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[Page 1]Volume 28, Number 1 Mulk B.E. 153 / February 7, 1997

World Congress reporting responsibilities fulfilled

FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

To the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States Dear Bahá’í Friends,

The Universal House of Justice received with gratitude your letter of May 31, 1996, with which you enclosed a final report of the finances of the second Bahá’í World Congress, as far as the responsibilities of your Assembly extended.

The diligence with which your Assembly handled this immensely complex undertaking, and has persisted in establishing a detailed accounting of all the confused financial transactions involved, has earned the great appreciation of the House of Justice.

On page 10 of The American Bahá’í for February 7, 1993, under the heading of “National Assembly looking into problems with Congress travel, hotel accommodations,” you stated: “The National Assembly will make a full investigation and is committed to pursuing appropriate remedies.”

On February 3, 1993, in a letter to all local Spiritual Assemblies, your Assembly explained what it was doing to resolve the situation in which “certain of the logistical operations of the Bahá’í World Congress substantially inconvenienced some of the friends who registered for this momentous event” and stated, “Following the completion of its review, the National Assembly will report its findings to the community in The American Bahá’í and through a general mailing to the friends.”

This undertaking was fulfilled in the report you included on page 7 of your Annual Report at Ridván 1996, published in The American Bahá’í.

However, from comments made by various individuals, the House of Justice has deduced that, in addition to those who have been challenging the

See WORLD CONGRESS page 13

Truly a conference for all the Americas

1,400 share SED vision, victories

By TOM MENNILLO

If the air was heavy with anticipation beforehand, it became positively charged with electricity as the roll call was read of invitees to the first Bahá’í Development Seminar for the Americas, December 16-19 in Orlando, Florida.

One by one, the 125 practitioners from 16 countries stood and described their efforts—through 91 projects in such areas as education, health, and agriculture—to precipitate individual and collective transformation.

They had come a long way, most of them, at great sacrifice to take part in this historic hemispheric gathering. Now the time had come to roll up their sleeves and begin sharing their vision, experiences, resources and challenges.

And that’s what they did, energizing the seminar and the fourth annual Bahá’í Conference for the Americas that followed on December 19-22.

They were joined for the latter event by about 1,300 other believers eager to put faith into action where they live.

Both the seminar and conference were sponsored by the Eshraghieh and Mahmoud Rabbani Charitable Trust, an independent non-profit entity founded in 1991 to make the late couple’s living trust a vehicle of good works and service.

The conference was known as the North American Bahá’í Conference its first three years. As a result of consultation among the Trust, the Office of Social and Economic Development at the Bahá’í World Center, and the National Spiritual Assembly, the conference was broadened in scope.

“Parent and child” well describes the relationship that has existed between the North and South American Bahá’í communities ever since intrepid

See AMERICAS page 12

Elizabeth Bowen takes notes as Bahá’í educators from around the hemisphere burn the midnight oil networking on curriculum and other resources. (Photo by Tom Mennillo)

Counselor Eloy Anello (front) embraces Benjamin Levy of the Rabbani Charitable Trust as Mr. Levy and fellow trustees Kenneth Gould (left) and Fahimeh Rouhani honor him for pioneering efforts in Bahá’í development. (Photo by James Cheal)

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
> Message to friends from the Western Regional Committee	2
> Bahá’ís and the United Nations: first in a series	3
> Vineyard of the Lord: progress report on building the Arc on Mt. Carmel	14
> Message to believers from the Southern Regional Committee	16

Friends should deepen on Assembly formation

In its message of December 31, 1995, to the Bahá’ís of the world, the Universal House of Justice announced that, beginning at Ridván 1997, all local Spiritual Assemblies throughout the world would have to be elected on the first Day of Ridván.

The Supreme Institution also stated that “...In accordance with the objective of fostering the maturation of those Assemblies, a greater effort is required to uphold a vital principle, which is that the responsibility for electing a local Spiritual Assembly rests primarily on the Bahá’ís in the locality.”

Since Ridván 1977, with the permission of the House of Justice, a number of Bahá’í communities, primarily those in mass-taught and rural areas of the country, were allowed to form their Spiritual Assembly on any subsequent day of the Ridván Festival, if they were unable to do so on the first Day of Ridván.

Such Assembly formations were often accomplished through the tireless work of dedicated believers who would travel to a locality where there were nine or more adult believers on the membership list and attempt to visit those believers, encouraging them to either vote for the Assembly or sign the Joint Declaration form.

While such efforts resulted in the formation of a number of Assemblies, it was clear in many cases that the initiative and responsibility for forming them were not coming from the believers resident in the localities themselves.

Now that the Universal House of Justice has reinstituted the practice of electing all local Spiritual Assemblies on the first Day of Ridván, the National Spiritual Assembly encourages

See FORMATION page 13 [Page 2]

TEACHING

Message to friends from Western Regional Committee

To all Assemblies, registered Groups and isolated believers in the Western Region

Dearly Loved Brothers and Sisters Residing in the Western States,

Eighty years ago ‘Abdu’l-Bahá revealed the second "Tablet to the Western States," one of the 14 letters in the Tablets of the Divine Plan. On this joyous occasion, we send each of you our deepest love and warm embrace.

Let us pause to reflect upon and draw inspiration from the manifold pioneering accomplishments of the Western American believers in response to these action-oriented, powerful Tablets. Certainly the friends today, in obedience to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's injunction to recite daily the special "Prayer for the Western States," will be spiritually empowered to wholeheartedly respond to the special opportunities for service contained in the Universal House of Justice's Ridván messages.

Dear friends, the beloved Guardian assures us that "In carrying out the Plans of God we are strengthened, blessed and purified; we attract the loving attention of Bahá’u’lláh; our efforts are confirmed; and we are enabled through His power to achieve great victories for His Faith."

As we are in the process of implementing the National Spiritual Assembly's letter of June 6, in which we were asked to study the Ridván message, double the active core of believers in each local community and establish local training institutes where feasible, the Regional Committee encourages you to take immediate steps to integrate the new National Teaching Plan into your personal, institutional and community efforts. This plan, based on the messages from the Supreme Body for the Four Year Plan, will bring great victories for Bahá’u’lláh when it is motivated from the depths of our hearts.

We are convinced that our Bahá’í communities will mature into magnetic models attracting troops of new believers when individual initiative is released in collaboration with the twin institutions of the learned (Auxiliary Board) and the elected (local Spiritual Assemblies), each of which serves the friends at the grassroots level.

Our Western Region is well poised to advance the process of entry by troops. We have joyously noted an overwhelming response of the friends to the Ridván Message as evidenced by the quality of the consultation at the unit conventions and high levels of inter-Assembly cooperation observed in a number of local teaching plans. You have raised the number of institutes and patterns of systematic teaching activities that involve the new believers. Bahá’í youth activities are on the rise. The Faith has earned a positive character in the eyes of society and leaders of thought. In addition, we are greatly blessed by the immense cultural diversity of the inhabitants of the Region. We must now "take full advantage of these favorable circumstances."

To best serve the 11 states in the Western Region, we are searching for unique opportunities to enhance the special contributions of Native American, African, Hispanic, Chinese and Persian believers. In keeping with the Master's advice, special attention will be given to raising the call of the Kingdom in the states of New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Nevada. We will work to create intimate, collaborative partnerships with and among local Spiritual Assemblies, the Institution of the Learned, and the National Spiritual Assembly and its agencies, so as to achieve a unity of vision, thought and action to lay the foundation that will attract, embrace, support and sustain the troops who are destined to pledge their faith to Bahá’u’lláh. We are also committed to establishing regional training institutes in areas of great promise. In sum, we are inspired to take decisive actions to bring about the spiritualization of the Western States.

Confident in our joint destined role as the champion-builders of the New World Order, we eagerly long for news, suggestions and fresh ideas of your individual and institutional initiatives.

With warmest Bahá’í love,

Regional Committee for Western States February 15, 1997

Four Regions of the United States Designated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in The Tablets of the Divine Plan: Western Region, Northeastern Region, Central Region, Southern Region.

Have you recently returned from service at the Bahá’í World Center? If so, please send a copy of your Bahá’í ID card from the World Center, both front and back, with your current U.S. address to the Bahá’í National Center, MIS Department-Transfers, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611. Your current U.S. Bahá’í credentials will be sent within two weeks of receiving your copies. Remember, you cannot attend Feast without a current U.S. Bahá’í ID card.

'Welcome packet' for new believers has attractive new format

Within the past year, the National Spiritual Assembly has changed many practices related to how we welcome new believers into the Bahá’í community.

On a practical level, the "welcome packet" sent from the Bahá’í National Center has been revamped and now includes lovely, easy-to-use cards with key information, as well as a warm introductory pamphlet.

In addition, last summer the National Spiritual Assembly shared with all local Spiritual Assemblies a course for new believers, "We Are Bahá’ís: From New Believers to New Teachers in the Cause of God."

The course includes a facilitator's guide and audio tape (with both instructions and music to be used during the course), as well as a workbook for participants.

Many of the friends have commented that they are pleased to be using the course in their communities. In the Philadelphia area, classes were arranged for new declarants and those who had attended firesides and were interested in coming to a "meatier" presentation. Taught on Sunday evenings over the course of four weeks, the classes led to three declarations. Several of the new believers are bringing new faces to firesides and other Bahá’í events.

In other areas of the country, the course is serving the needs of the friends as a one-day seminar. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, the facilitator reports that she found the course "very effective" for the new believers in "reinforcing the idea of going to the Writings for answers."

She also felt that the course "exposed new believers to many aspects of the Faith that they may not otherwise have known much about" so soon after embracing the Faith.

Several communities have called asking to receive more copies of the participants' workbook to use within the course. Some groups of more isolated Bahá’ís, who heard about the course, wanted to receive all of the materials, but did not receive them in the initial mailing because of the cost involved.

Because of the overwhelming desire of the friends to have access to these materials, a reprint has been made available through the Bahá’í Distribution Service.

Workbooks for participants may be purchased for $1.50 each, and the facilitator's guide and audio tape for $3.

The course is meant to be used in the living laboratory of the growing Bahá’í community. Please feel free to record your comments and feedback and share them with the Education and Schools Office, Bahá’í National Center, Evanston, IL 60201-1611, or e-mail.

We hope to review the course during the Four Year Plan, giving consideration to the comments and recommendations received from local communities that have used the course, with the intention of expanding its use in the American Bahá’í community. [Page 3]

Bahá’í support for UN dates from its inception

By LEWIS WALKER

This is the first in a year-long series of articles marking the 50th anniversary of formal Bahá’í recognition by the United Nations as a non-governmental organization.—Ed.

On April 25, 1945, the Allied Nations Conference convened in San Francisco, California; by June 25 the United Nations Charter was born, and it was ratified in October.

In March the Spiritual Assembly of San Francisco had been asked by the National Spiritual Assembly of the U.S. and Canada to produce a plan to use the occasion of the conference to spread the Bahá’í teachings on universal peace. It found that Bahá’ís in the Bay area already had developed a plan of action, and their proposal was approved by the National Spiritual Assembly.

The Committee on the Bahá’í Peace Plan was appointed, with a budget one-third of which was supplied locally, and set in charge of conducting radio broadcasts, holding public meetings, and creating printed materials and displays.

One of the broadcasts, “Goal Is World Order,” was carried on local radio prior to the San Francisco conference and was a forum for Bahá’í speakers, with guest speaker Robert Kenny, attorney general of California.

This capped a series of several dozen Sunday evening broadcasts of the “Bahá’í World Order Program” that, since January 1944, had featured Bahá’í speakers on that theme.

A letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi on August 10, 1945, included this passage:

“The reports which have reached him about the teaching and publicity during the San Francisco conference were very satisfactory. He feels the American believers are maturing and gaining in experience in presenting the Faith not only to the public at large but also to leaders of importance, and they are doing it in a sober and dignified way.”

Shoghi Effendi had indeed led the way in presenting the Bahá’í position on world order through a series of messages from 1929–36 that came to be known as the “world order letters.”

Perhaps most to the point of the enterprise undertaken by the UN was the section of his letter of November 28, 1931, to the Bahá’ís of the West that was given the publication title “The Federation of Mankind,” in which he compared the tasks currently facing the peoples of the earth to the efforts in the 18th century that resulted in what had become the United States of America.

The National Spiritual Assembly of the U.S. and Canada had also long been addressing the issue, launching a nationwide series of “Conferences for World Unity” in 1925–27. The first of these conferences, in San Francisco, featured a dozen prominent speakers from religious, educational and government institutions and had as honorary chairman Dr. David Starr Jordan, president of Stanford University.

For their part, Bahá’ís on the West Coast had been devising opportunities to promote the Bahá’í approach to world order while World War II was still raging.

The San Francisco forum broadcast on KQW wasn’t the first Bahá’í-sponsored event to feature Attorney General Kenny, who on September 24, 1943, had shared the podium with two other prominent citizens and the future Hand of the Cause of God Dorothy Baker at a symposium in San Francisco entitled “Racial Foundations for World Order.” There followed three other symposia on the theme of world order, all held at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco.

The Allied Nations Conference was barely under way when the National Spiritual Assembly sponsored a public meeting at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, on April 29, 1945, entitled “The Assurance of World Peace: A Bahá’í Presentation.”

A week later, the National Committee on the Bahá’í Peace Plan sponsored another symposium in San Francisco on “World Order Is the Goal,” whose main speakers were Leroy Ioas, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, and Dr. Rudolph Hosti, a former delegate to the League of Nations.

Other public meetings, which pursued the same theme, included those held in Toronto on October 29, 1945 (with Horace Holley), Boston on November 16 (with Dr. Elsie Austin and W. Kenneth Christian), and Chicago on April 11, 1946 (with Marzieh Gail and Mr. Christian).

The first official interaction of Bahá’ís with the United Nations organization was the application by the National Spiritual Assembly of the U.S. and Canada to be recognized as a national non-governmental organization.

Its acceptance in the spring of 1947 gave the National Assembly the status of a recognized observer. Under this status the Assembly submitted the statement “A Bahá’í Declaration of Human Obligations and Rights,” whose receipt was acknowledged by the UN on March 20, 1947.

A letter from Shoghi Effendi through his secretary dated May 9, 1947, applauded the declaration and elucidated the goal of our relationship with the UN at that stage:

“He feels the friends should bear in mind that the primary reason that he is encouraging Bahá’í association with the United Nations is to give the Cause due publicity as an agency working for and firmly believing in the unification of the human family and permanent peace, and not because he believes that we are at present in a position to shape or influence directly the course of human affairs. Also, he feels this association will afford the believers an opportunity of contacting prominent and progressive-minded people from different countries and calling the Faith and its principles to their attention.”

In accord with this, the National Spiritual Assembly appointed a United Nations Committee, which in one of its annual reports described its role as “gaining recognition and status for the Faith at the United Nations and trying to win converts for the Faith.”

The National Assembly also authorized a Bahá’í observer, who was able to attend any UN conferences that were open to non-governmental organizations and held within the U.S.

Later that year the Guardian himself had occasion to interact with the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine with a statement of July 14, 1947, in reply to the committee’s request for an expression of the religious interests of the Bahá’ís in Palestine.

His statement was particularly crucial because the UN had become trustee of the Holy Land, in which are located the Bahá’í Shrines and the seat of the Faith’s worldwide administrative order.

The Guardian’s statement was reprinted in World Order magazine and published and disseminated as a pamphlet entitled “The Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.”

That same issue of World Order (October 1947) carried the National Spiritual Assembly’s second UN pronouncement, “A Bahá’í Statement on the Rights of Women,” submitted to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, which was compiling materials for a world code.

Next: Formal UN recognition of the Faith.

National Assembly of Russia sets goals for Marion Jack IX teaching campaign

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Russian Federation, through its National Teaching Committee, has set this year’s goal for the Marion Jack IX Teaching Campaign, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles, California, as the area from Krasnoyarsk to Omsk, which includes the communities of Sharipovo, Novosibirsk and Tomsk.

Secondarily, the team will concentrate its efforts in the Kemerovski Oblast, which includes the cities of ‎Novykyuznetsk Novokuznetsk‎ and Kemerovo. This is the most densely populated area in western Siberia, and there is no established Bahá’í community there.

Twenty-five traveling teachers are needed to fulfill these goals, and pioneers are also urgently needed in that area.

The Marion Jack campaign has, since its inception in 1990, opened more than 60 Russian cities and villages, introduced some 2,000 new Bahá’ís to the Faith, and helped in the election of more than 35 local Spiritual Assemblies.

While it may seem like a long time before the summer of 1997 and the start of the next phase of the campaign, it’s not too early to start making plans to join this history-making campaign. July and August are the target dates for the team’s trip.

Applications should be sent as soon as possible, and it would be helpful if some of the friends were able to stay longer as short-term pioneers.

For information or an application, please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles c/o its Marion Jack liaison (e-mail phone 310-274-5674, fax 310-274-4347) or contact the national office of Pioneering.

Ronald Precht, a Bahá’í from Arlington Heights, Illinois, who is president of the Illinois division of the United Nations Association of the USA, presents a copy of Turning Point for All Nations to Miki Cooper, director of local government affairs for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services and honorary UN Day chairman for the State of Illinois. The presentation was made on behalf of the Bahá’í community of Springfield on United Nations Day, October 26. [Page 4]

PIONEERING

National Assembly approves unprecedented number of goals for international service

In response to the critical and urgent needs of the Faith in these last four years of the century, the National Spiritual Assembly has approved the adoption of a goal of 5,700 pioneers and traveling teachers for the Four Year Plan.

This total reflects the goals of 4,500 traveling teachers and 1,200 pioneers. With confidence born out of the successful response of the friends to the international needs of the Faith in the Three Year Plan, the National Spiritual Assembly set forth these extraordinary goals before our community in direct response to the call of the Ridván messages.

The Universal House of Justice reminded us that the believers of the North American continent, in response to the mandate of the Tablets of the Divine Plan, "have carried the Message of Bahá’u’lláh to all parts of your continent and throughout the breadth of the planet.... These Tablets launched you on a worldwide enterprise which you, and the generations to succeed you, are called upon to continue during the vast period of time stretching throughout the Formative Age and into the Golden Age of the Bahá’í Dispensation."

For the community of the Greatest Name, the Universal House of Justice calls on "the indigenous believers...to make their own distinctive contribution to the pursuit of the goals of the Four Year Plan, both beyond the confines of North America and at home...in the circumpolar areas and in the Asian region of the Russian Federation."

And, "We direct the attention of the believers of African descent, so beloved by the Master, to the pressing need for pioneers, who will contribute to the further development of the Cause in distant areas, including the continent of Africa for which they were assigned a special responsibility by the Guardian...."

The Universal House of Justice further states: "We look to the members of the Bahá’í community in the United States to perform, during the Four Year Plan, heroic deeds of service to the Cause, which will astonish and inspire their fellow-believers throughout the world."

The National Spiritual Assembly turns to each and every believer in our community to take to heart the call for 5,700 traveling teachers and pioneers in the Four Year Plan. Follow the footsteps of those who have gone before you. Plan to offer a few days, a week, a few months or a lifetime in service to the Cause of God internationally.

For more information or to begin making your plans, contact the Office of Pioneering, 1233 Central St., Evanston IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-733-3508; fax 847-733-3509; email

Los Angeles establishes non-profit corporation for outreach programs

The Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles has formed a non-profit corporation called the Multicultural Organization for Neighborhood Arts (MONA).

Named for Mona Mahmúnizhad, the youngest of the 10 Bahá’í women martyred in Shiraz in 1983, the organization will develop funding and programming for the planned Unity Center to be constructed next to the L.A. Bahá’í Center by September 1997.

Blueprints for the Unity Center have been submitted to the local government for approval and plans are being developed for funding outreach programs including job skills training and arts classes. The building, as drawn, will contain nearly 7,5000 square feet of space on two floors.

The Unity Center is the result of many years of planning and is considered a social and economic development project of the Los Angeles Bahá’í community.

BOOKS AVAILABLE!

Now available: A Manual for Pioneers, an enlightening and light-hearted book written by the Hand of the Cause of God Rúhíyyih Rabbani, for $5, and Quickeners of Mankind, the only compilation of the Bahá’í Writings on pioneering including the Writings of the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, the Universal House of Justice, Hands of the Cause of God, and Counselors, for $1.50. We encourage everyone to order these wonderful and informative publications by contacting the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette IL 60091 (phone 847-733-3508; fax 847-733-3509; e-mail

Florin Bahá’í Club

The Earth Is One Country

In its first year, the Florin High School Bahá’í Club in South Sacramento, California, has grown from four to 35 members, only seven of whom are Bahá’ís. Although membership has been mostly Southeast Asian, students from Chinese and, most recently, East Indian backgrounds are joining. Two declarations have resulted from club activities, and several members are actively studying the Faith by attending Bahá’í schools. Participation in the school's Homecoming Parade last September (pictured) led to the club's winning second place for 'The Spirit Truck.' The club, which is perhaps the only high school Bahá’í Club in northern California, is interested in hearing from others. The address is Florin High School Bahá’í Club, c/o Spiritual Assembly of South Sacramento, P.O. Box 292908, Sacramento, CA 95829 (e-mail

Friends reporting travel and teaching

It is evident that larger numbers of Bahá’ís are becoming aware that "The movement itself from place to place, when undertaken for the sake of God, hath always exerted, and can now exert, its influence in the World." To make your contribution to keeping records toward this important goal, please note the following information: the Office of Pioneering needs information about your international trips of any nature, since the beginning of the Four Year Plan (May 1, 1996). Please include the names of all countries and main localities visited, the dates of your trip, the names of all Bahá’ís traveling, and the main purpose of your travel. Business trips, personal projects, vacation trips, family visits, conferences, meetings and teaching projects, among others, are all included in these statistics and duly designated. Please inform the National Teaching Office about those trips taken on the homefront for which some teaching activity was included.

To make this easier for you, simply fill out and send us the short form below by mail or by fax, or tell us by phone or e-mail 24 hours a day. For travel on the homefront, please report to the National Teaching Office, 847-733-3494 (fax 847-733-3502; e-mail For international travel: the Office of Pioneering, 847-733-3511 (fax 847-733-3509; email We look forward to hearing from you.

If you have traveled internationally, please return this form to the Office of Pioneering. If you have traveled to teach within the United States, please return this form to the National Teaching Office. The address for both is: 1233 Central St., Evanston IL 60201. Fax: (847) 733-3509

Names: Street: I.D. #s: City, State, Zip:. COUNTRIES or LOCALITIES DATES FROM TO MAIN PURPOSE Comments: [Page 5]

FROM BRILLIANT STAR

Bahá’u’lláh: His Life and Station $9.95 SC (BSBLS) Children will develop a deep love for Bahá’u’lláh with fun stories and activities reprinted from the pages of Brilliant Star. A quick resource for lesson planning which supports the core curriculum. Includes many popular out-of-print favorites. Reproducible for classroom use. 8½"x11", 46 pp., illustrations, activities Brilliant Star

Oneness of Humanity $9.95 SC (BSOH) Why is unity like a fruit salad? How does the oneness of humanity fit into the Four Year Plan? Answers to these and many other fascinating questions are in this resource book of activities, including stories and articles reprinted from the pages of Brilliant Star. Don’t step into the classroom without it! Reproducible for classroom use. 8½"x11", 48 pp., illustrations, activities Brilliant Star

A Basic Bahá’í Chronology by Glenn Cameron with Wendi Momen $29.95 SC (BBC) When was the greeting ‘Alláh-u-Abhá first used by Bahá’ís? When did Bahá’u’lláh reveal The Seven Valleys? When was the House of Worship in Panama completed? When was the International Teaching Centre established? Who was the first Puerto Rican Bahá’í? There are many times when we need to know the date of a Bahá’í event—in preparing a talk for summer school or a deepening class, when the media suddenly want an interview, in our external affairs work or just to satisfy our curiosity! Here at your fingertips are thousands of facts about the Bábí and Bahá’í Faiths, presented in the order in which they occurred and illustrated with over 300 photographs. More than 145 books and journals and hundreds of unpublished sources were meticulously researched to provide this comprehensive guide to Bahá’í history. 7"x9½", 560 pp., photographs, index George Ronald Publisher

Understanding Biblical Prophecy Preparing for a Bahá’í/Christian Dialogue, Volume 3 by Michael Sours $19.99 SC (UBP) This is the final volume in a three-volume study program designed to help Bahá’ís familiarize themselves with the Bible and Christian beliefs. Among this volume’s features:

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• Emphasizes Biblical prophecies that are documented in authoritative Bahá’í Scripture
• Examines areas of agreement between Christian and Bahá’í interpretations
• Provides Biblical evidence supporting the teachings and interpretations of Bahá’u’lláh.

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The Origins of the Bahá’í Community of Canada, 1898-1948 by Will C. van den Hoonaard $32.95 HC (OBCC) What binds together Louis Riel’s former secretary, a railroad inventor, a Montreal comedienne, an early proponent of Canada’s juvenile system, and a prominent Canadian architect? Socialists, suffragists, musicians, artists—from 1898 to 1948, these and some 550 other individual Canadian Bahá’ís helped create a movement described as the second most widespread religion in the world. Using diaries, official reports, private correspondence, newspapers, archives and interviews, Will C. van den Hoonaard has created the first historical account of the Bahá’í Faith in Canada. This is the story of modern spiritual heroes—people who changed the lives of others through their devotion to Bahá’í ideals. 6¼"x9¼", 356 pp., photographs, contents, introduction, bibliography, index Wilfrid Laurier University Press

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Divisive Barbarity or Global Civilization? The Ethical Dimensions of Science, Art, Religion, and Politics edited by M. L. Bradbury and Suheil Bushrui $24.95 HC (DBGC) This book presents the discussions of the Fourth International Dialogue on the Transition to a Global Society held at the University of Maryland at College Park. The foreword to these discussions was contributed by Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, who served as the keynote speaker for the proceedings, and the papers contained herein support the twin goals of the conference: To find integrative answers to the challenge of building an ethical, global civilization and to inspire purposeful action on the part of leaders in all realms of society so that the proposed solutions can be realized. Topics for discussion centered around science and technology, art and architecture, religion and human values, politics, and youth. 5¾"x9", 231 pp., contents, index University Press of Maryland

God’s Big Instruction Book $8.95 SC (GBIB) Words to heal, words to comfort, words to cheer, words to guide. These gems of wisdom from the world’s sacred scriptures have transformed the lives of people all over the world for thousands of years. Celebrating all that it means to be human, from rejoicing in love to comforting the suffering, from offering forgiveness to contemplating the meaning of life, these inspirational words will guide your steps along the spiritual path. Includes quotes from the scriptures of Judaism, ‎Chritianity Christianity‎, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, and the Bahá’í Faith on a range of topics such as the purpose of life, spiritual growth, family and community life, tests and difficulties, and life after death. 6"x4½", 248 pp. Oneworld Publications [Page 6]

Bahá’í Teachings for the New World Order

BAHÁ’Í TRAINS ET THE N WONDER Bahá’í Teachings for the New World Order $1.25 EACH 1-9 COPIES $1.00 EACH 10 COPIES AND UP (BTNWO)

Now available through the Bahá’í Distribution Service, this popular teaching pamphlet is a collection of extracts from the writings on the fundamental social teachings and theology of the Faith. Also included are brief historical accounts of the Central Figures and overview of the administration. Also available in the following languages and at the same price as the English: RUSSIAN (RTNWO) CHINESE (CTNWO) SPANISH (STNWO) 3½"x5", 82 pp. Waldorf Enterprises

Crystallizations

20 Works by Bahá’í Authors $19.95 SC (CRY)

Crystallizations provides 20 very different and fascinating inner perspectives on the Bahá’í Faith, unveiled and explored by 19 creative writers. No previous volume on the Faith has so adventurously tapped into its cultural richness, its power to quicken the imagination of such diverse artists as Juliet Thompson, Horace Holley, Roger White, Otto Donald Rogers, Ann Boyles, Jalalíyyíh Quinn, and Larry Rowdon. Here for all to see is the whole soul in activity. 6"x9", 291 pp. Association for Bahá’í Studies

The Land of Mystery

Bahá’u’lláh by Alex Zografov $16.95 CD (LMCD), $10.95 CS (LMCS)

Fasten your seatbelt, put your chair backs and food trays in the upright position and prepare to experience a unique and mystical journey. Travel Destination: The ancient land of Thrace (Adrianople), designated by Bahá’u’lláh as "The Land of Mystery". You will find yourself transported by ethereal vocal renditions of ancient folk melodies and chants that soar on modern wings fueled by today's driving rhythms. The Land of Mystery is a fresh, uplifting blend of ancient and modern music celebrating the "Blessed Beauty" as revealed in the "Greatest Name of God". Grab your boarding pass and travel light, no luggage required. 54 minutes Unity Arts

God and His Messengers

David Hofman God and His Messengers written and narrated by David Hofman $8.00 CS (GMC)

These stories describe in a simple and vigorous manner the lives and teachings of God's Messengers—the founders of the world's great religions. They are particularly valuable today when people of different races, nationalities and beliefs are living in the same community. They point the way to greater understanding and acceptance of others and thus to peace. Based on the much loved children's book by the same name, this cassette is an excellent exposition for children and youth on the concept of progressive revelation. Images International 1-800-999-9019

To the Glory of God

Eric Dozier and Friends $17.95 CD (TGGCD), $11.95 CS (TGGCS)

Ever feel like you are going Glory God through the motions of being a Bahá’í and want your soul to be stirred again with love for Bahá’u’lláh? Try To the Glory of God, the latest gospel recording featuring inspirational music from Eric Dozier and Friends. Before becoming a Bahá’í, Eric was minister of music at several churches and was the director of the Duke University Modern Black Mass Choir. Since becoming a Bahá’í, Eric has performed at the Bahá’í National Convention, the Martin Luther King Jr. March in Atlanta, and conferences and summer schools around the nation. His knowledge of the Bible and strong Christian background make this recording an excellent teaching tool. 55 minutes Vanguard Music Productions

Take Me Up

by Mary Davis $15.00 CD (TMUCD), $10.00 CS (TMUCS)

"One of the most purely melodious voices in existence today" (Marvin "Doc" Holiday), Mary Davis is a familiar voice in the Bahá’í community, having traveled internationally and appeared at numerous conferences including the 1986 International Peace Conference in San Fransisco with her well-known song "Woman You Are the Key to Peace," as well as productions by Jimmy Seals and Jack Lenz. With a "crystal clear voice that speaks the language of the soul" (Red Grammer), she has woven together in her third production of original material, Take me Up, the inspiration of her Faith—the metaphors of this earthly life—and the principles by which she strives to live, to create a tapestry of her spiritual journey. 44 minutes Windflower Music

William Henry Randall

Disciple of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá by Bahiyyih Randall-Winckler with M. R. Garis $19.99 SC (WHR)

William Henry Randall is the compelling account of the life of the man described by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as "my spiritual associate my participator and co-sharer!" Drawing on the previously unpublished daily diaries of two early pilgrimages (1919 and 1922), this fascinating book provides unique glimpses into the life of the Holy Family, and offers an intimate portrait of the history of the Faith in America and the difficulties and challenges that faced the early Western believers. 54"x8", 276 pp., foreword, photographs, appendices, index Oneworld

Hope

Jewels from the Words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá $5.95 SC (HS)

The fifth in the Jewels series presents extracts from the writings and utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on the theme of hope—hope for the individual through seeking the bounties of God, and the blessings to be obtained through following the life of the spirit and service to humanity. 6"x6", 40 p., bibliography, references Bahá’í Publishing Trust, United Kingdom

The Eco Principle

AKTHER LYON DARL TILE eco Ecology and Economics in Symbiosis by Arthur Lyon Dahl $21.95 SC (EPEES)

At a time when most societies have lost all control and direction, this book not only explains why present economic and political systems are not working, but integrates economic, environmental, social and spiritual dimensions into a new paradigm for understanding and changing them. Instead of our usual thinking in terms of mechanical analogies and essentially static entities, the author introduces the notion of Ecos. This, he argues, provides a more accurate portrayal of the real world as a complex "nested" structure of interacting, dynamic and constantly changing systems. He then applies this analytical approach based on the time-proven organic systems of the natural world to our understanding of human institutions. He shows how these are not immutable, but shaped by our values and understandings. This opens the way to a more integrated view of solutions to the problems we face. 54"x8", 180 pp., bibliography, index. George Ronald Publisher, Zed Books Ltd.

Law and International Order

compiled by The Táhirih Institute $17.95 SC (LIO)

Seven essays, addressing one of the most significant issues facing humankind as we stand at the dawn of the millenium and on the threshold of a new World Order. This book contains keynote presentations from the first European Bahá’í Conference on Law and International Order, held in the Netherlands, 1995.

Authors and essay titles: Kiser Barnes, "The Theme of Service in the Evolving World Order of Bahá’u’lláh" and "The Nature of Bahá’í Law" • Coleen Dawes, "Service to Mankind through the Legal Profession" • Pieter van Dijk, "Universality of Human Rights, Tolerance and Freedom of Religion" • Wendi Momen, "How Close Are We to the Lesser Peace?" • Udo Schaefer, "Crime and Punishment" • Christopher Sprung, "Bahá’í Institutions and Human Governance". 54"x8", 224 pp., foreword, bibliography, biographical notes Bahá’í Publishing Trust, United Kingdom

The True Foundation of All Economics

compiled by Hooshmand Badi'i $9.95 SC (TFAE)

The True Foundation of All Economics is a compilation of extracts from the Bahá’í writings that help the reader examine the relationship of economics to other basic teachings of the Bahá’í Faith, including health, education, the status of women, the environment and the purpose of humankind's life on earth: to acquire virtues and carry forward an ever-advancing civilization. This book serves as a stepping stone for further pursuits into the vast subject of the relationship between economics, the most earthly of subjects, and spirituality, the most heavenly of realms. 54"x8", 194 pp. Hooshmand Badi'i [Page 7]

We Are Bahá’ís

Facilitator's Handbook and Cassette $3.00 SCw/CS (WABFH)

This course, developed and distributed by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, has as its essential purpose to evoke the spirit of the Faith and to make every new Bahá’í feel loved and welcomed into the Bahá’í community. The course is a companion to the book So Great an Honor, which is a book intended as an overview for new believers. The Facilitator's Handbook includes a cassette tape with additional instructions for the faciltator and a selection of suitable music.

8½"x11", 24 pp. National Education Committee

We Are Bahá’ís

Participant's Handbook $1.50 SC (WABPH)

The Participant's Handbook is the companion piece to the Facilitator's Handbook. For the new believer this program was designed to assist them in their path of self-directed learning of the creative word. To accomplish this, the program is structured using a learning model derived from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Most learning experiences start and end with knowledge and wisdom, but using this model the learner can achieve a deeper level of understanding. He or she internalizes what is learned by applying it to his or her own everyday experiences and actions.

8½"x11", 32 pp. National Education Committee

An Introduction to the Bahá’í Faith

An Informational Course for the General Public prepared by Khalil A. and Sue Williston Khavari $7.95 SC (IBFC)

This coursebook was designed specifically to aid Bahá’ís in presenting the Bahá’í Faith to audiences in a public forum or classroom setting. This course not only presents systematically the basics of the Bahá’í Faith, including history, beliefs, practices, and administration, it also helps prepare the teacher through outlines of course procedures and objectives. Includes sample handouts, letters, announcements, overhead transparencies and a brief appendix on public speaking.

8½"x11", GBC bound, approx. 90 pp. Khalil and Sue Khavari

Translation of the French Foot-Notes from The Dawn-Breakers

translated by Emily McBride Perigord $6.95 SC (TFF)

English translations of the French footnotes found throughout The Dawn-Breakers.

6"x9", 83 pp. Bahá’í Publishing Trust, United States

GIVE THE GIFT OF MUSIC!

Pavone International wishes to announce the release of a very exciting Ayyam-i-Há Gift Package consisting of four albums: Happy Ayyam-i-Há, The Lote Tree, Selections from the Bahá’í Writings, and The Royal Falcon (see descriptions below). This wonderful set of music has been specially priced, and all four are presented in a special package perfect for gift giving. (Albums may also be purchased separately if desired.)

Ayyam-i-Há Gift Pack, 4 CD Set $39.00 (AGPCD) Ayyam-i-Há Gift Pack, 4 CS Set $29.00 (AGPCS)

Happy Ayyam-i-Há

$14.00 CD (HACD), $11.00 CS (HACS)

This album received the Christian Angel Award in 1979 for the best children's album of the year, the first non-Christian work to ever receive this award. This re-release of a classic blends the warm storytelling abilities of Hand of the Cause of God William Sears with memorable sing-alongs performed by children. Mr. Sears himself understood the timelessness of this album, stating that it would be appreciated for generations to come.

Pavone International

The Lote Tree

$14.00 CD (LTCD), $11.00 CS (LTCS)

A musical drama about the Central Figures of the Bahá’í Faith narrated by Hand of the Cause of God William Sears. The heart-rending recollections and sincere love of Mr. Sears for the Guardian evident in this work will especially move and inspire the listener. The narration is accompanied by beautiful songs written by Seals and Crofts and Walter Heath that help to bring us closer to the human side of these exalted figures. The album ends with previously recorded songs by Seals and Crofts.

Pavone International

Selections from the Bahá’í Writings

by Paul Parrish $14.00 CD (SBWCD), $11.00 CS (SBWCS)

Paul Parrish was once one of the most sought-after artists in the music industry, spoken of as one of the great modern composers of our time. He loved music but hated the music business. For this reason Paul always avoided commercial success. In the late eighties Paul became a Bahá’í and became intoxicated with the writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Immediately he began to set the writings of the Faith to music, and this album is the result of the impact of the words of Bahá’u’lláh on his art.

Pavone International

The Royal Falcon

Parrish & Toppano $14.00 CD (RFCD), $11.00 CS (RFCS)

Paul Parrish and Ren Toppano's album The Royal Falcon received great reviews throughout Europe and South Africa. They recently returned from an extensive trip throughout those areas. Through radio, television, and press they reached millions of people with the message of Bahá’u’lláh as they paid tribute to Him in their music.

Pavone International [Page 8]

THE LIFE-BLOOD

Treasurer’s corner

The Treasurers Corner is devoted to helping local Treasurers and others who have a special interest in development of the Funds by offering suggestions and ideas that might be beneficial in this work. If you would like to offer stories or ideas that have proved useful in your community, please feel free to share them with other communities through this column. (Contact the Office of the Treasurer and Development at 847-733-3472 or e-mail ).

New Treasurers Manual

The Office of the Treasurer and Development is hard at work revising and adding to the existing “Accounting Procedures for Bahá’í Treasurers” which has not been revised in some years.

The new manual, to be available by Ridván, will be in loose-leaf format and will be greatly expanded including a section devoted exclusively to references from the Writings about issues related to the Treasury. More on this publication in future columns.

Resources for Fund Education

The National Bahá’í Education Task Force has released a new module in its Spiritual Education Curriculum for children entitled “Huqúqu’lláh and the Bahá’í Fund.” The new module, published by the National Teacher Training Center at Louhelen, uses the format and instructional techniques of the Core Curriculum now familiar to so many. Treasurers may wish to contact their local Core Curriculum teachers to have this module presented to children in their communities.

The True Foundation of all Economics, compiled by Hooshmand Badi’i, is described as a Bahá’í approach to the promotion of universal development, justice and prosperity. It is indispensable for those interested in and/or involved in social and economic development projects and a valuable reference for all others. It is available from the Bahá’í Distribution Service (800-999-9019) for $9.50 in softcover only.

Family Fund Box

Recently one of the friends shared how her family made their contributions to the Funds. Her father made a wooden Fund box with openings for each member of the family. Each one in the family placed their contribution in the box through the slot bearing his or her name. There were no individual compartments inside the box, so all the contributions fell together inside, giving no indication of who gave what amount.

When Feast time arrived, the family carried the box to Feast and emptied its contents into the larger community Fund box. What a wonderful way for each member of the family to be reminded of his or her obligation to the Funds while preserving the confidentiality of each offering!

“A primary requisite for all who have responsibility for the care of the funds of the Faith is trustworthiness. This, as Bahá’u’lláh has stressed, is one of the most basic and vital of all human virtues, and its exercise has a direct and profound influence on the willingness of the believers to contribute to the Fund.” —Universal House of Justice, August 7, 1985

HUQÚQU’LLÁH

Payments to Huqúqu’lláh should be made to “The Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust” and sent to one of the Trustees:

• Dr. Amin Banani, Santa Monica, CA 90402 (phone 310-394-5449).
• Mr. Stephen Birkland, Arden Hills, MN 55112 (phone 612-484-9518).
• Dr. Daryush Haghighi, Rocky River, OH 44116 (phone 216-333-1506).
• Mrs. Thelma Khelghati, ‎Lunenberg Lunenburg‎, MA 01462 (phone 508-582-9216).

Due to a recurrent illness, Trustee Dr. Elsie Austin is unable to receive payments for Huqúqu’lláh at this time.

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

Nosratullah Mosbat of Bahá’í National Center Mail Services happily delivers to Loralee Lindsley, Office of the Treasurer, a gift from the community of Clovis, California, in honor of the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh. The gift included cash contributions and a collection of pictures made by the children. The community took the idea for the birthday gift from a suggestion in Brilliant Star magazine.

U.S. Bahá’í who is pianist/singer completes seven-month visit as teacher in Mongolia

Bob Bellows, a Bahá’í from the U.S. who is a professional pianist and singer, spent seven months in Mongolia last fall as a visiting teacher of jazz improvisation and voice technique at the Music College in Ulaanbaatar.

Jazz is a new musical genre in Mongolia, and during the whole of his stay Mr. Bellows worked daily with piano and voice students at the college as well as with professional musicians who wanted to be taught by him.

The director and staff at the college treated him as an honored guest, and through them he was able to meet many of the most celebrated musicians in Mongolia.

During the first week Mr. Bellows gave a 20-minute performance for the country’s newest television channel, during which he was interviewed and spoke of himself as a Bahá’í. The program was telecast on October 5 and broadcast the following day on radio.

Two of the major newspapers ran articles about Mr. Bellows, one a full page with photograph that noted his Bahá’í affiliation and mentioned principles of the Faith.

He was also interviewed by reporters from several magazines.

Mr. Bellows was invited by the director of the Mongolian National Philharmonic Orchestra to take part in a benefit concert for the UN-funded Poverty Alleviation Program in Mongolia, where he shared the program with many of the country’s best-loved musicians.

The concert, which drew an audience of 1,000, was televised.

On October 16 he was invited to speak to the staff and students in the music department at the State University of Mongolia.

The Music College staged a solo concert for Mr. Bellows on October 25, issuing invitations to a variety of people.

The room was full, and Mr. Bellows spoke openly about Bahá’u’lláh and His Message and, at the end of the concert, asked the Bahá’ís in the audience to stand.

Mr. Bellows’ final concert was given November 3 at Philharmonic Hall with the National Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra, whom he had been training and rehearsing for several weeks. The concert was hosted by one of Mongolia’s most popular singers, Ganhuig, who also served as his translator.

At the end of the concert, Mr. Bellows spoke of Bahá’u’lláh’s words about music as a ladder for the spirit, and of the potential for music to bring people together in unity.

In addition to these performances, two special firesides were held in Ulaanbaatar to which Mr. Bellows invited a number of the musicians and media people he had befriended.

Mr. Bellows made it clear to everyone he met in Mongolia that he is a Bahá’í and that he came to that country in a spirit of Bahá’í service and love.

NYC Bahá’ís map out ‘Covenant Walk’

As part of their celebration last November of the Day of the Covenant, Bahá’ís in New York City put together “The ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Covenant Walk” of places the Master visited in 1912.

The 13-stop tour does not constitute a complete list of sites the Master graced with His presence. That can be obtained by reading ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in New York: City of the Covenant, published in 1987 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Master’s visit.

The walk starts at Earl Hall on the Columbia University campus on the Upper West Side.

West of Central Park are the home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney, the house of Mr. and Mrs. Champney, the Hotel Ansonia, Broadway and 73rd Street; and the studio of Miss Phillips,

In midtown Manhattan are Carnegie Hall, on West 57th Street; the Great Northern Hotel, 118 W. 57th St.; and the J. Pierpont Morgan Library, Madison Avenue and 36th Street.

Lower Manhattan sites include the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Morten, All Souls Unitarian Church, 4th Avenue and 20th Street; the Church of the Ascension, 5th Avenue and 10th Street; the home of Juliet Thompson, and the Metropolitan Temple, 7th Avenue and 14th Street.

The walk can be traveled in whole or in part by auto or subway, on foot, or on inline skates. [Page 9]

THE LIFE-BLOOD

TOTAL ENROLLMENTS December......................124 Total for year............1,464

THE FUND

(As of December 31, 1996)

National Bahá’í Fund $-2,401,206 International Bahá’í Fund $-219,080

National Bahá’í Fund YTD Goal: $9,600,000 thru Dec 95: $7,903,465 thru Dec 96: $7,198,794

All International Funds YTD Goal: $6,000,000 thru Dec 95: $1,162,770 thru Dec 96: $421,643

Arc Projects Fund thru Dec 95: $17,456,018 thru Dec 96: $5,145,093

Continental Bahá’í Fund thru Dec 95: $178,302 thru Dec 96: $214,184

Other Earmarked thru Dec 95: $374,263 thru Dec 96: $348,493

Subtotal/Int'l Funds thru Dec 95: $18,797,090 thru Dec 96: $5,780,920

Total/All Funds thru Dec 95: $27,074,818 thru Dec 96: $13,328,207

Debt Watch

Loans Outstanding Dec 95: $0 Dec 96: $1,200,000

National Bahá’í Fund: Goal & Actual

Where we are: $7,198,794 Where we need to be: $9,600,000

All International Funds: Goal & Actual

Where we are: $5,780,920 Where we need to be: $6,000,000

Arc Projects Fund

Where we are: $5,145,093 Where we were last year: $17,456,018

International Bahá’í Fund

Where we are: $421,643 Where we were last year: $1,162,770

Continental Bahá’í Fund

Where we are: $214,184 Where we were last year: $178,302

December contributions rise, easing deficit to $1 million

Contributions of $1.3 million to the Bahá’í National Fund for the month of December helped reduce the Fund deficit to $1 million for the current year. This was the highest December total since 1993, and the only time so far this year when the monthly goal has been met or exceeded.

"This encouraging result seems to be a direct response to the recent messages of the National Spiritual Assembly reflecting its concern about the Fund," said one staff member in the Office of the Treasurer and Development. "When contributions are so low compared to the need, what it really means is that the believers themselves are missing out on the blessings and confirmations promised in the Writings to those who support the work. When that happens, the community's progress slows down everywhere."

That there is much lost ground to recover would seem to be the current message. Some 60 percent of the cash reserve accumulated last year was liquidated in the first half of this year, and new bank loans total $1.2 million, compared with no bank debt at the end of last year.

Giving to Arc Fund shows increase while International, Continental Funds lag behind in latest figures

With contributions to date of $5.1 million, the American Bahá’í community has again succeeded in offering more than half of the worldwide goal for the Arc Projects Fund.

This is a remarkable achievement following last year's result, when the community contributed $23 million in just one year, for a 58 percent share of the $40 million worldwide goal.

Offerings to the Bahá’í International Fund reached $422,000 by the end of December. This is a level of support which causes the National Spiritual Assembly... See FUNDS page 27

Preparing a will has practical, spiritual value

Sometimes the laws of the Faith may appear puzzling to us, especially in this society and at this time. However, trusting in Bahá’u’lláh and knowing that His wisdom and guidance are unerring, and believing with all our hearts that every word He uttered was divinely given, we try our best to follow His laws.

There are laws that are obviously very practical in the context of our present-day lives in this world. One of these is the directive in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas about the writing of a will:

"Unto everyone hath been enjoined the writing of a will. The testator should head this document with the adornment of the Most Great Name, bear witness therein unto the oneness of God in the Dayspring of His Revelation, and make mention, as he may wish, of that which is praiseworthy, so that it may be a testimony for him in the kingdoms of Revelation and Creation and a treasure with his Lord, the Supreme Protector, the Faithful." (Bahá’u’lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 59)

First, let's look at the practical benefits of following this guidance.

We can achieve much for the welfare of those who depend on us for their material well-being and for the advancement of our own souls through obedience to this law. Among the many advantages of having a will are these:

1. A will specifies who is to receive our possessions when we die. Through a will we can ensure that our property goes to the people and institutions most important to us during our lives.

2. A will can indicate the persons we wish to appoint as guardians of our children, and facilitate our desire that the children be reared as Bahá’ís.

3. A will allows us to provide financial security for our beneficiaries who have special circumstances, such as minor children, disabled or elderly relatives, and others who might be unable to manage an inheritance.

4. A will provides a way to give from our estate to the Bahá’í Faith, as well as to those charities we consider worthy of support. Without a will, there is no provision for sharing our property with the Cause since the government recognizes only relatives as legally eligible for a share of any estate.

Dying "intestate," or without a will, can be expensive and troublesome for loved ones. The taxes payable under this circumstance can also be a much larger portion of the estate, and the settlement of an estate can take months, even years. Meanwhile, those who have depended on us for their material welfare may suffer from the delay and uncertainty involved.

What if we feel that we have no money or possessions of value to bequeath? Or perhaps we are young, have no family as yet, and believe that this law does not apply to us at this time? Bahá’u’lláh says that "Unto everyone hath been enjoined the writing of a will," and that means rich or poor, young or old, single or married, man or woman.

Beyond the practical aspects lies the spiritual side of this injunction. It is interesting to note that while there are all the good and practical reasons for writing a will that were mentioned above, which deal primarily with the material side of our lives, Bahá’u’lláh makes no reference to these things in his instructions to us regarding the will. Here is the passage from the Aqdas again:

"The testator should head this document with the adornment of the Most Great Name, bear witness therein unto the oneness of God in the Dayspring of His Revelation, and make mention, as he may wish, of that which is praiseworthy, so that it may be a testimony for him in the kingdoms of Revelation and Creation and a treasure with his Lord, the Supreme Protector, the Faithful."

Earthly matters, material goods, are not the subject here. Clearly, Bahá’u’lláh considers the most important aspect of the will our testimony to our belief in Him and our praise of Him in whatever words and in whatever manner we wish to express them. Every believer, regardless of his or her lot in life, has the privilege and obligation of testifying to this relationship with the Lord of the Age.

Some people delay writing a will because it relates to their passing from this world, or for the reasons mentioned earlier. How much better it is for our hearts to be gladdened by the words of our Guardian, so full of promise and light:

"The execution of the provisions of the will causes the spirit of the deceased to rejoice in the Abhá Kingdom." (Written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, quoted in a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice dated August 24, 1982, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States)

Unto everyone hath been enjoined the Writing of a Will

"the Writing of a Will" frames this practical law of The Kitáb-i-Aqdas in its proper spiritual context and contains step-by-step information for getting started on the preparation of your Will and Testament. [Page 10]

Remove Your Difficulties Prayer Box

from the pages of Brilliant Star.

by Marcia Brehmer

The Báb told us that we must pray to God every day. He said, “All the kingdoms of heaven and earth and whatever is between them is God’s, and His power is supreme over all things.”* He told us about God’s protection over all the treasures of the earth and heaven. We are one of God’s treasures and He will protect us because He loves us. He gave us a very special prayer to say when we have a problem and need help solving it:

“Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding!”**

Sometimes just by thinking and praying about a problem and writing it down, we find ways to solve it. Prayer is very powerful. Prayer connects us with God. Prayer protects us.

Make a Prayer Box

1. Find a small box no bigger than a shoe box.
2. Gather materials to decorate your box.
3. Decorate it any way you like. Use paints, markers, stickers, glitter, pictures from wrapping paper or magazines, feathers, dry macaroni noodles, buttons, beans, silk flowers, etc. Let dry.
4. Make sure the lid comes off and on.
5. Write the “Remover of Difficulties” prayer in your best handwriting. Glue the prayer inside the lid of your prayer box.

How to use your Prayer Box

1. Meditate a problem you have, write it on a slip of paper. A problem and a difficulty are the same thing.
2. Say the “Remover of Difficulties” prayer as many times as you like.
3. Wait quietly to see if a solution comes to you after your prayer.
4. If you get an idea about how to fix the problem, write it down on the back of the slip of paper.
5. Think of a positive statement which will remind you of how you want your life to be after you solve the problem. Write it on a different slip of paper.
6. Fold the paper up and put it into your prayer box.
7. Every day, open your box and take out the difficulty. Say the “Remover of Difficulties” prayer. Take out the other slip of paper. Read the positive statement you created.
8. Do this for nine days. At the end of your prayer time on the ninth day, throw the problem away. Just keep the positive statement.

Illustrated by Wendy Speirs

Reprinted from Brilliant Star, The Light of Unity, July-August 1996

• Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 171
  • Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 217

New! Brilliant Star Activity Book Series

A full curriculum for teachers, institutes, and community events. $9.95

Available from Bahá’í Distribution Service

Order Now!
Call Bahá’í Distribution Service at 800-999-9019 to order single issues by theme at $3.50 each. Call Subscriber Services at 847-251-1854, Ext. 11 to begin a subscription: $18 one year (six issues).

Bahá’u’lláh His Life & Station

Oneness of Humanity

Brilliant Star Activity Book Series

Both books have a full curriculum of fun stories and activities reprinted from the pages of Brilliant Star. Ready-to-use activity pages provide a quick resource for lesson planning which supports the Core ‎Curricullum Curriculum‎. Includes many popular out of print favorites. Reproducible for classroom use. [Page 11]

Teaching campaigns ‘regenerate’ S. African Bahá’ís

Two teaching campaigns held during recent school holidays in Venda and Rustenburg, South Africa, led to the enrollment of about 30 people and the “regeneration” of the Bahá’í communities. Quite a number of young people took part in the campaign and taught the Faith through musical performances.

In the United Kingdom, the Letters of the Living Teaching Project II took place last August 17–27 under the auspices of the Northeast England Teaching Team and the Spiritual Assembly of Gateshead. Four children, 12 junior youth, two youth and 13 adults took part in the campaign with traveling teacher Olya Roohizadegan, the author of Olya’s Story, who was imprisoned in Iran for her beliefs. About 40 local residents attended a dramatic presentation August 21 at Whalton Village Hall; the following day the same ‎progam program‎ was presented for the Mayoress of Morpeth at the local library. Sixteen children attended a youth and children’s activities night in Birtley, while people of all ages enjoyed the dance workshops in Whalton and Birtley. “Of the measurable outputs: 1,200 miles were covered, 1,000 meals were prepared, 30 press releases were issued, at least 1,000 posters and leaflets were distributed, [and] 15 new believers were enrolled,” according to a report from the project.

The Bahá’í community of Tlokweng, Botswana, recently sponsored a nine-day teaching campaign that included a book display and visits to the village to proclaim the Message of Bahá’u’lláh. As a result, more than 40 new believers embraced the Cause.

The Regional Teaching Committee of Chinamore, Zaire, organized a recent proclamation program to attract masses of people to the Cause. After visiting a secondary school where they delivered information about the history of the Faith and taught the students Bahá’í songs, 50 of the students asked to be enrolled as Bahá’ís and the headmaster invited the friends to return and provide more information about the Faith.

Sixteen young Bahá’ís ages 14–27 who formed a song and dance workshop, “Ocean Waves,” visited eight cities in Korea last summer to proclaim the Faith and consolidate Bahá’í communities. The group was made up of one youth each from Germany and Guam, five from Japan, four from Korea and five from Taiwan. After the group performed at the first joint Japanese/Korean Summer School in Kyongju, one person declared her belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

A Bahá’í family was recently interviewed on the Finnish national television channel, TV1, during a morning program on intercultural families. The friends discussed the Bahá’í teachings on the oneness of humanity, consultation and family life.

An historic event was held last September 16–25 in Brazzaville, Congo Republic. Counselors George Allen and Wingi Mabuku were joined by seven Auxiliary Board members, nine members of National Spiritual Assemblies, two Regional Council members and four Bahá’ís representing Congo, Gabon and Zaire for a seminar for coordinators of permanent training institutes in the Central African region. The course was organized by the Board of Counselors in Africa with support from the International Teaching Center. Representatives from four established and four future institutes attended the 10-day seminar, whose “very able guide” was Hokan Cullsberg, an Auxiliary Board member and director of the Azem-ikhah Institute in Bangui, Central African Republic. “The content of the courses was extremely enlightening and unforgettable in its impact,” said a report from the seminar, “but equally impressive was the spirit of service which animated the entire 10 days. ...”

About 200 people attended the fifth International Dialogue on Transition to a Global Society last October 25–27 in Budapest, Hungary. The theme, “A Planetary Consciousness for an Ever-Advancing Civilization,” was addressed by Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís. The fifth in a series of programs established to stimulate high-level interdisciplinary discussions on topics relevant to the advancement of global society was organized by the Club of Budapest, Landegg Academy and the University of Maryland’s Center for International Development and Conflict Management. Among the messages read at the conference were those from the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum and U.S. Vice-President Al Gore. Keynote addresses were given by Lord Menuhin, 1992 goodwill ambassador of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Gertrude Mongella of the UN Development Program, and Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, former president of Iceland.

The seventh annual Conference of the European Bahá’í Business Forum was held last September 27–29 at De Poort Conference Center in the Netherlands. Sixty-four people from 15 countries took part including representatives from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Russia, Turkey and the U.S. The conference was inspired by the presence of two members of the Continental Board of Counselors, Patrick O’Mara, who gave the opening address, and Larissa Tsutskova, who reported on the remarkable progress of the EBBF branch in Russia and presented the closing address.

The National Bahá’í Office for the Advancement of Women in India organized a seminar on “Literacy: The Key to Empowerment,” held last September 11 at the Bahá’í House in New Delhi. More than 56 people representing government and UN agencies and NGOs took part in the seminar to become acquainted with the programs of the National Literacy Mission, the efforts of the Delhi administration, the Bahá’í literacy program and materials, and the Bahá’í Vocational Institute for Rural Women at Indore. So far, the Institute has trained 800 women as community workers, some of whom are serving as area coordinators, training others at the Institute, or representing the Institute at various meetings organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the government.

Last August, phase II of the “Traditional Media as an Agent for Change” project was presented in five villages in the Kadei Division of Cameroon. The undertaking was co-sponsored by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the Bahá’í International Community. It uses dramatic sketches, songs, dances and stories to identify and confront problems in the communities such as lack of education, inequality of men and women, and attachment to obsolete customs. At the end of the presentations, men and women from each of the villages were chosen to discuss the implications of the problems and to make recommendations about how they could be solved.

The National Teaching Committee of Russia has begun a project called “Wave of Pioneering” to encourage the friends to arise and leave their homes for other areas to teach the Cause. About 20 people attended a seminar on the topic last October 19 in Vladivostok. The present goal of the Bahá’ís in the Russian Federation is to raise 60 pioneers and 140 traveling teachers.

Fifty-five people attended the third annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies held in Johore Bahru, Malaysia. Among those taking part were Bahá’ís from Singapore and Thailand.

In Georgia, the first Trans-Caucasian Teachers Training Institute was held last August 7-30 in Tbilisi. Ninety-six people took part in the Institute including a member of the Continental Board of Counselors.

12th Irfan Colloquium

Mission, Writings of Bahá’u’lláh focus of gathering at Newcastle-upon-Tyne

The 12th Irfan Colloquium was held last December 6–8 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.

The colloquium was co-sponsored by the Haj Mehdi Arjmand Memorial Fund, established in memory of a Persian Bahá’í whose knowledge of the Jewish, Christian and Islamic scriptures was legendary, and the Religious Studies Seminar of the Association for Bahá’í Studies for English-speaking Europe.

During the weekend, participants enjoyed nine presentations:

• “The Mission of Religion: A Bahá’í Perspective,” by Dr. Iraj Ayman.
• “The Provisional Translation of Bahá’u’lláh’s Surat al-ism (Sura of the Name),” by Nuha Sabour-Wollmington.
• “The God of Bahá’u’lláh,” by Moojan Momen.
• “Millennialism in the Bahá’í Faith: Progressive and Catastrophic Themes,” by Dr. Robert Stockman.
• “Immortality and the Afterlife: Some Christian, Bahá’í and Modern Western Secular Perspectives,” by Fariba Hedayati.
• “Christianity and the Bahá’í Faith: An Historical and Doctrinal Overview,” by Stephen Lambden.
• “Bahá’u’lláh’s Tablet to Pope Pius IX,” by Stephen Lambden.
• “Understanding Exclusivist Bahá’í Texts,” by Seena Fazel.
• “In Quest of the Ocean of True Understanding: The Mystical Paradigm of Bahá’u’lláh’s Book of Certitude,” by Ismael Velasco.

The Arjmand Memorial Fund is in the process of collecting the papers delivered at the colloquium for eventual publication. Meanwhile, a book of abstracts is available for $3 (U.S.) from the Research Office, Bahá’í National Center, Evanston, IL 60201-1611.

Checks should be drawn on a U.S. bank and made payable to “Bahá’í Services Fund.” [Page 12]

Americas

Continued from page 1

Bahá’ís from these shores answered the Master’s call to spread Bahá’u’lláh’s message throughout the hemisphere.

But as in any parent-child relationship, the two have much to learn from each other, and that spirit of reciprocity permeated the week’s workshops, plenary talks, performances and impromptu mealtime or late-night “bull” sessions.

It also went right along with the conference theme, “Bahá’í Development at the Dawn of the Twenty-First Century: Emerging Opportunities for Individuals, Institutions and Communities,” and echoed the imperatives of the Four Year Plan.

Here, then, are some “snapshots” of impressions from the seminar and conference:

Laborers in the field

The projects and their practitioners truly were at the heart of every activity during the week. Those who are “out there” building the Kingdom in their localities provided living proof that the Bahá’í teachings make a difference in lives and serve as an inspiration for others to do the same—on whatever scale they can.

Workshops explored the various areas in which these development pioneers are engaged: literacy campaigns; schools and universities based on Bahá’í principles; moral leadership training; micro-enterprise lending; sustainable agriculture; Bahá’í radio; health care; environmental conservation; music and drama; Bahá’í studies; advancement of women; family unity; indigenous peoples collaboration; youth service; cultural preservation; housing, and justice.

A compilation of case-study overviews and track papers from the workshops titled Patterns of Emergence for the New World Order is available for $25 from the Rabbani Charitable Trust, 1477 W. Fairbanks Avenue, Suite 200, Winter Park, FL 32789.

An idea of the breadth of projects throughout the hemisphere can be gleaned from another publication, Bahá’í Development Directory for the Americas. It is available for $10 from the Rabbani Charitable Trust, c/o Benjamin Levy, Lake Mary, FL 32746.

The question of resources came into play continually during the proceedings, of course. Ways to attract funding for projects were discussed, as was the use of pioneers and Bahá’í Youth Service Corps volunteers. Connections were made among projects for sharing of curricula and technical skills.

The one thing practitioners from Central and South America explicitly did not do was appeal for help from their North American brothers and sisters. But their descriptions of the exciting work at hand and daunting challenges ahead made clear the tremendous impact that even small amounts of money or human assistance would have.

Before leaving Orlando, several conference participants took the first steps toward marshaling the talents of Bahá’ís in their professions to aid those in the field. For instance, Jack Lenz of Live Unity Productions in Canada (416-601-0163) was gathering commitments from artists to tour developing regions.

Other networks further solidified during the week included the Agriculture Seminar of the Association for Bahá’í Studies (Nancy McIntyre, 704-649-0066); the Mithras computer list for health-care providers ( ); groups of educators (Mark Foster, ); and those interested in furthering the publication of Bahá’í materials in Spanish (Editorial Ruiseñor, ).

Soul-stirring performances

Another thread that ran through the events in Orlando was woven by the spiritually energizing performances that punctuated every plenary session. If the array of conference participants was diverse, the troupe of singers, musicians and dancers was equally representative of the hemisphere’s cultures.

Mr. Lenz’s Tribute to Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, a touching look at the life of the Hand of the Cause of God who “gave up her world to serve the Priceless Pearl,” was only one of many soul-stirring expressions of devotion performed during the week.

Among them were:

• country star Dan Seals and internationally known Persian singer Narges Fani, singing tunes so loved by Bahá’ís;
• Canadians Jeff Jones, filling the hall with his award-winning jazz vocals, and Nancy Ward, providing a counterpoint with her soaring notes and wry humor;
• El Viento Canta, bringing the spirited sounds of the Andes to the gathering;
• Thelma Khelghati and Mary K. Makoski, performing excerpts from their two-woman drama based on the African-American experience;
• Joel Orona, co-administrator of the Native American Bahá’í Institute, playing on American Indian flute the haunting melodies of the prairie and the mesa; and
• world-traveler Joseph Houseal, entrancing all with a Noh interpretative dance.

This was not merely entertainment, but love for Bahá’u’lláh set to various art forms. And through it all Hank Woessner, a noted film actor, teacher and musician in his own right, scurried around selflessly ensuring the lights and sound were just right.

Parents scramble to take pictures as the children perform under the direction of Jack Lenz on the final morning of the conference. (Photo by James Cheal)

Recognizing lives of service

Then there were the ceremonies bestowing richly deserved honors on the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum and Counselor Eloy Anello.

Amatu’l-Bahá was there in spirit as the Rabbani Trust presented her with the eagle trophy emblematic of the Award of Excellence.

In accepting the award on her behalf, Mas’ud Khamsi, retired Counselor member of the International Teaching Center, offered glimpses into the life of “our queen” who at age 86 traveled to Brazil this summer to mark the 75th anniversary of the introduction of the Bahá’í Faith into that country and 21 years since her memorable Green Light Expedition.

Other stalwart servants of Bahá also provided remembrances, some poignant and some humorous:

• David S. Ruhe and Margaret K. Ruhe described Amatu’l-Bahá’s bold, brave spirit. Dr. Ruhe, a former member of the Universal House of Justice, called her the “guardian of the Guardian” during Shoghi Effendi’s life and the “strongest of Hands” insisting on loyalty to the Cause after his passing.

Mrs. Ruhe recalled her first encounter with Amatu’l-Bahá, when Mrs. Ruhe was 15 and the future Hand of the Cause, then Mary Maxwell, was her nature-loving—snakes included—counselor at the Louhelen Bahá’í School.

• Jane Khamsi told of receiving her “first spiritual awakening” when Amatu’l-Bahá took the young non-Bahá’í to the Shrines at Bahjí. Years later, Amatu’l-Bahá told her of about 200 poems she had written, adding that when they were read by Shoghi Effendi, he cried.
• Florence Mayberry, also a retired Counselor member of the International Teaching Center, related a story of her first pilgrimage. When it was announced that the women were to have their audience with the Guardian, Amatu’l-Bahá rose to lead the group with a “marvelous look of anticipation” as though she had never laid eyes on him before.
• Hassan Abdel Fattah Sabri, retired director of the Office of Social and Economic Development at the Bahá’í World Center, gave two examples of Amatu’l-Bahá’s “arresting sense of humor.” He said after she piloted a Land Rover 37,000 miles over the forbidding terrain of Africa, she remarked that “nobody can ever say I’m a bad driver.” And she wants her headstone to read: “She Tried.”

The second tribute was the Trust’s first recognition of a Bahá’í development pioneer. Fittingly, it went to Counselor Anello, a longtime pioneer and co-founder of Universidad Núr in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

Dr. Anello was described as “an individual who has significantly impacted Bahá’í development at the grassroots, pioneered new concepts, and gained prominence locally, nationally and internationally in applying the spiritual and practical teachings of Bahá’u’lláh to the intractable problems facing the human race today.”

In accepting the award, an emotional Dr. Anello said it was not for any achievements of his own but on behalf of all who have worked with him. He protested that all he’s accomplished has been as a team member. Without others, he said, he would not have had the courage to try the things he has.

The Bahá’í model

Last but certainly not least, seminar and conference attendees heard several Bahá’ís whose work over the decades has defined the nascent model known as Bahá’í development that helps people identify their needs and find solutions they can carry forward consistent with their culture.

Dr. Anello offered a framework for the process and its implications for advancement of the Faith.

He first contrasted Bahá’í development with the post-World War II model patterned after the Marshall Plan. That approach emphasized technology transfer and accelerated industrialization to kick-start the economies of developing countries. The results were a concentration of wealth, forced migration of labor into the teeming cities, and a ‎rapping raping‎ of natural resources.

The Bahá’í model represents a paradigm shift in which development is a part of the evolution of civilization, he said. It focuses on individual and collective transformation based on justice so people and society can progress in both the spiritual and material realms. In short, it lays the foundation for a new social order.

To further this process, we must see ourselves as a learning community, said Dr. Anello. We must take off the glasses that color our understanding of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings and center our efforts in the Covenant, using the Revelation and guidance that have been given us.

When we are able to balance the spiritual and material dynamics, those who are desperately seeking leadership will look to the Bahá’ís, he said. [Page 13]

DEVELOPMENT

Dr. Anello’s own program of teaching moral leadership through Universidad Núr is a prime example. Núr’s classes train schoolteachers, municipal officials and members of non-governmental organizations to develop 18 capabilities that further the transformation of their work from ego-based to servant-based.

Elizabeth L. Bowen, an assistant professor of medicine who serves as president of Physicians for Social Responsibility, outlined another way in which Bahá’ís are showing the way: the increasingly visible role the Bahá’í International Community has played in global summits on such topics as sustainable development, population, advancement of women, habitat, social development and food.

The BIC’s work has reached beyond the macro level, said Dr. Bowen. Its offices work to ensure that the platforms of action endorsed by the summits are implemented, and it has co-sponsored grassroots projects designed to change attitudes and behaviors within individuals, families and communities.

Counselor Tod Ewing offered two examples of where individual Bahá’ís are making a difference in their community. In the first, two college students moved into an inner-city neighborhood, got to know the residents, and began teaching virtues to the young people. In the second, a rural couple started a literacy campaign that has begun to bring black and white people together in their town.

Development and the Plan

It is clear, from these examples, that true transformation cannot be divorced from the Word of God. Similarly, Bahá’í development must proceed hand in hand with teaching, for it is an essential element of consolidation.

That’s why the moral leadership training program at Núr goes the extra step of introducing fledgling public servants to Bahá’u’lláh, the Source of these transformative teachings.

How can our efforts fit into the aim of the Four Year Plan of advancing the process of entry by troops?

Mr. Sabri focused on the role of the individual, who takes action on his or her own, functions as part of an evolving community, and supports the maturation of the Faith’s institutions.

Consultation is a gift from God, he said, that is at the heart of this continual growth and development. And he noted that we must serve all mankind, using the example of Iranian Bahá’ís who founded schools that taught children of all faiths the qualities needed to be better human beings.

Don’t start anything you can’t complete, Mr. Sabri urged his listeners. At the beginning of an endeavor see the end of it—an end that is in complete harmony with the needs—and along the way modify it, but never stop short of achieving it.

Loretta King, a Counselor member of the International Teaching Center, described how the transformation of Mt. Carmel through the Arc Projects is causing Haifa and the entire world to vibrate with energy.

In these thrilling four years, she said, the Arc, maturation of our institutions, and the Lesser Peace will converge. The mountain is doing its part. It is up to us to recognize the receptivity in people and reap the rewards so people everywhere can draw closer to Bahá’u’lláh.

Former Universal House of Justice member David Hofman put the Faith’s development into perspective of the process moving creation inevitably toward the purpose God saw for it even before the world came into being.

He compared the Faith’s growth to that of a child, who develops organs and functions as they are needed. The Universal House of Justice could not be elected until the Faith spread throughout the world and National Spiritual Assemblies were created. Hands of the Cause were appointed by Shoghi Effendi when he knew the Cause was ready, and the Boards of Counselors and the Auxiliary Boards followed.

The Four Year Plan is another such stage in the Faith’s development, said Mr. Hofman. It introduces a new institution, the centers of learning, and through them we will learn the fundamental verities and the skills needed to transform ourselves and our communities in preparation for entry by troops.

The spirit of service

Dr. Anello referred to Bahá’í communities as catalysts for transformation of the wider society. For example, he said, we should not think of Bahá’í children’s classes as classes for Bahá’í children but as classes for all who want to be educated.

That kind of stretch can be uncomfortable, he said, but creates a sacrificial dynamic in which individual believers identify with the Bahá’í community more than anything else in life and that community has a sense of mission encompassing all people.

Mr. Khamsi noted that the Bahá’í Revelation is the first to address economic development. It elevates work done in the spirit of service to the level of worship, and it treats wealth as a tool for furthering the work of the Cause.

Vahid Hedayati, on behalf of the Board of Trustees of Huqúqu’lláh, echoed that theme. He noted that the Right of God is an obligatory but freely given payment that both helps the spiritual condition of the payer and provides the Head of the Faith—the Universal House of Justice—with the resources it needs to level the economic playing field.

Dr. Ruhe urged attendees to prepare their children for a lifetime of learning and service. The two go hand in hand, he said.

It starts in the family, a “great cooperative agency” if it works right, said Dr. Ruhe. It continues through schooling and Youth Service Corps participation. Throughout our lives we serve humanity through our professions and continual learning that keeps us on the cutting edge of change.

National Spiritual Assembly member Jack McCants closed the week’s proceedings by calling all to sacrifice.

We are living proof, he said, that Jesus Christ has returned in the Glory of the Faith. We have been called the descendants of the Dawn-breakers, but there’s a title we still have to earn—Dawn-breakers of a new World Order—and development projects constitute a whole new way of building that Order.

He said nations have their task and we have ours, noting that Shoghi Effendi told the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears it’s more important in this day to be a local Spiritual Assembly member than to be president of the United States.

And he closed with a well-known observation from the Writings: the essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds.

Country singer Dan Seals directs his daughter, Holly, to take a bow after they perform a duet during the Bahá’í Conference for the Americas. (Photo by James Cheal)

World Congress

Continued from page 1

running of the Congress and its finances, there have been a number of friends in the United States who, while not in the least critical of your Assembly, were expecting to receive a clear accounting of the entirety of the funds received and spent in relation to the World Congress, and had misread the earlier announcements as promising such an accounting.

The House of Justice does not propose that you should publish a complete accounting, for it would embrace two different sets of figures: those which your Assembly dealt with, namely the contract with Corporate Travel Consultants Inc. (CTC) and all the arrangements covering the transport and accommodation of the participants, and those which were covered by a budget supplied by the Bahá’í World Centre, including all the other aspects, such as the setting up of the Congress itself and the arrangements for it. The accounting of this second part was, as you know, maintained in Haifa.

In case your Assembly receives any further inquiries or objections about the financial management of the Congress, the House of Justice wishes you to feel free to state again that all those aspects which were dealt with by your Assembly have been scrupulously examined, as reported in your Annual Report, to the complete satisfaction of the Universal House of Justice, and that other expenditures incurred in connection with the Congress were financed directly from the Bahá’í World Center and have, likewise, been checked and approved by the House of Justice.

The House of Justice noted, on page 2 of the report submitted to your Assembly by Mr. Geoff Wilson on May 6, 1996, that a sum of approximately $274,000 had been set aside by the Office of the Treasurer in an interest-bearing account to meet the possible tax demand, and that it was proposed to transfer this sum, with the accumulated interest, to the Bahá’í World Center, on the expiration of the period of the statute of limitations which was to occur on June 30, 1996.

The House of Justice warmly appreciates this proposal, but it feels that it would be more appropriate if you were to transfer the sum and the accumulated interest to your own National Fund, to be set against the considerable amount in fees and other costs which you expended in order to arrive at a proper settlement with CTC.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

The Universal House of Justice

Department of the Secretariat

September 26, 1996

Formation

Continued from page 1

all believers and institutions who have been working with the formation of Assemblies in mass-taught and rural areas of the country to turn their full attention to deepening the friends’ understanding of the Bahá’í electoral process.

The National Assembly anticipates that the re-formation of some 250 Assemblies will be affected this year by the change, and it is the National Assembly’s hope that the friends in each of these localities will be inspired to arise and assume responsibility for establishing this sacred institution that, in the words of the beloved Master, is “aided by the Spirit of God.”

Resources for helping the friends to deepen their knowledge of the importance of the station and establishment of the local Spiritual Assembly include the compilation on the local Assembly compiled by the Universal House of Justice, Sections 1 and 2 of Developing Distinctive Bahá’í Communities: Guidelines for Spiritual Assemblies, and the compilation on Bahá’í elections.

In addition, each Assembly and each Group of five or more believers will be receiving a packet of material in the near future that provides guidance on the formation of the local Spiritual Assembly, and similar guidance will be printed in an upcoming issue of The American Bahá’í. [Page 14]

Vineyard of the Lord, part 18

Center for Study of the Texts

Installation of marble, local stone and drywall partitions are rapidly changing the exterior and interior appearance of the Center for the Study of the Texts.

The inner and outer entablatures of the portico are nearing completion. On the outer semicircle of the entrance portico, the marble architrave above the columns has been fixed, and work is under way on putting in the cornice above it.

A massive crane (250-ton capacity) with a telescopic arm that can progressively reach the height required while carrying a large load was brought to the site to install the precast marble panels that form the soffit between the two entablatures and the radial beams. It may be recalled that each panel weighs seven tons, and there are 18 such soffit panels.

The walls of the largest patio between the Archives extension and the parking building have been covered with local stone. Stone work on the second patio is well under way, and work has begun on the third one as well.

From level 3 onward up to the roof of the building, which will be covered with gardens, the patios have different designs at each level. At level 7 the patios have columns and planters.

In the lower levels of the Center for the Study of the Texts, the completion of the gypsum drywall partitions and ceilings has begun to demarcate different spaces within the building. Drywalls are now being raised on levels 6 and 7.

At the Archives extension, work was completed last summer on a network of drainage pipes to facilitate the irrigation of the roof garden that will eventually be laid out. Topsoil has been added and temporary lawns developed to prevent run-off during the rainy winter season.

There are anxious moments as one of the seven-ton marble-cladded precast panels is maneuvered into position between the two entablatures of the entrance portico of the Center for the Study of the Texts.

International Teaching Center

Of the nine levels of the building of the Teaching Center, work is proceeding toward its sixth level with 80 percent of level 4 and 70 percent of level 5 completed.

Major efforts went into the construction of these two levels, which may be considered the most complicated floors of the building in terms of design and execution.

Two large and important facilities that must be accommodated in these floors, among several others, are the 400-seat Auditorium and a large kitchen.

The facilities require many openings and changes in levels in the floor slabs and walls above. This has entailed intensive coordination among the various disciplines, and careful monitoring during construction.

The Auditorium is housed within a space formed by circular walls of about 12.2 meters (‎7.26 feet 40 feet‎), and a floor to ceiling height of about 8.2 meters (27 feet). It is located in the heart of the building between levels 4 and 6. At the front is a 1-meter (3.3-foot) high platform.

The Auditorium has tiered seating at level 4 and balcony seating at level 5. The control room is situated at the mezzanine floor between levels 5 and 6 at the rear, directly opposite the platform.

An interesting mechanical feature is the use of space below the platform and seating area as ducts for return air circulation.

Preparatory to casting the platform, a labyrinth of well-insulated ducts was built under the stage to facilitate the circulation of air at reduced noise levels.

While work continues with full force on the structure of the Teaching Center, several initiatives have been taken for interior finishes.

At levels 1 and 2, work on interior masonry walls and floor screeding is considerably advanced. Unlike the Center for the Study of the Texts, which has a single semi-circular portico with eight marble columns, the Teaching Center has a curved portico with eight columns in the Ionic style, which is the main entrance into the building, and a semi-circular colonnade at the ‎read rear‎ with 12 columns in the ‎Tucson Tuscan‎ order, with a view of both the Seat of the Universal House of Justice and the Mediterranean Sea.

Considering the number of additional marble columns and the larger size of the building, marble for the Teaching Center is twice ‎a much as much‎ as that of the Center for the Study of the Texts. The contract for the marble has been awarded, as have those for the wood millwork, metal doors and local stone.

Terrace lighting

The testing of lights on the Terraces below the Shrine of the Báb dazzled the residents of Haifa for a brief period on the evening of October 16, 1996. Months of strenuous efforts on the part of the Mount Carmel Projects’ electrical team made the testing possible.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá is reported to have shared with pilgrims the following vision: “The entire harbor from ‘Akká to Haifa will be one path of illumination. Powerful searchlights will be placed on both sides of Mount Carmel to guide the steamers. Mount Carmel itself, from top to bottom, will be submerged in a sea of light.”

On another occasion, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá prophesied: “The day will come when this mountain will be resplendent with light—lights from top to bottom.”

The lighting on the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb forms a significant component of the over-all design of these Terraces. The design envisages lights in strategic places to highlight details on the Terraces. [Page 15]Above left: The entire expanse of level 5 of the building of the International Teaching Center and the Common Area is visible, with columns and walls rising up to level 6. Above right: At the Center for the Study of the Texts, work is progressing on, among other things, the drywall partitions at level 7. Also seen in the photo is a section of one of the patios where stone work is under way.

Vineyard

Continued from page 14

At the same time, the focus is always the exquisite structure of the Shrine of the Báb. Lights flanking the central stairway ascending from the foot of the mountain in a straight line to the Terrace of the Shrine have been placed in a manner that strongly accentuates the Kings’ Pathway, while keeping in mind the primacy of the Shrine itself.

The arc of cypress trees in the outer areas on both sides of each Terrace have between them bronze lanterns with hanging globes of light highlighting the geometric curves. The fountain pools on each Terrace also have soft lights turning the water into liquid gold, and the main section of each Terrace has ornate lamp posts on either side.

The lighting test was carried out to determine the type and amount of lighting equipment necessary to illuminate the beautiful balustrades and stone work on the contour walls.

The test was successful in that the manner in which these walls have to be illuminated has been decided. It also gave an opportunity for the residents of Haifa to glimpse from Ben Gurion Avenue the spectacular vision of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Many of the Bahá’ís who happened to pass that way during the evening of October 16 rushed home to retrieve their cameras and capture on film the dazzling display on the Terraces.

Uppermost Terrace and Promenade

Work is progressing rapidly on Terrace 19 at the crest of Mount Carmel. This Terrace, with its two levels of balconies, will give visitors a spectacular view of the Shrine of the Báb, and all the way down to the harbor and across the Mediterranean to the Most Holy Spot—the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh.

The design fulfills ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s vision: “A person standing on the summit of Mount Carmel...will look upon the most sublime and majestic spectacle of the whole world. ...”

A considerable amount of stone work on this Terrace has been completed. As well, the walls of the tunnel connecting it to the Louis Promenade have been built.

The Terraces below the Shrine of the Báb are a study in light and shadows during a test of the illumination system on October 16.

At the far end of the tunnel, concrete work is being carried out on the stairs flanking it. Planters are being prepared along the wall at the rear of the tunnel, above which will be three arches. The structure of the concrete pools on this Terrace have also been completed.

The Promenade immediately adjacent to Terrace 19, which is now almost complete, is starting to draw admiring glances from people traversing Panorama Street. On the entire stretch of the 300-meter (990-foot) Promenade, Callistemon has been installed in alternate tree wells.

Callistemon is a weeping form of native Australian tree that gives red bottle brush flowers twice a year, ‎in spring in autumn in spring and autumn‎. Between each bottle brush is planted Duranta shaped into 1-meter (3.3-foot) squares.

Hatzionut Avenue

As one of the main thoroughfares of Haifa, Hatzionut Avenue sees considerable vehicular and pedestrian traffic up and down the mountain. Busy as this street has always been, it has been made even busier with the diversion of traffic into two lanes and the speeding up of construction work.

As concreting progresses, large sections of the 300-meter (990-foot) retaining wall are becoming visible. Adjoining it, at the site of Terrace 11, the construction of the Information Center is also progressing well. Work on waterproofing, backfilling and preparing the slab-on-grade has begun, and contracts for the drywalls and electrical and mechanical services have been signed.

Hatzionut Avenue is midway up Mount Carmel. In the winter, during a heavy downpour, one can see water swirling on this street as it gushes down the mountain.

With winter rains around the corner [as this is being written], strenuous efforts are being made to install the storm drain pipes. The manholes and conduits for the telephone lines have already been put in place. [Page 16]

A vision for Four Year Plan in the Southern states

In its Ridván 153 message addressed to North America, the Universal House of Justice states: “In North America, there are opportunities for the advancement of the process of entry by troops, the like of which presently exist in no other place on earth.”

The Regional Committee for the Southern States strongly believes that the opportunities the House of Justice mentions for the significant advancement of entry by troops have their greatest potential for being realized in the southern part of the United States. Two reasons for this belief are:

1. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s description of the conditions within the southern region.

“The best and the most ideal region for the habitation of man is the temperate zone, for in this belt the intellects and thoughts rise to the highest stage of maturity, and the capability and ability of civilization manifest themselves in full efflorescence. ...Now these 16 Southern States of the United States are situated in the temperate zone. ...Therefore in these 16 states, unquestionably the divine teachings must reveal themselves with a brighter effulgence, the breaths of the Holy Spirit must display a penetrating intensity, the ocean of the love of God must be stirred with higher waves, the breezes of the rose garden of divine love be wafted with higher velocity, and the fragrances of holiness be diffused with swiftness and rapidity.”—Tablet to the Bahá’ís of the Southern States, Tablets of the Divine Plan

2. Large-scale enrollment has already taken place in the southern region.

“Joyfully announce Bahá’í world process entry by troops rapidly accelerating United States.”—Message from the Universal House of Justice, 1971 (this was particularly true in the southern area of the U.S.)

Furthermore, the Universal House of Justice assures us in the Ridván 153 message to North America:

“There can be no doubt that this process, propelled by mysterious spiritual forces beyond the ken of the skeptic, will in due course quicken the souls of a multitude from every background in North America and dramatically increase the numerical strength of your community.”

In that same message, the Universal House of Justice counsels us:

“You should strive to create a Bahá’í community which will offer to the entire world a vibrant model of unity in diversity.”

Upon reflection on the above passages, it becomes clear that time is of the essence and that the process of entry by troops can, must and will accelerate again in the South. We must seize the countless opportunities for teaching made available to us by the turmoil of society before it is too late.

Our responsibility is to look beyond our personal limitations and inhibitions, to keep ever mindful of God’s promise of assistance and to rise to such a level that the Cause will grow, develop and spread so rapidly that it will astonish the rest of the world.

Regional Committee for the Southern States February 1997

Unlocking the power of action: The Four Year Plan for the Southern States

In pursuit of the one central aim of the Four Year Plan, namely, a significant advance in the process of entry by troops, the Regional Committee for the Southern States calls upon every individual, institution and community to arise to carry the healing Message of Bahá’u’lláh to every stratum of society.

“And now you, if you act in accordance with the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, may rest assured that you will be aided and confirmed. In all affairs which you undertake, you shall be rendered victorious, and all the inhabitants of the earth cannot withstand you. You are the conquerors, because the power of the Holy Spirit is your assistant. Above and over physical forces, phenomenal forces, the Holy Spirit itself shall aid you.”—‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Star of the West

“It is indeed time for audacious action undeterred by a fear of mistakes, fired by an urgency of ministering to the pressing needs of humanity.”—Universal House of Justice, May 19, 1994

“The power of action in the believers is unlocked at the level of individual initiative and surges at the level of collective volition.”—Universal House of Justice, May 19, 1994

In the Ridván 153 message to North America, the Universal House of Justice appealed to the friends to “commit yourselves to the work of the Cause afresh, liberated from any doubts, uncertainties or hesitations which may have impeded you in the past. Every stratum of society must be brought within your embrace, as you vigorously advance toward the goal of entry by troops at this time when powerful spiritual forces are at work in the hearts of the people.”

The Regional Committee for the Southern States, on the instructions of the National Spiritual Assembly, has conducted a careful study of the Ridván messages and other compilations and consulted on the abundant resources unique to the 16 states designated by the Master as the region where “unquestionably the divine teachings must reveal themselves with a brighter effulgence.”

Our prayerful deliberations, which have included consultations with the National Teaching Committee and members of the Auxiliary Board, have led us to conclude that, rather than create a uniform set of goals for the region, it is essential to encourage the friends to develop a variety of grassroots responses based upon the goals and strategic elements of the national teaching plan. At the heart of these initiatives must surely be one pivotal question: Will these activities significantly advance the process of entry by troops?

Our decision was made in light of the climate of urgency, the renewed impetus of spirit and enthusiasm for the teaching work, and in acknowledgment of the combination of different and unique sets of needs, resources and opportunities resident at the grassroots level. It is also a reflection of the greater level of self-motivation and independence, characteristics of a new stage of maturity in the functioning of local Bahá’í institutions.

We are confident that, in collaboration with the Auxiliary Board members and their assistants, and after focused study and consultation on the Ridván messages to the world and to North America and the national teaching plan, each individual, institution and community will develop a plan that will achieve our regional goal.

Our Double Crusade

More than 50 years ago, the Guardian challenged the American Bahá’í community to launch a twofold crusade and defined “the weapons which the American believers can and must wield in their double crusade, first to regenerate the inward life of their own community, and next to assail the long-standing evils that have entrenched themselves in the life of their nation.”—The Advent of Divine Justice

The Guardian detailed these weapons as a rectitude of conduct, a holiness and chastity, and an interracial fellowship purged from prejudice. He stated that these weapons constitute “spiritual prerequisites” upon which the success of all teaching plans rest and upon which would depend the measure of divine blessings. These elements must surely be incorporated in all individual and collective plans for a significant advance in the process of entry by troops.

Our Current Tasks

The National Spiritual Assembly has stated three specific areas for local action in the first year of the Four Year Plan, which are: a thorough study of the Ridván messages, the adoption of efforts to ensure the doubling of the active core of believers in each community, and the establishment, where feasible, of training institutes. These primary tasks, together with the approaches outlined in the national teaching plan, should be seen as a springboard for consultation in the design of a local plan of action.

The three participants in the Four Year Plan

The Universal House of Justice has counseled that the success of the Four Year Plan is to be achieved “through marked progress in the activity and development of the individual believer, of the institutions, and of the local community.”—Ridván 153 message to the world

The individual

“The role of the individual is of unique importance in the work of the Cause. It is the individual who manifests the vitality of faith upon which the success of the teaching work and development of the community depend.”—Ridván 153 message to the world

“At this critical hour in the fortunes of humanity, our eyes turn with eagerness and hope to the Bahá’ís of all parts of North America, who constitute a reservoir of human and material resources unmatched elsewhere in the Bahá’í world.”—Ridván 153 message to North America

“We urge every Bahá’í to exercise those capacities which include the ability to take initiative, to seize opportunities, to form friendships, to interact personally with others, to build relationships, to win the cooperation of others in common service to the Faith and society, and to convert into action the decisions made by consultative bodies.”—Ridván 153 message to the world

This can best be undertaken through the creation of a personal teaching plan, the formation of teaching groups and the wholehearted and enthusiastic embrace of the teaching efforts adopted by the local community. Shoghi Effendi, in Citadel of Faith, tells us that without the continuous and generous support of the individual believer, “every measure adopted, and every plan formulated by the community to which he belongs is foredoomed to failure. The sustaining strength of Bahá’u’lláh Himself will be withheld from every and each individual who fails in the long run to arise and play his part.”

The institution

“As for the institutions, entry by troops will act upon them as much as they act upon it.”—Ridván 153 message to the world

“For such an expansion to be stimulated and accommodated, the Spiritual Assemblies must rise to a new stage in the exercise of their responsibilities as channels of divine guidance, planners of the teaching work, developers of human resources, builders of communities, and loving shepherds of the multitudes.”—Ridván 153 message to the world

We urge each Spiritual Assembly to develop a local plan of expansion and consolidation that will invite and encourage “the use of the manifold talents and abilities with which the community is endowed,” “stimulate and guide the diverse elements of the community,” and “foster and support the efforts of the individual believers.” Toward this aim, we encourage the study of the recent Ridván messages, the national teaching plan, and the compilations Unlocking the Power of Action and Promoting Entry by Troops, along with an intimate collaboration with the Auxiliary Board members and their assistants.

The community

“A community is of course more than the sum of its membership, it is a composition of diverse, interacting participants that are achieving unity in an unremitting quest for spiritual and social progress. Since Bahá’ís everywhere are at the very beginning of the process of community building, enormous effort must be devoted to the tasks at hand.”—Ridván 153 message to the world

“You should strive to create a Bahá’í community which will offer to the entire world a vibrant model of unity in diversity.”—Ridván 153 message to North America

“All communities are now tasked to take steps and sustain efforts to achieve a level of expansion and consolidation commensurate with their possibilities.”—Ridván 153 message to North America

We urge both individuals and Spiritual Assemblies to join forces in the process of community building. The creation of a partnership between the body of the believers and the local institution will assuredly accelerate the process of entry by troops.

See SOUTHERN STATES page 27 [Page 17]

NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í YOUTH TRAINING CONFERENCE NEWS

¡send pictures!

Have you attended a meeting lately? Threw a birthday party? Gone to a fireside? Took a walk in the park? Taken part in a teaching project? Hung out at a cafe? We want pictures! The National Youth Committee is collecting pictures of you and your activities for use in a future project. Please send them to: National Youth Committee, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201.

<<step up to the challenge>>

Everyone will have a chance to contribute their work and skills at the National Bahá’í Youth Training Conference in Knoxville, Tennessee, from July 2-6, 1997. Enter your work in the Bahá’í Youth Gallery or sign up for mind-bending, wild and fun contests for all ages.

MBAHÁ’Í YOUTH GALLERY

A call to all youth! We want you to share your talents, ideas and work! The Gallery is the spot to display your essays, poems, photographs and artwork as well as a place for high school and college Bahá’í clubs to present their activities. To reserve your spot in the Gallery, send us your entry information and contribution by May 26, 1997. All contributors to the Gallery will receive a prize.

TO ARTISTS AND WRITERS: We lage (ob want to feature your work! You can submit work that you have already created or written, or you can submit work on one of the following themes: 1. Unity; 2. Your understanding and thoughts of the following quote:

"O children of men! Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous glory! The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, A#68

TO HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE BAHÁ’Í CLUBS: Submit your club's resumé, activities report, scrapbook and/or pictures so that other youth and clubs can learn from your approach, and collect ideas for their own activities. You can include, for example: the goals of your club, web page URL and description, number of members, diversity of club, cooperation with other campus organizations, experience working with the media, dealing with opposition, successful proclamations, or presentation of the Bahá’í Faith to people of capacity.

GALLERY ENTRY AND GUIDELINES: Your entry information and submission of work must be postmarked or received by May 26, 1997. To submit work, send us a photo of your work including a note on its life-size dimensions. Then bring the original work when you come to Tennessee. Tell us your name, address, phone, email, age, and what you would like to contribute to the Gallery. Submit essays, poems, and high school/college club resumés via email to or via postal mail to the National Youth Committee, c/o Contest Czar, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201. Maximum of 500 words for essays and poems.

CONTESTS

Join in the frenzy of two rigorous contests! To reserve your spot to compete, have your contest entry information postmarked or received by April 14, 1997.

COLLEGE CLUB BAHÁ’Í JEOPARDY: Root for your favorite Bahá’í club team as they go head to head against other schools. Top teams will compete live on stage in Knoxville! Clubs may enter as many teams as they wish and may recruit non-club members and alumni. Prizes will be awarded!

TENNESSEE TRI-MENTHALON: A THREE-PART WRITTEN CONTEST on the following topics: 1. Early history: Release the Sun and The Dawnbreakers; 2. Laws: The Kitáb-i-Aqdas; 3. The Four Year Plan: The Ridván Messages. Prizes for various age categories.

CONTEST ENTRY: Deadline April 14. Tell us your name, address, phone, email, age, and the contest(s) you are entering. Email information to with the word "contest" in the subject line, or send a letter to the National Youth Committee, c/o Contest Czar, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201.

• calendar of events*

Do you have an upcoming conference in your area? Will your area be involved in a teaching project? Share it with others! Submit your youth activities for the Calendar of Events in the Youth Page. Send them to or to the National Youth Committee, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201.

ON THE SPOT: ON THE FRONT LINES

A hybrid in the Garden of God by Chris Bishop. 19/Austin, Texas

I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I REALIZED THAT there was something a little different about me. I as four years old and my family and I had just moved into a new apartment. We had ordered cable and subscribed to the Disney Channel. I eagerly turned on the television set and had begun to watch an old re-run of "The Mickey Mouse Club. I sat there in SIDE IVING JTSIL THE BOX envious awe as I watched the kids marching one by one singing the theme song. My father stepped into the room and asked me to change the station.

"What I proclaimed. "Why? It's Mickey Mouse! I love Mickey Mouse!"

"Because they never allowed black people on that show," my father quickly replied.

I gazed down at my skin and looked at its light brown tint. I examined my father and his ebony glow. I recalled my beautiful mother and her soft ivory skin. Images of everybody I knew raced through my head: my best friend next door—she was white. My two friends in the apartment next to us—they were black. Suddenly I viewed everybody in my life in a whole new manner. I now knew how to separate people, and knew how other people would separate me. People were no longer just people. They were black, white. Asian, Hispanic and everything in between. Never before had I seen these differences. Is this what Adam and Eve felt like when they realized they were naked? Until this point I had not known about the "forbidden fruit" called racism. At such a young and tender age. I was subjected to its foul and bitter taste.

I grew up in upstate New York, the haven for people trying to escape the disparity of the city. Junior high school was sometimes a real test and challenge for me. I moved often during my junior high years and found myself in many different situations. For two years I attended a school where I was one of three African-Americans in the whole school. Ignorance was the main problem there. I was often expected to do certain things, like play basketball, dance, and listen to rap. I found myself the victim of constant ridicule. One time at lunch one of the "head bangers decided to walk up to me and stick his finger in my hamburger. It was really hard for me to sit there and take it but for some reason I was not interested in fighting. I knew in my heart that there was a better way to fight this terrible pain called racism.

My experience in my last year of junior high. which was at a predominantly Hispanic and African-American school, was very different than my experience in the predominantly white school. My most vivid memory is the cafeteria. As I walked in, I immediately noticed that it was segregated along strict racial lines. Everybody sat with their own race. I faced the terrible dilemma of trying to place myself, but there was nowhere for me to go. I ended up sitting by myself for a while until I could find some friends who would accept me. Eventually. I ended up sitting at an integrated table. with mainly blacks and Hispanics, one of the few in the cafeteria. Unfortunately I never sat with whites. It was definitely "uncool" to be white at my school, and I was forced to suppress that side of my identity.

I am the product of a New Era. The days of segregation are over. The great American melting pot is forming, and people like myself are the main ingredient. In earlier times people like myself were called "accidents" or "misfits." This is a new time, and there are far too many interracial children for society to deny. But a new question now arises, where does this new group fit in?

Photo Kalim Armstrong

In earlier years everything was easily divided into "black" and "white." With interracial kids it is no longer easy. Humans, especially Americans, have a tendency to want to separate everything into categories, to put everything in squares and rectangles. Almost everything we make is in the shape of some kind of square. Everything has to be clear cut and defined, including people. But in this new day, a new view must be taken. As a human race, we have to face the fact that the we are no longer little tribes and villages separated by natural barriers. Any one of us can hop on a plane and be on the other side of the globe tomorrow. Our vision must be world embracing—it is futile for us to resist it. Is there anyone out there who can deny the fact that we are all connected? The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." (Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 116)

Chris Bishop is a student at the University of Texas at Austin.

One magazine is published nine times a year by Bahai youth using a consultative. collaborative process It features art, poetry, stories and reviews. One is sponsored by a Spintual assembly is reviewed at the US Bahai National Center Subscribe now for one.) $22.00 and get a year's worth of great issues! Send contributions and subscriptions to One magazine. Kittery me 03904. (207) 438 9034 [Page 18]

BOOK REVIEW

Book Review

The transforming power of ‘Black Men’s Gatherings’

The Black Men’s Gathering (A Spiritual Transformation), by James A. Williams and Ted Jefferson. Wayfarer Publications, 1995; 30 pp.

Review by Charles H. Lynch

This reverent, concise essay dramatizes and explains how the spirit of Bahá’u’lláh and the majesty of His Covenant make the Black Men’s Gathering uniquely transforming and exhilarating.

As participants, James Williams and Ted Jefferson have become new men, charged with love and in awe of the regenerative grace collective prayer and healing touches confer. They wish to testify that for African-American males who have lost their way there is a sanctuary within the Bahá’í Faith—but to find it one must take part in a compellingly honest and judicious critique of the black man’s plight (whether self-imposed or due to victimization) and must accommodate the isolation that they, inheritors of a different culture and history, sometimes feel even within the Bahá’í community in this country.

James Williams, a computer software developer from Roanoke, Virginia, was one of a dozen black men (now self-designated as “elders”) who were invited by former Counselor William Roberts to a meeting in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1987 that initiated the Black Men’s Gatherings.

Mr. Williams, a Bahá’í since 1972, has been a delegate to the National Convention, served on Local Spiritual Assemblies for 23 years, and was a volunteer coordinator at the second Bahá’í World Congress.

Ted Jefferson, who has also been a Bahá’í since 1972, lives in Santa Cruz, California, where he teaches history, social studies and social skills in an alternative education program for troubled youth and hosts an evening talk show on radio.

Their essay begins with a brief history of the Gathering and its distinctive activities and traditions, summarizes factors that have caused the “general flight of the American black male,” characterizes the experiences of “the black male in the Bahá’í community,” and concludes by celebrating how Bahá’u’lláh as a role model and redemptive Messenger empowers these men to transcend personal pain, alienation and suspicion.

Commenting on a legacy of racial oppression, economic disenfranchisement, distrust and self-loathing that has estranged black men from one another, the authors assert convincingly that black males 18 years old or older are in dire need of a Gathering that inspires them to be vulnerable, to reach out to one another, to acknowledge and celebrate their specialness by consulting and worshiping in ways that revivify cultural traditions and historical memories that are uniquely African in origin and are shared with Bahá’í brothers and sisters.

One problem, they say, that must be addressed more candidly in our Bahá’í communities is this:

“The institution of the Black church, which transmits and perpetuates many of our most cherished cultural values, is being ‘rolled up’ with the old world order. Now that we are Bahá’ís, we question how much of our learned religiosity we should retain, especially after considering the apparent contentment of the White majority with the current form of Bahá’í worship services and meetings.

“With their contentment in mind and our wanting to bring about the ‘new race’ of prejudice-free men, we easily justify the hiding, cutting away, and disguising of our Black cultural expressions. Without knowing why, however, a form of resentment begins to build within us. We continue to accommodate the unspoken wish for conformity, for comfort’s sake, and become as much as we can like our fellow Bahá’ís.”

Such insights are one reason some Bahá’í communities are using the booklet for deepenings. Like Bonnie Taylor’s compilation, The Pupil of the Eye (Palabra), the essay is a valuable contribution to Bahá’í literature on the topic of racism, which the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, called America’s “most vital and challenging issue.”

Implicit in the questions Williams and Jefferson raise and the evidence they present about the impact of racial inequality is another crucial issue: how can black males become more loving and respectful toward one another—and toward females?

“Each of us,” they write, “feels that the psychological model based upon spiritual principles of the Bahá’í Faith used at the Black Men’s Gathering will become a primary instrument for the spiritual transformation of all men.”

If the authors could be depicted in dramatic profile, they would be seen as forthright, patient sages prompting their audience to watch and listen carefully as they changed postures and shifted intonations.

A metaphorical rendering of the Gathering as “home,” a long-anticipated place of spiritual awakening, is a prominent leitmotif in an original poem and in a sermon-like catalog of sentences sculpted by initial repetition and parallel phrasing:

“Home, they say, is where the heart is. It is the focus for the heart’s need to bond with its physical and social environment, a need implanted within every human spirit by our Creator.

“It is a major vantage point from which we view the world around us. It is the physical root from which families grow, the shelter one calls one’s own. It is the environment where one seeks rest, peace and love. It is the almost-sacred repository for the placement of one’s most intimate expressions of personality and identity. It is the familiar spot to which one strives to return when ill or when death is near.”

While the essay is never overtly autobiographical, it is confessional in its candid revelations of how disillusionment, suspicion and fear can ravage the soul. Over-all, the booklet strategically positions the reader to acknowledge and feel the power and beauty of self-transformation when God pervades one’s life.

In that respect, the text is therapeutic and analytical, as if a master of the healing professions was intent on orienting his audience toward self-discovery and wholeness. In fact, the essay appropriates the humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs” theory, which he developed in the 1950s, and the values it identifies, to show how the Gathering is a spiritual arena for self-actualization.

In doing so, it “documents a critical stage in the spiritual journey of African-American men in the American Bahá’í community,” says Dr. Richard Thomas, professor of history and urban programs at Michigan State University.

“It ranks with other African-American historical documents...that have captured the spirit of great movements and events destined to leave their mark on the larger society. ...”

The 29-page booklet is a treasure trove of questions, themes and issues. It is a generative source that has many rays that may enlighten others and inspire them to emulate Messrs. Williams and Jefferson in sharing their feelings and thoughts about the Black Men’s Gathering and why it is a unique and spiritually uplifting event—or to explore other topics that reveal the complex and fascinatingly diverse ways in which we cope, worship and transcend.

Message from the Universal House of Justice

We were deeply impressed by the message of July 28, 1996, from the 10th annual Black Men’s Gathering held at the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute. The universal spirit which it conveyed from a group of individuals who are daily pressured by the myopic cultural vision of those among whom they live and work, the certitude of the participants’ commitment to the Lord of Mankind, the intensity of their desire to maintain a high standard of moral rectitude, the clarity of their understanding of the essentials of the Four Year Plan in relation to the individual, the institutions and the community, the vibrancy of their fellowship—all evoked in us feelings of admiration and gratitude.

That this exemplary gathering should have produced offers of pioneers and traveling teachers to Africa and also four pledges of deputization demonstrated the acuity of their awareness as to the special duties devolving upon the believers of African descent to lend needful support to the continent of their origin. It is a demonstration that must thrill the soul of our departed Guardian who dearly wished for such action to be taken increasingly by black Americans.

We warmly applaud the conduct and outcome of this gathering and assure all the dearly loved participants of our ardent supplications at the Holy Threshold that their every aspiration in service to the Cause of God may be gloriously realized through the unceasing confirmations of the Blessed Beauty.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

The Universal House of Justice August 8, 1996

Rice University Bahá’í Club earns positive reputation by teaching, proclaiming Faith

Rice University, a prestigious school in Houston, Texas, has had an active Bahá’í club almost continuously since 1973. In recent years, after a period of slow growth, the Rice Bahá’í Association has begun a new round of teaching activities that have earned a positive reputation for the Faith on campus.

Early in the fall semester of 1995, members of the club noticed that the university’s main library was deficient in information about the Faith, both in quantity and quality. There were old editions of texts and typewritten manuscripts by early believers, as well as a book against the Faith.

Efforts were made to inform the library’s administration of the situation. At the same time, the issue was brought to the attention of the Spiritual Assembly of West University Place, some of whose members are Rice Alumni.

Through the joint efforts of the club and the Assembly and with additional funds provided by the Spiritual Assembly of Bellaire, more than 30 books were selected, purchased and finally donated to the library for shelving.

Soon, library shelves that have housed only old books will have broad, updated, diverse Bahá’í books for the public. In this process, some of the staff have become familiar with the Faith and come to appreciate its teachings. It is possible that a book display drawing attention to the Faith will be in place shortly as well.

This past fall, the college club and the West University Place community again collaborated to deliver The Promise of World Peace and The Prosperity of Humankind statements along with a cover letter from the club to about 100 members of the university faculty.

Regular firesides and an information booth have also brought the Faith to the attention of the faculty and the student body, with the result that the club has seen more interest in membership—and recent declarations. [Page 19]

Make plans now to attend 88th National Convention

The National Spiritual Assembly invites all adult believers to attend the 88th Bahá’í National Convention, to be held next April 24–27 at the Holiday Inn-O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois.

The National Assembly has once again provided space so that up to 1,800 visitors will be able to attend the Convention. The site of the upcoming event is the same as last year’s, which was popular with visitors and delegates because of its proximity to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport and its accessibility by major highways. (See the form below for seating registration and hotel information.)

The Convention opens Thursday evening with the seating of delegates and election of permanent Convention officers. Convention attendees will hear first-hand the Ridván message from the Universal House of Justice for the second year of the Four Year Plan.

Most of the Convention sessions before and after the election of the National Spiritual Assembly are devoted to consultation between the delegates and the National Assembly. The National Convention provides an opportunity to obtain a picture of the American Bahá’í community through this important consultative process.

During the Convention, the delegates fulfill the function of “an enlightened, consultative and cooperative body that will enrich the experience, enhance the prestige, support the authority, and assist the deliberations of the National Spiritual Assembly.”

The recommendations made by the assembled delegates, while advisory in nature, are given serious consideration by the incoming National Spiritual Assembly. The Guardian explained that the Convention is a temporary gathering whose status is “limited in time to the convention sessions, the function of consultation at all other times being vested in the entire body of believers through the local Spiritual Assemblies.”

Non-delegate visitors will have a chance to observe, although they do not take part in the consultation between delegates and the National Spiritual Assembly. These individuals will learn about the present state of the American Bahá’í community and witness the consultation, which will center on advancing the goals of the Four Year Plan.

Visitors will also have an opportunity to attend several non-delegate events to be held concurrently with the Convention. Several workshops will be offered by various agencies of the Bahá’í National Center. Included in the topics for discussion are a number of important issues related to fulfilling the goals of the Four Year Plan.

Exhibitors representing most agencies at the Bahá’í National Center—including the Bahá’í Publishing Trust and Distribution Service—will be greeting the believers in the hotel’s atrium area. Visitors will also want to plan a visit to the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette during their Convention stay.

At the House of Worship, a special Archives display is being planned to focus on the Tablets of the Divine Plan and the Tablet of Ahmad. The originals of these sacred documents are held in the National Archives.

The Convention closes around noon on Sunday, April 27.

Hotel and Travel Information

Hotel Reservations must be made directly with the Holiday Inn O’Hare, 847-671-6350, 5440 N. River Rd., Rosemont, IL. Make sure you ask for the Bahá’í National Convention rate.

Room Rates are $81 per room, double occupancy. Rollaways are $10 a day. Cribs are free. We ask that you make your hotel reservation at the Holiday Inn O’Hare. Staying at the Holiday Inn helps reduce the National Center’s over-all administrative costs for the Convention.

Sharing Rooms: Individuals seeking roommates must make their own arrangements. Neither the National Center nor the hotel can offer such help.

Air Arrangements: The Bahá’í National Center has negotiated with Total Travel Management to provide reduced air fares. Call 800-383-4133 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. EST. After hours call 800-823-3695.

Free Shuttles to and from O’Hare Airport are offered by the Holiday Inn O’Hare. Follow the signs to the Bus Shuttle pick-up area in front of the Hilton Hotel.

Children: The National Spiritual Assembly regrets that the Convention is unable to provide a quality children’s program. There are no provisions for children’s classes or child care. The sessions are long—three full 13 hour days and two half-days—and it is difficult to provide meaningful programs for children for such a long period of time. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated.

Convention Seating Registration

April 24-27, 1997 Rosemont, Illinois

Last Name	First Name	Mid. Initial	Bahá’í I.D. #
Contact Person (will receive registration confirmation for all listed on this form.)

Mailing Address __________________________________________________________________

Contact Person __________________________________________________________________

Street __________________________________________________________________

City _________________ State __________ Zip ____________

Will your party be staying at the Holiday Inn O’Hare? Yes □ No □

Will your stay require any special attention such as ‎wheel chair wheelchair‎ accessibility or sign language interpreter? Yes □ No □

If yes, please specify needs on a separate sheet of paper including a contact name and phone number. Attach to this form.

Mail form to: Conventions Office Bahá’í National Center Wilmette, IL 60091

Phone 847-733-3569 Fax 847-869-0247

Expulsion from Faith

The National Spiritual Assembly has the sad duty to inform you that the Universal House of Justice has announced the expulsion from the Bahá’í community of Brent Reed, who is currently residing in Huntington, West Virginia.

We remind you of the admonition given to every Bahá’í to strictly avoid communication or contact with any Covenant-breaker.

“When a person declares his acceptance of Bahá’u’lláh as a Manifestation of God he becomes a party to the Covenant and accepts the totality of His Revelation. If he then turns round and attacks Bahá’u’lláh or the Central Institutions of the Faith he violates the Covenant. If this happens every effort is made to help that person to see the illogicality and error of his actions, but if he persists he must, in accordance with the instructions of Bahá’u’lláh Himself, be shunned as a Covenant-breaker.”—The Universal House of Justice, March 23, 1975 [Page 20]

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 DEPARTMENT of Administration and Development at the Bahá’í National Center is looking for a full-time Assembly development assistant. Would prefer someone who has served on a local Spiritual Assembly, has experience in writing correspondence, knows a variety of software programs including word processing, database and spread sheet applications, is skilled in information gathering and analysis, and has strong interpersonal skills. Please send resumé to Christine Stanwood, Department of Human Resources, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611, or phone 847-733-3429.

THE BOSCH Bahá’í School has an immediate opening for an energetic person to serve as hospitality/housekeeping coordinator. Responsibilities include coordinating all meeting room setups for each session, coordinating housekeeping for all facilities on campus including guest cabins, training and supervising Youth Year of Service volunteers, upkeep of grounds, and some gardening. This is not a paid position at present; however, there is a possibility that it may become a salaried position. In the interim the school will provide room, board and a small stipend. Bosch also has an immediate opening for an energetic and vibrant children's teacher who is available to serve for at least six months. This also is not a paid position; however, the school will provide room, board and a small stipend. Please submit a resumé or request application information from Linda Bedford, co-administrator, Bosch Bahá’í School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (phone 408-423-3387; fax 408-423-7565; e-mail

THE DEPARTMENT of Human Resources at the Bahá’í National Center is seeking a full-time human resources assistant. The candidate must have the ability to maintain highly confidential information with some work experience in human resources. Should be proficient in the use of personal computers and have the ability to produce professional looking documents. In-depth experience with MS Word, Print Shop Deluxe, Excel and desktop publishing desired. For more information, please contact Christine Stanwood, 847-733-3429, or send a resumé to the Department of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, Evanston, IL 60201-1611.

THE MEDIA Services Department at the Bahá’í National Center is seeking qualified candidates for two newly created positions. Staff producer-develops program concepts; researches and writes scripts; prepares budgets and monitors production expenses; contributes camera and editing work to designated projects; provides consultation and production advice to outside producers. Video production specialist-provides production support with primary emphasis on video editing and camera work and secondary emphasis on archival recording of conferences and other events; helps maintain technical facilities in Media Services and the House of Worship. For more information or to apply, contact Christine Stanwood, Department of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-733-3429; fax 847-733-3430).

THE LOUHELEN Bahá’í School has an opening for a couple to serve as bookstore/café coordinator/properties assistant. Interested applicants should send resumés to Rick Johnson, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423-8603 (fax 810-653-7181 or phone Christine Stanwood, 847-733-3429).

THE OFFICE of the Treasurer at the Bahá’í National Center is looking for a full-time program coordinator in its Development Department. This is a newly created position. The candidate must be well-grounded in the fundamental verities of the Faith, have exceptional written or oral communication skills, and be perceptive to a sense of urgency when necessary. Must have the ability to coordinate many tasks simultaneously. Prefer a minimum of a B.S. in human services or a related field with experience in program design and management. For more information, please contact Christine Stanwood, 847-733-3429, or send your resumé to the Department of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, Evanston, IL 60201-1611.

THE NATIONAL Youth Committee is looking for a Youth Services assistant. For more information, please contact Christine Stanwood, Department of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-733-3429).

EXCITING opportunities in China. Business, law experts and college graduates can apply to the China Teaching Program for training and placement as a teacher of English as a second language in China. Numerous openings for teachers of English or English as a second language. Holiday Inn is seeking experienced, committed and highly motivated candidates for general manager, executive assistant manager, financial controller, director of sales & marketing, food & beverage manager, executive chef, executive housekeeper, purchasing manager, and chief engineer. China Europe International Business School is recruiting students for MBA and EMBA programs, taught entirely in English. For more information, contact Ms. Gwili Posey, 847-733-3512 (fax 847-733-3509; e-mail

THE BOSCH Bahá’í School has an immediate opening for an assistant program director. Salary is $15,000 (includes benefits). Requires firmness in the Covenant, spiritual and emotional maturity with a loving and nurturing temperament, outstanding interpersonal skills, a good teamworking spirit, excellent public speaking abilities, creativity and flexibility, superior writing skills. Must be a Bahá’í in good standing. This is a service position that could also include modest housing at the school. If possible, teaching credentials or teaching experience would be preferred. To arrange for an interview or obtain more information, phone 408-423-3387, fax 408-423-7564, or e-mail. You may also send a resumé with your request for an interview.

THE LOUIS Gregory Bahá’í Institute has full-time positions for a cook and teaching coordinator. The cook is responsible for managing the kitchen, preparing meals and making the necessary purchases of kitchen supplies and food. Must have a minimum of 2-3 years experience; hours are variable. The teaching coordinator is responsible for the Institute's teaching and consolidation program, which involves preparing and identifying teaching and consolidation materials suitable for use in South Carolina as well as supervising volunteers residing at the Institute. Also prepares programs for Radio Bahá’í; coordinates teaching activities for the Gospel Choir, workshop and speakers bureau; serves as liaison between the Institute and S.C. Coordinating Committee, and helps recruit students for CCP lab and educational programs. If you are interested in either of these positions, please send a resumé to Christine Stanwood, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-733-3429; fax 847-733-3430; e-mail

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

EMPLOYMENT opportunities overseas. AFRICA: Ethiopia-health care finance adviser needed by USAID-sponsored BASICS project. South Africa-agriculturalists. AMERICAS: Alaska-general practitioner. Dominican Republic journeyman machinists. Guatemala-high school band teacher, music teacher. Haiti-project manager needed for PLUS project for sustainable agriculture. ASIA: Kyrgyz Republic-budget advisers to assist government officials in transitional democracies in budget responsibilities. Thailand-volunteers to help with kindergarten, nursery classes, teach English, help with maintenance and building work; MCH coordinator to provide clinical care and family planning, develop and implement clinical training curriculum; sanitation coordinator; laboratory coordinator to provide training and ongoing supervision for laboratory technicians. EUROPE: Armenia-consultants needed for potential short- and long-term assignments in the Caucasus region, with experience in NGO development/ training; banking/finance; small- and medium-sized business development; municipal infrastructure development. Greece-airport design and construction personnel. MULTI-REGIONAL: university faculty needed for teaching positions in Irkutsk and Vladivostok, Russia, and at U.S. military bases in Europe and Asia. The U.S. Department of State is recruiting for information management specialists to serve in Washington, D.C., and at U.S. Embassies and consulates worldwide. Urgent need for self-supporting pioneers to the Bahamas, Bosnia, Cyprus, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Hungary, Macedonia, Serbia, Turks & Caicos and Venezuela. URGENT-the National Spiritual Assembly of Belarus needs a fluent Russian-English secretarial assistant with good interpersonal and computer skills.

BRAZIL the National Spiritual Assembly of Brazil needs a volunteer to help set up its computer system; the School of Nations needs teachers. CAMEROON-the National Assembly of Cameroon is starting a publishing agency and needs a pioneer with publishing skills. URGENT NEED IN CYPRUS for self-supporting pioneers to save jeopardized local Assembly of Limassol. HONDURAS―need for elementary and secondary school teachers, MACAU-the School of Nations needs elementary and secondary school teachers, volunteer to help with office duties at the BCC and the School of Nations. NEPAL-the American School needs a guidance counselor, music/band teacher, elementary teacher, secondary school history/English teacher. PERU-a Spanish-speaking couple needed to serve as caretakers of the Bahá’í Center of Arequipa. ROMANIA-needs self-supporting caretakers for local Bahá’í Center in Iasi. SOLOMON ISLANDS-self-supporting couple to serve as Custodians of the Bahá’í Center in Honiara, volunteer to train National Center office staff. ZAIRE-manager needed for a Bahá’í-owned store. The Peace Corps is recruiting for South Africa: agriculturalists, educators, health professionals, skilled trades professionals, environmental workers, business-people, math, science & engineering majors; associate Peace Corps directors for Africa and other areas. For application information, call 800-424-8580, or write to the Peace Corps, 1990 K Street, NW, Room 8500, Washington, DC 20526. For more information about any of these positions, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-733-3512; fax 847-733-3509; e-mail

URGENT NEED for pioneers to the Bahamas, Bosnia, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Hungary, Macedonia, Serbia and Venezuela. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette IL 60091 (phone 847-733-3512; fax 847-733-3509; e-mail

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

NEWARK, California, a city of 39,000 in the San Francisco Bay area near San Jose International Airport, needs homefront pioneers to replace several active community members who have resettled elsewhere. Newark has all the features of larger cities, is accessible to Oakland and the Silicon Valley via the 880 freeway and Highway 84 to the peninsula (Palo Alto/San Francisco), is close to Chabot and Ohlone colleges and not far from the Bay Area universities (Stanford, San Jose State, Cal State-Hayward) and Washington Hospital in Fremont. The weather is comfortable (ranging from 50-80 degrees F), generally dry with low humidity. There are many teaching opportunities within the Bay Area's diverse population. For more information, phone Steven Rinker, 510-796-5271, Kourosh Nikoui, 510-226-1919, or write to the Spiritual Assembly of Newark, P.O. Box 462, Newark, CA 94560.

HAVERHILL, Massachusetts, is seeking homefront pioneers to save its jeopardized Assembly. Haverhill is an active, committed community 45 minutes north of Boston and 45 minutes south of the Green Acre Bahá’í School. Subsidized rent available through May. For more information, please contact Meg Keppler, secretary, Spiritual Assembly of Haverhill, P.O. Box 6194, Haverhill, MA 01831, phone 508-372-9119 or e-mail

WATERLOO, Iowa, needs at least one adult Bahá’í to maintain its incorporated Assembly at Ridván. Waterloo has inexpensive housing, several large industrial employers, three area hospitals, a two-year technical school, and excellent educational opportunities at the University of Northern Iowa in nearby Cedar Falls. UNI has a Bahá’í college club but needs two new students to enroll before September to maintain it. Please send inquiries to Joy Kortemeyer, secretary, Spiritual Assembly of Waterloo, Waterloo, IA 50701, or phone (evenings) 319-232-7252.

WANTED

WANTED as soon as possible: copies of Bahá’í radio spots or scripts. Any length, any condition. Please mail to Vermont Media Task Force, P.O. Box 207, Shoreham, VT 05770, or phone 800-613-8055 for information. And thank you for helping to make the Faith more visible to the mainstream media.

WANTED: photograph or artwork to illustrate the theme "Teach This Generation to Be Prejudice-Free" to use for our next poster at future conventions of the NJEA (New Jersey Education Association). Please mail submissions in a stiff or padded envelope by April 21 to: Prejudice-Free Poster, c/o the Bahá’í Group of Ventnor, P.O. Box 2202, Ventnor, NJ 08406. Photographs or artwork should be at least 8 inches by 10 inches. Make sure to include your name, [Page 21]

COMMUNITY NEWS

address, phone number and e-mail address, if available. Work cannot be returned unless you include an adequate self-addressed, stamped envelope. The artist or photographer whose work is chosen will receive full credit as well as 500 copies of the color poster to distribute to friends, colleagues, schools, etc. Questions? Contact Peter Murphy, 609-823-5076, or e-mail

LOOKING FOR ideas and resources for teaching children to be virtuous, prejudice-free and truly united? A 26-page resource guide created by a long-time Bahá’í teacher and workshop facilitator is available with a description of the workshops offered. If interested, please write to Linden Qualls, Yellow Springs, OH 45387-1400, or phone 937-767-7079.

THE HAJ Mehdi Arjmand Memorial Fund has scheduled the 14th and 15th English-language Irfan Colloquia for 1997 and is seeking papers for presentation. “Irfan,” an Arabic and Persian word, refers to mystical, theological or spiritual knowledge. The first of these colloquia will be held July 4–6 in Oxford, United Kingdom; the second, August 8–10 in Wilmette, Illinois. The theme of both is “The World Religions and the Bahá’í Faith.” The colloquium in Wilmette will take place immediately after the end of the Wilmette Institute’s three-week summer residential session, and will be followed by a four-day seminar on Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation during the Tehran and Baghdad periods, and possibly other seminars as well. The seminars will be open to all Bahá’ís. Registration information for the Wilmette colloquium is available from the Research Office at the Bahá’í National Center. If you would like to present a paper at either colloquium, please send a 500-word abstract and brief (100-word) bio to the Research Office, Bahá’í National Center, Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-733-3425; fax 847-733-3563; e-mail

WANTED: traveling teachers who may be in or near Des Moines, Iowa, to take part in a program of firesides entitled “Focus,” established by the Des Moines Area Teaching Committee, with evening meetings on the second Thursday of each month. Special programs can be arranged for anyone who wishes to use the format. For details, write to Napolun Birdsong, Des Moines, IA 50317, or Pamela Knox, Indianola, IA 50125, or phone 515-263-2778 (day) or 515-961-0605 (evening).

AUDIO TAPES (interviews, music, talks, etc.) wanted for use on a new half-hour Bahá’í radio program heard each Sunday morning in the Chicago area. If you have tapes you would be able to donate, please send them to Gwen Clayborne, Department of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, Evanston, IL 60201-1611. Thank you.

WANTED: memories, stories, photographs, videos and other memorabilia from past and present members and friends of the Bahá’í community of Flagstaff, Arizona. The Flagstaff community is preparing its 40th anniversary celebration, to be held next July 5 at the Bellemont Bahá’í School, and would greatly appreciate any contributions that would help make the occasion a success. If you have anything to offer, please contact the Flagstaff community’s Archives Committee, P.O. Box 2533, Flagstaff, AZ 86003 (phone 520-527-9448).

WRITER/EDITOR is seeking life stories for a book on African-American Bahá’í women illustrating the transforming power of Bahá’u’lláh. Needed are stories in which one has personally overcome obstacles and gained spiritual insights into issues/struggles that usually affect African-American women including racism, the family, sexism, interracial/intercultural marriage, single parenting, divorce, issues of identity (beauty), spirituality, to name a few. Submissions are strictly confidential. Pen names are acceptable. For more information, please e-mail To submit manuscripts, write to Leonda W. Keniston, Richmond, VA 23227, or phone 804-321-7009. Please mark correspondence “Attention: From Dusk Till Dawn.”

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: Ida J. Baum, Lucy Walker Beach, W. Worth Bean Jr., Mary R. Beasley, Madelon Becktel, Goulnar Beede, and Ella R. Beemer (died Kenosha, WI, 1941). 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, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611, or to phone 847-869-9039.

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives has prepared a series of biographical sketches of prominent African-American, Native American, Hispanic and Asian Bahá’ís for use by local communities in Black History Month, Race Unity Day and other special events observances. Any local community wishing to acquire a set of these sketches is asked to send a request with mailing address to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-869-9039).

YOUTH ACTIVITIES

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 at the permanent schools and institutes and in such diverse communities as Phoenix and Holbrook, Arizona; Conway and Orangeburg, South Carolina; Buncombe County, North Carolina; Holland, Michigan; Los Angeles, California; St. Paul, Minnesota, and Kansas City, Missouri. There are also opportunities for young people who want to enroll in a college or university in a local locality to serve as homefront pioneers. 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 at the National Teaching Committee office, 847-733-3493.

THE WORK/STUDY program at the Native American Bahá’í Institute (NABI) presents a unique opportunity for youth service. Young people who are interested in pursuing Bahá’í service work with college or vocational studies are encouraged to apply to the Institute. Youth at NABI will be guided through a program that includes course work, the arts, travel and community and Institute service. Join us at NABI and prepare for a lifetime of service to humanity. Write to NABI, P.O. Box 3167, Houck, AZ 86506, or e-mail

MISCELLANEOUS

BAHÁ’ÍS who are presently operating, or who might be interested in operating, foster/custodial/assisted living/intergenerational homes for the elderly are asked to contact the Bahá’í Home Advisory Group, 401 Greenleaf Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091 (e-mail fax 847-251-6540; phone 847-251-7001. This information is important to help in consultations on long-range strategic planning.

More than 140 Bahá’ís gather in Illinois for annual Heartland Winter School

More than 140 Bahá’ís from across the Midwest gathered for three days last December in Springfield, Illinois, to consult and inspire one another on effective strategies for teaching the Faith to neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances.

Throughout the weekend, participants in the Heartland Bahá’í Winter School were reminded that it is our bounty—and duty—to teach the Cause.

The following passage from the Master (in Star of the West, Vol. III, No. 19) was shared as part of a panel discussion on “teaching with love”:

“The teacher should teach as if offering a gift to a king, humbly and submissively, not with force or insistence...but with gentleness and sweetness: submitting the argument and truth to the heart and intellect of the hearer...taking care at all times to adapt the offered food to the condition and station of the listener, giving milk for babes and meat for those grown stronger.”

The campaign of teaching with love, carried out by a handful of believers near Alton, led to the enrollment last year of 50 new Bahá’ís.

Among the workshops offered at this year’s school were those entitled “What Is Teaching,” “The Joy of Teaching” and “Teaching By Interacting with Non-Bahá’í Entities.”

On a lighter note, Heartland students were treated to an hilarious takeoff on the holiday movie classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The Bahá’í version, “It’s a Wonderful Plan (Four Year),” featured Dr. Curtis Russell of Detroit as lovable George Bailey.

Attendees are looking forward already to the next Heartland school, to be held next July 23–28 at Knox College in Galesburg.

The youngest attendee at the Heartland Bahá’í School in Decatur, Illinois, last December was Kabedi Bayan Molomede (in the arms of proud grandmother Leathia Draves), who was born last July 24 in the Holy Land.

Bahá’í Group of Ventnor has second-best year ever at New Jersey Education Association’s convention

During its 22nd year of participation in the annual convention of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) last November 14–15 in Atlantic City, the Bahá’í Group of Ventnor distributed 8,905 pieces of Bahá’í literature, making it the second busiest year ever.

Included were 4,700 of the theme poster “Teach This Generation To Be Prejudice-Free” which the Group produced last year, and 1,545 copies of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s prayer for America.

Also given out were 548 copies of The Vision of Race Unity and hundreds of other items.

Sixty-two teachers, many of whom asked to attend Bahá’í meetings or to have Bahá’í speakers for their classes, filled out interest cards asking for more information about the Faith.

These educators teach in schools throughout New Jersey as well as in New York City and Philadelphia.

In response to their requests, packets were mailed that included copies of the magazine The Bahá’í and the pamphlet “Bahá’u’lláh, God’s Messenger.” The Group has also been handling the requests for meetings, speakers and other information.

Besides placing a quarter-page ad in the NJEA Review, which is sent to 150,000 of its members before the convention, the Bahá’ís of Ventnor mailed 400 postcards to teachers who had visited their booth in the past inviting them to stop by again, and many of them did.

The director of the NJEA’s Martin Luther King Jr. human rights celebration was so impressed by the Bahá’í display and posters that she asked if 500 of them could be made available for her group, and asked the Bahá’í Group to exhibit at the MLK event at East Brunswick in January.

The Ventnor Group received contributions of $2,330 from 21 individuals and families and seven Assemblies and Groups to help offset its expenses of $3,458.

EDITOR NEEDED

The National Spiritual Assembly is seeking qualified candidates for the key position of editor of The American Bahá’í. Applicants should have experience in newspaper writing, editing and design, a good command of PageMaker desktop publishing software, and the proven ability to communicate well, both orally and in writing, to manage people, work well in groups and handle deadline pressures. Some experience in photography would be helpful. For more information, please phone 847-733-3429, or send a resumé and other relevant information to the Department of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, Evanston, IL 60201-1611. [Page 22]

EXCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS...

"Hello World!," a recent child-oriented recording by well-known entertainer RED GRAMMER, a Bahá’í from Chester, New York, has earned a number of honors from various groups including the 1995 USA Today Kid Pick, 1996 Parents' Choice Gold Award, 1997 Early Childhood News Directors' Choice Award, 1996 Dr. Toy Vacation Award, and 1996 awards from the National Parenting Publications Association and NAIRD (the National Association of Independent Record Dealers).

Healing Racism in America: A Prescription for the Disease, written by NATHAN RUTSTEIN, a Bahá’í from Amherst, Massachusetts, has been named an "outstanding book on the subject of human rights in North America" by the Fayetteville, Arkansas-based Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Human Rights in North America. The book's designation was announced on Human Rights Day, December 10. Healing Racism is published by Whitcomb Publishing of Springfield, Massachusetts.

HOSSAIN BAYAT, a Bahá’í from El Cerrito, California, has been given the Wells Fargo Bank's highest volunteer honor, the 1996 President's Volunteer and Community Service Award. Mr. Bayat was nominated for the $10,000 award for the more than 500 volunteer hours he contributed to his son's elementary school, transforming its outdated computer lab to one with enough 486 computers for each student.

Red Grammer

LINDA MECCOURI, a Bahá’í from Amherst, Massachusetts, is the recipient of the 1996 Elaine Marieb Faculty Chair for Teaching Excellence at Holyoke Community College. Ms. Meccouri, a professor of computer information systems at HCC for 14 years, designed and implemented a faculty development course on instructional applications of the Internet, introduced a computer-mediated computer class in which students acted as consultants to HCC and outside users to design and program pages on the World Wide Web, and introduced the Bilingual Computer Laboratory.

A dissertation by DR. FRANKLIN D. LEWIS, a Bahá’í from Chicago, Illinois, has been awarded the annual Ph.D dissertation award for 1994-95 by the Foundation for Iranian Studies at the University of Chicago. Dr. Lewis' dissertation, entitled Reading, Writing and Recitation: Sana’i and the Origins of the Persian Ghazal, which was submitted to the university's Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, was chosen by the Foundation's Committee on the Selection of the Best Dissertation of the Year on a Topic of Iranian Studies. In making its selection, the committee cited the paper's "exceptional contribution to the field of Iranian studies through an imaginative and innovative approach to the study of the origin and evolution of Persian ghazal ..."

Lois Kivi Nochman

LENISE JACKSON-GAERTNER, a Bahá’í from Colton, California, who is the founder and president of Mothers for Race Unity and Equality, has been named coordinator of the Saturday Academy, a college preparatory program co-sponsored by the University of California-Riverside. Ms. Gaertner has also been asked to co-instruct a course on culture and schooling for new college teachers, administered through the teacher credentialing program at Cal State University-San Bernardino.

LOIS KIVI NOCHMAN, a 72-year-old Bahá’í from Huntington Woods, Michigan, is listed in the 51st edition of Who's Who in America. Since entering swimming competition in 1988, she has set 10 National YMCA records, 20 Masters records, 11 World Masters records, eight World Senior Games records, and two U.S. Senior Sports Classic Organization (Senior Olympics) records.

CADENCE BALAYTHY, a member of the only Bahá’í family in Spring Lake, Michigan, has been named 1996 Homecoming Queen at Spring Lake High School. She is an honor student and varsity cheerleader who actively teaches the Faith among her fellow students.

SAMAN BADI’I, a young Bahá’í from Portland, Oregon, has been a violinist with the Portland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, the oldest such group in the country, since 1994. Saman is a student at Westview High School where he carries a 4.0 grade-point average.

PARLA DJAFARI, a Bahá’í graduate student in physiology, has been elected first vice-president of the Student Religious Fellowship Council at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The Council, an ecumenical group comprised of Bahá’ís, Muslims and members of various Christian denominations, operates under the auspices of the Office of the Dean of the Chapel.

Telephone number for the Bahá’í National Center Bulletin Board Service (BNCBBS): 708-869-0389.

Faith represented at White House events, renews call to ratify UN treaty on women

Dr. Wilma Ellis, a member of the Continental Board of Counselors for the Americas, represented the Faith at the annual White House ecumenical breakfast January 6 where she was able to greet President and Mrs. Clinton on behalf of the Bahá’í community.

Dr. Ellis was appointed last November to represent the Faith on the Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad established by Secretary of State Warren Christopher.

She is one of 20 prominent religious leaders and scholars who will serve on the committee whose purposes are to foster greater dialogue between religious communities and the U.S. government; to increase the flow of information to the government concerning the conditions faced by persecuted religious minorities around the world; and to provide information about the government's efforts to address issues of religious persecution and religious freedom.

On a separate occasion, the National Spiritual Assembly's secretary for External Affairs, Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, and its deputy director for External Affairs, Kit Cosby, attended a White House commemoration last December 10 of Human Rights Day.

Both representatives were able to greet the President and First Lady. Ms. Cosby spoke with Mrs. Clinton about the effort to obtain U.S. ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in which the Bahá’ís have a prominent role.

During his remarks, President Clinton called on the Senate to ratify the human rights Convention on women. "As you know, many, many other nations have done this," he said. "In our country where we have worked so hard against domestic violence, where we have worked so hard to empower women, it is, to say the least, an embarrassment that the United States has not done this, and there is no excuse for this situation to continue."

The National Spiritual Assembly, through its secretariat in Washington, has assumed a leading role, along with Amnesty International USA, in coordinating a national campaign of educational and advocacy efforts by more than 100 national non-governmental organizations to achieve the eventual ratification of this UN treaty which bans discrimination against women.

Bahá’ís in North Texas produce series of talk programs, ‘Spotlight on Unity,’ for local public access television

The Bahá’í Media Services of North Texas is producing "Spotlight on Unity," a series of video talk shows for public access television.

The goals of the media effort, which is sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Mesquite, are to permanently and regularly teach and consolidate, to achieve entry by troops, and to use the mass media to provide a public service.

The hour-long programs feature Bahá’ís with broad knowledge of their topics and strong speaking skills. Copies are being made available to local Assemblies across the country.

Programs produced to date include Jack McCants, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, on "The Meaning of Life"; Enayat Rawhani of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, "History of the Bahá’í Faith" (in Persian); Bahá’í author/lecturer Nat Rutstein with Dr. John Horn, superintendent of Mesquite Independent Schools, "Healing Racism: Education's Role"; Carol Rutstein, "Marriage, Family Life and the Equality of Men and Women"; and Carrie Paige, a motivational speaker and chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Mesquite, "The Oneness of God, Religion and Humanity."

Dr. Yuli Ioannessian, chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of St. Petersburg, Russia, has agreed to tape "The Bahá’í Faith in Russia" (in English) and a discussion of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (in Persian).

Future video goals include parenting classes, children's programs, multi-lingual programs in Persian, Spanish and other languages, a public service series on healing racism, and a library of at least 500 hours of audio programming including the talk show soundtracks, suitable for radio broadcast.

Tapes made at public access facilities must be televised at least once to the general public. Mesquite's public access channel airs each Bahá’í tape for a full month, seven times a week in prime time, without charge, to the city's population of more than 100,000.

Those who produce the programs must be trained and certified to do so by local cable providers. Besides Mesquite, Bahá’ís in Garland, Bedford and Carrollton, Texas, are certified producers, while Bahá’ís in Irving are in the process of obtaining certification.

A recent two-day conference on Bahá’í Institutes, conducted by Counselor Alejandra Miller and Dr. Beatriz Curry of the National Education and Schools Office, was taped using cameras bought by the video crew with personal funds.

These informative tapes, which represent the kind of intercommunity benefits the Media Services can provide using Bahá’í-owned equipment, will be made available to local Assemblies early this year.

For more information about the Media Services and its programs, write to the Spiritual Assembly of Mesquite, P.O. Box 870854, Mesquite, TX 75187-0854, fax 972-222-1863, or e-mail

L.A. Bahá’í is CATV producer

John Angelo, a Bahá’í from Hollywood, California, who recently retired from Sony Pictures, is now producing, directing and writing programs for cable television.

Mr. Angelo has just finished producing and directing "All the World's a Stage," "Should Santa Sell His Reindeer?" (which he also wrote), and "The Follies of Yesteryear."

His recent interview shows have included Susan Joseph on the Bahá’í Faith, Fayard Nicholas (of the celebrated Nicholas Brothers) on dancing, Robaire of Hollywood on fashion, and Joe Davies on nutrition. [Page 23]

Bosch School hosts annual Star Trek weekend

The Star Trek weekend has become one of the Bosch Bahá’í School’s most well-attended and popular events for seekers. The session held last October 25–27 provided an opportunity for Bahá’ís to bring their friends to a fun-filled weekend that incorporated a serious look at human and spiritual issues.

Participants looked at science fiction’s solutions to those issues (as depicted in Star Trek), then compared or contrasted them with Bahá’u’lláh’s solutions.

This year’s exceptionally creative program was put together by Jan and Lorry Faulkner and Darrell Metcalf, who have facilitated seekers’ weekends in the past.

The premise this year was that the planet of Zurcatnas (Santa Cruz spelled backward) had applied for membership in the United Federation of Planets, but the application had been initially red-flagged because of some reported deficiencies in the planet’s dealings relative to racial conflict, religious differences, education, human rights, etc. Zurcatnas was given a chance to address the “charges” and develop an action plan for dealing with the problems.

Participants were divided into seven groups, each of which addressed one of the key issues. The facilitators, one of whom is Core Curriculum-trained, put together an elaborate and comprehensive curriculum using Bahá’í principles and extensive reliance on Bahá’í writings.

The Core Curriculum-based approach effectively illustrated the understanding that the Faith has the spiritual power and scope to address all of the world’s needs and problems.

The weekend was culminated by a series of creative group presentations to the “Federation Grand Council,” which in essence described the practical application of Bahá’í principles to the planet’s situation, not unlike 20th century earth.

Throughout the weekend, participants enjoyed truly intergalactic fare in the Dining Lodge. (The Cardassian rats were something!). Many came in full Starfleet costume and were issued special boarding passes and name badges with Starfleet rank. The Starship, Martha Root Hall, was decorated with stars and banners describing the various parts of the “ship.”

In all, the Star Trek session was a great weekend of fun, fellowship and study of the fundamentals of the Faith.

Green Acre to offer course on Training Institutes

Training Institutes will be the focus February 21–23 when the Green Acre Bahá’í School offers “Learning About Training Institutes.” This second in a series of programs directed toward achieving the first-year goals of the Four Year Plan will be presented by veteran traveling teacher and pioneer Ruth Hampson. Learn models and strategies for developing effective Training Institutes and discover how Institutes help “all Bahá’ís, new and veteran, [to] embark on a systematic study of the fundamental verities of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh” guaranteed to advance the process of entry by troops. Special discounts are offered for Spiritual Assemblies that send three or more members of their community.

Green Acre sets spiritual retreat for Fast

Refresh and gladden your spirit with a “Spiritual Retreat for the Fast” at the Green Acre Bahá’í School on March 7–9, facilitated by Dr. Tahereh Ahdieh. Begin each day with a hearty breakfast, take time for reflection and meditation, recite prayers in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s room, and deepen together on how our inner lives and private character can more deeply mirror the splendor of those eternal principles proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh.

Ruhes to visit Green Acre in March

Coming March 21–23 to the Green Acre Bahá’í School: a weekend with Dr. and Mrs. David Ruhe. To register or obtain more information about programs, please phone 207-439-7200, fax 207-439-7202, or e-mail

Bosch seeks coordinator for hospitality/housekeeping

The Bosch Bahá’í School has an immediate opening for an energetic person to serve as hospitality/housekeeping coordinator. Responsibilities include coordinating all meeting room setups for each session, coordinating housekeeping for all facilities on campus including guest cabins, training and supervising Youth Year of Service volunteers, upkeep of grounds, and some gardening. This is not a paid position at present; however, there is a possibility that it may become a salaried position. In the interim the school will provide room, board and a small stipend. Bosch also has an immediate opening for an energetic and vibrant children’s teacher who is available to serve for at least six months. This also is not a paid position; however, the school will provide room, board and a small stipend. Please submit a resumé or request application information from Linda Bedford, co-administrator, Bosch Bahá’í School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (phone 408-423-3387; fax 408-423-7565; e-mail

Bahá’ís in St. Louis, Missouri, had a booth last October 4-5 at the South County Fair. About 300–400 people received information about the Faith. Pictured (left to right) at the booth are Pauline Oungst, Jeffery Watkins and Shohreh Majidi. (Photo by Walter Ko)

Number of exciting sessions mark Louhelen calendar

Upcoming sessions

February 21–23—Agriculture Seminar with Billy Rogers and Nancy McIntyre, Association for Bahá’í Studies. The fundamental role of agriculture in a healthy society is explored, with emphasis on spiritual principles and practical approaches helpful to agriculture-related life and vocations. The seminar is intended for farmers and agriculturalists and non-farmers who are interested in agricultural development.

February 28–March 2—Prayer and Fasting: Pillars that Sustain the Law of God, with Christopher White, graduate student in religious studies, Harvard University. Shoghi Effendi explains that “the core of religious faith is that mystic feeling that unites man with God” which is cultivated through prayer and fasting. This session includes careful study of the practices of Bahá’í worship; the role of prayer and fasting in fostering spiritual development; special consideration of the words and movements of the Obligatory Prayers that help us to remember our Creator; and the efficacy of fasting and prayer in strengthening a spiritual commitment to service.

March 21–23—Personal Transformation, with Auxiliary Board member Bill Wieties and concert pianist Mark Schu. The purpose of this workshop is to review the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi that illuminate the path to personal transformation, and to consult on the necessary activities to achieve this in our lives. The weekend sessions include a children’s program and a festive celebration of Naw-Rúz.

March 28–30—Eagle Institute: The Bahá’í Life, with Layli Miller Bashir and Dr. Roshan Bashir. The Bashirs offer the perspective of young adults who strive to become apprentices of God in the great work of serving humanity through academics, professional service, the arts, teaching and living a Bahá’í life. Through varied learning experiences, they will explore the Writings that can guide the many decisions that young people face and offer practical approaches to living.

April 11–13—The Pupil of the Eye, with Bonnie Taylor and Gwen Clayborne. The compilation The Pupil of the Eye: African Americans in the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh organizes passages from the Writings addressed to and about African-Americans. This session, conducted by the book’s compiler and her associate, explores the Writings on people of African descent; race; Bahá’u’lláh’s principles of oneness; unity in diversity; applying solutions to racism; and African-Americans and teaching the Faith.

Bosch to host Black History celebration

This year the Bosch Bahá’í School will host its fourth annual Black History/Heritage Celebration. All are invited to come February 14–17 for a weekend of study, presentations, research and workshops with the focus on the significance of the African-American experience within the Bahá’í community and how it relates to the greater African-American community in the U.S.

Of course there will also be joyous songs, devotions and fellowship. The weekend’s events will be facilitated by Dr. Richard Thomas, author of Racial Unity: An Imperative for Social Progress, and Bonnie Taylor, compiler of The Pupil of the Eye.

Presentations from the annual Black Men’s Gathering and Sisters Gathering will also be offered during the weekend. Children and youth will enjoy classes focusing on the study of black heritage. [Page 24]

هفتمین کنفرانس انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی

FRIENDS OF PERSIAN CULTURE CONFERENCE

چنانکه در شماره‌های پیشین این نشریه به آگاهی دوستان رسید، هفتمین کنفرانس سالانه دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی از ۲۳ تا ۲۵ می سال ۱۹۹۷ در هتل هیلتن شیکاگو Chicago Hilton and Towers تشکیل خواهد شد.

این کنفرانس شامل برنامه‌های همزمان فارسی و انگلیسی خواهد بود و بخشی از برنامه آن به بزرگداشت حیات و آثار و خدمات ایادی عزیز امرالله جناب ابوالقاسم فیضی اختصاص خواهد داشت.

برای نونهالان بهائی نیز برنامه‌های ویژه‌ای در نظر گرفته شده است.

دوستان می‌توانند برای رزرو کردن اتاق مستقیماً با هتل تماس حاصل نمایند و ذکر فرمایند که برای شرکت در Bahá’í Arts Festival اتاق لازم دارند. نرخ مخصوص کنفرانس که از ۲۲ تا ۲۵ می سال ۱۹۹۷ معتبر خواهد بود برای هر اتاق شبی ۸۹ دلار است. این مبلغ فقط برای کرایه اتاق است و شامل مخارج خوراک و نام‌نویسی نمی‌شود.

شماره تلفن هتل: 1-800-Hiltons

نام‌نویسی از صبح روز پنجشنبه ۲۲ می آغاز خواهد شد. عصر آن روز جلسه‌ای برای بزرگداشت اظهار امر حضرت اعلی در مشرق‌الاذکار تشکیل خواهد شد. شروع جلسات کنفرانس صبح روز جمعه و خاتمه آن ساعت ۱۱ شب یکشنبه ۲۵ می خواهد بود.

از علاقه‌مندان دعوت می‌شود برای نام‌نویسی در کنفرانس برگهٔ زیر را تکمیل فرمایند و آن را همراه با حق نام‌نویسی به نشانی زیر ارسال دارند.

Persian/American Affairs Office Bahá’í National Center 1233 Central St. Evanston, Il.. 60201 USA

برای دریافت اطلاعات بیشتر می‌توان با دفتر انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی تماس حاصل نمود. تلفن: ۳۵۲۸-۷۳۳ (۸۴۷) فکس: ۰۲۴۷-۸۶۹ (۸۴۷) e-mail:

کنفرانس معماری در نیویورک

INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CONFERENCE

از ۳ تا ۶ نوامبر سال ۱۹۹۶ یک کنفرانس معماری در نیویورک تشکیل شد که موضوع آن خانه‌های مسکونی در شانگهای در سال ۲۰۰۰ بود.

آقای حسین امانت مهندس معمار دارالتبلیغ بیت‌العدل اعظم و مهندس نوشین احسان از نیویورک از جمله شرکت‌کنندگان برجسته‌ای بودند که در کنفرانس مذکور شرکت داشتند.

هر دو این عزیزان در سخنرانی‌های خود که در حضور ۵۰۰ نفر مهندس معمار از سراسر جهان ایراد می‌شد، موضوعاتی در رابطه با امر مبارک به آگاهی شنوندگان رساندند.

موضوع سخنرانی آقای امانت "معماری برای نوع بشر" و تأکید آن بر ساختمان‌های قوس در کوه کرمل بود.

موضوع صحبت خانم احسان "روح فضا" بود. خانم احسان در نطق خود تأثیر محیط ساختمانی را در رفتار و پیشرفت انسان مورد بررسی قرار داد.

یکی از استادانی که در کنفرانس حضور داشت پس از شنیدن سخنان مهندس نوشین احسان از ایشان دعوت کرد که در یکی از دانشگاه‌های چین سخنرانی کند. خانم احسان نیز این دعوت را پذیرفت و در حضور استادان و دانشجویان دانشگاه نطقی ایراد کرد.

Registration Form Seventh Annual Conference of the Friends of Persian Culture Association May 23-25, 1997	برگ نام‌نویسی هفتمین کنفرانس سالانه انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی ۲۳ تا ۲۵ می سال ۱۹۹۷
نام خانوادگی ................................................................................
نام کوچک ....................................................................................
نشانی ..........................................................................................
شهر ................................. ایالت .................................................
کد پستی .................................. کشور .........................................
شمارهٔ تلفن ................................................................................
حق ثبت نام برای کنفرانس تا ۲۱ آپریل ۱۹۹۷ هر نفر ۳۵ دلار آمریکائی است و بعد از آن تاریخ ۴۰ دلار خواهد بود.
تعداد شرکت کنندگان ......................................................... نفر
مبلغ چک ..................................................................................
شمارهٔ چک ................................................................................

خدمات رسانه‌ای بهائی

BAHÁ’Í MEDIA SERVICES

در شمال تگزاس یک هیئت وسائل ارتباطی بهائی با عنوان "خدمات رسانه‌ای بهائی" که تحت اشراف محفل روحانی شهر مسکیت Mesquite عمل می‌کند به تهیهٔ برنامه‌هایی برای پخش در کانال‌های عمومی public access موفق شده است.

اهداف این برنامه‌ها عبارت است از: تبلیغ منظم و مداوم امرالله و تحکیم اساس جوامع، وارد ساختن عدّهٔ بسیاری در ظل امر مبارک، استفاده از رسانه‌های همگانی برای خدمات عمومی.

برنامه‌هایی که تهیه شده یک ساعت به طول می‌انجامد و در آن از احبائی که دانش گسترده‌ای در رشتهٔ خود دارند و از مهارت در سخنرانی برخوردارند استفاده می‌شود. نمونه‌هایی از برنامه‌های تهیه شده به جوامع گوناگون فرستاده خواهد شد. برنامه‌هایی که تا کنون تهیه شده عبارت است از: جناب جک مکنتس Jack McCants: "معنی زندگی"؛ جناب عنایت روحانی: "تاریخ دیانت بهائی" (به زبان فارسی ‎فارسی! ‎); نت راتستاین Nat Rutstein و جان هورن Horn: "شفا دادن به تعصبات نژادی: سهم تربیت"؛ کرول راتستاین Carol Rutstein: "ازدواج و زندگی خانواده و تساوی حقوق زن و مرد"؛ کری پیج Carrie Paige: "وحدت خدا، دین و بشر"

برنامه‌های ویدیوئی آینده شامل موضوع‌هایی چون امر بهائی در روسیه و بحثی دربارهٔ کتاب اقدس به فارسی و تربیت اطفال و برنامه‌های ویژهٔ خردسالان و برنامه‌هایی به زبان‌های اسپانیائی و فارسی و دیگر زبان‌ها خواهد بود.

دوستان می‌توانند برای دریافت اطلاعات بیشتر با محفل روحانی مسکیت تماس حاصل نمایند. شمارهٔ فکس: ۱۸۶۳-۲۲۲ (۹۷۲)

e-mail: Spiritual Assembly of Mesquite P.O. Box 870854 Mesquite, TX. 75187-0854

حقوق الله

از دوستان عزیز مستدعی است تقدیمی‌های حقوق الله را در وجه Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust و به نشانی یکی از امنای حقوق الله ارسال فرمایند.

Dr. Elsie Austin 9039 Sligo Creek Parkway, # 612 Silver Spring, MD 20901

Dr. Amin Banani Santa Monica, CA 90402

Dr. Daryush Haghighi Rocky River, OH 44116 [Page 25]

جامعه بهائی و سازمان ملل متحد

BAHÁ’ÍS AND THE UNITED NATIONS

تاریخ فعالیت‌های جامعه جهانی بهائی ایالات متحده برای گسترش تعالیم امر بهائی دربارهٔ نظم جهانی و ایجاد ارتباط با سازمان ملل متحد نمودار چگونگی کارکرد نظم اداری بهائی است که در حال حاضر شکوفائی بیشتری حاصل کرده است.

به عنوان مثال، محفل روحانی ملی مسؤولیت‌ها و وظائف مهمی به بعضی از محافل روحانی محلی تفویض کرد که با سازمان ملل متحد در ارتباط باشند.

در تاریخ ۲۵ آپریل سال ۱۹۴۵ کنفرانس متفقین در سان فرانسیسکو تشکیل شد و در ‎در تا تا‎ ۲۵ جون همان سال منشور سازمان ملل تهیه شد و در ماه اکتبر سال مذکور به تصویب رسید.

در ماه مارچ آن سال محفل روحانی ملی ایالات متحده و کانادا از محفل روحانی سان‌فرانسیسکو خواست نقشه‌ای تهیه کند و در کنفرانس مذکور تعالیم بهائی را دربارهٔ صلح جهانی ارائه دهد.

بدین منظور هیئتی برای نقشهٔ صلح جهانی انتخاب شد. هیئت مذکور مسؤولیت تهیه برنامه‌هائی برای پخش از رادیو و تشکیل جلسات عمومی و چاپ مواد مربوطه را بر عهده داشت.

حضرت ولی عزیز امرالله در یکی از توقیعات مبارکه از خدمات یاران به ویژه برنامه‌های رادیوئی اظهار خشنودی فرمودند و آنها را نشان بلوغ جامعه بهائی دانستند.

هیکل مبارک خود طی مراسلاتی که بعدها به World Order Letters موسوم شد از سال ۱۹۲۹ تا ۱۹۳۶ موضع امر مبارک را دربارهٔ نظم جهانی ارائه فرموده بودند.

محفل روحانی ملی ایالات متحده و کانادا نیز موضوع نظم جهانی و صلح را مورد تأکید قرار می‌داد و بدین منظور از سال ۱۹۲۵ تا ۱۹۲۷ یک سلسله کنفرانس با عنوان ”کنفرانس‌های وحدت جهان“ تشکیل داد که نخستین آن در سان‌فرانسیسکو برگزار شد و در آن افراد برجسته‌ای شرکت داشتند.

احبای غرب ایالات متحده نیز در بحبوحه جنگ جهانی دوم خدماتی در زمینه نظم جهانی و صلح به عمل می‌آوردند.

مثلاً در یک برنامه رادیوئی که به همت احباء در سان‌فرانسیسکو تهیه شده بود دادستان کل ایالت کالیفرنیا شرکت داشت. همین دادستان روز ۲۴ سپتامبر سال ۱۹۴۳ در کنفرانسی با عنوان ”اساس نژادی نظم جهانی“ شرکت کرده بود که در آن ایادی امرالله خانم دوروتی بیکر Dorothy Baker نیز شرکت داشت. به دنبال این کنفرانس سه کنفرانس دیگر نیز در یکی از هتل‌های سان‌فرانسیسکو تشکیل گردید.

در زمانی که کنفرانس متفقین برگزار می‌شد محفل روحانی ملی روز ۲۹ آپریل سال ۱۹۴۵ جلسه‌ای عمومی دربارهٔ حتمی بودن صلح جهانی در محل مشرق‌الاذکار ترتیب داد.

به دنبال این جلسه کنفرانس‌های دیگری دربارهٔ صلح در سان فرانسیسکو و تورانتو و شیکاگو تشکیل گردید. افراد برجسته‌ای چون ایادی امرالله جناب لیروی آیواس Leroy Ioas و نیز جناب هوراس هولی Horace Holley و خانم مرضیه گیل در این کنفرانس‌ها شرکت داشتند.

اولین ارتباط رسمی جامعه بهائی با سازمان ملل متحد با تقاضای محفل روحانی ملی جهت عضویت در آن سازمان به عنوان یک سازمان غیردولتی صورت گرفت.

در بهار سال ۱۹۴۷ جامعه بهائی رسماً به سازمان ملل پیوست و محفل ملی سمت ناظر را بر عهده گرفت و در همین سمت بود که بیانیه‌ای تحت عنوان ”اظهاریه بهائی دربارهٔ وظائف و حقوق انسانی“ تقدیم آن سازمان داشت. وصول آن بیانیه را سازمان ملل در تاریخ ۲۰ مارچ سال ۱۹۴۷ اعلان داشت.

حضرت ولی امرالله در مرقومه‌ای به تاریخ ۹ می همان سال رضایت خود را از اظهاریه محفل روحانی ملی اظهار فرمودند و اهدافی برای جامعه بهائی در رابطه با سازمان ملل متحد معین نمودند که از جمله آنها شناساندن امر مبارک به عنوان بنیادی برای وحدت بخشیدن به مردم جهان و ایجاد ارتباط با افراد روشنفکر و مترقی از کشورهای گوناگون جهان بود.

بدین ترتیب محفل روحانی ملی نیز هیئتی با عنوان ”لجنة سازمان ملل“ تعیین کرد که هدف آن معرفی امر مبارک در سازمان ملل بود.

همچنین محفل روحانی ملی فردی را به عنوان ناظر معین کرد که بتواند در کنفرانس‌هائی که شرکت در آن برای سازمان‌های غیردولتی آزاد بود شرکت داشته باشد.

در همان سال حضرت ولی امرالله از طریق بیانیه‌ای با هیئت ویژهٔ سازمان ملل متحد برای فلسطین ارتباط برقرار فرمودند. بیانیهٔ مذکور در پاسخ به تقاضای هیئت ویژه که از موقعیت امر مبارک سؤال کرده بود صادر شد.

بیانیهٔ مذکور حائز اهمیت فراوان بود زیرا سازمان ملل امین و قیّم ارض اقدس شده بود که اماکن مقدسه و همچنین مرکز اداری امر بهائی در آن قرار دارد.

بیانیهٔ حضرت ولی امرالله در اکتبر سال ۱۹۴۷ در مجلۀ بهائی World Order به چاپ رسید و بعدها به صورت جزوه‌ای با عنوان The Faith of Bahá’u’lláh منتشر شد.

در همان شماره مجلۀ وُرلـد أوردر World Order بیانیه‌ای از محفل مقدس روحانی ملی راجع به حقوق زنان درج شد که به کمیسیون سازمان ملل ویژهٔ زنان تسلیم شده بود.

آفریقای جنوبی
در طی دو نقشه تبلیغی که در Venda و راستنبرگ Rustenburg در خلال تعطیلات مدارس به اجرا در آمد ۳۰ نفر به امر حضرت بهاءالله اقبال کردند. تعداد معتنابهی از جوانان با اجرای برنامه‌های گوناگون موسیقی در این نقشهٔ تبلیغی شرکت داشتند.

مواد لازم برای تازه تصدیقان

NEW BELIEVERS’ MATERIAL

چنان که دوستان عزیز آگاهی دارند پس از اینکه تازه‌تصدیقی تسجیل می‌شود، محفل روحانی ملی ورود او را به جامعه بهائی خوش‌آمد می‌گوید و پاکتی شامل اطلاعات و مواد لازمی که باید هر فرد بهائی از آن آگاه باشد برای شخص مذکور ارسال می‌دارد.

محفل روحانی ملی در طی یک سال گذشته تغییراتی در خوش‌آمدگوئی به تازه‌تصدیقان و موادی که به آنان فرستاده می‌شود فراهم آورده است.

در حال حاضر موادی که به تازه‌تصدیقان فرستاده می‌شود حاوی جزوه‌ای مقدماتی در معرفی امر مبارک و کارت‌هائی است که اطلاعات اصلی در آن درج شده است.

علاوه بر این محفل روحانی ملی در تابستان گذشته موادی آموزشی حاوی نوار صوتی و جزوهٔ راهنمائی تحت عنوان ”ما بهائی هستیم: از تازه‌تصدیق تا مبلغ جدید“ تهیه نمود و به محافل محلی ارسال داشت.

بسیاری از یاران از دریافت مواد جدید اظهار خشنودی کرده و از آن در کلاس‌های ویژه استفاده نموده‌اند.

به عنوان مثال در فیلادلفیا و حومۀ آن با استفاده از مواد مذکور کلاس‌هائی برای تازه‌تصدیقان تشکیل شد که با توفیق همراه بود و منجر به تصدیق سه نفر گردید. به نظر می‌رسد که تازه‌تصدیقان با استفاده از مواد جدید توانسته‌اند کسان دیگری را به جلسات تبلیغی دعوت نمایند.

از دیگر نقاط ایالات متحده نیز از جمله جمعیت‌های بهائی گزارش داده‌اند که مواد جدید مورد استقبال احباء قرار گرفته است و بسیاری تقاضای دریافت آن را کرده‌اند.

این مواد را می‌توان از طریق مؤسسهٔ توزیع آثار امری خریداری کرد.

حظيرة القدس بهائی رالی

BAHÁ’Í CENTER IN RALEIGH

به تازگی احبای شهر رالی در ایالت کرولاینای شمالی North Carolina محلی برای حظیرة القدس بهائی خریدند که گزارش آن در صفحه اول یکی از روزنامه‌های محلی Raleigh News & Observer درج شد.

احباء ساختمان حظیرة القدس را که در مرکز شهر واقع است از یک کلیسا خریدند.

در مقالهٔ مفصلی که در روزنامه مذکور چاپ شد اطلاعاتی دربارهٔ تاریخ و تشکیلات بهائی و اصول معتقدات با تأکید راجع به وحدت نوع انسان درج گردیده بود. در این مقاله نوشته شده بود:

”بهائیان این مرکز را وسیله‌ای برای هماهنگی نژادی تلقی می‌کنند... و در نظر دارند که در آن مرکز سمینارهائی دربارهٔ مسائل نژادی برگزار کنند و یک کتابخانه و یک کتابفروشی در زیرزمین ساختمان دائر کنند و کلاس‌هائی برای پدر و مادرها ترتیب دهند و حتی محلی برای استفاده از کامپیوتر برای کودکانی که در محله‌های فقیرتر زندگی می‌کنند در نظر بگیرند.“ [Page 26]

PERSIAN

MESSAGES FROM THE WORLD CENTER ترجمه

پیام بیت العدل اعظم

مورخ ۸ آگست ۱۹۹۶

پیام مورخ ۲۸ جولای ۱۹۹۶ به مناسبت دهمین سالگرد "اجتماع مردان سیاهپوست" که در مؤسسه بهائی لوئیس گرگوری منعقد گردیده بسیار مؤثر واقع شد. روح وحدت و یگانگی جهانی مندمج در این پیام از طرف جمعی که بطور روزمره تحت فشار تنگ نظری فرهنگی کسانی هستند که با آنان کار و زندگی می کنند، حالت تسلیمی که با ایمان و ایقان به پروردگار عالمیان اظهار شده، شدت تمایلشان به مراعات صداقت اخلاقی، روشن بینی آنان در درک اصول اساسی نقشهٔ چهارساله در بارهٔ افراد و مؤسسات امری و جامعه، و اهتزازات دوستانه معاشرت و مؤانست با یکدیگر جملگی سبب تحسین و تقدیر این مشتاقان گردید. از اینکه این اجتماع سبب شده است که نفوسی داوطلب مهاجرت و سفرهای تبلیغی به افریقا شوند و چهار تعهدی که در توکیل نفوس تقبل شده است حاکی از حدّت هوشیاری و آگاهی آنان نسبت به وظایف خاصی است که بر عهدهٔ احبای افریقائی تبار قرار گرفته تا کمک‌های لازم را به قاره‌ای که از آن برخاسته‌اند بنمایند. این روحیه و اقدامات قطعاً سبب سرور روح حضرت ولی امرالله در ملکوت ابهیٰ می گردد زیرا صمیمانه مشتاق بودند که چنین اقداماتی از طرف احبای سیاه پوست آمریکا روز افزون باشد.

برگزاری این اجتماع و نتایج حاصله از آن را صمیمانه تمجید مینمائیم و یاران عزیزی را که در این اجتماع شرکت نمودند اطمینان میدهیم که با ادعیهٔ خالصانه از آستان مقدس ملتمسیم که آنچه را در سبیل خدمت به امر الهی خواستارند با تأییدات متتابعهٔ جمال اقدس ابهیٰ بنحوی شکوهمند تحقق یابد.

با تحیّات ابدع ابهیٰ بیت العدل اعظم

ترجمه

نامهٔ دارالانشاء بیت العدل اعظم

خطاب به محفل روحانی ملی بهائیان ایالات متحده آمریکای شمالی مورخ ۲۶ سپتمبر ۱۹۹۶

یاران عزیز الهی، وصول مکتوب مورّخ ۳۱ می ۱۹۹۶ آن محفل به ساحت رفیع همراه با گزارش نهائی امور مالی مربوط به دومین کنگرهٔ جهانی بهائی و مسؤولیتهائی که بعهدهٔ آن محفل بوده موجب امتنان گشت.

توجه و دقتی که آن محفل در انجام این وظیفه بسیار پیچیده مبذول نموده و کوششهایی که تا مرحلهٔ نهائی تهیهٔ صورتحساب تفصیلی جمیع امور مالی مربوط به آن ادامه یافته مورد تقدیر و تحسین وفیر بیت العدل اعظم است.

در صفحه ۱۰ نشریه آمریکن بهائی، مورخ ۷ فوریه ۱۹۹۳، تحت عنوان "محفل روحانی ملی به مسائل مربوط به سفر به کنگرهٔ جهانی و اقامت در هتل ها رسیدگی مینماید" چنین اظهار شده بود که "در این امور محفل روحانی ملی تفحص و رسیدگی کامل خواهد کرد و متعهد است که راه حل‌های مناسبی بیابد". در تاریخ ۳ فوریه ۱۹۹۳ در متحدالمالی که آن محفل به جمیع محافل روحانی محلّی ارسال نمود بودند اقداماتی را که برای رفع مسائل مزبور در جریان بود شرح داده و اظهار داشته بودند که "پاره‌ای از ترتیباتی که برای کنگره جهانی داده شده بود سبب ناراحتی فوق العادهٔ برخی از یاران الهی که برای این مؤتمر عظیم ثبت نام نموده بودند شده است." و اضافه نموده بودند که آن محفل "پس از خاتمه رسیدگی گزارش نتایج حاصله را در نشریهٔ آمریکن بهائی و نیز بوسیلهٔ متحدالمال به اطلاع عموم یاران خواهند رسانید."

با انتشار شرحی که در صفحه ۷ گزارش سالانهٔ رضوان ۱۹۹۶ که در نشریه "آمریکن بهائی" درج شده تعهد مزبور انجام گرفته است.

ولکن بیت العدل اعظم از اظهار نظرهای افراد مختلف استنباط نموده‌اند که علاوه بر نفوسی که به نحوهٔ ادارهٔ امور کنگره و جریانات مالی آن اعتراض داشتند تعدادی از یاران الهی در آمریکا گرچه به هیچ وجه نحوهٔ عمل آن محفل را مورد انتقاد قرار نداده‌اند اما انتظار داشته‌اند که شرح روشنی از کلیهٔ وجوهی که برای کنگرهٔ جهانی دریافت و پرداخت شده بود دریافت نمایند و به اشتباه از اعلامیهٔ قبلی آن محفل اینطور برداشت کرده بودند که آن محفل تعهد نموده اند که صورت حساب تفصیلی را منتشر نمایند.

با این همه پیشنهاد بیت العدل اعظم این نیست که آن محفل صورتحساب تفصیلی را منتشر نمایند زیرا صورتحساب مزبور حاوی دو نوع ارقام است، یکی مربوط به اقدامات آن محفل یعنی قرار داد با مؤسسهٔ CTC (کوپریت تراول کانسالتنتز) و جمیع ترتیبات مربوط به مسافرت و اقامت شرکت کنندگان است و دیگری مربوط به اقلامی است از بودجه‌ای که مرکز جهانی بهائی در اختیار آن محفل قرار داده بوده تأمین گردیده و مربوط به امور دیگری از قبیل ترتیب دادن کنگره و برگزاری جلسات آن است که حسابداری اقلام مربوط به آن مخارج در مرکز جهانی بهائی انجام گرفته است.

چنانچه آن محفل استفسار یا اعتراض جدیدی در بارهٔ عملیات مالی کنگره دریافت نمایند معهد اعلیٰ آن محفل را مختار میدانند که در پاسخ مجدداً اظهار همانطور که در گزارش سالانهٔ آن محفل ذکر شده با دقت فراوان که مورد رضایت بیت العدل اعظم واقع شده و مورد رسیدگی قرار گرفته و سایر مخارج مربوط به تشکیل کنگره مزبور مستقیماً از طرف مرکز جهانی بهائی تأمین گردیده و بوسیلهٔ بیت العدل اعظم بررسی و تصویب شده است.

بیت العدل اعظم در صفحه ۲ گزارشی که توسط جناب جفری ویلسن در ۶ می ۱۹۹۶ به آن محفل تقدیم شده است ملاحظه نموده‌اند که دفتر امین صندوق آن محفل مبلغ دویست و هفتاد و چهار هزار دلار را در حساب جداگانه‌ای که به آن بهره تعلق می گیرد کنار گذاشته‌اند تا در صورت لزوم برای پرداخت مالیات محلی مصرف شود و پیشنهاد شده است که این مبلغ و بهره‌ائی که به آن تعلق گرفته در پایان مهلت قانونی که در تاریخ ۳۰ جون ۱۹۹۶ منقضی شده است به مرکز جهانی بهائی منتقل گردد. بیت العدل اعظم از این پیشنهاد قدردانی می‌نمایند و اظهار می‌دارند که مناسب‌تر آن است که آن محفل مبلغ مزبور و منافع آن را در برابر مبالغ گزافی که بابت اجرت‌ها و سایر هزینه‌های مربوط به تسویه حساب با مؤسسهٔ CTC مصرف نموده‌اند به صندوق ملّی خود انتقال دهند.

با تحیّات ابدع ابهیٰ دارالانشاء بیت العدل اعظم

تشکیل محافل روحانی در رضوان

ALL ASSEMBLIES TO BE FORMED AT RIDVAN

بیت العدل اعظم الهی در پیام مورخ ۳۱ دیسمبر سال ۱۹۹۵ خطاب به بهائیان عالم اعلام فرمودند که از رضوان سال ۱۹۹۷ انتخاب اعضای همهٔ محافل روحانی محلی باید روز اول رضوان صورت گیرد. به فرمودهٔ معهد اعلیٰ: "برای وصول به هدف تقویت و بلوغ محافل روحانی لازم است که اصل ضروری انتخاب محافل مزبور رعایت گردد زیرا مسؤولیت انتخاب محافل اصولاً بر عهدهٔ احبای محلی است."

از رضوان سال ۱۹۹۷ احبای تعدادی از جوامع امری، به ویژه جوامع روستائی که تبلیغ دسته جمعی در آن به عمل آمده بود، از جانب معهد اعلیٰ اجازه یافته بودند که در صورتی که برایشان مقدور نباشد محافل روحانی را در روز اول رضوان تشکیل دهند، تشکیل محفل را در خلال ایام عید رضوان صورت دهند.

تشکیل محافل بدین نحو مستلزم این بود که چند تن از احبای خدوم و فداکار از نقطه‌ای به نقطهٔ دیگر سفر کنند و هر جا بیش از ۹ نفر بهائی یافت شود احبای محل را تشویق نمایند که محفل روحانی را تشکیل دهند.

هر چند اینگونه کوشش‌ها به تشکیل محافل می‌انجامید، در بسیاری از موارد آشکار بود که اقدام به تشکیل محفل از جانب احبای محل صورت نمی گرفت بلکه از خارج تشویق و حمایت می‌شد.

حال که بیت العدل اعظم الهی دوباره مقرر فرموده‌اند که محفل روحانی روز اول عید رضوان تشکیل شود محفل روحانی ملی از همهٔ یاران و مؤسسات امری به ویژه در جوامع روستائی درخواست می‌نماید همت خود را بذل آشنا ساختن احباء با جریان انتخابات بهائی نمایند.

از جمله مواد لازم برای تزیید معلومات احباء دربارهٔ اهمیت محافل و تأسیس آنها عبارت است از: مجموعهٔ نصوص دربارهٔ محافل روحانی محلی و همچنین بخش اول و دوم از مجموعهٔ ‎Distictive Distinctive‎ Bahá’í Communities بعلاوه هر یک از محافل و نیز جمعیت‌های بهائی که تعداد اعضای آن پنج نفر یا بیشتر باشد در آینده نزدیک موادی حاوی اطلاعات لازم برای تشکیل محافل روحانی محلی دریافت خواهند نمود و مطالب مشابهی نیز در یکی از شماره‌های آیندهٔ نشریهٔ "آمریکن بهائی" درج خواهد شد. [Page 27]

IN MEMORIAM

Shada Bashirelahi

Nine-year-old Bahá’í presents essay on Bahá’u’lláh at school

On November 1, Shada Bashirelahi, a nine-year-old Bahá’í from Scottsdale, Arizona, was asked by her teacher to prepare a biography of one of her favorite people, and to dress in a costume that would best describe that person.

Shada chose Bahá’u’lláh, and with help from her mother wrote an essay and assembled an appropriate costume.

On the chosen day, dressed in her special outfit, Shada read to her teacher and classmates about the life of Bahá’u’lláh and the basic beliefs of His followers, the Bahá’ís.

Afterward, she gave her teacher two framed tablets, one from Bahá’u’lláh and the other from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in which They praise the work of teachers. They praise the work of teachers.

Southern states

Continued from Page 16

“The atmosphere of true love and unity which they manifest within the Bahá’í community will directly affect the public, and be the greatest magnet for attracting people to the Faith and confirming them.”—Written on behalf of the Guardian, quoted in Unlocking the Power of Action

“At this time and at this period, we must avail ourselves of this most great opportunity. We must not sit inactive for one moment; we must sever ourselves from composure, rest, tranquillity, goods, property, life, and attachment to material things. We must sacrifice everything to His Highness, the Possessor of existence, so that the powers of the Kingdom may show greater penetration and the brilliant effulgence in this New Cycle may illumine the worlds of minds and ideals.”—‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablet to the Bahá’ís of the Southern States

Conference in English
Memorial Day weekend, May 24-25, in Chicago. Theme: “Persian Roots: Ancient to Today”—cultural, religious, literary, philosophical. The conference is being held parallel to and is sponsored by the Friends of Persian Culture Association’s seventh annual conference in Chicago. For information or to register, phone 847-733-3528 or e-mail

Faith has greater presence at AAR conference

During last year’s conference of the American Academy of Religion and Society for Biblical Literature, the Institute for Bahá’í Studies coordinated the largest and most complex representation of the Faith yet attempted at that annual event.

The conference, held November 22-26 in New Orleans, brought nearly 9,000 professors and scholars of biblical and religious studies together to hear some 1,000 professional talks, tour hundreds of exhibits, and attend scores of receptions.

The meeting of the Religious Education Association was also held at the same time, and the first systematic effort to introduce the Faith to that gathering was also undertaken.

On November 22 the Bahá’ís of New Orleans hosted a deepening at the Bahá’í Center at which the purpose of Bahá’í participation in the AAR, and the importance of Bahá’í scholarship, were discussed.

The following evening, Connie Chen and her parents hosted an informal cajun-style dinner and gathering at their home for Bahá’ís and their guests.

On November 24, the first gathering of the Bahá’í Studies Colloquy was held with 16 people attending. Mikhail Yu. Sergeev, a graduate student at Temple University in Philadelphia, spoke on “The Sophiology of [Russian mystic philosopher] Nicholas Berdyaev and the Bahá’í Teachings.”

His talk was followed by one on “Bahá’í Worship as Remembering and Forgetting,” by Christopher White, a doctoral candidate at the Harvard University Divinity School.

From 2 to 3 p.m. November 25, Saba Nolley and Barbara Johnson gave a presentation at the Religious Education Association on spiritual education from a Bahá’í perspective, based on the Core Curriculum program developed by the National Education Task Force, of which both are members. The program was better attended than either of the Bahá’í Studies Colloquy programs.

At 4 p.m. Dr. Robert Stockman made a presentation on “Millennialism and the Bahá’í Faith: Progressive and Catastrophic Themes” to an audience of 25, most of whom were not Bahá’ís, at the Millennialism Studies Colloquium.

At 7 o’clock that evening, 12 people attended the second Bahá’í Studies Colloquy at the AAR. Dr. Paula Drewek, a professor of religious studies at Macomb Community College in Michigan, spoke on “Exploring a New Religious Landscape: Indian Women Breaking Boundaries,” and Dr. Michael McMullen, a sociologist at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, spoke about “Teaching the Cause of God: Empirical Evidence of Evangelism from the Bahá’í Faith.”

In addition to its presentations, the Institute for Bahá’í Studies staffed an exhibit at the American Academy of Religion’s book display area. Most of the 9,000 people attending the AAR/SBL conference came through the area to view its 100-200 exhibits.

The Institute distributed about 50 copies of “The Bahá’ís” magazine, gave away various other free publications, and sold $250 worth of literature.

Next year’s AAR/SBL conference, to be held in San Francisco, will coincide with the annual meeting of the Middle East Studies Association.

Those who are interested in speaking at the Bahá’í Studies Colloquy or simply attending the programs should contact the Institute for Bahá’í Studies, Bahá’í National Center, Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-733-3425; e-mail

Bahá’ís turn Maine’s Eliot Festival Day into ‘universal participation’ event

Eliot (Maine) Festival Day doubled as “universal participation day” for area Bahá’ís.

From the oldest believer, who made the lovely paper flowers given away at the Bahá’í booth, to the youngest, who rode and sang on the Bahá’í float in the parade, there was something for every Bahá’í to do.

The theme chosen by the Eliot Festival Committee was recycling.

At the Bahá’í booth, the friends took turns answering questions about the Faith and giving away literature.

The Bahá’í float, built by friends from Eliot, South Berwick and York, bore the message that “recycling takes many forms both material and spiritual.”

The “golden rule” from each of the world religions was printed on a huge rainbow supported by the rays of an 11-foot-high sun. A Bahá’í sign was held in front of the truck, and in back Mike and Bev Rogers led the Bahá’ís in singing “Follow the Golden Rule.”

For good reason, the float won first prize.

That evening, the Bahá’í community hosted the Festival Day bean supper at the Methodist church. The supper is a Festival Day tradition and a warm collaboration between church members and the Bahá’ís.

Bahá’í children, in particular, earned praise from attendees for their efficiency and manners in serving the food and clearing the tables.

The grand finale was an hysterically funny performance by the Bahá’í community comedy team, the Three Maine Amigos.

Helen Underhill, Bahá’í poet, celebrates her 99th birthday

Helen Underhill, a Bahá’í for 49 years and a poet most of her life, celebrated her 99th birthday with many of her friends last August 23 in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

The “public” event at a local restaurant turned into a wonderful teaching opportunity, drawing people from the community and resulting in three newspaper articles, two of which highlighted her active involvement as a Bahá’í.

Miss Underhill started writing poems as a six-year-old, encouraged by her father who was known as “Philadelphia’s blind negro poet.”

She published her first book of poetry, God Speaks, at age 80, and is working on a third volume (the second is entitled Lotus Flower).

Funds

Continued from Page 9 bly concern. The American Bahá’í community is one of the chief pillars of the International Fund; in light of the tremendous amount of work that needs to be done internationally, this level may prove wholly inadequate to the task. Likewise, the Continental Bahá’í Fund, which underwrites much of the work of the Continental Board of Counselors and their Auxiliary Boards for Protection and Propagation, has lagged, reaching a total of $214,000 at the end of December. “...our contributions to the Faith are the surest way of lifting once and for all time the burden of hunger and misery from mankind, for it is only through the system of Bahá’u’lláh—Divine in origin—that the world can be gotten on its feet and want, fear, hunger, war, etc., be eliminated.” (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)

The Guardian and the Universal House of Justice have strongly urged the Bahá’ís to treat the Greatest Name with the utmost respect and dignity. The National Spiritual Assembly discourages the use of the Greatest Name in contacts with the media. It is not advisable for Bahá’ís to pose for newspaper photographs holding the Greatest Name or portraits of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

IN MEMORIAM

John Anderson Arnold, MD November 24, 1996	Todd Cruikshank Londonderry, NH August 31, 1996	Everett A. Hite Warsaw, IN August 30, 1996	Tom Singer New York, NY December 11, 1996
Olive Applegate Folsom, CA November 19, 1996	Carolyn DesGranges Dorchester, MA November 26, 1996	Jeffrey Mondschein Haifa, Israel December 8, 1996	Abdul-Hosein Vahidi Herndon, VA February 7, 1996
Shokat R. Badiee Eugene, OR May 30, 1996	Florine Dukes San Jose, CA December 10, 1996	Milton L. Norman Carlsbad, CA November 8, 1996	Emery C. Wafford Elizabethtown, KY December 14, 1996
Kristen Brewer San Francisco, CA December 2, 1996	James M. Glenn Indianapolis, IN November 20, 1996	Baharieh Sabzevari Prescott, AZ November 4, 1996	Asenath Weaver Gaithersburg, MD December 28, 1996
Floyd Burch Veneta, OR November 23, 1996	Sabelle D. Gray Hollywood, FL October 7, 1996

[Page 28]

CALENDAR

Last November, 10 children were among those who took part in the first day-long celebration in Fort Collins, Colorado, of the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh. The theme was ‘We ALL Love Bahá’u’lláh.’ The children began the day with prayers and songs praising Bahá’u’lláh, then made decorations using the titles of Bahá’u’lláh. Other activities included watching ‘Rainbow Wars,’ an anti-prejudice film for children; discussing unity in diversity while decorating ‘people of the world’ cookies; memorizing titles of Bahá’u’lláh, and listening to stories about His childhood.

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):
1. __________________ I.D.# ____________ Title ________	2. __________________ I.D.# ____________ Title ________
3. __________________ I.D.# ____________ Title ________	4. __________________ I.D.# ____________ Title ________
B. NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS:	C. NEW MAILING ADDRESS:
__________________________________________ Street address	__________________________________________ P.O. Box or Other mailing address
__________________________________________ Apartment # (If applicable)	__________________________________________ Apartment # (If applicable)
__________________________________________ City	__________________________________________ City
____________________ ________ ____________ State Zip code	____________________ ________ ____________ State Zip code
D. NEW COMMUNITY:	E. HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER:
____________________ ____________ Name of new Bahá’í Community Moving date	(______) ____________ ____________ Area code Phone number Name
F. WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER(S):
(______) ____________ ____________ Area code Phone number Name	(______) ____________ ____________ Area code Phone number Name
G. WE RECEIVE EXTRA COPIES BECAUSE:	H. I WOULD LIKE A COPY:
[ ] we do not have the same last name. We do not want extra copies, so please cancel the copy for the person(s) and I.D. number(s) listed above.	[ ] the last names and addresses on our address labels do not match. We have listed above the full names of all family members as they should appear on the national records, their I.D. numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive only one copy.
[ ] Our household receives only one copy of The American Bahá’í. I wish to receive my own copy. I have listed my name, I.D. number and address above.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

For information about events sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly or its agencies at the Bahá’í National Center, please phone 847-869-9039 and ask for the relevant department. The numbers for the permanent Bahá’í schools and institutes are as follows: Bosch Bahá’í School, phone 408-423-3387; fax 408-423-7564; e-mail bosch@world.net; Green Acre Bahá’í School, phone 207-439-7200; fax 207-439-7202; e-mail greenacre@world.net; Louhelen Bahá’í School, phone 810-653-5033; fax 810-653-7181; e-mail louhelen@world.net; Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, phone 803-558-5093; fax 803-558-9114; e-mail lgbi@world.net; Native American Bahá’í Institute, phone/fax 520-521-1063; e-mail nabi@world.net.

FEBRUARY

13-16: Bahá’í Winter School, Poland. Theme: “Preparation for Teaching.” For information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center.

14-16: “China and the Emerging World Order of Bahá’u’lláh,” exploring Chinese culture and the Bahá’í Faith with Charles Pau, Green Acre Bahá’í School. Saturday evening program includes film discussion and social.

14-16: North Dakota Bahá’í School. Contact Rosalin Chrest, Minot, ND 58701 (phone 701-839-1015).

14-17: Core Curriculum Race Unity Facilitator Training Session, Louhelen Bahá’í School. Also, Marriage and Family Life, retreat for couples, with Joannie and James Yuille.

14-17: Black Heritage session with Bonnie Taylor and Dr. Richard Thomas, Bosch Bahá’í School. Also, reports on the Black Men’s Gathering and Black ‎Sister's Sisters’‎ Gathering.

21-23: Institute on Training Institutes, Green Acre Bahá’í School, with veteran teacher and pioneer Ruth Hampson sharing models and strategies for developing effective Training Institutes. Special discounts for local Assemblies that send three or more community members.

21-23: “Profound Faith and Freedom of Thought: Toward the Development of Bahá’í Scholarship,” a conference sponsored by the Association for Bahá’í Studies, Northern California Regional Committee, Bosch Bahá’í School. To include the arts, panel discussions, workshops, papers, presentations and performances. Please send abstracts for papers and presentations and all program inquiries to Brian Miller, La Selva Beach, CA 95076 (phone 408-688-0221; e-mail). To register, contact the school.

21-23: Agriculture Seminar with Billy Rogers and Nancy McIntyre, sponsored by the Association for Bahá’í Studies, Louhelen Bahá’í School.

21-23: Second International Native Council, Guaymi area of Soloy, Panama. For information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-733-3511; fax 847-733-3509; e-mail). Please let the Office of Pioneering know if you will be traveling overseas for any reason.

28-March 2: Renewing the Spirit of the Fortress for Well-Being, Part II, Bosch Bahá’í School.

28-March 2: “Prayer and Fasting: Pillars That Sustain the Law of God,” with Christopher White, Louhelen Bahá’í School.

MARCH

7: Race Unity Conference, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, sponsored by the Five-College Bahá’í Club (UM, Smith, Hampshire, Amherst, Greenfield Community College). Speakers to include Drs. Robert Henderson and Joy Leary. For information, please contact Ali Anastasio, 413-256-2948.

7-9: Spiritual Retreat for the Fast, facilitated by Dr. Tahereh Ahdieh, Green Acre Bahá’í School.

7-13: Elderhostel and Writers’ Workshop, Bosch Bahá’í School.

21-23: A Weekend with the Ruhes (David and Margaret), Green Acre Bahá’í School.

21-23: Personal Transformation, with Auxiliary Board member Bill Wieties and concert pianist Mark Ochu, Louhelen Bahá’í School.

22-25: Children’s Academy I (grades 4, 5, 6 only), Bosch Bahá’í School.

28-30: Persian Gathering for Bahá’ís from Kashan, Bosch Bahá’í School.

28-30: Eagle Institute, “The Bahá’í Life,” with Layli Miller Bashir and Dr. Roshan Bashir, Louhelen Bahá’í School. Also, Growth and Transformation for Bahá’í Groups and Assemblies, with Dr. Hoda Mahmoudi.

31-April 3: Children’s Academy II (grades 4, 5, 6 only), Bosch Bahá’í School.

APRIL

11-13: Youth and the Arts, Bosch Bahá’í School. Also, Surfing the Net with facilitator Carl Fravel, Bosch Bahá’í School.

11-13: “The Pupil of the Eye,” with Bonnie Taylor and Gwen Clayborne, Louhelen Bahá’í School.

17-20: Women’s Awakening, Bosch Bahá’í School. For information, contact Melissa Whitaker, 408-730-8463.

18-20: Renewing the Spirit of the Fortress for Well-Being, Part III, Bosch Bahá’í School.

MAY

9-11: Core Curriculum Race Unity Facilitator Training Session, Louhelen Bahá’í School.

24-25: Friends of Persian Culture Association, seventh annual conference, Chicago, Illinois. Parallel conference (in English) on “Persian Roots: Ancient to Today.” For information or to register, phone 847-733-3528 or e-mail.

30-June 1: Core Curriculum Teacher Trainer and Parent Facilitator Training Sessions, Louhelen Bahá’í School.

BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER 112 Linden Avenue Wilmette, IL 60091

MULK B.E. 153 / FEBRUARY 7, 1997