhead.

When the last astronaut's name was called, the entire audience of more than 1,000 UN delegates, representatives of non-governmental organizations, friends and dignitaries rose to give them a prolonged standing ovation.

Cuban space explorer Arnaldo Tamayo-Mendes (left at podium) addresses assembled guests at the United Nations' 'Only One Earth' celebration April 22 as fellow astronauts and UN officials look on. [Page 2]

500-plus at Birmingham’s Vision to Victory conference

The second round of Vision to Victory conferences came to a close April 13-15 in Birmingham, Alabama.

More than 500 Bahá’ís from 16 Southeastern states and from as far away as Alaska and New Zealand attended the panel discussions that were focused on the role of the individual in teaching, the community and teaching, and teaching the masses.

Serving as panelists were Alberta Deas, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly; two members of the National Teaching Committee, Andy Sham and John Smith; Auxiliary Board members Soo Fouts and Jack Guillebeaux; and local Bahá’ís Kim McQueen, Carol Miller and Nosrat Scott.

Also taking part in these discussions was Counselor Wilma Ellis. In addition, the conference had the privilege of welcoming Counselor Peter Vuyiya from the International Teaching Center in Haifa, who briefly addressed those assembled.

Following the conference, a public meeting and concert was held at the Bahá’í Center in Birmingham. Nineteen non-Bahá’ís attended, and heard music by “Bridges” from Knoxville, Tennessee, and “Swan” from Griffin, Georgia, and a talk by Mr. Guillebeaux.

An auction was held Saturday evening at which Bahá’ís in the Birmingham area raised about $19,000 for the Arc Fund.

There were two declarations at the conference itself.

Communities in Southwest join forces to create ‘Light of Valley’ Bahá’í school

In October 1989 the Light of the Valley Bahá’í School was begun in Anthony, New Mexico, as a collaborative effort among neighboring communities.

Those taking part in the school include the Bahá’í communities of Alamogordo, Anthony, and Las Cruces, New Mexico; Canutillo and El Paso, Texas; and Juarez, Mexico.

Each community had found it difficult to gather the resources for its own school, but found that collectively they had the resources for a school that would prove to be a beam of light for the area.

Efforts of those involved in the school were aided by the launching of the Limon Teaching Project one month after the school’s inception. The project is also a collaborative effort among communities, and targets in particular the Hispanic population of the area.

The school and teaching project are mutually supportive and contribute to the growth and maturation of the Faith in their communities.

The school, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Las Cruces, is run by a board consisting of representatives from each of the neighboring communities. Classes are held for adults, youth and children, and have centered on topics such as the history of the Faith, the Manifestations of God, and the teachings for individuals which emphasize developing a Bahá’í character.

At the close of each week’s session, all of the classes come together for fellowship and to review the morning’s discussions. Festive music and singing highlight the close of each session.

The diversity within the communities is reflected in the school. Many of the new believers from Anthony and Juarez attend classes, which are conducted in English and Spanish.

The Light of the Valley Bahá’í School is rapidly becoming a true center for Bahá’í education and a reflection of Shoghi Effendi’s advice to become “a fertile recruiting ground for the enrichment and consolidation of its teaching force.”

Pictured in February 1990 are many of those from Alamogordo, Anthony and Las Cruces, New Mexico; Canutillo and El Paso, Texas; and Juarez, Mexico, who attend the Light of the Valley Bahá’í School, an inter-community school for adults, youth and children sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Las Cruces.

OKLAHOMA SUMMER 1990 “The Flaming Quest Campaign”

An exciting summer project targeting the American Indian tribes of Oklahoma is underway. Youth are particularly asked to join in the teaching process. Special events include: joining a Pottawatomie and Shawnee pow wow in late June; participating in Cherokee and Creek ceremonies in July; and enjoying the Native American Exposition in August.

For more information, contact: Sherri Smith, American Indian Desk National Teaching Committee office Bahá’í National Center Wilmette, IL 60091 Phone: (708) 869-9039 ext. 361

From New Era Foundation for Development

Bahá’í funding helps create jobs, encourages pride in work

Two recently funded projects embody the continued vision of the New Era Foundation for International Development (NEF), which was formed in response to the Universal House of Justice’s call in 1983 for social and economic development projects, to serve the global community, Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í alike.

In South Dakota, the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe of Eagle Butte was given NEF funds to start a beaded moccasin factory. This will help meet the needs of the people on the Reservation for jobs and strengthen traditional craft skills.

Because of great difficulties in obtaining loans through the local banks at reasonable terms, and no technical business advice, local entrepreneurs are unable to secure the capital necessary to initiate business ventures.

The contribution by NEF of technical guidance and a relatively small amount of money has created several jobs and encouraged the pride of the people in their own craftsmanship.

Additionally, a ready market for the beaded moccasins exists, and this promises to be a successful and self-sufficient project.

The second project is one in which a children’s class at the Bahá’í School in Santa Monica, California, raised $150 to help a village in Malawi, Africa, buy a corn grinder.

The Social and Economic Development Committee of the National Spiritual Assembly of Malawi coordinated the proposal and funding efforts for this project, which began receiving NEF assistance early this year.

This is a rural project based in the village of Nkaombe which aims to increase food production to bolster nutrition among village residents and eventually to produce an excess of corn to sell for a profit.

NEF, which was incorporated at the request of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly, is an independent non-profit organization. For tax purposes it is a 501(c)3 corporation, to which contributions are tax-deductible.

Since 1985, NEF has been actively seeking out and helping to fund small projects throughout the U.S. and around the world, mindful of the high priority given by the Universal House of Justice to development programs as reflected in the establishment of the Office of Social and Economic Development and in statements such as “...the concept of social and economic development is enshrined in the sacred Teachings of our Faith.”

Any individual or community interested in supporting NEF projects or in becoming a member of NEF is asked to write to Dr. Alfred Neumann, program coordinator and vice-president, New Era Foundation for International Development Inc., 520 20th St., Santa Monica, CA 90402.

Albuquerque gathering notes humanitarian work of Hispanic, American Indian women

As a follow-up to the April 1989 Conference on Hispanic and American Indian Women in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the National Committee on Women and the Spiritual Assembly of Albuquerque sponsored a weekend of events April 6-7.

About 75 people gathered at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque to honor contributions of Hispanic and American Indian women to the betterment of humanity. Some 40 percent of the guests were not Bahá’ís.

Honored were Shirley Stoner, director of nursing services at the local offices of the Indian Health Services; Agnes Dill, a Pueblo Indian and long-time educator and advocate for the elderly; Monica Armenta, Hispanic television news anchor for KOB-TV in Albuquerque; and Gloria Chavez, assistant director of Hispanic Student Services at the University of New Mexico.

The honorees were given elegant china pieces created by Jane Ann Allen, a Bahá’í from New Mexico.

Speakers included Bahá’ís Alice Bathke and Teresa Morales from California, and entertainment was by the Pine Springs Dancers from the Navajo Reservation.

Prior to the awards ceremony, four members of the National Committee on Women—Terri Earl, Sandra Frazier, Fafar Guillebeaux and Alonzo Nesmith—conducted workshops at the Bahá’í Center in Albuquerque for about 50 people including a dozen Bahá’ís from the Navajo Reservation.

On Friday evening, committee members joined Bahá’ís from Albuquerque for a fireside on “Navajo Tradition and the Bahá’í Teachings” that was taped for later broadcast by the University of New Mexico’s radio station. [Page 3]

Bahá’ís in Virginia Beach witness ‘power of sacrifice’

‘THE FIRST CONDITION . . .’

“The first condition is absolute love and harmony among the members. . . ”—‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Some time ago, the Bahá’í community of Virginia Beach, Virginia, witnessed a striking demonstration of the power released through sacrifice.

The Bahá’ís in that city had been saving for years to buy or build a facility for their ‎childrens’ children's‎ classes. When the call for the Arc reached them, these friends consulted and decided to contribute the money to the Fund. It was not an easy decision, but they accepted the sacrifice.

Much to their surprise, they were able to get the full sum together again in a very short time. What had taken them such a long time to accomplish before had now been done in a few short weeks.

But the story continues! One of the children in Virginia Beach attended a conference in the area, and enjoyed the event so much that he wanted to keep his plastic security bracelet as a souvenir. He wore the memento to school on Monday, where his teacher, thinking it was a hospital identification tag, asked him about it.

“I was at a Bahá’í conference,” she was told. The teacher had some close friends who were Bahá’ís, and she had always been interested in the Faith, so she spoke about the Teachings for some time with her student.

One thing led to another, and within a short time the teacher was enrolled in the Faith!

But there is still more! The teacher spoke with her supervisor about the Faith and invited her to a fireside. That night, as they listened, the school director’s son said, “I believe this is the truth.”

A week later, the school director was also enrolled. When she saw a number of dear children and heard of the friends’ need for a school facility for classes . . . well, you guessed it: she offered her school for the Bahá’í community’s use.

Giving can release tremendous forces for the Faith’s progress. Indeed, at the annual Convention this year, David Hofman, retired member of the Universal House of Justice, informed the friends that material and financial sacrifice could well be the key to this community’s attainment of the spiritual leadership foretold for it by a loving Master, and the agent for entry by troops.

Powerful thoughts indeed: may your community’s consultation on these questions lead you to your own thrilling victories.

N.Y.C. Bahá’ís form Harlem Institute to address ‘most challenging issue’

On February 2, eight Bahá’ís from the New York City area established the Harlem Bahá’í Teaching Institute to address the “most vital and challenging issue” of racial prejudice and extend the hand of friendship to blacks in Harlem.

The institute is the spiritual offspring of weekly prayer meetings held on Friday evenings during 1989 at the homes of Clyde Herring, Marie White and Jan Smith.

The idea for an institute emerged from discussions and deepenings at those meetings. Weekend conferences at the Green Acre Bahá’í School last fall on teaching blacks, and on community development, gave focus to the discussions.

Eventually, the core group of regular attendees at the prayer meetings decided to move their meeting place to Harlem and establish a teaching institute.

At the first two meetings, the group studied the November 1989 letter on institutes from the International Teaching Center in Haifa.

Later, members began attending events together to develop contacts in Harlem. On February 11, they went to a program at the Studio Museum that featured an African dance production in honor of Nelson Mandela; on February 11, they attended a rally at the Riverside Church celebrating Mr. Mandela’s release from prison.

On March 8, three members attended a meeting of the board of directors of East Harlem Interfaith, an association of 40 East Harlem churches and religious groups devoted to community service and ecumenical programs.

With support from the Spiritual Assembly of New York City, the institute has accepted East Harlem Interfaith’s invitation to become a member of that group.

Next, the institute began to plan an event for new believers that was to take place in May.

NOTICE

Please be advised that delays in production of the new receipt mailer could result in delays in receiving receipts during June. But it is not necessary to wait for the receipt form in order to make a contribution; simply send your donation to the National Bahá’í Fund, Wilmette, IL 60091, and you’ll be receiving your receipt as quickly as possible. Thank you!

Boston acquires Center, city’s first in 20 years, in heart of downtown area

On March 22, one day after Naw-Rúz, the Spiritual Assembly of Boston, Massachusetts, rented a Bahá’í Center, the first the city has had in nearly 20 years.

The property, in the heart of downtown Boston, consists of a storefront with a single undivided room about 40 feet long and 25 feet wide, with a total area of 1,000 square feet.

On April 28 the friends celebrated the Feast of Jamál at the new Center.

HUQÚQU’LLÁH

“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, for its goodly results and the fruits thereof will last as long as the kingdom of earth and heaven will endure.”—Bahá’u’lláh

Payments for Huqúqu’lláh should be made to “Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust” and sent to one of the Trustees: Dr. Elsie Austin, P.O. Box 927, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (Tel: 301-589-8481); Dr. Amin Banani, Santa Monica, CA 90402 (Tel: 213-394-5449); Dr. Daryush Haghighi, Rocky River, OH 44116 (Tel: 216-333-1506).

Inquiries about Huqúqu’lláh should be referred to one of the Trustees or to the Office of the Secretariat, Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust, Rocky River, OH 44116.

On March 23-25, the Board of Trustees of Huqúqu’lláh met at the Bosch Bahá’í School in California to review issues related to the education of American believers in the Law of Huqúqu’lláh. It was heartwarming to note that there has been a significant upsurge in the interest and participation of American Bahá’ís in this great Law of Bahá’u’lláh. Further plans were discussed regarding the education of the community, with an emphasis on the education of Bahá’í youth and children in the Law of Huqúqu’lláh. Efforts to date have included presentations at Bahá’í schools, publications on Huqúqu’lláh, video tapes and slides. The Board of Trustees is preparing a module on Huqúqu’lláh for use in the local Spiritual Assembly Development Program. Pictured (left to right) are Trustees of the Huqúqu’lláh Daryush Haghighi, Elsie Austin and Amin Banani.

Dinners for visiting Chinese scholars enrich life of community in Amherst, Massachusetts

The University of Massachusetts at Amherst has been a center where over the years scholars from mainland China have come to further their graduate studies or to carry out research in their various fields of study.

Several years ago the Spiritual Assembly of Amherst invited some of these scholars to dinner at a Bahá’í home. The response was rewarding; more than 30 came with their families. No mention was made of the Faith except in response to an occasional question about the sponsorship.

The success of that event has made it almost an annual undertaking, with familiar faces returning and new ones accompanying them. In the ensuing years questions about the Faith have become frequent, and the guests listen attentively to the answers.

They have also become active participants, often bringing special Chinese foods, sharing musical skills, stories and much laughter.

At the dinner in January a copy of the peace statement, translated into Chinese, was given to each of the guests. This approach was in response to the guidance from the Universal House of Justice that the friends are free to be more open and direct in sharing the Faith with friends from mainland China.

Over the years friendships have been formed among families, and Bahá’ís have been called on to help with certain problems and decisions. More intimate dinners and social events have become a part of the friendships.

The Bahá’í community of Amherst feels greatly enriched by the warm exchanges that have deepened and flourished since reaching out to its Chinese friends.—Mabel Garis [Page 4]

PIONEERING

Some thoughts on teaching-from Czechoslovakla!

When we arise to serve Bahá’u’lláh, there is no way to know how He will guide our lives. Cindy Davis made her commitment to serve her Lord in Czechoslovakia. In her most recent let-ter to the Office of Pioneering, she writes about teaching, her experiences and insights.

Dear Friends,

Just had another dream about teach-ing last night....Friends, from the teaching activities I'm doing here, I could've done as well in the States. What held me--and us-back was not the "wisdom" ‘Abdu’l-Bahá tell us to employ, but fear-fear of rejection. (But why? We know from history and from Bahá’u’lláh's words that there will be rejection-this is a part of the process.)

What we've been doing here in Czechoslovakia is having proclama-tions-in the evening, at the univer-sities, mainly-and placing articles in the paper and putting professionally printed posters up all over town. In Prague, we've had 20-40 people at each event, and 15-20 stay after the talk for hours-to hear more. There's no reason why we can't do such direct, high-profile events where you are! The needs are the same--the needs of the people!

One "seeker" here was asking me about what resources on the Bahá’í Faith are available to Czech and Slo-vak people. I said there was very little.

"How, then," she asked me, "are you going to let people know about this?"

A newly declared Bahá’í asked me, "What happens in the after-life to those who never heard about the Ba-há’í Faith?"

The people in both our countries live in a spiritual desert; if they don't get water from us few Bahá’ís-if we don't give it to them-they're not going to get it from anywhere!

How can we be afraid when we have the examples of the early believers? De-spite threats to their lives, their families disowning them, did they limit in any measure the volume of their voices in proclaiming the Cause?

How can we take pity on ourselves when we have the examples of Bahá’u’lláh's and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's imprison-ment, through which, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá writes, He was "extremely happy"?

We are limiting ourselves by believ-ing that we can't talk about the Faith directly. Well, for goodness sake, peo-ple don't know what it is, and if we don't tell them-really explain it to them-they'll judge it based on their stereotypes of religion.

How can we blame them for such stereotypes when no one has ever stereotypes when no one has ever taught them that a religion exists that is different?

It's the same situation here. Many people ask the same kinds of questions, have the same misconceptions, make the same accusations. But my feeling is that until I let them know what the Faith is really like-lay it all out there-I'm denying them the opportu-nity to make their own decision.

Initial suspicions they may have initial suspicions they may have don't constitute a decision because they have no information-these sus-picions only constitute a test for us.

Can you imagine a newly declared 18-year-old Bahá’í, here, who was pub-licly humiliated in the classroom by her teacher after she tried to explain to him about a Bahá’í pamphlet he'd found- the next week, she quoted from The Hidden Words in an essay exam and brought pamphlets and peace state-ments for those teachers who she was sure would take her ideas for a joke. So where is our courage?

My prayers for strength are with you. I think of you often and miss you.

SUMMER PROJECTS OVERSEAS

Location	Date	Project
ALASKA	June to August	Northern Star Bahá’í Project in the Aleutians
BAHAMAS	June to August	Summer Youth Project establishing environmental clubs
BELIZE	Ongoing	Ongoing teaching and consolidation campaign
BOTSWANA	July and August	"Star 90" Summer/Winter Teaching Project
BRAZIL	June to August	"Education for Peace" Project
CANADA	Ongoing	Yukon Bahá’í Institute summer programs
DOMINICA	June to August	"Sparks of Peace" Youth Project
GRENADA	June to August	Mona Teaching Project
HONG KONG	July 21-August 5	Teaching and consolidation campaign
KOREA	June to August	Teaching and consolidation campaign
MEXICO	June to August	Teaching projects in the south and central regions
NORWAY	June to August	Teaching and consolidation in the Lofoten Islands, Alta and Spitzbergen
PERU	June to August	Teaching projects in Tropas, Celendin and Cajamarca
SWITZERLAND	June to August	Bicycle Tour for Peace
EASTERN EUROPE	August	Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Yogoslavia, Soviet Union

For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 708-869-9039.

A Pioneering Institute was held April 5-8 at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette, Illinois. Among the 23 par-ticipants were homefront and overseas pioneers, traveling teachers, and one local Assembly representative. Five of these friends are on their way to teach at the School of the Nations in Macau Other destinations include South Caro lina, Ciskei, Japan, Malaysia, St. Hel ena, Southern Africa and Venezuela

Library's reference section a splendid source of Information for those who wish to ploneer

Are you thinking of pioneering over-seas? To a community in the U.S.? Where do you turn for the information you need on living conditions, employ-ment, education and the many other questions that arise? Think Reference Section of your nearest library!

We took a one-hour stroll through a nearby library recently to scout out some of its resoures, and would like to share this information with you.

We were looking primarily for ma-terials to help the prospective interna-tional pioneer; however, we noted many resources for the homefront pio-neer as well.

In the "general works" section (the 000s in the Dewey Decimal System of classification) are the atlases, maps, almanacs and encyclopedias. (Aha! There's St. Helena, out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Wonder how anyone gets there.)

If you need more information on an area than you can find in the encyclo-pedia or the Information Please Al-manac, you can wander over to the "social sciences" section (300s) and find details on the economy, climate, government, language and much more in the Europa Work Year Book, which also has a volume on international organizations.

Or, you can move to the "geography and history" section (900s) to read Countries of the World or The States man's Yearbook. Some libraries may also have a copy of Cities of the World.

Back in the "social sciences" sec-tion, we noted The Directory of Career Training and Development Programs, plus a selection of business directories, intern program information, career guides and resumé books that could help those of you who are planning for a future career or changing careers.

For overseas university studies, there is the International Handbook of Uni-versities or the World of Learning The World Guide to Higher Educo-tion provides a means of comparing the systems, the degrees and the qual-ifications of the various educational in-stitutions.

So now you're thinking about tui-tion? The International Scholarship Book, The Foundation Directory. Grants Register, and The Complete Grants Sourcebook for Higher Educa-tion point out where funds can be found if you qualify for them.

And there's the MacMillan Guide to Correspondence Study for those who wish an alternative means of studying. whether abroad or at home.

Where to look for employment leads? A search in the "business" sec-tion (600s) uncovered The Worldwide Chamber of Commerce Directory (which includes not only foreign Chambers of Commerce in principal cities worldwide but also foreign Con-sulates and Embassies in the U.S.), as well as Principal International Busi nesses, World Marketing Directory the Directory of American Firms Oper ating in Foreign Countries, Directory of Foreign Manufacturers in the U.S.. and How to Get a Job Overseas

So much is available: answers to tax and immigration questions (330s). tropical health (500s) and banking needs (Rand McNally Bankers' Direc [Page 5]

Bahá’ís welcome UN guests at gala Ridván observance

Representatives to the United Nations from the Bahá’í International Community and the U.S. Bahá’í UN Office in New York City have long associated with representatives of other non-governmental organizations at the UN.

Many, aware of Bahá’í principles on social and economic development, education, the status of women, and other issues, had expressed a desire to know more about the Faith itself.

It was decided that the Ridván celebration would afford a perfect setting for such an introduction. Special invitations were sent to selected UN associates with a quotation that read, "The springtime of God is at hand. Truly this can be called the miracle of centuries....It is a day when the oneness of mankind shall uplift its standard and international peace, like the true morning, will flood the world with its light."

On Tuesday, May 1, the Bahá’í International Community and U.S. Bahá’í UN Office hosted more than 50 guests at the Bahá’í offices in New York City. They were warmly welcomed in a spring-like setting replete with dozens of roses, and were served punch and cookies.

After greetings and conversation, the master of ceremonies, Hugh Locke, director of the Bahá’í Office of Public Information in New York, introduced classical guitarist Lloyd Carew-Reid who charmed the guests with several lovely renditions.

There followed two quotations, one from the Bahá’í Writings and one from the peace statement of the Universal House of Justice.

Dr. Robert Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, then spoke about Bahá’u’lláh, His proclamation in the Garden of Ridván, the principles He set forth, the impact those principles have had on current thought and practice, and Bahá’u’lláh’s vision for the future of mankind.

The guests, who were clearly moved by his remarks, asked many questions of Bahá’ís afterward.

Among those present were the current president and a past president of the National Council of Women; representatives of the International Alliance of Women, the International Federation of Trade Unions, CODEL, the Pan Pacific Southeast Asia Women's Association, and the Johnson Foundation; a deputy of the UN Peace Unit, and a member of the UN staff.

As the guests left, each was given a rose and a gift-wrapped copy of the Malaysian edition of The Hidden Words and Selected Writings.

Following the wishes of the Universal House of Justice, the celebration aimed to convey to associates at the UN "the profound fact of the appearance in the world of the Lord of the Covenant and the aims and achievements of His sublime mission."

Bahá’ís and their guests mingle during a Ridván celebration for United Nations personnel given by the Bahá’í International Community and the U.S. Bahá’í UN Office in New York City.

To the left of center in dark suit is the main speaker at the celebration, Dr. Robert C. Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Brilliant Star devotes May/June Issue to literacy

The United Nations has designated 1990 as International Literacy Year. In honor of such an important topic—because of the importance of universal education, the independent search for truth, and the power of the holy writings—Brilliant Star magazine has dedicated the May/June issue to literacy.

Stories include "One Family" by Jill and Benjamin Leiker, "Up High" by Sarah Cristal, "Ludwig's Language" by Janet Cutler Bixby, and "You Know I Can't Write" by Kay Haugaard. There is a memory passage, a "Literacy Word Search," and an activity about writing Bahá’í words and "Hidden ABCs."

And the regular features are also included such as "Letters from Our Friends," Book Nook, Parents' Page, poetry and music.

There's a special article about a "Writers' and Artists' Workshop" that was held with children last summer at the Green Acre Bahá’í School. It was such a success that there will be one this summer at the Sylvan Lake Bahá’í School in Canada!

If you're not already receiving Brilliant Star, don't miss out any longer. You won't be disappointed. The quality is top-notch, informative, interesting and topped off with beautiful covers.

To subscribe, simply send $12 for one year (six issues) to Subscriber Service, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Earth Day

...travelers, the president of the 44th UN General Assembly opened the program, and an address was made by Maurice Strong, secretary-general of the 1992 UN Conference on the Environment.

Forty-two astronauts and cosmonauts from 13 countries receive a standing ovation as they gather onstage at the United Nations headquarters in New York City during the UN's 'Earth Day 1990' celebration April 22.

An "Only One Earth" video presentation featured scenes from outer space, and statements were made by six of the space travelers in the six languages of the United Nations.

They spoke about industrial pollution and disarmament, and presented a potent message about the fragility of the planet, and how, from up there, they could see that we all drink the same water, breathe the same air, and that the oceans are really all only one body of water.

Noel Brown, regional director of the United Nations Environment Programme, accepted a crystal plaque and an "Only One Earth" treaty signed by the astronauts and cosmonauts. He then spoke about the need to restore and preserve the planet.

Another highlight of the program was a direct video communication to the assembled guests from the Russian space station MIR whose cosmonauts urged that the planet be considered as one home by everyone on earth.

The event ended with rousing music by the youth choir "Evergreen-Everblue," directed by a Canadian Bahá’í, Jack Lenz, and songs by the internationally famous singer, Raffi.

The BIC offices designed and printed the program and invitations to the program and reception that followed, handled responses from the invited guests, recruited and helped train the 30 ushers (mostly Bahá’ís), sponsored the appearance of the youth choir "Evergreen-Everblue" from Toronto, coordinated Canadian press releases, and arranged for the appearance of Amy Milne, a seven-year-old environmentalist from Saskatchewan, Canada.

As Saudi Arabian astronaut Sultan Bin Salman Al-Saud said of his experience in space: "The first day or so we all pointed to our own countries. The third or fourth day we pointed to our continents. By the fifth day we were aware of only one earth."

‘Earth Day’ tree planted

On April 22, the Bahá’í community of Black Jack, Missouri, with the help of Bahá’ís from Ferguson, presented a scarlet oak tree to the city in honor of Earth Day 1990 and planted the tree in the Black Jack city park.

The mayor of Black Jack turned the first earth.

Notice to those who are planning to travel to Israel

All Bahá’ís must secure permission of the Universal House of Justice before traveling to Israel, whether for business, visiting relatives, three-day/three-night stay in Haifa, or any other reason.

The address of the Universal House of Justice is P.O. Box 155, Haifa 31 001, ISRAEL.

UN SPECIAL EVENT DAYS

September 8: International Literacy Day September 18: International Day of Peace October 1: Universal Children's Day October 24: United Nations Day October 31: UNICEF Day (observed in the U.S. with Halloween trick-or-treat program)

Packets of statements by the Bahá’í International Community are available from the U.S./UN Office, 866 UN Plaza, Suite 120, New York, NY 10017, for $5 (make checks payable to Bahá’ís of the U.S./UN Office). Information on the UN events may be obtained by writing to the same address. [Page 6]

Convention

from page 1

own money.

“Now, with the Universal House of Justice calling for $24 million to complete the reserve needed for the Arc, we felt it would be appropriate to contribute $24,000 to get things under way. But frankly, we didn’t have two nickels to rub together.”

So in lieu of money, said Mr. Sears, he and Mrs. Sears had decided to donate something far more precious to them—their dearly-loved copy of The Dawn-breakers.

“We are giving this volume to the National Assembly,” he said, “to use in whatever way they feel will be most effective” to raise funds for the Arc.

Before the evening was over the delegates from Texas had pledged to return home and raise $24,000 for the Arc on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Sears.

That brought the total amount raised for the Arc by those at the Convention to more than $74,500.

Following Mr. Sears’ talk, the tribute continued with brief personal remembrances by Mr. Hofman, Mr. McCants and Dorothy Nelson, and an ‎audi-visual audio-visual‎ program reviewing some of his many accomplishments.

The video was the second shown at the Convention. On Friday evening, delegates and guests had been treated to a preview of the second edition of the “Bahá’í Newsreel,” prepared for the Feast of ‘Azamát in mid-May.

The Riḍván message from the Universal House of Justice was read at the Convention’s opening session on Thursday evening.

The delegates, deeply moved by the urgency of that message and by the many challenges facing the world-wide Bahá’í community, recommended at Friday morning’s session that the National Spiritual Assembly adopt a $30 million budget for fiscal 1990-91.

Also on Friday morning, delegates and guests heard the annual reports of the National Spiritual Assembly and the Office of the Treasurer.

On Saturday afternoon, Mr. Davis presented a report on plans for the second Bahá’í World Congress to be held in New York City in November 1992. The Congress, he said, will focus on the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as our Exemplar.

Mr. Hofman spoke at Sunday morning’s closing session, which began with a prayer for the Hands of the Cause of God sung by the Tennessee Bahá’í Choir and tributes by Counselor Monadjem and Dr. Kazemzadeh to the Hand of the Cause Jalál Kházeh, who died February 21 in Canada.

Speaking of the funds needed for construction of the Arc on Mount Carmel, Mr. Hofman said, “Three years ago the House of Justice called for this money. And you were going to let a measly $24 million hold back the work of God in creating His capital on Mount Carmel?

“My friends, you could put up the whole $300 million in the next few weeks if you wanted to. Sell out some of your stocks and shares, get rid of some of your bank accounts and your property. This is detachment from material things and leading the world spiritually.

“There is one other consideration in this,” Mr. Hofman added. “You know what the Master told you would happen if you did these things; you would become the cynosure of the world, the people would love you and admire you.

“Well, this is not the case in the world today, dear friends. As you know, you are not very greatly loved and admired throughout the world.

“Why? Because if you are leaders in these other things—in wealth, in military power, in technical research and so forth—you will attract the envy, the hatred, the jealousy, the denigration of the rest of mankind.

“But if you will sacrifice your standards of living and embrace true spiritual poverty,” said Mr. Hofman, “you will attract the love of mankind. This is how you will bring about that wonderful promise of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that you would become beloved of all mankind—not as you are going now, but if you will really adopt the robe of material detachment and develop your spiritual powers, you inevitably will accomplish your spiritual destiny.”

Delegates to the 81st Bahá’í National Convention in the United States of America

Your expressions of rededication to the tasks of the Six Year Plan, as conveyed in your warm spirited message, fill us with joy and gratitude. May He Who guides the destiny of your specially blessed, greatly admired and dearly loved community sustain the vision, the vigor and courage of the American friends in their unrelenting endeavor to manifest in their individual selves the sterling qualities of a spiritually transformed life. Thus may they be assured of winning, in His Name, such victories as have not yet been witnessed in their long history of outstanding achievements. The Universal House of Justice April 30, 1990

Praise and Honor Be on the Supreme Institution of the Universal House of Justice

Most Beloved Friends: Delegates gathered at the 81st Bahá’í National Convention in the Mother Temple of the West, blessed by the presence of the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears, retired member of the Universal House of Justice David Hofman, and Counselors Monadjem and Roberts, received with awe and gratitude your Riḍván message of 1990. Our hearts are thrilled by the recent settlement of the two Knights of Bahá’u’lláh in Sakhalin Island and with the opportunities that have opened for the expansion of the Faith in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Your inspiring message brought joy and confidence and a new vision of the individual spiritual transformation needed during the remaining years of the Six Year Plan. The great challenges and opportunities have focused our consultation. We beseech your continued prayers confident that your supplications at the Sacred Threshold will bring the Concourse on high to assist us to complete our responsibilities. We pledge our devotion to Bahá’u’lláh and to the Infallible Institution. With loving Bahá’í greetings, The Delegates to the 81st National Convention of the Bahá’ís of the United States April 28, 1990

Evander Gilmer leads fellow delegates and guests in song during the Sunday morning session of the 81st Bahá’í National Convention in Foundation Hall at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois.

Dash Crofts (left) and Jim Seals sing 'Passengers,' a song written for the Hand of the Cause William Sears, during Saturday evening's tribute to Mr. Sears at the National Convention.

Judge James F. Nelson (left), chairman and assistant secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, introduces the other members of the National Assembly for 1990-91 (left to right) Robert C. Henderson, Firuz Kazemzadeh, William Davis, Dorothy W. Nelson, Juana Conrad, Alberta Deas, Kevin Locke and Jack McCants. [Page 7]

Central Ohio’s Peace Committee holds fourth conference

On April 14, the Bahá’í Peace Committee of Central Ohio sponsored its fourth annual peace conference in Columbus.

This year’s theme was “Fostering New Attitudes: Eliminating the Extremes of Wealth and Poverty as a Requisite for World Peace.”

More than 120 people, about half of whom were not Bahá’ís, attended.

Keynote speakers were Henry Ouma, deputy chief of investments of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension, and Susan Meeker-Lowry, author of Economics as if the Earth Really Mattered and publisher/editor of Catalyst.

Mr. Ouma, a native of Kenya, emphasized a Bahá’í perspective, and listed nine major positive changes that are taking place in the world.

Ms. Meeker-Lowry, who lives in Vermont, brought a strong perspective on community-based economics and ways in which to shape an economy for a sustainable and livable earth.

After the keynote addresses, the audience attended one of six workshops, had lunch, and listened to an afternoon panel discussion moderated by Auxiliary Board member June Thomas.

Among local groups taking part were the Native American Indian Center; YWCA Peace School; the Open Shelter; Ohio Hunger Task Force; South of Main Development Corporation; Moyer Financial Group; American Red Cross; the Anti-Defamation League; Christian Aid Mission; Franklin County CROP Education Committee; Habitat; and UNICEF.

Also, after consulting with the National Assembly, the committee contacted the Ohio governor’s office which sent a representative to the conference.

Eleven other organizations helped co-sponsor the conference whose purpose was to encourage recognition and cooperation among the many groups and individuals working for peace in the Columbus area.

Taking part in the recent peace conference in Columbus sponsored by the Bahá’í Peace Committee of Central Ohio were (left to right) Steve Dimler, Susan Meeker-Lowry, Henry Ouma and Hooshang Ma’ani.

Children of the Bahá’í School of Greater Knoxville, Tennessee, recently performed an original play/puppet show at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Church in Knoxville and re-grouped for a second show at an Ayyám-i-Há party in Maryville. The play/puppet show, which teaches progressive revelation and the oneness of religion, is a cooperative effort on the part of the children, their parents and teacher, David Neidig of Rockwood. The show was well-received at the Unitarian Church, whose director of education has since invited Bahá’ís to speak, teach and perform there.

Canada’s Maxwell Bahá’í School shines in scholastic, sports, community events

The Maxwell Bahá’í School in Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, continues to shine as a point of illumination from the western shores of Canada.

The school’s dance/drama workshop is a popular program throughout the province. It shares the principles of the Faith, which are the principles of the school, through an exciting program by a group of 30 students who take part in skits and dances.

They have won three first-place awards in the Cowichan Valley Music Festival, were chosen for the grand finale at the Highlights Music Festival, and are booked to perform every week-end until the end of the school year at various schools and functions.

The students also continue to win respect in the sports arena, representing the school well in basketball, badminton, and track and field. The girls’ basketball team received the sportsmanship award, while one of the girls in the badminton club won the island championship. The students have won many ribbons in cross-country track events.

This last term, 30 percent of the students earned honor roll status, which is achieved by maintaining an over-all average of 85 percent or better.

The school’s popularity was reflected in a large turnout by local residents for a recent open house. Guests were impressed with the students and the examples of their work that were displayed. As a result, the school received several applications for admission; in fact, the list of applications continues to grow, and next year the school anticipates an enrollment of 160 students in grades 7-11.

The Maxwell School is now accepting applications for the September term, and the hope is that anyone who is interested will apply as quickly as possible so adequate time can be given to processing all applications.

Inquiries should be forwarded to: Maxwell International Bahá’í School, Bag 1000, Shawnigan Lake, B.C. V0R 2W0, Canada (phone 604-743-7144).

FIVE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCES ON THE THEME: “An Environment of Peace” ...with nature and with each other Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, July 27-29, 1990 Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, July 27-29, 1990 Centre ‎Municiple Municipal‎, Ville de Québec (en français), le 6-8 juillet 1990 Conference Centre, Whistler, British Columbia, June 29-July 2, 1990 University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, August 3-5, 1990 (All conferences to be held in Canada) CONFERENCE COST: Approximately CDN $185.00 or US $150.00 For more information contact: Roya Mostaghim Bahá’í International Youth Conference 1990 7200 Leslie St., Thornhill, Ontario L3T 6L8, CANADA Telephone: (416) 889-8168

U.S. Institute of Peace to study ‎rellglous religious‎ conflicts

The National Spiritual Assembly wishes the friends to be aware of the following: the United States Institute of Peace has announced the beginning of an 18-month study of religious conflicts around the world.

Entitled “Wars and Great Suffering: The Threat of Intolerance and the Promise of Pluralism,” the study’s aim is to increase knowledge about religious intolerance as a source of conflict and to examine possible remedies, including the effectiveness of human rights standards and guarantees of religious freedom for limiting intolerance.

Using a case study approach, the Institute will convene a series of seminars focusing on instances of religious conflict in the Ukraine, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, the Sudan, Tibet and Israel.

Participants will include scholars, religious leaders, international legal and human rights experts, and officials from some of the countries studied. All proceedings will be open to the public.

The first session, focusing on the Ukraine, will take place this month.

The United States Institute of Peace is an independent, non-partisan federal institution created and wholly funded by Congress to expand skills and understanding about preventing and resolving international conflicts.

“The present challenge calls for teaching on a scale and of a quality, a variety, and intensity outstripping all current efforts.”—The Universal House of Justice, Riḍván 1988 [Page 8]CLASSIFIEDS

Classified notices in The American Bahá’í are published free of charge as a service to the Bahá’í community. Because of this, notices are limited to items relating to the Faith; no personal or commercial messages can be accepted for 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.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

THE MAXWELL International Bahá’í School in Canada is seeking applications for the following positions: clerk/bookkeeper and executive secretary. Also, teaching positions are anticipated in the following areas: math and science, English and social studies, and music. The school will also need residential staff who can serve as dorm parents and carry out some extracurricular duties with the students. Many positions have been filled by volunteers, and the School Council hopes that there are some who will see this as an opportunity to serve the Faith by offering their services either as volunteers or at a reduced salary. Anyone who is interested in any of these positions should send a letter of application and a resumé to: Maxwell International Bahá’í School, Bag 1000, Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, V0R 2W0, Canada (phone 604-743-7144).

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

EMPLOYMENT opportunities overseas: Africa—Ciskei: social and economic development practitioners. Transkei: medical doctors. Americas—Honduras: kindergarten teacher, second grade teacher. St. Lucia: physical therapist, family practitioner, internal medicine. Turks and Caicos: general practitioner with ER experience. Asia—Thailand: Montessori pre-school teacher. Australasia—Marshall Islands: secondary English and science teachers, hospital administrator. Multi-Regional: architect, director of program development for Latin American science program, engineering manager. For information about any of these positions, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 708-869-9039.

GRANTS, fellowships, scholarships and the like are enabling a growing number of professionals to work overseas. The current list of grants from the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES), for example, includes professional awards in such areas as agriculture; anthropology and archaeology; architecture and urban planning; business administration; communications and journalism; economics; law; music; psychology; public administration; sociology and social work; and theatre and dance. Professionals may also apply for hundreds of research grants all over the world. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 708-869-9039.

PIONEER leaving post this month in Manzanillo, Mexico. Possible jobs teaching English as a second language. Write to Christine Hoyt, Manzanillo Colima, Mexico 28206.

HOMEFRONT pioneers needed on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. Business opportunity available for someone who appreciates the world’s cultures; well-established gift shop specializing in international gifts. Owners were required to move to Honolulu in service to the Faith. For information, please phone Corale Borges, 808-822-3166.

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

SOUTHERN New Mexico Bahá’ís are actively teaching university students and Spanish-speaking people. There are also cross-border teaching and deepening institutes with the Spiritual Assembly of Juarez, Mexico. Homefront pioneers are welcome. There are job openings for bilingual legal secretaries, medical personnel, experienced landscapers, and technicians at the nearby NASA facility. We have a good Bahá’í Sunday school program for your children. For information, contact Pauline Hoff, secretary, Spiritual Assembly of Las Cruces, Las Cruces, NM 88001, or phone 505-525-8056.

WARNER Robins, a city of 40,000 in central Georgia, has a non-functioning Spiritual Assembly with 20 Bahá’ís on the rolls and two homefront pioneers. Excellent employment opportunities at Robins Air Force Base, at the county hospital, in social services, mental health, and many industries and medical facilities in Macon, only 15 minutes away. For more information, contact the District Teaching Committee, c/o Bruce Whitmore, secretary, St. Simon’s Island, GA 31522 (phone 912-634-0658).

BOZEMAN, Montana! Far from the ‎maddening madding‎ crowd. A cultural center in a rural state. Home of Montana State University; for college students and teachers, a land grant university with engineering, liberal arts, education programs and more. For businessmen and women, an overeducated, underemployed work force from which to choose good quality employees. For families, a good school system, safe neighborhoods, many parks. For fun lovers, good skiing, good hiking, good wilderness; easy travel to Yellowstone, the world’s first National Park. Above all, good opportunities in service to Bahá’u’lláh. Help rebuild a lost Assembly. Contact Mr. Llewellyn or Gail Drong, Bozeman, MT 59715, or phone 406-587-1739.

PERRY, a lovely city of 12,000 in central Georgia, has a non-functioning Spiritual Assembly with 65 Bahá’ís on the rolls. There are presently no homefront pioneers in the community. For information about pioneering to Perry, contact the District Teaching Committee, c/o Bruce Whitmore, secretary, St. Simon’s Island, GA 31522 (phone 912-634-0658).

BOCA RATON, Florida, a prime retirement area with three colleges and many cultural and employment opportunities, needs homefront pioneers to save its incorporated Assembly which faces jeopardy in 1991. We need diversity with college students, children and minorities. Boca Raton presents a good opportunity for snow-birds to qualify for the tax advantages of Florida while still going north for the summers. Look us up on the map and come on down! Write to P.O. Box 999, Boca Raton, FL 33428.

HOMEFRONT pioneers needed in Washington County (Hagerstown), Maryland. Active Bahá’í or family to help a group of three. The county is widespread with lovely mountains and friendly people, good schools, hospital and junior college. Will send employment information on request. Write to Paula M. Rogers, Big Pool, MD 21711, or phone 301-842-3081.

MACON, the largest city in central Georgia (pop. 115,000) has 20 Bahá’ís on the rolls and eight homefront pioneers (including six adults). More are needed. Employment possibilities include those in industry, the medical field, and public and higher education. Students could attend Mercer University, Wesleyan College or Macon College. For more information, contact the District Teaching Committee, c/o Bruce Whitmore, secretary, St. Simon’s Island, GA 31522 (phone 912-634-0658).

HOMEFRONT pioneers are desperately needed in Del Norte County, a lovely, scenic area of Northern California where the Redwoods meet the ocean. Small but growing community with one local hospital, a small community college extension, high school and maximum security state prison. Please help save our Assembly. We need energetic, motivated and diversified Bahá’ís. Phone B. Silva (707-464-2294) or J. Ward (707-487-7461, evenings and weekends).

ARCHIVES

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is seeking, at the request of the Universal House of Justice, original letters written on behalf of the Guardian to the following people: Ona A. Finks (died Sherman Oaks, CA, 1962), Theresa Fisch (died New York City, 1959), Raleigh Fischer, Beatrice Fischer (died New York City, 1947), Dorothy Fisher (died Philadelphia, 1974), Valera Fisher, Roy C. Flickinger, Hannah Focke, Claire Fontanne, and Amalia Ford. Anyone knowing family members or relatives who might have these letters from the Guardian is asked to contact the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 708-869-9039).

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is seeking copies of the following books in good or excellent condition: The Promised Day Is Come (cloth, 1943), Bahá’í Administration (paper, 1968), The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh (paper, 1937), God Passes By (cloth, 4th printing, 1943) and Principles of Bahá’í Administration (paper, 2nd edition, 1963). Anyone having copies they could donate is asked to send them to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

BAHÁ’Í SCHOOLS

THE MAXWELL Bahá’í School in Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, is accepting applications and inquiries about its youth service program for this summer as well as for the academic year (August-June). The school needs a number of mature youth and older Bahá’ís who would like to serve the Faith by offering their skills and talents. The school has needs in such areas of service as kitchen, grounds, custodial, maintenance and office. There are always opportunities to interact and serve the students through extracurricular activities; however, the main focus is to fulfill the work required in one’s assigned area of responsibility. Those applying must realize that the Maxwell School is striving to create a new race of men and women; therefore, many of the standards that are seen as the norm in society as a whole are not the norm at the Maxwell School. We have a no-smoking environment, and the standards in the use of language, dress, personal relationships, and other outward forms of individual expression are balanced with the requirements and guidelines of the Faith. Maxwell is an international community, and the awareness of and sensitivity to the cultural diversity represented here is essential. The school welcomes inquiries, either directly or through your respective Bahá’í National Centers. Please make inquiries to: Maxwell International Bahá’í School, Bag 1000, Shawnigan Lake, BC V0R 2W0, Canada (phone 604-743-7144).

WANTED

THE BAHÁ’Í Association for Arts (BAFA) invites contributions for one or more books of essays and book reviews on gender issues in relation to the Faith. Reviews may be of existing Bahá’í literature or of non-Bahá’í literature that warrants the attention of Bahá’ís. Please send abstracts only by October 31 to Lorraine McCafferty, Glasgow G12 0TE Scotland.

THE BAHÁ’Í Association for Arts (BAFA) invites contributions for a collection of essays and book reviews on Christianity and its relation to the Faith. Send outlines or completed materials to Sen McGlinn, Open Circle Publishing, 6301 RJ, The Netherlands.

YOU can help our pioneer brothers and sisters in their teaching work and in social and economic development. Books, magazines, teaching materials and other equipment are sorely needed all over the world. Please send me a description of the kinds of books or materials you are willing to ship overseas (not the items themselves) and I will match you with a pioneer, school or institute requesting the same. Especially needed now are Bahá’í prayer books, posters, pictures of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pamphlets, easy-to-read books. Write now! Vonnie Lincoln, Lyons, OR 97358.

MISCELLANEOUS

IF YOU will be in the Dallas, Texas, area on September 23 and have musical or dance talent you would like to share at the “Second Annual International Harmony Festival,” organized by the Bahá’ís of Richardson, please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Richardson, P.O. Box 831794, Richardson, TX 75082.

AS AN introductory offer during this present Bahá’í year, one copy each of a collection in song book form of 10 original “Art Songs” and their piano accompaniments will be mailed at no cost to American pioneers abroad. These songs, which have stood the test of public and informal Bahá’í performances, may be used as gifts to friends who are seriously trained singers, or non-professionals with voices of reasonably expressive quality. Pianists may also enjoy them for home use or around-the-piano sing-alongs. The composer, a pioneer living in Luxembourg, is a member of SACEM (Société des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Editeurs de Musique). For your copy, please write to Jean South, 20, rue de l’Eglise, L-9552, Luxembourg Grand Duchy (phone 957804). It would be much appreciated if, on receipt of the song book, the pioneer would, in memory of the Greatest Holy Leaf, donate whatever is wished to his/her National Spiritual Assembly earmarked for the Arc Fund.

Employment opportunities

The Department of Human Resources at the Bahá’í National Center is presently accepting applications for the following positions. For more information, applications and position descriptions, please phone Lea Mallow or Geneva Sutton at 708-869-9039, or send your qualifications to the Department of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

• Administrative Services: media services assistant (Studio); secretary (float in three departments); filing clerk (part-time, records room)
• Bahá’í Publishing Trust: shipping and receiving clerks (2); marketing manager
• Bosch School: morning cook, full-time (September-June); maintenance assistant
• Office of Community Administration: secretary.
• Native American Bahá’í Institute: caretaker/host
• National Teaching Committee Office: youth activities coordinator; secretary to the NTC secretary
• Office of Pioneering: administrative assistant
• Office of the Secretary: administrative aide/District Convention coordinator; administrative assistant
• Office of the Treasurer: staff accountant; administrative assistant
• Persian/American Affairs Office: administrative assistant (must be fluent in Persian and English)
• U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office: refugee program assistant

Name ________________________________

Address ______________________________

City/state/zip __________________________

Phone ( ) _____________ ( ) ____________
          home                 work

Bahá’í I.D. Number _____________________

3,000 attend Earth Day ’90 observance in Indianapolis

On April 21, 3,000 people attended an observance of Earth Day 1990 at Military Park in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Bahá’í booth, focused on children, was so busy and drew so many children that the friends were hard-pressed to prepare enough materials for their use.

Among other things, children were asked what gift they would like to give the earth, using colored markers to draw the gifts on cloth stretched over hoops. One hundred-twelve squares were made.

About 80 children ages 3-16 signed the Bahá’í register. Pens inscribed “Peace: Next Stage in the Evolution of Our Planet” were given away.

Many pamphlets from the Bahá’í Office of the Environment were taken, and 17 people signed up for more information about the Faith. [Page 9]

International Youth Conference

Themes: Education, Environment and Transformation

August 17-21, 1990 Cali, Colombia

Sponsored by the Board of Counselors for the Americas and the National Spiritual Assembly of ‎Columbia Colombia‎

Registration $25.00 Deadline: July 17, 1990

Registration: Conferencia Internacional de Juventud P.O. Box 7098, Cali, COLOMBIA

For more information contact: Javier Salazar P.O. Box 1402, Gilroy, CA 95021 Phone: (408) 848-8490

Faith featured in word game

As another indication of the Faith’s emergence from obscurity, the daily word search game “Wonderword,” which appears in newspapers all over the country, was devoted on Friday, April 6, to words associated with the Bahá’í Faith.

Wonderword is distributed by Universal Press Syndicate.

“Our primary response must be to teach—to teach ourselves and to teach others—at all levels of society, by all possible means, and without further delay.”—The Universal House of Justice, Riḍván 1989

Twenty-eight students from seven countries made the honor roll for the term that ended March 20 at the Maxwell International Bahá’í School in British Columbia, Canada. The honor roll award is based on an over-all academic average of 85 percent or better in all subject areas. In addition to Canada and the U.S., honor roll students at the Maxwell School are from Hawaii, Japan, Taiwan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

More than 100 attend ‘Education for Peace’ forum sponsored by Bahá’ís of Charlotte, North Carolina

More than 100 people, half of whom were not Bahá’ís, attended a recent “Education for World Peace” forum sponsored by the Bahá’í community of Charlotte, North Carolina, at East Mecklenburg High School.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Peter Relic, superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, whose topic was “Values of Global Education.”

Also speaking was Dr. Dwight W. Allen, a Bahá’í who is professor of education at Virginia’s Old Dominion University. Dr. Allen spoke on “Schools for a New Century.”

Dr. Relic, who grew up near the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, and has known about the Faith for many years, said technology has created “one world” and that we need to reexamine our values and beliefs.

We must teach our children, he said, to recognize the global village and our interdependence with other peoples of the world.

Dr. Allen said that the solution to achieving world peace lies within the hearts and minds of men. The American educational system, he said, is an obsolete structure, and virtually no moral values are being taught in our schools.

Local Bahá’ís sent out 100 formal invitations to the event as well as more than 1,000 flyers to educators and members of known peace organizations.

The conference was mentioned in at least five newspaper articles, and local radio stations were given public service announcements.

Pictured are some of those who took part in a recent ‘Education for World Peace’ forum sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Dwight Allen (third from left) was one of the speakers. Also attending was Auxiliary Board member Jean Scales (fifth from left).

Guidelines on parenting from A-Z inspired by Bahá’í Writings

By DR. ANNE BRENEMAN

During the course of the Six Year Plan, the Universal House of Justice has directed all national and local Bahá’í communities to give singular attention to the development of distinctive ways of life through “education in the history and teachings of the Faith and the application of spiritual principles to life.”

Among the suggested ways of achieving this goal is the following directive: “Establish a program for the guidance of parents, especially mothers, in the care and training of Bahá’í children.”

Clearly, any plan for Bahá’í education would be ineffective without the recruitment of parents, especially mothers, as primary implementers. The Guardian reminded an individual believer in 1939 that “. . . the task of bringing up a Bahá’í child, as emphasized time and again in Bahá’í writings, is the chief responsibility of the mother, whose unique privilege is indeed to create in her home such conditions as would be most conducive to both his material and spiritual welfare and advancement. . . .” (Bahá’í Education: A Compilation, p. 66)

The suggestions made here are inspired by the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, as well as by messages from Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice; at best, however, they are only representative of what can be found in the Bahá’í Writings to guide those parents dedicated to the sacred task of raising up “a new race of men.”

A. Gather your children for daily family prayers.

B. Encourage your children to say the Greatest Name (Alláh-u-Abhá) when going to bed and when rising, as their last and first words.

C. Arrange your home so that the children can see the importance of the Greatest Name and the Master’s example.

D. Tell the children stories of the Central Figures, the Holy Family, and Bahá’í heroes and heroines, emphasizing their purity of heart and spiritual qualities, as well as how they taught the Faith to others.

E. Teach the children good manners, politeness, reverence and love (e.g., to greet people radiantly, offer seats to others, especially their elders, address elders with respect, and always share with others).

F. Teach them cleanliness, both personal and environmental. It isn’t necessary to spend a lot of money to make your home lovely, orderly and reflective of your family’s values.

G. Give your children services to perform each day, not for monetary reward but as part of a family. Reward them for taking the initiative in serving others.

H. Teach the children how to live economically—and encourage them to contribute regularly to the Fund.

I. Become friendly with families of differing racial and cultural backgrounds so that the children experience diversity within their own family. Teach them to seek out diversity.

J. Arrange a way to help your children memorize prayers and Tablets according to their capacity.

K. Take the children on teaching trips and encourage them to prepare their own teaching tools, such as a Bahá’í scrapbook.

L. Plan Holy Day observances in advance so that family closeness will be associated with the meaning and significance of each such occasion. Plan family activities consistent with the meaning of these days.

M. Encourage the children to read aloud daily from the Holy Writings and from books about the Faith appropriate to their age, then discuss the meanings with them.

N. Take the children to performances or exhibits of the arts as often as possible; encourage their natural tendency to play-act life experiences, favorite stories, and so on; have them tell stories about the Faith and the family at community events; and arrange for them to learn the elements of music through instruments and/or songs.

O. Practice the art of consultation within the family, giving the children opportunities to make decisions on ap-

See PARENTING page 17 [Page 10]

B.E. 146: A year of tremendous advances on every front

APRIL

• In its Riḍván message to the Bahá’í’s of the world, the Universal House of Justice calls to mind many of the significant developments within the Bahá’í community during the past year including the adoption of the architectural design for the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb conceived by Fariburz Sahba.

• “Other developments,” the Supreme Body points out, “include: the approval by the central authorities in Moscow of the application submitted by a number of Bahá’í’s in Ishqábád to restore the local Spiritual Assembly of that city; the initiation of steps to open a branch of the Bahá’í Information Center in Budapest, the first such agency of the Faith in the Eastern Bloc; and the establishment of a Public Information Office in Hong Kong in anticipation of the time when the Faith can be proclaimed on the mainland of China.”

WILLIAM SEARS

The House of Justice goes on to describe the “faint but discernible” signs of “the culmination of the three collateral processes envisaged by the Guardian, namely: the emergence of the Lesser Peace, the construction of the buildings of the Arc on Mount Carmel, and the evolution of National and local Spiritual Assemblies. . . .

“Our primary response” to these developments, the House of Justice says, “must be to teach—to teach ourselves and to teach others—at all levels of society, by all possible means, and without further delay. The beloved Master, in an exhortation on teaching, said it is ‘not until the candle is lit that it can shed the brightness of its flame; not until the light shineth forth that its brilliance can dispel the surrounding gloom.’ Go forth, then, and be the ‘lighters of unlit candles.’ ”

• The 80th Bahá’í National Convention, convened at the midpoint of the Six Year Plan and blessed by the presence of the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears, affords an opportunity to assess the progress of the Plan and to map new strategies to assure the achievement of its goals.

The Convention is preceded by a daylong deepening for delegates conducted by Counselors Wilma Ellis, William Roberts and David Smith. Taking part in the Convention itself is David Hofman, retired member of the Universal House of Justice.

On the ninth day of Riḍván, delegates elect the National Spiritual Assembly for 1989-90. Its members are Dorothy W. Nelson, Robert C. Henderson, Kevin Locke, William Davis, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Jack McCants, James F. Nelson, Juana Conrad and Alberta Deas. Dorothy Nelson becomes the first woman to chair the National Assembly since Dorothy Baker in the 1950s.

Responding ‎the the to the‎ Universal House of Justice’s Riḍván messages of 1988/89, the National Assembly introduces in its annual report a plan of action for the coming year whose focus is on three areas of greatest concern: (1) achieving a vast increase in the number of believers in this country, (2) fostering the maturation of local Spiritual Assemblies, and (3) increasing and improving the Bahá’í education of children, youth and adults.

A highlight of the Convention is the first-ever broadcast of a part of the proceedings live over WLGI Radio Bahá’í in Hemingway, South Carolina.

• The Bahá’í National Committee on Women co-sponsors with the Seneca Falls Bahá’í Equality Conference Committee and many local volunteers three proclamation events in western New York state.

The themes of each are the equality of the sexes and the ancient spiritual teachings of gender equality among the area’s Iroquois Indians.

MAY

• The Bahá’í Faith becomes one of eight major world religions taking part in the International Sacred Literature Trust, one of the largest and most ambitious interfaith projects ever undertaken.

The Trust is introduced at United Nations headquarters in New York City by H.R.H. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Under a single publishing imprint, it will bring together, for the first time, scholars and literary figures from the world’s major religions in an effort to produce the most accurate new English translations of their faiths’ key texts.

• “The Untapped Reservoir,” the National Committee on Women’s second annual conference on equality of the sexes, with special emphasis on American Indians and Hispanics, is held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Some 150 people share their views on equality, take part in workshops, and hear talks by Juana Conrad, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, and Reynaldo Cruz, a member of the National Teaching Committee.

JUNE

• On June 28, Mrs. Joyce Hoyte, wife of the president of Guyana, visits the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois. She is accompanied by Mrs. Lorraine Grant, wife of Guyana’s ambassador to the U.S., and Mrs. Anna Broom, wife of the Guyanese consul in Chicago.

DAVID SMITH

• More than 80 people gather at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, for the fourth annual Conference of the Bahá’í Justice Society whose theme is “Economic Justice: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor.”

A fireside that weekend co-sponsored by the Justice Society and the Greater Atlanta Bahá’í Task Force draws an audience of more than 130.

• The Bahá’í’s of Orange County, California, carry out their most ambitious program to date, a race unity picnic at the city’s most popular park. More than 100 Bahá’í’s and upwards of 400 visitors attend the event which includes a performance by the Los Angeles Bahá’í Youth Workshop.

• The U.S. National Council of Women (NCW) holds its 12th annual Salute to Young Women Achievers in New York City. Deborah Deas-Nesmith, chosen by the Bahá’í National Committee on Women, is honored for her work at the Medical University of South Carolina where she recently earned a medical degree and the degree of Master of Public Health.

JAVIDUKHT KHADEM

• On June 29, about 250 Bahá’í’s gather in Teaneck, New Jersey, for the 77th souvenir of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to North America and the unity Feast which He hosted at the Wilhelm cottage in Teaneck in 1912.

JULY

• Fifteen young Bahá’í’s take part in the first Youth Workshop on Non-Violence sponsored by Atlanta’s Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-Violent Social Change.

The program is held in collaboration with the 14th annual Adult Workshop on Non-Violence sponsored by the King Center.

• The National Teaching Committee office hosts a special two-day visit to the Bahá’í National Center and House of Worship for five adults and 15 children from Griffin, Georgia. Housing is provided by the Bahá’í’s of Chicago at the city’s Bahá’í Center.

• The “Eternal Peace Flame,” ignited for UNICEF’s first Earth Run in 1986, is presented by Navajo Bahá’í’s to members of the White Mountain Apache tribe in Arizona.

• Twelve Bahá’í’s including one from Mexico are among those who attend the Congress of the Esperanto League for North America at DePaul University in Chicago.

AUGUST

• A message dated August 27 is sent by the Universal House of Justice to “the Followers of Bahá’u’lláh” throughout the world regarding the Nineteen Day Feast, “. . . its framework, purpose and possibilities. . . .” The message is followed by the release of a compilation from the World Center on aspects of the Nineteen Day Feast.

• “Invitation ’89,” Canada’s second Bahá’í National Festival of the Arts, is held at Bishop’s University in Lennoxville, Quebec. Among those taking part are many outstanding artists in the fields of music, drama, dance, gymnastics, architecture, fashion design and visual arts.

• More than 850 people gather August 6 at the Bahá’í Center in Los Angeles for the 1989 Hiroshima/Nagasaki Commemorative Peace Program.

The solemn event, held on the 44th anniversary of the destruction of Hiroshima, Japan, by an atomic bomb, is co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Bahá’í Office for Peace, Asian Pacific Americans for Nuclear Awareness (APANA), and Atomic Bomb Survivors of the United States.

SEPTEMBER

• As a part of their ongoing response to the Six Year Plan goal to increase the involvement of the Faith in the life of society, the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute and WLGI Radio Bahá’í in South Carolina present “Peace Fest ’89,” a dynamic program of music, fellowship and prayers for peace.

As has been the case since the first Peace Fest in 1986, the centerpiece is a concert by the 18-member Bahá’í Peace Orchestra conducted by saxophonist Marvin (Doc) Holladay. The 1989 Peace Award is given to Dr. William F. Gibson of Greenville, chairman of the National Board of Directors of the NAACP.

• “Full Partnership: An International Conference on the Equality of Women and Men” is the theme of the 14th annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies in Irvine, California.

Nearly 800 people including a number of scholars and artists take part in the many Conference activities and hear talks by Counselor Jacqueline Delahunt; Judge Dorothy W. Nelson, chairman, and Dr. Robert C. Henderson, secretary of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly; Louise Profeit-LeBlanc, chairman, and Dr. Hossein Danesh, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada; Riane Eisler, best-selling author and co-founder of the Center for Partnership Studies; and Bahá’í scholar/authors Bahiyyih Nakhjavani and Gwen Etter-Lewis.

• For the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears, the highlight of his appearance at the 30th annual Green Lake (Wisconsin) Bahá’í Conference is an opportunity to greet each one of the 450 children who are present. Other highlights include a showing of the video “The Seat of God’s Throne,” about the building of the Arc on Mount Carmel, and presentations by Jack McCants, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, and Auxiliary Board member Javidukht Khadem.

ROBERT C. HENDERSON

• As a prelude to the annual United Nations conference for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), a conference on “Africa: Environment and Development” is held at the Bahá’í offices in New York City. It is sponsored by the Club of Rome, the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service, and the Bahá’í International Community.

More than a thousand NGO representatives from around the world attend the UN Conference on Environment and Development, “Only One Earth,” at UN headquarters in New York. [Page 11]

Year in review

• Carrying out what may be the Faith’s first Story-Telling Festival, more than 200 Bahá’ís gather at the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs to remember the visit by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1912 to that lovely mountain town, home of the world’s largest hot springs.
• A public forum entitled “Racism: There Is a Cure,” sponsored by the Bahá’ís of New York City, is held at New York University. Nearly three-fourths of the audience of about 200 are not Bahá’ís. Afterward, one of the forum’s panelists, Ida Lewis, declares her belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

OCTOBER

• In the wake of devastation caused in September by Hurricane Hugo, the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute establishes warm friendships with many area residents, serving first as a shelter for the homeless and later as a distribution center for food, water, clothing, and other badly needed supplies for hundreds of people.

In addition, the LGI Hurricane Relief Fund is set up to provide continuing support for those in need.

• About 75 Bahá’ís from 21 communities in the Chicago area gather at the House of Worship in Wilmette for a Local Spiritual Assembly Development Conference, one of a dozen such events sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly in localities that hosted Vision to Victory conferences last year.

A special guest speaker at the conference, whose purpose is to focus attention on Assembly development as part of the maturation of local and national Bahá’í communities called for by the Universal House of Justice in the Six Year Plan, is Dr. David Ruhe, a member of the House of Justice who is visiting the area on vacation with his wife, Margaret.

• More than 500 children and adults, some from as far away as Oregon, Nevada and Arizona, attend the third annual “Stepping Stones to Peace” Bahá’í Children’s Conference in Pasadena, California.

DAVID RUHE

NOVEMBER

• At a White House ceremony, jazz trumpeter and long-time Bahá’í John Birks (Dizzy) Gillespie is one of a dozen prominent artists awarded the National Medal of the Arts by President George Bush.
• Three dedicated and much-loved servants of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh pass away in October: Kazem Kazemzadeh, former Trustee of the Huqúqu’lláh in the U.S. and member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran; Robert McLaughlin, a former member of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly and emeritus professor of architecture at Princeton University; and Robert Quigley, another former member of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly and one of Hollywood’s top television producers.
• The first-ever National Conference on the United States and the United Nations, “Forging a New Relationship,” is held in Washington, D.C.

More than 1,100 people from 39 states and six countries take part in the conference, one of whose 120 co-sponsors is the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly.

DECEMBER

• In a message to all National Spiritual Assemblies dated January 23, the Universal House of Justice raises the urgent call to gather the remaining $24 million needed to complete the initial $50 million reserve for construction of the Arc on Mount Carmel.
• About 1,500 Bahá’ís attend the first of this year’s Vision to Victory conferences in Phoenix, Arizona. Responding to the needs of the Fund, those at the conference raise $70,000 in cash for the Arc and receive a pledge to match that amount.

As is the case with each of the Vision to Victory conferences, discussion centers on the individual and teaching, community teaching, and teaching the masses. Among those taking part in panel discussions are Counselor Fred Schechter and Judge James Nelson, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly. Teaching in a nearby community results in 12 enrollments during the weekend.

• On December 29, the daily news program of the South Carolina Educational Radio Network broadcasts an 11-minute feature about WLGI Radio Bahá’í on its eight stations which reach as far as the borders of Georgia and North Carolina.
• To implement its plans for International Literacy Year, the United Nations forms an International Task Force on Literacy (ITFL), one of whose members is the Bahá’í International Community. The BIC is one of 27 non-governmental organizations that meet in Chantilly, France, to plan an over-all strategy for ILY.
• Acting in collaboration with a number of environmental groups, the Bahá’í International Community re-institutes in London the annual World Forestry Charter gatherings founded in 1945 by Richard St. Barbe Baker, a well-known Bahá’í who was the founder of the Men of the Trees. Present at the gathering are ambassadors or their representatives from 15 countries.
• The Bahá’ís of Gladstone, Oregon (10 adults and six children), deliver copies of the peace statement to each home in that city of 10,000 southeast of Portland as “a gift to you during this season of peace.”
• Nearly 125 people, about one-third of whom are not Bahá’ís, attend the 12th annual Human Rights Day awards banquet in Dayton sponsored by the Human Rights Committee of the Bahá’ís of the Miami Valley.

Honored for their contributions toward alleviating hunger are Holiday Aid, the Emergency Resource Bank of the American Red Cross, and the Miami Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

• The third annual Bahá’í Youth Conference sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Roswell, Georgia, brings more than 600 young people from 30 states to Atlanta to discuss such topics as the ‎Kitdb-i-Iqdn Kitáb-i-Íqán‎, the Hands of the Cause of God, the Arc, the Lesser Peace, living a chaste and holy life, teaching institutes, and the challenges of daily life faced by Bahá’í youth.
• More than 170 people including 20 Youth Academy students attend weekend classes on various aspects of the ‎Kitdb-i-Iqdn Kitáb-i-Íqán‎ at the Bosch Bahá’í School in California.
• The effort to increase teaching in Asian-American communities is given a boost when the Spiritual Assembly of Oakland, California, and the National Committee on Women co-sponsor a luncheon in Oakland to honor four women of Asian descent for their contributions to the betterment of humanity.

About 110 people including many non-Bahá’ís attend the event.

JANUARY

• The National Spiritual Assembly meets with representatives of the University of Maryland in College Park to sign an historic Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Bahá’í Chair for World Peace at the university’s Center for International Development and Conflict Management (CIDCM).

The Chair for World Peace, the first such Chair established at any university, is “dedicated to the advancement of knowledge in matters of conflict resolution and the promotion of peace and prosperity throughout the world.” Dr. Soheil Bushrui, a Bahá’í who is a visiting professor at the CIDCM, is named director of activities for the Bahá’í Chair.

ROBERT HAYDEN

• More than a thousand Bahá’ís from at least 30 states cap a week of activities honoring the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by marching in Atlanta’s annual King Day parade behind a 35-foot banner proclaiming that “The Bahá’í Faith Teaches the Oneness of Mankind.”

A highlight of the week’s events is the presence of a number of American Indians whose visit is sponsored and paid for by Bahá’ís in the Atlanta area.

• At the invitation of the National Spiritual Assembly, P.L. Santoshi, Consul General of India in Chicago, visits the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette.

Mr. Santoshi expresses his love for the Bahá’í Temple in India, and he and his family note the similarities and differences in the two Houses of Worship.

• The third annual Atlanta Bahá’í Youth Conference sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Roswell, Georgia, brings more than 600 young people from 30 states to Atlanta to discuss such topics as the ‎Kitdb-i-Iqdn Kitáb-i-Íqán‎, the Hands of the Cause of God, the Arc, the Lesser Peace, living a chaste and holy life, teaching institutes, and the challenges of daily life faced by Bahá’í youth.
• About 600 Bahá’ís attend the Vision to Victory conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Panelists in a discussion of teaching include Counselor Robert Harris; Dr. Robert C. Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly; and Auxiliary Board members Nancy Phillips and Rick Wadleigh.
• In a message to all National Spiritual Assemblies dated January 23, the Universal House of Justice raises the urgent call to gather the remaining $24 million needed to complete the initial $50 million reserve for construction of the Arc on Mount Carmel.

FEBRUARY

• In a cable dated February 8, the Universal House of Justice announces a new two-year teaching plan for Asia and Eastern Europe. “Calling upon those National Assemblies Europe, Asia and America which bear primary responsibility for individual nations involved,” the Supreme Body instructs, “to consult with Counselors and formulate details specific goals incorporating and supplementing those already adopted and in process accomplishment under Six Year Plan.”
• On February 21, the Hand of the Cause of God Jalál Kházeh passes away in Canada.
• In a cable dated February 15, the Universal House of Justice congratulates the National Spiritual Assembly for the success of its Assembly Development Program. Since its inception in August 1989, more than 300 local Spiritual Assemblies have taken part in 11 Assembly Development Conferences across the country while hundreds of others are using a series of modules on the functioning of local Assemblies at sessions conducted by Auxiliary Board members or their assistants.
• The U.S. State Department releases its annual “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices” for 1989, documenting the continuing repression of Iran’s Bahá’ís and describing in detail the government’s actions against them.
• Five days later, the United Nations Human Rights Commission, meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, releases a report on Iran by its Special Rapporteur which includes reports of abuses of Bahá’ís.

While the report states that no Bahá’ís have been executed during the past year and that the number in prison has fallen to fewer than 15, “it confirms,” says Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, the National Spiritual Assembly’s secretary for External Affairs, “that the Bahá’í community in Iran is denied the basic rights guaranteed by international law.”

• As if in response to these reports, the U.S. House of Representatives approves by a vote of 404-0 House Concurrent Resolution 87 calling for “the emancipation of the Bahá’í community in Iran.”
• About 600 people including a number of the country’s leading poets and writers gather at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for “Words in the Mourning Time,” a celebration of the life and work of poet Robert Hayden.

Mr. Hayden, a professor of English at the University of Michigan until his death in February 1980, was the first black ever named Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in Washington. A Bahá’í since 1942, he served for a number of years as poetry editor of World Order magazine. The conference at Ann Arbor is co-sponsored by the Association for Bahá’í Studies and the university’s Department of English Language and Literature.

• More than 500 people attend a Vision to Victory Conference in Denver, Colorado, the third in a series of “working conferences designed by the National Teaching Committee to generate discussions of and enthusiasm for the nature and process of teaching.
• “Literacy: Key to the Treasury of Human Potential” is the theme as the Bahá’í community of San Jose, California, hosts its ninth annual Community Service Awards banquet. The keynote speaker before an audience of more than 200 is Dr. Ray Johnson, headmaster of the Maxwell International Bahá’í School in British Columbia, Canada. Awards are given to several members of the local community for their work in education.

MARCH

• “Reaching the Chinese: The Time Is Now” is the main topic of consultation as nearly 400 people including some 50 of Chinese descent representing 18 countries and 28 states gather at the Bahá’í Center in San Francisco for the first Bahá’í International Chinese Symposium.

Among the special guests is David Hofman, retired member of the Universal [Page 12]

Wide Range of New Materials from Australia/Taiwan/Malaysia Offer Educational Tools for Communities and Individuals

NEW ADMINISTRATIVE AIDS FOR LSAs

Bahá’í Secretary’s Manual SC $3.00 This booklet was developed in Australia to provide suggestions and guidance to secretaries of spiritual assemblies, groups, or committees. Very practical advice is offered on such topics as preparing agendas, recording minutes, writing correspondence, and filing. 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 inches, 12 pages. Bahá’í Publications Australia

Bahá’í Chairman’s Manual SC $3.00 This booklet was developed in Australia to provide relevant extracts from the Bahá’í writings and a key to the study of the chairman’s role in the Bahá’í community. Very practical advice is offered on a variety of topics: facilitating consultation, facilitating making decisions, and chairing different kinds and sizes of Bahá’í meetings. 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 inches, 24 pages. Bahá’í Publications Australia

Bahá’í Treasurer’s Manual SC $3.00 This booklet was developed in Australia to help the treasurer understand the significance and duties of the office, to assist in communicating with the local spiritual assembly and community on matters pertaining to the fund, and to provide a basic accounting system. Practical guidance and suggestions are offered on such topics as the distinctive features of the Bahá’í fund, budgeting, financial reporting, and auditing. 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 inches, 20 pages. Bahá’í Publications Australia

From One Parent to Another PA 10 / $2.00 A brief, inexpensive pamphlet written to introduce the concepts of the Bahá’í Faith to a parent whose child has become a Bahá’í. Will assist teaching efforts of children and youth. Written in a colloquial style, the pamphlet highlights basic concepts such as belief in God, the oneness of religion, loyalty to government, honoring parents, the high standard of education, the importance of work, and more. Bahá’í Publications Australia

The Bahá’í Faith and the Arts PA 10 / $2.50 A brief, inexpensive pamphlet that uses commentary and extracts from the Bahá’í writings to demonstrate the spiritual potential and character of artistic expression. States that religion has historically been the source of great art forms and that the universal principles of the Bahá’í Faith will inspire “great and new art in every field of aesthetic creation.” Asserts that the most praiseworthy arts are those that are conducive to the well-being and tranquility of humanity. The Bahá’í Faith and the Arts is a unique pamphlet with a variety of uses. Bahá’í Publications Australia

TOOLS FOR DEEPER UNDERSTANDING

Teaching The Greatest Gift of God Extracts from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi SC $3.50 In a letter dated March 3, 1977, addressed to all National Spiritual Assemblies, the Universal House of Justice wrote, “A study of the compilation will provide the friends with stimulating information on general guidelines to be followed by them when engaged in the teaching work. . . . Many will be inspired, after reading the compilation, to cast aside their fears and misgivings and their sense of inadequacy, and will arise to speak forth announcing the glad-tidings of the Kingdom to their fellowmen. . . . Local Assemblies could . . . organize special meetings when texts, such as those included in the compilation, would be studied.” Includes many previously unpublished extracts. 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 inches, 39 pages. Bahá’í Publications Australia

A Bahá’í Parenting Program Marriage and Family Development Committee SC $3.75 Based on the Bahá’í writings, this booklet examines issues central to developing a spiritual atmosphere to nourish children and parents alike. Arranged thematically, it addresses such topics as “Attracting your child to spiritual ideals,” “Communication and family relationships,” “Family consultation,” “Building a sense of Bahá’í identity in the home,” and “Equality of the sexes.” It provides an opportunity for deepening and sharing understandings of the guidance available in the writings for examining practical issues of Bahá’í parenting, gives parents an opportunity to share experiences and to support and encourage each other. Designed for a weekend institute or a series of ten deepenings, for couples and moderately-sized groups. 5-3/4 x 8-1/4 inches, 52 pages Bahá’í Publications Australia

Excellence in All Things Extracts from the Bahá’í writings SC $3.50 Compiled in 1981 by the Bahá’í World Center Research Department, this booklet presents texts and extracts that “encourage the friends to attain distinction and excellence in all their undertakings. . . . The Universal House of Justice hopes that the contents of this compilation will guide the friends everywhere in the conduct of their individual lives so that they may follow Bahá’u’lláh’s exhortation to distinguish themselves from others through deeds, and that their ‘light can be shed upon the whole earth.’ ” Includes previously unpublished extracts. 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 inches, 21 pages. Bahá’í Publications Australia

The Role of Women in an Advancing Civilization Bahá’í Publications Australia and Association for Bahá’í Studies, Australia SC $7.00 A monograph based on papers presented at the March 26, 1989, conference of the Association. Includes “Women and Power,” “The Position of Women in Traditional Vietnam,” “Women in the Legal Profession,” “Women, Development, and Peace,” “Patriarch-Dead or Alive? Where do we go from here?” and “Women in an Advancing Civilization.” According to the editors, “The presenters successfully explored issues and concerns on the position and role of women and in doing so set an agenda for future exploration. This book is a result of their efforts, their honesty and their concern for the long path we have yet to walk to ensure that women attain the very highest station in the world of humanity.” 5-7/8 x 8-1/4 inches, 104 pages, line drawings, photographs. Bahá’í Distribution Australia

FOREIGN LANGUAGE TITLES ADDED

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HMONG Pamphlets, 10 / $2.00 The Hidden Words, SC $2.75 The New Garden, SC $3.50

KHMER Bahá’í Administration self-study guide, SC $1.75 Birth of the Bahá’í Faith, SC $1.00 Flowers of One Garden, SC $2.00 Prayer Book, SC $1.00 Promise of World Peace, SC $.50

LAOTIAN Pamphlets, 10 / $2.00 Prayer Book, SC $1.00

VIETNAMESE Administrative Order of Bahá’u’lláh, SC $4.50 Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, SC $6.95 The Hidden Words (Hong Kong), SC $4.50 Authority/Duties LSA, 10 / $6.00 Basis of World Economy, SC $1.30 Promise of World Peace, SC $1.50 We are Seeking the Day of a World Religion, 10 / $3.50 What is the Bahá’í Faith?, 10 / $3.50

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INCREASE YOUR DEEPENING AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE FAITH

Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá SC $3.00

“‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Will and Testament, Shoghi Effendi writes, is “the immortal document” from which the Administrative Order of Bahá’u’lláh “derives its authority”; it is “The Document establishing that Order, the Charter of a future world civilization, which may be regarded ‎as in‎ some of its features as supplementary to no less weighty a Book than the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. . . .” The Will and Testament delineates the major features of the Administrative institutions of the Bahá’í Faith and ensures the protection of the integrity and unity of the Faith.

Back in print, this important document will be invaluable for deepening and studying of the Faith by groups or by individuals. Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United States

BACK IN STOCK

The Hidden Words HC $6.95 SC $4.95

The essence of all revealed truth expressed in 153 brief, penetrating meditations. The Hidden Words, revealed by Bahá’u’lláh around 1858, “stands out as a mighty charter for the salvation of the human soul,” writes Adib Taherzadeh. Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United States

NEW, REPRINTED, OR BACK IN STOCK TITLES

• The Bahá’í Faith, Perkins & Hainsworth, SC $4.95
• Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, PS $4.00
• Divine Therapy, SC $6.95
• Effective Teaching, CS $3.50
• Effective Teaching Instructor’s Guide, SC $2.75
• Effective Teaching Workbook, SC $2.50
• The Eternal Quest for God, SC $15.95
• Gleanings, PS $6.50
• Lights of Guidance, HC $29.95
• Letters from Bonaire, SC $9.95
• Prickles and Plums, SC $7.95
• Teaching the Bahá’í Faith, SC $8.95

HAND OF THE CAUSE OF GOD FONDLY REMEMBERED IN BIOGRAPHY

A CHAMPION BUILDER BOOK

Zikrullah Khadem, The Itinerant Hand of the Cause of God: With Love by Javidukht Khadem HC $24.95 / SC $14.95

AN INSPIRING BIOGRAPHY OF the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem, this book is a story of love—one man’s love of God, of the Central Figures of the Bahá’í Faith, and of his unfaltering devotion to Shoghi Effendi.

Written by Zikrullah Khadem’s wife, Javidukht Khadem, this book is a tender portrait of her husband, depicting over sixty-one years of service to the Bahá’í Faith. She writes about his early life in Iran, their marriage and family life, and his appointment in 1952 as a Hand of the Cause of God. His international travels are chronicled, including trips to Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, and his involvement with Bahá’í schools, conferences, and conventions around the world.

Contained in the biography are essays written by the five Khadem children that capture the spirit of love and guidance given by Mr. Khadem, each one illustrating the emphasis he placed on obedience to the institutions, on Bahá’í family life and unity, and on fasting, prayer, pilgrimage, and teaching. These accounts provide a vivid, unique glimpse of family life grounded in the teachings of the Faith.

An appendix includes letters of remembrance from other Hands of the Cause of God, from Counselors, from Bahá’í Institutions, and from many friends who were touched by his warmth and inspired by his zeal.

Zikrullah Khadem, The Itinerant Hand of the Cause of God: With Love will inspire readers to live their lives as Mr. ‎Kahdem Khadem‎ did—with unwavering commitment to the principles of the Bahá’í Faith. He truly is a shining example of steadfastness, humility, and love. Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United States

VIDEO SERIES

The Bahá’í Newsreel Vol. 1, No. 2 produced by Bahá’í Media Services, an agency of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States VT $15.95 / VHS only

The second in a series of videos to be produced quarterly, this edition of The Bahá’í Newsreel highlighting teaching and development activities in the United States and around the globe includes the following segments:

• Update on the Construction of the Arc
• Recap of the San Francisco Chinese Symposium and Teaching in Southeast Asia
• News of Development of the Faith in Eastern Europe
• Highlights from Program Establishing the First Chair of Bahá’í Studies at the University of Maryland
• Recognition of Congressional Resolution on Emancipation of Bahá’ís Emerging from Obscurity
• Upsurge in Teaching and Development in Guyana and Haiti
• Review of Minneapolis Vision-to-Victory Conference; LSA Deepening Conferences
• May Maxwell Conference, Buenos Aires
• Botswana Music Conference Shows Prominent Emergence of Diversity in Teaching through the Arts

Still available is The Bahá’í Newsreel, Vol. 1, No. 1. These videos are excellent for use at firesides, community events, or for personal viewing. Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United States

ENVIRONMENTAL

Conservation of the Earth’s Resources A Compilation of Extracts from the Bahá’í Writings on the Relationship between Humankind and the Environment from the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice at the Bahá’í World Center SC $1.95

The Universal House of Justice, in a letter introducing the booklet, states that “this compilation of extracts from the Bahá’í writings has been published to encourage a dynamic response to the invitation of humanizing and spiritualizing the environment problem.”

The new compilation explores fundamental principles such as Nature as a Reflection of the Divine, Relationship between Man and Nature, Protection of the environment, and the Prospect for the Future.

Excellent for presenting to environmental and ecological awareness groups or individuals to share the Bahá’í concept in this area. Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United Kingdom

The Office of the Environment from the Bahá’í International Community PA 10/$2.00 / 50/$8.00

This pamphlet, prepared for the public, discusses the Bahá’í International Community’s Office of the Environment’s focus on trees as a foundation for conservation activities; lists Bahá’í environmental goals and involvement in conservation projects; and states the distinctive world view of Bahá’ís toward the environment. Bahá’í Distribution Service

From Haitian Roots

produced by Bahá’í Media Services VT $25.00—Beta or VHS

Documentary on social and economic development in Haiti shows how belief in Bahá’u’lláh and the application of Bahá’í principles are transforming daily life in this rural island setting. The fast-moving, 20-minute video portrays the successes of rural schools, health care clinics, and economic development projects with use of consultation and other Bahá’í principles.

This video will be of particular interest to seekers who want to know how the Bahá’í Faith can solve social problems.

Co-produced by the National Spiritual Assemblies of Haiti and the United States. Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United States

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[Page 14]رضایت بوده است. به‌علاوه تهیه یک برنامه درسی برای تعلیم اطفال امری به کودکان بهائی تعلیق مدتی است که سال‌ها در انتظار انجام آن بوده‌ایم. اکمال این مهم کمکی اساسی به اطفال بهائی خواهد کرد.

امور مالی

بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی در دست‌خط مورخ ۲۱ آگست سال ۱۹۸۷ که در ضمن آن نقشه اتمام بناهای کوه کرمل را اعلان نمودند، فرموده‌اند: «سرعت و شدت تقدم و پیشرفت امر مبارک همواره یکسان نیست، بلکه حضیض و اوجی متناسب با تناوب ابتلاءات و انتصارات دارد... چه کسی می‌داند که در اثر تحقق متوالی هر یک از مراحل این مشروع عظیم چه تحولاتی رخ خواهد نمود؟»

جهت اتمام این مشروع به صدها میلیون دلار در دهه آینده احتیاج است. تا به امروز پاسخ ما به این ملاء تنها اندک افزایشی در بودجه سالانه بوده است. هر چند احباء در تقدیم تبرعات سخاوت به خرج داده‌اند، اما با توجه به عظمت این مشروع، حدود محدود اقداماتی که تاکنون صورت گرفته، موجب نگرانی است. پرسشی که در برابر جامعه امری قرار گرفته این است: آیا نباید هدف مالی جامعه امری خصوصیت بی‌سابقه منشآت قوس حول مرقد مطهر را در خود منعکس نماید؟ آیا نباید به جای افزایش منفی ۸ یا ۷ درصد، این افزایش حاوی بودجه‌ای ۲۵ میلیون دلاری باشد؟

خلاصه

۲ سال به انتهای نقشه شش‌ساله باقی مانده است. می‌دانیم که هر آنچه در این مدت اتفاق افتد، تأثیری اساسی بر اوضاع عالم بشری خواهد نهاد. از شرایط جهان آموخته‌ایم که منتظر وقوع وقایعی شگفت‌انگیز و بی‌سابقه باشیم و این روند اگر هم تقویت نشود لااقل ادامه خواهد یافت. همچنین می‌دانیم که تغییراتی که در پهنه جهانی صورت می‌گیرد، امکانات جدیدی برای ‎بائیان بهائیان‎ فراهم نموده است. اتفاقاتی که در اروپای شرقی و شوروی وقوع یافته، فرصت‌های جدیدی برای تأسیس محافل روحانی ملی به دست داده است. چه کسی می‌تواند پیش‌بینی کند که در آینده چه اتفاقاتی صورت خواهد گرفت؟

باید در دو سال آینده جمیع قوا و منابع جامعه امری متمرکز بر پیشرفت و رشد امرالله باشد: تحقق وعده «یدخلون فی دین الله افواجاً». اعزام مهاجران، تحول محافل روحانی و تحکیم اساس آنها، تربیت امری و تزیید معلومات یاران و افزایش بنیه مالی جامعه به صورتی که بتواند نیازهای خود را برآورده سازد. بدین ترتیب مقاصد و اهداف سال آتی عبارتند از:

• طرح و آغاز برنامه‌هائی جهت مطالعه حیات و تعالیم حضرت بهاءالله به نحوی که احباء بتوانند به صراحت درباره مقام و شخصیت طبیب روحانی و درمان آلام بشری به ابلاغ کلمه پردازند.
• بسیج و اعزام مبلغان سیار و مهاجران جهت اتمام اهداف نقشه دوساله برای اروپای شرقی و اتحاد جماهیر شوروی و نیز تحقق اهداف باقیمانده نقشه شش‌ساله.
• تقویت برنامه‌های تبلیغی و افزایش تعداد «مؤسسات تبلیغی» که به نحوی فعال در خدمات تبلیغی سهمی دارند.
• بسیج جوانان در جهت ‎تمدی تمادی‎ امور تبلیغی.
• تمرکز قوا و مساعی کلیه لجنات ملی و دوائر امری بر ‎تمدی تمادی‎ خدمات تبلیغی و حمایت از آن.
• تأسیس لجنات منطقه‌ای برای تبلیغ سرخپوستان.
• توسعه برنامه تقویت محافل روحانی.
• تکمیل و اجرای برنامه درسی برای تعلیم و تربیت امری اطفال بهائی.
• افزایش تبرعات و ایجاد رابطه‌ای جدید بین یاران و صندوق‌های امری.
• بهبود جمیع وسائل ارتباطی.
• ادامه آماده‌سازی جامعه بهائی برای «سال مقدس» (۱۹۹۲) و برگزاری مراسم صدمین سالگرد صعود حضرت بهاءالله و بزرگداشت اولین فرد انعقاد عهد و پیمان.
• ادامه تمهید مقدمات جهت تشکیل کنگره جهانی بهائی.

هدایت ایادی امر جمال قدم، خصوصاً جناب ویلیام سیرز و نیز ارشاد هیئت مشاورین قاره‌ای و هیئت‌های معاونت و مساعدین آنها و همچنین بارور شدن روح ایمان در میان احباء، ما را مطمئن می‌دهد که جامعه بهائی آمریکا مأموریتی را که خدا برای آن مقدر داشته است، به اتمام خواهد رساند.

دفتر صندوق ملی

برآورد تبرعات به صندوق ملی در سال مالی که ۳۰ اپریل سال ۱۹۹۰ خاتمه یافت، ۷/۶ میلیون دلار بوده است. این رقم ۱۰ درصد کمتر از مبلغ ۸/۴ میلیون دلار سال گذشته است. میانگین تعداد افرادی که ماهانه به صندوق ملی تبرع نموده‌اند، ۱۶۹۶ نفر بوده که ۹ درصد کمتر از عده افراد سال گذشته است.

یکی از علل کاهش تبرعات به صندوق ملی افزایش تبرعات جهت مشروعات ویژه بوده است. در مجموع تبرعات به صندوق بین‌المللی و صندوق قاره‌ای و نیز تبرعات جهت اکمال ساختمان‌های قوس ۱۶ درصد (۱۲۵ هزار دلار) افزایش یافته است. مجموع تبرعات به صندوق ملی و بین‌المللی ۱۰/۳ میلیون دلار بوده که ۶ درصد کمتر از مبلغ سال گذشته است.

نقشه‌های سال آینده

چنانکه بیت‌العدل اعظم در پیام مورخ ۲۳ ژانویه سال جاری اعلان فرمودند، برای حصول ۵۰ میلیون دلار ذخیره جهت آغاز پروژه‌های کوه کرمل نیازی فوری به مبلغ ۲۴ میلیون دلار است. محفل روحانی ملی از جانب احبای آمریکا تعهد می‌نماید که در دو سال آینده ۱۵ تا ۲۰ میلیون دلار به صندوق بین‌المللی تقدیم نماید.

یکی از مسؤولیت‌های مقدس جامعه امری ایالات متحده نگاهداری از املاک تاریخی امر مبارک در این دیار است. دومین مرحله ترمیم مشرق‌الاذکار در سال جاری آغاز خواهد شد. این مرحله که ۲ سال به طول خواهد انجامید، سالانه ۱/۲ میلیون دلار به مخارج صندوق ملی اضافه خواهد کرد. چندین سال است که عملیات ترمیم مشرق‌الاذکار به علت کمبودهای مالی صندوق ملی به تعویق افتاده است، اما اگر ترمیم خرابی‌ها بیشتر معوق ماند، زیبایی و کارآیی این بنای عظیم‌الشأن به مخاطره خواهد افتاد.

مهمانخانه سارا فارمر Sarah Farmer نیز که در قلب مدرسه گرین ایکر واقع و حضرت عبدالبهاء مدتی را در آن به سر برده‌اند، باید ترمیم و بازسازی شود. مخارج این ترمیم ۱/۱ میلیون دلار است.

دفتر محفل روحانی ملی نیز مخارجی برای ترمیم بام و اسفالت محل پارکینگ خواهد داشت. مبلغ ۷۲۵ هزار دلار برای این مخارج در نظر گرفته شده است.

بودجه ملی

میانگین مخارج جامعه ملی در ۵ سال گذشته ۱۲/۵ میلیون دلار بوده است. این رقم شامل مخارج اداره دفتر محفل و پرداخت بدهی‌ها و هزینه نگاهداری از املاک امری و تبرعات به صندوق بین‌المللی است. کل هزینه مخارج مذکور در سال آینده، با در نظر گرفتن تورم، حدود ۱۷ میلیون دلار برآورد شده است. میانگین تبرعات در ۵ سال گذشته ۷/۹ میلیون دلار بوده است. بخشی از تفاوت میان این رقم و رقم مربوط به مخارج امر (۵/۱۲ دلار) توسط اموالی که طبق وصیت‌نامه‌های احباء به جامعه امری واگذار شده و نیز درآمد مؤسسه مطبوعات امری و مدارس بهائی پرداخت شده است. بخش دیگر توسط وام‌هایی که محفل ملی از منابع مختلف اخذ می‌نماید، حاصل می‌شود.

این منابع در وهله اول عبارتند از: بیت‌العدل اعظم، بدین معنی که هر گاه محفل ملی با کمبود مالی روبرو می‌شود، مجبور است تبرعات خود را به صندوق بین‌المللی به تعویق اندازد و این خود نوعی وام غیررسمی از مهد اعلی است.

منبع دیگر این وام ‎یاراهند یارانند‎: احباء تا آخر اپریل سال جاری مبلغ یک میلیون و ۸۰۹ هزار دلار به محفل روحانی وام داده‌اند. منبع دیگر وام‌های محفل بانک‌های تجاری هستند. هنگامی که صندوق ملی با کمبود مواجه می‌شود، محفل ملی مجبور به اخذ وام از بانک‌های تجاری می‌گردد. هزینه پرداخت این وام‌ها گرانتر از سایر وام‌هاست.

در حال حاضر اقداماتی که باید جهت رفع نیازهای مالی امرالله صورت گیرد، عبارتند از:

۱- تبلیغ: پیوستن دائمی افراد به خیل مؤمنان بهترین راه رشد منابع روحانی و مادی جامعه است.

۲- مشورت: مشورت و همکاری در بین محافل روحانی ملی و مشاورین قاره‌ای و متعلقات آنان و محافل روحانی محلی و افراد یاران باعث رشد قوای خلاقه‌ای خواهد شد که اکنون در جامعه نهفته است و موجب حل مشکلاتی خواهد گردید که ممکن است لاینحل به نظر برسد.

۳- بلوغ روحانی: افزایش گسترده کسانی که فعالانه به کلیه صندوق‌های امری تبرع نمایند، امری لازم و ضروری است.

کتاب "نظم جهانی بهاءالله"

PERSIAN TRANSLATION OF "THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH"

اخیراً ترجمه یکی از مجموعه‌های آثار حضرت ولی امرالله به نام "نظم جهانی بهائی" The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh (منتخباتی از آثار صادره از قلم حضرت ولی امرالله) از طرف "مؤسسه معارف بهائی به لسان فارسی" منتشر گردیده است. شرح این مجموعه به قلم مترجم گرامی آن، جناب هوشمند فتح اعظم در زیر نقل می‌شود:

توقیعات منیره حضرت ولی امرالله به زبان فارسی در اختیار یاران ایران بوده و هست و کل از مکتب آن آثار آگاهند و از انوار هدایتش برخوردار. اما لئالی شاهواری که در توقیعات آن بزرگوار به زبان انگلیسی نهفته است از دسترس اغلب فارسی‌زبانان بیرون است و این بنده همواره آرزومند بود که ایزدپاک، بخصوص جوانان بهائی که فرصت آموختن زبان انگلیسی را نیافته‌اند، از آن گنجینه جمله‌ای یابند و در پرتو هدایتش ‎میداد می‌داد‎ فهم و ادراکشان را از حقائق و مقاصد امر بهائی وسعت بخشند. اما در عین حال می‌دانستم که ترجمه آن آثار گهربار را نفسی سحار باید تا چنانچه شاید از عهده برآید و این ناتوان را توانائی آن نبود که قدم در چنین شاهراهی نهد که گذرگاه شهسواران است و مجال مردان میدان. لذا تحیر ماندم که چراغ اشتیاق را چگونه برافروزم تا از آن آفتاب عالمتاب شراره‌ای به فکر صاحب‌بصر آید و پس از تأمل بسیار بر آن شدم که گرد ترجمه آن شاهکارها نگردم و فقط سعی کنم مفاد توقیعات مبارکه را به اندازه وسع خود به زبانی که در خور فهم عموم باشد، به فارسی در آورم و این اوراقی را که ملاحظه می‌کنید، نتیجه چنان کوششی است که در بحبوحه مشاغل مهیج و در ضمن فراغت محدود فراهم آمده و معلوم است که چون بضاعت مزجات با قلت اوقات همعنان گردد، نتیجه کار از لغزش و خطا خالی نباشد و این را نیز به عفو و کرم خوانندگان ‎وامیگذارم وا می‌گذارم‎ و پوزش می‌طلبم و تصحیحات لازم را به آینده موکول می‌دارم.

این مجموعه را با کمال خضوع به "مؤسسه معارف بهائی" که در ظل محفل روحانی ملی بهائیان کانادا به خدماتی ‎بنیع منیع‎ مفتخر است، تقدیم می‌نماییم و جمیع حقوق را به آن مؤسسه عالیه که در غیاب نشریات بهائی در ایران به ترویج حقائق و مبادی آیین حضرت بهاءالله مفتخر است، واگذار می‌نماییم. اگر مقبول آن مؤسسه افتد، این بنده را که همواره در آرزوی ارتباطی معنوی با یاران ایران بوده است، منتی عظیم نهاده‌اند.

هوشمند فتح اعظم

دوستان می‌توانند کتاب فوق را مستقیماً از "مؤسسه معارف بهائی" سفارش دهند و یا از نمایندگان فروش نشریات مؤسسه خریداری فرمایند. قیمت با جلد مقوائی ۱۸ دلار و با جلد شمیزی ۱۱ دلار است.

Persian Institute for Bahá’í Studies P.O. Box 8464 Dundas, Ont. CANADA L9H 6M2 [Page 15]

پیام بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی

REPLY OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO NATIONAL CONVENTION MESSAGE

ترجمه پیام بیت‌العدل اعظم در پاسخ به عریضه تلگرافی نمایندگان مشتاق و یکمین کانونشن ملی ایالات متحده آمریکا

ایثار و وفاداری و وقف همت آن عزیزان جهت اتمام اهداف نقشه شش‌ساله، چنانکه در پیام گرم و پرشور آن یاران آمده است، قلوب این مشتاقان را سرشار از سرور و سپاس نمود. انشاءالله جمال قدم هادی و ‎سردست سررشته‎ جامعه آن عزیزان که برکتی ویژه یافت و مورد محبت و ستایش بی‌اندازه قرار گرفته است، شوق و شور و شجاعت احبای آمریکا را در مورد مساعی خستگی‌ناپذیرشان تقویت فرماید تا در نفوس خود شاهد مبرز حیات تقلیب شده روحانی را به ظهور رسانند. بدین ترتیب می‌توانند اطمینان یابند که به نام مقدس حضرت بهاءالله افتخاراتی نصیب آنان خواهد شد که در تاریخ ممتد فتوحات درخشانشان بی‌سابقه خواهد بود.

بیت‌العدل اعظم ۲۰ اپریل ۱۹۹۰

NATIONAL CONVENTION MESSAGE TO THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

ترجمه عریضه تلگرافی نمایندگان مشتاق و یکمین کانونشن ملی ایالات متحده به ساحت رفیع بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی

سپاس و ثنا بر عهد اعلی، بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی باد! دوستان عزیز و محبوب،

نمایندگانی که جهت شرکت در هشتاد و یکمین کانونشن ملی ایالات متحده در ایلینوی گرد هم آمده و جمعشان با حضور ایادی محبوب امرالله جناب ویلیام سیرز و عضو سابق بیت‌العدل اعظم جناب دیوید هافمن و مشاورین قاره‌ای جنابان منجم و رایمی منور گشته است، پیام رضوان سال ۱۹۹۰ معهد اعلی را با شگفتی و سپاس دریافت نمودند.

قلوب این جمع از استقرار دو تن از فاتحان امر حضرت بهاءالله در جزایر ساخالین و نیز امکاناتی که جهت انتشار امر مبارک در اروپای شرقی و اتحاد جماهیر شوروی فراهم آمده است، قرین شور و شعف گردید.

پیام الهام‌بخش بیت‌العدل اعظم باعث سرور و اطمینان گردید و چشم‌انداز جدیدی از تقلیب روحانی فردی که در طی سال‌های باقیمانده نقشه شش‌ساله بدان نیاز است، ارائه نمود. دستیابی به این امکانات جدید سبب شده است که مشاورات این جمع تمرکز یابد. از مهد اعلی ملتمس ادعیه مستمریم، با این اعتقاد که دعاهای بیت‌العدل اعظم در اعتاب مقدسه جنود ملاء اعلی را جهت ‎ایثای ایفای‎ وظایف محوله به مدد خواهد فرستاد.

ایمان و وفاداری خود را نسبت به حضرت بهاءالله و مرکز صون از خطا ابراز می‌نمائیم.

با تحیات ابدع ابهی نمایندگان حاضر در هشتاد و یکمین کانونشن ملی ایالات متحده ۲۸ اپریل سال ۱۹۹۰

خلاصه گزارش هشتاد و یکمین کانونشن ملی

THE 81ST NATIONAL CONVENTION

مشتاق و یکمین کانونشن ملی ایالات متحده از ۲۶ الی ۲۹ اپریل سال جاری در مشرق‌الاذکار آمریکا با حضور ۱۵۲ نفر از نمایندگان از سراسر ایالات متحده برگزار شد.

پس از اعلام اسامی اعضای محفل روحانی ملی اولین جلسه محفل جدید تشکیل و هیئت عامله آن محفل مقدس معین گردید. اعضای محفل روحانی ملی در سال جدید عبارتند از: جناب جیمز نلسون James F. Nelson رئیس و دستیار منشی، خانم دروتی نلسون Dorothy W. Nelson نائب رئیس، جناب رابرت هندرسن Robert C. Henderson منشی، جناب ویلیام دیویس William Davis امین صندوق، جناب فیروز کاظم‌زاده منشی امور خارجی، خانم جوآنا کانرد Juana Conrad دستیار منشی، خانم آلبرتا دیز Alberta Deas، جناب کوین لاک Kevin Locke، و جناب جک مکتس Jack McCants.

بعلاوه اعضای محفل روحانی ملی، ایادی محبوب امرالله، جناب ویلیام سیرز و عضو سابق بیت‌العدل اعظم، جناب دیوید هافمن و همچنین دو تن از مشاورین قاره‌ای جناب شاپور منجم و جناب ویلیام دیویس در کانونشن شرکت داشتند.

اهداف نقشه شش‌ساله و بنای ساختمان‌های کوه کرمل و مفاد پیام رضوان بیت‌العدل اعظم محور اصلی مذاکرات کانونشن بود. در رابطه با نقشه شش‌ساله اهدافی چون توسعه امر مبارک در آمریکا و تقویت و تحکیم اساس محافل روحانی و تربیت امری و ‎تزییه تزاید‎ معلومات یاران از خردسال و جوان و بزرگسال مورد بحث و شور قرار گرفت.

جناب سیرز سه مجلد از کتاب "تاریخ نبیل" را که از جمله ۱۵۰ نسخه امضاء شده توسط حضرت ولی امرالله است که هیکل مبارک آن را به منظور جمع‌آوری وجوه لازم برای ساختمان مشرق‌الاذکار ویلمت هدیه فرموده بودند، تقدیم محفل ملی نمود تا وجوه حاصل از فروش آن را جهت پروژه ساختمان‌های کوه کرمل تقدیم بیت‌العدل اعظم نمایند.

نمایندگان حاضر در کانونشن پس از استماع پیام رضوان معهد اعلی تحت تأثیر مفاد پیام قرار گرفتند و با آگاهی از مشکلات گوناونی که بر ابناء جامعه امری قرار گرفته است، به محفل روحانی ملی پیشنهاد نمودند که بودجه مالی خود را برای سال مالی جاری (۹۱-۱۹۹۰) ۲۰ میلیون دلار تعیین نمایند.

همچنین جنابان دیوید هافمن و فیروز کاظم‌زاده و شاپور منجم در جلسه‌ای که روز یکشنبه صبح جهت یادبود و بزرگداشت متصاعد الی الله ایادی عزیز امرالله جناب جلال خاضع منعقد گردید، بیاناتی اظهار نمودند.

جناب ابوالقاسم افنان و قرینه محترمه که از انگلستان برای ملاقات با اقوام و دوستان به آمریکا سفر نموده‌اند و همچنین جناب حسن افنان به دعوت محفل روحانی ملی در قسمتی از جلسات کانونشن حضور داشتند و بر روحانیت جلسات افزودند.

حقوق‌الله

HUQUQU’LLAH

حضرت بهاءالله می‌فرمایند:

"هر نفسی الیوم فائز شود به اداء حقوق‌الله، او از نفوسی است که به احکام حق جلّ جلاله عامل شده‌اند و به آنچه از قلم اعلی جاری گشته، فائز گشته‌اند، ولکن لازال نوشتیم و امر نمودیم که احدی مطالبه ننماید. هر نفسی خود اقبال نماید و به کمال روح و ریحان حقوق‌الله را ادا کند، اخذ نمایند و من دون آن جایز نبوده و نیست."

از دوستان عزیز مستدعی است که تقدیمی‌های حقوق‌الله را در وجه Bahá’í Huququ’lláh Trust به نشانی یکی از امنای حقوق‌الله ارسال فرمایند.

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

کتاب "لغات منتخبه"

NEW BAHA’I GLOSSARY

به تازگی جناب حامد اشراقیان کتابی به نام "مجموعه لغات منتخبه از آثار امری به زبان‌های فارسی، عربی و انگلیسی" تألیف نموده‌اند. این کتاب در واقع یک فرهنگ مختصر امری به زبان‌های مذکور است و مشتمل بر بسیاری از کلمات و اصطلاحات امری به زبان اصلی آثار مبارکه و مقابل انگلیسی آن لغات چنانکه حضرت ولی امرالله اختیار فرموده‌اند، می‌باشد. ناگفته پیداست که وجود چنین اثری برای احبای ایرانی بسیار مغتنم و سودمند است.

قیمت کتاب مذکور ۱۲/۹۵ دلار است و علاقه‌مندان می‌توانند آن را از طریق تماس با مرکز توزیع مطبوعات امری سفارش دهند. تلفن: ۹۹۰۹-۹۹۹ (۸۰۰).

Bahá’í Distribution Service 415 Linden Ave. Wilmette, IL. 60091

خلاصه گزارش سالانه محفل روحانی ملی

SUMMARY TRANSLATION OF NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY ANNUAL REPORT

يدخلون في دين الله افواجاً

جامعه بهائی آمریکا در سال ١٤٦ بدیع در همه موارد فعالیت‌های امری پیشروتر از سال پیش بود اما در مورد تبلیغ تفاوتی با سال گذشته نداشت. درباره این وضع استمرار باید تأمل بیشتری نمود. احبای آمریکا در مورد اعلان عمومی امر مبارک به توفیقاتی دست یافته‌اند و میزان و کیفیت و تنوع اینگونه مساعی پیوسته در حال افزایش است. موفقیت جامعه بهائی در روابط خود با دولت و همکاری با سازمان‌های محلی و ملی و بین‌المللی اجتماعی و بشردوستانه بیش از آن بوده که انتظار می‌رفت. همچنین انتشار سریع "مؤسسات تبلیغی" که تعداد آنها بالغ بر ۶۰۰ گردیده و نیز تعداد پروژه‌های تبلیغی که به افزایش تعداد تازه‌تصدیقان منجر می‌شود، مورد ستایش است.

با این حال علیرغم شواهد موفقیت در میادین مذکور، خضما و قصورهایی در طرز تفکر ما نسبت به امر تبلیغ و روش‌های تبلیغی وجود دارد که مانع تحقق وعده "يدخلون في دين الله افواجاً" می‌گردد.

به نظر می‌رسد که فعالیت‌های تبلیغی احباء از مرحله اعلان عمومی امر مبارک که افراد را با کلیاتی درباره امر بهائی آشنا می‌سازد، فراتر نمی‌رود. بعلاوه بسیاری از مبادی امر مبارک در حال حاضر قبول عام یافته است و بدین ترتیب توجه مردمان را به خود جلب نموده‌اند. باید از مرحله اعلان امر الهی فراتر رفت و راههای تازه‌ای یافت که مستقیماً راجع به حضرت بهاءالله، طبیب الهی در زمان حال صحبت کرد.

منطقاً باید خود را با حصول ‎تظلیه تصفیه‎ روحانی از دیگران ممتاز سازیم. این مراد از طریق تمسک به خصوصیاتی که حضرت عبدالبهاء در "الواح فراهیم تبلیغی" بدان اشاره فرموده‌اند، حاصل می‌شود: ثبوت بر عهد و پیمان، معاشرت با مردمان به روح و ریحان، قیام به تبلیغ با روش حضرت عبدالبهاء با انقطاع از جمیع قیود، با قلوبی پاک و ‎متمدی متعالی‎ والا و روحی منجذب و عزمی جزم.

همچنین باید تبلیغ شریعت جمال قدم را امری ضروری و حیاتی تلقی کنیم. زمان در گذر است و اوضاع عالم انسانی در حال انحطاط. اما بنا به فرموده بیت‌العدل اعظم در بیانیه صلح "انقلابات مدهشی که عالم انسانی به سرعت با آن روبرو می‌شود، سبب نابودی تمدن بشری نمی‌گردد، بلکه باعث بروز قوای مکنونه در حقیقت انسان می‌شود" و مقام و رتبه و شأن هر انسانی را "‎کاهر و عیاد ظاهر و عیان‎" می‌سازد. با نیروی ایمان می‌توان هر دردی را درمان نمود، اما برای این کار اقدام لازم و بررسی اولویت‌های زندگی شخصی ضروری است.

تحول و نضج و بلوغ محافل روحانی

تحول و بلوغ محافل روحانی سوای آنکه یکی از اهداف نقشه شش‌ساله است، جهت استمرار نظم بدیع ‎فروشی فروضی‎ مطلق دارد. برنامه تقویت و تحکیم اساس محافل روحانی که در تابستان گذشته آغاز گردید، با تشکیل ۱۲ کنفرانس مراحل تحول و بلوغ ٤٠٠ محفل روحانی را شروع نموده است. همکاری مشاورین قاره‌ای و هیئت‌های معاونت جهت موفقیت برنامه مذکور اهمیتی اساسی داشته است. این برنامه‌ها باید با انعقاد کنفرانس‌های آتی و آموزش محافل روحانی توسط هیئت‌های معاونت و مساعدین آنها ادامه یابد.

تنزیه معلومات و تربیت امری

خدمات مربوط به تنزیه معلومات و تربیت امری از نقاط اوج فعالیت‌های سال بوده است. با خرسندی شاهد آن بوده‌ایم که در بسیاری از جوامع بهائی جلساتی برای مطالعه کتاب مستطاب "ایقان" منعقد گردیده و بر تعداد شرکت‌کنندگان در مدارس موقت و دائمی بهائی و سایر مؤسسات آموزشی امری افزوده شده و شرکت جوانان در کلاس‌های امری در بیش از ٤٠٠ مدرسه بهائی محلی ادامه یافته است. همچنین پیشرفت فعالیت‌های آموزشی در میان بهائیان ‎مندوچینی هندوچینی‎ و کوشش جهت ترجمه نصوص مبارکه به زبان‌های سرخپوستی موجب حصول نهایی... [Page 16]

Mensaje de Ridván de la Casa Universal de Justicia

A los bahá’ís del mundo Muy amados amigos,

Habiendo concluido un año de logros trascendentales, nos encontramos en el umbral de la última década de este radiante siglo veinte enfrentando un futuro inmediato de desafíos inmensos y de prospectos deslumbrantes. La rapidez de eventos durante el pasado año es indicativo de la aceleración, mientras se aproxima el centenario de la Ascensión de Bahá’u’lláh, de las fuerzas espirituales libradas con el advenimiento de Su misión revolucionaria. Es una aceleración la cual, por lo repentino y por el amplio impacto transformacional sobre el pensamiento social y sobre las entidades políticas, ha despertado sentimientos de deleite en cuanto a sus efectos inmediatos y de perplejidad en cuanto a su significado verdadero y resultado desatinado, impulsando que los editores asombrados de un diario reconocido, al encontrarse privados de explicaciones, lo atribuyeran a la obra de una "Mano Invisible."

Para los seguidores de Bahá’u’lláh en todo el mundo no puede haber duda alguna en cuanto a la Fuente Divina y la intención clara de estos sucesos extraordinarios. Regocijémonos pues, en las señales maravillosas de la beneficencia de la gracia abundante de Dios. El alto nivel de enseñanza e ingresos informado durante el pasado Ridván ha sido sostenido, y se han abierto nuevos campos de enseñanza desde la Europa Oriental hasta el Mar Chino. Con la radicación en semanas recientes de dos Caballeros de Bahá’u’lláh en la Isla Sakhalin, se unió al rebaño bahá’í el último territorio restante denominado por Shoghi Effendi en su Plan Global de Diez Años. La re-creación durante el Ridván pasado de la Asamblea Espiritual local de Ishqábád, la reciente elección de la de Cluj en Rumania, la primera Asamblea nueva en el "Bloque Oriental," el restablecimiento y la formación durante este Ridván de Asambleas Espirituales locales en otras partes de la Unión Soviética y en otros países de Europa Oriental—todos estos logros y prospectos inmediatos afirman nuestra llegada a un hito significativo en la cuarta época de la Edad Formativa. El Orden Administrativo actualmente abarca una comunidad de diversidad más amplia que nunca antes. Son tales eventos prodigiosos los que instigaron nuestro anuncio reciente de un Plan de Enseñanza subsidiario de dos años, que actualmente se lanza formalmente, hacia el cual encomendamos su atención urgente y activa.

¡Cuán asombrosas, cuán trascendentales han sido las actividades que propulsaron a la comunidad en un breve año hacia esta etapa en su evolución! Mientras reflejamos sobre las maravillas de las confirmaciones de Bahá’u’lláh, nuestros corazones se vuelven con amor y aprecio hacia las Manos de la Causa de Dios en todos sitios, quienes, como adalides de aquella comunidad, han defendido siempre sus emblemas brillantes contra la oscuridad de la época. Perseveran con espíritu indómito en cumplir sus tareas divinamente otorgadas—bajo todas circunstancias y dondequiera estén—tareas de estimular, edificar, y aconsejar a sus miembros esparcidos extensamente y multiplicándose velozmente. En vista de la nueva situación en el mundo bahá’í, nos deleitamos en mencionar de algunos casos en el año pasado en cuanto a la asociación de Manos de la Causa con los sucesos en Europa y Asia. Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, en un viaje prolongado al Lejano Oriente, representó a la Casa Universal de Justicia en la formación de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional de Macau; pasó tiempo con el Caballero de Bahá’u’lláh en Mongolia donde subsiguientemente la primera nativa declaró su creencia en Bahá’u’lláh; y dedicó mucha atención a los amigos en distintas partes de la República Popular de China, donde se ha transmitido por televisión su película "La Expedición Luz Verde." El Sr. Collis Featherstone dirigió mucha energía hacia la revigorización de los amigos sufridos en el país restregado por la guerra, ‎Vietnám Vietnam‎. En este preciso momento, el Sr. ‘Alí-Akbar Furútan se encuentra visitando la Unión Soviética de donde se le obligó a salir durante la persecución de la Fe en ese lugar; ahora ha regresado en cumplimiento triunfal de un deseo que le expresó nuestro amado Guardián hace unos sesenta años atrás.

De igual manera los Consejeros miembros del Centro Internacional de Enseñanza no han tardado en responder a las oportunidades para fomentar el clima de progreso actualmente evidente en todas partes del mundo. Por medio de la visión unificada de crecimiento hacia la cual han llamado a los Cuerpos Continentales de Consejeros y sus auxiliares capaces, trabajadores y sacrificados, se puede sentir una nueva vitalidad en la expansión y en la consolidación de la Fe en todo el mundo. Los Consejeros Continentales merecen el profundo agradecimiento de la comunidad bahá’í entera mientras se aproximan a la clausura de su término actual de cinco años, distinguidos por sus servicios sobresalientes.

Así como la comunidad ha ensanchado sus ramificaciones internamente, también ha dilatado sus relaciones, influencia y atractivo externamente de una variedad de maneras, algunas asombrosas en su amplitud y en su potencial. Bastarán unos pocos ejemplos: Por medio de la Oficina del ambiente recientemente establecida, la Comunidad Internacional Bahá’í, bajo su propia iniciativa y en colaboración con otras organizaciones ambientales, reinstituyó la Reunión de Estatuto de Silvicultura Mundial anual fundada en el 1945 por el renombrado Richard St. Barbe Baker; desde entonces se le ha invitado a la Oficina del Ambiente a participar en eventos importantes auspiciados por organizaciones internacionales interesadas por asuntos ambientales. La Comunidad Internacional Bahá’í ha estado involucrada en la tarea del Grupo de Trabajo para la Alfabetización bajo los auspicios de la UNESCO y se le invitó a participar en la Conferencia Mundial sobre Educación para Todos realizada en Tailandia donde se le pidió a su representante que asumiera una variedad de tareas altamente visibles e importantes que hicieron que la comunidad bahá’í se destacara. Se tomaron medidas, con el aliento de un alto oficial del Gobierno de Fiji, para abrir una sucursal en Suva de la Oficina de las Naciones Unidas de la Comunidad Internacional Bahá’í para la región del Pacífico. La Universidad de Maryland en los Estados Unidos anunció su decisión de establecer "La Cátedra Bahá’í para la Paz Mundial" en su Centro para Desarrollo Internacional y Manejo de Conflicto, que dará paso a un gran aumento en esfuerzos académicos por examinar la Causa de Bahá’u’lláh. Casi a la misma vez la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional de la India anunció que se había llegado a un acuerdo para establecer una Cátedra para Estudios Bahá’ís en la Universidad de Indore.

Los esfuerzos continuos para asegurar la emancipación de los bahá’ís en Irán evolucionaron a una nueva etapa. Por vez primera, un representante de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas pudo reunirse oficialmente en terreno iraní con un representante de la comunidad bahá’í proscrita. El resultado se anotó en un informe a la Comisión de Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas en cuya sesión reciente en Ginebra se adoptó nuevamente una resolución sobre Irán que menciona a los bahá’ís. En una acción consecuente de importancia trascental la Cámara de Representantes de los Estados Unidos adoptó unánimemente una resolución con un llamamiento para la emancipación de la comunidad bahá’í iraní y la cual delinea pasos a seguirse por el Gobierno estadounidense hacia este fin; una resolución semejante se encuentra ante el Senado.

En Tierra Santa, las preparaciones para la ejecución de los proyectos de construcción en el Monte Carmelo han recibido un estímulo definitivo. Es causa de profunda satisfacción el que en vísperas de Naw-Rúz la Comisión de Distrito de Planificación Urbana, luego de negociaciones delicadas y complejas, decidiera aprobar el plan sometido por el Centro Mundial Bahá’í. Esto prepara el terreno para la otorgación final de permisos de construcción.

Amados amigos: Escasamente dos años nos separan de la conclusión del Plan de Seis Años y el comienzo del Año Santo en Ridván de 1992, ese momento especial en que pausaremos a apreciar el registro tumultuoso de eventos que nos habrá traído al Centenario de la Ascensión de Bahá’u’lláh y a reflejar con debida solemnidad sobre el propósito redentor de la vida del Ser más preciado que jamás inhaló el soplo de vida en este planeta.

En anticipación de este punto importante en la historia bahá’í, se han puesto en movimiento planes para dos eventos mundiales mayores: Uno, la reunión en Tierra Santa de una vasta representación de creyentes de todas partes del globo a participar en una conmemoración digna de esa consumación conmovedora en las inmediaciones del Más Sagrado Santuario. Un componente de esta conmemoración, simbólica de la influencia trascental y victoriosa del Espíritu liberado de Bahá’u’lláh, será el depositar bajo el suelo en la puerta de entrada a Su Santuario un receptáculo que contiene la Lista de Honor iluminada de los Caballeros de Bahá’u’lláh, un listado comenzado por Shoghi Effendi durante su Plan de Diez Años de aquellas almas intrépidas quienes se levantaron a conquistar en Nombre de su Señor territorios vírgenes mencionados en ese Plan. Con esto habrá concluido dignamente, luego de casi cuatro décadas, una intención expresada por el amado Guardián mismo. Los Caballeros de Bahá’u’lláh vivientes serán invitados a presenciar este suceso.

El otro evento será el Congreso Mundial Bahá’í para celebrar el centenario de la inauguración del Convenio legado a la posteridad por Bahá’u’lláh como el medio seguro de salvaguardar la unidad y la integridad de Su Orden abarcador del mundo. Se convocará en noviembre de 1992 en Nueva York, el lugar designado como la Ciudad del Convenio por Aquel Quien es su centro nombrado y Quien anticipó que "Nueva York llegará a ser un lugar bendito desde donde emanará el llamado a la firmeza en el Convenio y Testamento de Dios a todas partes del mundo."

Eventos relacionados a nivel local y nacional se combinarán con estas dos ocasiones primordiales para dar libre curso a los sentimientos más íntimos de los bahá’ís y para hacer una impresión en el público del hecho profundo de la apariencia en el mundo del Señor del Convenio y de las metas y logros de Su misión sublime. Efectivamente, los planes están en progreso para montar una campaña intensiva para proyectar Su Nombre por la tierra entera.

Los amigos en todas partes deben actualmente orientarse a los significados de estos aniversarios gemelos. Deben prepararse espiritualmente por medio de la oración y el estudio de las Enseñanzas para obtener una apreciación más profunda de la estación y del propósito de Bahá’u’lláh y del significado básico de Su poderoso Convenio. Tal preparación se encuentra en el corazón mismo de su esfuerzo por efectuar una transformación en su vida individual y colectiva. Que todos los amigos—todo hombre, toda mujer y todo ‎jóven joven‎—demuestren por medio de la alta calidad de su vida interior y carácter privado, por medio del espíritu unificado de su asociación unos con otros, por medio de la rectitud de su conducta en relación a todos, y por medio de la excelencia de sus logros, que ellos pertenecen a una comunidad verdaderamente iluminada y ejemplar; que su Bienamado, cuya Ascensión conmemorarán, no había sufrido su vida terrenal en vano. Que estos requisitos sean la norma de sus esfuerzos por enseñar Su Causa, el sello de su homenaje al Rey de los Reyes.

Nuestros queridos y valorados colaboradores: Es en tal momento de profunda anticipación para nosotros que la sociedad mundial se encuentra en una fase crítica de su transición al carácter visualizado para ella por el Señor de la Época. Los vientos de Dios siguen bramando, desordenando viejos sistemas, agregando ímpetu a la añoranza profunda por un nuevo orden en los asuntos humanos, y abriendo el camino para izar la bandera de Bahá’u’lláh en tierras de donde ha sido excluida hasta el momento. La rapidez de los cambios que se están forjando provoca las expectaciones que inspiran nuestros sueños en la década de clausura del siglo veinte. La situación es a la vez un presagio brillante y un desafío ponderoso.

Es un presagio del cambio profundo en la estructura de la sociedad actual que se implica por el logro de la Paz Menor. Por esperanzadas que sean las señales, no podemos olvidar que el pasaje oscuro de la Edad de Transición no ha sido completamente ‎atravesada atravesado‎; aun es largo, resbaloso y tortuoso. Pues impera el rechazo de lo de Dios, y el materialismo está desenfrenado. El nacionalismo y el racismo aun realizan su traición en los corazones de los hombres; y la humanidad permanece ciega a los fundamentos espirituales de la solución de sus pesares económicos. Para la comunidad bahá’í la situación es un desafío particular, pues el tiempo se está acabando y tenemos compromisos serios que honrar. Los más inmediatos de estos son: primero, enseñar la Causa de Dios y construir sus instituciones divinamente ordenadas en todo el mundo con sabiduría, valentía y urgencia; y segundo, completar la construcción sobre el Monte Carmelo de las Terrazas del Santuario del Báb y de los edificios restantes del Centro Administrativo Mundial de la Fe en el Arco. El primero requiere acción resuelta, sostenida y convencida de parte del creyente individual. El segundo requiere una efusión liberal de fondos. Ambos están íntimamente relacionados.

Durante los últimos dos años, casi un millón de almas han entrado en la Causa. Los casos aumentativos de entrada por tropas en diferentes partes contribuyó a ese crecimiento, llamando la atención hacia la visión de Shoghi Effendi que forma nuestra percepción de posibilidades futuras gloriosas en el campo de la enseñanza. Pues él ha aseverado que el proceso de "entrada por tropas de gentes de diversas naciones y razas al mundo bahá’í... será el preludio a esa hora largamente esperada en que una conversión en masa de parte de estas mismas naciones y razas, y como resultado directo de una cadena de eventos, trascendentales y posiblemente catastróficos en su naturaleza, y los cuales aún no pueden visualizarse aunque fuera tenuemente, revolucionarán las fortunas de la Fe repentinamente, trastornarán el equilibrio del mundo, y reforzarán mil veces la fuerza numérica al igual que el poder material y la autoridad espiritual de la Fe de Bahá’u’lláh." Tenemos todo el incentivo para creer que aumentarán los ingresos en gran escala, involucrando a aldeas tras aldeas, pueblo tras pueblos, de un país a otro. Sin embargo, no nos toca esperar pasivamente

Vea MENSAJE página 18 [Page 17]

Recommendations, actions from 80th National Convention

Recommendations from the 80th Bahá’í National Convention: April 27-30, 1989

Furthering the Process of Entry by Troops

1. That the National Spiritual Assembly ask the Bahá’ís to develop plans to reach disaffected young men and women of America, especially blacks and Native Americans, to bring the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh to them.

See the action listed for the following recommendation.

2. That the National Spiritual Assembly be asked to direct local Spiritual Assemblies to focus on minority teaching, deepening and nurturing as part of the goal to mature local institutions.

The National Race Unity Committee is developing a program on racial unity for assistants to the Auxiliary Board based on the Writings. These programs will in turn be provided to the Bahá’í community, opening the friends to the appreciation of racial diversity. The committee is also researching the development of school curricula on "the most vital and challenging issue." In addition, the establishment of a National Race Unity Resource Center at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute is proposed for the purpose of housing a Bahá’í resource for materials from within and without the Faith dealing with racial unity issues.

Youth Academies have been developed and presented at the Louis Gregory Institute, the Native American Bahá’í Institute, and Bahá’í schools.

A local Spiritual Assembly instructional module on race unity has also been developed.

3. That the Indian leadership at the Native American Bahá’í Institute be asked to appoint a teaching team.

Regional American Indian teaching committees are being developed.

4. That a task force or an institute be established, according to the November letter issued by the International Teaching ‎Committee Centre‎ (sic) that would look into and address the problem of preparing for a Bahá’í-Christian dialogue. The task force or institute could address some of the following: drawing up audio and/or video tapes that address this concern; coordinating summer schools so there might be a curriculum that could travel to the schools; assembling basic questions and answers and/or establishing a basic Bahá’í position on Christianity; and assembling or coordinating Bahá’ís who are interested in this issue.

Courses on Christian prophecy have been given at several of the Bahá’í schools. Some materials on this topic are available.

5. That a Trail of Light, led by Native American believers (including families), together with young black Bahá’ís who can sing Bahá’í prayers, plan an itinerary through Europe, the Holy Land, Asia and the entire world to proclaim and teach the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.

In the past few years, there have been a number of successful trips arranged by the Office of Pioneering and undertaken by American Indians, especially youth, to areas such as the Sami areas of Scandinavia. The National Assembly of New Zealand has recently asked for a Trail of Light team to its country. Other traveling teaching trips involving American Indians have been to the Soviet Union and China.

The National Assembly has before it now a proposal for youth of all colors to travel to Eastern Europe.

6. That the National Teaching Committee carry out a systematic campaign to reach the Chinese nationals who study in American universities.

An International Chinese Symposium was recently held in San Francisco. Traveling teachers are presently teaching the Chinese on college campuses and in cities that have population centers of Chinese.

Bahá’í Education

1. That we as Bahá’ís in this country become advocates of children and include as part of that motion a focus on promoting the literacy of children as well.

The National Assembly has appointed a Literacy Task Force; has conducted literacy symposiums; established Youth Academies; and collected and cataloged curricula for Bahá’í education. In addition, there is a growing pattern of literacy initiatives in local Bahá’í communities.

2. That the National Assembly give serious consideration specifically to the statement by Shoghi Effendi in The Advent of Divine Justice, pp. 28-29, and make a statement to the American Bahá’í community about its application.

The National Race Unity Committee is developing a paper on race unity intended for public release.

3. That the National Assembly consider educating the Bahá’í community on the subject of dating.

A compilation entitled "A Chaste and Holy Life" is available from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust. The compilation addresses such issues as dating.

Fostering the Maturation of Local Spiritual Assemblies

1. That there be a series of regional deepenings for treasurers of local Spiritual Assemblies.

The Office of the Treasurer has conducted several meetings with local Spiritual Assembly treasurers. These meetings are continuing.

2. That the National Spiritual Assembly ask all local Spiritual Assemblies who have "Center" funds to consider lending them to the National Assembly until such time as the local Assembly needs the funds returned to relieve the National Assembly of paying prime interest rates and allow it to use the funds in the meantime.

The National Spiritual Assembly has received "Center" funds on loan from several local Assemblies.

3. That the National Assembly consider infusing $1 million in a chosen locality in the U.S. to help accomplish the three focused goals of the remaining years of the Six Year Plan (i.e., entry by troops, the maturation of local Assemblies in that area, and the education of children, youth and adults).

The state of the National Fund prohibits such a decision.

4. That the National Spiritual Assembly recommend to all local Assemblies, in careful, warm words that they endeavor to find answers to problems first through their own deep consultation, discussion and investigation before asking the National Assembly to help or before writing letters to the National Assembly.

The Local Spiritual Assembly Development Program has been developed for this purpose, among others, has been used in several locations, and is ongoing through the Auxiliary Board members.

Open Consultation

1. That the National Spiritual Assembly make an annual "state of the union" report to the people of the United States in which all of these topics that we have explored during consultation at the Convention are described.

The annual reports of the National Spiritual Assembly and its agencies and national committees are sent to each local Spiritual Assembly and Group in the United States.

2. That the National Assembly bless and support the Peace Flame project.

Representatives of the Native American Bahá’í Institute have taken part in the Peace Flame project.

3. That part of each Feast letter be written for the children who are attending our Feasts.

Several of the Feast letters have been written to children. It is the National Assembly’s intention to continue this practice in some form.

4. That the Association for Bahá’í Studies plan an international conference on race unity.

An international conference on race unity is being planned for November 1990 as a shared project of the Association for Bahá’í Studies, the National Spiritual Assembly, and the Greater Atlanta Teaching Task Force.

Parenting

from page 9

propriate matters without usurping the parents’ responsibility to make decisions about the welfare of the family.

P. Show love to each member of the family, openly, frequently, and in a variety of ways.

Q. Establish rights and responsibilities for each member of the family based on spiritual principles and emphasizing that "the honor of one is the honor of all."

R. Discuss often with the children their purpose in life, especially as Bahá’ís. Point out to them examples of those who have demonstrated their love for Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb, such as the teachers and martyrs. Encourage them to plan a year of service, as well as a lifetime of service, to the Cause, and introduce them to youth who have done so.

S. Avoid backbiting in the family and help children to realize why it is so harmful to unity. Especially avoid the temptation to criticize the institutions of the Faith, as this could lead to weakness in their commitment to the Covenant as they grow older. Make a special point of praising the divine institutions, thus helping the children to understand their role in building the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.

T. Encourage your children to share their problems and concerns with you so that you can help deepen their understanding of how spiritual principles apply to the solution of everyday problems, i.e., integrity, racial unity, justice, fairness, kindness, friendship with all people, etc.

U. Open your home for Bahá’í meetings, social gatherings and hospitality to people of all backgrounds. Involve the children in sharing their home and offering courtesy and friendship to guests.

V. Strive to make your home a place of laughter, joy, spontaneity and creativity where your children want to bring their friends, not because of any material benefits but because of the happiness and love to be found there.

W. Encourage the children to teach the Faith to their schoolmates and teachers. Try to invite their families to your home occasionally. Consider baking cookies for your child’s class the day after a Bahá’í Holy Day.

X. Teach the children to strive for excellence in their undertakings, to complete whatever they begin, and to endure regardless of discouragement or hardship.

Y. Teach your children always to respect and obey their teachers, whether Bahá’í or not. This in itself will bring distinction to your family. If you have a concern, speak personally with the teacher in a spirit of mutual help. Avoid criticizing the teacher or undermining your child’s confidence in him/her.

Z. When you learn that someone of a different race or nationality has moved into your neighborhood or town, take your children to welcome them and offer your help and friendship.

Neeka Najmi, a 13-year-old Bahá’í from Paradise Valley, Arizona, used an assignment in her high school speech class to make a five-minute presentation on the Faith, introducing the Bahá’í principles to a number of people at the school. Besides receiving an enthusiastic response from her classmates, she was given a grade of A-plus by her teacher. [Page 18]

Mensaje

por el logro final de la visión de Shoghi Effendi. Nosotros, los pocos que somos, colocando toda nuestra confianza en la providencia de Dios y mirando a los desafios que nos enfrentan como un privilegio divino, debemos proceder a la victoria con los planes en mano.

Una expansión de pensamiento y de acción en ciertos aspectos de nuestro trabajo realzaria nuestras posibilidades de éxito en lograr nuestros compromisos ya mencionados. Ya que el cambio, un cambio siempre más rápido, es una característica constante de la vida en este momento, y ya que nuestro crecimiento, tamaño y relaciones externas requieren mucho de nosotros, nuestra comunidad tiene que estar lista para adaptarse. En un sentido esto significa que la comunidad debe llegar a ser más experta en el acomodo de una gran variedad de acciones sin perder concentración en los objetivos primarios de la enseñanza, que son la expansión y la consolidación. Se requiere una unidad en la diversidad de acciones, una condición en la cual diferentes individuos se concentrarán en diferentes actividades, apreciando el efecto saludable del conjunto sobre el crecimiento y el dessarrollo de la Fe, ya que cada persona no puede hacer todo y todas las personas no pueden hacer la misma cosa. Este entendimiento es importante para la madurez que la comunidad está obligada a lograr, debido a las muchas demandas que se hacen de ella.

El Orden traido por Bahá’u’lláh tiene la intención de guiar el progreso y de resolver los problemas de la sociedad. Nuestros números aún son demasiado pequeños para efectuar una demostración adecuada de las potencialidades inherentes al sistema administrativo que estamos construyendo, y la eficacia de este sistema no se apreciará completamente sin una expansión vasta del número de creyentes. Por la situación que impera en el mundo la necesidad de efectuar una demostración tal se hace más apremiante. Es demasiado obvio el que aún aquellos que denostan contra los defectos del viejo orden, y aún la desgarrarian, están ellos mismos desprovistos de cualquier alternativa viable para poner en su lugar. Ya que el Órden Administrativo está diseñado para ser un modelo para la sociedad futura, la visibilidad de tal modelo será una señal de esperanza para aquellos que desesperen.

Hasta el momento, hemos logrado una diversidad maravillosa en el gran número de grupos étnicos representados en la Fe, y se debe hacer todo por fortalecerla mediante mayores ingresos de entre grupos ya representados y la atracción de miembros de grupos que no se han alcanzado aún. Sin embargo, existe otra categoría de diversidad que tiene que aumentarse y sin la cual la Causa no podrá enfrentarse adecuadamente a los desafíos que se le imponen. La totalidad de sus miembros, cualquiera que sea la variedad étnica, actualmente necesita abrazar números crecientes de personas de capacidad, incluyendo personas de logro y prominencia en los variados campos del empeño humano. El ingresar a números significativos de tales personas es un aspecto indispensable de la enseñanza a las masas, aspecto que ya no puede ser descuidado y que tiene que ser incorporado consciente y deliberadamente en nuestro trabajo de enseñanza, para expandir su base y acelerar el proceso de la entrada por tropas. Tan importante y oportuna es la necesidad de acción en este asunto, que nos vemos obligados a hacer un llamado a los Consejeros Continentales y a las Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales a dedicarle atención seria en sus consultas y en sus planes.

Los asuntos de la humanidad han llegado a una etapa en la cual se harán más y más llamados a nuestra comunidad para que ayude, por medio de consejos y medidas prácticas, en resolver problemas sociales críticos. Es un servicio que realizaremos con placer, pero esto significa que nuestras Asambleas Espirituales locales y Nacionales tienen que adherirse más escrupulosamente a los principios. Al enfocarse mayor atención pública en la Causa de Dios, se hace imperativo el que las instituciones bahá’ís mejoren su desempeño, por medio de una identificación más estrecha con las verdades fundamentales de la Fe, por medio de mayor conformidad con el espíritu y la forma de la administración bahá’í y por medio de una confianza más aguda en los efectos beneficiosos de la consulta apropiada, para que las comunidades a las cuales guien reflejen un modelo de vida que ofrecerá esperanza a los miembros desilusionados de la sociedad.

El que existan indicaciones de que la Paz Menor no puede estar muy distante, el que las instituciones locales y nacionales del Órden Administrativo estén creciendo constantemente en experiencia y en influencia, el que los planes para la construcción de los edificios administrativos restantes sobre el Arco estén en una etapa avanzada—el que estas condiciones esperanzadas hacen más perceptible la forjación de la sincronizacite dinámica visualizada por Shoghi Effendi no pueden negarse por ningin observardon honesto.

Como comunidad claramente a la vanguardia de las fuerzas constructivas que obran en el planeta, y como una que tiene acceso a conocimiento comprobado, ocupémonos con los asuntos de nuestro Padre. El, desde Sus gloriosos retiros en lo alto, soltará efusiones liberales de Su gracia sobre nuestros humildes esfuerzos, sombrándonos con las victorias incalculables de Su poder conquistador. Continuaremos suplicando las bendiciones incesantes de tal Padre de parte de todos y cada uno de ustedes en el Sagrado Umbral.

Casa Universal de Justicia Ridvan de 1990

Library

The best resource, of course, is the reference librarian, who can help you find these and many other materials. Remember, JUST ASK!

Call or visit your library and find out about the world or your neighborhood. Discover the treasures that are waiting for you in your local library.

Young Bahá’ís in Kingston

Young Bahá’ís in the Kingston, New York, area prepared for Earth Day 1990 with a 'Mini-Conference on Conservation' April 7. Twenty-five Bahá’ís ages 10-18 from the Hudson Valley and as far away as central Massachusetts took part in discussions and other activities focusing on what Bahá’ís think and do about the protection and preservation of the earth's environment and resources. An article about the mini-conference appeared April 22 in the Kingston Sunday Freeman. (Photo by Marie Girard)

Wheat Ridge Earth Day

The Bahá’í community of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, took part in Earth Day activities April 14 by joining other residents in a clean-up effort. Many bags of trash were collected, and wild flower seeds were planted along the green belt running through the town. A follow-up fireside on the Bahá’í perspective of conserving the earth's resources was planned, and literature announcing this and other firesides was handed out to others involved in the clean-up. A picture of one of the Bahá’í children taking part in the event appeared in a local newspaper.

Tulsa raises $1,089 for Arc

Bahá’ís in the Tulsa, Oklahoma, area recently raised $1,089 for the Arc at a one-night dinner and auction. Auctioned, in addition to Bahá’í items and crafts, were personal services such as a cooked dinner for four delivered to the buyer's home, horseback riding lessons, four hours of free "taxi" service, haircuts, and home-baked bread on order.

Women Creating Peace Through Science

Pictured are panelists who took part April 14 in a conference entitled 'Women Creating Peace Through Science' at Mt. Holyoke (Massachusetts) College. Besides the panel discussion, workshops were held on 'Women and Peace,' 'Sexual Equality' and 'Sustaining an Ethic of Care.' Panelists are (left to right) moderator Linda Meccouri, Gail Hilyard, Sue Mackler, Terri Earl, Jan Smith, Dr. Rhea Harmsen and Dr. Mary Wylie. The conference, which was co-sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of South Hadley and the Mt. Holyoke College Bahá’í Association, drew an audience of about 50, some of whom were men.

CORRECTION

In the May issue of The American Bahá’í (annual report of the Bahá’í House of Worship Activities Committee, p. 12), it was reported that the committee had changed the time of Sunday devotions at the House of Worship from 3 p.m. to 2:15 pm. Sunday devotions have actually been changed to 12:15 p.m. We regret the error. [Page 19]

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, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Service in agriculture

To the Editor:

I would like to bring to the attention of the American Bahá’í community, especially younger people who are planning their education, the opportunities for employment and service in the agricultural sciences including agricultural research.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá has written that agriculture is one of the highest occupations in terms of service to humanity: "The fundamental basis of the community is agriculture, tillage of the soil."

He has also written about the importance of women entering the agricultural and engineering fields: "Woman must especially devote her energies and abilities toward the industrial and agricultural sciences, seeking to assist mankind in that which is most needful."

Today the universities supporting agricultural research are having great difficulty attracting American students to their undergraduate and graduate programs. Many paid graduate positions are being taken by foreign students because Americans are not applying.

A shortage of some 20,000 people in agriculturally related areas is expected in the next few years, to be filled by immigrants from abroad.

You may think of agriculture as farming, something you can't get into unless you are born on a farm and know how to drive a tractor.

Actually, the field is quite broad, including the basic plant and animal biological sciences, food storage and processing, environmental sciences, soil physics, soil chemistry, and computer sciences as well as crop cultivation and animal production and breeding.

A major emphasis of modern agricultural research is the development of agriculturally sound and sustainable methods for raising crops and animals.

Those with questions about careers in the agricultural sciences may write to me at 1850 Stevens Drive, Apt. 101, Richland, WA 99352, or USDA/ARS, P.O. Box 30, Prosser, WA 99352, or phone me at 509-943-6980.

Tom Hodges Richland, Washington

Bruce Johnson, former pioneer to Norway, dies in San Jose, California

Bruce Johnson, a former pioneer to Norway and a homefront pioneer to many communities in the U.S., died last November 6 in San Jose, California.

Mr. Johnson, who was born in Hawaii on November 8, 1914, became a Bahá’í around 1940 while working in the Southwestern United States.

In 1960 he pioneered with his wife, Joyce, and their young daughter, Sheila, to Norway, where they helped form the first National Spiritual Assembly of Norway in 1962.

After returning to the U.S. in 1963, the Johnsons resided in a number of homefront pioneering posts including Mount Storm, West Virginia; New Orleans; Beverly Farms and Manchester, Massachusetts; Hempstead and Mexico, New York; and Campbell and San Jose, California.

Youth Conference in Holyoke

On February 24 the Bahá’í community of Holyoke, Massachusetts, hosted a one-day conference for youth/pre-youth ages 10-16. Despite a heavy snowfall, 75 young people and 35 parents from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York state and Rhode Island attended. Workshops on dealing with racism and other matters of importance to youth were followed in the evening by a pre-Intercalary Days party.

Caroline Lawrence, pioneer to Laos, Thailand, Japan

Caroline Lawrence, a pioneer since 1957 to Laos, Thailand and Japan, died April 6 in Naha, Japan.

Ms. Lawrence, who was born June 28, 1918, and became a Bahá’í in North Carolina, settled in Japan in 1967 and was a stalwart member of the communities of Okinawa and Naha until suffering a severe stroke in August 1989.

Arlen Dufresne, who pioneered for many years to Venezuela and Panama, dies after long illness

Arlen Dufresne, a long-time pioneer to Venezuela and Panama, died April 8 after a long illness.

Mr. Dufresne, who became a Bahá’í in 1961 while stationed in Panama with the U.S. Army, pioneered to Venezuela after retiring from the Army in 1971.

After brief sojourns in Panama and again in the U.S., he returned to Venezuela in 1973 and remained there until his terminal illness brought him back to the States for treatment in March.

Mr. Dufresne taught for many years among the Indian people in the area of the Guajira Peninsula of Venezuela. He served on the National Spiritual Assembly of Venezuela, and was much loved by the friends in that country. Contributions have been made for a Bahá’í Institute to be named in his honor in the region where he lived and served for 17 years.

On hearing of his passing, the Universal House of Justice cabled the National Spiritual Assembly of Venezuela:

"Saddened news passing dedicated steadfast pioneer of the Cause of God Arlen Dufresne. His many years of service with his family especially in the Guajira well remembered. Assure fervent prayers progress his soul Abhá Kingdom. Kindly convey our heartfelt condolences his wife and children. Loving sympathy."

IN MEMORIAM

Marietta Abrahamson Middlebury, VT January 25, 1990

Dr. Norman Antonson Lakewood, CA February 2, 1990

Felix Bell Denison, TX Date Unknown

Brenda Bennett High Point, NC February 13, 1989

Frank Bia Ganado, AZ Date Unknown

Melvin L. Bordeaux Rosebud, SC Date Unknown

Stanley W. Brackett Reno, NV March 28, 1990

Henry L. Bullard Fairmont, NC 1988

Mary Bunch Ridgeville, SC February 1990

Ella Charles Sierra Vista, AZ April 30, 1989

Bishop Coleman Fairmont, NC Date Unknown

Johnnie W. Collins Whiteville, NC September 3, 1989

Charlie Combs Griffin, GA Date Unknown

Alfred V. Cotton La Mesa, CA February 22, 1988

Arlen Dufresne Venezuela April 8, 1990

Stanley W. Eaton Tucson, AZ March 30, 1990

Rouhangiz L. Fani Nashville, TN March 1990

Arthur Farr Lakeland, FL March 23, 1990

Louis Faulk Fairmont, NC Date Unknown

Herbert Floyd Fairmont, NC Date Unknown

Elsa Ford La Mesa, CA March 25, 1990

Frank Fuller St. South Bay, FL December 10, 1988

Frances L. Hall Silver Creek, NY February 13, 1990

Mamie Harcum Flushing, NY Date Unknown

Manuel Harper Sr. Vassar, MI April 26, 1990

Clara Haygood Pendleton, SC Date Unknown

Lola Hodges Bixby, OK March 20, 1990

Hattie Homsley Jackson, TN August 30, 1988

Willie Jackson Lovington, NM Date Unknown

Lester Jacob Pembroke, NC 1989

Alice Johnson Gifford, FL April 9, 1990

James Johnson Pendleton, SC 1989

Lillie Mae Johnson Yakima, WA December 12, 1989

Walter Jones Prescott, AZ April 3, 1990

Shirley Jordan Fairmont, NC February 28, 1988

Seyed Ali Jurabchi Burbank, CA 1988

Robert La Taille Enfield, CT March 1990

Caroline Lawrence Okinawa, Japan April 1990

Robert Lyles Lugoff, SC January 1990

Theodosia McKeller Fairmont, NC June 1988

Joanne Monack White Rock, NM Date Unknown

Ronald L. Moss Columbus, ON December 24, 1989

Virginia Newhall Weston, VT September 5, 1989

Timothy D. O'Brien Seattle, WA January 11, 1990

Pablo Ortiz Sunland Park, NM Date Unknown

Bennie Parker Vassar, MI April 10, 1990

Robert Pasca Coram, NY November 1989

Robert Patrick Griffin, GA Date Unknown

Margaret G. Petrak Calexico, CA 1989

Hatty Points At Him Rosebud, SD January 1990

Andre Richard Griffin, GA May 1989

Diana Roche Westborough, MA 1990

Laverne Rhode Tucson, AZ Date Unknown

David J. Ross San Francisco, CA Date Unknown

Behjat K. Rowshan Long Beach, CA 1988

Marvin Rozmarin Lincoln, NE April 7, 1990

Fatemeh Saberan Fresno, CA April 22, 1990

Oilia Schultz Arroyo Grande, CA Date Unknown

Allen Sello Fairmont, NC Date Unknown

Nannie Simpson Pendleton, SC 1989

Patricia Smith Colchester, VT January 15, 1990

Lucy Stephens Fairmont, NC 1987

Edwin Stewart Wichita, KS March 1990

Touba Tagdiri Rossmoor, CA February 19, 1990

John Thomas Neah Bay, WA April 24, 1990

Alex Thompson Fairmont, NC Date Unknown

Mara Vandersloot Kissimmee, FL April 26, 1990

James Walker Orlando, FL Date Unknown

Gretchen Westervelt Massena, NY Date Unknown

Ernestine Williams Tavernier, FL Date Unknown

Selma Witherill Yucca Valley, CA December 30, 1989

Arlivid Worley Fairmont, NC Date Unknown [Page 20]

Year in review

House of Justice, who shares an account of his recent travels to Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

In an especially moving session, 11 Chinese Bahá’ís tell how they became Bahá’ís and what drew them to the Faith. On Saturday evening, about 300 Chinese in the San Francisco area join the friends for a gala "Tribute to Chinese Culture." After the program, 11 people including nine Chinese embrace the Cause of God.

The symposium ends on Sunday, after which about 270 Southeast Asian Bahá’ís and their guests from the Bay area are brought to the Center for a Southeast Asian Bahá’í Conference, conducted in English, Hmong, Khmer, Lao and Vietnamese.

It is reported that in the weeks before and following the conference, at least 54 people are enrolled in the Faith.

Cleveland, Ohio, and Portland, Oregon, are the sites March 30-April 1 for two more in the continuing series of Vision to Victory conferences.

Once again, teaching is the focus of all activities including workshops and panel discussions. The 700 people in Cleveland hear from panelists that include Counselor Robert Harris; Alberta Deas, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly; Auxiliary Board members Javidukht Khadem and June Thomas; and two members of the National Teaching Committee, Tod Ewing and Jennifer Mileham. In Portland, nearly 1,100 are on hand for a panel discussion led by Counselor Jacqueline Delahunt; Robert Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly; Auxiliary Board member Marshall Murphy; and National Teaching Committee members Reynaldo Cruz and Billie Mayo.

Eleven Bahá’ís from five countries represent the Faith at the 34th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in Vienna, Austria, and at a parallel conference for representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The aim of the commission is "to devise and implement ways of uplifting the status of women in the world." A statement prepared by the Bahá’í International Community is read at the session.

To avoid unnecessary delays in moving your copy of The American Bahá’í, send your new address and your mailing label to MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, as soon as you know where you are going to move and what your new address will be.

This form may be used for one person or your entire family. Please be sure to list FULL NAMES AND I.D. NUMBERS for all individuals, ages 13 years or older, who will be affected by this change. Please DO NOT use nicknames.

Our household receives only one copy of The American Bahá’í. I wish to receive my own copy as well, and have listed my name, I.D. number and address above so that I may be put on the mailing list to receive my own copy.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

June-August: Northern Star Bahá’í Project, Alaska.

June 28-July 14: Bahá’í Outdoor Leaders' Course (grades 11-13). July 7-14: Wilderness Base Camp (grades 5-8), Leadership Development Camp (grades 9-10). Camp Kamal, Wisconsin. For information or to register, write to James Lewicki, Camp Kamal director, Viroqua, WI 54665, or phone 608-637-2743. Camp Kamal is sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Beloit, Wisconsin.

June 29-July 5: Seventh annual Bahá’í Teacher-Training Conference, Louhelen Bahá’í School. Theme: "Educating an Ever-Advancing Civilization." For information, phone Karen Olin, 805-466-1077; to register, phone the Louhelen School, 313-653-5033.

July/August: "Sparks of Peace" Youth Project, Dominica.

July 1-15: Táhirih Project, "Peace Through Transformation," Erforia Nord and Costinesti, Romania. For information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 708-869-9039.

July 6-11: Louhelen School session, "Lifetime of Service." Special emphasis on families with program for children.

July 14-19: Session on the environment, Bosch Bahá’í School. Bahá’ís who are professionals, students or active volunteers in environmental issues are invited to submit one-page summaries of papers for possible presentation at the session. Send to: Program Director, Bosch Bahá’í School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. For program information, phone 805-933-1253. To register, send a deposit of $35 to the school address or register by charge card, 408-423-3387.

July 14-August 4: Louisa Mathew Project, "Peace Through Artistic Expression," Ljubljana and Zagreb, Yugoslavia. For information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 708-869-9039.

August 4-5: Second annual Music and Arts Festival, Native American Bahá’í Institute, Houck, Arizona.

August 4-5: American Indian Homefront Pioneering Institute, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, Illinois.

August 5-12: Lydia Zamenhof Project, "Peace Through Communication," Warsaw, Poland. For information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 708-869-9039.

August 5-19: Children's Academy, Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, South Carolina.

August 6-10: Young Writers' and Illustrators' Workshop, Sylvan Lake Bahá’í Center, Alberta, Canada. Presenters: Deborah Bley, editor, and Rita Leydon, former art editor, Child's Way magazine. Fees: $30 registration, $8/night in a cabin, $12/day for food. To register, contact Sylvan Lake Bahá’í Center, General Delivery, Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada TOM 1Z0.

August 25-27: Agricultural Seminar, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, contact the school at 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313-653-5033.

August 30-September 2: Special Visit program (regular without special children's program). Bahá’í House of Worship, Wilmette. For details and information, phone 708-256-4400.

August 31-September 2: Pioneer Training Institute, Louis Gregory Bahá’í Center, Hemingway, South Carolina.

August 31-September 3: National Teaching Committee Conference on Growth, Lincolnwood, Illinois. For information, phone 708-869-9039.

September 2: "Project South Carolina" Victory Conference, Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway.

September 6-9: Second annual Story-Telling Festival, Glenwood Springs, Colorado, commemorating ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit in 1912. Main story-tellers: Counselor Robert Harris and Aziz Yazdi, who grew up in the household of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The event marks the 90th anniversary of the Faith in Colorado, and all former Colorado Bahá’ís, traveling teachers and pioneers are being called for a "homecoming." For registration information, contact Linda Brown, P.O. Box 592, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602, or phone 303-945-2558 or 303-945-9144.

September 21-23: "Peace Fest '90," Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, South Carolina.

October/November: Pioneer Training Institute, Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine (exact dates to be announced).

October 17-20: Asian Youth Conference, Lahore, Pakistan. Theme: "The Role of Asian Youth in the Establishment of the Lesser Peace." For information, contact the National Youth Committee, P.O. Box 531, Lahore, Pakistan.

October 21: Founding Day celebration, Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, South Carolina.

November 9-11: 15th annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies, Omni Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia. Theme: "Models of Racial Unity." Room rates: $69 flat rate single, double (also triple or quad if double-doubles available; otherwise, $20 charge for rollaway cots). Reservation number: 1-800-843-6664. Airline: Delta. (Phone 1-800-221-1212, ask for Special Meetings Network, specify Bahá’í Studies Conference.) Registration information: Association for Bahá’í Studies, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada KIN 7K4 (phone 613-233-1903).