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[Page 1]

86th National Convention Advances in Delegates accept the challenge: Get busy

The 86th Bahá’í National Convention, charged with an air of excitement and expectation in the first historic moments of the final year of the Three Year Plan, was held April 27-30 before an audience of more than 1,000 at Chicago's Bismarck Hotel.

The members of the newly elected National Spiritual Assembly are presented to the Convention. From left: Robert C. Henderson, Juana Conrad, William E. Davis, Patricia Locke, Jack McCants, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Alberta Deas, James F. Nelson, Dorothy W. Nelson. (Photo by Tom Mennillo)

With time so short and tasks so widespread and crucial, delegates seemed more focused than ever on accomplishing the goals of the Plan and giving the Universal House of Justice and the National Spiritual Assembly their unwavering support at a time when disquieting rumors and insinuations about financial matters threatened to deflect the community from its steady course by introducing an element of divisiveness which they feared could lead only to grave harm for the Cause.

The discussion of vital issues during each of the Convention sessions was greatly enhanced by the perceptive advice of the three Counselors who were present—Stephen Birkland, Wilma Ellis and William Roberts.

On Thursday, the Counselors conducted a day-long briefing for delegates on the Bahá’í electoral process and their duties and responsibilities as representatives of the Bahá’í community to the annual Convention, ensuring that delegates entered the Convention well prepared to shoulder those responsibilities.

National Spiritual Assembly members and guests enjoy a first look at a congressional exhibit on the Bahá’í Faith before the Bahá’í Humanitarian Award ceremony at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C. (Photo 1995 David Hathcox)

Opening session

After opening remarks by the Counselors, seating of the delegates and election of permanent Convention officers (Dorothy W. Nelson, chairman; William E. Davis, secretary) Thursday evening, the annual report of the National Spiritual Assembly was presented.

Exhibit and reception spotlight human rights

In July 1994 the Universal House of Justice wrote to the National Spiritual Assembly that "...the relations you have built up over the years with the various branches of your national government and with important organizations are of inestimable value to the Bahá’í world and are of particular relevance to efforts to defend and protect the Faith in different lands."

On May 2, the National Spiritual Assembly hosted an exhibit and reception for more than 200 guests in Washington, D.C., representing the culmination of nearly 15 years of paintstaking work to inform the political and human rights leadership in the U.S. about the persecution of the Iranian Bahá’í community and the nature of the Bahá’í community's activities and fundamental beliefs.

Immediately following the National Convention, the members of the National Assembly hosted a reception at the U.S. House of Representatives' Cannon Caucus Room to mark the opening of a special exhibit, "Defending Religious Liberty," which was to be displayed for one week in

Arc Projects

We rejoice in the opportunity to announce a major advance in the Mount Carmel Projects marked by the razing of several houses, thus opening the way for the completion of the lower terraces of the Shrine of the Báb. These are the same structures to which Shoghi Effendi referred in a cable on October 1, 1954, to the Bahá’í world stating that "preliminary documents have been signed in connection with the purchase from the Development Authority of the State of Israel of five houses, situated at the foot of Mount Carmel and adjoining the last terrace of the Báb’s Shrine..... Subsequently, in March 1955, he confirmed the acquisition of these houses by the Bahá’í World Center.

The action just taken with the full cooperation of the city authorities harmonizes with the intention of the beloved Guardian: it clears the site for the monumental entrance to the majestic path leading from the southern end of Ben Gurion Avenue up to the central edifice of the Shrine and beyond to the crest of God's Holy Mountain.

This progress in the construciton work is complemented by yet another welcome development, namely, a municipal scheme involving restoration of the German Templar houses along that avenue and a general beautification of the area—a scheme that will ensure an uninterrupted vista of splendor northward from the Terraces to the sea, toward Bahjí.

The Universal House of Justice April 4, 1995

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

• Former Counselor Sarah M. Pereira dies
• Annual reports of the National Spiritual Assembly and its agencies
• Complete listing of Bahá’í summer schools

[Page 2]

Laying foundations: a vital aspect of teaching success

Too often we despair when our teaching efforts do not bring visible results. We lose our confidence. We become demoralized. We should not be. Every one of our efforts is a building block, a part of the foundation on which our successes are built.

Take Rapid City, South Dakota. For many years the community taught, but their efforts were not yielding the expected results. There seemed to be little interest in the Faith.

Instead of giving up hope the community decided to try a small project using a new approach. They asked several local civic groups [the Institute for the Healing of Racism, the NAACP, the Indian-white relations committee (a mayor's committee), and the Latin American Social Club] to help them put together a celebration for Martin Luther King Day.

The celebration was so successful that this group of Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís was asked by the Central States Fair Committee to help with the Committee's multi-cultural fair. The event is an effort to promote cultural awareness.

The Bahá’ís will sponsor two booths; one in celebration of the United Nation's 50th anniversary, the other promoting the oneness of mankind. Twenty to thirty thousand people are expected to go through the fair each of its 10 days.

What started out as a small project, one that required help from other groups because the Bahá’í community itself was so small, has snowballed into a major opportunity for large scale teaching. It is also a perfect occasion for an Army of Light project. All this from a few tiny seeds, a lot of hard work, and much patience.

Another example of foundation laying comes from Charlotte Hockings, a Montessori-trained school teacher, taught Bahá’í school to young children in the south suburban Chicago area. Now, 10 years later and a state away, Charlotte encountered two of her pupils who had become active Bahá’í teachers. They had come to her town as part of an Army of Light teaching team with their Bahá’í Youth Workshop. They are now in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin.

A third example is Springfield, Illinois. As in Rapid City, the community spent time establishing relationships with civic organizations.

This year they decided to trade on those connections, combining the Heartland (IL) Bahá’í School winter school program with race unity activities for Martin Luther King Day and inviting people from community organizations.

Two Bahá’í Youth Workshops, the Chicago Bahá’í Gospel Choir, and a non-Bahá’í African dance troupe were on hand to entertain. Attendance surpassed expectations. The wonderful participation achieved would not have come about without the years of trust-building that had come before.

If these friends can see, after years of effort, the fruits of their painstaking labor, so will you. Lay your foundations brick by brick. One day, probably to your surprise, there will be a building.

"Praise be to God that the highest wish entertained by heedful souls is the exaltation of the Word of God and the propagation of divine fragrances. This is, verily, the secure and firm foundation."—‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 223

"...Tests are either stumbling blocks or stepping stones, just as we make them."—‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Assemblies may re-form at any time this year

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

The Universal House of Justice is pleased to advise you that, as in previous Plans, local Spiritual Assemblies may be re-formed at any time during the final year of the Three Year Plan. Thus, communities with lapsed Assemblies, as well as communities establishing a local Spiritual Assembly for the first time, may form at any time during this year, i.e., from April 21, 1995, until sunset on April 20, 1996. This means that local Assemblies formed up to that date may be counted toward the fulfillment of your Three Year Plan goals.

The Universal House of Justice will offer fervent prayers in the Holy Shrines that Bahá’u’lláh may abundantly bless your efforts during the remaining months of this Plan.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

The Universal House of Justice Department of the Secretariat April 20, 1995

More than 3,500 attend 10th Grand Canyon event; $300,000 raised for Arc

More than 3,500 adults and children attended the 10th annual Grand Canyon Bahá’í Conference, held last December 22-26 in Phoenix, Arizona.

The event was held in conjunction with the Army of Light Bahá’í Youth Conference, which drew more than 2,000 young Bahá’ís to the city.

Among those attending were members of the National Spiritual Assembly, several well-known speakers and entertainers and Bahá’ís from around the world.

One of the highlights of the Grand Canyon Conference is the annual auction for the Arc, which this year raised $300,000 to help carry forward the Mount Carmel Projects.

The Grand Canyon Conference is sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Phoenix.

Young Bahá’ís tackle rigorous course of study during Youth Weekend at Bosch Bahá’í School

The Youth Weekend held March 2-5 at the Bosch Bahá’í School began with the possibility of more California rains. But young Bahá’ís continued to arrive in groups large and small from Sacramento, Heyward, Citrus Heights, Visalia, Grass Valley and other communities.

With each new arrival the excitement grew and noise level rose. After check-in and orientation Friday evening, the weekend's activities got under way with a pre-dawn breakfast (marking the first day of the Fast) and a prayer walk Saturday morning.

The weekend course of study was twofold: (1) teaching, the Fast, prayer and service, and (2) a chaste and holy life. Sessions were conducted by Derek Cockshut of the Bosch staff and Paula Walstrom of Rocklin, California. The weekend was facilitated by Alice Moore of the Northwest Sacramento Bahá’í community.

Included in the discussion of a chaste and holy life were such topics as dating, sex, and drug abuse from smoking and alcohol to hard and soft drugs. In the workshop on marriage, the youth were given sheets on which they were asked to list qualities they would look for in a potential mate, and the qualities they felt they had to offer a future mate.

After class sessions, the young people had several hours of free time for rest and socializing before dinner, which was served after sundown. Some of the afternoon hours were devoted to service, with groups of six to eight youth given tasks in the library, book shop, children's classes and other areas.

The weekend's presentation theme was "How to Present Prayer Creatively." There were five interest groups: dancers, actors, writers, artists and musicians, each of whose presentations was shown at the close of the weekend on Sunday.

Actors performed "Blessed Is the Spot," writers presented a round-robin type story about prayer, artists interpreted two prayers visually, musicians chanted a prayer, and dancers devised an exciting step dance, ending their number with the prayer that begins "God grant that the light of unity...."

After receiving information about Army of Light and Youth Year of Service activities, the young people cleaned their cabins, packed, acquired last-minute items from the book shop, and headed happily home with promises to keep in touch. [Page 3]'AZAMÁT B.E. 152 MAY 17, 1995 3 WORLD CENTER The Ridván message asd emit from the Universal House of Justice To the Bahá'ís of the world Dearly loved Friends, At this Season of seasons, we greet you with pro- found pleasure at the increased activity throughout the Bahá'í community during the year just passed and with ardent expectations as to what must and can be accomplished during the last third of the Three Year Plan. We feel both concern and hope in the face of the despair besetting leaders of nations and peoples in their search for solutions to pressing social problems. Indeed, such desperation is tanta- mount to a worldwide cry for the Teachings of Bahá'u'lláh, truly a challenge and a promise no con- scientious Bahá'í institution or individual can ignore. dens borne by National Spiritual Assemblies as the communities within their jurisdictions grow more diverse in their composition and more complex in their demands upon the guidance and assistance of these institutions. The combined impression of the various stages of development at which the community has arrived suggests that strong effort is being devoted to the triple theme of the Plan, which calls for enhancing the vitality of the faith of individual believers, greatly developing the human resources of the Cause, and fostering the proper functioning of local and national Bahá'í institutions. But as there is yet much to be Peace and the evolution of Bahá'í national and local institutions." It is a vision which, given the state of the world, compels the completion of the Mount Carmel Projects as scheduled. These projects are advancing with remarkable speed, astonishing pilgrims, tourists and local resi- dents by their magnitude and emerging magnifi- cence. The construction work is occurring on all structures at once. Work on seven of the Terraces below and five above the Shrine of the Báb is in full force. More construction contracts were signed dur- ing this year than in any previous one, including the contract recently awarded to an Italian firm for the Beyond the need to win our goals, humanity's current plight summons us to redoubled action. The cloud of despair hanging over the fortunes of a deranged world is the very harbinger of the spring rain that can quench the spiritual and material thirst of every people. It has only to be seeded through constant and confident acts of teaching. No occasion has more sharply conveyed this melancholy outlook than the recent World Summit for Social Development, the latest in a series of international gatherings of world leaders called by the United Na- tions. But however little may be the imme- diate influence of such events on the poli- cies of governments, however much the vast majority of the world's population may disregard or be unaware of them, their successive occurrence indicates to any Bahá'í observer a gradual movement to- ward the ultimate fulfillment of the will of Bahá'u'lláh that the rulers of nations meet to consult and decide on the outstanding issues con- fronting an increasingly global society. Propitiously on that momentous occasion in Copenhagen, an impressive Bahá'í effort, involving some 250 friends from more than 40 countries, was mounted to acquaint the participants in the Summit and the related NGO Forum with the remedies pre- scribed by the Divine Physician. This effort was ex- tended beyond the Summit and is even now con- tinuing in many places throughout the world. We applaud with heartfelt gratitude the Bahá'í institu- tions, agencies and individuals who produced this spate of action before, during and after the Summit, for surely it evinced both the further advance of our world community in influencing the processes to- ward the Lesser Peace and a multiplication of op- portunities for a wider diffusion of the reformative Message of Bahá'u'lláh. As such world events take place with greater frequency and the Bahá'í com- munity pursues its goals with increased intensity, we can see more clearly the drawing closer together of the parallel processes about which Shoghi Effendi wrote several decades ago: the one leading to the political union of nations, the other to the ultimate union of hearts in one common faith. We make these observations against an encourag- ing background of development in the Bahá'í com- munity during the second year of the Three Year Plan. Éven more thrilling than the leap in external affairs activities at local and national levels are the evidences of a qualitative change in the response of believers everywhere to the call to teach. Á deeper understanding of this inescapable, individual duty is implied by the rise in teaching activity, a hearten- ing situation resulting from several stimulating fac- tors which all together augur well for the long- awaited influx of troops of new believers. Among these factors are the attention being given to the com- pilation on entry by troops as it appears in an in- creasing number of languages, the influence of the movement of International and Continental Coun- selors throughout the globe, the evolution in the functioning of Auxiliary Board members and their assistants, the effects of the emphasis being placed on the education of children, and the vigor of the youth in initiating teaching projects and engaging in a range of other Bahá'í activities. Conducive to this positive picture is the gathering strength of Spiritual Assemblies, which are called upon to cope with manifold challenges while en- deavoring primarily to focus on the demands of the teaching work. We are especially mindful of the bur- done along these lines, a more striking response is required of individuals and institutions, if our com- munity is to combat the ravages of a rampant moral decadence, to raise up a massive army of consecrated souls to meet the demands of teaching and of ad- ministering to the affairs of the Faith, and to render our institutions fit for the tasks that a burst in the size of the community will surely impose upon them. Fundamental to any effective response to the im- mediate challenges facing the community are these requisites which are especially addressed to the in- dividual and the local Spiritual Assembly: On the one hand is the initiative that it is the duty and privi- lege of the individual to take in teaching the Cause and in obtaining a deeper understanding of the pur- pose and requirements of the Faith. Parallel with the exercise of such initiative is the necessity of the individual's participation in collective endeavors, such as community functions and projects. On the other hand is the role of the local Spiritual Assem- bly to welcome, encourage and accommodate the initiatives of individual believers to the maximum extent possible; and there is, too, the responsibility of the Assembly to devise or promote plans that will employ the talents and abilities of the individual members of its community, and that will involve individuals in collective action, such as teaching and development projects, institutes, and other group activities. The effects of conscientious attempts at realizing these inseparable requisites will be to ex- pand and consolidate the community and to foster a climate of unified action. During the last year, there was a sharp increase in the visits to the World Center of high-ranking gov- ernment officials, other dignitaries and media rep- resentatives, demonstrating the growing significance of the spiritual and administrative center of the Faith in the eyes of the world. This appeared to under- score a trend toward a greater familiarity of the gov- ernments of the nations with the evolving center of a World Faith. Viewing this trend from the Moun- tain of God, the site of the current construction projects, and considering it in conjunction with the developments taking place in local and national Bahá'í communities, we can appreciate more ad- equately the unfolding reality of the vision projected by Shoghi Effendi when he explained the implica- tions of the raising up of buildings that will consti- tute the world administrative seat of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh. "This vast and irresistible process," he said, "will synchronize with two no less significant developments-the establishment of the Lesser supply of the marble for the buildings on the Arc. Clearly, the work has gathered a momentum that can abide no delay. Hence, a matching momentum in the flow of con- tributions is imperative, if the remaining forty million dollars toward fulfillment of the Three Year Plan goal of seventy-four million dollars is to be provided by Ridván 1996. The new year begins auspiciously with the formation this Ridván of five National Spiritual Assemblies. Our representatives to the inaugural National Conventions are the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu'l- Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, Armenia and Georgia; the Hand of the Cause 'Ali- Muhammad Varqá, Belarus and Sicily; Counselor Hushang Ahdieh, Eritrea. Moreover, during this period the communities of Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, South Africa and Transkei will merge under the ju- risdiction of one National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa, so as to reflect the recent political re- union of that region. As a result of the foregoing, the number of National Spiritual Assemblies through- out the world will rise from 172 to 174. Beloved co-workers: Beyond the need to win our goals, humanity's current plight summons us to re- doubled action. The cloud of despair hanging over the fortunes of a deranged world is the very harbin- ger of the spring rain that can quench the spiritual and material thirst of every people. It has only to be seeded through constant and confident acts of teach- ing. The performance of such acts, though depen- dent for reinforcement on the functions of Bahá'í institutions, rests primarily and ultimately with Bahá'í individuals. inadequacy, inability or inexperience hinder you or Let no excessive self-criticism or any feelings of cause you to be afraid. Bury your fears in the assur- ances of Bahá'u'lláh. Has He not asserted that upon "hosts of Divine inspiration" and that on such a one anyone who mentions His Name will descend the ing aloft a chalice of pure light"? Step forth, then, will also descend the "Concourse on high, each bear- into the arena where all His loved ones are equally blessed. For to teach, Bahá'u'lláh Himself affirms, is summoned, equally challenged, and abundantly to do the "most meritorious of all deeds." And at planet, nothing whatever is of more critical impor- this extraordinary moment in the history of the tance than inviting people of every sort and every gift to the banquet table of the Lord of Hosts. As we send you this message, clearly before us is a vision of untold victories waiting to be seized. We are certain you can realize a myriad of these in the remaining time of the Three Year Plan. Just such an accomplishment must earnestly be striven for, so as to set the stage for the next global enterprise to be launched at Ridván 1996. There shall be mobilized then a world-embracing campaign to ensure a befit- ting crescendo to the achievements of a century re- garded by no less than 'Abdu'l-Bahá Himself as a period that will have "left traces which shall last forever." With loving Bahá'í greetings, The Universal House of Justice Ridván 152 [Page 4]

Time has come to 'increase, accelerate' our efforts

In December the Universal House of Justice announced the joyful news that five new National Spiritual Assemblies will be elected at Ridván for Eritrea, Armenia, Georgia, Belarus and Sicily.

The Supreme Body noted that "These thrilling prospects denote the quickening pace of the consolidation process in different parts of the world, making possible a further thrust in the evolution of the wondrous System originated by the Lord of the Age for ordering the affairs and ultimately guaranteeing the peace of the entire planet. In their contemplation of such impending victories, may the friends everywhere derive fresh encouragement to increase and accelerate their manifold efforts in spreading the Message of Bahá’u’lláh in all regions."

The time to "increase and accelerate" our efforts is now! More traveling teachers are needed immediately and throughout the year in the above five countries and others.

URGENT: Traveling teachers and pioneers are needed to help the expansion and consolidation work before and after the first National Conventions of ARMENIA and GEORGIA.

June 29-July 2. European Regional Bahá’í Conference in ALBANIA focused on expansion and consolidation in Albania, Bulgaria and Romania. Attendance of Hand of the Cause Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum planned.

July 4-Aug. 4, July 30-Aug. 28. "Call for Teaching" campaigns in BULGARIA following the conference in Albania in June. Plan for one or both campaigns, both preceded by a week-long orientation.

July 21-28. Summer school in DENMARK with many interesting speakers and events. Consider this potential deepening "break" from a summer traveling teaching itinerary!

Aug. 16-Sep. 6. The "Entry by Troops Project" in HUNGARY. Teams of traveling teachers will work in all 19 regions of Hungary using several proclamation approaches to reach all strata of society. Traveling teachers also welcome before and after the project for preparation and follow-up work.

Aug. 30-Sep. 8. Non-Governmental Organizations Forum parallel to the United Nations fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, CHINA. Contact the United Nations Office of the Bahá’ís of the United States immediately at 212-756-3500.

October 23-28. Annual Meeting of the International Society for Agriculture and Rural Development in Acuto, ITALY. Traveling teachers and pioneers are needed for the islands of Sardegna and Elba, Italy.

January 11-14, 1996. International Teaching Conference in NEW ZEALAND.

If you can arise to meet one of these needs and you have not served as an international traveling teacher or pioneer within the last two years, please contact your local Spiritual Assembly to initiate the traveling teaching process. Otherwise, contact the Office of Pioneering directly for more information.

Now is time to learn about SITA Programs

Sensitive International Teaching Areas Programs (SITA)—coordinated by the Office of Pioneering. Now also available on a regional/local basis in many areas of the country.

What is a SITA? Why should you know about SITA programs and deepenings? For answers to these and other questions about SITA, contact your local Spiritual Assembly or the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette IL 60091 (phone 708-733-3506).

OPPORTUNITIES IN CHINA

Teaching positions: Beijing, Chongqing, Shenyang and Tianjin (college level). Guangzhou, Beijing (kindergarten level). Guangzhou, Huizhou (primary and middle school level).

United Airlines has openings for sales executives and a human resources manager.

Also: U.S.-China Peoples Friendship Association (US-CPFA) helps educators make contact with institutions and the Ministry of Education in the PRC. The USCPFA will send a packet of materials that includes information on recruitment, application forms and related documents, teacher job description, and a list of resources. Send a brief request letter and a check for $7.50 (payable to USCPFA/Teach-in-China Program) to Ms. Jo Croon, national coordinator, Teach-in-China Program, P.O. Box 387, Union City, GA 30291.

For more information, please contact Ms. Gwili Posey (phone 708-733-3512; fax 708-733-3509).

Youth can perform many services around the world

The enthusiastic services of Bahá’í youth are needed all over the U.S. and the world. The wide range of needs and opportunities include such arenas as teaching and consolidation, children's classes and other educational activities, administrative assistance to Bahá’í institutions, a variety of social and economic development projects, proclaiming the Faith through the arts, mobilizing the youth of a region or even a country, and more.

In the most recent pioneer call from the Universal House of Justice, 97 countries listed specific needs and opportunities for young pioneers, including many university study options. In addition, many National Spiritual Assemblies have written to our national community to advise of the following opportunities:

ALASKA: Nome youth service project, working with Eskimos, and Norton Sound Project. Three-month summer traveling teaching project in St. Michaels and Stebbins for two youth of the same sex who will be based in house donated by a resident Bahá’í.

ALBANIA: "...one or more devoted and capable youths.... [to be] accompanied by an Albanian youth....who could be in charge of driving a van and directing the Mobile Institute.... Driving experience important.

AUSTRALIA: Seven different arenas of service: children's classes, firesides and hospitality, House of Worship guiding, gardening, janitorial and National Bahá’í Office, for 3-4 youth from anywhere in the world. Accommodations on House of Worship property provided.

BOTSWANA: Three arenas of service: full-time trainer for teachers of children's classes, National Bahá’í Office assistant with command of English and computers, Bahá’í properties maintenance assistant with experience in plumbing, electrical work and building repair.

FRANCE: The Office of Public Information of the Bahá’í International Community in Paris needs a bilingual (French/English) assistant for duties such as office administration and secretarial work, follow-up on publications, and participation in public relations projects.

THE GAMBIA: Two arenas of service: assist with the brand new urban pre-school opening in September or with a Rural Education Center at the Bwiam Regional Bahá’í Center.

HONDURAS: volunteers with experience in printing needed to help develop a social and economic development project focused on the production of Bahá’í literature in La Ceiba. At Project Bayan youth are needed who have studied Spanish for at least two years and can stay for 6-12 months, or medical students who have completed their first two years of Medical School for four-month periods (one at a time).

INDIA: New Era Development Institute, "an exiting place to work [which] offers a unique opportunity to learn about social and economic development in a Bahá’í context" is looking for "one or two deepened Bahá’ís who enjoy working closely with other youth to come for anywhere from four months to a year, preferably arriving in June."

SWITZERLAND: A youth is needed to work 3 days/week with the National Bahá’í Secretariat, 1/2 day caring for Hazira, and 1 1/2 days language study and/or traveling teaching. English and/or French language, knowledge of word processing and ability to work independently required.

VENEZUELA: Three "entry by troops projects" and an ongoing year of service program supported by local youth, incorporating proclamation, teaching, consolidation, theater, music and other aspects are in need of 6-10 youth at a time for at least six months service. Knowledge of Spanish a must. Low living costs.

If you can arise to meet one of these needs and you have not served as an international traveling teacher or pioneer within the last two years, please contact your local Spiritual Assembly to initiate the process. Otherwise, contact the Office of Pioneering directly for more information.

The Office of Pioneering will help you to do as the Universal House of Justice advises: "Through prayer and consultation, and after considering his own experience, inclinations and possibilities, he can choose his goal area and, confidently relying on the confirming power of Bahá’u’lláh, set out to serve the Cause of his Lord...."

Correction

In the column headed "Excellence in All Things" (September 27), the first name of Steven King, a Bahá’í from Renton, Washington, who won first prize at the 1994 National Finger-Picking Guitar Championships in Winfield, Kansas, was blatantly misspelled. We apologize for the error.

House of Justice announces unique opportunity for service in Vietnam

On November 1, 1994 the Universal House of Justice announced a unique opportunity in Vietnam. "...the Government of Vietnam and the representative of the Bahá’í International Community have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which provides for the Bahá’ís to supply Vietnam with 50 teachers of English for five years. Although our contract with the Government of Vietnam is for five years, volunteers need serve only one, to be replaced with new volunteers as necessary....These teachers will be under the direction of the Government and will be sent to various localities throughout the country. The Government of Vietnam will provide accommodations and some small assistance, such as a bicycle for each."

This opportunity has been given the highest priority at this time. We encourage adults and youth to participate. "The House of Justice anticipates that many youth could be available for a year to undertake this service. Volunteers need not be highly qualified as teachers of English; an educated person with an aptitude for teaching and whose mother tongue is English may be quite acceptable, assisted ideally by a short course on teaching English as a second language." We urge you to act without hesitation or delay. Let us know whether you are able to rise to this exciting challenge. Contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Tel: (708) 733-3508 Fax: (708) 733-3509. [Page 5]

THREE YEAR PLAN

TOTAL ENROLLMENTS April 130 Year to date................2048

THE FUND

(As of March 31, 1995)

Army of Light Projects 1995 National Bahá’í Fund International Bahá’í Fund Arc Projects Fund Continental Bahá’í Fund Other Earmarked

YTD Goal YTD Actual $13,291,667 $8,969,811 $506,785 $5,529,622 $199,724 $342,627

Subtotal/Int'l Funds $9,625,000 $6,578,758

Total/All Funds $22,916,667 $15,548,569

1993-94 $9,330,461 $726,443 $3,265,787

1994-95 $8,969,811 $265,187 $5,529,622 $199,724

Subtotal/Int'l Funds $339,647 $4,597,064

Total/All Funds $342,627 $6,578,758 $13,927,525 $15,548,569

National Bahá’í Fund International Bahá’í Fund Are Projects Fund Continental Bahá’í Fund Other Earmarked $506,785

National Bahá’í Fund Where we are $8,969,811 Where we need to be $13,291,667

All International Funds Where we are $6,578,758 Where we need to be $9,625,000

Arc Projects Fund Where we are $5,529,622 Where we were last year $3,265,787

International Bahá’í Fund Where we are Where we were last year $506,785 $726,443

Continental Bahá’í Fund Where we are $199,724 Where we were last year $265,187

Army of Light anticipated project sites

Alabama: Birmingham, Selma Arizona: Phoenix, Mesa, Native American Bahá’í Institute Arkansas: Fort Smith, Pine Bluff California: Sacramento, Stockton, U.N. 50 activities (San Francisco/Sacramento), Los Angeles, San Leandro, Santa Cruz Connecticut: Torrington Colorado: Denver area, Arvada, Jefferson County, Englewood Florida: Magdalene Carney Institute Georgia: Atlanta, Marietta Illinois: Galesburg (Heartland Bahá’í School), Joliet, Rockford, Springfield, Lombard, Chicago Indiana: Indianapolis, West Lafayette Iowa: Iowa City, Ames Kentucky: Louisville, Winchester, Frankfort, Oldham Co., Lexington, Jefferson Co. LSA Massachusetts: Boston Maine: Portland and S. Portland together, Augusta Maryland: Howard County, Prince George's County North Michigan: Holland, Detroit, St. Joseph/Benton Harbor, Muskegon, Traverse City, Flint, Macomb County, Michigan State Fair, Grand Rapids, Marquette/Escanaba Minnesota: Minneapolis, St. Paul Missouri: Phelps Co., Kansas City Nebraska: Omaha Reservation New Hampshire: Seacoast, Concord, Manches- ter, Exeter New York: New York City, Amherst, Beacon, White Plains New Mexico: Las Cruces, Albuquerque, Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico - general North Carolina: Durham, Glendon, Greensboro, Burlington, Fayetteville Ohio: Cleveland, Chagrin Falls, Cincinnati Oklahoma: Oklahoma City, Lawton, Seminole County Oregon: Portland, Woodburn, Siletz Reserva- tion (Lobstock), Milwaukie, Clackemas Co. NW, Beaverton Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Rhode Island: Providence South Carolina: Louis Gregory Institute, Donnelly, Conway, Johnsonville South Dakota: Custer, Pine Ridge Reservation, Pierre, Standing Rock Reservation, Rapid City, Rosebud Reservation Tennessee: Nashville, Eastern TN, Jackson, Hendersonville Texas: Cleburne, Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Mexico trip, Victoria Utah: Salt Lake City Vermont: Burlington Virginia: Loudoun Co., Charlottesville, Tidewa- ter area (Williamsburg to Norfolk), Greatfalls, Bonnie Cote (Fairfax County South-BYWS) Washington: Moses Lake, King County, Richland West Virginia: Charleston, Morgantown Wisconsin: Milwaukee, Lac Du Flambeau Wyoming: Cheyenne

Army of Light 1995 YOUTH CONFERENCE

WHEN: Last weekend in December WHERE: Dallas, Texas Look for further information in The American Bahá’í [Page 6]

Bahá’ís rush to aid victims of Oklahoma City bombing

By TOM MENNILLO

Science says every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Oklahoma City Bahá’ís, other residents and outside volunteers proved the maxim once again when they arose in an outpouring of love and selflessness after the tragic bomb blast that destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.

And in a series of extraordinary electronic mail messages, Bahá’ís around the world were kept abreast of their efforts and needs.

The postings by Spencer, Oklahoma, Bahá’í Cindy Van Kley began only a day after the April 19 explosion.

The first included general reassurances that no Bahá’ís or their family members were known to have been killed or wounded, but noted that nearly everyone had friends or neighbors among the victims.

A shrapnel ‘souvenir’

Alex Resnick and Esperanza Sabet worked two blocks away from the federal building. Although windows were shattered, they emerged safely. "Alex has a souvenir piece of shrapnel that was blown into his car, which he is grateful was not in him," Ms. Van Kley related.

Ms. Van Kley also told how she had felt and heard the explosion at her home about 15 miles from downtown.

"My first thought as my house and floor shook was that one of the drunks who frequently take out my lawn and flower beds on their way around our corner had finally plowed into our garage....I ran outside and...saw dark smoke blowing to the north from downtown, far away, and a strange double-decker light gray mushroom cloud ascending vertically from between the skyscrapers.

"I...burst into tears and started muttering the short prayer for the departed as I went into the house....I really felt a crush of death looking at that cloud."

Her thoughts that day, she related, were that "this is an opportunity for prayer vigils, to listen to people who are stressed and shaken and reassure them that God still is in ultimate control of the world, that He did not do this, nor allow it to happen to innocent children out of spite or cruelty, but that perhaps in the horrible sacrifice of so many lives there is a ransom that will turn hearts around the world back to 'our Father in Heaven, Who is able to deliver us from our humiliations.'"

She also worried about a "backlash against the Middle Eastern residents of Oklahoma in the face of speculation about who the terrorists might be who could do such a thing. I can't help but regret tremendously in hindsight that we haven't done a better job in educating our predominantly Christian neighbors about the truth of Muhammad's mission and teachings, so that they would not jump to erroneous assumptions about any evil intent against Christians in the true religion of Islam."

She concluded, "We have to...set our hearts to the urgent task of more rapidly and effectively gleaning from the teaching field those souls who have truly been prepared to hear the Message, and can benefit from Bahá’u’lláh’s healing Words."

Next came news that the Spiritual Assembly of Oklahoma City had met to discuss its response to the bombing tragedy.

An effort would be made to take part in the April 23 "interfaith" prayer service that President and Mrs. Clinton and the Rev. Billy Graham would be attending.

The Assembly also decided to "make a significant contribution" to the disaster relief efforts of the American Red Cross, Ms. Van Kley told her cyberspace readers.

"...thousands of people are temporarily out of work until their office buildings are determined to be safe, and most of those businesses can't even get in to try to do payroll or pay their bills. So there will be an enormous number of people without paychecks possibly for weeks or months, and the Red Cross will be trying to help them on a case-by-case basis. The need for funds will clearly be overwhelming."

Ms. Van Kley also reported on "our rather bittersweet Ridván celebration" at the Bahá’í Center.

No Middle East connection

"There seemed to be a consensus," she said, "that God is doing some powerful work on the world, and somehow OKC is at the focal point radiating out. Many of us noticed that people who worked with us who had been jumping to the Middle Eastern terrorist assumption were slapped in the face with their own racism when they saw the composites of the suspects and realized, 'but they're white.'"

‘The Prosperity of Humankind’: corrections

It has been brought to our attention that in preparing the compilation "The Prosperity of Humankind" for publication (see The American Bahá’í, April 9) some lines were inadvertently dropped from the text in Section IV, paragraph 1, and in Section V, paragraph 8.

In the first instance, the passage in question should read: "Universal education will be an indispensable contributor to this process of capacity building, but the effort will succeed only as human affairs are so reorganized as to enable both individuals and groups in every sector of society to acquire knowledge and apply it to the shaping of human affairs."

The other passage should be corrected to read: "Here again, religion's challenge is to free itself from the obsessions of the past: contentment is not fatalism; morality has nothing in common with the life-denying puritanism that has so often presumed to speak in its name; and a genuine devotion to duty brings feelings not of self-righteousness but of self-worth."

We apologize for the errors, and encourage those who are using the compilation as a study guide to make the necessary corrections.

With her succeeding message, on April 23, Ms. Van Kley expressed anew the need "not to waste the window of opportunity that has been opened for teaching the principles of the Faith regarding our attitude toward tests, the need for unity, and the spiritual magnification of even the smallest efforts when done in unity."

To non-Bahá’ís online, she noted the next day that "we cannot accept contributions to Bahá’í Funds from anyone except Bahá’ís," but suggested alternative ways to help.

Many Bahá’ís offer help

To the Bahá’í friends, she urged "making a contribution through the OKC Spiritual Assembly to the disaster relief work, in order for the Bahá’ís to be able to make a more significant and noticeable lump sum contribution on behalf of all the Bahá’ís, in addition to the individual donations of supplies and 'elbow grease' already being contributed by the OKC friends."

The same day, she related stories shared at Bahá’í school that morning of the friends who were helping with disaster relief:

"Radiologist Charlie Dunn was on duty at St. Anthony's Hospital (the one closest to the Federal Building) at the time of the bombing and, with many others, worked through the wee hours of the next morning.

"Nurse Kimiko Collins worked at a triage center and continues to volunteer extra time with victims.

"Firefighters Dan Parker and (Kimiko's younger brother) Kent Collins have been at the scene the entire time on search and rescue in a dangerously unstable building.

"Nurse Suzette Rattenbury has been working with victims and families in hospice care.

"News photographer Saideh Dana's TV station in Tulsa sent her to cover the story, and she has been sent into the wreckage for pool footage. She also has been providing on-the-scene ongoing prayers (as, I'm sure, have all the rest).

"Kathy Engels took several of the Bahá’í school classes to purchase and contribute supplies to restock the day care center in the YMCA across the street from the Federal Building that was also heavily damaged by the blast.

"Eight-year-old Edmond Bahá’í Amy Hamilton sent a letter with a picture of herself to the search and rescue team, along with a fistful of bandages. Her letter was read during a TV interview by one of the rescue workers, who wept holding up the bandages, saying, 'Children think Band-aids can fix anything!'

"Flower arrangements from Navid and Flora Ferdowsian's Saturday night wedding were taken to the waiting room at St. Anthony's for the families of hospitalized victims."

It later became known that law student Jubin Dana pitched in to help the Red Cross, despite final exams. And veterinarian George Cooper aided residents of the Regency Tower. (Initial reports on television had him going apartment to apartment to check on pets, but he later said that was erroneous. The building doesn't allow pets.)

An update for those who tuned in to the nationally televised prayer service hoping to see Bahá’í participation:

"The 'interfaith' program that had been initiated by the governor's office was taken over by other entities....As it turns out, the only (participation) other than various Christian denominations...was by Rabbi David Packman, who, incidentally, tried to intervene to get us on the program. It was, however, a very moving and positive service."

On April 25, Ms. Van Kley reported that "I've been sharing the love and prayers and greetings from all over the world with the area Bahá’í friends. I'll print out and post your messages on the bulletin board at the OKC Bahá’í Center. It's such a comfort to know so many prayers are being directed our way. The Bahá’ís of the metro OKC area have expressed the warmth of their gratitude at hearing the love of the rest of the friends. We need your emotional support."

By May 2, life was beginning to get back to normal. "Today, a Bahá’í Holy Day, we went to the park for a picnic and to the mall in Midwest City," she wrote.

But there were constant reminders of the tragedy.

"Yesterday morning while I was working at a friend's shop, a middle-aged black woman came in, obviously dressed in funeral attire, to make some copies," Ms. Van Kley related.

"She said she'd just buried her cousin and had another funeral for the child of a friend in the afternoon. I was thinking she looked so blank, maybe too far past grief. She asked to use the phone and called her children to warn them that their father was leaving town after the funeral and would likely be coming by to try to abduct them since he knew she had another funeral, so go to the neighbor's house.

‘I know you need a hug’

"I couldn't help overhearing, of course, and I asked if that was for real, and she said, 'Yes, but I can't even deal with it right now, I can't even be mad at him.' I was stunned by the impossibility of handling any more stress in this poor woman's life, and I impulsively came out from behind the counter and told her, 'Sweetheart, I just know you need a hug!'

"She melted in my arms and dissolved into tears. She must have been trying so hard to hold it together for too long. Then after a minute she said simply, 'I can make it now, thanks,' and rushed to her next errand or maybe the funeral. I keep thinking there's a city full of people going through the motions, just trying to get through all this, but it just keeps coming in waves, grief upon grief."

The next day came news that "an interfaith organization was formed to make more effective use of the spiritual resources of the Oklahoma City community to support its citizens' recovery from the recent bombing disaster and to prevent future violence."

Ms. Van Kley noted, "The Bahá’ís were asked to participate, and when it was decided to appoint a board of directors of the interfaith organization, a Bahá’í was the first appointment to the board. At the next meeting, the Bahá’í was elected chairman of the board of directors, and the following mission statement was drafted:" [Page 7]

Dr. Sarah Pereira, educator, former Counselor, dies

Dr. Sarah Martin Pereira, who was a member of the Continental Board of Counselors for the Americas from 1973-85, died April 5 in Matthews, North Carolina.

Dr. Pereira was elected the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly in 1960 and served until her appointment as a Counselor. She was also among the first Auxiliary Board members appointed by the Hands of the Cause of God in the western hemisphere, serving in that capacity from 1954-64.

Dr. Pereira served on the Spiritual Assembly of Washington, D.C., from 1962-71; on the Spiritual Assembly of Silver Spring, Maryland, 1971-73; and on the Spiritual Assembly of Charlotte, North Carolina, where she was corresponding secretary into her 80s.

She was a member of many local and national Bahá’í committees including the Interracial Service Committee, a predecessor of the National Race Unity Committee, and served as a delegate to the annual National Convention several times from Washington, D.C., Maryland and North Carolina.

She will be remembered throughout the Americas as an outstanding speaker in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese at many conferences and other events.

Dr. Pereira's professional and academic careers were also distinguished. A professor of Romance languages, she held teaching and administrative positions at several universities, having begun her teaching career at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, the city of her mother's birth.

She also served as a professor at West Virginia State University, Tennessee A&I University, the District of Columbia Teachers College, the University of the District of Columbia and, after her retirement to Charlotte, at that city's Johnson C. Smith University.

Additionally, she served as acting head of the Division of Humanities at West Virginia State College, as chairman of the Division of Foreign Languages and, later, as acting associate academic dean at the District of Columbia Teachers College, and as acting academic dean and chief executive officer at the.Georgia and Harvard campus of the University of the District of Columbia.

At Johnson C. Smith she was both a professor and creator and director of the university's Honors Program.

Following in the footsteps of her father, who was one of only five African-Americans admitted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society in the 19th century, Dr. Pereira also received that academic distinction. She received her A.B. degree from Ohio State University, her M.A. from Case Western Reserve University, and her Ph.D from Ohio State University.

Her parents, Alexander H. Martin, a lawyer in Cleveland, Ohio, for 64 years, and Mary Brown Martin, the first African-American elected to Cleveland's Board of Education, became Bahá’ís in 1913 after hearing a lecture by Louis G. Gregory.

The Martins' four children all became Bahá’ís, as did Dr. Pereira's son, Dr. Carlos Pereira, who survives her.

A photograph of this distinguished African-American family was hung by the Guardian in the Mansion at Bahjí as an indication of a significant milestone in the progress of the Faith.

On learning of her passing, the Universal House of Justice cabled:

Deplore irreparable loss stalwart promoter, vibrant teacher Cause God Sarah Martin Pereira. Radiant faith, indomitable spirit, cheerful disposition characterized her manifold outstanding Bahá’í services for over six decades including homefront pioneering and membership first Auxiliary Board western hemisphere, National Spiritual Assembly United States, Continental Board Counselors Americas. Her achievements have left traces for generations to come. Confident her joyful reunion company her distinguished forebears and siblings Abhá Kingdom. Praying Holy Threshold progress her soul divine worlds.

Advise hold memorial services her honor Mother Temple and throughout country.

The Universal House of Justice April 6, 1995

The U.S. National Spiritual Assembly remembered Dr. Pereira with these words:

With saddened hearts we inform you of the passing early this morning in North Carolina of Dr. Sarah Martin Pereira. Her commitment to the Blessed Beauty for more than three-quarters of a century included membership on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States from 1961 until 1973 when she was appointed by the Universal House of Justice to the Continental Board of Counselors.

Dr. Pereira's unwavering devotion to the Cause of God can inspire every believer to greater service and is her legacy to each of us. Our prayers join yours that the soul of our beloved Sarah will find swift reunion with its Creator.

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States April 5, 1995

Dr. Sarah Martin Pereira

Deland, FL, Bahá’ís sponsor high school speech contest to honor Lionel Gonzalez

Seeking a way to honor Lionel Gonzalez, a community member who died last year, the Bahá’ís of Deland, Florida, asked the local public library to co-sponsor the Lionel Gonzalez "Speak Up for Peace" speech contest for students.

Library officials accepted the offer, printed notices and distributed them to schools while the Bahá’ís supplied prizes and trophies for first-, second- and third-place winners and certificates of participation for everyone who entered the contest.

Seventy-nine middle school and two high school students submitted speeches on the topic "Human Rights: A Key to World Peace."

Teams of mostly non-Bahá’í judges chose eight middle school finalists. With the two high schoolers, the finalists delivered their speeches at the library, and winners were chosen.

The event offered many teaching opportunities as library personnel, teachers, students, judges and others were made aware of the Faith, which was also mentioned by Mrs. Gonzalez as she awarded the prizes.

The ceremony was held in close proximity to United Nations Human Rights Day, an appropriate tribute to Mr. Gonzalez who was a retired UN economist.

Fifth Arjmand Scripture Studies Colloquium focuses on study of Bahá’u’lláh's Most Holy Book, Kitáb-i-Aqdas

The fifth Scripture Studies Colloquium, co-sponsored by the Haj Mehdi Arjmand Memorial Fund and the Institute for Bahá’í Studies, was held March 31-April 2 at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette, Illinois.

It was the second colloquium devoted to studies related to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, with the first having been held in November 1994 at the DePoort Bahá’í Conference Center in the Netherlands.

Sixty-five Bahá’ís attended the most recent colloquium at which nine papers were presented on various topics related to the Aqdas.

At Friday evening's opening session Dr. Robert Stockman explained that the Institute for Bahá’í Studies is an agency of the National Spiritual Assembly dedicated to sponsoring rigorous, academic-quality scholarship on the Faith.

Tandis Arjmand, granddaughter of Haj Mehdi Arjmand, who was a prominent Bahá’í teacher and scholar in Iran, quoted from tablets written by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that honored the achievements of her illustrious forebear, and Dr. Iraj Ayman presented a brief report on the goals and activities of the H.M. Arjmand Memorial Fund, explaining that its purposes include promoting deeper and more systematic studies of the Holy Writings; providing an opportunity for the interaction among various views and understandings of the Faith in an atmosphere of tolerance and loving unity; and encouraging those who are interested in scholarly studies to enter the field of scholarship and to benefit from the dialogues taking place.

Saturday morning's plenary presentation on "The Model of Penology in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas" was delivered on video tape by Dr. John Hatcher, who afterward was connected by speakerphone to answer questions from the audience.

Other presentations on Saturday were:

• "Choice Wine: The Kitáb-i-Aqdas and the Development of Bahá’í Law" by Anthony Lee.

"Getting to Justice: The Creation of Justice Through the Laws of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas" by Holly Hanson.

"The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: Questions of Structure and Style" by Diana Malouf.

"The Relationship of the Laws of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas to the Laws of the Bayán of the Báb" by Jeff Simonds.

"Sacralizing the Secular: The Proclamatory Aqdas as a Response to Modernity" by Christopher Buck.

The Saturday evening session was devoted to a panel discussion on "The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: Current Research and Future Directions." Panelists were Dr. Jena Khodadad, Dr. Moojan Momen and Charles Nolley.

The Sunday session was opened with a presentation entitled "The Relationship Between Content and Context in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas" by Habib Riazati.

Other presentations were:

• "Some Considerations Relating to the Inheritance Laws of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas" by Sen McGlinn.

. "Obedience to Divine Law: Evolution of the Individual's Perception" by Azadeh and Nabil Fares.

A booklet containing the abstracts of the colloquium is available for $3 from the Research Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (please make check payable to "Bahá’í Services Fund").

Similar booklets are available for $3 apiece from the second and fourth Scripture Studies Colloquia, the Bahá’í History Conference, and the Conference on Women in Bahá’í Perspective. (If more than one booklet is ordered, the subsequent ones are $2.50 each.)

The next Scripture Studies Colloquium in Wilmette will be held March 29-31, 1996. [Page 8]

Cities across U.S. plan to commemorate UN’s 50th anniversary

The United Nations is observing this year the 50th anniversary of its founding, and cities across the country are planning commemorative activities throughout the year.

The National Spiritual Assembly has called on the U.S. Bahá’í community to take part in celebrating this historic occasion. Bahá’í communities may either plan their own events to which they can invite the public, or they may choose to take part in activities that are planned by others.

While these celebrations may take place at any time during 1995, communities are encouraged to choose one of the special UN days (for example, UN Day, October 24; Human Rights Day, December 10).

To help with UN-50 observances, the Bahá’í International Community is developing a large exhibit depicting the relationship between the Bahá’í community and the UN. A table-top version of the display will be available for use by local Bahá’í communities.

The exhibit is three feet high by six feet wide (six panels, accordion fold). The price is $110 (to save money on additional correspondence, please include a check payable to Bahá’ís of the United States United Nations Office at the time you place your order).

To order, write to: Bahá’ís of the United States, United Nations Office, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 120, New York, NY 10017-1811 (phone 212-756-3500; fax 212-756-3566; e-mail nyc@bic.org

Note: These displays are flexible and may be used at campuses, fairs, conferences and a variety of other venues. If your community is interested in placing an order, please contact the U.S./UN office at the above address as soon as possible so we can determine the number of exhibits we will need to produce.

Anyone planning to attend 4th Women’s Conference in Beijing, China, asked to contact U.S. UN Office

The registration deadline for the fourth World Conference on Women NGO Forum was April 30. Any members of the U.S. Bahá’í community who have registered and are planning to attend the Forum in Beijing, China, are asked to send copies of their registration forms to the National Spiritual Assembly’s United Nations Office.

If you have already mailed your forms to the NGO Forum Office and did not retain a copy, we ask that you please contact our office by post or e-mail. Our mailing address is:

Bahá’ís of the United States United Nations Office 866 United Nations Plaza Suite 120 New York, NY 10017-1811 Fax 212-756-3566; e-mail usun-nyc@bic.org

It is extremely important that we have as accurate a listing of Bahá’ís attending the Forum as possible. We would like to keep abreast of any changes or new developments. There may also be an opportunity for Bahá’ís to get together in Beijing.

Bahá’ís gather to share teaching experiences among S.E. Asians

Last October, a delegation of 59 Hmong leaders from the U.S. was among those invited to visit China for the International Hmong Culture Symposium. The head of the U.S. delegation and nine other members were Bahá’ís. After the symposium they traveled to 25 cities in five Chinese provinces.

Feelings of joy and hopefulness were intermingled March 4 as Bahá’ís gathered in Merced, California, to share their experiences and exchange information about teaching Southeast Asians in Northern California.

Among those taking part were Puran Stevens, coordinator of the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office; Ken Bowers, secretary of the National Teaching Committee; Auxiliary Board members Marsha Gilpatrick and Paul Khavari, members of the Northern California State Teaching Committee, Hmong clan leaders, representatives of the Army of Light and the Ruhi Institute in Colombia, and Southeast Asians who are active teachers.

Mrs. Stevens shared her insight into the history of Southeast Asian teaching and consolidation in the U.S., stressing the importance of learning about the various cultures especially when contacting leaders of Southeast Asian communities who are not accustomed to being approached by young people.

The USBRO, she said, has been in charge of all aspects of Southeast Asian teaching in this country, and its materials have been widely used in other countries with Southeast Asian populations.

The USBRO, said Mrs. Stevens, coordinates, counsels and provides materials, including a quarterly newsletter, for the network of Southeast Asian Bahá’í volunteers (Helpers) who offer their help in this important area of service to the Cause.

Mr. Bowers assured everyone that targeting receptive populations does not exclude anyone but instead attracts others to the Cause.

Close collaboration between the Auxiliary Board and Teaching Committees, he said, will assure great success in the teaching work.

Mr. Khavari agreed, adding that we should assess the teaching work by considering where we are and where our opportunities lie.

Representatives from areas with long-term involvement in Southeast Asian teaching, such as Porterville, Fresno, Merced, Modesto, Sacramento and Stockton, brought the group up to date concerning activities in their communities.

Members of the Northern California State Teaching Committee said they are in touch with about 600 youth in the area who have a strong desire to serve the Faith. The youth have an e-mail network that is gaining momentum and helps them feel connected although they are geographically separated.

After a short break, everyone took part in a two-hour consultation to consider these questions among others: (1) what opportunities, approaches and resources are relevant to large-scale growth, and (2) what form would a sustained and comprehensive effort for large-scale growth take?

The group then adjourned to a restaurant to break the fast, returning later to meet with about 30 Hmong and American youth.

It was felt by many who attended that meetings of this kind are a key to the sort of intercommunity collaboration needed to bring about large-scale expansion of the Cause.—Jennifer Muratore

Teaching S.E. Asians an extremely rewarding experience

A dedicated Bahá’í teacher concentrating on the consolidation and integration of Southeast Asian Bahá’ís recently visited the homes of Southeast Asian declarants in a city in northern California.

‎One one On one‎ occasion, the teacher was taken aback when a Southeast Asian Bahá’í asked in a sincere manner, “How do I make payments to my Faith?”

At another time a Southeast Asian Bahá’í asked, “How can I know who to vote for if there is no campaigning in the Bahá’í Faith?”

The teacher replied that Bahá’ís pray to Bahá’u’lláh and ask Him for guidance before voting for the most worthy members of the community.

His pure-hearted listener began immediately to recite aloud a Bahá’í prayer in his own language, after which he filled out the ballot.

These are the kinds of experiences the friends have when they arise to teach, integrate and consolidate among the Southeast Asians who have been forced by circumstances beyond their control to flee their homelands and establish new homes in the U.S.

These new believers need our love and our help and the awareness that we are all part of one spiritual family.

If you are interested in helping to integrate Southeast Asian Bahá’ís into the U.S. Bahá’í community, please contact the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 708-733-3522; fax 708-733-3545).

Conference canceled

The Bahá’í History Conference which was scheduled to be held June 16-18 at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette has been canceled. [Page 9]

Paris Talks

Addresses by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ‘Abdu’l-Bahá HC $13.95 (PTH), SC $5.00 (PTS)

A new edition of the popular collection of talks given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá while visiting Paris in 1911. Offers guidance for applying spiritual principles to everyday life and explains major Bahá’í teachings such as the oneness of humankind, the need to abolish prejudice, the harmony of science and religion, and the equality of the sexes. Designed for easier reading, this illustrated edition includes photos of places where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke. Includes a comprehensive index and paragraph numbering, making it easy to locate specific themes and references. A good source of quotable quotes for media use, and an excellent tool for teaching and deepening.*

7-1/2" x 5", 224 pp., table of contents, introduction, index Bahá’í Publishing Trust, United Kingdom

The Spiritual Revolution, II

Announcing a new series of 12 half-hour television programs...

THE SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION A Series of Conversations About the Bahá’í Faith FOUR 90-MINUTE VHS FORMAT CASSETTES OF 3 SHOWS EACH

A Series of Conversations about the Bahá’í Faith Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of San Francisco VT $25.00 EACH

A new series of 12 programs featuring information conversations about the most critical issues of our time. Each tape has three half-hour programs covering a range of topics including personal transformation and life after death. An excellent tool for firesides and deepenings.*

Tape 1 (ESR21N) Empowered Parents, Healthy Children, Biblical Prophecy Fulfilled, The Near Death Experience

Tape 2 (ESR22N) Towards a World Economy, Mind, Spirit, and the Soul, Interpretation of Biblical Prophecy

Tape 3 (ESR23N) Youth Can Move the World, Peace by the Year 2000, A Bahá’í Fireside (Part 1)

Tape 4 (‎ESR23N ESR24N‎), Models of Unity, Personal Transformation, A Bahá’í Fireside each tape 1 hour 30 minutes

Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of San Francisco

• To order this series in television broadcast format, please contact the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of San Francisco, at (415) 431-9990.

Healthy Planet, Healthy People

The Van Manens CS $10.95 (HPHPCS), CD $16.95 (HPHPCD)

A collection of 12 songs from Dave and Helene Van Manen on the theme of feeling good about ourselves and living in harmony with the natural world. Songs include “Healthy Planet, Healthy People,” “Don’t Whine,” “Building Bridges,” “Trees,” “Peace Like a River,” “The Fat Piglet Waltz,” “Earth Circles,” “The Happy Wanderer,” “My Body,” “I Am a Friend.” For preschool children.

People Records

Models of Unity II

Interracial and Interreligious Contacts and Interaction in Atlanta, Georgia The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States SC $3.00 (MOU2)

The second of two studies of racial and religious amity intended to serve as a counterbalance to descriptions of conflict. Following-up on the 1992 study of models of unity in the Chicago area, the Atlanta study sought to discover whether the kinds of amity and cooperation found in the Chicago area also exist in Atlanta. The results suggest there are “reservoirs of interracial good will and amity” that are being understudied and underused. The study also points to areas in which regular and significant interracial and interreligious contacts are being made.

8-1/2" x 11", 29 pp. Bahá’í Publishing Trust

The Bahá’í Faith in America, Volume 2

Early Expansion, 1900-1912 Robert H. Stockman SC $29.95 (BFA2)

The long-awaited sequel to The Bahá’í Faith in America: Origins, 1892-1900, Volume 1. Charts the North American Bahá’í community’s early efforts to achieve consolidation, its expansion to the West and South, the establishment of its first national project (to build a House of Worship in Chicago), and its emergence as one of the world’s key Bahá’í communities on the eve of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to its shores. Though there was no individual leader and no national administrative structure, the Chicago Bahá’í community remained the hub of Bahá’í activity on the continent. The detailed and meticulously preserved correspondence of Thornton Chase, chairman of the Chicago House of Spirituality, is the ‎principle principal‎ source of information about the period. The book highlights the loving leadership of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Who, through several thousand epistles, explained to Westerners the Bahá’í teachings, answered questions, settled disputes, calmed the angry, and consoled the grieving. Includes newly authorized translations ‎of of of‎ His Tablets.

5-1/2" x 8-3/4", 536 pp. George Ronald, Publisher

Set Three of the Basic Truth Series

Wings of a Bird, When I Die, I Agree by Bambi Betts SC $13.95 (BT3)

The third in a very popular series of booklets for young children. Designed to help parents teach basic facts of the Bahá’í Faith to children, the booklets establish a basic vocabulary and foster important concepts that are both comprehensible to youngsters and consistent with reality. Wings of a Bird deals with the equality of women and men. When I Die helps children grasp the realities of death. I Agree conveys the benevolence of the laws of God. Includes line drawings suitable for coloring on every page. Also includes guidelines for parents.

5-1/4" x 7", 32 pp./booklet, Illustrations George Ronald, Publisher

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RELEASE THE SUN by William Sears

Life After Death A Study of the Afterlife in World Religions by Farnaz Ma’súmián SC $14.95 (LAD)

Life After Death explores religious beliefs, through the ages and around the world, on death and the afterlife, offering an overview of afterlife doctrines of seven world religions and a summary of their beliefs about the end of time. This compelling investigation discusses the nature of the soul and concepts such as heaven and hell; explores the doctrines of reincarnation and transmigration; and examines accounts of near-death experiences, asking whether they can be regarded as evidence of life after death. An original, accessible book that will appeal both to students of comparative religion and general readers.

7" x 9", 153 pp. Oneworld Publications

Teaching the Bahá’í Faith compiled by the Universal House of Justice SC $9.95 (TBFC)

Extracts compiled by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice on teaching, proclamation, and seeking divine assistance. Includes compilations on preparing for entry by troops, mass teaching, proclaiming the Faith through the media, teaching prominent people, teaching indigenous people, the use of media, and more. Excellent material for stimulating and guiding individuals and communities in their teaching efforts.

5-3/4" x 8-1/4", 256 pp., table of contents, index, references Bahá’í Publications Australia

Lectures on Bahá’í Inspired Curricula by Farzam Arbab SC $4.00 (LBIC)

An examination of the approach to curricular ‎dvelopment development‎ taken by educators in ‎Columbia Colombia‎ and other nations to infuse Bahá’í teachings into a general curriculum. Discusses education theory, the meaning of "understanding" and its role in education, and the construct of "capabilities." Includes examples of the advocated lesson approach. Of interest to Bahá’í educators and those who wish to incorporate Bahá’í teachings into general education. Based on a series of talks presented at the Bahá’í World Center by the author.

6" x 9", 76 pp., preface, notes Palabra Publications

Reflections on the Life of the Spirit - Book 1 by the Ruhi Institute SC $4.00 (RLS1)

A one-volume collection of three basic spiritual foundation courses of the Ruhi Institute. "Understanding the Bahá’í Writings", "Prayer", and "Life After Death" - the most widely studied Bahá’í courses in the world. The courses can be used with pre-youth, youth and adults. Designed to develop one's ability to read and understand the Bahá’í writings. Suitable for study on its own or as support material for other courses designed to prepare individuals to teach the Faith, to teach children's classes, or to participate in social and economic development activities and other paths of service.

8-1/2" x 11", 52 pp. Palabra Publications

Two Wings 25:35 MIN. VT $10.95 (ETWN)

Two Wings describes events in three communities around the world which decided to commit to the equality of women and men.

Using traditional music and dance, folktales and songs, problems that women face every day are presented to the community. The result is community action for change.

The project was implemented by Bahá’í communities in Malaysia, Cameroon and Bolivia.

Produced by the BIC, Office for the Advancement of Women

Behold Me Bahá’í Writings on Unity Compilation HC $16.95 (BMH), SC $11.95 (BMS)

A comprehensive selection of Bahá’í writings on the central theme of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation - the unity of the human race. Includes more than 230 thematically arranged extracts from Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and the Universal House of Justice. Thoughtfully designed with the general reader in mind, Behold Me will be of special interest to those working to heal society’s divisions and to all concerned about the future of civilization.

8-1/2" x 8-1/2", 144pp., photographs, table of contents, index, ‎biographlcal biographical‎ notes, references, ‎blblography bibliography‎ Bahá’í Publishing Trust, UK

Hand in Hand by UNU MONDO CS $10.95 (HIHCS), CD $16.95 (HIHCD)

Ten contemporary jazz compositions with an international flavor. Features guitarist/percussionist Randy Armstrong and German bassist/keyboardist Volker Nahrmann, "formerly of Doa", Brazilian drummer Henrique Almeida, and saxophonist Charlie Jennison. Vocals by Narges Nouhnejad Fani, Kim Fleming, Vince Ebo, members of the Tennessee Bahá’í Choir, Tom Price, and Dash Crofts. Includes instruments such as the west African balofon and djembe, the Lakota courting flute, the Brazilian pandiero and cuica, and the mbira of Zimbabwe.

51 minutes UNU MONDO Productions

REFER Bahá’í Software

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TWIN MANIFESTATIONS RTM (3.5) $30 RTM5 (5.25) $35

The Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and The Báb

ABDU’L-BAHÁ RAB (3.5) $35 RAB5 (5.25) $40

The Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

SHOGHI EFFENDI RSE (3.5) $45 RSE5 (5.25) $50

The Writings of Shoghi Effendi

THE MARS PROGRAM* MARS (3.25) $25 MARS5 (5.25) $30

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REFER/MARS MANUAL RMM $10

MANUAL MUST BE PURCHASED SEPARATELY. NOT INCLUDED WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE PROGRAMS.

REFER runs under MS-DOS or PC-DOS versions 3.1 or above, & requires a minimum of 256k RAM. Disk space requirements: RMAB3.5 = 4.3 mb, RMTM3.5 = 3.2 mb, and RSE3.5 = 7.6 mb.

MARS consolidates the separate REFER programs into one database. NO MORE JUMPING FROM ONE PROGRAM TO ANOTHER!!

• MARS not ‎compatable compatible‎ with earlier version of Bahá’u’lláh Refer or Refer: Central Figures Trilogy

Buddhism and the Bahá’í Faith by Moojan Momen SC $11.95 (BBF)

A comparison of Buddhism and the Bahá’í Faith, enabling Bahá’ís to understand something of Buddhism and Buddhists to understand something of the Bahá’í Faith.

5-1/2" x 8-3/4", 114pp. George Ronald, Publisher [Page 11]

Journey Into Exile

The Story of Bahá’u’lláh by Mary Firman SC $6.95 (JIE)

A new activity book for children aged 7-12, giving them insight into the life and times of Bahá’u’lláh through puzzles, games, quizzes, models to make, and pictures to color; an ideal framework on which parents and teachers can build lessons. Filled with interesting facts about the geography, culture, costumes, and habits of the Middle-East in the nineteenth century.

11-3/4" x 8-1/4", 32pp. Bahá’í Publishing Trust, UK

In the Eyes of His Beloved Servants

The Second Bahá’í World Congress and Holy Year by J. Michael Kafes SC $14.95 (IEBS)

A compilation of stories from around the world that capture the magic of the Holy Year and the Second Bahá’í World Congress. Among the chapter themes are "Behind the Scenes" with the choir and media, the group leader of the Parade of Nations, the dramatic presentation director:; remarkable stories about "Getting There and Back"; "Dreams and Visions" Bahá’ís had about the Congress; "World Congress Diaries"; proclamation and teaching stories from around the world; and reflections on the centenary of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh at the Bahá’í World Center in May 1992.

6" x 9", 187 pp. J. Michael Kafes Publications

Individual Rights and Freedoms in the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh

To the Followers of Bahá’u’lláh in the United States of America by the Universal House of Justice SC $3.00#

A profound letter that addresses issues crucial to understanding the relationship between individuals, the Bahá’í community, and the Bahá’í institutions. This document is pivotal to understanding the difference between the United States’ heritage and the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh. It is particularly appropriate for U.S. Bahá’ís, but any Bahá’í will find it a valuable tool for deepening on the standards Bahá’u’lláh prescribes for a mature society.

5-1/2" x 8-1/2", 22pp. Bahá’í Publishing Trust US

The Story of Rosie Redbird

by Jennifer Lemon illustrated by Maria Daliri Beale SC $4.95 (SRRS)

A children’s storybook about overcoming prejudice. Rosie, a Redbird, moves into a Bluebird area and finds herself being ignored because she does not look like everyone else. But Rosie does not let other’s attitudes affect her. Through her actions she overcomes their prejudices and is welcomed as an equal. Part of the Animal Tale series of books that uses animal stories to teach children simple values and moral principles. Ideally suited for children from 2-7 years of age.

10" x 8", 12 pp. Bahá’í Publications Australia

Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

A Compilation

A one-volume collection of almost all of the writings of Bahá’u’lláh available in English. Includes The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys, The Hidden Words, The Kitáb-i-Íqán, selected passages from the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Prayers and Meditations, the Fire Tablet, the Long Healing Prayer, and the Tablet of the Holy Mariner. Compact and comprehensive.

HC $30.00 6" x 9-1/2", 725 pp. preface, contents Bahá’í Publishing Trust - India

Sexuality, Relationships and Spiritual Growth

by Agnes Ghaznavi SC $12.95 (SRSG)

An important contribution to understanding the link between the spiritual and the physical in marriage. A practicing Bahá’í psychiatrist and sexologist offers insight into age-old questions of sexuality and chastity within the new paradigm of equality and friendship between marriage partners.

5" x 7-3/4", 169 pp. George Ronald, Publisher

A Way Out of the Trap

An Innovative and Unique Ten-Step Program for Spiritual Growth by Nathan Rutstein (WOTS) SC $11.95

An easy to follow guide for strengthening one’s connection to God. Intended to help both seekers and Bahá’ís discover their true selves, the book describes in compelling, practical terms what we must do to nourish our souls and explains how doing so makes our lives far more fulfilling.

6" x 9", 176 pp. Whitcomb Publishing

The Great Adventure

by Florence Mayberry SC $14.95 (GAS) HC $19.95 (GAH)

The autobiographical story of "the great adventure life has been, and continues to be" for Florence Mayberry, former Continental Counselor and member of the International Teaching Center. More than an autobiography, the book offers an account of a "pattern of search and struggle shared by all human creatures as we are nudged by instinctive yearning into discovery of who and why we are."

6" x 9", 217 pp. Nine Pines Publishing

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Love Plan

by Gina Yezzi and Linda Fall

from the pages of Brilliant Star.

Loving everybody is not easy! What if someone hurts your feelings? What if someone teases you or makes unkind remarks? What if someone breaks a Bahá’í law? Some people are hard to love. Still we know it is important to try. We need a plan.

1. 1 Write the name of someone who is not easy for you to love. If there is no one, congratulations!

It is easier to love someone when we remember their best qualities.

1. 2 List 3 good qualities of that person.

____________________ ____________________ ____________________

1. 3 Reread the verse at the top of this page and meditate.

1. 4 Now list 3 good qualities that you wish to have.

____________________ ____________________ ____________________

• Repeat the plan with the same person.
• Choose a new person.
• If you need ideas.

Qualities

honest	courteous	gentle	obedient
creative	patient	helpful	clean
loyal	kind	joyful	artistic
strong	thankful	friendly	modest
loving	thoughtful	just	reverent
		generous

1. 5 Finally, plan a good deed to do this week for the person you are trying to love. When we do as God wants, we feel good about ourselves and good about others.

It is easier to love others when we remember our own weaknesses.

1. 6 When you have finished color the star.

Changing Hate to Love

by Meg Anderson ©1994

Change HATE into LOVE in five steps. Fill in the blanks. You may change only one letter with each step.

H A T E hurts everyone. We all [ ][ ][ ][ ] special talents that can help mankind. God [ ][ ][ ][ ] us each different talents to share. Different is wonderful! [ ][ ][ ][ ] others a chance. When I love everyone, I [ ][ ][ ][ ] prejudice-free. This is the power of a thought of L O V E

Can you change RUDE to NICE?

It never helps to be [ ][ ][ ][ ] We are all sharing the same [ ][ ][ ][ ] through space. I can't enjoy a bowl of [ ][ ][ ][ ] while my brother goes hungry. We add to the love in the world by being [ ][ ][ ][ ]

Reprinted from Brilliant Star, The First Prejudice-Free Generation, March-April 1995

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[Page 13]

‘Fast’ phase propels S.C. teaching forward

The “Fast teaching” phase of the Louis G. Gregory/Magdalene Carney Teaching Initiative in South Carolina culminated in a spectacular Naw-Rúz party attended by more than 250 people.

Fruits of the 19 days of teaching were evident at the event. More non-Bahá’ís and newly enrolled believers attended than veteran Bahá’ís.

In fact, many souls who had enrolled 20 years ago but lost contact with the Bahá’ís were present and excited to see the growth of the Faith. They are eager to now play their part in the development of Bahá’í communities.

Two young men—one a recent college graduate, the other just finishing a tour in the U.S. Army—shared stories of having come to the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute for children’s classes. One of them stated: “You all just don’t know what coming here as children did for our lives. I have never forgotten it”

Many parents and relatives expressed their joy at what the Faith meant to their children and promised to be more involved themselves.

The 19 days of Fast teaching drew many teachers—easily exceeding the goal set of 19. The majority were from South Carolina, but some arrived from North Carolina, two from Connecticut, and one youth from Japan.

The presence of the Supreme Concourse was felt throughout the Fast. Prayers were offered daily at the Bahá’í National Center, in the office of Counselor Wilma Ellis, and in vigils around South Carolina. The teachers themselves offered up 500 “remover of difficulties” each night.

During the 19 days, 40 souls accepted their Lord, bringing the total for the initiative to 117. In addition, more than a hundred believers who accepted the Faith two decades ago were revisited. Many relatives of these early believers were among those who embraced the Cause.

Public officials and religious leaders also were contacted. A positive change in the response of the white community was obvious. The Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Youth Workshop performed a “unity dance” in downtown Hemingway (historically Ku Klux Klan country) at an annual festival, and two white youth enrolled in the Faith.

The impact of 10 years of broadcasting by WLGI Radio Bahá’í opened doors in every corner. Everyone had heard the station, and they had only positive feedback for its programs and high standards.

Souls were thirsty to hear what the Bahá’í community could do to help them improve their lives, knowing that unity is the core of the solution.

Now the initiative is ready to move into another phase: spreading the healing message of “race unity” throughout the state.

As we move into the final year of the Three Year Plan, the story of one of the local friends reminds us of the joy of service in this day.

A seeker asked this friend during a teaching visit how she could be so happy knowing that she has cancer. This ‎maid-servants’s maid-servant’s‎ response was, “I’m in a win-win situation. If I die, I’ll go to the Abha Kingdom and be with my Lord. If I live through this treatment, I can serve and teach this Bahá’í Faith.”

The services of the many friends—field teaching, support services, prayers, and deputization—are like the candle that yields up its life drop by drop, as it gives light to the world.

Above: New believers gather around a table at the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute in Hemingway, South Carolina, to sign their declaration cards.

Left: One of the happy new declarants is pictured with Eric Dozier, director of the Louis Gregory Institute’s Gospel Choir. More than 40 people embraced the Cause of God during the Fast period in March, bringing the total to 117 in the ongoing Magdalene M. Carney Teaching Campaign.

After hitting wall in Mountain State: Seeker finds what he’s been seeking

Some quick thinking has one seeker back on his spiritual journey.

The self-professed “unofficial homefront pioneer” recently moved from Dallas, Texas, where he had attended firesides in the home of Frouzan and Karen Afsahi, to Huntington, West Virginia.

But when he tried to find Bahá’ís in the Mountain State, the man ran into a brick wall. Until, that is, he started asking people if they knew of any Persians in Huntington.

Luckily, he was led to Bahiyyih Nezhad, a Bahá’í who is director of circulation for the library at Marshall University, where the seeker teaches.

In the space of three days, the seeker had 15 new friends in three states!

Mrs. Nezhad introduced him first to her brother, Cyrus Mali, and his wife, Behnaz, at a fireside in their Charleston, West Virginia, home. There, they met several people including new Charleston residents Zia and Minu Sabet and former Texans Howard and Lorraine Menking, who recently moved to Nitro, West Virginia.

Then Mrs. Nezhad took the seeker to Ashland, Kentucky. His new friends there, whom he met over dinner, are former pioneers (to Guam) Paul and Stacy Coverstone and their two daughters.

After this whirlwind tour, the seeker wrote to the Afsahis about his new connections to the Faith:

“I no longer feel alone. I am back on the seeker’s path and moving again toward the Light.

“I continue to miss you all very much and continue to mourn my separation from you. But now, after the happiness of the past three days, I have begun to find that my relationship to you, in the Faith, is renewed and strengthened as I continue to seek and find new friends in the larger Bahá’í family.

“But none of this would have happened had it not been for the love and teaching that you [in the Afsahis’ firesides] first offered me. The lessons I have learned from you, my teachers, continue to instruct me and now are reinforced by the new teachers and friends I am finding.”

Correction

In The American Bahá’í, March 2 (p. 6), the telephone number for Trevor Williams, an army of Light coordinator for Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan (Upper) was listed incorrectly. The correct phone number is 217-586-2844.

Bahá’í youth urged to turn their attention to attending, teaching at minority colleges

Since its inception, the Bahá’í Youth Service Corps has had a significant impact on the progress of teaching work.

There remain, however, significant areas of service and teaching in which Bahá’í Youth Service Corps volunteers have yet to be sufficiently engaged. One such area is attendance at minority colleges.

Many young Bahá’ís have expressed an interest in teaching American Indians on Reservations in this country. One way to prepare for this kind of service is to enroll in a tribal community college, most of which—there are about 30 in the U.S.—are on Indian Reservations.

By dedicating a year or so to attending a tribal community college, young Bahá’ís can study Indian languages, traditions and arts while making lifelong friends with indigenous people.

The environment at a tribal community college is conducive to applying Bahá’í teachings to the interests of students and faculty.

Tribal colleges embrace broad goals typical of educational institutions in the U.S., defined within a curriculum that aims to preserve culture while helping students adjust to society. Courses that support these goals also consider the unique perspective, cultural understandings and values of the population being served.

Programs that focus on spiritual empowerment include studies that establish a foundation for learning such as courses in native languages, native values and the arts.

Programs that focus on adjusting to society include vocational training, business, health services and education. They build on the culturally appropriate foundation established by the native studies classes.

Bahá’í youth who dedicate themselves to studying native languages and arts are preparing themselves to contribute to an ever-advancing civilization while learning how Bahá’í teachings relate to the values of indigenous cultures.

When young believers commit a part of their life to learning about another culture, humanity gains more mature and perceptive servants.

The American Indian Higher Education Consortium includes tribal community colleges and Indian universities in 12 states. For more information about tribal colleges, please contact Ada James at the National Teaching Committee Office, 708-733-3493. [Page 14]

Exhibit

Continued from page 1

the Cannon Rotunda.

At the reception, the National Spiritual Assembly presented the Bahá’í Humanitarian Award to Reps. Ben Gilman of New York and Lee Hamilton of Indiana.

The exhibit, which documented America’s and other nations’ responses to Iran’s repression of the Bahá’í community, was sponsored by earlier recipients of the Bahá’í Humanitarian Award, Reps. John Edward Porter of Illinois and Tom Lantos of California, who are co-chairmen of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus.

The exhibit included eight large panels, each 12 by 18 feet, set between 18 Corinthian marble columns that frame the circular rotunda. Rep. Porter asked the National Assembly to display the exhibit for an additional week. A security guard at the rotunda remarked that it was the most beautifully presented exhibit she had seen in her 19 years there.

In the summer of 1994, during a visit to Washington by the National Spiritual Assembly’s secretary for external affairs, Rep. Lantos’ wife, Annette Lantos, suggested to him that the Bahá’ís create an exhibit that would tell the story of the persecutions in Iran and explain the teachings of the Faith.

The exhibit, which took more than two months to produce, was created by a group whose members included staff from the Office of External Affairs in Washington and New York; Marjorie Sonnenfeldt, the National Assembly’s public relations consultant; and a graphic designer, Robert Reddy, from Cedarburg, Wisconsin.

At the reception, Firuz Kazemzadeh, the secretary for external affairs, presented the Humanitarian Award on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly to Reps. Gilman and Hamilton, the chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the House International Relations Committee, for their commitment to human rights and their efforts in support of the Iranian Bahá’ís.

In addition to the members of Congress, guests included officials from the State Department and Voice of America. Many of the guests were representatives of non-governmental organizations who work with the National Assembly’s staff on the status of women, ratification of UN human rights treaties, sustainable development, UN reform, and human rights.

Bahá’í guests at the reception included Counselor Wilma Ellis; Dr. Elsie Austin, a Trustee of Huqúqu’lláh; and Prof. Soheil Bushrui, who holds the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland.

After receiving the Humanitarian Award and a copy of The Bahá’í World: 1983-86, which chronicles the worst years of the persecutions in Iran since 1979, Rep. Gilman said, “It is truly a sad irony that since its founding the Bahá’í religion, which itself poses no threat to secular authority anywhere, has been singled out for such harsh repression in Iran and other parts of the Middle East.

“I salute those who have maintained their faith in the face of repression and who have too often paid the supreme price for their belief.

“The Bahá’í community,” he continued, “has been able to turn the brutality and intolerance they have suffered and continue to suffer at the hands of the Mullah regime in Iran to some good.

“I am proud to point out that the Bahá’ís of this country and others have united not only on behalf of their own cause, but on behalf of all the oppressed in Iran.”

After receiving his award, Rep. Hamilton said of the Bahá’ís, “Your continued leadership to fight to end human rights abuses in Iran and your efforts for world peace are an inspiration to me. You do me great honor by giving me this award, but really it is I who must honor you.

“Our work has only begun,” Rep. Hamilton added. “We must continue to work together to bring public and diplomatic pressure on Iran. The more than 100,000 American Bahá’ís, who live in every state of the Union, have a critical role to play—as do we in Congress, and the President.”

“There have been at times some improvements [in the treatment of Bahá’ís in Iran],” Rep. Porter noted, “but this has to be a very high priority in our human rights agenda, indeed in our national agenda, to point out to everyone what is happening in Iran to the Bahá’í minority.

“We talk in our news media about the dangers of terrorism emanating from Iran,” he said. “We talk about the dangers of their securing nuclear technology that could lead to the development of nuclear weapons that they might use against the world.

“We ought to also have in every press report, so people in this country and around the world can understand, that this is a society that abuses one of its most prominent minorities, that is intolerant of the beliefs of others.”

Judge James F. Nelson, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, said, “Fifteen years ago the American Bahá’ís...came to Congress in anguish and in hope” because the government of Iran “had initiated a deliberate and systematic campaign calculated to exterminate the Bahá’í community.

“Our anguish could not be allayed,” he said, “for we had already lost good friends who we knew and loved as our co-religionists. But our hopes ran high...as we came to these halls where the voices of the American people were heard and from which the will of the American people was manifested into the world.

“And our hopes were soon and well rewarded,” Judge Nelson noted. “Hearings were held, facts were found, great bi-partisan support was mustered, and six concurrent resolutions demanding an end to the persecution in Iran and the emancipation of the Bahá’í community there were passed.”

As a result, he said in gratitude, “Iran’s largest minority community has been, to the best of our current will, protected from untold disaster.”

In his closing remarks, Robert C. Henderson, secretary-general of the National Spiritual Assembly, vowed that the Bahá’ís will continue to speak out with others for human rights.

“We Bahá’ís,” he said, “are dedicated to being your partners in the noble enterprise of establishing and expanding international human rights standards, particularly as we jointly pursue the ratification and implementation of the United Nations human rights treaties.

“We are committed to working with you shoulder to shoulder on such critical issues as human rights, the status of women and sustainable development because, as Bahá’ís, we believe that these issues represent both the highest expression of American ideals and are fundamental articles of our Faith.”

The following day, the Voice of America broadcast excerpts of the proceedings to Iran. The VOA had recorded the entire event for use in a program on religion that is broadcast worldwide in English.

On May 6, The Washington Post published an article on and photograph of the exhibit.

National Spiritual Assembly members look on as Rep. Ben Gilman of New York accepts the Bahá’í Humanitarian Award. (Photo © 1995 David Hathcox)

Firuz Kazemzadeh, National Spiritual Assembly secretary for external affairs, views the exhibit with public relations adviser Marjorie H. Sonnenfeldt of Fleishman-Hillard Inc.

Display brings Bahá’í story to life

The colorful display mounted by the National Spiritual Assembly in the Cannon Rotunda convincingly brought to life for viewers the stories of a religious community and this country whose ideals and destiny are intertwined.

The panel topics were:

• The Bahá’í Faith: born amidst persecution
• Systematic destruction of a religious community
• The Congress champions religious liberty
• The many voices of a nation respond
• The world community pressures Iran
• Building unity in diversity
• Anticipating peace among nations
• Religious freedom: a sacred trust of civilization

[Page 15]

Introduction

A little over a year ago, the National Spiritual Assembly requested a meeting with the Universal House of Justice to present concerns about several aspects of the growth, development and function of the American Bahá’í community. In one of its responses to the National Assembly, the letter dated May 19, 1994, the Universal House of Justice gave instructions on the Assembly's reports to the delegates to the National Convention: "Do as Shoghi Effendi advised you: 'Banishing every vestige of secrecy, of undue reticence, of dictatorial aloofness, from their midst, they [the National Spiritual Assembly] should radiantly and abundantly unfold to the eyes of the delegates, by whom they are elected, their plans, their hopes, and their cares. They should familiarize the delegates with the various matters that will have to be considered in the current year, and calmly and conscientiously study and weigh the opinions and judgment of the delegates.'" The report which follows summarizes the hopes, cares and plans of the National Assembly and presents comments on other topics including the external affairs work and the National Fund.

Hopes

Hope v. 1. To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment.

Individual spiritual growth

The transformation of the human soul is the primary purpose of the Bahá’í Faith. A complete change of individual spirit, character and patterns of thought and behavior is essential to establishing unity and love, the "alpha and omega" of Bahá’í teachings. That every believer would rededicate herself or himself to the rigorous disciplines of daily prayer and reading the sacred writings and to the painstaking requirements of Bahá’í life is our highest hope. Shoghi Effendi explains the great importance of this struggle. "One of the most paramount needs of the Cause...is that the friends should unite, should become really keenly conscious of the fact that they are one spiritual family, held together by bonds more sacred and eternal than those physical ties which make people of the same family. If the friends will forget all personal differences and open their hearts to a great love for each other for the sake of Bahá’u’lláh, they will find that their powers are vastly increased; they will attract the heart of the public and will witness a rapid growth of the Holy Faith."

Eliminating backbiting and gossip

We note with grave concern that backbiting and gossip are widespread and that their effects are devastating. They vitiate the spiritual energies needed to advance the Cause. They break the hearts of innocent friends and place unnecessary burdens on the institutions. We hope that the friends will reflect on and comply with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s admonition about these evil practices: "If any individual should speak ill of one who is absent, it is incumbent on his hearers, in a spiritual and friendly manner, to stop him, and say in effect: would this detraction serve any useful purpose? Would it please the Blessed Beauty, contribute to the lasting honor of the friends, promote the holy Faith, support the Covenant, or be of any possible benefit to any soul? No, never!"

Maturation of the institutions

We hope for a great effort on the part of every member of an institution and the Bahá’í community at large to overcome the gravitational pull of a decaying secular social order to foster a new mode of life. Shoghi Effendi emphasized that Bahá’í administration is not "an end in itself" but rather "the instrument of the spirit of the Faith." Its purpose, writes the House of Justice, is to facilitate "the emergence and maintenance of community life in a wholly new mode" and to cater to "the requirements of the spiritual relationships which flow from love and unity among the friends." The maturation of the institutions is indispensable to the success of the Faith's mission and depends on painstaking study and disciplined application of Bahá’í principles.

Collaboration of the institutions

A new phase in the maturation of the administrative order was initiated with the joint consultations of National Spiritual Assemblies and Continental Counselors that resulted in the formulation of goals for the Three Year Plan. The role of the Counselors and Auxiliary Board members to "spark and buttress" the growth and development of the community and to serve as "props and mainstays" to Spiritual Assemblies should be increasingly recognized as the divine arrangement Bahá’u’lláh has made for their support: "They thus assist Assemblies to mature." Continued close collaboration among the appointed and elected institutions, we are convinced, will accelerate the progress of the Faith and strengthen the Bahá’í community.

Individual initiative

Individual initiative, the preeminent aspect of the power to accomplish the goals of the Bahá’í community, is yet another of our hopes. This indispensable resource for the progress of the Faith must be nurtured with loving encouragement from the institutions and tempered by them with the discipline of "mutual consultation and sacrifice." The spirit of individual initiative and enterprise, writes Shoghi Effendi, "should be reinforced by a deeper realization of the necessity for concerted action and a fuller devotion to the common weal."

Bahá’í youth and children

The encouragement of initiative is especially important among Bahá’í youth, who have demonstrated heroic qualities in the teaching and service fields during the Three Year Plan. The vitality of the Cause, its soundness and destiny, lie in their hands for safekeeping. Our support of these young paladins must be such as "to empower them to display, in a fuller measure, their inherent capacities, and to unfold a further stage in their spiritual evolution under the shadow of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh."

Where children and youth are prospering, parents and Bahá’í communities are devoting great attention to their development and training. These important efforts assure the spiritual health and vigor of Bahá’í youth and open the doors to thousands of families in search of a spiritual way of life. The National Spiritual Assembly wishes these efforts to continue. For Bahá’u’lláh has written that "It is the bounden duty of parents to rear their children to be staunch in faith, the reason being that a child who removeth himself from the religion of God will not act in such a way as to win the good pleasure of his parents and his Lord. For every praiseworthy deed is born out of the light of religion, and lacking this supreme bestowal the child will not turn away from any evil, nor will he draw nigh unto any good."

enrollments

Each of us must take personal responsibility for the progress of the teaching work. Without a redoubled, sustained effort on the part of every individual Bahá’í, we cannot expect any great acceleration in the progress of the Faith. Moreover, consideration must be given to recruiting persons of capacity and prominence. The success of this endeavor can "effectively forestall opposition to the Faith and smooth the way for many essential aspects of the development of the Bahá’í community." This challenge rests largely on the shoulders of individual believers as well as on the institutions of the Faith.

National Fund deficits

Chronic deficits in the National Fund are crippling the national administration. They have resulted in growing debt, annual workforce reductions, and a sharply diminshed capacity to carry out important work. The National Center staff has been pared down to a skeleton work force. Moreover, funds have not been available to provide cost-of-living adjustments for many years.

A core problem is that the National Fund is supported by a relatively small number of individual believers and Spiritual Assemblies. This year, for example, some 400 Assemblies did not contribute to the National Fund. A significant increase in the numbers of individuals and Assemblies contributing to the National Fund is immediately necessary to avert further erosion of the national administration. Moreover, the sheer number of non-participating individuals and Assemblies underscores the spiritual nature of the challenge we face.

Decentralizing the national administration will provide an effective long-term solution for the fast-growing work of the national community. However, the short-term cost of an effective and well-founded decentralization program is high.

Equality and oneness

Work to foster race unity and eradicate racism has become a routine part of Bahá’í individual and community life. The American Bahá’í community is widely recognized as a national leader in promoting race unity; yet much remains to be done to eliminate every vestige of racial conflict from our communities. At the heart of the challenge is the need to examine our race unity practices in the light of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings and to achieve rigorous conformity to those principles. A careful examination of these teachings and steadfast attention to their requirements will result in a quantum leap in the unity of the community, ensuring a marked acceleration of its growth. Moreover, Bahá’ís of every racial background must take responsibility for achieving race unity. Racism cannot be easily or immediately eradicated. However, dramatic progress can be made if we persevere, bearing in mind Shoghi Effendi’s guidance that nothing short of "genuine love, extreme patience, true humility, consummate tact, sound initiative, mature wisdom, and deliberate, persistent and prayerful effort can succeed in blotting out the stain" of this "patent evil."

Persistent and prayerful efforts to advance the equality of women and men within the Bahá’í community will have a revolutionizing impact on the spirit and character of Bahá’í life and will exert a powerful influence on shaping the whole society. A statement on women, soon to be produced, will stimulate and reinforce our efforts in this area.

Cares

Care n. 1. A burdened state of mind, as that arising from heavy responsibilities; worry.

Passion for teaching

Where the friends have cultivated a passion for teaching, the Faith is growing. Members of Bahá’í youth workshops, domestic and international pioneers and traveling teachers, teaching projecteers, and friends who conduct regular firesides have one thing in common: their lives are organized around teaching. Too few of the friends are infected with this passion; therefore, our progress is slow. Teaching is the "head cornerstone of the foundation of the Faith" and the paramount duty of every Bahá’í. It is the primary means for relieving the suffering of humankind. "All of the agony, suffering and spiritual blindness afflicting people everywhere in the world," writes Shoghi Effendi, "is because they are unaware of, or indifferent to, the remedy God has sent them." Only those who have embraced the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh have been given the "duty and privilege" to carry His healing Message to others.

Teaching American Indians

The pace of teaching and the growth of Bahá’í communities among the Indian peoples of America have experienced a marked decline in recent years. Hard-won victories on Indian reservations and among various tribes have been eroded, leaving once-thriving localities without the spiritual and social sustenance Bahá’í assemblies and communities are intended to provide. Efforts to establish healthy Bahá’í communities on Indian reservations must be [Page 16]renewed. Moreover, Indians living in the cities must also be attracted to the Faith, steeped in the Bahá’í teachings, and encouraged to assist the activities under way.

Plans

Plan n. 1. A scheme, program, or method worked out beforehand for the accomplishment of an objective; a plan of attack.

Vision in action: the march to victory

‘Abdu’l-Bahá set three conditions for success in the Divine Plan: firmness in the Covenant; love and unity among the friends; and teaching the religion of God. The Master promised that meeting these conditions would bring victory to the American Bahá’í community. "Vision in Action: The March to Victory," the National Spiritual Assembly's plan for this closing year, is a call to every believer in America to make a personal commitment to fulfill the prerequisites of success in the Three Year Plan. In the final year of the Plan each believer is asked to:

• hold a fireside every Bahá’í month
• attract at least one new soul to the Faith
• pray and read the sacred Writings every day
• contribute sacrificially to the Funds
• take an active part in Bahá’í community life, including teaching activities

Spiritual Assemblies are asked to pursue goals of universal participation in teaching, giving to the Funds, and fostering joy and harmony among the friends, thereby increasing participation in community life. A united effort of the entire American Bahá’í community will surely attract the confirmations of the Blessed Beauty and bring about a swift and great victory.

Decentralization

In 1992 the National Assembly devised and submitted to the Universal House of Justice a plan for decentralizing key aspects of the national administration. The House of Justice approved that plan; however, it could not be implemented at the time because of insufficient funds. Since then, work has continued on refining the plan for decentralization. The National Assembly believes that reorganization and distribution of administrative functions must take place on several levels: the work of the National Assembly itself, the Bahá’í National Center, and Spiritual Assemblies. The work of the National Assembly must evolve to focus more exclusively on matters of national policy and strategy; these changes have begun. The organization and work of the Bahá’í National Center and of Spiritual Assemblies must also evolve to prepare for the growth the community will experience.

A key part of the plan for decentralization is an electronic network designed to link the Counselors, Auxiliary Board members and local Spiritual Assemblies with the National Assembly. Such a network will vastly increase the speed, capacity and efficiency of administrative functions at the national and local levels and will complement important aspects of our earlier plan. Costs for this program will approach $500,000. If funds allow, work will begin this year.

Local Spiritual Assembly Development Office

An Office of Spiritual Assembly Development will be established as a part of the Community Administration Department of the Office of the Secretary. Its mission is to provide systematic training of Spiritual Assemblies in all aspects of Bahá’í administration.

External Affairs

External Affairs will continue to lead the defense of the Bahá’ís in Iran and of the refugees from that land. Additional plans are under way for Congressional and United Nations resolutions for the defense of the Persian believers and the emancipation of the Faith in Iran. Other aspects of the external affairs work will proceed apace, including: participating in the Beijing Women's Conference; coordinating the human rights community's efforts to advance congressional implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Racial Discrimination and participation in the UN Decade of Indigenous Peoples; commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations and of Bahá’í participation with that body; and expanding the network of public information representatives and media outlets. The external affairs function is one of the most important and critical functions of the national administration. The Universal House of Justice has instructed the National Assembly that this function must be maintained and has indicated that, if the National Assembly is unable to fund it adequately, the House of Justice will subvent the external affairs work.

House of Worship and properties

Work on the House of Worship, the permanent schools and institutes and the Bahá’í National Center will proceed to the extent that monies are available. The annual cost of maintenance, repair, salaries and operation of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár and other properties is the largest single aspect of the annual budget and accounts for the largest part of the national debt.

World Congress

At the request of the Universal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assembly assumed responsibility for the logistics and financial aspects of the second Bahá’í World Congress to meet the needs of the 30,000 believers from more than 200 countries who attended. Approximately 17,000 attendees used the hotel packages, and 6,000 the transportation. After careful reconciliation of the hotel charges, the National Assembly contested $361,000 and reduced the final payment by $200,000.

After the Congress a few thousand of the friends had still not paid their bills, an amount of approximately $1,700,000. Several efforts have been made to contact those believers, remind them of their debt and encourage them to remit the total balance due or to begin installment payments. The fourth and final invoice was sent in February 1995. To date all but $240,000 of the amount due has been collected.

Also following the Congress, the National Assembly received telephone and written requests from attendees who experienced problems with their air or hotel arrangements. Each complaint was reviewed, and adjustments were made in 586 cases. All monies received from airlines and attendees and any savings realized from settlements with hotels and the travel agency are forwarded to the World Center.

May 19, 1994, letter

The guidance and instructions conveyed in the May 19, 1994, letter of the Universal House of Justice have had a profound effect on the thinking of the National Spiritual Assembly, its understanding of its role, and its methods of operation and institutional priorities. Since receiving the letter, the National Assembly has taken action in several areas including deepening and restructuring the Assembly itself, refining its collaboration with the Counselors; further developing the methods of operation of the national administration and educating the national center staff; advancing plans for decentralization; and proposing a new plan for Spiritual Assembly development.

Over the past year the National Assembly has conducted a series of meetings with the Counselors to discuss the May 19 letter and its implications for action.

The Assembly also has acted to change its own internal organization. It dissolved an internal Executive Committee of the National Assembly, a committee of the Assembly's six officers authorized to decide and execute secondary items on the Assembly's agenda. The Executive Committee was intended to expedite the Assembly's burdensome workload, but the effect of its existence was divisive. Hence it was abolished. Moreover, the National Assembly restructured its agenda to focus on issues of national policy and strategy. Likewise, the Assembly moved to change the format of the annual report and the National Convention.

At the Bahá’í National Center a task force was established to coordinate study of the letter among the staff. Counselors and members of the National Assembly have led several of the continuing series of deepening and discussion sessions.

Plans for decentralizing the national administration and establishing an Office of Spiritual Assembly Development (discussed earlier) are under way. The National Assembly expects to derive continued benefits in every aspect of community life through persistent study and application of the guidance of the May 19, 1994, letter from the Universal House of Justice.

The foregoing summary outlines the main points of our hopes, cares and plans. There is much more. However, the National Spiritual Assembly trusts that these points will suffice to stimulate reflection and discussion about its central concerns. In conclusion, we draw again from the May 19, 1994, letter of the Universal House of Justice:

Your capacity to respond will match any challenge that may confront you in these troubled times; you have only to act on principle. Your community's past has been glorious; its future is great beyond calculation. The divine promises to your community are certain; the blessings of Bahá’u’lláh are assured as you strive to fulfill His purpose. The wings of the beloved Master remain spread over you that you may succeed in discharging the tasks He has especially entrusted to your care. And our love surrounds you and your cherished community, growing ever stronger at every moment. Step forward then to meet the requirements of the hour with undiminished hope and confidence.

External Affairs

The National Spiritual Assembly has four offices that conduct its external affairs work: the Secretariat in Washington, D.C., the Office of Public Information and the U.S. United Nations Office in New York, and the Refugee Office in Wilmette. There are also two national representatives in Atlanta.

The external affairs activities guided by the National Spiritual Assembly and highlighted in this report were the result of 10 to 15 years of sustained effort by members of the National Assembly and many of its staff. Relationships between individuals and among organizations have been carefully nurtured, and expertise in a variety of fields has been gained.

Highlights

During a year in which external affairs activities were characterized by a deeper involvement in the pressing issues facing humanity and by greater roles of responsibility with several networks of like-minded non-Bahá’í organizations, the National Spiritual Assembly also received significant messages on external affairs from the Universal House of Justice and learned that the President of the United States has written to the U.S. Senate about the persecution of the Iranian Bahá’ís. The secretary-general of the National Assembly was one of four nongovernmental witnesses to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in support of U.S. ratification of the U.N. Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Racial Discrimination. In July the Office of Public Information reopened in New York City, and several external affairs offices prepared for three major U.N. events during the U.N.'s 50th anniversary year.

Messages from the Universal House of Justice

In its Ridván 1993 letter the Universal House of Justice stated that during the course of the Three Year Plan "the World Center will attend to coordinating widely diverse activities throughout the planet, giving further direction to the external affairs of the Faith as the Bahá’í International Community is drawn more deeply into dealing with world issues."

In October 1994 the House of Justice sent to all National Spiritual Assemblies an external affairs strategy paper "to guide the global activities of the community for the immediate future." The paper, prepared by a committee at the request of the House of Justice, states that the purpose of world-wide external affairs efforts will be "to influence the processes toward world peace...[to] concentrate on human rights, the status of women, global prosperity and moral development...[and] to defend the Faith, as in the case of the persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran." The National Spiritual Assembly's external affairs efforts to date have concentrated on human rights, the status of women, and sustainable development.

The Universal House of Justice also wrote a letter to the National Spiritual Assembly in July 1994 responding to questions about external affairs that the Assembly had raised during its visit to Haifa in March of that year. The letter stated in part that the House of Justice places great importance on the external affairs work in Washington because "the relations you have built up over the years with the [Page 17]various branches of your national government and with important organizations are of inestimable value to the Bahá’í world and are of particular relevance to efforts to defend and protect the Faith in different lands."

Defense of the Bahá’ís in Iran

The secretary for external affairs visited Washington regularly to inform congressional and administration officials about the situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran. Among her several services Marjorie Sonnenfeldt, in her 14th year as a public relations consultant for the National Assembly, set up appointments with top officials. They were kept informed of the situation in Iran so that the Clinton Administration could support UN and congressional resolutions on the Iranian Bahá’ís and take action at the UN General Assembly.

On April 19, 1994, by a vote of 414-0, the House of Representatives passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 31 which had been passed by the Senate in November 1993. The resolution was the sixth congressional resolution since 1982 on the Iranian Bahá’í situation and urged "the Government of Iran to emancipate the Bahá’í community by granting those rights guaranteed by...the international covenants on human rights."

In July prominent senators and representatives sent letters to President Clinton and to Secretary of State Warren Christopher, appealing for continued U.S. leadership in the effort to free the Iranian Bahá’í community from its prolonged persecution. President Clinton responded to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in August, stating, "I am deeply concerned about the situation that faces the Bahá’ís...[and] my Administration will continue to work to create an international consensus to influence Iran to change its behavior on human rights."

In February 1995 Congressmen Gilman and Hamilton, the leadership of the House International Relations Committee, wrote to the UN Human Rights Commission reminding the Commission of the situation of the Bahá’ís as it discussed its resolution on human rights violations in Iran.

In Wilmette the Bahá’í Refugee Office, under the coordination of its director, Ms. Puran Stevens, continued to help U.S.-bound refugees and to obtain humanitarian parole for urgent medical cases. She communicated regularly with the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the State Department's Refugee Bureau, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Washington, D.C., to help those Bahá’ís whose circumstances required such assistance. She also kept in touch with the National Spiritual Assemblies of Turkey and Pakistan, countries that received the majority of the Bahá’í refugees. The director of the Refugee Office attended meetings to learn the most current refugee policies and regulations to assist better the Bahá’ís entering the U.S. and continued to take part in the Illinois Social Service Consortium and the Chicago Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Protection. Among her many interviews on the Iranian Bahá’í refugees was one by National Public Radio in Washington. She also received a certificate of appreciation from the governor of Illinois "in recognition of outstanding dedication and service to the refugee communities of Illinois."

On behalf of the National Assembly, Dr. Riaz Khadem spoke on the legal status of the Bahá’ís in Iran at an international conference, "Religious Human Rights in the World Today," at Emory University in October 1994.

A remarkable development in August 1994 has evolved into what may be described as one of the most important opportunities for the National Assembly to inform the U.S. government about the plight of the Iranian Bahá’í community. At the suggestion of Mrs. Tom Lantos, the wife of one of the strongest supporters of the Iranian Bahá’ís in the House of Representatives, the National Spiritual Assembly decided to create an exhibit to express its appreciation for efforts made by the U.S. Government to help the Iranian Bahá’í community. The exhibit will be sponsored by Rep. John Porter, an equally strong defender of the Iranian Bahá’ís, and will be in the Cannon House Rotunda in May 1995. The Office of Public Information in New York is coordinating the design and construction of eight panels on the pillars of the rotunda that will describe the efforts of the U.S. government, other national governments, the United Nations and individuals to alert the world to the persecutions as well as some of the activities of the worldwide Bahá’í community.

The National Assembly will host a reception at which it will present the Bahá’í Humanitarian Award to Reps. Gilman and Hamilton for their years of support for the Iranian Bahá’í community. In 1988 the National Spiritual Assembly presented the award to Reps. Lantos and Porter, the co-chairmen of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus.

United Nations activities

Support for selected UN activities and collaboration with other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that participate in UN fora has proven to be the greatest avenue for Bahá’í entree into external affairs activities at the national level. Since its initial support in 1985 for the U.S. ratification of the UN Convention on Genocide, the National Assembly has expanded its activities by working on the preparation for the UN conferences on the environment and development, human rights, social development, and women. In recent years its staff has held positions of responsibility within networks and committees that promote international issues and UN activities. The U.S. National Assembly, as one of the strongest pillars of the Bahá’í International Community, reinforces its activities in the international arena. In fact the BIC and the National Assembly collaborate with many of the same organizations.

Support for international issues such as the status of women, the environment, and the ratification of international treaties allows the National Assembly not only to promote principles that are fundamental Bahá’í teachings but also to exemplify Bahá’í concepts, such as unity, consultation, and partnership between women and men by word and action. As the Universal House of Justice stated in its Ridván 1990 message, "increasing calls will made upon our community to assist, through advice and practical measures, in solving critical social problems. It is a service we will gladly render, but this means that our local and National Spiritual Assemblies must adhere more scrupulously to principle." Such adherence also protects the institutions in the increasingly divisive and partisan atmosphere in which the external affairs work is conducted.

International Year of the Family

The UN declared 1994 as the International Year of the Family (IYF). The UN theme for IYF was "Promoting Families for the Well-Being of Individuals and Societies." The U.S. Bahá’í sub-theme was "A Family Is a Nation in Miniature." The Bahá’í U.S. UN office encouraged local Bahá’í communities to build IYF activities into their activities, such as youth and children's classes, as well as to collaborate with other community groups and institutions to celebrate IYF. The U.S. UN office worked with the National Education Task Force to include IYF activities at the permanent Bahá’í schools. College clubs were encouraged to hold campus events.

World Summit on Social Development

The National Spiritual Assembly was among the many NGOs and one of 24 National Assemblies officially accredited to the World Summit for Social Development held in Copenhagen in March 1995. Peter Adriance, the National Assembly's NGO liaison, represented the National Assembly at the World Summit and the preceding NGO Forum after several months of preparatory activities including participation in the UN Preparatory Committees in New York and in an NGO Working Group based in Washington which formulated language for the Declaration and Program of Action, the UN documents of the conference. Rebequa Getahoun Murphy, the U.S. UN representative, also took part in the Preparatory Committee meetings in New York.

In November 1994 the NGO liaison developed a workshop on "social integration," one of the three themes of the Summit, asking several civil rights NGOs, which did not usually work on international events, to be part of the panel to explore the theme of social integration in United States society.

Fourth World Conference on Women

The U.S. UN representative has been coordinating the U.S. Bahá’í community preparation for the UN Conference on Women to be held in Beijing, China, in September 1995. She spoke to more than 20 Bahá’í communities and informed last year's National Convention delegates, the Bahá’í permanent schools, youth workshops and campus clubs about the conference, encouraging Bahá’ís to attend when possible.

The U.S. Department of Labor sponsored 10 regional meetings on the UN Women's Conference, and the U.S. UN office informed those Bahá’í communities in whose regions the meetings were held. The result of the effort was that 80 Bahá’ís from 20 states attended the regional meetings.

In October 1994 the Economic Council of Europe held an intergovernmental meeting in Vienna, Austria, on the upcoming UN Women's Conference. Because North America was included in the regional meeting, Kit Cosby, the deputy director for external affairs, represented the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly, one of seven National Assemblies represented in the Bahá’í International Community delegation. She worked daily with the U.S. Government delegation, particularly on human rights language for the regional intergovernmental document. The U.S. UN representative and the deputy director for external affairs also represented the National Assembly at the NGO Forum that preceded the intergovernmental conference focusing on community development and human rights issues.

The final Preparatory Committee meeting for the Fourth World Conference on Women in March 1995 provided several opportunities for Bahá’í contributions. The Working Group on the Human Rights of Women, of which Ms. Cosby was a founding co-chair in September 1994, offered governments and NGOs a "human rights framework" for the Platform for Action, the document of the UN Women's Conference. The U.S. government publicly expressed its gratitude for the "rights framework" and sent it to other government delegations for their information and use. She also provided wording for the Platform for Action to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) official who asked her to serve in an advisory capacity to the U.S. delegation. Ms. Murphy worked with the BIC Office for the Advancement of Women to prepare a workshop for youth on partnership between men and women.

In July 1994 the U.S. Network for Beijing and Beyond was established in Washington to create a national network of NGOs and individuals participating in the preparations for and in the Conference in Beijing. The deputy director for external affairs was a member of its executive committee and its Federal Working Group, which developed a relationship with the U.S. Congress, the White House, and the State Department on issues related to the UN Women's Conference.

United Nations 50th anniversary (UN 50)

The Bahá’í International Community and the National Spiritual Assembly have been collaborating on activities for UN 50 which is to be celebrated primarily in San Francisco in June 1995 and in New York City in October 1995. Trish Swanson, the National Assembly's director for public information, and the U.S. UN representative were on a steering committee with members of the staff of the Bahá’í International Community to organize activities for June and October. The Office of Public Information is producing a video to demonstrate the history of the Bahá’ís at the UN; is creating an exhibit to be used in Geneva, New York, and San Francisco; and is helping the BIC with media coverage of Bahá’í activities related to UN 50. The Office of Public Information is also helping a large public information and media group in the San Francisco Bay area to promote and publicize Bahá’í activities related to the 50th anniversary events.

The U.S. UN office sent more than 100 information packets on UN 50 to local Spiritual Assemblies and groups. The UN representative oversaw a committee appointed by the National Assembly and set up to coordinate Bahá’í activities in San Francisco during its June celebrations. Both National Assembly offices in New York collaborated on a tabletop exhibit for use by local Bahá’í communities for their own UN 50 celebrations. In collaboration with the U.S. UN office, the Louhelen Bahá’í School was the first permanent school to host a class on global governance in commemoration of UN 50.

U.S. ratification of UN human rights treaties

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Three years ago two [Page 18]members of the National Spiritual Assembly's Washington staff, the deputy director and her assistant, Jeffery Huffines, began coordinating NGO efforts to ratify the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. On May 11, 1994, the secretary-general of the National Assembly was one of four nongovernmental witnesses to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. On July 27, at a celebration reception co-hosted by the National Assembly, 20 other organizations and 30 federal officials, the secretary for external affairs was one of four dignitaries who spoke to the gathering about the importance of the United States ratifying the UN treaty dealing with the elimination of racial discrimination.

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

In November 1994 the National Assembly wrote to 712 local Spiritual Assemblies asking members of their communities to contact their senators and request support for ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Two Bahá’í representatives in the Washington office continued to participate in a committee for the ratification of the Women's Convention, meeting with several Senators' staff to educate them about the Convention. They also coordinated an April 1995 event for almost 100 NGO staff about the Women's Convention and about working with the U.S. Senate to promote its ratification.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

When the United States issued its first report to the UN Human Rights Committee on U.S. compliance with the provisions of the UN Civil and Political Covenant, several NGO representatives, including the National Assembly's deputy director for external affairs formed a review committee and held a conference for more than 100 NGOs in November 1994, for which she wrote a briefing paper on an overview of U.S. ratification of UN treaties. The NGO review committee, under the auspices of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, published in March 1995 an NGO book in response to the U.S. report and sent it to each of the 18 members of the UN Human Right Committee. Ms. Cosby wrote the chapter on the history of U.S. ratification of UN treaties and the legal implications of several amendments the United States attached at the time of its ratification of the Civil and Political Covenant. In March 1995 she attended the United States' testimony about the condition of civil and political rights in the U.S. before the UN Human Rights Committee.

Convention on the Rights of the Child

With several other NGOs the National Spiritual Assembly signed a letter in September 1994 that was sent to all Senators encouraging their support for ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and providing counter-arguments for ratification. In February 1995 the U.S. UN representative attended a reception at the U.S. Mission in New York to celebrate the signing by the U.S. of the Children's Convention. Signing the Convention was the first step toward ratification by the United States.

United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA)

In June 1994 Mr. Adriance, the NGO liaison, was elected to a two-year term as chairman of the executive committee of the Conference of Washington Representatives on the UN (CWRUN), a group of 130 Washington-based NGOs with membership in the UNA-USA. Meetings that plan and host events on UN issues were held in the National Spiritual Assembly's Washington office. As chairman of CWRUN, Mr. Adriance was also on the UNA-USA Board of Governors. During its February 1995 meeting in Washington, the board met with several members of Congress to discourage its support for legislation that would have a negative impact on the United States' relationship with the United Nations. On behalf of CWRUN, the NGO liaison also attended monthly meetings hosted by the UN Information Center with Washington representatives of UN agencies.

In other areas of service to the UNA-USA, members of the offices of external affairs served on the executive committee of the Council of UN Representatives to the UN in New York and its National Council.

The NGO liaison and the UN representative served on the advisory task force and the nominating committee for the UNA-USA annual convention to be held in San Francisco during the UN 50 celebration activities in June 1995.

For two years the deputy director for external affairs has been a member of the UNA/National Capital Area Human Rights Task Force. As the National Capital Area's contribution to the UNA-USA's annual policy project, Ms. Cosby and Bernard Hamilton, of the Minority Rights Group, were the project co-chairs and editors of a publication of 12 articles, Fresh Thoughts For Human Rights.

In August 1995 a conference on "The National Assembly on the U.S. and the UN" will be held in Washington. Mr. Adriance represented CWRUN on the conference's planning committee. He has arranged for the Washington Bahá’í Chorale to perform at the conference. The National Spiritual Assembly is one of the more than 100 co-sponsors of the event which is expected to draw more than 1,500 people.

Other UN activities

The UN representative followed several issues and the work of a number of committees and working groups at the UN and in the NGO community, such as the NGO Committee on the Day of the Áfrican Child, the NGO Committee on Youth, the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, the NGO Committee on Partnership, the U.S. Committee on UNICEF, the U.S. Committee on UNIFEM, and the planning Committee for the UN Environment Program Environmental Sabbath.

Human rights

Since the UN Conference on Human Rights in 1993, the deputy director for external affairs and her assistant have taken part in the Washington Coalition on Human Rights. For the past year Ms. Cosby has been the vice-chair of the Coalition of more than 80 member organizations that met monthly to coordinate a variety of human rights activities and events. She also met each month with a group of Washington-based directors of human rights organizations to discuss how their organizations might collaborate on issues and to provide one another with information on a variety of human rights concerns.

In October the deputy director for external affairs joined with 20 human-rights activists, academics, and U.N. and U.S. officials at a weekend retreat sponsored by the Stanley Foundation on "Human Rights and U.S. Foreign Policy: Who Controls the Agenda. " The proceedings were published in February 1995. She also took part in a symposium at Notre Dame University in December called "The United Nations at Fifty: Creating a More Democratic and Effective UN." Her paper, "Enhancing Participation by Human Rights NGOs in the UN System," was published by the University's Kroc Institute of International Studies.

Race unity activities

Dr. Carole Miller and Ms. Pat Steele continued their work as representatives of the National Spiritual Assembly to the Martin Luther King Center and the King Federal Holiday Commission. In January 1995 the Atlanta-area Bahá’ís, along with Dr. Robert Henderson and Dr. Miller, both of whom are King Federal Holiday commissioners, participated for the tenth year in the King Holiday Parade. Dr. Henderson was one of the grand marshals of the parade. Bahá’ís were involved in several King Week activities: its steering committee, coordinating the program "Prayers around the World," coordinating the multicultural committee for "Celebrate Differences," and preparing an international float for the parade. Because the Turner Broadcasting System covered the King parade, millions of Americans were introduced to the Faith through the description of the Bahá’í float.

In August Bahá’í representatives and youth gathered in Little Rock, Arkansas , at the National Youth Assembly of the King Center. Cornelia Rutledge was the National Assembly's representative in Washington on the event's planning committee.

Also in August, Mr. Huffines of the Washington office and Ken Bowers, secretary of the National Teaching Committee, met with the UN Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Maurice Glele-Ahanhanzo, to present him with a report of U.S. Bahá’í community activities that have promoted race unity. The Special Rapporteur was in the U.S. to study this country's race relations and presented his findings to the 1995 UN Human Rights Commission in which the contribution by the National Spiritual Assembly was cited.

Sustainable development

Throughout the year the NGO liaison continued his involvement with the Citizens Network for Sustainable Development, a group of more than 100 U.S.-based NGOs engaged in fostering the movement for sustainability initiated at the 1992 Earth Summit. Besides participating in briefings on the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, he was conference that took place in Davenport, Iowa, in on the planning committee for the Network's annual July. The National Assembly released a statement, "Unity and Consultation: Foundations for Sustainable Development," which received a favorable response from conference participants. Mr. Adriance gave a workshop that explored the means by which representatives of business, government and NGOs could work together, assisted by principles of consultation.

Also in July he was one of 30 representatives of government, NGOs and academia invited to take part in a workshop of the Canadian National Roundtable on Environment and Economy held in Washington. The purpose was to prepare the Prime Minister of Canada for the Summit of the Americas held last December in Miami.

The deputy director for external affairs, since 1993 a member of the board of directors of the Global Tomorrow Coalition (GTC) as a representative of the National Assembly, was on the GTC annual dinner committee and is a member of the October 1995 Globescope conference planning committee. At the annual dinner in June 1994, with 400 people in attendance, she read the invocation, a prayer of Bahá’u’lláh. Secretary of Energy Hazel O'Leary, the keynote speaker for the event, commented later in the evening on the beauty of the prayer. Ms. Cosby has been asked again to serve on the 1995 GTC annual dinner committee. In December Bahá’í representatives in the Washington office attended the GTC Executive Forum on Corporate Sustainable Development with several corporate o'cials and NGO representatives.

News media

In September 1994 the Office of Public Information (OPI) convened a task force of Bahá’ís who are media professionals to consult on long-term strategies for reaching the national communications media. Office of Public Information contact with the media during the year included National Public Radio to speak about the arrests of individuals in connection with the murder of three Bahá’ís in South Africa in March 1994. Excellent media coverage in local Bahá’í communities during the year occurred in Los Angeles; Houston; Lexington, Kentucky; Atlanta; Salt Lake City; Highland Ranch, Colorado; and Woodburn and Salem, Oregon.

During the past year Ms. Swanson, the OPI director, served as an officer of the New York City chapter of the Religious Public Relations Council.

North American Interfaith Network (NAIN)

Dr. Thelma Khelghati, the National Assembly's representative to the North American Interfaith Network, attended NAIN's annual meeting in Ottawa in August 1994.

Olympics Interfaith Advisory Committee

Dr. Miller and Ms. Steele continued their work on the Olympic Interfaith Advisory Committee preparing for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. At its monthly meetings the committee discussed an interfaith chapel for the athletes, the availability of religious materials, chaplains and religious contacts, and education and intercultural exchange for the athletes and their families.

Public Information Representative network

After reopening the Office of Public Information in July, contact with the public information representative network was one of the office's top priorities. In October the director of public information held the first of 11 regional meetings for public information representatives and interested others. [Page 19]meetings allowed the public information representatives to meet with one another and discuss the media situation in their areas as well as to inform the OPI director about their needs for materials, training and assistance. The meetings also allowed the Office of Public Information to communicate its own information to the local communities.

Southeast Asian Bahá’í refugees

Besides its work with Iranian Bahá’í refugees, the Bahá’í Refugee Office in Wilmette also located Southeast Asian Bahá’í refugees and recruited and trained Bahá’í “helpers” living near sites with large populations of Southeast Asians to promote cultural integration and spiritual development of the Bahá’ís. The Office prepared Bahá’í materials, both written and audio/visual, in various Southeast Asian languages, such as Khmer, Hmong, Laotian and Vietnamese, and made efforts to educate the American Bahá’í community about Southeast Asian culture.

More than 300 Southeast Asian Bahá’ís were enrolled in the U.S. Bahá’í community this past year as the volunteer “helpers” began to see the fruit of years of effort to teach and consolidate the Southeast Asian population. The most promising aspect of the work was with the youth. Efforts to introduce the Southeast Asian young people to Bahá’í Youth Workshops was well received. This year two all-Southeast Asian local Spiritual Assemblies were formed—in Yuba County, California, and Dekalb County North, Georgia.

The Refugee Office worked with other National Spiritual Assemblies, such as Australia, and with French Guiana, sending materials in the Hmong language for assistance in the teaching and consolidation work among the Hmong refugees in that country.

The Refugee Office published quarterly the “Southeast Asian Helpers Bulletin” to help Bahá’ís who are working with the Southeast Asian community. Ms. Stevens visited California, Massachusetts, Georgia and Minnesota, assisting the local “helpers” to contact Southeast Asian refugees and encouraging local Bahá’í communities to integrate the refugees into the greater U.S. Bahá’í community.

She also worked with 10 Hmong Bahá’ís who attended the “International Symposium on Hmong” and “Conference for Promoting World Hmong Culture, Economy, Trade, Communication and Cooperation” held on mainland China.

Task force on teaching prominent people

In its Ridván 1990 letter the Universal House of Justice said that the Faith “needs now to embrace increasing numbers of people of capacity, including persons of accomplishment and prominence in the various fields of human endeavor.” The National Spiritual Assembly appointed a committee of five to devise a strategy to reach prominent individuals in the United States. The committee presented its recommendations to the Assembly in February 1995.

U.S. UN Office links with other Bahá’í agencies

During the year the UN Office initiated discussions with the Louhelen and Green Acre Bahá’í Schools for the systematic education of the Bahá’ís on international issues and U.N.-related activities. The Office sent copies of the 1994 U.N. Development Program (UNDP) Report and “Uniting the Peoples and Nations,” a publication of the World Federalist Movement, to the schools. Contact was also established with World Order magazine, Brilliant Star, the House of Worship, and WLGI Radio in South Carolina.

Treasury

This year’s developments in the Treasury have important spiritual implications for the community that should not be obscured by the financial discussion and statistics that follow. Our giving patterns, whether as individuals or as institutions, showed during the year just ending that we are grappling with vital issues: the interrelationships between the local, national and international institutions of the Cause; the levels of detachment and sacrifice we must make as the ransom for a distressed humanity; and the character of our love for Bahá’u’lláh as expressed in deeds.

Four major tangible developments shaped the evolution of the national Treasury during the past year:

• Giving to the Arc Fund for the Mount Carmel Projects rose at the fastest pace since 1989 and may well reach the $6 million mark by the end of the fiscal year.
• Contributions to the National Bahá’í Fund are expected to finish the year at $10 million, 5 percent lower than the previous year.
• Work on the crown of the holiest Mashriqu’l-Adhkár and on the Sarah Farmer Inn was completed.
• Volunteer efforts to raise funds for the Mount Carmel Projects spread across the nation.

Revenues

Contributions to the four major Funds of the Faith—the Arc Projects Fund, the International Fund, the Continental Fund and the National Bahá’í Fund—are projected to be 7 percent higher than last year, or more than $17.1 million. However, giving has grown slowly over time. Graph 1 (in which the International, National and Continental Funds are combined) shows that progress between 1992 and 1995 has been gradual at best.

A worrisome trend is the enduring seasonal pattern of giving, a trend that directly affects the operations of the national administration. If one superimposes three years’ giving patterns for the four major funds on top of the other, as in Graph 2, one sees that not only does the pattern of peaks and valleys repeat itself but that the peaks have become higher and the valleys deeper.

This pattern is even more marked in the National Bahá’í Fund and represents more potential risk to the community, as shown in Graph 3.

Contributions to the National Bahá’í Fund in 1995 lagged behind 1994 levels for most of the year and are estimated to end the year about 5 percent below the previous year’s total, or $10 million. Although August and September were relatively good summer months, the uneven income distribution placed significant cash-flow pressure on the National Assembly and led to an increase in borrowing.

An anticipated increase of some 7 percent in earned income from the schools, the Bahá’í Publishing Trust and the Assembly’s investments will bring the total to $3.6 million for the year just ending. Together with the $10 million in contributions, these earnings are projected to push the National Assembly’s total revenues to $14.4 million, not including contributions to the various international Funds of the Cause.

Arc Projects Fund growth

The Arc Projects Fund made the greatest progress during the year. With total contributions expected to reach $6 million, the U.S. Bahá’í community has raised its giving for the vast Mount Carmel Projects to its highest level since 1991—a remarkable achievement. The community’s response to the calls of the Universal House of Justice and the National Spiritual Assembly has, indeed, been heartwarming.

In 1991 the hand of the Cause of God William Sears led us in helping to complete the $50 million reserve for the Mount Carmel Projects, and our contributions reached nearly $8 million. In the following two years contributions fell to one-half of the 1991 level. Since the beginning of the Three Year Plan, contributions have begun to return to levels that are, perhaps, more in accord with the spiritual primacy conferred on this community by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Prospects look good for the coming year, due in large part to the efforts of a growing network of volunteers in every part of the country. An effort that began in February 1994 with an offer of sacrificial volunteer service by Melville Thomason has now blossomed into a cadre of more than 500 friends who are actively engaged at the local level as catalysts for activities designed not only to raise funds but, perhaps most important, to bring the believers together in joy and unity around this mighty task. Pledges have been made by friends across the nation as a result of these endeavors, and indications are good that these commitments to Bahá’u’lláh will be redeemed.

The challenges for the coming year will be to achieve major increases in the amount of contributions and in the number of contributors and to strike a better balance in giving to the various Funds. As Graph 4 illustrates, the relative proportions of giving for the various funds have changed dramatically between 1992 and 1995.

Whereas in 1992, 13 cents of every dollar received at the National Center was directed to the Arc, today 35 cents of each dollar is earmarked for the Arc Projects Fund. Over the same three years monies available to the National Assembly for paying its own bills have dropped from 78 cents of each dollar received to 59 cents. It was this dilemma that the Assembly took to the friends in its letter of December 5, 1994: How can we increase the vital momentum of giving for the Arc, which spiritually and financially is our highest priority, while at the same time safeguarding our development at the local and national levels?

Total Contributions [Page 20]

Local Assembly goals

The National Spiritual Assembly believes the program of Spiritual Assembly goals for the National Bahá’í Fund, now entering its sixth year, is crucial to solving the dilemma. Far more than a fiscal management tool, the goal program is a tangible reflection of the spiritual link that exists between the National Spiritual Assembly and the local bodies upon whom the national administration’s stability depends. One of the processes that will coincide with the Lesser Peace is the maturation of local and national institutions; the local goal program is one measure of our progress toward this goal.

Unlike previous years, during 1994 Spiritual Assemblies set their own commitment levels without having first received a suggested target from the Office of the Treasurer. A firm core of more than 1,000 Spiritual Assemblies, nearly three-quarters of all Assemblies, has actively participated in the program since its inception, demonstrating dedication and sacrifice. The goal for this final year of the Three Year Plan must be universal participation by every Spiritual Assembly, as well as participation by a growing number of registered groups.

Seasonal patterns of giving: all Funds

Seasonal patterns of giving: National Fund

Expenses

On the next page is a table showing the growth in the cost of conducting the community’s national affairs, together with the increases in debt incurred to meet crucial long-term goals. Note that the figures (in millions of dollars) do not include contributions made for the international Funds, inasmuch as the focus is on the domestic operations and programs of the National Assembly.

Expenses and debt have grown steadily over the past six years as the mandate of the community has expanded. During these years, though, the National Spiritual Assembly has operated from a position of austerity, which is clearly reflected in the virtually constant level of expense over the last three years; basic expenses rose only 1.6 percent between 1994 and 1995. Our national administration has become, at this stage in its development, a $15 million organization. To help the friends understand this fact better, we have drawn on comments and questions received during the past year.

Salaries and staffing

One of the areas that seems to be of most concern to some of the friends is staffing, with its attendant salary, tax and benefit expenses. This year, salaries are expected to total some $5.5 million; payroll taxes, insurance, and pension costs—another $1.8 million—bring total personnel expenses to $7.4 million, or 50 percent of all operating expenses.

It is important to note that total salaries increased last year by only about 2 percent; factoring in a 3 percent rate of inflation, total salaries actually fell. The main cause for the nominal increase this year was the decision of the National Assembly to give 4 percent raises to employees earning less than $30,000 annually; before this decision, many of the friends serving the National Assembly had received no raises for as many as seven years. The average salary at the offices and agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly is well below the average in the community, which the Office of Treasurer’s 1991 survey indicated was approximately $38,800. The salaries of the highest-paid officers are lower than those at comparable organizations; to ensure fairness and balance, the Human Resources department and the Office of the Treasurer consult other organizations and published surveys, such as those printed periodically in The Chronicle of Philanthropy. In a survey of foundation officers’ compensation, for example, the Chronicle reported that the 1992 median income for a foundation president was $155,000; among other charitable organizations, according to a 1994 Chronicle study, 61 of 189 major charities paid their presidents at least $200,000 and gave yearly raises averaging 5 percent (vs. inflation of roughly 3 percent in recent years). Good Shepherd Services, a New York social services agency with a $13 million budget, paid its executive director $78,000 in 1993. All of these salaries exceed those paid by the National Spiritual Assembly to its staff.

In the interest of maintaining salary costs as low as possible, the National Spiritual Assembly has adopted a policy of keeping staff levels as low as they can be, consistent with the kind of service requirements it feels are needed by the community. There have been broad reductions in staffing levels in virtually every office of the national administration.

In 1989 some 325 people received salaries from the National Spiritual Assembly for work done in Wilmette, at the permanent schools and institutes, and in offices in New York and Washington. Today 223 people carry a work load that has grown dramatically over the six intervening years.

To fill the gaps, the National Assembly’s strategy has been threefold: hire more experienced people who bring records of achievement to their service; use computer technology to increase productivity; and build networks of volunteers wherever possible. The result has been that the services offered the community and others have been maintained, even increased, without adding people and their attendant costs. The question remains, however, whether such an approach represents a safe position from which to prepare for the long-expected entry by troops: how will we accommodate accelerated growth with an infrastructure already stretched to its limits?

Other expense categories

Another of the items some friends have inquired about is travel. This number appears to have grown. In 1990 the total was about $364,000, while in 1995 it is projected at roughly $600,000. Travel represented, however, only 3 percent of total operating expenses in 1990, and five years later it still accounts for only 3 percent.

The External Affairs work, discussed elsewhere in detail, has been a much more significant expense. The projected outlay on this vital service, with its life-and-death, worldwide implications, will be $927,000 in 1995; since 1991 we have invested $4.2 million in this area alone.

The community’s property portfolio represents a notable cost, not just this year but every year. In 1995 maintenance on the 100-plus structures held in trust by the National Spiritual Assembly is estimated at $1.7 million; restoration and improvements on these buildings will add another $1.6 million. These outlays have made possible the completion and reopening of the Sarah Farmer Inn at the Green Acre Bahá’í School, key to that institution’s eventual self-sufficiency, and the restoration of the crown of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, the most recent stage in a decade-long restoration program for this sacred, silent teacher of our Faith.

Since 1991 the properties bill has been much more substantial than has generally been recognized and has accounted for most of the National Assembly’s “discretionary” income, which might be used for a myriad other purposes. Maintenance has averaged more than $1.5 million a year since 1991; capital expenditures have added another $9 million during [Page 21]the same period. In other words, properties have consumed some $17 million in the last five years. These unavoidable costs, which actually represent a minimal expenditure in comparison with the need, have limited our strategic possibilities, and debt has grown to cover the shortfall in current contributions.

The debt structure of the National Bahá’í Fund

During the 1995 fiscal year the indebtedness of the National Spiritual Assembly was reduced by $1,485,463. This sum represented pledges to the Universal House of Justice that were accrued as liabilities in 1992 and 1993. These sums were to have been allocated from the general revenues (that is, unearmarked contributions) of the National Assembly, but because of insufficient contributions, the pledges could not be met in those years. As no accounting regulation requires these amounts to be included in the National Assembly’s financial statements as indebtedness, this adjustment has now been made. The debt structure of the National Fund as presented herein now represents more clearly the results of the actual operations.

At the end of the fiscal year the National Spiritual Assembly had loans outstanding from institutional and individual lenders totaling $9.6 million. This burden of indebtedness, all short-term, represents a significant risk to the stability of the community and its national administration, especially since our teachings tell us that the times ahead will become increasingly turbulent.

The National Assembly has long recognized the need to reduce the level of debt but now feels that this must become an organizational objective. The national budget for the coming year, therefore, includes a $1.5 million target for debt repayment. The National Assembly’s ability to meet this target, however, will depend in large part on the believers themselves, since we have already seen that major efforts have been made to hold all categories of expense to bare minimum levels. For the last two years, the National Assembly has attempted to pay down its debt. Each year, however, seasonal swings in the cash flow have made this impossible. The summer drop in giving prompts borrowing, which must then be repaid in the fall, and no net reduction in debt takes place. No effort to cut expenses will be spared; but giving must increase.

Total contributions

	Revenues	Expenses			Debt Outstanding	Long-Term Projects
		Operations*	Capital	Total Exp
1989	$10,556	$10,663	$789	$11,452	$3,976	HOW stairs; Green Acre
1990	$9,036	$11,580	$1,095	$12,675	$2,596	Debt Reduction; Green Acre; HOW Cleaning
1991	$10,737	$11,193	$2,064	$13,257	$4,153	New mainframe; HOW cleaning; World Congress Prep
1992	$15,136	$12,294	$1,390	$13,684	$5,141	HOW Cleaning; Sarah Farmer/Green Acre Restoration
1993	$13,340	$14,636	$1,908	$16,544	$7,896	HOW Crown Repairs; Sarah Farmer continues
1994	$14,782	$14,688	$1,896	$16,584	$8,956	HOW Crown Repairs; Sarah Farmer; Wilhelm Cabin
1995e	$14,549	$14,922	$1,902	$16,824	$9,584	HOW Crown Repairs finished; Sarah Farmer opens

• Note: Does not include allocations to international Funds

Social and economic development

During the Holy Year the National Spiritual Assembly created and incorporated two social and economic development agencies—Mottahedeh Development Services (MDS) and Health for Humanity (HH). The Development Department of the Treasurer’s Office serves as the National Assembly’s liaison for the program development and financial management of both agencies.

Mottahedeh Development Services opened a second office in Atlanta, in part to be able to work more closely with the Family Unity Institute, a program created in conjunction with the Spiritual Assemblies of South DeKalb County, Georgia, and Conway, South Carolina, in the elaboration of their development agenda. MDS, with Health for Humanity, cosponsored the Bahá’í Health Conference at the Louhelen School. Internationally, MDS personnel played key roles in developing a comprehensive educational program in five public schools in the Marshall Islands; assisted with fund management of a BIC joint project with the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM); secured funding for the National Spiritual Assembly of India to train two primary health-care workers who, in turn, will train other Bahá’í community development workers in that country; secured donations for training in Zambia of a health officer to perform septic surgery for leprosy patients; and was commissioned by the Universal House of Justice’s Office of Social and Economic Development to take part in a global study of applications of microenterprise methods in the context of Bahá’í communities.

Health for Humanity received its first grant from the Soros Foundation for the development of eye services in Albania, which has paralleled the initiation of the Albanian Eye Project calling for an officially recognized HH presence in that nation; formed five regional networks in metro Washington, D.C., Southern California, Georgia, Michigan and Texas; continued its support for programs in Guyana, Honduras and Dominica; initiated new efforts in Kenya and the Anhui Province of China; further developed its business plan and held its first fund-raiser; published a quarterly newsletter; improved its inventory system for gifts of medical supplies and equipment; and doubled its contributing membership to 500.

Huqúqu’lláh

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

Payments of Huqúqu’lláh are deductible for federal income and estate tax purposes. Checks for Huqúqu’lláh should be made payable to “Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust” and sent directly to one of the following Trustees:

• Dr. Elsie Austin, Silver Spring, MD 20901
• Dr. Amin Banani, Santa Monica, CA 90402
• Dr. Daryush Haghighi, Rocky River, OH 44116

Note: The Trustees of the Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust have directed the Office of the Treasurer to return to the sender any checks if received for Huqúqu’lláh.

Distinctive Features of the Bahá’í Fund

Sacred obligation

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

Voluntary nature

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

Privilege

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

Regular and sacrificial

Regular and sacrificial giving is a measure of a believer’s devotion to Bahá’u’lláh and a cause of spiritual growth.

Notes to Financial Statements: April 30, 1995, and 1994

Operations and accounting policies

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States (the Assembly) was established in 1927 as a voluntary trust and subsequently incorporated in October, 1994, as an Illinois not-for-profit corporation to administer, teach and further the Bahá’í Faith in the United States.

The accounts of the Assembly are maintained on the accrual basis. The financial statements of the Assembly include the assets, liabilities, fund balances and financial activities of the Bahá’í National Fund, the Bahá’í Publishing Trust and the Bahá’í Home.

The principal accounting policies used by the Assembly are as follows:

Contributions

Contributions from members of the Faith, unless specifically restricted by the donor, are considered to be available for unrestricted use and are recorded as received. Contributions in kind are recorded at an amount representing the estimated fair value of goods and services received during the year. Items received of artistic or religious significance for which no value can be readily determined and which are not anticipated to be sold are recorded at nominal value.

Contributions from non-members may not be used to support the Faith and, accordingly, such amounts received are distributed for other humanitarian causes. Contributions restricted by the donor for particular programs and projects, or for property and equipment acquisitions, are earned and reported as revenues when the Assembly has incurred expenses for the purpose specified by the donor. Such amounts received, but not yet earned, are reported as restricted deferred amounts. Estate bequests are recorded when the funds are received.

Tax-exempt status

The U.S. Treasury Department has held that the National Spiritual Assembly and all subordinate local Spiritual Assemblies are exempt from federal income tax as organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) of 1986. Accordingly, contributions made to the National Spiritual Assembly and all of its subordinate local Spiritual Assemblies are deductible by the donors for federal income tax purposes as provided by IRC Section 170.

Bequests, legacies, devises, transfers or gifts to the National Spiritual Assembly or its subordinate local Assemblies are deductible for federal estate and gift tax purposes as provided by IRC Sections 2055, 2106, and 2522.

Inventories

Inventories of books and special materials are valued at average cost.

Investments

Investments are recorded at market value.

Property and equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. The Assembly computes depreciation of fixed assets over their estimated useful lives using the straight line method.

May 1992	April 1995
Other Int’l 9% Arc 13% NBF 78%	Other Int’l 6% Arc 35% NBF 59%

[Page 22]

Reports from departments, committees, schools

SECRETARIAT

Community Administration

GOAL To provide administrative support to the National Spiritual Assembly by monitoring the development of Bahá’í communities; offering guidance to local Spiritual Assemblies in their formations, dealing with violations of Bahá’í law, problems of disunity and disputes, personal status issues, withdrawals and reinstatements of Bahá’í membership; helping believers with issues of immigration and naturalization; assisting Management Information Services with enrollments and membership transfers of individuals from the Middle East; and maintaining files of all correspondence received from the Universal House of Justice.

ACTIVITIES Received and processed a total of 5,591 letters and handled approximately 10,000 telephone calls.

Prepared 125 personal status cases for the consideration of the National Spiritual Assembly. A total of 402 requests for withdrawal were granted, and 41 people were reinstated after having been withdrawn from Bahá’í membership.

Persian/American Affairs Office

GOAL To further the integration of Persian-speaking Bahá’ís in collaboration with local Spiritual Assemblies, groups and individuals; to further the development and distribution of integration programs and materials that can be used also by other agencies; and to act as liaison to regional Persian media task forces appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly to monitor and respond to misrepresentations of the Faith in Persian media.

ACTIVITIES Held the fourth annual conference of the “Friends of Persian Culture” and produced a text of the proceedings of the first two annual conferences, titled Peik of the Friends of Persian Culture.

Monitored the activities of the Persian Media Task Forces in Southern California, the Washington, D.C. area, and Atlanta, Georgia. The Southern California Task Force broadcast weekly live and pre-recorded programs on an FM radio station and responded to several items in Persian print media. The Regional Persian Media Task Force for the Washington, D.C. area broadcast pre-recorded radio programs called “Payam-i-Doost” and held a successful fund-raising program that paid for all costs of the program and for the acquisition of production equipment. The Persian Media Task Force in Atlanta, appointed in January 1995, began its radio broadcasts in March by broadcasting prayers for the Fast.

Assisted with arrangements for two weekend intensive deepening programs in Persian conducted in Northwest Harris County, Texas, and University Park, Texas; three weekend seminars on the importance of and methods for teaching Persian reading and writing to children held in the Washington, D.C. area, in Houston, Texas, and at the Bahá’í National Center; and assisted the Bahá’í community of Skokie, Illinois, to organize a weekend of intensive study of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas held at the Bahá’í National Center.

Coordinated the work of the Persian Review Panel; received subscription fees for Payam-i-Bahá’í from U.S. subscribers; helped to distribute Bahá’í literature in Persian and Arabic published abroad; produced a total of 50 Persian pages for The American Bahá’í; produced four issues of Tabernacle of Unity, a quarterly bi-lingual publication sent to Counselors, Auxiliary Board members and 300 network members; and published Eliminating Racial Prejudice: The Bahá’í Perspective, a study guide in Persian for use in organizing deepenings on race unity.

Coordinated translations of a number of compilations prepared at the Bahá’í World Center; helped translate the Ridván 151 message of the Universal House of Justice; helped with the Persian translation of The Bahá’í Newsreel soundtracks; prepared Persian translations of National Spiritual Assembly messages, including Feast letters and the May 19, 1994, letter addressed to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States; and prepared English translations of items in Persian newspapers for the Office of the Secretariat for External Affairs.

Office of Research and Review

GOAL To perform research, writing, scholarship, literature review and special materials review functions for the National Spiritual Assembly.

ACTIVITIES Wrote 3,045 letters concerning literature review, special materials review, the Haj Mehdi Arjmand Memorial Fund scripture conferences, the Association for Bahá’í Studies, and the Institute for Bahá’í Studies.

Completed the literature review process on 164 items (representing a 23 percent increase over the 125 reviews completed in 1993–94 and a 188 percent increase over the 57 items reviewed in 1992–93) and processed an additional 113 items submitted to the Special Materials Reviewing Committee for a total of 277 separate items reviewed.

Compiled and published the annual report of the agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly; surveyed all local Spiritual Assemblies in the U.S. and compiled an annual statistical report requested by the Universal House of Justice; assembled a bibliography of works by the Hand of the Cause of God Louis G. Gregory; helped the Special Materials Reviewing Committee complete new guidelines for reviewing special materials; located writers to complete In Memoriam articles for The Bahá’í World; assembled several compilations of the Bahá’í writings, including one on death and dying for a public hospice in Texas; and wrote letters on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly at the request of its Secretariat.

Helped Bahá’í students and academics of other religions by responding to queries; reading papers and articles for publication and offering suggestions for improvement; producing academic and instructional materials; writing articles about the Faith for encyclopedias and other reference works; writing letters politely offering corrections of misinformation about the Faith in reference and scholarly publications; encouraging the creation of university courses on the Faith; attending academic conferences and encouraging Bahá’ís to present papers on the Faith at such venues; sponsoring scholarly conferences and lectures on the Faith; providing research advice and assistance; and helping with the publication of scholarly works on the Faith.

Planned and executed three research colloquia sponsored by the Haj Mehdi Arjmand Memorial Fund: one in the Persian language at Green Acre Bahá’í School in October 1994; one on the Kitáb-i-Aqdas at the DePoort Bahá’í School in the Netherlands in November 1994; and one on the Kitáb-i-Aqdas in Wilmette in March 1995; and collaborated with the Archives Office and World Order Magazine in planning observances of the centenary of the establishment of the Bahá’í Faith in North America.

Proposed the creation of the Institute for Bahá’í Studies in conjunction with the Archives Office, the Education and Schools Office, the Persian-American Affairs Office and World Order magazine to foster the systematic study of the Bahá’í Faith. Following approval by the National Spiritual Assembly and the appointment of representatives of each agency to a task force, the Institute sponsored a talk by Dr. Julie Badiee about the Houses of Worship around the world; two talks by Dr. Moojan Momen; a conference on Women in Bahá’í Perspective; and began assembling a document defining key Bahá’í terms to be sent to every dictionary published in the United States. The Institute for Bahá’í Studies’ proposal for the creation of an educational agency of the National Spiritual Assembly also was approved. The Wilmette Institute will provide courses on the Faith including a four-year program of study equivalent to three university-level courses each year.

Planned the Bahá’í Studies program offered at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion, the display of materials about the Bahá’í Faith in the AAR’s exhibition hall, and the Religious Studies Seminar at the Association for Bahá’í Studies conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Continued to cosponsor a weekly non-credit course on world religions at the Bahá’í House of Worship and offered a course on the Bahá’í Faith for college credit at DePaul University in Chicago.

Published an article about the history of the American Bahá’í community from 1894–1994 in World Order magazine; wrote articles about the Faith and about ‎Corrine Corinne‎ True for encyclopedias and an article about the Bahá’í vision of humanity’s future for an interfaith book to be published by Oneworld Publications; completed page-proofing an article titled “The Bahá’í Faith in the Nineties” for a book on new religions in the United States and the final version of The Bahá’í Faith in America, Volume Two, 1900–1912; and agreed to assemble materials for a CD-ROM on religious diversity in the U.S. for a Harvard University project.

Served on the Association for Bahá’í Studies International Advisory Committee, its Executive Committee, and the editorial board of its Journal of Bahá’í Studies, and served on the editorial board of World Order magazine.

Office of the Secretary—Conventions

GOAL To plan, coordinate and direct implementation of National and District Conventions and to educate the American Bahá’í community on the principles and implementation of Bahá’í district and national elections.

ACTIVITIES Coordinated all activities and reporting procedures for the 155 District Conventions, appointed local Spiritual Assemblies to host conventions, and supported and helped those Assemblies with logistical procedures for hosting conventions.

Planned and coordinated the logistics for the 1995 National Convention, the first national convention since 1986 to be held away from the Bahá’í House of Worship, in anticipation of serving 171 delegates and approximately 1,800 visitors.

Prepared an article about the purpose and history of National Convention and a District Convention site listing for publication in The American Bahá’í and revised, published and distributed to the District Convention host Assemblies the District Convention Planning Guide.

TEACHING

National Teaching Committee

GOAL To support and guide regional and district teaching committees and teaching efforts across the United States; to help the National Assembly restructure administrative aspects of the teaching work; and to help promote and execute the national teaching plan.

ACTIVITIES Renewed the call to the American Bahá’í community to achieve the numerical goals of the Three Year Plan in its first 19 months, by the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh on November 12, 1994. One goal of “Mission 19,” to raise 3,000 traveling teachers and 500 homefront pioneers, already has been won, but only five new local Spiritual Assemblies have been formed in cities with populations of 50,000, well short of the goal of 142 such new Assemblies. Enrollments recorded as of March 1, 1995, show the community has grown by 1,383 adults and 417 youth. During the Six Year Plan the rate of Assembly formations dropped steadily; however, in the past year 1,411 local Spiritual Assemblies were formed (28 of them for the first time), representing the first increase in the number of Assembly formations since the end of the Seven Year Plan (1986).

Called for all local Spiritual Assemblies to formulate teaching strategies for the second year of the [Page 23]

ANNUAL REPORTS

Three Year Plan and asked for progress reports from Assemblies that had submitted plans during the first year, receiving slightly more than 600 responses out of approximately 3,300 communities.

Produced and distributed throughout the country a booklet entitled "Vision in Action" which included: the November 9, 1993, letter from the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies about entry by troops; the October 1993 statement and compilation "Promoting Entry by Troops," prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice; an excerpt from the National Spiritual Assembly’s 1994 annual report on "Fundamental Issues Facing the American Bahá’í Community"; and "A Strategy for Large-Scale Expansion and Consolidation," prepared by the National Teaching Committee.

Completed the national "HEAT Wave" fireside campaign created to engage individual believers in achieving the goals of the Three Year Plan by holding regular firesides. By the end of the campaign last November, about 2,000 individuals had reported holding firesides attended by more than 4,000 Bahá’ís and 2,000 guests.

Appointed State Teaching Committees for North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Arizona, California Southern, California Northern, Oregon and Washington to foster intercommunity collaboration, establish statewide goals, and promote systematic patterns of teaching that include a balance of proclamation, expansion and consolidation efforts.

Appointed national task forces for teaching Latin American and Chinese populations and continued to guide the efforts of seven Regional American Indian Teaching Committees, all of which are responsible for stimulating and supporting projects aimed at these ethnic groups, for developing specialized teaching materials, and for fostering intercommunity collaboration. Also appointed a National Arts Task Force, charged with developing strategies to foster the use of the arts in teaching, which began publishing Art Matters, a magazine dedicated to promoting teaching through the arts.

Launched and supported a national youth teaching campaign, "Army of Light," which called for local Spiritual Assemblies to organize youth teaching projects and for youth to arise as teachers. By the end of summer 1994, 120 projects were reported involving at least 1,000 youth participants. In February 1995, the National Teaching Committee asked local Spiritual Assemblies to intensify the campaign to involve many more youth during the final year of the Three Year Plan. The National Teaching Committee supported such efforts through regional coordination and the provision of materials and a training program for local Spiritual Assemblies and youth.

Held a national Army of Light youth conference in Phoenix, Arizona, last December, attended by approximately 2,000 people; placed 15 youth in domestic posts through the Bahá’í Youth Service Corps program; sent College Club packets to 150 local Spiritual Assemblies that sponsor College Clubs; provided guidance to youth traveling teachers and homefront pioneers; and inaugurated a national Bahá’í Youth Workshop Office, responsible for developing and stimulating youth teaching using the workshop model. As of March 1, 1995, the number of Bahá’í youth workshops in the U.S. had grown from 40 to 73 during the Three Year Plan.

Published, in collaboration with the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, a new pamphlet entitled Bahá’u’lláh: God’s Messenger to Humanity that was distributed free of charge to all local Spiritual Assemblies and made available for the cost of postage only to all believers. As of March 1, 1995, 325,000 copies had been distributed in the U.S. and Canada.

Supported more than 100 teaching projects throughout the country by providing homefront pioneers and traveling teachers, teaching and deepening materials, deputization, coordination of intercommunity support, and visits by members of the National Teaching Committee.

Published regularly articles and news items about teaching in The American Bahá’í, including a series of letters from the National Teaching Committee to the American Bahá’í community about various aspects of large-scale expansion and consolidation.

Collaborated with the Media Services department to produce the third video installment of the Vision in Action series highlighting successful teaching activities in three areas of the U.S. and collaborated with the Bahá’í Distribution Service to develop a color catalog of teaching and deepening materials for use in local teaching campaigns.

Sent representatives to a number of events including the National Spiritual Assembly’s gathering of indigenous peoples held in August 1994, local and statewide teaching conferences and training sessions, Army of Light training sessions, Special Visitors programs, and various other meetings and conferences.

Office of Pioneering

GOAL

To fulfill the mandate as stated in a letter from the Universal House of Justice dated August 25, 1993, to the National Spiritual Assembly to “raise up and prepare an increasing number of long- and short-term pioneers and traveling teachers, aiming at the deployment of at least 2,000 of them in the international field. . . .”

ACTIVITIES

Exceeded the initial goal of deploying 2,000 pioneers and traveling teachers during the course of the Three Year Plan. Since March 1, 1993, more than 3,185 American Bahá’ís have responded to the call for international service. In the past year, from May 1, 1994, through February 1, 1995, 238 Bahá’ís left for international pioneer posts, 26 Bahá’í Youth Service Corps volunteers were deployed, and 891 individuals undertook 1,261 international traveling teaching trips. Many of these believers shared professional skills with colleagues, contributing to the fields of medicine, law, psychology, management and business, education and training in the countries of Eastern Europe, Russia, Mongolia, Siberia and other areas of the Far East and Australasia.

Monitored a network of 45 resource individuals to help recruit and train prospective pioneers and traveling teachers for specific countries who conducted four training sessions in various areas of the United States.

Held five Pioneer and Bahá’í Youth Service Corps Training Institutes, attended by 76 adults, youth and children, and provided specialized training to 87 individuals in collaboration with other institutions for specific service in Asia.

Task Force for the Bahá’í House of Worship

GOAL

To serve and work with Bahá’í communities to spread the message of the Bahá’í Faith and to involve larger numbers of people from greater distances in the activities held in the Temple.

ACTIVITIES

Welcomed 167,536 visitors from 90 countries, with the largest percentages coming from the U.S. and Canada, Poland, Germany, India, Mexico, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Israel and Colombia; welcomed 5,252 individuals this year to devotions held at 12:15 p.m. each day; and conducted 160 tours for more than 5,000 people. House of Worship staff witnessed 21 declarations of belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

Responded to 980 interest cards in three languages and mailed 927 introductory books about the Faith at the request of seekers.

Provided free materials in 38 languages including a comprehensive brochure about the Faith; two prayer sheets in English (one for adults and one for children); a prayer sheet in Spanish; a copy of the statement of the Universal House of Justice on peace; a visit card provided to hotels, airports, tourist shops and individuals; and a quarterly newsletter for volunteers.

Supervised the activities of 271 volunteers who donated more than 10,500 hours of service as guides, tour leaders, discussion leaders, choir members, readers, ushers/hosts, office aides, program and hospitality coordinators, flower arrangers and summer interns.

Supervised the maintenance of the House of Worship Book Shop, which realized sales of $263,905 as of March 1, 1995.

Held a 24-hour prayer vigil for the success of the Race Unity Day walk; held monthly prayer breakfasts; commemorated all Holy Days and provided special programs for children; held open meetings to honor Race Unity Day, Universal Children’s Day, United Nations Day, United Nations Human Rights Day, the International Day of Peace and World Religion Day; and collaborated with the Metropolitan Interreligious Initiative to hold a forum session titled "Spirituality and the Real World."

Presented the eleventh annual David Kellum Awards, attended by 150 people, most of whom were not Bahá’ís.

Conducted a Special Visit Program attended by 79 participants.

Held two monthly firesides in English and Spanish; held a fireside in collaboration with the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Chicago featuring author Olya Roohizadegan; sponsored a weekly introductory class on the Faith; sponsored a weekly course titled "Religion in Bahá’í and Comparative Perspectives"; and continued "The Light Exchange" monthly discussion group.

Coordinated instructional and consultative meetings as follows: a planning tea to train local Spiritual Assemblies in assisting with hospitality and programming needs for Holy Days and special events at the House of Worship; an annual tea for National Center staff; volunteer training to focus teaching efforts on Bahá’u’lláh and His Station.

Convened the Wilmette Interfaith Association for the year and hosted one of its meetings; served on the board of the North Shore Race Unity Task Force; and assumed the major planning role for the annual Walk for Race Unity.

Provided facilities for National Convention, the District Convention for Illinois Northern No. 2B, the Office of the Treasurer’s special visit programs, a Unity Feast, one memorial service and 13 weddings.

EDUCATION

National Education and Schools Office and the Education Task Force

GOAL

To oversee the five permanent schools and institutes and the 36 regional schools committees; to supervise and provide support to the National Education Task Force responsible for creating the Core Curriculum process and training; and to create various curricula as designated by the National Spiritual Assembly, especially for the Destiny of America theme, the New Believers Course, and the Preparing Youth for Marriage and the Raising of Children trainings.

ACTIVITIES

Supervised the activities of the 36 regional schools which held 50 school sessions during the year, attended by approximately 7,000 people.

Designed a New Believers Course in collaboration with the National Teaching Committee and the Office of the Treasurer and conducted four pilot trainings; developed a program and conducted three pilot trainings on Preparing Youth for Marriage and Raising Children; and developed curricula and materials appropriate for various ages based upon the theme "The Destiny of America" for use at the five permanent Bahá’í schools and institutes and the 36 regional schools.

Published a book, Foundations for a Spiritual Education, compiling Bahá’í sacred writings on education with specific emphasis on children, and three editions of a newsletter, Forum on Bahá’í Education, for schools and teachers, both professional and parochial, with articles on research, courses and news.

Developed and used a set of curriculum strand materials for the spiritual education of children; continued training teachers, parents and community members in the Core Curriculum focusing on children’s education, parenting and race unity with more than 150 trainers and 1,250 teachers trained nationally and hundreds more internationally; trained 30 Race Unity Trainers as part of the Core Curriculum program with a specific focus on children and the oneness of mankind; and developed the Parenting Program of the Core Curriculum, training 30 Parent Facilitators to deliver trainings in the community on parenting and family life.

Developed a video on the role of the Bahá’í Faith in race relations in the United States and the impor- [Page 24]

ANNUAL REPORTS

tance of oneness in the spiritual education of children.

Maintained close links between youth programs throughout the country at schools, institutes and workshops in conjunction with the National Teaching Committee office.

Took part in developing the curriculum and administrative apparatus for the Wilmette Institute, a program for the systematic academic study of and the development of teachers of the Faith.

Bosch Bahá’í School

GOAL

To provide for the spiritual and intellectual growth of the Bahá’í community by incorporating the triple theme of the Three Year Plan, as well as the goals of the National Spiritual Assembly, in programs and an environment that encourages participants’ transformation through internalizing and acting upon the moral and spiritual principles of the Faith and to provide local Assembly programs to help with group transformation and the institution’s maturation process.

ACTIVITIES

Offered 30 sessions attended by more than 3,200 people with an 11-week summer session, two five-day winter sessions, a four-day spring session, and three week-long non-Bahá’í residential sessions, leaving only four weekends when the facility was not in use. Many sessions included two or more concurrent programs, increasing over-all attendance and use of facilities. New this year were three weekend sessions designed specifically for seekers and new believers at which more than a dozen people declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

Offered for the first time Bahá’í Core Curriculum teacher training programs during two week-long sessions and a pilot for an advanced level III teacher training.

Held a number of special-focus sessions addressing the needs and interests of particular groups including a Southeast Asian Leadership Conference, a National Latino Conference, a Chinese Teaching Conference, the fourth Urban LSA Conference, a Pioneering Institute, a Black History Celebration, a Race Unity Weekend, a Women’s Conference, a Marriage Retreat, an Arts and Teaching Weekend, a Health and Healing Symposium and three “Rendezvous of the Soul” weekends.

Continued emphasis on youth programs with four Youth Institutes held in the summer, four Youth Deepening weekends, a deepening weekend for the L.A. Youth Workshop, a Bahá’í College Club Weekend, a five-day Youth Service Corps training, and a four-day Children’s Camp. In addition, classes for children and youth were held during all general sessions, offering intensive study of the Bahá’í writings and opportunities for service and socialization.

Invited author Olya Roohizadegan to speak at two weekend sessions in October which subsequently led to her four and a half week traveling teaching tour throughout California, Arizona, Nevada and the Chicago area and resulted in the enrollment of ‎least at least‎ 95 new believers.

Held four LSA Team Development weekends with between four and eight Assemblies taking part in a series of trust-building activities with time provided for inter-Assembly and individual Assembly consultation.

Incorporated service projects for the school during sessions, securing more than 20,000 volunteer hours.

Provided a venue for nearby communities for large Bahá’í meetings and Holy Day observances and rented facilities for residential gatherings including two week-long Elderhostel programs and a six-day Gangaji Retreat.

Renovated the Bosch Library to more appropriately store and display the more than 9,000 books donated in the last year (the Marzieh Gail and Rabbani Trust collections have been added to the David Hofman collection) and began efforts to use a modified Library of Congress cataloging system.

Projected revenues of more than $271,000 for the year as of March 1, 1995, up approximately 7 percent over last year. Revenues from the Bookshop/Cafe increased approximately 20 percent to exceed $150,000.

Began construction of a new $300,000 classroom building in August, using more than $33,000 in earmarked contributions received during the year in addition to the approximately $120,000 already on hand. Upgraded cabins, including roof and foundation renovations and repairs, without drawing on the National Fund by using contributions earmarked for the Bosch Cabin Renovation Fund.

Green Acre Bahá’í School

GOAL

To provide an environment and educative process that fosters intellectual growth, social development and spiritual transformation in accordance with the goals of the Three Year Plan and the vision of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for the future of Green Acre.

ACTIVITIES

Engaged in a year-long celebration of “100 Years for Peace” to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding by Sarah Jane Farmer of the oldest Bahá’í school in America and the raising of the first known peace flag in the world. Highlighting the celebration was the reopening of Sarah Farmer Inn at a dedication ceremony marking the achievements of Green Acre’s first hundred years, attended by members of the Continental Board of Counselors, the National Spiritual Assembly, and 1,500 guests. The opening of the Inn ended a $1.3 million restoration project begun in 1989 of extensive renovation to the 104-year-old building’s interior and exterior and improvements to the grounds. The local town of Eliot, Maine, in honor of Green Acre’s 100th anniversary, adopted the theme “World Peace” for its annual Festival Days celebration. The Green Acre Peace Flag was raised in the town park, the Green Acre Children’s Choir gave several performances, and more than 100 non-Bahá’í guests were welcomed to a special open house and buffet dinner at Sarah Farmer Inn.

Welcomed more than 3,000 adults and children to programs based on the Destiny of America theme including classes on the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Tablets of the Divine Plan, teaching, the equality of women and men, race unity, marriage enrichment, families, personal transformation, and community development.

Held teacher-training sessions for the Core Curriculum for the spiritual education of children, a New Believers course, and an intensive seven-day Youth Institute.

Hosted a Pioneer Training Institute and Youth Service Corps training; a Haj Mehdi Arjmand Fellowship Scripture Conference; several one-day seminars; Nineteen Day Feasts and Holy Day observances; a funeral, weddings and other community events including two “Picnic on the Piscataqua” gatherings; and provided rental facilities to non-Bahá’í professional organizations.

Continued the Green Acre Children’s Chorus as a social and economic development program in the local community for children, further developing its repertoire and performance skills, attracting several new non-Bahá’ís to its membership, and holding weekly rehearsals and giving public performances.

Provided training and service opportunities to program participants and volunteers who supplied more than 12,000 hours of volunteer service. Increased the permanent staff from three to six full-time positions including a program coordinator, resident caretaker and food service manager.

Louhelen Bahá’í School

GOAL

To support the educational goals of the Three Year Plan by emphasizing intense study of the Sacred Writings, expanding the human resources of the Faith, promoting race unity and the advancement of women, and supporting the development of the National Teacher Training Center at Louhelen in collaboration with the National Education Task Force.

ACTIVITIES

Sponsored sessions and conferences based on the Destiny of America theme including thorough study of the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, especially the Kitáb-i-Aqdas; strengthening marriage and family life; children’s, junior youth and youth education and training; and sustained investigation of the spiritual foundations of racial unity.

Offered sessions specifically designed to nurture and strengthen the spiritual and practical foundations of marriage and family life including six sessions incorporating age-related activities encouraging “whole family” participation, and sessions for parents, married couples, and youth preparing for marriage.

Collaborated with the Auxiliary Board in sponsoring a weekend development workshop for members of local Spiritual Assemblies.

Sponsored a women’s conference to nurture women’s spiritual development and to help develop the necessary attitudes and behaviors in women and men that lead to full partnership and equality.

Facilitated the accelerating development of the Core Curriculum for Spiritual Education by supporting the activities of the National Teacher Training Center and its various programs in teacher training, parent facilitator training and race unity education.

Continued efforts to assure that the children’s and youth programs at Louhelen are integrated fully with the Core Curriculum for Spiritual Education, providing a solid base for all children and youth programming toward the goal of producing the first prejudice-free generation.

Assured that faculty representing non-dominant cultural backgrounds were prominent in Louhelen programs at all age levels.

Provided in all programs various levels of training in the attitudes and skills of serving others and encouraged all program participants to reflect on ways to serve their home communities more effectively.

Provided training that led to the contribution of more than 1,500 hours of volunteer service to the school including the services of three Youth Service Corps volunteers and one adult year-of-service volunteer.

Collaborated for the third consecutive year with the Mayor’s Office, the Flint Community Schools, the Flint Urban League, the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Flint and other Flint, Michigan, community groups on the City of Flint’s annual Race Unity Day activities, providing support and human resources.

Pursued a sustained advertising campaign in the Michigan Chronicle, Detroit’s largest African-American newspaper, to increase African-American use of Louhelen facilities. Non-Bahá’í groups in which African-Americans are predominant are the largest and most rapidly growing segment of Louhelen’s rental constituency, with “word-of-mouth” referrals generating increased interest.

Embarked on expanding the school facilities through use of increased voluntary contributions to reduce the need to purchase services from contractors or ask for subsidies from the National Fund and to create additional revenue-producing programs. Nearly $150,000 in services were contributed to the school. The development of the Louhelen Bookstore Cafe and expansion of the Twin Oaks Dining Room promise to generate revenues through increased use by Bahá’ís and rental of the facilities to outside organizations.

Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute and WLGI Radio

GOAL

To serve as a resource center for training Bahá’ís to enable them to become more actively involved in promoting the Faith and developing strong communities in South Carolina, thereby bringing about “entry by troops,” and to provide radio programming that will help deepen Bahá’ís, provide support for teaching efforts, and help uplift local communities.

ACTIVITIES

Hosted the ninth annual Peace Fest at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute, a two and one-half day program with more than 800 in attendance; hosted and co-sponsored the Louis G. Gregory/Magdalene Carney Teaching Initiative; and co-sponsored, with the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, the third annual “Enabling and Supporting the Development of Black Males” conference.

Held sessions of the South Carolina Summer and Winter schools, each lasting three and one-half days and featuring deepening classes for children, youth and adults; a Black Men’s gathering; monthly new believers deepenings; and weekly firesides, deepenings, worship services, children’s classes and youth workshop deepenings.

Hosted a meeting for assistants to the Auxiliary [Page 25]

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Board; a Southeast Workshop Coordinators session in collaboration with the Auxiliary Board; and four local Spiritual Assembly community retreats.

Sponsored a six-week summer academy; Advanced, Junior Youth, Youth and Children’s academies: Bahá’í Youth Service Corps training; a Pioneer Training Institute; Bahá’í Youth Leadership and Junior Youth Leadership weekends; and 10 special events and anniversaries during the year.

Formed the Louis G. Gregory Institute Gospel Workshop for teaching and deepening.

Acquired additional property and a building for use by WLGI Radio.

Broadcast daily devotions each morning and evening including a “Daily Pearl” quote from the sacred texts and the short obligatory prayer; music containing quotations from the Bahá’í writings; spots highlighting race unity and music promoting racial harmony; a series promoting African-American culture; special programs celebrating the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday; a youth program, “Street Talk”; a Bahá’í current affairs program, “Focus”; a women’s program, “Sister to Sister”; a series of programs about the election and functioning of the institution of the local Spiritual Assembly; a community calendar; and broadcasts titled “African-Americans in Bahá’í History,” “Black Women: A Portrait of Dignity,” and “Black Achievers.”

Held regular WLGI staff deepenings and trained 18 new volunteers using the sacred writings as a basis for the training; trained 14 youth and junior youth as on-air staff; enabled staff to take part in area teaching projects including the election of 30 local Spiritual Assemblies; and encouraged staff to make presentations at pioneering conferences.

Native American Bahá’í Institute

GOAL

To develop local educational projects related to the indigenous culture, focusing primarily in the Navajo and Hopi District, as a means for teaching the Faith, and to develop teaching materials for use on the Reservation.

ACTIVITIES

Hosted various deepenings and conferences including Women and Men’s conferences; a Mending the Wings conference; a Homefront Pioneering Institute; a Family Fellowship weekend; a Uniting the Hearts in Navajo-Hopi Land meeting; Bahá’í Youth Workshop training; a Winter Cultural Institute for children and youth; a Summer Children’s Institute; and Core Curriculum training for district children’s class teachers.

Continued weekly overnight Nobility Classes for local school children and youth to study Bahá’í teachings and Navajo culture and to receive help with their school studies.

Helped foster the creation of a Bahá’í Youth Workshop, now sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Gallup and supported by Native American Bahá’í Institute staff, and sponsored trips by the Bahá’í Youth Workshop to the Bosch Bahá’í School and Los Angeles.

Submitted for review to the Department of Modern Languages at Northern Arizona University prayers translated into the Navajo language.

Sponsored a booth at the Navajo Nation Fair in Window Rock, Arizona, and provided Bahá’í prayers translated into the Navajo language to interested passersby.

Sent two staff to the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute for one month to strengthen the ties between the two sister institutes.

House of Worship Restoration

GOAL

To adopt, initiate and sustain a well-defined, phased plan for restoring the Mother Temple of the West and to establish a comprehensive program for conserving the House of Worship over the next millennium.

ACTIVITIES

Received several awards following the completion of the 10-year Temple Restoration Project honoring the project’s outstanding innovation and its advancement of the state-of-the-art in quality, craftsmanship, engineering and construction technology. The awards include: Preservation Project of the Year from The Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois; Historic Preservation Award from the Village of Wilmette, Illinois; Repair Project of the Year from The International Concrete Repair Institute; Award of Merit from The Structural Engineers Association of Illinois; and First Place Award in Advanced Construction Technology from The Construction Specifications Institute and McGraw-Hill’s Construction Information Group.

Increased ongoing conservation activities for the House of Worship by adding a concrete conservator craftsman to the full-time team of architectural conservator and engineering technicians and by increasing the number of youth working as conservation technicians in the summer who help with documentation, inspections, cleaning, painting, bird damage prevention and concrete repairs.

Developed a strategic plan for conservation; conducted extensive training; organized drawings, files and samples; and established a materials laboratory in the workshop.

Enlarged the original elevator shaft and built an elevator for the disabled to gain easy access to the auditorium of the House of Worship.

Completed the installation of reinforcements for the auditorium’s floor structure, constructed originally in 1922, that supplements the structural system of the Foundation Hall ceiling dome and beams throughout the lower level, providing appropriate factors of safety based upon a more advanced understanding of reinforced concrete structures gained through research over the last few decades.

Continued to provide technical support for preserving the Shrine of the Báb, other structures in the Holy Land, and the House of Worship in Kampala, Uganda.

Bahá’í Properties Office

GOAL

To oversee the maintenance and development of all nationally owned Bahá’í properties in the United States, to advise and consult with the National Spiritual Assembly on the acquisition and disposal of such properties, and to provide similar support to local Assemblies on property acquisition and/or development.

ACTIVITIES

Provided routine maintenance to National Center properties including window washing, painting, landscaping, and washing the ornamental steps at the House of Worship.

Began ‎installating installing‎ an underground sprinkler system to service the House of Worship, the Hazíratu’l-Quds and the Properties Office buildings.

Purchased a computerized locking system and rekeyed locks to bring all facilities under a tracked coding system.

Overhauled the boiler systems at the Bahá’í National Center and the House of Worship; installed a highly efficient, cost-effective cooling tower for the air conditioning system at the National Center; and replaced radiators in the House of Worship.

Constructed a computer room for the Management Information Services department at the National Center; remodeled the choir room and Activities Offices at the House of Worship; began renovating the dining area in the Properties Office; installed new signs for closing the House of Worship to reduce the potential for injury people during inclement weather; and helped the Public Safety Office install a new security system.

Trained staff on a computerized Maintenance Management System to improve work flow and help reduce maintenance and repair costs for all facilities.

Completed the first two stages of the Wilhelm Log Cabin project, rendering the cabin structurally sound and acquiring a building occupancy use permit.

Inspected estate and gift properties in Alaska, Kentucky, California and New York and listed five properties for sale with real estate brokers, three of which sold, raising more than $50,000 for the National Fund.

Bahá’í Encyclopedia

GOAL

To advance Bahá’í scholarship by publishing a two-volume Short Encyclopedia of the Bahá’í Faith that defines Bahá’í belief and practice for the general public.

ACTIVITIES

Secured and edited 90 percent of the articles for the first volume (A–J). A number of questions from the Universal House of Justice about the factual correctness, methodology, tone, audience and style of the Encyclopedia led to a November 1994 Editorial Board meeting at which a letter was drafted to the National Spiritual Assembly proposing ways to deal with any concerns. Until the issues are resolved, the copy editors have suspended work on articles and the production manager has suspended work on design and production. Due to time constraints and professional demands, the general editor has resigned.

Bahá’í Publishing Trust

GOAL

To support teaching and consolidating by publishing the authoritative texts, introductory and historical works, literature for children and youth, and audio-visual materials; to promote the use of Bahá’í literature; and to foster the translation, publication and distribution of Bahá’í literature in the Kazakh and Ukrainian languages.

ACTIVITIES

Published three new literature titles: Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh (new hard cover edition); Life, Death and Immortality: The Journey of the Soul (soft cover); and Bahá’u’lláh: God’s Messenger to Humanity (pamphlet). Also published the 152 B.E. wall calendar, pocket calendar, and 1995 datebook.

Reprinted Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh (pocket size); Epistle to the Son of the Wolf (hard cover); Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh (hard cover); The Hidden Words (hard and soft covers); The Kitáb-i-Íqán (hard cover); The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys (soft cover); Some Answered Questions (hard cover); God Passes By (hard cover); Individual Rights and Freedoms; Bahá’í Prayers (hard cover); The Covenant; The Significance of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation; The Vision of Race Unity; Youth Can Move the World; and The Word of God.

Began or continued editorial work on the following projects: Messages from the Universal House of Justice: 1963–86; So Great an Honor (a replacement for On Becoming a Bahá’í); The Promised Day is Come (new pocket-size edition); Tablets of the Divine Plan; and a three-in-one volume of Shoghi Effendi’s works containing Bahá’í Administration, Messages to America and Citadel of Faith.

Helped other institutions, agencies and individuals by coordinating production work on Foundations for a Spiritual Education (for the Education and Schools Office), Models of Unity II: Atlanta (for the Secretariat), The Open Door (for Erich Reich Enterprises), labels and brochures for The Spiritual Revolution (for the Spiritual Assembly of San Francisco), the Xhosa translation of Bahá’í Prayers (for South Africa), the packaging for Equality, Oneness, Unity (for the Secretariat), labels and jacket for The Vineyard of the Lord (video tape for the Bahá’í World Center), and the Bahá’í Newsreel (for Media Services).

Submitted a proposal, approved by the National Spiritual Assembly, for the reorganization of Bahá’í Publications and the formalization of Bahá’í Communications. Reorganization began with hiring a Publications Coordinator and developing the Editorial, Production Services, Media Services, Distribution Service and Subscriber Services departments under an integrated structure.

Provided administrative support to World Order magazine and to the Bahá’í Encyclopedia project and provided administrative assistance to the task force that planned the 1994 celebrations for the centennial anniversary of the establishment of the Bahá’í Faith in North America and the sesquicentennial anniversary of the Declaration of the Báb.

Monitored the activities of an off-site desk responsible for coordinating the publication of Bahá’í literature in the Kazakh and Ukrainian languages and for working with the relevant Regional Spiritual Assemblies that increasingly have made their own [Page 26]translations but that need financial assistance in publishing them.

Bahá’í Distribution Service

GOAL To promote the distribution and use of Bahá’í publications and materials at the lowest prices possible and to develop further a solid business structure.

ACTIVITIES Achieved, as of March 1, 1995, year-to-date net sales totaling $1,281,370; year-end sales are projected to be approximately $1,600,000 compared to $1,757,000 in actual sales in 1993–94. Total inventory is valued at $450,845.

Acquired the inventory and operations of Bahá’í Visual Services, adding more than 200 titles in several languages and formats to the listing of previously distributed audio-visual titles.

Established 2,963 new customer accounts, contributing to an active customer base of more than 12,485 accounts, and filled approximately 18,000 orders (down from 23,000 last year) for a total of more than 334,800 items (an increase of 18 percent over last year).

Produced a four-color catalog for distribution to 48,000 Bahá’í households and produced two 16-page full-color catalogs—one for Bahá’í teaching and deepening materials and the other in cooperation with Oneworld Publications. Additionally, published 33 pages of advertising in The American Bahá’í and printed more than 30,000 price lists and 100,000 fliers for insertion into outgoing orders.

Coordinated sales efforts at several conferences including the Green Lake Conference, the Florida Reunion, the Florida Flame, the Association for Bahá’í Studies conference, and the 85th National Convention.

Brilliant Star

GOAL To produce six issues of Brilliant Star magazine per year, designed to serve the needs of English-speaking children of all ages by confirming their Bahá’í identity and helping them to develop as Bahá’í teachers, and one special edition for summer schools. Brilliant Star is also designated as an educational resource for teachers of children.

ACTIVITIES Produced six regular issues this year: Starship: The Life of the Báb, Putting the Vision Into Action, In the Darkest Hour, Press On to Meet the Dawn, The First Prejudice-Free Generation, and The Door to the Future. Brilliant Star staff handled the entire editorial function. An Advisory Board provided visionary support, but had no editorial function, and a Creative Task Force offered ongoing editorial support but did not meet as an independent editorial body.

Produced a special edition for 1994, From Gnats to Eagles, for the Education and Schools Office to use at permanent and regional schools last summer, and a special edition for 1995 on the spiritual destiny of the American Bahá’í community.

Collaborated with the National Education Task Force to provide teacher packets for all those trained in the Core Curriculum and also included educational activities to support Core Curriculum strands as well as curriculum-referenced indices for teachers in every issue of Brilliant Star.

Produced “Activities” pages in 10 issues of The American Bahá’í using reprints from the magazine.

Collaborated with Subscriber Services to increase the quality of subscription service and to develop new subscriber software for implementation next year, and continued distribution of all non-subscription sales through the Bahá’í Distribution Service.

Periodicals Office

GOAL To produce 10 issues of The American Bahá’í in a timely and economical manner while presenting news of the progress of the Cause in the United States and abroad to the American Bahá’í community to inspire and guide its efforts to win the goals of the ‎Thee Three‎ Year Plan.

ACTIVITIES In response to increasing demands on the National Fund and its growing deficit, reduced by nearly half the number of issues of The American Bahá’í to be produced. Starting in January 1995, the paper was to be issued every other Bahá’í month with one special issue each year, making a total of 10 issues instead of the 19 produced each year for the past three years. There was no paper in January; the first issue ‎piblished published‎ in calendar year 1995 was dated February 7. It was followed by a special issue on teaching and the Funds dated March 2, after which the every-other-month cycle began with the issue dated April 9, 1995.

Covered on-site events including the National Convention; the sesquicentennial observance in Wilmette of the Declaration of the Báb; the Bahá’í History Conference, subtitled “A Celebration of the Centenary of the Bahá’í Faith in North America”; the gala celebration, sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly at Navy Pier in Chicago, of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Faith in North America; the 100th anniversary observance of the founding of Green Acre Bahá’í School in Eliot, Maine; the annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies in Cambridge, Massachusetts; the ninth annual Peace Fest at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute in Hemingway, South Carolina; the second annual conference of the Rabbani Charitable Trust in Orlando, Florida; the National Youth Conference in Phoenix, Arizona; and the annual events in Atlanta marking the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Reported on other significant events, including progress in building the Arc on Mount Carmel; the letter dated May 19, 1994, sent by the Universal House of Justice to the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly in response to the National Assembly’s meeting in March 1994 with the Supreme Institution of the Faith; the address by the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum at the World Forestry Charter Gathering in London; the unanimous vote of the U.S. House of Representatives to condemn the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran; testimony by the National Spiritual Assembly before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in support of U.S. ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; letters to President Clinton (and his response) from members of Congress urging him to continue U.S. leadership in the effort to “emancipate” the Bahá’í community in Iran; the opening in New York City of the National Spiritual Assembly’s new Office of Public Information; the brutal slayings of three Bahá’ís in the South African community of Ciskei; the Army of Light teaching campaign by Bahá’í youth; the “Vanguard of the Dawning” race unity conference in Chicago; the Magdalene M. Carney teaching campaign in South Carolina; and the National Spiritual Assembly’s 11th annual David Kellum Awards program.

Subscriber Services

GOAL To fulfill subscriptions, to distribute and promote The American Bahá’í (foreign subscribers), Brilliant Star, One Country, Art Matters, Herald of the South, and World Order magazines, and to provide attendant services.

ACTIVITIES Assumed responsibility for distributing to subscribers The Bahá’í Newsreel, formerly distributed by Bahá’í Visual Services, and furnished Bahá’í periodicals to 3,112 subscribers.

Maintained the subscriber database for Art Matters, produced this year for the first time by the National Arts Task Force.

World Order Editorial Board

GOAL To publish World Order magazine, a direct teaching and deepening effort of the National Spiritual Assembly focusing on topics of broad social concern from a Bahá’í perspective.

ACTIVITIES Published the Summer 1994 issue devoted to medicine and the environment; the Fall 1994 issue devoted to world peace and the elimination of racial prejudice; and the Winter 1994 issue devoted to consultation, the environment and sustainable development.

Edited for publication the Spring 1995 issue on the prosperity of humankind and the equality of women and men including two papers presented at the conference on Women in Bahá’í Perspective, and began preparing the Summer and Fall 1995 issues which also will feature papers presented at the Women in Bahá’í Perspective conference and essays on the elimination of racial prejudice.

Worked with the promotional arm of the Bahá’í Distribution Service and with Subscriber Services to promote World Order magazine and to increase its subscriber base.

National Bahá’í Archives

GOAL To help and support the National Spiritual Assembly, its agencies and the American Bahá’í community by maintaining archival records and materials, providing research assistance, and educating and assisting local Spiritual Assemblies in the proper care and management of local records and archives.

ACTIVITIES Acquired two original tablets written by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and 21 original letters written by or on behalf of the Guardian; made three inquiries to ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ concerning missing letters from the Guardian; and accounted for 1,724 dates from a list of approximately 7,200 dates received by the Bahá’í World Center of letters of the Guardian.

Expanded a collection of extracts on various subjects from the Archives holdings of Guardian’s letters; the collection currently consists of 7,586 extracts in 1,475 categories.

Prepared for transfer to the Bahá’í World Center 42 recently acquired original volumes and notebooks containing drafts and transcripts of tablets and talks of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Sent biographical sketches of noteworthy African-American, Asian, Hispanic and Native American Bahá’ís to 17 local Bahá’í communities for use in proclamation and teaching activities.

Answered 310 research requests including 97 from the National Spiritual Assembly and its agencies, 40 from other Bahá’í institutions and 173 from individuals, answering 90 percent of them within 10 business days.

Assisted individuals including 20 scholars and Bahá’í National Center staff from 11 offices to research subjects such as African-American Bahá’ís, Atlanta Bahá’ís, Tahitian Bahá’ís, Robert Hayden, Zia Bagdadi and Lua Getsinger, and to locate historical photographs.

Sent information about local records and archives to 20 local communities in 15 states. Archives staff visited the Cincinnati and Milwaukee Bahá’í Archives and consulted with their local archivists.

Took part in activities of the Institute for Bahá’í Studies including planning for the Bahá’í History Conference and Conference on Women in Bahá’í Perspective.

Developed four archival displays, conducted three tours of the Archives and an Archives open house and relics display for the National Convention.

Prepared computer indices for various collections including 37 manuscript collections and the audio-visual collection (4,005 audio tapes).

Recorded circulation activity for the National Bahá’í Reference Library. Staff checked out 191 books and cassettes from the library.

Increased the National Bahá’í Reference Library collections by 7,182 items covering 1,301 titles; the total volume of holdings is now 55,230 items.

Processed 707 historical photographs and provided publishers and scholars with 159 prints. Also provided 5,575 photocopies of historical documents.

Received a total of 232 accessions including 146 boxes of Bahá’í National Center records, nine new collections of personal papers and 22 additions to existing collections (including papers of Lorol Luther, Lawrence Hautz, Beth Newport, Doris McKay, Joyce Lyon Dahl, Sarah Pereira, Soo Fouts and Anna Stevenson); made 16 inquiries about archival material desired for acquisition; and arranged and opened for research two collections of personal papers, the Doris Holley Papers and Edwin Mattoon Papers.

Arranged or added to 73 Bahá’í National Center record series, consisting of 152 boxes, including files from the Office of the Secretary, National Teaching Committee, Office of Pioneering, District Teaching... [Page 27]

ANNUAL REPORTS

Committees and the National Bahá’í Archives

Microfilmed, as part of the Archives preservation program, Office of the Treasurer ledgers, 1909–1962; Green Acre Fellowship and Bahá’í Temple Unity minutes; New York City and New Jersey early community records; and Juliet Thompson correspondence. Two conservators started work on unbinding volumes of documents from the Ahmad Sohrab Papers. Photocopied, on acid-free paper, 700 pages of newspaper clippings.

Bahá’í Home

GOAL To serve the community as a dependency of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, providing residential care for elderly people.

ACTIVITIES Provided care to 21 residents, earning approximately $301,000 in revenues.

Worked with an advisory board appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly to assess the potential of expanding the Bahá’í Home and for developing plans to enable the Home to become self-supporting.

Produced a dignified brochure and ongoing advertisements in appropriate metropolitan marketing media.

Converted office space into an additional resident room, increasing revenue potential by $19,200; converted other spaces to better accommodate staff and resident needs; repainted seven residential rooms, a sun porch, and the men’s and women’s rest rooms; and installed e-mail service and a fax modem on office computer equipment and a telephone system ‎equiped equipped‎ with voice mail.

Expanded management coverage of the facility from five to seven days per week and initiated a program of video-taping staff training sessions to accommodate disparate staff schedules.

Completed CPR qualification for staff and required tuberculosis testing for all residents and staff.

Consolidated purchasing through a single brokerage to obtain up to 15 percent discounts on food and supplies.

Continued including observations of Bahá’í Holy Days into the residents’ activities program; invited residents and staff to take part in firesides and activities at the House of Worship; and provided to residents, their families and staff information about the Faith as it applies to the management and operation of the Bahá’í Home.

Bahá’í Service for the Blind

GOAL To provide the literature of the Faith in mediums such as cassette tapes, Braille and large-print formats, for purchase and/or loan, for those unable to use standard print due to physical or mental handicaps.

ACTIVITIES Maintained a lending library of materials for the blind and managed to remain financially independent of assistance from the National Fund.

Advertised the Faith in many world-wide publications for the blind.

Human Resources

GOAL To attend to the human resource needs of the National Spiritual Assembly and its employees and to serve as a resource for coordinating activities among the agencies, institutes and departments of the National Spiritual Assembly.

ACTIVITIES Deferred $69,202 through a Section 125 Plan with an estimated tax savings to the National Spiritual Assembly of $26,055 through employee and employer taxes.

Implemented a new Group Term Life Insurance Plan for all employees that allows insurance coverage for employees, their spouses and children at no cost to the National Spiritual Assembly.

Hired 89 people, including summer staff, 81 of whom were hired without incurring relocation expenses, and terminated 80 people including summer staff.

Coordinated a training seminar entitled Seven Habits of Effective People, offered and conducted by Bruce Cognan of the Covey Leadership Program at no cost to the National Spiritual Assembly.

Saved the National Fund $424,235 in expenses through the use of volunteers who contributed 65,267 hours of service including volunteer hours provided to the various schools and institutes.

Management Information Services

GOAL To provide services in office automation (personal computers and laser printers), network services (electronic mail, word processing, group scheduling, membership database querying, and reporting and printer sharing), document management (image processing and file room automation), and administrative systems support (membership, records, financial and accounting functions and mail services) to support the operation of the Bahá’í National Center, its associated departments and agencies as well as to assist in the improved productivity of offices and individuals through computer and information technologies by streamlining and automating work and providing faster access to information.

ACTIVITIES Provided the Bahá’í National Center Bulletin Board System (BNCBBS) to 2,220 users in North America; made available selected Bahá’í sacred writings for downloading; and arranged for compilations from the Universal House of Justice to be added for access by the community.

Installed new telephone systems at the Hazíratu’l-Quds, the Bahá’í Publishing Trust and Bahá’í Home.

Sent and received 55,000 electronic mail messages during the year and converted remaining Dialcom electronic mail users to cc:Mail at a cost savings of $12,000 per year.

Completed approximately 3,000 service calls through PC Support Services, providing training, trouble-shooting problems, maintaining systems and upgrading hardware and software.

Processed 24,354 address changes, 1,534 name changes and identification card replacements, 432 administrative corrections, 962 transfers into the American Bahá’í community and 696 transfers out of the community; verified and processed 1,410 local Spiritual Assembly formations; and recorded 458 deaths.

Sent out 1,193,930 pieces of mail through Mail Services. Continued use of Zip+4 and bar-coding resulted in a savings of $61,000 to the National Fund.

Implemented a new registration system for National Convention that reduced significantly the time required to process pre-registrations and facilitated the process of on-site registration at Convention; completed the first phase of an on-line system to automate information for the Office of Pioneering for faster access and better reporting capabilities; and began designing a new Subscriber Services system to increase productivity and improve customer service.

Implemented new local area networks to serve the Bahá’í House of Worship, the Properties Office and Bahá’í Publishing Trust, and expanded the local area network at the Bahá’í National Center.

Developed and initiated a program to train Bahá’í National Center staff to use MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, word processing, electronic mail and group scheduling software.

Completed 85 percent of the input of membership files using laser disk and imaging technology, allowing on-line access to all membership files already in the system.

Bahá’í Media Services

GOAL To expand media production capacities to serve the interests of the Faith both nationally and internationally; to increase the availability and use of video materials in languages other than English; and to increase the capacity to generate broadcast quality video productions.

ACTIVITIES Provided sound, lighting, staging and video support for the sesquicentennial celebration of the declaration of the Báb and the centenary of the establishment of the Bahá’í Faith in North America. Scenes from A Family Album, a video documentary portrait of the American Bahá’í community, was produced for the centenary celebration at Navy Pier, was later used at similar gatherings in other places, and was broadcast nationally in Canada.

Conducted restoration and maintenance work on the multi-image systems and programs presented at the House of Worship; recorded the proceedings of the Bahá’í History Conference, the Haj Mehdi Arjmand Scripture Conference, the Conference on Women in Bahá’í Perspective, and the 85th National Convention; video taped parts of the American Indian meeting held at the National Center with the goal of producing programs to help strengthen the teaching work by and among Indian people; documented successful patterns of teaching activities in a program titled Vision in Action: A View from the Grassroots; compiled the SITA training video for pioneers and traveling teachers going to sensitive international teaching areas; produced a teaching and promotional video on the Chicago Bahá’í Youth Workshop in conjunction with a story for the Bahá’í Newsreel; recorded and distributed taped messages from the National Spiritual Assembly sent to the American Bahá’í community for Nineteen Day Feasts; and provided for translations of videos in the French, Spanish, Persian, Japanese, Chinese, German, Portuguese, Hindi, Russian, Albanian and Icelandic languages.

Responded to requests for footage and programs including: providing footage of the Holy Places at the World Center that were incorporated into a National Norwegian Television special entitled Carmel Eulogies; providing Seat of God’s Throne for airing in its entirety on Dutch National Television after the network itself did a complete translation; providing footage to EL-AL Airlines for incorporation in an in-flight video; and providing footage for a segment of a special documentary being produced for the UN50 commemorations in San Francisco.

Released Bahá’í Newsreel, Vol. 5, No. 1 in January, covering activities during the previous nine months in more than 30 communities in 15 countries, and prepared a special edition of Bahá’í Newsreel, titled Profiles in Social Development, for the United Nations Summit on Social Development held in Copenhagen in March 1995. Newsreel production was intermittent and had to be suspended for various periods throughout the year due to lack of staff.

Suspended or delayed several major activities during the past year due to lack of staff and the condition of the National Fund. The video and tape library was closed for all but emergency access for the entire year; however, 400 new video tapes were entered into the library database with volunteer help. Two normally scheduled editions of Bahá’í Newsreel were not produced, and plans for a documentary program on the work at the World Center, initiated by the Universal House of Justice, were placed on hold. Media Services also was unable to respond to a request from the Bahá’í International Community to help produce a special program for the upcoming Women’s Conference in Beijing, China.

Meeting Planning and Travel Services

GOAL To provide the National Spiritual Assembly and its committees and agencies meeting and travel planning services that assure cost-effective quality.

ACTIVITIES Provided regularly full support (air and land transportation, hotel accommodations and meals) for meetings of the National Spiritual Assembly; the National Teaching Committee; the Office of the Treasurer’s Special Visitors; the Latin, Chinese, Education, and Fund Development Task Forces; the World Order Editorial Board; the school administrators; the Planning and Coordinating Committee.

Arranged site contracts for the 86th Bahá’í National Convention and the Persian Arts Festival; collaborated with the National Teaching Committee in planning and coordinating the Army of Light Youth Conference in Phoenix, Arizona; helped with arrangements for the sesquicentennial celebration of the Declaration of the Báb and the centenary of the establishment of the Faith in North America; and provided hotel arrangements and meal services for the Bahá’í History Conference, the Haj Mehdi Arjmand Scripture Conference, the Conference on Women in Bahá’í Perspective, the Native American Conference, Pioneer Training Institutes and other meetings.

Issued 497 airline tickets through the office at a [Page 28]cost avoidance of more than $570,000 and gained a three percent refund on total sales for the National Fund.

ANNUAL REPORTS

Public Safety Office

GOAL

To provide for the safety and security of staff and all properties including the Bahá’í House of Worship, the Bahá’í National Center offices, the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, the Bahá’í Home, the Hazíratu’l-Quds and other local properties owned by the National Spiritual Assembly.

ACTIVITIES

Implemented a preventive security program using alarm and video monitoring equipment to observe activities at all properties in addition to providing staff to patrol regularly all locations.

Installed video cameras and monitors to allow observation of the 360-degree perimeter of the House of Worship grounds and its front and rear entrances, the parking lot at the Bahá’í National Center, and the beach and parking lot areas adjacent to the Hazíratu’l-Quds.

Installed a new alarm system at the Hazíratu’l-Quds; updated systems at the House of Worship, National Center and Bahá’í Publishing Trust; and installed electronic access controls in the Media Services studios.

Provided training for all officers to assure proper operation of all monitoring, alarm, access and other security systems and that proper observation skills, situation evaluations and pro-active incident prevention techniques are maintained; created revised guidelines for duty rounds, inspections and reporting; and provided information to National Center staff to generate efficient support of security measures.

Received more than 1,000 hours of volunteer service from an individual Bahá’í for the installation and maintenance of alarm, computer and video systems, and hundreds of additional hours from two other Bahá’í electronics and computer technicians who installed, programmed and maintained alarm, video and security computer equipment.

Acquired five new multi-channel, high quality, hand-held radios to replace 15-year-old, poorly performing radios.

Committee & Task Force Membership List 1994-1995

National Teaching Committee Ken Bowers, Dawn Haghighi, Sylvester Scott, Patricia Steele

Regional American Indian Teaching Committees Central States—East: Payam Nadimi, Kathy Racki, Geraldine Rivera, Janice Rosado, Susan Senchuk Central States—West: Tim Crawford, Brad Defender, Sharon Hick, Cletus Lawrence, Vernon Longie, Willard Malebear, Blair Nichols, Edwin Roberts, Phyllis Sheridan Northeast States: Francis Dodge, Tom Garland, Ferida Khanjani, Ina McNeil, V. Douglas Phillips Northwestern States: Kizzenkeea Davis, Roberta Charles, Ferris Paisano, Stefany Tyler, Lorintha Warwick, Dwight Williams Southern States—East: Jullius Fuller, Loretta Garcia, Michael Hughey, Robert Morrow, Peggy Oceola Southern States—West: Fuad Akhtar-Khavari, Mike Bigler, Valerie Dana, Sara Gustavus, Andrenea King, Dennis Wahkinney

State Teaching Committees Arizona: Larry Bucknell, Gwendolyn Calhoun, Ricardo Jaramillo, Sina Mowzoon, Monte Yellowhorse Florida: Covey Cantville, Vicentee Ferguson, Bill Massey, Rick Miller, Harriet Stafford, Sue St. Clair Georgia: Marco Brotto, Patsy Gailey, Nasif Habeeb-ullah, Jacqueline Konan, Natasha Naderi, Naysan Naderi Northern California: Sean Gallagher, Afshin Khasra, Jennifer Muratore, Shastri Purushotma North Carolina: Alex Briber, Scott Koehler, Sandra Jean Miles, Robert Tansik Oregon: Rachel Greco, Bobette Heern, Linda Spiering, Lydia McCarter, Claudia McDermott, Jack Stone, David Young Southern California: Richard Andre, Alicia Diaz, Leon Ferguson, Teresa Langness, Kathy Peterson, Muhtadia Rice, James Schechter South Carolina Coordinating Committee: Elizabeth Haynes, Debbie Jackson, Alonzo Nesmith, Moses Richardson, Ursula Richardson Texas: Lupita Ahangarzadeh, Ajit Giani, Jeanette Hedayati, Steve King, Gwendolyn Pendleton, Jesse Villagomez Washington: Eric Hanson, Kenneth Hunnicutt, Mahnaz Javid, Celia Johnson, Aaron Lewis, Kenneth Morphet-Brown

School and Institute Advisory Boards Bosch Bahá’í School: Robin Evans, Sharon Jensen, Luis Jiminez, Nasrollah Maghzi, Nasratollah Rassekh Green Acre Bahá’í School: Nina Dini, Chester Makoski, Nancy Modern, Robin Marshall Murphy, Vickie Nizin Louhelen Bahá’í School: Azar Alizadeh, Gwen Etter-Lewis, John Mangum, René Steiner, Mary Wilson Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute: Linda Lyerly, Fereydoun Jalali, Josephine McFadden, Adalia Ellis, Deborah Nesmith, Charles Thomas, Lenzy Woodard Native American Bahá’í Institute: Alice Bathke, Jeannette Coffey, Rita Cowboy, Jeff Kiely, Vali Manavi, Linda Wilson, Monte Yellowhorse

Army of Light Coordinators Lalita Amos, Susan Calimeri, Marva Davis, Llewellyn Drong, Sandra Fair, Vafa Ferdowsian, Andrenea King, Dorita Krapf, Marcelle LaVine, Alison McGee, May Movafagh, Saghi Nabili, Carl Pabst, Lisa Puzon, Margaret Riebau, Christopher Ruhe, Andrea Seals, Shiva Ziai

Arts Task Force Catherine Chapman, Connie Chen, Shervin Hawley, Shidan Magidi, Stephanie Smith

Bahá’í Service for the Blind Mary Baral, Dean Martineau, Jane McIver, Lynne Peary, William Peary

Brilliant Star Meg Anderson, Keith Boehme, Sharon Jensen, Pepper P. Oldziey, Cindy Savage

Brilliant Star Advisory Board Keith Boehme, Alonzo Coleman, Delane Hein, Chester Makoski, Pepper P. Oldziey, Sherri Smith

Brilliant Star Creative Task Force Nancy Coker, Barbara Johnson, Eileen Lozenkowalski, Cindy Pacileo, Karen Olin Parrish, Dennis Smith, Mary Wilson

Chinese Task Force Pei-lu Chiu, Hong Foo, Zhian Hedayati, Pamela Solon, Lynn Wieties

Bahá’í Encyclopedia Editorial Board Larry Bucknell, Betty J. Fisher, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Todd Lawson, Heshmat Moayyad, Moojan Momen, Will Van den Hoonaard, John Walbridge

Education Task Force Angelina Allen, Saba Ayman-Nolley, Anne Breneman, Barbara Johnson, Beatriz Reyna Curry, Michael Rogell, Lola Schappell, John Smith, Leonard Smith, Irene Taafaki, Joannie Yuille

Task Force for the Bahá’í House of Worship Gwen Clayborne, Lorelei McClure, Mitra Precht, Elliot Rubenstein

Latin American Task Force Vera Berrio Breton, Alexis Garcia, Luis Jiminez, Alejandro Melendez

Parenting Task Force Lily Ayman, Anne Breneman, A. Jack Guillebeaux, Bill Joyner, Marie Scheffer

National Persian Media Task Force Guitty Ejtemaee, Mehrdad Haghighi, Ghodratollah Naderi

Regional Persian Media Task Forces Atlanta: Parviz Izadi, Riaz Khadem, Faezeh Kharazmi, Nourreddin Kharazmi, Jamshid Monajjem, Nader Naderi, Shamseddin Sabetazm, Mansour Sobhani, Rouhanieh Sobhani Southern California: Houshmand Aghili, Goli Ataee, Fereshteh Bethel, Mehrdad Haghighi, Iraj Khademi, Pirooz Khorvash, Mondana Najafabati, Parviz Nazerian, Habib Riazati Washington, DC: Farzin Afsahi, Mahin Afsahi, Khalil Akhavan, Guitty Ejtemaee, Nosratolah Ighani, Kambiz Majidi, Ghodratollah Mostaghim, Firuz Nabili, Behruz Rahimi, Melahat Zebarjadi, Soheil Zebarjadi

Persian Reviewing Panel Abolghassem Afnan (UK), Mohammad Afnan (BWC), Cyrus Agahi (UK), Iraj Ayman (US), Amin Banani (US), A.H. Bashir-Elahi (US), Manuchehr Derakhshani (US), Khaze Fananapazir (UK), Riaz Ghadimi (Canada), Houshang Mehrassa (Canada), Heshmat Moayyad (US), Moojan Momen (UK), Mashallah Moshrefzadeh (US), Shapur Rassekh (Switzerland), Ali Tavangar (US)

Special Materials Reviewing Committee Eunice Braun, Mahvash Doering, Charles Nolley, Lynnea Prochnow, Dixie Rouleau, Robert Stockman

World Order Editorial Board Betty J. Fisher, Howard Garey, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Robert Stockman, James Stokes, Herbert Woodward Martin

In Lynchburg, Virginia, persistence pays dividends as Bahá’ís gain invitations to synagogue, college with other programs taking shape

The Bahá’í community of Lynchburg, Virginia, has long been visible through regular firesides and other events listed weekly in the local newspaper.

Now its dedication is paying off.

A couple who first heard of the Faith through monthly firesides at Lynchburg College opened their home in the country for the Bahá’ís’ Ayyám-i-Há party.

Then a rabbi whom the Bahá’ís hosted for dinner in February invited the Bahá’ís to the synagogue March 17 for an evening program on the Faith.

A Persian chant and a general introduction to the Faith opened the program. Two passages from the writings also were recited. The rabbi copied three pages from The Bahá’ís magazine and four of Bahá’u’lláh’s writings from Meditations of the Blessed Beauty and distributed them to the congregation.

During refreshments, the Bahá’ís got to know members of the Jewish community who live in their neighborhoods. Surely, friendships will result as a result of the shared evening.

The synagogue program also led to an invitation from a sociology professor at Central Virginia Community College for the Bahá’ís to take part in a panel discussion at the college this spring.

Another campus-related activity is taking shape. The Bahá’ís are working with the staff at Lynchburg College and the college’s international students on a host family program to offer the students hospitality and a chance to enhance their experience in America by getting to know local families. [Page 29]

Croatia elects its third Spiritual Assembly

Last September, after a summer of constant Bahá’í activities, Croatia’s third local Spiritual Assembly was elected in the town of Rijeka. The election, held at the Jadran Hotel, was attended by Auxiliary Board member Paolo Scarpa and was preceded by deepenings on Bahá’í elections and the role of the local Spiritual Assembly.

The Collis Featherstone Teaching Campaign, initiated by the National Youth Committee of Australia in Wollongong, New South Wales, has enrolled two new believers under the banner of Bahá’u’lláh—a 21-year-old college student from Sydney and a musician of Maori background who used to lead a meditation group and has brought several of its members to Bahá’í workshops.

More than 1,000 people took part last January in an observance of World Religion Day organized by the Bahá’í community of Singapore and held at the Singapore Conference Hall. Speakers from nine religious communities echoed the day’s theme, “religion should be the cause of unity.” The audience was composed of more than 30 ambassadors, high commissioners and diplomats along with representatives of various religious communities including Counselors for Asia Rose Ong and Shanthra Sundram.

Last November, representatives of the National Spiritual Assembly of Sweden had a successful visit with the head of the Church of Sweden, the newly appointed Archbishop Gunnar Weman. Their purpose was to inform him of the Faith and its activities in Sweden, and to present him with literature about the Faith. “It turned out,” says the National Assembly’s report, “that the Archbishop had already had long discussions about the Faith with the late Sverre Holmsen. He was a priest in the parish where Sverre Holmsen, author of the first introductory book on the Faith in Swedish, had lived.”

More than 50 Bahá’ís from 13 communities attended the first Cambodian National Teaching Conference, held recently in ‎Phnon Penh Phnom Penh‎. Among those taking part were Counselor Lee Ludher, an Auxiliary Board member from Thailand, and traveling teachers from Malaysia. Topics studied included prayer and meditation, spiritual principles of socio-economic development, teaching, unity, and the importance of abstaining from backbiting. Also, workshops were held on “How to Share the Message of Bahá’u’lláh” and “Personal Teaching Plans.” All but two of the talks were given by Bahá’ís from Cambodia.

Last November, the London, England, borough of Wandsworth’s Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education produced a new Agreed Syllabus for teaching religious education in all the borough’s schools. The syllabus includes a 15-page section on the Bahá’í Faith consisting of an introduction, a glossary of 70 Bahá’í terms, and a curriculum for teaching the Faith in schools at every stage of primary and secondary levels.

Bahá’ís took part last November in a three-hour television program on religious beliefs in Romania following the revolutionary changes of 1989. The program began with an introduction to the Faith, inspired, said the interviewer, by a performance by young Bahá’ís who had presented the principles of the Faith through the arts and drama in Bucharest in July 1994. The introduction was followed by a 10-minute clip of a Bahá’í deepening program, interviews with several Bahá’ís, and a series of questions about the Faith.

A multi-faith festival to celebrate families from a variety of religious and cultural perspectives was held for two days last December at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada. The National Spiritual Assembly of Canada’s Department of Public Affairs was one of 20 co-sponsors of the event, at which more than 10,000 people came to gather resources from the 50 display booths and to sample workshops and seminars from among the more than 60 options available.

More than 350 Bahá’ís and 40 children from Austria, Greece, Italy, Malta, Switzerland and Tunisia gathered “in a spirit of enthusiasm and [with] a profound desire to deepen their knowledge and love for the Cause of God in preparation for entry by troops” at the annual National Teaching Conference, held recently in Trevi, Italy. Among those taking part were Counselor Larissa Tsutskova, five members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Italy, and three Auxiliary Board members.

More than 100 people, most of whom were not Bahá’ís, attended a recent round-table discussion on “Human Rights at the Threshold of the 21st Century” organized by the Bahá’í community of Santa Cruz, Canary Islands. Among those taking part were the ombudsman of the Parliament, a member of the Upper Court of Justice, the vice-rector of the University of La Laguna, the president of the Spanish Red Cross for the Province of Tenerife, a representative of the Spanish Bahá’í community, and a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Canary Islands.

A camp aimed at bringing young Bahá’ís together as one spiritual family was held last December 12-18 at the Bahá’í Institute in Mahalapye, Botswana. More than 35 young people from throughout the country studied such topics as the life of Bahá’u’lláh, the Covenant, the Most Holy Book, chastity and marriage, Bahá’í administration, and the immortality of the soul. Participants pledged to dedicate their efforts to their spiritual development, continue to study the Faith, and actively serve the Cause of God.

The Bahá’í House of Worship near New Delhi, India, continues to attract large numbers of visitors, as more than 960,000 people from around the world visited the Temple last September, October and November. Among the visitors were 44 Catholic Ursuline Sisters from five countries, in India for a conference; 45 representatives of the World Council of Churches and National Council of Churches; 150 delegates from 19 countries attending the Audit Congress; and Nguyen Chi Vu, the Vietnamese ambassador to India, accompanied by his wife and two daughters.

In Zaire, the International School of World Children teaches spiritual and material education. The spiritual education is based on Bahá’í teachings and the school’s affairs are conducted according to Bahá’í principles.

Last September Chris Keller (pictured at left), a Bahá’í who lives in Washington, D.C., presented a solo piano recital at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The program included original compositions, jazz standards, and one piece that incorporated passages from the Writings (‘Love Is the Secret’—‘Abdu’l-Bahá). In February Ms. Keller traveled to Venezuela (where she was a pioneer from 1988-92) to perform concerts at universities, and is planning a ‘Jazz for Peace’ concert this year, for which she has been awarded a grant by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. She would like to network with others who are involved in teaching the Faith through the arts, and can be reached at 202-291-4125. [Page 30]

Delegates

Continued from page 1

sented by the Secretary-General, Robert C. Henderson; the Secretary for External Affairs, Firuz Kazemzadeh; and the Treasurer, Mr. Davis.

Mr. Henderson described and elaborated upon the National Spiritual Assembly’s hopes, cares and plans for the community, then encouraged everyone to study and take to heart the guidance and instructions conveyed to this community by the Universal House of Justice in its letter of May 19, 1994, which he called “perhaps the most revolutionary document received by this community since the peace settlement, and before that since The Advent of Divine Justice.”

The letter, he said, has exerted “a galvanizing influence on the National Spiritual Assembly.” To consider it properly, he noted, “we must connect [it] with the [House of Justice’s] letter on individual rights and freedoms. They are companion documents.”

As a part of its response to the letter, Mr. Henderson said, the National Spiritual Assembly “has taken action in several areas including deepening and restructuring the Assembly itself; refining its collaboration with the Counselors; further developing the methods of operation of the national administration and educating the National Center staff; advancing plans for decentralization; and proposing a new plan for Spiritual Assembly development.”

In fact, he said, the National Assembly “reorganized the National Center to lay what it felt was a more appropriate basis for service to the American Bahá’í community,” recognizing that this is “a process of endless refinement and change and growth in our understanding, our practice and our implementation” of the guidance given by the House of Justice.

Meanwhile, he said, the National Assembly has held a series of meetings with the Counselors during the past year to discuss the May 19 letter and its implications for action.

Mr. Henderson also reported to delegates the resolution of problems that have lingered since the second Bahá’í World Congress.

Negotiations with hotels and airlines over disputed fees, he said, have resulted in a savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Happily, the National Spiritual Assembly has now received payment from nearly everyone who attended the Congress.

All monies received from airlines and attendees, and any savings realized from settlements with hotels and the travel agency, he noted, are forwarded to the World Center.

The Universal House of Justice, Mr. Henderson said, has approved the financial accounting of World Congress operations.

Following Mr. Henderson’s remarks, delegates were unanimous in their opinion that these matters should be shared with the friends throughout the country.

The external affairs efforts of the National Assembly, its work with governments, organizations and prominent persons outside the Faith, is increasingly vital, said Mr. Kazemzadeh in summarizing the most recent developments in external affairs.

That point was underscored, he said, in a strategy paper sent last October to all National Spiritual Assemblies.

In that paper, the Universal House of Justice identified the primary areas of external affairs activity at this time as human rights, the status of women, moral leadership, and global prosperity. The National Assembly, Mr. Kazemzadeh said, has focused its attention to date on the first three areas:

• Human rights. Persecution of the Iranian Bahá’í community, he pointed out, has served as “a great loudspeaker” for the Faith, with the martyrs’ blood paying for such advances as international conventions on genocide and discrimination.
• The status of women. Mr. Kazemzadeh said that the Faith not only stands ready to offer ideas in this area, but time and again has provided an example of unity while others are fighting. One instance, he said, is preparations for the fourth World Conference on Women to be held in Beijing, China.
• Moral leadership. Mr. Kazemzadeh underlined the need to influence those who must help bring about the Lesser Peace. Someday, he said, “when the green light goes on and [people] realize the Source” of that influence, a great transformation will come about.

Mr. Kazemzadeh described briefly the Bahá’í-sponsored exhibit on the defense of religious liberty [see article on page 1] which uses the Faith as a case in point of how the moral leadership of the U.S. can be brought to bear in the world.

After reviewing our current financial condition and praising the community for its diligence and generosity in giving to the Arc Projects, Mr. Davis said that the annual lag in contributions from May through September “causes a profound financial hardship for the national administration.

“It invariably means we are placed in a position of having to borrow money at the very time when we have the greatest activity. This is of great consequence,” he said. “It hurts profoundly the operation of the American Bahá’í community.”

The Riḍván message

On Friday morning, the Riḍván 152 message from the Universal House of Justice was presented to the delegates for their consideration and consultation.

Noting the reference in the message to the compilation on entry by troops, Counselor Birkland recalled the cover letter to that compilation, in which the need to foster a clear and united vision for the expansion of the Cause was expressed.

The Counselor reminded the delegates of the role, as explained in the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, that vision plays in understanding—reduce blindness and increase vision—and urged them to spawn ideas on how to establish such a clarity of vision.

Counselor Roberts also had a request of delegates: to consider the message from the House of Justice in light of the challenges of the past two years.

It isn’t easy or simple to attract souls to the Cause, he said, unless our efforts are backed by a serious intent.

But, he said, the House of Justice, through this message, raises us up and reminds us of our capacity not only to attract souls to the Cause but to meet other daunting goals such as building the Arc on Mount Carmel.

“Let no excessive criticism or feelings of inadequacy, inability or inexperience hinder you or cause you to be afraid,” he said, quoting from the message. “Bury your fears in the assurances of Bahá’u’lláh.”

Counselor Ellis directed everyone’s attention to the final paragraph of the message, in which the House of Justice writes that this year’s accomplishments “set the stage for the next global enterprise to be launched at Riḍván 1996.”

With such a new and exciting global enterprise on the horizon, she asserted, we cannot afford to hear again the phrase “sad lag in enrollments.”

This is no longer a “parlor religion,” Counselor Ellis said, adding that we have many things to do “to bring people out of the churches: teach, build the Arc, and have places [for them] to worship.”

Challenges

Friday’s morning session concluded with a presentation by Mr. Henderson and Mr. Davis on challenges to the National Fund, while the afternoon session was opened with an overview of trends and challenges in teaching by Ken Bowers, secretary of the National Teaching Committee.

Mr. Henderson and Mr. Davis prefaced their discussion by reviewing some decisions of the National Spiritual Assembly that cannot be carried out because the money isn’t there.

An example, they said, is a plan to establish a program of moral education based on the Core Curriculum for non-Bahá’í children and their parents. The start-up cost, said Mr. Henderson, is $135,000 that simply isn’t available.

Also on the back burner, he said, is a non-profit entity that would supply diversity training based on Bahá’í principles to cities, corporations, schools, etc.

Mr. Davis noted that the National Spiritual Assembly no longer has lines of credit on which to draw, and likened the institution’s dilemma to “trying to navigate the Straits of Magellan in the dead of night without a compass.”

Delegates replied to the remarks about the needs of the National Fund by urging that they be shared with the community as a whole. Delegates and others attending the Convention then responded personally to those needs by donating $128,724 in cash and $20,193 in pledges to the National Fund, $43,295 in cash and $38,100 in pledges to the Arc Fund, and about $1,600 to the other Funds.

Where we stand in teaching work

Some notable successes have come about in teaching during the Three Year Plan, reported Ken Bowers, secretary of the National Teaching Committee.

But even though the community has been highly active and has engaged in many vigorous and imaginative efforts, overall enrollments remain flat, he said.

So, is there a reason to panic? Mr. Bowers said, emphatically, “no.”

Victory is within our reach, the Universal House of Justice has said. Our task is to remain “constant and confident” in our teaching efforts and remember the spiritual fundamentals of teaching, said Mr. Bowers.

He listed proven characteristics of success:

• Interaction with the Creative Word.
• Balancing proclamation, expansion and consolidation.
• Firesides.
• Spiritual meetings.
• Deepenings.
• Relating the Faith to peoples’ needs.
• Emblazoning the Name of Bahá’u’lláh.
• Creating models of community life.

Spiritual Assemblies, as they mature, must stimulate and support individual initiative, foster universal participation, make strategic but flexible plans, and efficiently enroll and consolidate new believers, he said. In this, ‎ollaboration collaboration‎ with Auxiliary Board members and assistants is critical.

Individual spiritual qualities that will attract the confirmations of Bahá’u’lláh, he said, include steadfastness, sacrifice, genuine love for humanity, passion for service, reliance on His Power, and plenty of patience and detachment.

“[The National Teaching Committee’s] feeling is that we have a very active community,” Mr. Bowers said. “There is vigorous work going on...and new imagination and creativity going into the teaching work...such as the Bahá’í Youth Workshops and the focus on the arts in teaching the Faith.

“We’ve had some notable successes in teaching...but over-all growth remains steady. And for the past 15 years, with only one or two exceptions, that’s where we’ve been.”

In the letter from the House of Justice of May 19, 1994, he said, “there are two central themes about teaching: first, to remain constant and confident in our teaching efforts; and second...to remember the spiritual fundamentals of teaching.

“What this means to us,” he said, “is that we have to move forward, but at the same time we should also do better at what we are doing. We should have better teachers, better teaching projects, better management of teaching and administration. In other words, going from activity to productivity.”

The key to our success, Mr. Bowers said, is “interaction with the Creative Word...on a regular basis. Deepening provides the basis for spiritual transformation...and increases our vision of who we are as Bahá’ís. With knowledge comes confidence, which makes us better teachers.

“Deepening,” he said, “is not just a passive reading of Holy Writings but something that should inspire us and inform what we do. Rigorous attention to the Writings gives us what we need to carry out the teaching work.

“And the use of the Holy Word in teaching exerts, as Bahá’u’lláh said, a ‘magnetic influence’ on people. So this practice must be widely cultivated in [Page 31]the community.

Consultation

Consultation at the 86th Convention was frank, open and honest from the outset, with one of the delegates expressing early in the proceedings what he said were concerns voiced to him by some of the friends “about the income paid to members and families of the National Spiritual Assembly,” concerns, he noted, that are “affecting their attitude toward communications from the National Assembly, their willingness to support the efforts of the National Assembly, and their contributions [to the Funds].”

The friends, he said, “compare these figures [in the annual report] to incomes of members of the Universal House of Justice, other prominent Bahá’ís, and their own incomes. No one has been able to say they’ve seen documents...but this is the discussion.”

“I don’t think such an issue can be left unattended,” the delegate said. “If there is just one Bahá’í whose relationship with the National Spiritual Assembly is somehow impaired, it is too many.”

The National Spiritual Assembly responded to the delegate’s concerns in the same spirit of forthrightness and candor with which they were raised.

Mr. Davis, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, first thanked the delegate for conveying “what obviously is a matter of some distress and concern to him, and bringing to our attention that perhaps other members of the community may feel the same.”

Mr. Davis, who once served as personnel officer at the Bahá’í World Center, said that “there are perhaps no more than two people in this room who have any sense of how the House of Justice’s needs are taken care of. So when individuals make observations about how [that is done], they are based on guesswork, not on fact.”

As a result of his service at the World Center, said Mr. Davis, “I am aware of those issues and how they are dealt with. I simply wish to make the point that when individuals begin to replace the judgment of institutions and to use innuendo and false information, the consequences [can be] severe.”

The National Spiritual Assembly, he said, “at its first meeting after the [annual] election, reviews the financial needs of those who have been asked to serve full-time, and in that consultation decides on an appropriate level of compensation to meet the needs” they have presented.

Such decisions, Mr. Davis said, “are matters for institutions; they are not matters for individuals to decide.”

“When individuals wish to put themselves in the position of making judgments about institutions, I think all of us are more than familiar with the writings on those matters.”

Unlike federal and state governments, for which he has worked for more than 25 years, Mr. Davis said, “the Bahá’í administration is based on trust. That is the underlying concept. And so when individuals have concerns—and I’m not wishing to be misunderstood, they have every right to have them—I think it is wise to express them directly to the National Assembly, as has been done here, and then you [the delegates] have the opportunity to vote tomorrow in the electoral process.”

“I would simply conclude,” Mr. Davis said, “by saying that in the case of [Bahá’í] institutions—either local or national—setting the level of compensation is done by the institution based on an assessment of the need in that individual case.”

Mr. Henderson reviewed many of the decisions taken by the National Spiritual Assembly to conserve the precious funds available to it, including “paring down the national administration to the point that it’s a skeletal workforce.”

At the National Center, Mr. Henderson said, “no one does one job. Everyone does two or three or four jobs because that’s what is needed.”

Still, he added, “if it weren’t for the volunteers we wouldn’t be able to survive. Last year, by actual count, we had $4 million in volunteer services rendered at the Bahá’í schools, the National Center, the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár—in everything we try to do, we reach out to the friends and say, do you have a skill that can help us?”

Addressing the specific concern expressed by the delegate, Mr. Henderson said, “We have to let go of our suspicion of our institutions, and we have to stop speculating.”

“...If we don’t see the inner workings of the institutions, we speculate about what they might be. And we have all kinds of sophisticated theories...[but if you have concerns], ask. That’s what we do. We consult. [So] ask questions. Raise these concerns. ...That is what Bahá’ís are obliged to do.”

Convention visitors and delegates join in an expression of faith as the Bahá’í Gospel Ensemble performs. (Photo by Tom Mennillo)

National Assembly elected

At the midpoint of the Convention, delegates paused to elect the institution that will guide the initiatives and oversee the progress and development of the American Bahá’í community at this critical juncture in its history.

Elected in balloting in Foundation Hall at the Bahá’í House of Worship to serve as members of the National Spiritual Assembly for B.E. 152 were Juana Conrad, William E. Davis, Alberta Deas, Robert C. Henderson, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Patricia Locke, Jack McCants, Dorothy W. Nelson and James F. Nelson.

The new National Assembly met immediately to elect its officers: Mr. Nelson, chairman; Mrs. Nelson, vice-chairman; Mr. Henderson, secretary-general; Mr. Davis, treasurer; Mr. Kazemzadeh, secretary for external affairs; and Mrs. Conrad, assistant secretary.

After the election Saturday morning, the delegates consulted further on the letter of May 19, 1994, from the Universal House of Justice.

A ‘family talk’

The introduction of the newly elected National Spiritual Assembly is always a highlight of the Convention, as delegates express openly their support for those who have been chosen to serve as the members of their national administrative body for the coming year.

It was no different this year, but first there was something that had to be set right within the American Bahá’í community.

Referring to accusations that some members of the National Spiritual Assembly may have profited financially from the World Congress, Chairman James Nelson minced no words in labeling such accusations “a poison, a contagion, a contrariness” that he said is “today abroad in the American Bahá’í community”—one that “affects the very atmosphere in which we work.”

Such accusations, he had said, “have been denounced by the Universal House of Justice as false, and the perpetrators ordered to desist. Let us put an end to this nonsense.”

The institution itself, Mr. Nelson said, “is beyond hurt.” What is hurt, he said, “is the body of the Cause itself if it must spend time fending this off. It cannot be allowed to stand in the way of the victories we must achieve.”

Counselor Birkland urged the delegates to put the episode in perspective, recalling Shoghi Effendi’s admonition that crises, calamities and base betrayals have been a part of the Faith since its beginnings.

But from each, he said, are released fresh confirmations of God’s unfailing grace. And even when they lead to further opposition, these crises release more of the divine power that is a part of “the resistless march of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.”

Focused consultation

Besides teaching and the Funds, delegates consulted on a range of issues and topics affecting the Cause in this community including focused consultation on

• building model Bahá’í communities using Bahá’í Youth Workshops as a model, which was prefaced by a dramatic and well-received performance on “Living Bahá’í” by the Chicago Bahá’í Youth Workshop; and
• applying the directives of the Guardian to the issue of race unity, following a presentation by Mr. Henderson in which he called race unity “a oneness issue” that concerns all people, not only blacks and whites.

The Right of God

One other presentation was made to delegates, this one by Daryush Haghighi, Trustee of Huqúqu’lláh, who earlier this year suffered a major heart attack but “willed himself” back to health in time to report on progress in adhering to the law of the Right of God.

The believers must become universally aware, he said, that the Law of God is not merely a fund-raising tool but an important aspect of the Covenant, in which “obedience has nothing to do with payments, but [everything to do] with the...well-being of the whole of humanity.”

Dr. Haghighi said that all of the institutions of the Faith have a role to play in administering the Law of Huqúqu’lláh. From consultation among the Trustees, Counselors and National Spiritual Assembly, he said, will emerge the tools necessary to help local communities help the individual believers to deepen in the law.

Emphasis on the arts

Spiritually uplifting expressions of the arts are also a highlight of Convention, and this year was no exception as a variety of aural and visual images helped transport delegates and visitors to new heights. Among the performers were

• IINDA (“Life”), an American Indian performing group whose members include Esther and Joel Orona, the new co-administrators of the Native American Bahá’í Institute in Arizona;
• singer/guitarist/composer Susan Lewis Wright;
• the Soul Folks Trio; and
• an ensemble from the World Congress choir.

Convention-goers also premiered the latest Vision in Action video, entitled “The March to Victory,” and saw excerpts from another video on the history of the Law of Huqúqu’lláh.

As has become a recent tradition at the National Convention, the Bahá’í Gospel Ensemble evoked a strong emotional response from its audience.

On Saturday evening, and again to close the Convention on Sunday, the Gospel Ensemble had everyone clapping, singing and, ultimately, rushing forward to link hands in a show of unity and praise of God.

But perhaps the most poignant moments at this Convention were embodied in a moving tribute to the martyrs that followed devotions Friday evening to commemorate the Ninth Day of Ridván.

Roses were handed out, each with a ribbon bearing the name of one who had sacrificed his or her life out of love for the Blessed Beauty. Family members of many of the martyrs then stood to recount—in voices both strong and quivering with emotion—their heart-rending stories of heroism and sacrifice.

What more can be said, other than to ‎redicate rededicate‎ ourselves to a living sacrifice that will pay fitting tribute to these beloved members of our Bahá’í family and be acceptable in the eyes of our Beloved. [Page 32]

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 ads 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 and care in responding to them.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

THE GREEN ACRE Bahá’í School has an opening for a full-time program coordinator. This is a year-round position primarily responsible for planning and coordinating educational programs and activities for adults, youth and children. The position requires a personable, creative, highly motivated person who is a strong self-starter. Experience in teaching or direct involvement in Bahá’í educational programs, ability to communicate effectively with large groups and to interact with a wide range of people, and proven success in organizing and coordinating multiple tasks in a similar position are highly desirable. Please send a letter of introduction and résumé to Ray LaBelle, administrator, Green Acre Bahá’í School, 188 Main St., Eliot, ME 03903.

THE BAHÁ’Í Center in Kingman, Arizona, needs a caretaker. The caretaker pays $305/month plus utilities for a one-bedroom apartment with twin beds. Needed is someone who wants to teach every day. There are no local Assemblies in Mohave County, the country’s fifth largest. My commitment as caretaker runs until March 21, 1996, but I would like help before then to help keep the Center—the first and only one in the county—open. The newspapers have been very cooperative in printing almost everything we present. Write to Kingman, AZ 86401, or phone 520-753-2690.

THE LOUIS GREGORY Bahá’í Institute has vacancies for Youth Service Corps volunteers. Applications are sought from youth who desire to grow in the fields of service and obedience. Service areas include teaching—entry by troops; Radio Bahá’í—broadcasting, maintenance; teaching/deepening children; education center—tutoring, G.E.D. programs. For information, phone 803-558-5093, or fax 803-558-2921.

THE GREEN ACRE Bahá’í School has an immediate opening for a full-time administrative assistant. Seeking highly motivated, energetic self-starter with strong organizational skills, excellent oral and written communication skills, competency in word processing and data base management, and an ability to balance and complete a variety of tasks on time with minimal supervision. Candidate must have outstanding interpersonal skills and enjoy working with people. Accounting/bookkeeping skills and some retail experience desirable; requires a minimum of 2-3 years similar office experience. Applicants should have a strong desire to serve, and ability to work harmoniously within the Bahá’í ‎admininstration administration‎ and with diverse types of people. Please send a letter of introduction and résumé to Ray LaBelle, Green Acre Bahá’í School, 188 Main St., Eliot, ME 03903, or phone 207-439-7200.

THE BAHÁ’Í Distribution Service is accepting applications for a customer service representative. This is a full-time permanent staff position with hourly salary and benefits. Interested candidates should have excellent written and oral communication skills, experience with computers and data entry, and a wide range of knowledge about Bahá’í literature and related materials. For more information and an application, or to send your résumé, write to: Operations Supervisor, Bahá’í Distribution Service, 5397 Wilbanks Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37343, or phone 615-843-0940.

PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS sought at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette, Illinois. Requires at least a two-year commitment for training and service. Ensuring the safety and security of National Center staff, volunteers and visitors, plus facilities at the House of Worship, National Center offices, Bahá’í Publishing Trust, the Bahá’í Home and other properties is our responsibility. Our standards are high for professional conduct, demeanor and appearance. If you are skilled in interpersonal relations, oral and written English, report writing, and have verifiable experience working alone or as part of a team, you may be qualified. Often, new officers are assigned to the night shift (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.), which can be a rewarding experience for daytime students at nearby colleges or universities. If you are interested, either now or in a future appointment, please contact the Department of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 708-733-3429.

THE LOUHELEN Bookstore Café and Twin Oaks Dining Room are new additions to the operation of the Louhelen Bahá’í School. Both offer improved service to those attending sessions at the school as well as to members of the general public. More volunteer staff are needed for these two operations. In particular, mature youth or adults are sought who are pursuing training or have career experience in the restaurant or hotel industries or other food service/hospitality-related professions. The possibility of internships exists for students who would wish to explore such options. While no cash stipends are available, full room and board are offered for those accepted to serve. Length of service is flexible, with service opportunities ranging from a few weeks to a year or more. For an application, contact Mrs. Penny Schmicker, volunteer services manager, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423. Phone 810-653-5033; fax 810-653-8850; INTERNET Louhelen@aol.com

THE GREEN ACRE Bahá’í School has an immediate opening for a resident caretaker. This is a year-round full-time volunteer position primarily responsible for building and grounds security at designated times, opening and closing buildings as needed for functions, light-duty maintenance, responding to emergencies and greeting visitors. Requires a mature person with a strong desire to serve. On-campus residence provided. Ideal for retired or semi-retired couple; spouse may also apply for other openings at the school. Please submit a letter of introduction and résumé to Ray LaBelle, Green Acre Bahá’í School, 188 Main St., Eliot, ME 03903.

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT needed to help in audio and video production for the Media Services Department at the Bahá’í National Center. Principal responsibilities: complete work orders and other Media Services requests in a timely manner; support administrative needs including help with billing; work in production, shooting and editing as requested, both individually and as part of a production team. Qualifications: ability to work as part of a team; demonstrated knowledge of and skill in using professional audio and video production equipment; 2-5 years experience in the field and/or specialized training in a recognized program; ability to complete assigned tasks with minimal supervision; ability to work harmoniously within the Bahá’í administration and with diverse types of individuals; ability to work well under deadline pressures; ability to handle multiple assignments at one time; valid driver’s license. Knowledge of PageMaker and WordPerfect computer programs is desirable. For information or an application, please contact the Department of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 708-733-3429).

THE GREEN ACRE Bahá’í School is seeking applicants for its 1995 summer staff. Opportunities for service are available in a number of areas. Those with little or no experience as well as skilled professionals are encouraged to apply. Positions include assistant cooks, dining room help, dishwashers, housekeepers, groundskeepers, general help, children’s teachers, recreation leader, librarian, office assistant, and gardeners. Applicants should be available from June 19 through August 27; however, shorter terms of service can be considered in some cases. While full-time volunteer service in exchange for room and board is most desirable, provisions for additional compensation can be made. For information and/or an application, please phone the Green Acre Bahá’í School, 207-439-7200, or fax 207-439-7202, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Eastern time, or send a letter to Administrator, Green Acre Bahá’í School, 188 Main St., Eliot, ME 03903.

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

EMPLOYMENT opportunities overseas. AFRICA: Benin—project director, fluent in French, needed for a banking, micro-enterprise development project. Gambia—volunteer pre-school teachers, rural education coordinator. Mauritania—nurse/practitioner or physician’s assistant to work as medical officer for the U.S. Peace Corps Office. Tanzania—urgent need for accountant. English teachers, computer teacher. Tuberculosis public health nurse, tuberculosis team manager. Uganda—primary education teacher trainer, need for self-supporting couple to serve as caretakers at the Mother Temple of Africa, Temple guides. AMÉRICAS: Brazil—pre-school and primary school teachers. Costa Rica—radio programmer. Guatemala—elementary school teachers. Honduras—elementary school teachers. Paraguay—assistant director/master trainer for long-term position at Latin American Peace Corps training center. ASIA: India—teachers. Korea—airport software systems, lighting engineers. Macau—teachers. Sakhalin—teachers. Sri Lanka—law & media program director to develop, implement and administer law and media projects. Taiwan—manager of Bahá’í Publishing Trust. AUSTRALASIA: Australia—caretaker(s) urgently needed for Yerrinbool Bahá’í School and Institute. Marshall Islands—secondary school teachers in math, English, special education, bookkeeping, agriculture, secretarial, science and social studies. Micronesia—college faculty to teach bacteriology, anatomy, physiology, zoology, botany or marine sciences. Samoa—pre-school trained teacher. EUROPE: Czech Republic—dorm parents, teachers. Russia—short-term volunteers, psychologists, sports teachers, organizers, musicians, teachers for summer camps. Tanzania—urgent need for an accountant at the Ruaha Secondary School. Panama has an urgent need for two Spanish-speaking couples to serve in the Kuna region of the San Blas Islands. Brazil—School of Nations is seeking pre-school and primary school teachers (grades 1-4). The Peace Corps needs special education teacher trainers, educators for the deaf, teachers of the visually impaired, and speech therapists. For details from the Peace Corps office nearest you, call 1-800-424-8580 and press 1 at the prompt. Youth opportunities: Alaska, Albania, Australia, Botswana, France, The Gambia, Honduras, India, Switzerland, Venezuela. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette IL 60091 (phone 708-733-3512; fax 708-733-3509; e-mail

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

LAREDO, Texas, a goal city for the formation of a local Assembly by Riḍván 1996, invites homefront pioneers to help win the goal. Laredo (pop. 100,000-plus) is on a major route between the U.S. and Mexico; Nuevo Laredo, its sister city on the Mexican side of the border, has a population of more than 400,000. Texas A&M University has a branch in Laredo. Jobs are available in city government, education and other areas. For information, contact Lolita Pagarani, P.O. Box 78042, Laredo, TX 78042 (phone 210-725-2937).

NEEDED: Bahá’ís who are willing to help deepen and consolidate Southeast Asian Bahá’ís in fast-growing South Sacramento, California. Although there are more than 125 believers in the community, the majority of them are Southeast Asians new to the Faith. Ideally, the Assembly is looking for self-supporting individuals with free time, especially during the day; retired persons or a couple would be ideal. Experience with "developing" cultures or time spent living outside the U.S. would be an asset. For information, contact Sara or Marc Platz, Sacramento, CA 95828 (phone 916-689-9645).

THE BAHÁ’Í Pioneer Group in Alabama urgently needs a family or individual to pioneer to Dothan, Alabama’s only city of more than 50,000 that does not have an Assembly. There are four Bahá’ís living in the area and one in Dothan itself. We desperately desire active Bahá’ís who would be willing to settle in the city, become a part of the community and open their homes to seekers. For more information and help, please phone Mr. or Mrs. Johnson, 334-393-4012 anytime, or Mrs. Payne, 334-255-6840 during working hours.

HELP IS NEEDED to establish new Assemblies by the end of the Three Year Plan on the west coast of Michigan. If you are an elderly Bahá’í who wants to remain active in service to Bahá’u’lláh, we can use your experience, knowledge and wisdom. An assisted-care home is available to help you adjust. For information, write to the Simms, P.O. Box 112, Scottville, MI 49454, or phone 616-757-3161.

RIDGECREST, California (pop. 25,000), 150 miles north of Los Angeles in the Mohave Desert, needs homefront pioneers to help save its jeopardized Assembly. Low cost of living, reasonable prices for renting or buying, possible employment in technical fields (China Lake Navy Base), education (Sierra Sands School District) or medicine (at the many medical offices in town). The Briggs mine will soon be opening. Ridgeway, the gateway to the southern Sierras, is central to the new Death Valley National Park, Red Rocks State Park, and the largest wilderness area outside of Alaska. For information, write to the Spiritual Assembly of Ridgecrest, P.O. Box 1479, Ridgecrest, CA 93555, or phone 619-371-6868.

HOMEFRONT pioneers are wanted in Florence, South Carolina, only 50 miles from the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute. Prefer mature, self-supporting couple with pioneering experience, but dedication is the main quality needed. Florence is a vital Bahá’í community with an active Assembly, a local Center in a prime location, and hundreds of people on its membership list who have not been truly [Page 33]

ADS

consolidated. South Carolina is an exciting place to be as a Bahá’í, and this is a call to those with a sense of spiritual adventure who love to serve. Phone 803-667-1540 or write to the Spiritual Assembly of Florence, Florence, SC 29501.

POMPANO BEACH, Florida, on the state’s Atlantic coast, needs help to maintain its Assembly, which was formed in 1962, and invites Bahá’ís to come and serve the Faith while enjoying perfect beaches, sunny days and warm winters. A great place to work or retire. Pompano Beach is in Broward County, which has many Bahá’í activities and an abundance of Bahá’í love. For information, write to Annalean Schwandes, secretary, Pompano Beach, FL 33062, or phone 305-941-6052.

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 individuals: Alice Wilder (died Lakewood, OH, 1965), Grace Wilder, Georgie Brown Wiles, Roy C. Wilhelm, Mary Magdalene Wilkin, Gladys Willett (died Flint, MI, 1961), and Beatrice Williams (died Lakewood, CA, 1974). 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, or to phone 708-869-9039.

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives has prepared a series of biographical sketches of prominent African-American, Native American, Hispanic and Asian-American Bahá’ís for use by local communities in observing Black History Month, Race Unity Day and other special events. Any local community that would like a set of these sketches is asked to send a request with mailing address to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 708-869-9039).

Wanted

THE BAHÁ’Í World Center Library is seeking for its archives five copies each of The American Bahá’í dated March 2, 1994; March 21, 1994; and November 4, 1994. Please send to Department of Library and Archival Services, Bahá’í World Center, P.O. Box 155, Haifa 31 001, Israel.

WANTED: The Mona Bahá’í School is seeking to expand its materials for classes and is looking for back issues of Brilliant Star and Child’s Way, Bahá’í school lesson plans, the Bahá’í Teaching Guide, and Bahá’í books for children. Please send to Carri Smith, Spanaway, WA 98387-7005, or phone her at 206-847-4885. The Mona Bahá’í School can pay for postage.

THE BAHÁ’Í Center in San Francisco, California, needs a caretaker (or couple) who are retired, self-supporting and can offer at least a year of service. The principal qualification is a warm, hospitable nature so that those who come to the Center, either for information or to attend meetings, find themselves welcomed in an atmosphere of dignity and reverence. The caretaker has many opportunities to teach, and should be open and ready to greet those who stop by or telephone, and to help them understand the teachings. The caretaker is responsible for opening and closing the Center at various hours and helping to maintain its appearance. A studio apartment will be provided on a major bus line within 10 minutes of the Center. Please write to the San Francisco Management Committee, 170 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 94103, fax 415-431-9991, or phone 415-431-9990.

WERE YOU in San Francisco during the United Nations Conference on International Organization from April 25–June 26, 1945? Did you attend any of the Bahá’í activities? Do you have a conference program or other memorabilia such as photographs? Perhaps you have a story to tell. If you were present on that historic occasion, the Bay Area Bahá’í UN50 Facilitating Committee would like to hear from you. Write to the Bahá’í Center, 170 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 94103, phone 415-431-9990, fax 415-431-1733, or e-mail

WANTED: traveling teachers who may be in or near the Des Moines, Iowa, area. The Des Moines Area Teaching Committee is establishing a program of public firesides called “Crossroads.” Meetings are to be held the second Thursday evening each month; special programs can be arranged for anyone wishing to use this format. For details, please write to Napolun Birdsong or Pamela Knox, Des Moines, IA 50317, or phone 515-263-2778 (daytime answering machine) or 515-961-0605 (evening answering machine).

THE BAHÁ’Í community of Conway, South Carolina, is seeking a couple or an individual to live in its newly acquired Bahá’í Center. Conway is an energetic community with an ongoing teaching project and is committed to “entry by troops.” Conway is close to the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Radio Bahá’í, and Myrtle Beach. The rent is negotiable based on services that the person/couple can provide. Phone (803) 293-7225 for information and details.

THE BAHÁ’ÍS of Franklin County, Missouri, birthplace of early American Bahá’í Phoebe Hearst, are seeking copies of photographs, letters, articles, etc. relating to Mrs. Hearst’s Bahá’í experience. Plans are being made to present the material to the Missouri Historical Society and the local Phoebe Hearst Historical Society. Please contact the Bahá’ís of Franklin County, P.O. Box 15, Pacific, MO 63069, or phone Shirley Lee, 314-257-7521.

The Arts

THE BAHÁ’Í Association for the Arts (BAFA), initiated in 1986 by a group of artists from various parts of Europe who are Bahá’ís, is a non-profit organization whose aim is to encourage networking, education and promotion of the arts across all disciplines and cultural backgrounds. Submissions and subscriptions ($18/year) to its quarterly professionally produced, 20-40 page newsletter, “Arts Dialogue,” can be sent to Kathleen L. Babb, Kirikushi, Etajima-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima-Ken 737-21 Japan (e-mail Telephone/fax (81)823-44-1150.

MUSICIANS, dancers, writers, artists: is your calling to teach the Faith full-time through music, dance or art? Would you like to form a collective and help start a Creativity and Healing Institute for suffering souls? I would like to network with you in hopes of creating a project to express a love and spirit that will transform and heal hearts and lives. If the unity of the group is strong enough, this will happen! I am also interested in pioneering new forms and styles of music and art, especially the New Age genre. I play electric guitar, and my musical influences are classical, rock, jazz, new age and avant-garde. Anyone who is interested in supporting such a project is invited to contact Bob Charnes, Voorhees, NJ 08043 (phone 609-772-2195;

“SONGS from Our Children’s Hearts,” a project designed to spark and encourage creativity in our children, is looking for original songs based on Bahá’í themes and written by children (ages 14 and under). The project, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Beacon, New York, depends upon enough quality material being received. It could lead to a recording of selected songs to be sung by Red Grammer, Laurie Early and others, with all proceeds going toward scholarship funds to enable more children to attend Bahá’í schools. Please send your name, age, address and telephone number with a cassette recording of your song(s)—non-returnable—and lyric sheet to Laurie Early, c/o BIC, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 120, New York, NY 10017 (no phone calls, please).

Books, Periodicals

THE NATIONAL Spiritual Assembly of Bulgaria is offering an English version of its national Newsletter. A subscription of six issues by airmail costs U.S.$15. For more information, please contact the NSA of Bulgaria, P.O. Box 48, 1618 Sofia, Bulgaria.

Youth Activities

DIVERSITY Dance Workshop has ongoing openings for full-time dancers and performing artists ages 18-25 and also needs a road manager to coordinate its tours. DDW presents powerful programs addressing such issues as violence, racism, poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, intolerance and gender inequality. Great opportunity to tour schools throughout the Pacific Northwest and to travel nationally and internationally teaching Bahá’í principles. The road manager should be a well-organized adult with good communication skills. If interested, please contact DDW at P.O. Box 803, Bellevue, WA 98009, or phone 206-391-3303.

GREEN ACRE Bahá’í School is looking for dedicated youth volunteers for a Year of Service beginning this summer. Applicants should have a strong desire to offer full-time service while gaining new skills through on-site training. Must be motivated to learn new tasks and be flexible enough to work in such diverse areas as food service, maintenance, housekeeping, office and bookstore. For more information or an application, write to Ray LaBelle, Green Acre Bahá’í School, 188 Main St., Eliot, ME 03903, or phone 207-4391-7200.

THE NATIONAL Teaching Committee is seeking Bahá’í Youth Service Corps volunteers, ages 18-23, to fill a variety of posts in the U.S. including service opportunities at the ‎per-mant permanent‎ schools and institutes and opportunities in such places as Phoenix and Holbrook, AZ; Conway and Orangeburg, SC; Buncombe County, NC; Holland, MI; Los Angeles, CA; St. Paul, MN; and Kansas City, MO. There are also opportunities for young people who want to enroll in a college or university in a local locality to serve as a homefront pioneer. If you would like to serve at any of these posts, or if you are interested in establishing a post in another locality, please contact Ada James in the National Teaching Committee office, 708-733-3493.

Miscellaneous

ATTENTION former World Center staff: do you know that there are nearly 200 of us within an easy drive of Guelph, Ontario, Canada? Why so many? And why here? What opportunities for service does this present? Please join us for a reunion the weekend of June 30-July 2. Yes, we will have fun, share love and reminiscences; but more important, we will explore opportunities presented by the sheer number of us. Please contact us immediately to (1) indicate your plans to attend, and/or (2) offer your help with the many organizational details. Even if you don’t live near Guelph, join us anyway! Write to Jaellayna and John Palmer, Ont. N1H 6H9, Canada (phone 519-836-9821; fax 519-822-1347; e-mail

IF YOU PLAN to attend international meetings in San Francisco celebrating the 50th anniversary of the United Nations, the Bay Area Bahá’í Facilitating Committee for the UN 50th Anniversary would like to hear from you. Various receptions are being planned for Bahá’ís and their friends that we are sure you would like to know about in advance. Please contact the San Francisco Bahá’í Center, 170 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 94103 (phone 415-431-9990; fax 415-431-1733).

TRAVEL with the World Citizens Peace Caravan. The World Citizen Diplomats, a multinational, multifaith organization, is looking for volunteers for the starting leg of its five-year WorldPeace Caravan, proclaiming that world peace is possible through multicultural understanding and a world federation. The journey starts in September at the United Nations headquarters in New York City and continues for a year through the U.S., Canada and parts of the Far East. Bahá’ís who are helping to organize the Caravan would like to see Bahá’í representation in it. People with an international background and knowledge of Bahá’í teachings in that area are preferred. Ability to lead a group in music is a plus. Most expenses will be paid, although volunteers should provide their own “pocket money” for incidental expenses. Please send a summary of your background to Jay Tyson, Mercerville, NJ 08619.

BAHÁ’Í WOMEN who are textile artists are invited to take part in a worldwide campaign to exhibit the works of Bahá’í women at the Fourth World Conference on Women to be held in Beijing, China, in 1995. The project is being coordinated by Vicki Hu Poirier on behalf of the Bahá’í International Community Office for the Advancement of Women. Works can include weaving, embroidery (small pieces), batik, surface painting, shisha work, appliqué, lace work or any other art form that uses fabric. Individual works from Bahá’í women around the world will be put together into a tapestry by Mrs. Poirier. Artists are asked to send their contributions to Mrs. Poirier at Las Cruces, NM 88001. (Note: works must be received by the end of February 1995.)

WHY NOT consider presenting a theatre fireside? A free script of “Day of Decision,” a three-act play about the Faith, is offered as a teaching vehicle to any community. Please request it from Dawn Edwards, Salt Lake City, UT 84106 (phone 801-264-1199). A posting cost of six stamps would be welcomed.

GET YOUR NEWS ON THE AIR!

Radio Bahá’í, North America’s first Bahá’í radio station, now has a weekly news broadcast. This unique news service covers U.S. and international Bahá’í events and achievements.

Now we need your help to put the efforts of individual friends and your community “on the air.” Put Radio Bahá’í on the mailing list for your local newsletter today.

Your community is working hard for this beloved Cause. Now, let the whole world know about it!

Post your local newsletter to: Radio Bahá’í Route 2, Box 69 Hemingway, SC 29554 [Page 34]

NEWS IN BRIEF

Pictured are many of the 20 Bahá’í women and their friends who took part last December in the second annual Women’s Spiritual Retreat held in southwestern Oregon.

Teaching, service to Cause are themes at second Women’s Spiritual Retreat

Last December, the second annual Women’s Spiritual Retreat was held at a log cabin in the snow-covered mountains of southwestern Oregon.

Friendships were renewed and souls revitalized in an atmosphere of physical and spiritual beauty. But more important than the immediate benefits to the 20 attendees from eight communities—including Bahá’ís and friends of the Faith—were the plans they initiated to turn the experience into ongoing opportunities for teaching and service.

Inspired by discussions aimed at defining and enhancing friendships, personal empowerment and spiritual focus, the group consulted to establish a variety of teaching and support groups that could serve themselves and their communities on a continuing basis.

Their ideas were formalized at a “reunion brunch” in January, while at an “open house” tea in February, Bahá’í women and their friends who hadn’t taken part in the retreat were invited to add their input and resources to a wide range of proposed projects.

The meetings led to the formation of six groups involving the participation of 30 women with goals to include hospitality and fellowship, teaching and firesides, improving parenting skills, undertaking community service projects, and establishing two support groups centered on applying the spiritual principles of the Faith to the resolution of everyday problems.

The teaching efforts begun by this handful of believers are destined to bring results through limitless possibilities and contagious excitement, while the spiritual benefits gained by the project can already be seen in the stronger sense of unity and commitment manifested by the participants.—Linda Viviane

More than 50 works of art are displayed at L.A. Bahá’í Center

A portrait of a young girl with her cat. An abstract of a woman flying through the air. Even the Greatest Name in calligraphy with an intricate background design.

These were just a few of the more than 50 works of visual art submitted by 18 artists for the opening January 28 of an art exhibit at the Los Angeles Bahá’í Center.

About 65 people gathered at a special reception for the artists that officially opened the two-week exhibit.

The show marked the first in a series of exhibits sponsored by the Bahá’í Arts Council to focus public attention on spiritual principles. The various pieces displayed at the event were largely works by local Bahá’í artists that focused on the theme of spiritual healing.

Artists were asked to submit descriptions of their works to be mounted next to the pieces. These summations added insight to the over-all viewing of the exhibit.

Martine Helwig contributed four works in colored pencil, conte crayon, pen and ink, and mixed media. She wrote in her description that she began her artistic journey as a child by drawing pictures from magazines. Gradually, she felt that the determination of the adult artist revealed the “little girl” within, and concluded that this process of self-discovery precedes, yet enhances, the process of spiritual growth.

Naghmeh Ataian, who displayed calligraphic work, wrote that she uses her artistic ability to express her innermost thoughts and feelings. She insisted that the blessing of the gift of art is sharing it with humanity, bringing joy to the heart.

Karen Peterson, who submitted three paintings in oil, wrote that she hopes through her art to convey an ‎ulimate ultimate‎ appreciation of the gifts of God that surround us. She noted that both the artistic and spiritual processes affect one’s inner eye by what the outer eye sees, and vice-versa.

Other artists who contributed works were Ruth Alcivar, Sharon Barnes, Nekesa Brooks, Jane Brucker, Michael Constantine, Ahmad Davari, Martin Derbyshire, Shahin Ehsan, Max Henkle, George Hill, Erskine Keary, Mehr Mansuri, Robin Moore and Fashid Tebyani.

Bombing

Continued from page 6

“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth, and the light of the unity of Oklahoma shines over the world. Overwhelmed by the response of the community and nation to the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah building and the demonstration of love and unity by the people of Oklahoma, the religious leadership of this area join together for Interfaith Disaster Recovery for the greater Oklahoma City to foster this spirit of love and unity.”

She continued, “This could be the start of a new level of unity in this community, and it is gratifying that the Bahá’ís have been asked to be in the forefront of the effort. They don’t need our meager finances; the money has already been provided. What they need is expertise at seeing all faiths as equally spiritually equipped, inter-community organizational skills and consultation skills. It’s great that what we do have to offer is what is suddenly the most in demand!”

That’s where matters stood at the end of Ridván.

The Oklahoma City Assembly was gathering contributions for the donation to the Red Cross that it planned to make around May 15.

And Ms. Van Kley had some final news:

“One result of the ‘‎need do something need to do something‎’ is record attendance at area churches. ...We’ve had some of that ourselves, in the return to the Sunday Bahá’í classes of several friends not seen in a long, long time. A friend I’ve been inviting to events for a year finally came to our Holy Day picnic and hiking trip Tuesday.

“Friends, I’m sure we don’t have a monopoly on spiritual need in our neck of the woods. We all can open our doors and our hearts, and offer what comforts us from Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings to console others.”

The National Spiritual Assembly would like to remind the Bahá’ís that it is necessary to obtain permission from the Universal House of Justice before traveling to Israel, whether for personal reasons or to visit the Bahá’í Holy Places.

‘The Conference at Badasht,’ one of six oil paintings by Ivan Lloyd of Tucson, Arizona, that are on semi-permanent display at the Bahá’í Center in Denver, Colorado, and will eventually become part of a permanent exhibit at the William Sears Bahá’í Center for Learning and the Arts, to be built near Colorado Springs.

More than 150 gather at Denver Bahá’í Center to see paintings depicting early history of Faith

More than 150 people gathered February 4 at the Bahá’í Center in Denver, Colorado, to meet Ivan Lloyd, an artist from Tucson, Arizona, who was in Denver to exhibit six of his oil paintings, the first in a series of 19 depicting the early history of the Faith.

The paintings, many measuring six by eight feet, were seen recently in Los Angeles, Tucson and Phoenix, and are to be on semi-permanent display at the Center in Denver before moving eventually to a permanent exhibit at the William Sears Bahá’í Center for Learning and the Arts, to be built near Colorado Springs.

Accompanying Mr. Lloyd to Denver were his wife, Lystra, and Marguerite Sears, widow of the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears and executive director of the future William Sears Bahá’í Center.

“I am very happy that the Center will have the original paintings,” said Mrs. Sears. “They are truly magnificent.”

Mr. Lloyd, a native of Coventry, England, who spent a number of years traveling through Europe, the Middle East and Asia studying Islamic art and Arabic culture, became a Bahá’í in 1986.

His most recent works reflect the dramatic and colorful history of the Faith and depict many unforgettable events including “The Unfurling of the Black Standard,” “The Conference of Badasht” and “Táhirih Teaching Women.”

Mr. Lloyd is presently working at his studio in Tucson on the next six paintings in the series of 19. [Page 35]

Atlanta’s Youth Workshop barely pauses for breath

There’s no rest for the weary. Members of the Atlanta Bahá’í Youth Workshop were looking forward to a much-needed four-week break after performing at the AT&T “Don’t Hate...Communicate” National Youth Leadership Forum last November.

Then the phone calls and letters started pouring in, asking the group to perform at the annual conference of the National Association for the Education of Youth and Children.

Of course, the Workshop members acquiesced, and after the December 1 performance many of the 500 teachers attending from around the country expressed how touched they were by the group’s message.

It was that kind of autumn—exhausting but rewarding—for the Workshop.

The whirlwind season started August 27 with a trip to the town of Washington, Georgia, at the invitation of a homefront pioneer family there. An article about the Workshop’s arrival had generated interest, so when the group started performing in the town square a crowd quickly gathered.

Many people approached Workshop members after the performance to ask about the message they had just heard. That evening, the Workshop members led a fireside.

Next, the Workshop performed at the Tennessee Bahá’í Institute, in an evening that testified to the energizing power of Bahá’í love and fellowship.

The following weekend it was back to Atlanta. Workshop members assisted the Northeast and East Cobb Assemblies in passing out invitations for the Dan Seals fireside concert September 17 at Georgia Tech. The Workshop also had the bounty of opening the program, attended by around 500 Bahá’ís, their friends, and seekers.

On October 9, the Workshop set off on another weekend trip, this time to Clemson, South Carolina. The youth had been invited to perform at Clemson University’s second annual Festival of African American Literature and the Arts.

The performance was well received and the Workshop members were able to share the message of Bahá’u’lláh with many of those who had gathered for the festival. That evening the youth enjoyed fellowship with Clemson-area Bahá’ís, and the next morning they attended a devotional service that closed the event.

The following Sunday, the Workshop performed at the Children’s Interfaith Service at the First Presbyterian Church. The program, sponsored by the Atlanta/Fulton County Commission on Youth and Children, was held in conjunction with the annual national observance of the Children’s Sabbath.

Representatives from several area churches, synagogues and mosques took part. Readings from several religions including the Bahá’í Faith were shared. Two local television stations recorded and later broadcast parts of the program.

The response to the Workshop’s performance was overwhelming. Many people surrounded the Workshop members to ask questions. Several of the speakers also asked how they could get the Workshop to perform for their youth groups and Sunday schools.

On Thursday, October 20, in observance of the anniversary of the Birth of the Báb, several Workshop members put together a care basket for the Atlanta Women and Children’s Center.

That Sunday, the Workshop performed at a celebration of United Nations Day co-sponsored by the Atlanta UN Association and the Spiritual Assembly of Fulton County Central. The program turned out to be a moving celebration of unity in diversity.

And the next evening, the Workshop performed for dignitaries, coordinators and volunteers at the King Week kickoff rally at the King Center in Atlanta. The Workshop was well received and a local radio station interviewed several of its members.

Then it was off to the “Don’t Hate...Communicate” forum and the education conference. Whew!

New Berlin Bahá’ís present Community Service Award

In December, the Bahá’ís of New Berlin, Wisconsin, presented their 1994 Community Service Award to longtime community activist Richard Franz.

Mr. Franz is a member of the Milwaukee Peace Education Committee; a member and former board member of the Waukesha Environmental Action League; a past winner of the Zero Population Growth award; co-founder of the Waukesha chapter of Compassionate Friends, a support group for parents whose children have died; a member and several times president of the Ecology Association of New Berlin; a member of the Waukesha Center for Peace and Justice; and co-recipient with his late wife, Maxine, of the 1991 Waukesha YWCA Cristoph Memorial Peace Maker award.

Besides honoring Mr. Franz, the Bahá’ís made a donation to “Trees for Life” in memory of Mrs. Franz.

St. Louis PI rep quoted in women’s newspaper

Dorothy Davison, secretary of the Bahá’í Public Information Office of St. Louis, Missouri, was among a number of women of various faiths quoted in an article entitled “Religion: Women Working in Faith” which appeared last November in a local newspaper, U.S. Women.

Mrs. Davison spoke about the Faith’s emphasis on the importance of educating women, the concept of collective leadership, and the bedrock principle of consultation.

Young Bahá’í discusses Holy Days on radio program

Last December 24, Vanessa Ring, a 15-year-old Bahá’í from Exeter, New Hampshire, was a guest on “Seacoast Family,” an hour-long radio program on WZNN in Rochester, Vermont.

She joined two Jewish teen-agers and one Jehovah’s Witness to discuss what it is like to grow up in a family that doesn’t celebrate Christmas.

Miss Ring described Bahá’í Holy Days and Ayyám-i-Há, and spoke about the need to respect those of all faiths.

When asked about the role of the Faith in her life, she spoke about the independent investigation of truth, the struggle to grow spiritually day by day, and the need for every soul to recognize the Messenger of God for this Day.

The program host read a brief summary of the Faith from the World Book Encyclopedia.

SHORT TAKES

Faith’s approach to race unity shared with Detroit groups

On February 20, two Bahá’ís from Detroit, Michigan, made a presentation on the Bahá’í approach to race unity to the Birmingham-Bloomfield Task Force on Race Relations and Ethnic Diversity.

About 20 leaders of various religious and civic groups attended. Azar Alizadeh is the Bahá’í representative on the Task Force.

One result of the meeting was that three organizations agreed to co-sponsor the Model of Racial Unity Conference planned by the Bahá’ís for May 20 at Detroit’s Cobo Hall.

Two of the groups also agreed to conduct workshops at the conference.

Festive Centenary program draws 43 in Edinburg, Texas

Last November 14, the Bahá’ís of Edinburg, Texas, invited Bahá’ís and seekers from nearby communities to join them in observing the anniversaries of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh and the establishment of the Faith in North America.

The festive occasion brought together 43 people from nine communities, among whom were eight seekers. A special guest was Margaret Serna of Corpus Christi, who in 1970 became the first person to accept the Faith in south Texas. She was accompanied by her son, Marcos.

Following a potluck supper, the gathering was uplifted by songs and devotional readings, after which Ned Sinclair spoke briefly about how the spread of the Faith to the West was foreshadowed in the writings of both Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb.

After dramatic presentations by Ann Maus on Carrie Kinney’s first encounters with the Faith, and by the Cholas family on Thornton Chase and his good friend, John Bosch, the evening ended with cooperative games and music.

Spiritual heritage is topic of lecture by Dr. Bushrui

Dr. Suheil Bushrui, who holds the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, presented a lecture last November 1 at the University of Delaware, using examples taken from Eastern and Western literature, philosophy and religion to demonstrate that humanity has a profound and unifying spiritual heritage, a heritage that we have all but lost.

Modern technology, he explained, while offering the human race the greatest opportunities for advancement the world has ever known, will destroy us unless channeled by the social values and ethical concepts that can come only from those spiritual teachings that stand at the foundation of every society.

At the conclusion of Dr. Bushrui’s presentation, the audience of students, faculty, staff and community members from throughout the Delaware Valley gave him a standing ovation.

The program was taped by the university’s Office of Public Relations for later radio broadcast.

Dr. Bushrui, a native of Palestine, is internationally known for his work in conflict resolution and is a recognized scholar of Anglo-Irish, English and Arabic literature.

Before joining the University of Maryland’s Center for International Development and Conflict Management, he served from 1971-84 as head of the Department of English at the American University in Beirut.

Youth Service Corps leads new L.A. service program

Bahá’ís in Los Angeles are preparing to turn faith into action through a newly formed Bahá’í Service Corps program that will serve the community at large as well as the community of the Greatest Name.

Created by the local Spiritual Assembly, the Service Corps will allow individuals to apply the principles of the Faith to various service-related activities designed to raise the quality of human life.

The program is aimed primarily at community youth, but is designed for everyone—young and old—to arise in the spirit of unity and service.

Said one member of the Assembly: “There is an interconnectedness to all of our teaching activities, and these new areas of service should also be considered as connected to the Bahá’í community and its teaching efforts.”

Coordinators of the Service Corps are Brian Bullock (818-709-1779) and Larry Ogron (213-876-1940). [Page 36]

COMPLETE LISTING OF BAHÁ’Í SUMMER SCHOOLS

BOSCH 500 Comstock Lane; Santa Cruz, CA 95060; phone: (408) 423-3387; fax: (408) 423-7564; Internet e-mail:

Week 1, June 24 - July 1 Choral Training Session, Teaching Through the Arts, with Tom Price Applications required for attendance.

Week 2, July 2 - 6 Becoming Teachers of the Cause with Dr. Lameh Fananapazir Learn to present the Bahá’í Faith to others. Teaching materials will be provided for each attendee.

A Voyage into the Mystical ‎Ream Realm‎ with Derek Cockshut A new course developed around prayer and meditation.

Can I Really Pioneer? with Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center and Artist in Residence, Geraldine Robarts An opportunity to ask questions and talk to former and present pioneers.

Week 3, July 8-13 Partnership Between Women & Men, An Important Key for Fulfilling America’s Spiritual Destiny with Rebequa Getahoun Murphy Study with the NSA’s Representative to the United Nations

A Voyage into the Mystical Realm with Derek Cockshut

Ruhi Deepening and Consolidation Methods with Ruth and Milton Breton and Artist Geraldine Robarts Become familiar with and experience this method in action.

Week 4, July 15-20 Creating a Vision for Spiritual Development with Leonard Smith This intensive workshop is designed to help participants develop and refine their personal vision for spiritual growth and to develop realistic strategies for implementation.

The Special Destiny of America with Azadeh and Nabil Fares A course designed to increase your love for Bahá’u’lláh and develop a commitment to act.

A Voyage into the Mystical Realm with Derek Cockshut

Special Program: Raising a Generation of Prejudice Free Children

Race Unity Training, part of the Core Curriculum for Children’s Spiritual Education with LeNise Jackson-Gaertner and Sandy Coleman Learn how to be a vital force in raising a generation of prejudice free children

Week 5, July 22-27 Achieving Unity In Spite of Race with Gloria Haithman-Ali The Destiny of America is the destiny of the family of man. Until America solves its racial problem, the world will not have peace.

Historical Aspects of the Tablets of the Divine Plan with Javidukht Khadem The Meaning of Sacrifice, Importance of the Arc on God’s Holy Mountain, and the Relationship of the Individual to the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh

A Voyage into the Mystical Realm with Derek Cockshut

Weeks 5-8 Summer Youth Institute Programs This summer, Bosch will offer three types of youth programs, from 7th grade into college. All institutes are disciplined, educational programs that offer intellectual, physical, and spiritual disciplines. The methods of training include lecture, study, and discussion as well as physical exercise, prayer and service projects.

Week 5, July 22-27 College Youth Institute with Sean Lurie Graduated high school seniors

Week 6, July 29-August 3 Youth Institute with Traci & Larry Gholar Entering 10th - 12th grade in Fall

Week 7 August 5-10 Junior Youth Institute with Margie & Gary Bulkin Entering 7th - 9th grade in Fall

Week 8, August 12-17 Junior Youth Institute with Joanie & James Yuille Entering 7th - 9th grade in Fall

Week 9, August 19-24 The Ocean of My Words with Dr. John S. Hatcher “Literary Tools for Understanding the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh” is based on his forthcoming book.

The Heroine of a Thousand Faces with Jaleh Joubine-Khadem This course will cover the history of women’s quest for freedom and equality from the 1850s to the present, citing examples of heroic women of East and West.

The Mystical Background of Bahá’u’lláh’s “Seven Valleys” with Mozhan Khadem This course draws upon the rich tradition of Persian mystical Sufi poetry, with special emphasis on the works of Attar in order to better understand Bahá’u’lláh’s mystical language.

Adult Intensive Course with Keven Brown This course is offered to assist the friends to develop their research skills and Bahá’í scholarship.

A Voyage into the Mystical ‎Ream Realm‎ with Derek Cockshut

Week 10, August 26-31 Spiritual Transformation of the Individual with Margaret Kunz Ruhe A course that will define the reality of man, use of prayer and meditation, building a good character by acquiring virtues, and engendering the spirit of teaching, pioneering and service.

Social Transformations of our Global Society with Dr. David S. Ruhe Will focus on the state of the world, “The Lip of the Millennium,” Bahá’í Tools for Peace, “Interdependence 2001: Role of the Bahá’í Faith,” “Bahá’u’lláh: Baghdad Days” and “Proofs of the Supreme Prophet.”

Introduction to Bahá’í Community Social & Economic Development (SED) with Dr. Alfred Neumann Will include history and spiritual basis for Bahá’í SED. Study will include the October 1983 and September 1993 letters on SED from the Universal House of Justice.

A Voyage into the Mystical Realm with Derek Cockshut

September 1-4 Annual Labor Day Weekend The Arts And Teaching with Susan Wright Lewis Many guest artists, here for the Media & Arts Colloquium occurring simultaneously, will be participating. Tom Price, Jack Lenz, Fred Badiyan (film maker), plus others will assist guests to share their love of art and of teaching.

Media & Arts Colloquium Guest professionals in art and production fields will put together an Arts Colloquium for production of art media. Program invitational.

GREEN ACRE 188 Main Street; Eliot, ME 03903-1827; phone: (207) 439-7200; fax: (207) 439-7202; Internet e-mail:

Session 1, June 30 - July 4 World Unity Festival Reminiscent of the early years at Green Acre, this program will be dedicated to the theme of universal peace and the oneness of humanity.

Session 2, July 7 - 9 Persian-American Conference - “The Life And Writings Of The Báb” with Habib Riazati and Ahang Rabbani. Classes will be presented in English. A special weekend for in-depth discussion of the history of the Bábí Dispensation, the life of the Báb and features of His Revelation.

Session 3, July 9 - 14 “Bahá’í World Center: Metropolis Of God’s Kingdom On Earth” with Stephen and Sharon Karnik The session will explore Shoghi Effendi’s vision of the Bahá’í World Center as the geographical, spiritual and administrative heart of the planet.

“Opportunities At Our Doorstep . . . Seeking Confidence, Strength And Bounties” with Dr. Tahereh Abdieh, Auxiliary Board Member A discussion on how to achieve success in teaching our neighbors, coworkers, teachers and friends... all those who we interact with everyday in our own hometowns.

Youth Institutes This educational program provides a structured environment for the study of the Writings with application to major issues confronting youth today. Includes a variety of instructional methods.

Session 3, July 9 - 15 Green Acre Youth Institute, Grades 9 - 12

Session 4, July 16 - 22 Green Acre Junior Youth Institute, Grades 6 - 8

Session 4, July 16 - 21 “Reality And Action: A Teaching Workshop” with Morris Taylor An experiential workshop focusing on creating and furthering individual initiatives in teaching.

“Gleanings Of Pilgrimage” with Ethel And Lacy Crawford An extraordinary opportunity for an armchair visit or for rekindling memories of pilgrimage experience with friends who served for 24 years in the Holy Land.

Session 5, July 23 - 28 “The Perfect Exemplar” with Ahang Rabbani This course will survey the entire life of the Master, focusing on many aspects of His life previously unavailable to the English-speaking audience.

“Creating Distinctive Families: A Challenge In These Times” with Jane Daily Discover and apply the spiritual principles that will distinguish our families from the society in which we live as a prerequisite to the transformation of the American culture.

Session 5, July 23 - 28 Core Curriculum Teacher Training Session with Nancy Modern and Liz Labelle Training for teachers in the Core Curriculum for the Spiritual Education of Children, developed by the National Bahá’í Education Task Force under the guidance and direction of the National Spiritual Assembly. Admission requires recommendation by LSA or member of the Auxiliary Board.

Session 6, July 30 - August 4 Green Acre Choral Institute with Tom Price Workshops offering specialized training in voice, choral conducting, administration of Bahá’í choirs, music composition and songwriting.

Session 6, July 30 - August 4 “The Majestic Process Of The Illumination Of The Planet” with John Kolstoe The Guardian described a ten-part “Majestic Process” from the “Adamic Cycle” through the “Kingdom of God on Earth.” This comprehensive course will examine the cycles, ages, stages and epochs outlined in this process as a part of the evolution of the world commonwealth of Bahá’u’lláh.

Session 7, August 6 - 11 “Magnify His Name . . . Using Media To Proclaim The Message!” with Bob Harris Explore the appropriate use of media to promote the Faith in this hands-on workshop. Participants will define a media message, develop a framework and action plan for their home community, and leave inspired knowing the power the media has to multiply, amplify and magnify the efforts of unified Bahá’í communities.

“Consultation” with John Kolstoe Explore the spiritual essence of consultation and its application in decision making and conflict resolution as it applies to the individual, family, Bahá’í community and the world at large through lively practice sessions in this popular workshop course.

“United Nations Year Of Tolerance And The Bahá’í Perspective” with Barbara Harris, Janet And Rodney Richards Workshop of hands-on activities and study.

Session 8, August 13 - 18 “The Role Of The Family In The Future Of America: United By Destiny” with Auxiliary Board Member Jack Guillebeaux and Fafar Guillebeaux Examine how the Writings and the tools of social science can enable us to translate the Bahá’í teachings on marriage and family into “reality and action.”

“The Role Of Love In America’s Spiritual Destiny” with Michael Penn and Kathy Penn An inspirational course that will explore the concept and power of love as described in the Bahá’í Writings. Special focus will be on the importance of love in realizing America’s unfolding spiritual destiny.

Session 9, August 20 - 25 “God Still Loves Laughter! A Joyful Journey To Spiritual Enrichment” with Auxiliary Board Member Eugene Andrews Prepare for a transforming journey through the Writings as this practical and happy workshop explores the path to happiness and spiritual enrichment.

“The World’s Awakening: Humanity Comes Of Age” with Mildred Mottahedeh A thought-provoking examination of the challenges facing humanity as we approach the dawning of the Lesser Peace. Will explore the end of an era governed by the pursuit of power and wealth, and the beginning of a new age of spiritual awakening. [Page 37]How wonderful it would be if all the friends could arrange to spend at least a few days in one of these summer schools. . . on behalf of Shoghi Effendi

Above-Sarah Farmer Inn at Green Acre, Top left-Bosch office building and library complex, Bottom left-Picnic area at Louhelen

LOUHELEN

3208 South State Road; Davison, MI 48423-8603; phone: (810) 653-5033; fax: (810) 653-7181; Internet e-mail:

May 26 - 29 Core Curriculum Teacher Training with Charlotte and Bill Joyner Intended for teachers of Bahá’í children’s classes, the workshop explores the station, responsibilities, and standards of the Bahá’í teacher; the spiritual reality and spiritual growth of the child; the concept of the “child-development centered community”; and the ages 6-12 Core Curriculum and lesson building from its content.

May 26 - 28 Local Spiritual Assembly Development with Auxiliary Board member Dr. June Thomas and Auxiliary Board member Dr. Curtis Russell A special weekend workshop intended for members of Local Spiritual Assemblies.

June 2 - 4 Equality of Men and Women with Auxiliary Board Member Dr. Hoda Mahmoudi, Geraldine Roberts, and Susan Lewis-Wright Collaboration between women and men fosters equality, a prerequisite to peace, and both women and men are warmly invited to participate.

June 9 - 14 Ruhi Tutor Training with Lorna Bergner, Kathleen Colucci-Russell, and Ilya Brecque The Ruhi Institute training process focuses on the participatory study of the Creative Word, resulting in service; an action-oriented process; fostering effective teaching institutes in home communities; the empowerment generated by the Creative Word.

June 9-17 Louhelen Youth Institute with Lorna Bergner, Michael Naylor, and Dr. Rick Johnson For ages 15-21, offering serious individual and group study of the Bahá’í Writings; exploration of the role of arts and music in teaching the Cause; participation in the Ruhi Institute process for effective teaching.

June 18 - 24 Camp Louhelen with Carol McKeil and Allan McKeil For ages 8-12, offering study of the Bahá’í teachings using Core Curriculum themes and approaches.

July 21 - 26 Family and Friends Session 1 with Dr. John Hatcher, Dr. ‎Willian William‎ Hatcher, and Susan Engle A family-oriented session of loving fellowship for all ages, offering adult courses, “The Structure of Reality,” and “The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: Causality in the World of Being”; study of the Bahá’í Writings as they relate to the Destiny of America; and a full children’s program.

July 28 - August 2 Family and Friends Session 2 with Dr. Habib Riazati and Janelle Heiss A family-oriented session of loving fellowship for all ages, offering an adult course on “The Destiny of America”; study of The Advent of Divine Justice; study of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas in light of America’s destiny; and a full children’s program.

August 4 - 9 Family and Friends Session 3 with Dr. Michael Penn, Kathy Penn, Lorelei McClure, and Joe Crone A family-oriented session of loving fellowship for all ages, offering adult courses on “The Role of Love in America’s Spiritual Destiny,” and “The Power of Prayer”; study of community and family life in light of America’s destiny; and a full children’s program.

August 11 - 16 Youth Eagle Institute with Dr. Ahang Rabbani, Michael Naylor, and Barbara Nelson Youth ages 15-21 will find this remarkably rich session offers dynamic integration of spiritualization, active learning, fellowship; interactive learning and group consultation; arts and music; fellowship and fun.

August 18 - 20 Multi-Cultural Family Camp with Dr. James Malarky and Nadia Malarky A family-oriented session of loving fellowship for all ages, offering age-integrated, whole-family classes for Bahá’ís and their friends.

September 1-4 Homecoming with Dr. William Roberts, member of the Continental Board of Counselors and Dr. Richard Thomas A family-oriented session of loving fellowship for all ages, offering adult course on “The Destiny of America”; featuring the “Annual One Planet Music Festival”; afternoon family-oriented recreation; and a full children’s program.

REGIONAL SCHOOLS

California (Southern), July 21-24 The Tablets of the Divine Plan, with Counselor Wilma Ellis; Highland Resort at Cherry Valley; Contact Edye York, 909/983-1022

Colorado (East), August 10-13 The Destiny of America. All childrens’ classes will feature teachers trained in Core Curriculum; Newton Ranch, near Denver; Contact John Bolz, 303/666-9275

Colorado (West) / Four Corners School, July 19-23 The Destiny of America; Camp Kiwanis, south of Gallup, NM, in the Zuni Mountains; Contact Bill Bright, Gallup, NM 87301-6453, 505/722-0039

Florida (Southern Flame Bahá’í School), June 30 - July 4 The Destiny of America: A Call to Transformation and Action with National Spiritual Assembly member Jack McCants, Bob Harris, Joy Degruy-Leary, Dr. Behrouz Sabet, Zabine Linkins; Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida; Contact Martha Marshall, Plantation, FL 33322-5265, 305/426-0991 or 305/236-0482

Georgia, August 4-6 The Spiritual Destiny of America; Covington, GA; Contact LaVont Steele, Marietta, GA 30068

Illinois (Heartland), July 19-23 The Destiny of America: A Call to Transformation and Action with Auxiliary Board member Dr. Curtis Russell and Parent Facilitation and Core Curriculum workshops; Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois; Contact Carl Clingenpeel, Aurora, IL 60504, 708/898-6385

Iowa, August 11-15 America’s Spiritual Destiny: The Joy of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá with hands-on, learning center approach to some adult classes; Briar Cliff College, Sioux City, IA; Contact Don Calkins, Des Moines, IA 50312, 515/282-7763

Maryland / Virginia (Dayspring School), August 4-7 The Destiny of America: A Call to Transformation and Action with special Guest Auxiliary Board member James Sturdivant; Frostburg State University; Contact Ingrid Olson, 703/481-8393, Herndon, VA 22070

Mississippi, June 2-4 The Destiny of America; Wilson Inn, 310 Greymont Ave., Jackson, MS 39202; Contact John Smith, 601/638-5175

Montana (John H. Wilcott Bahá’í School), July 30 - August 4 The Destiny of America: Transformation and Action with Joseph Galata, a Turkish Gypsy Bahá’í; Luccock Park Camp, 10 miles south of Livingston, MT; Contact Linda Wanzenreid, Lewistown, MT 59457, 406/538-8047 or Kay Maloney at 406/727-1120, email at

Nebraska (Great Plains Bahá’í School), July 14-17 The Destiny of America; Camp Comeca, at Cozad exit off I-80; Contact Colin Taylor, North Platte, NE 69101, 308/534-4939

New York (‎Soloman Solomon‎ Hilton Bahá’í School), August 11-20 The Destiny of America; Oakwood School, Poughkeepsie, NY; Contact Stephanie Jaczko, Newburgh, NY 914/566-7864

North Carolina, June 30 - July 3 Bahá’í Community Life: Door to the Future; Mount Olive College, Mount Olive, North Carolina; Contact Sandra Miles, Winston/Salem, NC 27105, 910/767-6888

Oregon (East), August 24-27 America’s Spiritual Destiny; Meadowood Speech Camp, Weston, OR (office phone 503/ 276-2752; Contact Shelley Hines, Island City, OR 97850, 503/962-0815

Oregon (West), August 9-13 The Destiny of America; Camp Myrtlewood, 3 miles south of Bridge, Oregon; Contact Norman Ives, Coos Bay, OR 97420, 503/267-3157

South Carolina, June 9-11 The Destiny of America: A Call to Transformation and Action with Counselor Wilma Ellis, Mr. Aziz Yazdi, Mr. Eric Dozier; Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute; Contact Jennie Green, 803/558-5093

Tennessee, September 1-4 Destiny of America, Creating Unity and Building Infrastructure; Dubose Conference Center, Monteagle, TN; Contact Kaihan Strain, Hixson, TX 37343, phone 615/842-1750

Texas, August 10-13 The Destiny of America with Core Curriculum-based agenda for adults, youth and children; Bridgeport Methodist Camp, Bridgeport, TX; Contact Randy Black, 713/996-1935

Washington (Eastern) / Idaho (Northern), July 1-7 The Destiny of America with emphasis on community and family life; Camp Wooten, in SE Washington, 30 miles from Pomeroy; Contact Shannon McConnell, Richland, WA 99352, 509/943-1236

Wisconsin, July 17-21 The Destiny of America: A Call to Transformation and Action; Byron Center, Brownsville, WI 53006; Contact Lisa Riemer, West Bend, WI 53095, 414/338-3023

Green Lake Bahá’í Conference, September 15-17 What is this Destiny? Main teachers include members of the National Spiritual Assembly Dr. Robert Henderson, Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, and Bill Davis. In addition, Aziz Yazdi and Dr. Jena Khadem Khodadad will speak; Green Lake, Wisconsin; 1-800-558-8898 for housing and meal registration

DEVOTION, STUDY, RECREATION

[Page 38]

EXCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS . . .

A poster created by Bahá’í artist, sculptor and author Winifred Barnum-Newman of San Antonio, Texas, was unveiled February 21 by the Fiesta San Antonio Commission and will be seen by hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors to the city during the Fiesta celebrations. The poster, entitled “Our Diversity Shines,” translates Ms. Barnum-Newman’s belief in the oneness of humankind into vibrant colors that pay tribute to various figures familiar to the Southwest.

Holly Pierce, a young Bahá’í from Tigard, Oregon, has been named to Soccer America magazine’s 1994 Women’s All-Freshman Team for collegiate soccer players. Miss Pierce, a midfielder at the University of Portland, was named freshman of the year in the West Coast Conference.

Herb Vaughan, a Bahá’í from Berea, Ohio, is cited in the seventh edition of the introductory education text, Those Who Can, Teach. Mr. Vaughan started the Baldwin-Wallace College Teacher Education Center on Internet, and has organized and led three training workshops for the American Learning Village program and an ongoing series of telecommunications training workshops for staff at Berea city schools.

Ginger Yates, LPN, a Bahá’í from Emporia, Kansas, has been named 1995 Nurse of the Year by the Kansas Health Care Association and the Holiday Resort Adult Care and Rehabilitation Center’s “Super Nurse.”

Layli Schwerin, a 21-year-old Bahá’í who attends Spelman College in Atlanta, has won three prestigious scholarships worth a total of $9,000 which she plans to apply to a year of study abroad in Florence, Italy. The scholarship awards were based on her academic excellence, leadership initiative, and community service.

Sudabeh Kamali, a Bahá’í who is an 11th-grade student at Plano East High School, has won the first-place award in public speaking for the North Texas region of Health Occupation Students of America for her presentation, “Critical Health-Care Needs by the Year 2000.” The award is presented for content, quality of presentation and creativity.

Pari Olver, a 15-year-old Bahá’í from Coon Rapids, Minnesota, has won the 1995 state all-around championship in gymnastics with the highest score of any gymnast in Minnesota. She was profiled in April on the front page of Sportsweek, a publication of ABC Newspapers.

Carolyn Emery, a Bahá’í from Hartshorne, Oklahoma, recently won second and third place awards for jewelry design in a contest sponsored by Fire Mountain Gems of Cave Junction, Oregon. Second prize was a necklace, third prize a beaded watch band.

Vanessa Ring, a 15-year-old Bahá’í from Exeter, New Hampshire, who is a freshman at Exeter High School, took part last November with the school’s cross-country team in a benefit relay race across the state. She was her team’s first-place finisher and won the school’s most valuable runner award.

Christopher Mayberry, a young Bahá’í from Waukegan, Illinois, recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. Chris, who first became involved in scouting as a Cub Scout, also earned the Bahá’í “Unity of Mankind” emblem. He is presently a freshman at the University of Missouri-Rolla where he was named to the honor roll for his first semester.

As a part of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in Phoenix, Arizona, a young Bahá’í, Alethea Turner, won honorable mention for grades 4-8 in a student essay contest sponsored by Arizona State University. The topic, based on Dr. King’s memorable “I Have a Dream” speech of 1963, was “Making the Dream Happen.” An article about the contest in the local newspaper, The Times, mentions that Alethea is a Bahá’í.

Dr. David M. Earl, a Bahá’í from Scottville, Michigan, was recently named the first honorary member of the Esperanto Society of Michigan. Dr. Earl began studying Esperanto in the 1920s, later served as an officer of the Esperanto Society of Detroit, and in the ’50s was published in the American Esperantist magazine.

Niusha Ziaee, a graduating senior at Mt. Carmel High School in San Diego, California, was saluted recently by the local newspaper for her many accomplishments including membership on the varsity tennis team, vice-presidency of the Ecology Club, volunteer work at Palomar Medical Center and involvement with the San Diego Bahá’í youth workshop.

‘Spiritual Foundations’ study program set to begin in July under Wilmette Institute

To help raise up a generation of knowledgeable, articulate teachers of the Faith, the National Spiritual Assembly has established “Spiritual Foundations for a Global Society,” a four-year study program under the guidance of the Wilmette Institute.

Each year the program will include the following:

• A one-month summer residential program at National-Louis University in Wilmette. Residents will study the Faith and related background information in the classroom with experienced, academically qualified Bahá’ís; guide at the Bahá’í House of Worship; take part in projects at the Bahá’í National Center; and teach in the Chicago area.
• Eleven months of guided self-study including developing and carrying out personal teaching and service plans.

The curriculum will include:

• Religious and philosophical background (especially Islam) and Bahá’í theology.
• Spiritual values for personal development.
• The Bahá’í community and the Bahá’í administrative order.
• The challenge of establishing a global civilization.

Although designed to allow Bahá’ís to earn college credit, the program is open to anyone 18 years of age or older who has a high school diploma or its equivalent.

The program will start on July 1. Because space is limited, applications for admission should be made as soon as possible.

For more information, please contact the Wilmette Institute (telephone 708-733-3492; fax 708-733-3502; e-mail

More than 250 gather in Portland, OR, for opening of city’s new Bahá’í Center

Counselor for Australasia Ben Ayala (holding picture of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá) is pictured with members of the Spiritual Assembly of Portland, Oregon, during the dedication ceremony February 18 for the city’s new Hazíratu’l-Quds.

On February 18, more than 250 Bahá’ís gathered in Portland, Oregon, to dedicate that city’s new Hazíratu’l-Quds.

The ceremony began with an American Indian purification conducted by Sioux Max Defender who was helped by Lionel Pinn.

A prayer for the departed recognized those whose efforts had led to this momentous day. Other prayers were then offered in Persian, Swahili, Spanish, Chinese, Hmong, French and Hawaiian.

The prayers were interspersed with songs in Spanish and English by six-year-old Jamal Baghdadi.

Nosratollah Rassekh, chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Portland, shared excerpts from his forthcoming book, The History of Charles and Helen Bishop. It was the donation by Mrs. Bishop of her last home to the local Assembly of Portland that allowed for the purchase of the Hazíratu’l-Quds.

Mrs. Bishop’s sister, Martha Warren, spoke about the divine connection of Mrs. Bishop’s life as exemplified by her unerring wisdom in maximizing her financial resources in pursuit of spiritual goals.

The keynote address was then given by Ben Ayala, a member of the Continental Board of Counselors for Australasia, who deepened those present in the mysterious nature of the power of love and unity.

Afterward, a hand-carved replica of the Greatest Name, rendered by Shapour Meshkin, the great-grandson of famed Bahá’í calligrapher Mishkin Qalam, was unveiled.

Two days before the dedication, Assembly members met for supper with William Davis, treasurer of the National Spiritual Assembly, who gave them further insights into the importance of love and unity as standards for establishing the Cause of God on earth.

Since the dedication, an increasing number of believer-generated proposals for various activities has been presented to the local Assembly.—Michael Sears

Sodus Point honors activist

On February 24 the Bahá’í Group of Sodus Point, New York, held a reception to honor village resident Art Camarrono for his unselfish dedication to youth in the community and his many acts of kindness toward others.

Mr. Camarrono was given a framed award certificate and an engraved mantel clock. The presentations were made by the Group’s secretary, John Joyce.

Huqúqu’lláh notice

Payments for Huqúqu’lláh should be made to “The Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust” and sent to one of the Trustees:

• Dr. Elsie Austin, 9039 Sligo Creek Parkway, Unit 612, Silver Spring, MD 20901 (phone 301-589-8481).
• Dr. Amin Banani, Santa Monica, CA 90402 (phone 310-394-5449).
• Dr. Daryush Haghighi, Rocky River, OH 44116 (phone 216-333-1506).

Inquiries regarding 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. [Page 39]

Attack on Faith spurs bold proclamation in Detroit

A published attack on the Faith has spurred the Bahá’ís of Detroit, Michigan, to more boldly proclaim the station of Bahá’u’lláh.

On March 8, The Michigan Chronicle, a weekly with the largest circulation of any African-American newspaper in the United States, printed a staff writer’s commentary entitled “How Anchored Are You in Your Faith?”

The writer is a sincere Christian who believes in biblical prophecies but does not believe Bahá’u’lláh fulfills them. Thus, she was troubled by what she heard in a talk at the Bahá’í Center on “Unifying Racially Polarized Communities: A Long-Term Systemic Approach.”

In her commentary, she warned readers of “contrary doctrines” that would appear in “the last days” to “deceive people.” The world peace referred to in Bahá’u’lláh’s writings, she said, “will not take place before the coming of Christ.”

Should the Spiritual Assembly of Detroit rebut the article? Auxiliary Board members and assistants were consulted, along with media experts, and the Assembly decided to incorporate a response into its ongoing campaign to achieve entry by troops.

The first step was to meet with the writer.

She agreed to sit down with Assembly secretary Larry White—although, in her wariness, she asked a security person to be present.

It must have come as quite a shock when Mr. White presented her with a dozen roses, a letter expressing the Assembly’s warm regards for her, and a copy of Thief in the Night!

The Assembly then contacted Chronicle Editor Robert McTyre.

A committee of Bahá’ís appointed by the Detroit Assembly met with Mr. McTyre on April 7. They included Assembly member John Mangum, a retired Detroit homicide detective; Auxiliary Board member June Thomas; Michigan State University professor Richard Thomas, whose talk had precipitated the Chronicle commentary; and Ted Amsden, an attorney.

The editor was friendly and expressed his regret that the article was not more objective in reporting Bahá’í beliefs. He also expressed great respect for the ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ and their significant work in promoting race unity.

Mr. McTyre asked the Bahá’ís to submit an article of their own that he would print in the editorial section, and he requested a meeting focusing on how we can promote race unity within our own Faith and with others.

On the subject of race unity, the Bahá’ís presented Mr. McTyre with the National Spiritual Assembly’s statement, The Vision of Race Unity, and a flier on the Bahá’í-sponsored second annual Model of Racial Unity Conference scheduled for May 20 at Cobo Hall in Detroit.

The committee also presented to Mr. McTyre an annotated copy of The Most Holy Tablet (known as the Tablet to the Christians), a synopsis of Bahá’í interpretation of biblical prophecy on the Return of Christ, and two introductory pamphlets, one on Bahá’u’lláh and one on the Bahá’í Faith.

But that wasn’t all.

Mr. McTyre was told that, as a result of the Chronicle article, the Bahá’ís planned to send The Most Holy Tablet and the synopsis on biblical prophecy to nearly 1,000 ministers in the area to make clear the Station of Bahá’u’lláh.

The cover letter invites “earnest consideration” of the “claim of Bahá’u’lláh, the Glory of God.” A more focused mailing to about a dozen religious leaders requests one-on-one meetings “to share important information” with them.

Accompanying the letter-writing campaign is a public information blitz known as the Great Announcement Media Campaign—complete with radio interviews and commercials, television commercials, print advertisements, youth performances, and talks at the Bahá’í Center on prophecy.

Because the impact of this proclamation will radiate throughout the region, the Assembly brought other Bahá’í communities into the planning. Samples of the mailing to ministers were sent to suburban Assemblies and Groups, and a special meeting was held to invite comment and support.

TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Bahá’í National Center (switchboard) 708-869-9039

The American Bahá’í 708-251-1854, ext. 17

Office of Human Resources 708-733-3427

Office of the Treasurer 708-733-3472

Management Information Services 708-733-3456

Membership and Records 708-733-3437

National Teaching Committee 708-733-3498

Office of Pioneering 708-733-3506

Bahá’í Publishing Trust 708-251-1854

Bahá’í Distribution Service 5397 Wilbanks Drive Chattanooga, TN 34373 615-843-1333

Office of External Affairs 1320 19th St. N.W. Suite 701 Washington, DC 20036 202-833-8990

Office of Public Information U.S./UN Office 866 United Nations Plaza Suite 120 New York, NY 10017 212-756-3500

Bahá’í Bulletin Board (BNCBBS) 708-869-0389

Bosch Bahá’í School 408-423-3387

Green Acre Bahá’í School 207-439-7200

Louhelen Bahá’í School 810-653-5033

Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute 803-558-5093

Native American Bahá’í Institute 602-521-1064

Experimental garden planted at Gregory Institute after ‘Special Regard’ agricultural weekend in March

An experimental garden has been planted at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute as a result of a “Special Regard” agricultural weekend held at the Hemingway, South Carolina, school in March.

The garden’s central circle of edible flowers represents the sun. Each ray, representing a religion of God, demonstrates an agricultural method that can be implemented.

Plans for the garden were conceived by an agriculture group formed at the March conference. Richard Pratt, a recently enrolled believer, will head up the program, with help from Institute staff member John Gore.

The group, open to Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís, is seeking an affiliation with the National Spiritual Assembly’s Seminar of the Association for Bahá’í Studies.

At the March weekend, participants deepened on Bahá’u’lláh’s message about the fundamental importance of agriculture to the “reconstruction of the world.” In the Tablet to the World, Bahá’u’lláh set forth five “fundamental principles for the administration of the affairs of men.”

“Special regard,” He wrote, “must be given to agriculture. Although it hath been mentioned in the fifth place, unquestionably it precedeth the others,” which are promoting the Lesser Peace, a universal language, standards of fellowship, kindness and unity, and subsidies for child education.

Participants also attended workshops on such topics as bio-intensive methods, the Machobane field system from Lesotho, composting, tire gardening, and permaculture. Items in the newly established agriculture library were reviewed.

WLGI Radio Bahá’í invited the public to the weekend and interviewed its coordinator, Winnie Merritt. Teachers who went out from the Institute to the surrounding area during the special “Fast teaching” project found great interest in the agriculture project and in Bahá’u’lláh’s message on the high station of the farming profession.

Planting a special garden at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute in Hemingway, South Carolina. Richard Pratt, one of the new believers, is pictured second from left.

World Religion Day observance draws 250 in Scottsdale, AZ

More than 250 people joined the Bahá’ís of Scottsdale, Arizona, January 14 for a celebration of World Religion Day.

Besides entertainment and fellowship, the program included brief summaries of their faiths’ spiritual and social mission by representatives of the Jewish, Hindu, Christian and Bahá’í communities.

The American Bahá’í

Subscription rates (For outside the continental United States ONLY)

	1 Year	2 Years
First class/Surface	$24	$45
Air Mail	$32	$60

Please make check payable to: Bahá’í Subscriber Service, c/o Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

All orders must be pre-paid in U.S. currency. VISA/MasterCard accepted; please include full account number and expiration date. [Page 40]

حمله به امر بهائی

PUBLISHED ATTACK ON THE FAITH

میشیگان کرانیکل The Michigan Chronicle در یکی از شماره‌های این هفته‌نامه که در روز ۸ مارچ سال جاری چاپ شد مقاله‌ای درج شده بود که در آن اشاراتی به امر بهائی رفته بود.

نویسنده مقاله یک مسیحی مؤمن است که به وعده‌ها و بشارت‌های کتاب مقدس اعتقاد دارد، اما ظهور حضرت بهاءالله را تحقق آن بشارات نمی‌داند.

نویسنده در مقاله خود اخطار کرده بود که در نزدیکی روز رستاخیز نظریه‌های مخالفی برای گمراه کردن مردمان ظاهر خواهد شد و صلح جهانی پیش از رجعت حضرت مسیح برقرار نخواهد شد.

محفل روحانی دیترویت پس از مشورت با هیئت معاونت و مساعدانشان و نیز مذاکره با متخصصان برآن شد که پاسخی در برابر مقاله مذکور تهیه نماید.

اقدام اول دیدار با نویسنده بود. ایشان پذیرفت که با آقای لری وایت Larry White منشی محفل روحانی دیترویت دیدار کند مشروط بر اینکه یک مأمور امنیتی نیز در طی ملاقات حضور داشته باشد.

جلسه ملاقات تشکیل شد و نخست آقای وایت یک دسته گل به همراه نامه‌ای حاوی اظهار احترام محفل و نیز نسخه‌ای از کتاب Thief in the Night نوشته جناب ویلیام سیرز به ایشان تقدیم کرد.

سپس محفل روحانی با سردبیر روزنامه تماس حاصل کرد. روز ۷ اپریل هیئتی که توسط محفل روحانی انتخاب شده بود با سردبیر نشریه دیدار کرد.

سردبیر نشریه مذکور با آن هیئت دوستانه مذاکره کرد و از اینکه مطالب مقاله از لحاظ ارائه اعتقادات بهائی بی طرفانه نوشته نشده بود اظهار تأسف نمود و از احباء درخواست که مقاله‌ای تهیه کنند که در قسمت نامه به سردبیر چاپ شود و همچنین تقاضا کرد که جلسه‌ای تشکیل شود و در آن راجع به اشاعة وحدت نژادی مذاکراتی به عمل آید.

احباء در مورد وحدت نژادی نسخه‌ای از بیانیه محفل روحانی ملی را درباره آن موضوع به سردبیر نشریه اهداء نمودند و ورقه اطلاعیه‌ای نیز راجع به کنفرانس وحدت نژادی که روز ۲۰ می سال جاری در دیترویت تشکیل خواهد شد، به او تقدیم کردند. در عین حال هیئت مذکور نسخه‌ای از "لوح اقدس" را که خطاب به مسیحیان از قلم حضرت بهاءالله نازل شده، و نیز خلاصه‌ای از تبیینات بشارات کتاب مقدس را درباره رجعت حضرت مسیح و همچنین چند جزوه در معرفی امر مبارک به سردبیر مذکور تقدیم نمودند.

اما موضوع به همین جا خاتمه نپذیرفت. به سردبیر مذکور گفته شد که احباء قرار است ۱۰۰۰ نسخه از "لوح اقدس" و خلاصه تبیین بشارات کتاب مقدس را به حدود ۱۰۰۰ نفر رؤسای مسیحی ارسال نمایند و مقام حضرت بهاءالله را بر آنان آشکار سازند.

جلسه احبای هندوچینی

SOUTHEAST ASIAN MEETING

روز ۴ مارچ سال جاری جلسه‌ای جهت مذاکره درباره تبلیغ افراد هندوچینی در شمال کالیفرنیا در مرسد Merced تشکیل گردید.

خانم پوران ستیونس، مسؤول دفتر امور پناهندگان و آقای کن باورز Ken Bowers، منشی لجنة ملی نشر نفحات و خانم مارشا گیل پتریک Marsha Gilpatrick و پل خاوری اعضای هیئت معاونت و همچنین اعضای لجنة نشر نفحات شمال کالیفرنیا و رهبران قبیله مانگ و چند تن از نمایندگان دیگر تشکیلات امری در جلسه مذکور شرکت جستند.

خانم ستیونس درباره تاریخچه تبلیغ افراد هندوچینی و اهمیت آشنائی با جوانب گوناگون فرهنگ آنان مطالبی با حاضران در میان نهاد و به ویژه اظهار داشت که بهتر است برای تبلیغ هندوچینیان نخست افراد بزرگسال با آنان تماس حاصل نمایند.

همچنین خانم ستیونس خاطرنشان نمود که دفتر امور پناهندگان مسؤولیت تبلیغ افراد هندوچینی را بر عهده دارد و موادی که برای تبلیغ آنان تهیه کرده مورد استفاده احباء در سایر نقاط جهان نیز بوده است.

آقای باورز اظهار داشت که متمرکز کردن فعالیت‌های تبلیغی بر یک گروه خاص نباید بعنوان غفلت از دیگر گروه‌ها تلقی شود و همکاری نزدیک هیئت معاونت با لجنات نشر نفحات موفقیت بیشتری به بار خواهد آورد.

نمایندگان جوامعی که تجربیات بیشتری در خصوص تبلیغ افراد هندوچینی دارند گزارش‌هائی در مورد فعالیت‌های تبلیغی خود ارائه داشتند.

اعضای لجنة نشر نفحات در شمال کالیفرنیا گزارش دادند که با حدود ۶۰۰ نفر از جوانانی که علاقه زیادی به تبلیغ امر مبارک نشان می‌دهند، در تماسند.

پس از یک تنفس کوتاه حاضران به مدت دو ساعت به مشورت پرداختند و راجع به امکانات و روش‌های تبلیغی و کیفیت فعالیت‌های دامنه‌دار به بحث پرداختند.

در خاتمه جلسه شرکت کنندگان در جلسه مذکور اظهار داشتند که تشکیل اینگونه جلسات جهت گسترش دامنة امر مبارک بسیار سودمند است.

نیاز به مهاجر و مبلغ در ارمنستان PIONEERS AND TRAVEL TEACHERS NEEDED FOR ARMENIA مسؤولیت تبلیغ امرالله و تزیید معارف امری در ارمنستان به یکی از محافل روحانی ملی خاور میانه اعطاء گردیده است. محفل مذکور نیز از جامعة بهائی ایالات متحده درخواست داوطلب جهت ایفای مسؤولیت‌های مذکور نموده است. بدین ترتیب از دوستانی که قادر باشند برای ابلاغ پیام الهی یا کمک به تزیید معلومات امری به جمهوری ارمنستان سفر کنند، درخواست می‌شود با دفتر امور مهاجرت تماس حاصل نمایند. تلفن: ۳۵۰۸-۷۳۳ (۷۰۸)

افتتاح حظیرة القدس شهر پورتلند PORTLAND’S NEW HAZIRATU’L-QUDS روز ۱۸ فوریه سال جاری حظیرة القدس شهر پورتلند در ایالت ارگان با حضور بیش از ۲۵۰ نفر از یاران افتتاح شد. جلسة افتتاح با اجرای مراسم ‎سرخوشتی سرود و دعا‎ آغاز شد. سپس مناجاتی برای متصاعدین الی الله تلاوت گردید و به دنبال آن ادعیه دیگری به زبان‌های فارسی و سواحیلی و اسپانیولی و چینی و مانگ و فرانسه و زبان بومی هاوائی تلاوت شد. جناب نصرت الله راسخ، رئیس محفل روحانی پورتلند بخشی از کتابی را که درباره خانم هلن و آقای چارلز بیشاپ Bishop نگاشته و به زودی چاپ خواهد شد قرائت نمود. خانم بیشاپ آخرین منزل مسکونی خود را به محفل روحانی پورتلند تقدیم کرده بود و از فروش آن وجوه لازم برای خرید حظیرة القدس تهیه شده بود. خانم مارتا وارن Martha Warren، خواهر خانم هلن بیشاپ، راجع به خواهر خود مطالبی اظهار داشت و از درایتی که ایشان در ادارة امور مالی جهت تحقق اهداف روحانی نشان می‌داد، سخن گفت. نطق اصلی جلسة افتتاح حظیرة القدس توسط جناب بن آیالا Ben Ayala، عضو هیئت مشاورین قاره‌ای در استرالیا و جزائر پاسیفیک ایراد شد. جناب آیالا دربارة طبیعت شگفت‌انگیز نیروی وحدت و محبت سخنرانی کرد. سپس آقای شاپور مشکین که نتیجة جناب مشکین قلم است، یکی از خوش نویسی‌های آن خطاط بی مانند را به حظیرة القدس تقدیم کرد. اعضای محفل پورتلند دو روز پیش از جلسة افتتاح حظیرة القدس با امین صندوق محفل روحانی ملی، جناب ویلیام دیویس دیدار کرده بودند. در طی آن دیدار جناب دیویس راجع به اهمیت محبت و وحدت بعنوان ملاک تأسیس ملکوت الهی بر گسترة زمین با اعضای محفل صحبت کرده بود.

حقوق الله HUQUQU’LLAH از دوستان عزیز مستدعی است تقدیمی‌های حقوق الله را در وجه Bahá’í Huququ’llah Trust به نشانی یکی از امنای حقوق الله ارسال فرمایند. Dr. Amin Banani Santa Monica, CA. 90402 Dr. Daryush Haghighi Rocky River, OH. 44116 Dr. Elsie Austin 9039 Sligo Creek Parkway, #612 Silver Spring, MD. 20901

[Page 41]بنا بر این برای تأمین چهل میلیون دلار باقیمانده جهت اکمال هدف نقشهٔ سه ساله، که تهیّهٔ هفتاد و چهار میلیون دلار تا رضوان ۱۹۹۶ است، سرعت و افزایشی مشابه در جریان اهداء تبرّعات نیز لازم است.

سال جدید به مبارکی و میمنت با تأسیس پنج محفل روحانی ملی در رضوان آغاز می‌گردد. نمایندگان بیت العدل اعظم در انجمنهای شور روحانی ملی که این محافل را انتخاب می‌نمایند عبارتند از ایادی امرالله امة البهاء روحیه خانم برای گرجستان و ارمنستان، و ایادی امرالله جناب علیمحمد ورقاء برای بلوروس و ‎سیسییل سیسیل‎ و جناب هوشنگ عهدیه عضو هیئت مشاورین قاره‌ای برای اریتره. به علاوه در همین رضوان جوامع بویوتاتسوانا، سیسکای، آفریقای جنوبی و ترانسکای در یکدیگر ادغام شده تحت اشراف محفل روحانی ملی آفریقای جنوبی در خواهند آمد تا وحدت سیاسی آن منطقه را که اخیراً از نو تحقق یافته منعکس سازند. در نتیجهٔ این تحولات تعداد محافل روحانی ملّی در سراسر جهان از ۱۷۲ محفل به ۱۷۴ محفل افزایش می‌یابد.

همکاران عزیز، گذشته از احتیاج به تحقق اهدافی که در پیش داریم اوضاع و احوال کنونی جامعهٔ بشری چنین ایجاب می‌کند که مساعی و مجهودات خود را مضاعف سازیم. ابرهای یأس و ناامیدی که بر مقدّرات جهان پریشان سایه افکنده منادی باران بهاری است که می‌تواند تشنگی معنوی و مادّی همهٔ مردمان جهان را تسکین بخشد ولیکن این ابر تنها در اثر کوششهای مستمرّ و قاطع تبلیغی بارور می‌گردد. تحقق چنین مجهوداتی گرچه برای تقویت و تأیید متکی به اقدامات مؤسسات بهائی است اما عمدتاً و نهایتاً مسؤولیت آن بر عهدهٔ افراد احباء است.

شایسته نیست که زیاده روی در انتقاد از خود یا هر نوع احساس لیاقت و توانایی و تجربه مانع قیام و اقدام شود، یا آن عزیزان را دچار ترس و واهمه نماید. نگرانی خود را با توجه به اطمینانی که حضرت بهاءالله عنایت فرموده‌اند برطرف سازید. مگر نه آنکه حضرت بهاءالله تأکید فرموده‌اند که، «من یفتح الیوم شفتاه فی ذکر اسم ربّه لینزل علیه جنود الوحی عن مشرق اسمی الحکیم العلیم و ینزلنّ علیه اهل ملاء الاعلی بصحائف من النور»؟ پس قدم به میدانی نهید که حضرت بهاءالله مؤکّداً همهٔ یارانش را به آن دعوت نموده و مشمول الطاف و تأییدات خود فرموده و آن میدان میدان تبلیغ امرالله است که جمال قدم آن را «افضل اعمال» توصیف فرموده اند. در این لحظات خارق العاده در تاریخ کرۀ ارض هیچ امری به اندازۀ دعوت مردمان از هر نوع و استعداد به خوان نعمای ربّ الجنود اهمیت ندارد.

در این حین که این پیام را می‌فرستیم منظرۀ پیروزی هائی که در شرف تحقق‌اند در برابر انظار مجسم است و یقین داریم که آن عزیزان می‌توانند هزاران از این قبیل پیروزیها را در مدّت باقیمانده از نقشۀ سه ساله متحقّق سازند. برای حصول چنین موفقیت‌هائی باید جداً کوشید تا بتوان زمینه را برای نقشۀ جهانی بعدی که در رضوان ۱۹۹۶ آغاز خواهد شد آماده نمود. در آن زمان موجبات تلاشی جهانگیر فراهم خواهد آمد تا به نحوی شایسته موفقیتهای قرنی را که حضرت عبدالبهاء، بنفسه المقدس آن را دورانی محسوب فرموده اند که آثارش الی الابد باقی خواهد ماند به نقطهٔ اوج برساند.

با تحیات ابدع ابهی بیت العدل اعظم

ترجمه

پیام بیت العدل اعظم

که در ۴ آپریل ۱۹۹۵ با وسائط الکترونی به عموم محافل روحانی ملی مخابره شده است

با سرور موفور فرصت را مغتنم دانسته اعلام می‌داریم که با از بین برداشتن ساختمانهای چند خانه، پیشرفت عمده‌ای در امور ساختمانی مشروعات کوه کرمل حاصل گردیده است و بدین ترتیب راه برای تکمیل ساختمان طبقات تحتانی مقام اعلی باز شده است. این ابنیه همان ساختمانهائی بودند که در اشاره به آنها حضرت ولیّ امرالله در تلگراف اول اکتبر ۱۹۵۲ خطاب به عالم بهائی فرموده بودند "اسناد مقدماتی خرید پنج باب خانه واقع در پای کوه کرمل و متصل به آخرین طبقه از طبقات مقام اعلی با اداره شهرسازی حیفا امضاء شده است" و سپس در مارچ ۱۹۵۵ تملک خانه های مزبور را توسط مرکز جهانی تأیید فرمودند.

اقدامی که اخیراً با همکاری کامل مقامات شهرداری انجام یافت موافق با نیّات حضرت ولی عزیز امرالله است. بدین ترتیب زمین مورد نیاز برای ورودیه ای مجلّل تسطیح شده است، ورودیه ای که در مدخل معبر شکوهمندیست که از انتهای خیابان بن گوریون به بنای مرکزی مقام اعلی منتهی میگردد و در ماورای آن تا خط الرأس این جبل مقدّس ادامه می‌یابد. این پیشرفت در امور ساختمانی با موفقیت دیگری تکمیل شده است، یعنی طرح شهرداری برای برگرداندن بنای خانه‌های هیکلیون آلمانی در طرفین خیابان بن گوریون به حالت اولیه و تجمیل عمومی منطقه. این طرح سبب میشود منظره‌ای پر شکوه بسوی شمال از طبقات مقام تا لب دریا و در جهت بهجت بلا انقطاع ادامه داشته باشد.

بیت العدل اعظم

پنجمین کنفرانس مطالعهٔ نصوص

THE FIFTH SCRIPTURE STUDIES COLLOQUIUM

پنجمین کنفرانس مطالعهٔ نصوص از سلسله کنفرانس‌هائی که با کمک صندوق یادبود حاج مهدی ارجمند تشکیل می‌شود، از ۳۱ مارچ تا ۲ آپریل سال جاری در دفتر محفل روحانی ملی ایالات متحده تشکیل گردید.

کنفرانس مذکور دومین مجمع به زبان انگلیسی بود که موضوع اصلی آن کتاب مستطاب اقدس بود. مجمع اول در نوامبر سال ۱۹۹۴ در هلند تشکیل گردید.

۶۵ نفر از احباء در کنفرانس مذکور شرکت جستند و ۹ نفر از اهل فن مطالبی به صورت سخنرانی و مقاله ارائه کردند.

• دکتر رابرت شتاکمن Stockman در جلسهٔ شروع کنفرانس راجع به مؤسسه مطالعات بهائی Institute for Bahá’í Studies بیاناتی اظهار داشت و آن را بعنوان یکی از مؤسسات محفل روحانی ملی معرفی کرد و مسئولیت‌های آن را برشمرد.
• خانم تندیس ارجمند، نوهٔ جناب حاج مهدی ارجمند بخشی از الواحی که حضرت عبدالبهاء به افتخار جناب ارجمند صادر فرموده اند، قرائت نمود.
• دکتر ایرج ایمن گزارش کوتاهی دربارهٔ هدف‌ها و فعالیت‌های صندوق یادبود حاج مهدی ارجمند ارائه داشت.
• دکتر جان هچر Hatcher در یک نوار ویدیوئی مطالبی دربارهٔ قوانین جزائی بر طبق کتاب اقدس ارسال داشته بود که پخش شد. پس از پخش این برنامه دکتر هچر از طریق تلفن به پرسش‌های شرکت کنندگان پاسخ داد.
• آقای آنتونی لی Anthony Lee سخنانی راجع به کتاب اقدس و تحول قوانین بهائی ایراد کرد.
• خانم هالی هنسن Holly Hanson دربارهٔ برقراری عدالت بر اساس قوانین کتاب اقدس سخنانی نمود.
• خانم دایانا مألوف به بررسی مسائل مربوط به ساخت و سبک کتاب اقدس پرداخت.
• آقای جف سایمندز Jeff Simonds رابطهٔ احکام کتاب اقدس را با کتاب بیان بررسی کرد.
• آقای کریستفر باک Buck دربارهٔ رابطهٔ کتاب اقدس با مسألهٔ تجدد سخنانی اظهار داشت.
• دکتر ژنا خداداد و دکتر موژان مؤمن و آقای چارلز نالی Nolley در یک جلسه پنل به بحث راجع به تحقیقات کنونی دربارهٔ کتاب اقدس و مسیر آن در آینده پرداختند.
• آقای حبیب ریاضتی راجع به رابطهٔ بین قالب و محتوی در کتاب اقدس سخنانی ایراد کرد.
• آقای سن مک‌گلین Sen McGlinn دربارهٔ موضوع ارث در کتاب اقدس سخنانی کرد.
• خانم آزاده و آقای نبیل فارس راجع به اطاعت از احکام الهی مطالبی ایراد کردند.

کنفرانس بعدی مطالعهٔ نصوص به زبان انگلیسی از ۲۹ تا ۳۱ مارچ سال ۱۹۹۶ در ویلمت منعقد خواهد گردید.

صعود دکتر سارا مارتین پریرا PASSING OF DR. SARAH MARTIN PEREIRA

دکتر سارا مارتین پریرا که از سال ۱۹۷۳ تا سال ۱۹۸۵ یکی از مشاورین قاره‌ای امریکا بود، روز ۵ آپریل سال جاری در ایالت کرولینای شمالی به ملکوت ابهی صعود کرد. خانم پریرا از سال ۱۹۶۰ تا زمان خدمت بعنوان مشاور قاره ای یکی از اعضای محفل روحانی ملی ایالات متحده بود. همچنین از سال ۱۹۵۴ تا ۱۹۶۴ یکی از اعضای هیئت معاونت بود که توسط حضرت ولی امرالله جهت خدمت در آن هیئت انتخاب شده بود. روانش شاد باد!

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پیام بیت العدل اعظم

RIDVAN 152

یاران عزیز الهی،

در این سلطان اعیاد با کمال سرور از افزایش فعالیت در سراسر جامعۀ بهائی در سال گذشته، و با انتظاری مشتاقانه به انجام آنچه در آخرین سال نقشۀ سه ساله شایسته و میسر است، به آن یاران تهنیت می‌گوییم. نومیدی و یأسی که بر پیشوایان ملل و مردم جهان در جستجوی راه حلّ مشکلات مبرم اجتماعی مستولی شده است موجب نگرانی و در عین حال مایۀ امید است. این حالت اضطرار در واقع نشانۀ نیاز و التماس اهل عالم برای تعالیم جمال قدم است و براستی انتظار و تلاشی است که هیچ مؤسسه یا فرد بهائی وظیفه‌دانی نمی‌تواند آن را نادیده انگارد.

هیچ موقعیتی حالت یأس و افسردگی موجود را واضح‌تر از کنفرانس اخیر سران دول که برای عمران اجتماعی منعقد شده بود متجلّی نمی‌سازد. این اجتماع اخیر از سلسله اجتماعات بین‌المللی رهبران جهان بود که به دعوت سازمان ملل متحد تشکیل گردید. هر قدر تأثیر و نفوذ فوری این قبیل اقدامات در تعیین خط مشی دولتها ناچیز باشد و هر قدر اکثریت عظیم مردم جهان نسبت بدانها بی اعتناء و یا از آنها بی خبر باشند، تشکیل پی‌در‌پی این گونه اجتماعات برای هر ناظر بهائی بالمال حاکی از حرکتی تدریجی به سوی تحقق نهائی ارادۀ حضرت بهاء‌الله است که در بارۀ مسائل بغرنج جامعه‌ای که روز به روز به سوی جهانی شدن پیش می‌رود رؤسای ملل باید انجمن نمایند و به مشورت و اخذ تصمیم پردازند.

خوشبختانه در آن موقعیت تاریخی و مهم در کپنهاگ کوشش مؤثری به همت دویست و پنجاه نفر از احبای بیش از چهل کشور مختلف جهان معمول گردید تا شرکت کنندگان در اجلاس سران و حاضران در کنفرانس سازمانهای غیر دولتی را که در ارتباط با اجلاس مذکور تشکیل شده بود با درمانهایی که پزشک الهی تجویز نموده است آشنا نمایند. این اقدامات بعد از کنفرانس مزبور ادامه یافت و در این ایام نیز در بسیاری از نقاط جهان هنوز جریان دارد. با امتنان قلبی همت مؤسسات امری و یارانی را که به چنین اقدام وسیع و جالب توجهی قبل از کنفرانس مزبور و در جریان کنفرانس و بعد از آن توفیق یافته‌اند می‌ستائیم. این اقدامات بدون شک نمایانگر توفیق و پیشرفت بیشتر جامعۀ جهانی بهائی به منظور کمک به جریاناتی است که منجر به صلح اصغر خواهد شد. این مساعی ازدیاد فرصتهایی را نشان می‌دهد که بیش از پیش سبب انتشار پیام نجات بخش حضرت بهاء‌الله می‌شود. با افزایش سریع این قبیل رویدادها و تشدید کوششهای جامعۀ بهائی برای وصول به اهدافی که در پیش دارد می توانیم نزدیک شدن دو جریان موازی را با وضوحی بیشتر مشاهده کنیم. همان دو جریانی که حضرت ولی امرالله نیم قرن پیش به آنها اشاره نموده و چنین تصریح فرموده اند که جریان اول منجر به وحدت سیاسی ملل و جریان دیگر منتهی به وحدت غائی قلوب در اثر حصول وحدت عقاید خواهد گشت.

ملاحظات فوق متکی به وقایع امیدوار‌کننده‌ای است که در دومین سال نقشۀ سه ساله در جامعۀ بهائی صورت گرفته است. اما هیجان‌انگیزتر از پیشرفت سریع اقدامات محلی و ملی در زمینۀ روابط خارجی، تحولاتی است که در کیفیت اقدام احباء سراسر جهان در پاسخ به صلای تبلیغ ایجاد شده است. ازدیاد مساعی تبلیغی حاکی از درک و فهم عمیق‌تر این فریضۀ فردی و گریز‌ ناپذیر است و این تحول امید‌بخش حاصل عوامل مشوقی است که جمعاً موفقیت در دخول امواج مقبلین را به امر بهائی نوید می‌دهد. این عوامل از جمله عبارتند از: لزوم عطف توجه به مجموعۀ منتخبات نصوص در بارۀ دخول افواج مؤمنین به امر الهی همزمان با ازدیاد ترجمه‌های مجموعۀ مزبور به زبانهای مختلف، اثرات سیر و حرکت مشاورین بین‌المللی و اعضای هیأتهای مشاورین قاره‌ای در سراسر جهان، تکامل طرز کار اعضای هیأتهای معاونت و مساعدین آنان، نتایج حاصله از تاکیدی که در تربیت اطفال معمول شده است، و شور و نیروی جوانان در طرح برنامه‌های تبلیغی و مشارکت آنان در انواع خدمات دیگر امری.

آنچه مایۀ امیدواری و اطمینان است توانائی بیشتر محافل روحانی است که در ضمن آنکه در رتبۀ اولیٰ توجهشان معطوف به امر تبلیغ است، بایستی از عهدۀ مشکلات گوناگونی که با آنها مواجهند نیز برآیند. این مشتاقان به ویژه متذکر به مسؤولیتهای سنگینی هستیم که محافل روحانی ملی بر عهده دارند. ازدیاد و سنگینی این مسؤولیتها نتیجهٔ افزایش تنوع افرادی است که جامعه‌های تحت اشراف محافل را تشکیل می‌دهند، و بالنتیجه سبب افزایش معضلاتی می‌گردند که حاصل انتظارات آنان برای کسب هدایت و مساعدت از محافل ملیّه است.

از مراحل گوناگون رشد و توسعه‌ای که جامعه تا کنون بدان رسیده است به طور کلی می توان چنین استنباط کرد که کوششهای بسیاری مصروف سه موضوع اصلی نقشه می‌شود: ازدیاد نیروی ایمانی افراد احباء، افزایش بی‌سابقه منابع انسانی امرالله، و فراهم آوردن شرایط لازم برای انجام وظیفۀ مؤسسات ملی و محلی بهائی. ولیکن چون هنوز باید به مراتب و بیش از پیش جدی‌تری از طرف افراد و مؤسسات به عمل آید تا جامعۀ بهائی بتواند با اثرات مخرب شیوع انحطاط اخلاقی مقابله کند و سپاهی عظیم از نفوس مخلص و خدوم را برای خدمات تبلیغی و امور اداری امر تجهیز نماید و مؤسسات بهائی را برای اجرای وظایفی که توسعهٔ ناگهانی جامعه مطمئناً بر آنها تحمیل خواهد کرد آماده سازد. برای اقدام مؤثر در بارۀ مسائلی فوری که جامعۀ امر با آنها مواجه است حصول شرائط و عوامل اساسی ذیل که مخصوصاً راجع به افراد و محافل روحانی محلی است ضرورت دارد. از طرفی ابتکار فردی در تبلیغ امرالله و حصول فهم و ادراکی عمیق‌تر از مقاصد و نیازمندیهای امر لازم است و در حقیقت از وظایف و فرصت‌های افراد احباء محسوب می‌شود. ولی به موازات ابتکارهای فردی در تبلیغ امرالله افراد احباء باید در اقدامات گروهی یعنی برنامه‌ها و مشروعات مختلف جامعه نیز مشارکت نمایند. از طرف دیگر وظیفۀ محافل روحانی محلی چنان است که ابتکارات افراد احباء را تا حد امکان تشویق و تسهیل نمایند. همچنین از مسؤولیتهای محافل روحانی است که نقشه‌هائی طرح و اجراء نمایند تا استعداد و قابلیت‌های افراد جامعه به کار گرفته شود و افراد را در اقدامات گروهی مانند طرحهای تبلیغی و مشروعات مربوط به توسعه و عمران اجتماعی و تشکیل دادن مؤسسات تبلیغی و سایر فعالیتهای جمعی وارد کنند. اثرات مساعی جدی در تحقق این شرایط اساسی و غیر قابل انفکاک، توسعه و تحکیم جامعه و بوجود آمدن شرایط لازم برای وحدت در عمل خواهد بود.

در سال گذشته دیدار اعضای عالی‌رتبۀ دولتی و سایر شخصیتهای مهم و نمایندگان رسانه‌های خبری از مرکز جهانی افزایشی بی‌سابقه یافت. این خود نشانه‌ای است از ازدیاد اهمیت مرکز روحانی و اداری امرالله در انظار جهانیان و به نظر می‌رسد که آشنائی روز‌افزون دولتهای ملل مختلف را با مرکز جهانی امر الهی که رو به توسعه است تأیید می‌کند. مشاهدۀ این تحولات از فراز «جبل الرب» که محل طرحهای ساختمانی کنونی است و با در نظر گرفتن رشد و پیشرفتی که در جوامع محلی و ملی بهائی در جریان است می‌توانیم تحقق تدریجی پیش‌بینی حضرت ولی امرالله را به نحو شایسته‌تری دریابیم که در بیان تأثیر ارتفاع ابنیه‌ای که مقر جهانی اداری امر حضرت بهاءالله را تشکیل می دهد چنین فرموده اند: «این جریان وسیع و حتمی الوقوع همزمان با دو واقعه‌ای که از لحاظ اهمیت کمتر از آن نخواهد بود تحقق خواهد یافت -- یکی استقرار صلح اصغر و دیگری تکامل مؤسسات ملی و محلی بهائی.» پیش بینی هیکل مبارک با در نظر گرفتن اوضاع و احوال کنونی جهان، تکمیل طرحهای ساختمانی کوه کرمل را طبق برنامۀ زمانی تعیین شده ضرورت و اهمیت بخشیده است.

این مشروعات که با سرعتی شایان توجه پیش می‌رود، هم از نظر حجم کار و هم از لحاظ شکوه و جلالی که بتدریج آشکار می‌شود سبب اعجاب زائران و سیاحان و ساکنان محلی است. عملیات ساختمانی همه بناها همزمان با یکدیگر در جریان است. ساختمان هفت طبقه در پائین و پنج طبقه بالای مقام اعلیٰ با سرعت تمام پیش می‌رود. قراردادهای ساختمانی که در سال گذشته به امضاء رسیده بیش از قرار دادهایی است که در هر یک از سنوات قبل منعقد شده است. این قراردادها از جمله شامل قراردادی است که اخیراً با یک مؤسسۀ ایتالیائی برای تهیۀ سنگهای مرمر ساختمانهای قوس کرمل انعاد یافته است. به طور وضوح می توان ملاحظه نمود که کارهای ساختمانی چنان به جریان افتاده و سرعت گرفته که در آنها تأخیری نمی‌توان روا داشت. [Page 43]

Bahá’ís of Detroit, Grosse Pointe co-sponsor talk by nurse on ‘Bridging Health Care Gap’

On January 28, the Bahá’ís of Detroit and Grosse Pointe, Michigan, co-sponsored a talk entitled “Bridging the Health Care Gap: Race, Gender and Class” by Prof. Patricia Coleman-Burns of the University of Michigan School of Nursing who also serves as director of the university’s Office of Multicultural Affairs.

About 35 people, most of whom were not Bahá’ís, attended. One of the guests, who is director of the African Heritage Cultural Center of the Detroit Public Schools, said, “Despite the small numbers of Bahá’ís, you are really having a major impact [on race relations].”

Among other non-Bahá’ís in the audience were a professor of nursing from Wayne State University, the program director of the Greater Detroit Interfaith Roundtable, and the vice-president of a nearby hospital.

Mayor Dennis Archer of Detroit sent a letter expressing his regrets but asked to be kept on the mailing list for future programs.

The president of the Cranbrook Peace Foundation also wrote to compliment the Bahá’ís on their continuing efforts to improve race relations.

Music by harpist Onita Sanders was made available by a bequest from the estate of Daniel Stella, a non-Bahá’í lawyer who had attended one of the first programs in the series and wished to see it continue.

Correction

Owing to a clerical error, the name Enayatullah Amiri of Montecito, California, appeared February 7 in the “In Memoriam” listing in The American Bahá’í. We are pleased to report that Mr. Amiri is alive and well in Montecito, and regret the error.

Long-time Bahá’í Helen Hammond dead at 102

Helen Johnston Hammond, who helped form the first Spiritual Assembly of Winnetka, Illinois, died January 13 in Chicago. She was 102 years old.

Mrs. Hammond, an educator, was the first woman named to the Governor’s Commission for the Aging in Illinois, and served for many years on the board of the Old People’s Home of Chicago before becoming a resident there.

She had four children, all of whom became Bahá’ís and one of whom, prominent Chicago architect James Hammond, served with her husband, Robert Hammond, on the Temple Planning Committee.

Taraz Lee lights the first of seven candles at the third annual interracial celebration of Kwanzaa sponsored January 1 by the Bahá’ís of Manhattan Beach, California. Kwanzaa, which originated in Los Angeles in the 1960s, is intended as a celebration of African-American culture and community. The program in Manhattan Beach included readings from the Bahá’í writings on unity; music by the Los Angeles Bahá’í Gospel Choir; a brief lecture on African-American dance by Anthony Lee, professor of African-American history at Cypress College, fellowship and refreshments including morsels taken by participants from a common loaf of Ethiopian honey bread.

Luella McKay, Knight of Bahá’u’lláh to Spanish Morocco, dies at age 76

Luella McKay, a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh to Spanish Morocco, died April 15 in Southfield, Michigan. She was 76 years old.

Mrs. McKay was born in Portland, Oregon, in October 1918 and became a Bahá’í at age 25 in 1943. At the request of the Guardian, she pioneered during the Ten Year Crusade to Spanish Morocco, becoming, on October 24, 1953, the first Bahá’í to set foot in that country.

Except for a stay of five months on the island of Fernando Po in Equatorial Guinea during 1955, she remained at her post until April of 1959.

Mrs. McKay, a cosmetologist, established the first certified school of cosmetology for inmates at the Detroit House of Corrections.

Upon ‎learing learning‎ of Mrs. McKay’s passing the following cable was sent to the National Assembly of the United States:

Saddened loss devoted Knight of Bahá’u’lláh Luella McKay. Her pioneering activities in Africa, including Spanish Morocco and Spanish Guinea, warmly remembered. Praying Holy Shrines progress her soul Abhá Kingdom.

Kindly convey our condolences her friends and family.

The Universal House of Justice

ANARCHY INTO ORDER: UNITING THE NATIONS

Themes: • Human Rights • Advancement of Women • Moral Development • Global Prosperity

October 12-15 1995

Hyatt Regency Hotel at San Francisco Airport, California

Registration

• Hotel: Hyatt Regency at San Francisco Airport. Call 1-800-233-1234, ask for “Association for Bahá’í Studies (ABS) Conference” rates of $95/night single/double; $105 triple; $115 quad. Register early since limited rooms available at our special rates.

• Airline: United Airlines (Event #589MC): 1-800-521-4041. Air Canada (Event #CV951222): 1-800-361-7585. Only these two airlines offer our special discount fares if you refer to the event number listed above.

• Conference: Call the ABS-Ottawa, Canada office to register to attend the conference: (613) 233-1903.

• Send presentation/paper proposals as soon as possible to Conference Co-Conveners: Sheila Banani: Santa Monica, CA 90402. Fax: (310) 394-6167 e-mail: sbanani@aol.com or Dr. Robert Stockman: Research Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette IL 60091 Fax: (708) 733-3563 e-mail: rstockman@usbnc.org

IN MEMORIAM

Fredericka Anderson Poughkeepsie, NY January 30, 1995	Anne Miller Whitwell, TN February 27, 1995
Lois F. Bauer Anderson, CA December 8, 1994	August Millet Laplace, LA March 11, 1995
Arthur L. Bolden Renton, WA January 29, 1995	Mahboubeh Moayad Valparaiso, IN January 16, 1995
Eleanor Booth Philadelphia, PA February 5, 1995	Florence Osborne Richmond, VA March 7, 1995
William Burgess Jr. Wilmington, DE March 30, 1995	Sarah M. Pereira Matthews, NC April 5, 1995
Curtice Cottrell Toledo, OH March 4, 1995	John Porterfield Quincy, CA March 3, 1995
Essie Dean Ninety Six, SC March 10, 1995	Mary E. Ray Tucson, AZ February 18, 1995
Donna Lee Ertl Indianapolis, IN March 26, 1995	Badi’u’llah Samadani Mountain View, CA March 18, 1995
Khadijeh Gandomi Mesa, AZ February 23, 1995	Willis Spratling Jr. Rochester, NY March 13, 1995
Michael Hampton Grand Rapids, MI September 13, 1994	Odell Spease Tobaccoville, NC April 12, 1994
Jeanne Janus West Newton, MA January 16, 1995	J.T. Steenbergen Longview, WA March 17, 1995
Russell Jurgens Richardson, TX March 13, 1995	Wilma Stevens Buffalo, NY December 23, 1994
Evelyn Kortum Nuevo, CA March 20, 1995	Anna Louise B’Taylor Richmond, CA January 20, 1995
Hazel Magnusson Peoria, IL April 7, 1995	Gerald Warner Fresno, CA February 22, 1995
Richard Markovich St. Helena Isl., SC February 28, 1995	Adolph Wielk Santa Rosa, CA January 17, 1995

[Page 44]

CALENDAR

On January 26, the Committee for the Celebration of Humanity, a program committee of the Bahá’í House of Worship Activities Office, was recognized by the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations during the Commission’s 50th anniversary Awards Luncheon at the Chicago Hilton and Towers. The committee was honored for its efforts “to recognize and encourage individuals and associations that celebrate the rich diversity of humanity” including the annual David Kellum Awards “to dynamic, positive role models for youth of all races.” Pictured (left to right) are committee members Amy Johnson, Walter Mays, Melinda Weaver, Puran Stevens and Lorelei McClure, director of the Bahá’í House of Worship.

MOVING? TELL US YOUR NEW ADDRESS.	To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving The American Bahá’í, send all family members’ names, new address and mailing label to: Management Information Services, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611. If acquiring a Post Office box, your residence address (c) must be filled in. Please allow 3 weeks for processing. (This also updates National’s data base.)

A. NAME(S):

B. NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS:

C. NEW MAILING ADDRESS:

D. NEW COMMUNITY:

E. HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER:

F. WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER(S):

G. WE RECEIVE EXTRA COPIES BECAUSE:

H. I WOULD LIKE A COPY:

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MAY

26-28: Local Spiritual Assembly Development Weekend, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 810-653-5033.

26-28: 22nd annual Conference of Nur, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Theme: “My Role in the Divine Plan.” Cost: $70 for adults, $35 for 4-8 year olds. Registration deadline: May 1. Pre-registration is a must; no walk-ins. Attendance is limited to 420. For information, phone 717-390-1988 after 5 p.m. (EST).

26-29: Core Curriculum Teacher Training, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 810-653-5033.

26-29: Memorial Day weekend program, “Projecting the Bahá’í Faith into Society” and hands-on workshop for Public Information Representatives (with Robert Harris and Trish Swanson), Green Acre Bahá’í School. For information, phone 207-439-7200.

27-29: Vision Quest Youth Conference, Purdue University, W. Lafayette, Indiana. Theme: “To Build a New World Is No Easy Task.” For information, phone Al Black (317-742-4140), Jo Akhavan (317-769-3579), or e-mail

27-30: Marriage Enrichment Retreat, ninth annual Memorial Day weekend session for couples, Bosch Bahá’í School. For information, phone 408-423-3387.

JUNE

2-4: Northeastern Latino Conference, “Promoting Entry by Troops Among Latinos,” Green Acre Bahá’í School (in Spanish). For information, phone 207-439-7200.

2-4: Mississippi Bahá’í School, Wilson Inn, Jackson. Contact John Smith, Vicksburg, MS 39180-5249 (phone 601-636-8628).

2-4: Family Fest, Palmer, Alaska. For details, phone 907-345-3740 or fax 907-345-3739.

5: National Teaching Campaign opens, Anchorage, Alaska. For details, phone 907-345-3740 or fax 907-345-3439.

8-13: SITA/Bahá’í Youth Service Corps/Pioneering Institute, Bahá’í National Center. For information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 708-733-3512; fax 708-733-3509).

9-11: South Carolina Bahá’í School, Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway.

9-11: Assembly Team Development Weekend (for Assemblies only), Bosch Bahá’í School. For information, write to the Bosch School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, phone 408-423-3387, or fax 408-423-7564.

15-18: Alaska Bahá’í Summer School, Haines. For details, phone 907-345-3740 or fax 907-345-3739.

16-18: Hemlock Haven Bahá’í School, Hungry Mother State Park, Marion, Virginia. Concurrent youth retreat June 15-18. For information: Sarah Jane Lee, P.O. Box 2165, Lebanon, VA 24266 (703-889-0445) or Clint Dye (703-873-6754).

17: First Northwest Bahá’í Educators’ Conference, Yakima County, Washington. Addressing areas of concern to professional Bahá’í educators in the workplace and at Bahá’í schools. For information, phone Randie Gottlieb, 509-454-3662, or e-mail Rhett Diessner,

18: “Operation Patchwork,” Race Unity Day festival, Iowa State Fairgrounds. For information, phone 515-263-2778 or 515-961-0605 (leave message if necessary).

23-25: Fourth annual Southeast Asian Community Builders Roundtable Discussion conference, Bahá’í Center, Fresno, California. For information, phone 708-733-3523.

24-25: “Color Me Human” Race Unity Festival including a Jazz Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie, Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, Georgia. Featuring James Moody and Mike Longo. Guest speaker: Robert C. Henderson. Also, a multicultural music and dance extravaganza, noon Sunday, Grant Park. Sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Atlanta. For information, phone 404-255-8930 or 404-998-8228.

24-July 1: Choral Training Session with Tom Price, Bosch Bahá’í School. Applications required for attendance. Choir will present a public performance on June 30. No activities for smaller children. Write to the Bosch School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, phone 408-423-3387, or fax 408-423-7564.

24-July 2: Bahá’í Youth Workshop/Teaching Week, Salt Lake City, Utah. For information, phone 801-582-3135 or 801-582-2026.

25-28: Teacher-Trainer Workshop, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 810-653-5033; fax 810-653-7181.

30-July 3: North Carolina Bahá’í School, Mt. Olive College. Theme: “Oneness of Humanity: America’s Destiny.” Registrar: Sandra Miles, Winston-Salem, NC 27105; phone 910-767-6888.

JULY

1-2: “Color Me Human” teaching conference and campaign, Salt Lake City, Utah. Dedicated to raising the first generation of children free from prejudice. For hotel reservations, phone 800-453-9450 and ask for the Color Me Human conference rate. For information, write to Color Me Human Conference, P.O. Box 58305, Salt Lake City, UT 84158, or phone 801-582-3135 or 801-582-2026.

1-4: Colorado East Summer School, Beaver Ranch, Conifer. Contact John Bolz, Lafayette, CO 80026; phone 303-666-9275.

2-6: “Becoming Teachers of the Cause,” “A Voyage into the Mystical Realm,” “Can I Really Pioneer,” general session for all ages, Bosch Bahá’í School. For information, phone 408-423-3387 or fax 408-423-7564.

4-9: “Badasht Revisited” a two-part Teaching Conference/campaign, Iowa City, Iowa. For registration/information, phone Lynn Howell-Sinnard, 319-354-9092. Conference fee: $50. Registration deadline: June 4.

8-13: “Partnership Between Women and Men,” “A Voyage into the Mystical Realm,” “Ruhi Deepening and Consolidation Method,” general session for all ages, Bosch Bahá’í School. For information, phone 408-423-3387, fax 408-423-7564.

9: North Georgia/Metro Atlanta “Spirit of Sacrifice” Conference and commemoration of the Martyrdom of the Báb, Bahá’í Unity Center, DeKalb. For information, phone Paul Vaughn, 404-499-0072.

‘AZAMÁT B.E. 152 / MAY 17, 1995

BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER 112 Linden Avenue Wilmette, IL 60091