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[Page 1]THE American Bahá’í

Volume 28, Number 9 / Qawl B.E. 154 / November 23, 1997

Local teaching underpins national plan

Every Bahá’í community has a pivotal role in the unprecedented national teaching campaign that is unfolding over the next few months, according to a task force organizing the effort.

But plenty of support and materials will be available, especially for local proclamation, public information and handling responses to planned national cable TV broadcasts.

“There are three important things local communities should be planning for in this campaign: local proclamation efforts, intensifying firesides, and devotional meetings,” said Ken Bowers, secretary of the National Teaching Committee. “If at all possible, the proclamation efforts should focus on race unity, the theme of the video to be broadcast first.”

Within a few weeks, each local Spiritual Assembly will receive a videotape outlining the campaign—the first-ever coordinated effort to spread the teachings using nationwide media—and shedding light on grass-roots action Bahá’ís need to take to assure its success.

National Spiritual Assembly agencies are busy arranging essential parts of the campaign, including a toll-free telephone line and an Internet site for the public to seek more information about the Faith.

The centerpiece of national mass media efforts—national cable television broadcasts of “The Vision of Race Unity” and other video programs—has been rescheduled for March, so the Bahá’ís nationwide have more time to gear up for the campaign.

But months before national broadcasts begin, the programs will be available for communities to buy at low cost and offer for airing on local stations.

“The Power of Race Unity,” which has generated steady response since early summer in Atlanta, Georgia, was to be ready for distribution this month.

Two more programs are in the planning stages. A video on the theme of prayer and worship, which like “The Power of Race Unity” is being pro-

See MEDIA, Page 35

South Florida gets a running start on its local effort: Page 13

Time of transition

National Fund deficit is a by-product of preparing for growth of the Faith

By the TREASURER’S OFFICE

The projected $1.8 million deficit in the National Bahá’í Fund announced at the Feast of Qudrat by William Davis, Treasurer of the National Spiritual Assembly, represents tangible evidence of the costs of preparing for entry by troops and a more decentralized national administration.

National Fund chart: Page 9

The figure is cause for concern, and indeed was described by Mr. Davis as a “destructive condition.” The deficit may also serve as a call to action, because the patterns of expense indicate how the National Spiritual Assembly is preparing, with the friends’ help and support, for impending growth.

Confirmed figures as of Aug. 31 show money received this fiscal year falling short of expenses by nearly $1.5 million. The $1.8 million deficit was expected by the end of October if contribution patterns remained the same.

A look at some key expense categories:

• Supplies increased $76,000 from last year, mainly due to

See FUND, Page 30

Children in a virtues class take a game break at a park in Huntington Park, California, a mostly Hispanic community where a two-year teaching and service project is paying dividends as several families embrace the Faith. See story on Page 3. (Photo by Addison Bibb)

Regional training institutes gear up for crucial tasks

By TOM MENNILLO

Eighteen months into the Four Year Plan, the establishment of regional training institutes is accelerating all across the United States.

These agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly were called into being by the Universal House of Justice in its Ridván 153 message. Their aim is to strengthen local Spiritual Assemblies, help the friends learn the fundamental verities of the Faith, and develop much-needed skills that Bahá’í institutions then can channel into service, teaching, and community activities.

Regional training institutes differ from the dozens of local institutes that have sprung up. Not only are regional institutes’ boards of directors appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly, they are sited strategically to fill specific needs or to take advantage of existing Bahá’í resources and activity.

These training institutes offer an amazing variety of courses and serve diverse audiences. And they employ a number of participatory methods of instruction, including those based on Core Curriculum and Ruhi Institute materials.

Here are glimpses of some efforts under way:

Southern States

Regional Committee member Mahyar Mofidi reports that six re-

See INSTITUTES, Page 29

Kathy Tahiri (left), new music director at the House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, auditions a singer as she prepares to activate the choir at the Temple for the first time in nearly a decade. See story on Page 13. (Photo by Piri Miller)

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

>	Want us to print your news? We provide some helpful tips	2
>	Guidance on a Bahá’í approach to traditional holidays in the U.S.	3
>	Former S. Africa pioneer wants to share the “spirit”	4
>	The Bahá’í contribution to an environmental charter	11
>	Individual Rights and Freedoms: deepening/commentary, Part 4	17-20
>	Arc building projects taking shape	22-23

[Page 2]

Tips for submitting articles to The American Bahá’í

As long ago as 1925 the beloved Guardian, in a communication to the National Spiritual Assembly, wrote that the national Bahá’í News Letter "should be made as representative as possible, should be replete with news, up-to-date in its information, and should arouse the keenest interest among believers ... in every corner of the globe."

The editorial staff of The American Bahá’í hopes to continue progressing in the spirit of that mandate, bringing the American believers not only reports of activities at the national and international levels, but also helping to inspire them with news of the many local and regional successes that build the foundation for the Kingdom of God on earth.

This second part is where you come in.

We're asking you, in a way, to don a reporter's hat when you send us material to be published. Put some thought into the stories or photographs you send, and they will shine through in their truest spirit when we pass them along to the Bahá’ís across the country.

A few guidelines to consider:

Keep it timely

Please bear in mind that from the moment we receive any article, it might not appear in The American Bahá’í in your mailbox until a month later—at the soonest. This is because of the time needed to edit, print and mail each issue.

These automatic delays make it all the more important that you:

• Alert the editors in advance by phone, letter or e-mail if something that would interest the Bahá’ís nationwide is coming up in the next two months.
• Send your articles on local events promptly, ideally within a week after the happening. In most cases, if you wait much longer the event could lose relevance.
• Be conscious of deadlines (which will be published on Page 2 of each issue). Send material so that it arrives well beforehand, when possible.

Hold reader interest

Many of these points seem obvious, but they bear stating here:

• If it makes the biggest difference, put it first. What makes your story come alive? What did your event or project do for the community, for the good of humanity, for people's hearts? Try to make your first six to 10 words contain at least some element of this most important or interesting point. You can explain in detail later in the story.
• Who, what, when, where, why, how. At least the first four of these elements should be in the first paragraph of a straight, factual report. However, the "why" or "how" often can be the most interesting part.
• Be economical with words. Rather than an exhaustive list of activities or a session-by-session narrative, focus on a few highlights that would have interest or importance to a national audience. Don't be afraid to summarize, then summarize further. But: Don't leave out places, times or full names. We'd rather have too much factual information of this type than too little.
• People like to hear from people. Once you've summarized the essentials, add a few interesting direct quotes or actions demonstrating how people feel about the subject of your article.
• Let the praise flow from the facts or quotes. For example, if an activity contributes toward meeting national or international goals, say so. If somebody feels joy or admiration, quote that person in his or her words.
• Please understand if we have to edit for length. Even your most conscientiously condensed report may not quite fit the space we have available. We promise our best efforts to maintain accuracy and stay true to the spirit of the article.

Show your faces

Photographs showing active Bahá’ís are an unequalled way for The American Bahá’í to reach straight to the hearts of its readers and foster a feeling of unity. Please keep these tips in mind:

• Show activity or emotion, clearly. The best photos often show a single activity or a singular emotion in a simple, relatively uncluttered scene. Try these tests: Does the eye naturally go toward a person or thing near the center of the photo, and do you want to keep looking at it? Does the photograph evoke an emotion or mood such as joy, excitement or empathy?
• Remember appropriateness. Photos of activities should be unrehearsed, i.e. not set up. But dignity (not stiffness) of posture, clothing and setting remain essential.
• Get as close as you can. In taking the photo, try to get close to the subject, but don't cut out tops of heads or essential parts of the action. Sometimes it's best to hold the camera vertically, rather than horizontally, to frame the best image up close. In general, compose images with some care.
• Stay in focus. Blurry images usually are unusable, so be aware of the focus and hold the camera steady.
• Try to take pictures in consistent light. Brightly lit surroundings are best, but beware of splotchy shadows in the picture—they can be distracting and cause problems in printing.
• Let the faces show. Make sure the faces in the photos you choose are well-lit and can be seen clearly against the background.
• Identify people and their activities. We don't want to guess who is doing what in a photo. Rather than writing caption information on the back of a photo, the best method is to type or write it on a separate sheet included in the mailing. If two or more photos are included, state clearly which caption belongs to each photo.
• High-quality prints or slides. We can use color or black-and-white prints or slides. Please avoid sending negatives.
• Handle with care. Mail photos in a proper envelope or with relatively stiff cardboard included to prevent folding.

Help us help you

To keep communication at its smoothest, please take the following into consideration:

• Give us a means to contact you. E-mail and telephones (especially a daytime phone number) are the fastest and often most satisfactory channels for follow-up communication, so we encourage you to provide those along with your return address.
• Understand we can't reply to every contributor. Let this stand as a blanket statement of thanks for the generosity and helpfulness of every contributor. We have so many submissions that we can't reply to every one separately and still produce the paper. However, you are welcome to call this office to confirm whether we received a particular article or photo.
• Understand we can't always promise publication. Even if we receive something before the deadline, last-minute decisions often must be made that delay publication of otherwise deserving items.
• If you want photos or documents returned: Let us know clearly which items you wish returned. Please include a suitable self-addressed envelope in your mailing if possible, and state clearly any special requirements for mailing or shipping.

The editors of The American Bahá’í plan to print these guidelines in full from time to time. However, between printings they will be available on request via mail, fax or e-mail. See below on this page for address and deadlines. The guidelines also will be available on the U.S. Bahá’í Administrative Web site (http://www.usbnc.org—you must use your Bahá’í ID number to log in).

Publication Information

THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í Published once every 38 days (plus one special issue) for a total of 10 issues a year by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611. Periodical postage paid at Evanston, IL and additional mailing offices.

ISSN Number: 1062-1113 Editor: James Humphrey Associate Editor: Tom Mennillo

Send address changes to Management Information Services, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611.

Copyright 1997 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

The American Bahá’í welcomes news, letters and other items of interest from individuals and institutions of the Bahá’í Faith.

Deadlines for upcoming issues: November 24 for the issue dated December 31. January 2 for the issue dated February 7, 1998.

Send items for possible publication to: The American Bahá’í, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-853-2373, e-mail)

Corrections

A photo caption on Page 33 of the Sept. 8 issue of The American Bahá’í wrongly identified the people in the picture. The caption should have read:

"Eric Dozier directs members of the Northeast Regional Bahá’í Gospel Choir and the Louis Gregory Institute Choir at the 87th annual Souvenir of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to America, held at the home of the Hand of the Cause of God Roy Wilhelm in Teaneck, New Jersey. The Unity Feast, patterned after the celebration during the Master’s visit in 1912, featured a reading of a talk first given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, a speech by Counselor Abdu’l-Missagh Ghadirian of Canada, and glimpses of a car in which the Master rode."

The American Bahá’í regrets the error, which was from material submitted to this paper.

• An article on Page 29 of the Sept. 8 issue of The American Bahá’í contained an error in the second paragraph, which came from material submitted to this paper. It should have read: "Robert Carcamo declared his faith in Bahá’u’lláh shortly after after that conversation, and his wife, Vanessa, his brother Guillermo, and his sister-in-law Maura soon followed...."

New institution needs the friends' prayers, support

The National Spiritual Assembly encourages the prayers and support of the Bahá’ís for the four newly elected Regional Bahá’í Councils as they usher in the newest phase of the administration of the Cause in the United States.

It is the Assembly's hope that the joy of the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh permeated the election gatherings across the country, and that this exciting development fosters a fresh and enthusiastic wave of efforts to spread the Teachings.

Because of press deadlines, election results could not be reported in this issue of The American Bahá’í. However, the Councils will be introduced to the nationwide Bahá’í community in the Dec. 31 issue. [Page 3]

Virtue, perseverance pay off in L.A. suburb

Letter from the Latin-American Task Force: Page 30

A Hispanic teaching project centered on the Los Angeles suburb of Huntington Park, California, is bearing fruit after two years of slow and careful development.

Several families, with more than 20 children among them, have declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh. They have formed an administrative group in hopes of forming a local Spiritual Assembly soon.

And what the Bahá’ís are learning there could have wide application around the country.

The priority goal city of more than 50,000 residents was adopted by a cluster of L.A.-area local Spiritual Assemblies during the Three Year Plan with the help of Auxiliary Board member Angelica Huerta and her assistants. Los Angeles later included Huntington Park in its teaching plan as an extension goal.

The Assemblies and the area’s widely scattered Hispanic Bahá’ís pooled their resources—human and material—to launch the project.

“Coming together in this unified, loving manner has really brought us the divine blessings,” Ms. Huerta said. “It’s so important to bring the Latino family into our family, because they have so much to bring,” she said.

Over time, they answered a number of questions: How can teachers approach the residents? What service can they render to a largely disadvantaged community? How can interested souls be nurtured? What Bahá’í literature is available to aid the effort?

An effective entry point has proved to be local parks and recreation centers. The Bahá’ís find it unthreatening to talk one-on-one with residents about the role God and spirituality play in their lives during difficult times.

As fears and barriers are removed, interested families are brought into virtues classes that feature hands-on activities, music and drama.

Youth and children were given the chance to consult and decide what subjects they wanted to explore, said Nazy Zargarpour Phelps, a facilitator for youth and pre-youth.

And there’s another dimension: “While the children’s classes are going on, [the adults] also talk about how to apply what the children are learning, so the lesson is not lost,” Ms. Zargarpour Phelps said.

The Bahá’ís hope to extend the virtues program into the schools, while developing a parenting course.

Then residents who declare their belief are deepened through a Ruhi-model training institute course, empowering them to arise and teach. This starts the cycle anew.

Through the Los Angeles-area media plan guided by the National Teaching Committee, more people will become aware of the Faith through radio and other media. A toll-free phone number and a response mechanism are being readied. Firesides, devotional meetings and training institute courses await those who show interest.

Meanwhile, one-on-one teaching of Hispanics is being extended as contacts are made in nearby communities such as Bell. And teaching among other goal populations such as Asians and African-Americans is increasing.

More remains to be learned, of course.

A consistent, acceptable set of language-specific literature needs to be developed. Bahá’í Centers, perhaps jointly operated and supported by several communities, would immeasurably aid the effort.

But the teaching momentum in Huntington Park is building.

Bahá’ís aiding interfaith survey

The National Spiritual Assembly is cooperating with an interfaith project aimed at assembling a profile of American religious congregations in the next three years.

The Congregational Cooperative Survey Project (CCSP) involves representatives of the Bahá’í, Islamic and Jewish communities and almost 40 Christian denominations, together encompassing about 98 percent of the religious population of the United States.

The Bahá’í Faith was represented by the Research Office of the National Spiritual Assembly at a July 23-25 meeting of the CCSP, held in Chicago, Illinois.

Bahá’í participation is a milestone in the process of emergence from obscurity. It will provide an opportunity to compare Bahá’í communities with those of other religions, allowing the Faith to measure progress made and find places where more progress is needed.

The CCSP is planning a survey of local religious congregations (in Bahá’í terms, local communities) to coincide with the next U.S. Census, from January-April 2000. The CCSP wants to assemble a survey that, with relatively minor adaptations by each religious group, can be used by all.

The plan is to have each denomination obtain completed surveys from at least 500 local congregations. Each group would process the surveys and create its own database.

The CCSP then would combine the databases to produce a survey of congregations in America, for comparison against the federal Census. It would publish the aggregate study (keeping some denominations anonymous if they desire), publicize the entire project, provide the aggregate data to each participating denomination for its own private research, and after five or ten years, set up a publicly accessible data archive.

The Indianapolis-based Lilly Foundation, the charitable arm of the pharmaceuticals company Eli Lilly, supports the program through a large grant.

At its September meeting, the National Spiritual Assembly approved continued participation in the CCSP.

A group of second-grade boys performs el Baile de los Viejos (the Dance of the Old Men) in a warmly applauded Ballet Folklorico performance at the Badlands Festival Oct. 18 in Uvalde, Texas. Sherry Reddick, a Bahá’í schoolteacher, developed the traditional dance program for Mexican-American children to help them gain self-esteem and appreciate their culture. Ms. Reddick took the opportunity to publicize the Bahá’í Faith by asking the crowd to welcome the visiting Bahá’í Newsreel crew; Charles Nolley, a Newsreel producer, is seen with camera at right. (Photo by Addison Bibb)

Bahá’í approach to traditional holidays clarified

Every year at this time the National Spiritual Assembly receives inquiries about the observance of Christmas and New Year’s Day. Shoghi Effendi advised that “it is surely preferable that the friends should in their relation to each other discontinue observing such holidays as Christmas and New Year and to have their festival gatherings of this nature instead during the intercalary days and Naw-Rúz. ...”

Thus, within our Bahá’í families and communities we do not observe these Christian holidays. However, most of us in the West live in a culture which places great stress on the observance of Christmas as a cultural and commercial celebration, as well as a religious holiday. New Year’s Day, too, is viewed as a time of celebration and renewal. Many of us have relatives and friends who are not Bahá’ís and for whom these holidays hold a deep meaning.

FROM THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

As Bahá’ís we can participate in the observance of Christmas with our non-Bahá’í relatives and friends without compromising our belief in Bahá’u’lláh, for we know and love Christ as a Manifestation of God. We can join in a happy celebration of peace and family unity at Christmastime as a cultural event, as well as a religious observance.

We can also use this time, as opportunities present themselves, to share the Bahá’í teachings on peace and related topics and to be of service to others. For example, many of the friends have demonstrated such service by offering to work on these holidays so that their co-workers can have the days off to spend with their families.

If our non-Bahá’í families and friends enjoy Christmas decorations, pageants and programs, we can share these events and customs with them without feeling that we have endangered our Bahá’í identity. The same holds true for our children and their school programs.

In turn, we as Bahá’ís can demonstrate the importance of our religion by having our own festival gatherings during Ayyám-i-Há, Naw-Rúz and Ridván, and by sharing our joy on these occasions with our non-Bahá’í relatives and friends.

As the observance of these Bahá’í Holy Days becomes an integral part of our lives, our children will learn to love and look forward to the fun and festivities associated with them. [Page 4]

The ‘Spirit of Africa’ calls

North Carolina friends hope video record of trip helps awaken the pioneer spirit

By TOM MENNILLO

The “spirit of Africa” lured David Hoffman to the Mother Continent first as a pioneer and later as a traveling teacher with fellow North Carolina Bahá’í Richard Beane.

Now he wants to pass it along to other friends contemplating a visit there through a half-hour video of the same name.

Mr. Hoffman, a real estate developer of European descent, and Dr. Beane, a dentist of African descent, traveled to South Africa last December with camcorder in tow.

They saw vestiges of the country’s apartheid past. But mostly they saw hope.

South Africa is tackling its problems head-on. It seems everyone is talking about the oneness of humanity. There’s even a television program by that name.

And in the middle of this change is the Bahá’í community.

Mr. Hoffman and Dr. Beane captured on tape the practice session of a Bahá’í Youth Workshop made up of teens from European, Persian, Asian, and African backgrounds.

It was wonderful to see the youth interact, Dr. Beane said. They clearly enjoyed being with each other, and their camaraderie is drawing other teens into the group and into the Faith.

The video features interviews with members of the Bahá’í elected and appointed bodies. And it delves into the lives of urban and rural Bahá’ís alike.

There are the pioneers, making a difference even in death. The three martyrs of Ciskei, all good friends of Mr. Hoffman, opened the doors to widespread awareness of the Faith in South Africa.

Then there are the native believers. Mr. Hoffman said the Bahá’í community is not large, but the believers are strong in their hearts.

Dr. Beane said he shouldn’t have been surprised at how dedicated and capable the African Bahá’í teachers are.

“They’re really together,” he said. “They’re not waiting for anyone to come along and tell them what to do.”

But Americans are always welcomed with open arms and have an instant audience wherever they go.

Bahá’ís of color who make the effort to visit the Mother Continent especially touch the hearts of South Africans. Dr. Beane plans to return with his wife early next year as a prelude to possibly pioneering.

Mr. Hoffman said tremendous opportunities exist for short- and long-term pioneers. He mentioned business, health care, and education as ripe fields, but urges those thinking of going there to contact the Office of Pioneering at the U.S. Bahá’í National Center for complete information.

The “Spirit of Africa” youth workshop rehearses a dance routine that was videotaped in December by David Hoffman in East London, South Africa. (Photo by Richard Beane)

Careful study of the Ridván 153 message to the Bahá’ís of North America also is essential:

“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 when the first systematic campaign was launched for its spiritual illumination. Although their contributions to all aspects of Bahá’í service on the home front and elsewhere will be of great value, they can be a unique source of encouragement and inspiration to their African brothers and sisters who are now poised on the threshold of great advances for the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh,” the Supreme Body wrote in the message.

And watching the Hoffman/Beane video can bring the “spirit of Africa” home. Thirty minutes was culled from more than 10 hours of footage for the video, one of six programs Bahá’ís have produced for broadcast on Greensboro public television. The professional who helped Mr. Hoffman edit the piece watched all 10 hours with his wife and cried with joy.

Mr. Hoffman is willing to send a VHS copy of the video to anyone who sends him $15. Copy it for others if you want, he said, and broadcast it if you can. Send a check payable to David Hoffman at 5500 White Blossom Drive, Greensboro, NC 27410. Allow four to six weeks for delivery.

If you are interested in serving in South Africa or anywhere internationally, please contact the Office of Pioneering at the Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201–1611 (phone 847-733-3508, fax 847-733-3509, e-mail __________________).

To Follow in Their Footsteps: fifth in a series

Valerie Wilson served Liberia

“Unquestionably, the African-American believers are enviably poised to bring the life-giving Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh to the peoples of sub-Saharan Africa itself, with whom they share a common ancestry. Shoghi Effendi specially encouraged black Americans to pioneer to Africa and there have been some who heeded that call, serving the Cause with great distinction and to great effect. But many more are needed.” —The Universal House of Justice, letter dated February 14, 1994

In response to the Guardian’s appeal to the believers of African descent in the Ten Year Crusade, Valerie Merriell Wilson set out to pioneer to Liberia in 1952.

She settled in Monrovia and placed her Bahá’í services and professional skills as a physiotherapist in the service of that country. She introduced physiotherapy to local medical personnel and had among her private patients President and Mrs. Tubman. She also initiated a program of nutrition classes for girls and women.

Valerie served on the local Spiritual Assembly of Monrovia and helped establish the National Spiritual Assembly of Liberia. She worked regionally in West Africa under the guidance of the Hand of the Cause Musa Banani, and when the first Regional National Assembly of North and West Africa was established, she was one of its members.

Deeply devoted, she served in many areas of West Africa under conditions of severe physical hardship and health hazards. She remained in that area for 12 years until she returned to the States to undertake family responsibilities. Valerie Wilson died Oct. 1, 1993.

Information on your international teaching trip

In order to record the achievement of the traveling teaching goals, the Office of Pioneering needs information about all international trips undertaken for the sake of promoting the interests of the Faith. This information is important whatever the level or amount of service and regardless of whether your trip was exclusively for service to the Faith or was combined with a trip for business, holiday, family, study or otherwise.

To make this easiest for you, just fill out and send the form below to: Office of Pioneering, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3511, fax 847-733-3509, e-mail __________________). Please include the names of all Bahá’ís traveling, the names of each country and the one or two main localities visited, the dates of your trip, and the main purpose of your travel. We look forward to hearing from you.

Name(s): __________________________________________________ ID #s: ___________

Address: __________________________________________________ Phone: ___________

COUNTRIES and/or LOCALITIES	DATES FROM / TO	MAIN PURPOSE
___________________________	___/___/___ ___/___/___	___________________________
___________________________	___/___/___ ___/___/___	___________________________
___________________________	___/___/___ ___/___/___	___________________________

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

Part 2 of youth article

Part 2 of the article “Youth: balancing service with schooling,” which was begun on the Pioneering page of the Oct. 16 issue, appears in this issue under the Youth heading, Page 15.

Books on pioneering

Now available: A Manual for Pioneers, an enlightening and light-hearted book written by Hand of the Cause of God Rúhíyyih Rabbaní 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.

‎Tto To‎ order these wonderful and informative publications, make out a check for the proper amount to Bahá’í Services Fund and send to the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201. [Page 5]

Special Pre-Publication Offer!

Messages to the Antipodes

Communications from Shoghi Effendi to the Bahá’í Communities of Australasia

This volume brings together, for the first time, the communications addressed to the followers of Bahá’u’lláh in the Australasian area by Shoghi Effendi during the period of his ministry, from 1921 to 1957, as Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith.

It is more than a historical record of letters written to early followers of this Faith, many of whom are no longer alive. It provides a fascinating opportunity to examine the 20th-century development in the remote Antipodes of a religion having its origins in the heart of Asia.

This book conveys a painfully realistic portrait of the development of the Australasian Bahá’í community. No attempt is made to mask the fact that the infant community endured periods of deep misunderstanding and fundamental misconception, of disunity and inertia, of frustration and impatience in the process of its growth.

This book is of far more than archival value. It provides insight into the complex dynamics of the growth of a Bahá’í community in a Western society, and into the gradual emergence of that community from unmitigated obscurity into a position of admiration and respect from the most progressive elements of that society [from the introduction by Peter J. Khan, member of the Universal House of Justice]

Order before December 31, 1997, and pay only $25.95 with no shipping charges.*

Contains more than 700 letters and cables to individuals and communities. Hardcover, 526 pp., introduction, preface, glossary, footnotes, index.

Anticipated delivery date: January 1998.

• Regular list price is $29.95. Offer good only for individual sales. Community discounts are on the retail price only.

THE SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION

produced by Marcia Day $60.00 FOR 3 TAPE SET OF 12 SHOWS, VT (ESR3N) Spiritual Revolution 3 is a dynamic television series designed to reach every waiting soul and particularly helps Christians understand the relationship between Christ and Bahá’u’lláh. An invaluable teaching tool now made affordable for everyone — only $5.00 per show! — these tapes can be used for firesides, Sunday brunches, college campuses, library gifts, after dinner discussions, deepening classes and Bahá’í schools. Guests include Dr. Jack McCants, Eric Dozier, Michael Sours, and Sylvester Scott among others. Hosted by Billie Crofts and Tommy Kavelin.

12 shows, 30 minutes per show PAVONE International

’... can be used for firesides, Sunday brunches, college campuses, library gifts, after dinner discussions, deepening classes and Bahá’í schools.’

Multiple Author REFER System for Windows

$99.00 CD ROM (MCDR) FOR USERS OF THE DOS VERSION OF MARS $49.00 CD ROM UPGRADE (MCDRU) TO UPGRADE PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF MARS

NOW FOR WINDOWS!!

The first Windows 95 and Windows 3.1 version of MARS is now available! MARS gives you very easy access to 50 books of Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi. The program’s look and feel has to be tried to be appreciated. Now you can perform any kind of search, bookmark your favorite passages, write notes, go directly to a page in a book, and use your mouse, too! The Windows environment makes selecting books and authors for searching a snap, and it’s easier than ever to paste to the clipboard. You won’t believe how easy it is to use these and the many other features found in the Multiple Author REFER System!

Crimson Publications

’The program’s look and feel has to be tried to be appreciated. Now you can perform any kind of search, bookmark your favorite passages, write notes, go directly to a page in a book, and use your mouse, too.’

’Any reader will benefit from the years of experience and the rational voice reflected in this work.’

Racism — Unraveling the Fear

by Nathan Rutstein $16.95 SC (RUF)

Racism—Unraveling the Fear not only exposes racism’s roots, its nature and how it impacts on us all, it also offers a workable solution to a problem many people feel is insoluble. This is Mr. Rutstein’s most challenging book, one that deals directly with the most challenging issue facing our society. Any reader will benefit from the years of experience and the rational voice reflected in this work.

9"x6", 238 pp., notes, bibliography The Global Classroom

Bahá’í Weekly Planner

A Bahá’í Weekly Planner suitable for use as a day planner. Contains a 12-Gregorian-month calendar with Bahá’í months and days noted. All Bahá’í holy days and festivals are noted as well as federal holidays. Other features include a schedule of sunrises and sunsets in various latitudes for observing the Fast, frequently used e-mail addresses, statistical information on the Faith and selected communities, and a fund contribution record.

SIZES AND COLORS
SMALL (3½"x6½")	BLACK	(BWPSB)	$6.50
SMALL (3½"x6½")	FOREST GREEN	(BWPSG)	$6.50
SMALL (3½"x6½")	BURGUNDY	(BWPSBU)	$6.50
LARGE (5¼"x8¼")	BLACK	(BWPLB)	$10.50
LARGE (5¼"x8¼")	FOREST GREEN	(BWPLG)	$10.50
LARGE (5¼"x8¼")	BURGUNDY	(BWPLBU)	$10.50

’... suitable for use as a day planner. Contains a 12-Gregorian-month calendar with Bahá’í months and days noted.’ [Page 6]

BAHÁ’Í DISTRIBUTION SERVICE

Lilly Peggy Ronald Torahi Lilly and Peggy by Ronald Tomanio $8.95 SC (LP) A beautiful and touching story of a young girl, her dog and the answer to her prayers. Find out what happens when one Naw- Rúz, Lilly, aided by her dog, Peggy, throws a bottle with a message into the river. A charm- ing true story for young children. 64"x10", 32 pp., illustrations George Ronald, Publisher

LIGHTS OF FORTITUDE Barron Harper Lights of Fortitude by Barron Harper $29.95 SC (LF) Here is a unique collection of pen portraits of each of the 50 Hands of the Cause of God, the "Chief Stewards of Bahá’u’lláh’s embryonic World Commonwealth." Drawn from many sources, including accounts by Hands themselves, these brief essays provide a fascinating insight into the lives of this small band of individuals whose rank is unparal- leled in religious history and who, in the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, "have diffused widely the Divine Fra- grances, declared His Proofs, proclaimed His Faith, published abroad His Law, detached themselves from all things but Him, stood for righteousness in the world, and kindled the Fire of the Love of God in the very hearts and souls of His servants." 6"x9", 551 pp., introduction, photographs, bibliography, references and notes, index George Ronald, Publisher

The Roads HOME H THE ISLAND OF THE SAME NAME JOSEPH SHEPPHERR The Roads Home by Rowell Hoff $16.95 SC (RHS) An exceptional collection of poetry written over a span of 50 years by poet and Bahá’í Rowell Hoff. Touching on many subjects, both familiar and personal, these glimpses of a poet's soul are indeed moving and eloquent. 52"x8", 226 pp. George Ronald, Publisher

The Island of the Same Name by Joseph Shepperd $23.95 SC (ISN) This debut novel by Bahá’í au- thor Joseph Shepperd follows the adventures and discoveries of two generations of research- ers: an archaeologist named Hemet Recuero Holden and his daughter, Maya Lillian Holden, an anthropologist. Each in turn visits the same African island, but each discovers vastly different things. Hemet uncovers the remnants of a an intriguing culture and meets the sole survivor of a strange religion on the verge of extinction. Years later Maya chances upon the birth of a tribal move- ment which has gathered to "choose a future" and decide the direction that the world will follow; a people who await the coming of a civilization, yet unborn; people who regard themselves as the parents of the "new race of humans." Although part of the story is set in the future and part in the past, it is about the times in which we live. 6"x9", 576 pp., illustrations Manifest Books

Stories of the Greatest Holy Leaf 1-800-999-9019 Stories of the Greatest Holy Leaf compiled by Jacqueline Mehrabi $15.95 HC (SGHL) A collection of delightful sto- ries, each one conveying a mov- ing, amusing or inspiring inci- dent from the life of the Greatest Holy Leaf, offers children of all ages a glimpse of the love, dignity and insight which characterized "the outstanding heroine of the Bahá’í Dis- pensation." 6½"x8", 44pp., illustrations Bahá’í Publishing Trust, United Kingdom

کروت 74F4 21 rá Rab-i-ebas be Most Boly Tablet Tablet the Christians

The Call of Carmel by Taraneh Ra'fati and Shidan Toloui-Wallace $10.95 CS (COCC) A selection of Bahá’í prayers and poems chanted and sung in Per- sian, recorded in the Holy Land and dedicated to the friends who serve there.

Lawh-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Tablet) by Bahá’u’lláh $1.25 SC (LA) This edition of the "Tablet to the Christians" is affordably priced to facilitate its use in teaching and as a resource for study. 5½"x8", 18 pp. Erich Reich Enterprises

Chartreuse Blues by Chris Ruhe $15.95 CD (CBCD), $10.95 CS (CBCAS) Chris Ruhe brings together ele- ments of bluegrass, folk, and pop to create a brand of blues that is "made up of many hues." A lively, entertaining and reflective look into one musician's ability to translate life into music. 47 minutes / Pescado Productions

DDHA TRYA HAS APPEARED MITABHA Buddha Maitrya-Amitabha Has Appeared Jamshed Fozdar $34.95 HC (BMA) This book is not just another thesis on Buddhism. Rather, it is an invitation to people every- where, especially people of reli- gion, and particularly our Bud- dhist brethren, to accompany the author in quest of that greatest of all phenomena-the advent of the Buddha Avatar-the divine manifestation, whose rare periodic appearance has been the only source of spiritual upliftment throughout humanity's long and checkered history and for whose recurrence we stand once more in such dire need in this travailing age. Mr. Fozdar conclusively proves from the great wealth of Buddhist prophecies that this momentous event which will usher in a new golden age has already occurred and that it is identical to the Return of their own Redeemer awaited by Hindus, Jews, Zoroastrians, Christians and Muslims. 6"x8", 490 pp., contents, glossary, index Jamshed Fozdar

Regional Bahá’í Councils letters from the Universal House of Justice $1.00 SC (RBC) Recently mailed to attendees of the Unit Conventions, this book- let is also available for purchase in limited quantities. Regional Bahá’í Councils contains the two most significant documents from the Universal House of Jus- tice on the formation of these councils, which are designed to "carry forward, with increased vigor, the propagation of the Cause of God." 5½"x8", 20 pp. National Spiritual Assembly

Land Dystery The Land of Mystery by Bill Fagan $15.95 CD (LOMCD) The Land of Mystery is an in- strumental album inspired by the power, the majesty, and the gentle beauty of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh. It is ideal for per- sonal upliftment and medita- tion, and for setting the mood at Feast, Holy Day and other spiritual gatherings. Composed and orchestrated by Bill Fagan, it intertwines his unique style with Per- sian, African and Western influences. Live flute and percussion were contributed by Ken LaRoche, formerly of Do'ah. 39 minutes KMF Productions

FORGIVENESS Forgiveness Jewels from the Words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá $5.95 SC (HS) The sixth in the Jewels series pre- sents extracts from the writings and utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on the theme of forgiveness, help- ing to orient and instruct us in this sacred obligation. 6"x6", 40 p., bibliography, references Bahá’í Publishing Trust, United Kingdom

Wed 18ahi SELECTIONS FROM THE WRITINGS OF ABDUL-BAHA Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ‘Abdu’l-Bahá PS $3.95 (SWAP) A compilation of passages from Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to the East and West. Published to "in- crease the fervor" of Bahá’ís and to "add to their perception of that wondrous harmony of the human and divine" that ‘Abdu’l- Bahá exemplified. 44"x7", 359 pp., index, paragraph numbering Bahá’í Publishing Trust, United States

ENLIGHTENED Enlightened Views VIEWS compiled by Alan Bryson $9.95 SC (EV) Alan Bryson has compiled a sys- tematic presentation of the Bahá’í Faith from the words of its Central Figures.Enlightened Views is one of the most comprehensive com- pilations to be published in years. An excellent reference work for Bahá’ís or non-Bahá’ís. 52"x8", 364 pp., bibliography, index Sterling Publishers [Page 7]

Los Bahá’ís

The Bahá’ís Office of Public Information $2.00 SC (SBM)

A Spanish edition of one of the most popular teaching and proclamation pieces ever published. A magazine format and colorful presentation give the reader a concise and informative overview of the Bahá’í Faith. This edition was developed specifically for the Latino audience.

8½"x11", 82 pp. Editorial Bahá’í de España

Memorials of the Faithful

Memorials of the Faithful by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá $10.95 SC (MFS)

Memorials of the Faithful, by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, immortalizes the lives of 69 early Bahá’ís who were the essence of faithfulness. In outward form it is a collection of brief biographical sketches, but they do not concern the personal transitory aspects of human life. It is the quality of the soul, the attributes of the spirit, the quintessential humanity, and the reflection of the Divine in man that is the focus here.

This is a book to be savored slowly, allowing the figurative language to create its own spirit as these words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá trace the shape of the valley of love and faithfulness.

5½"x8", 204 pp., contents, glossary Bahá’í Publishing Trust

Suite: Mothers & Angels

by Caroline Mackay $18.00 CD (SMACD), $12.00 CS (SMACS)

The mystical Celtic harp and the extraordinary voice of Caroline Mackay cast an ancient spell upon the heart. Moving from simplicity to intensity, this impressive new recording celebrates the sacred role of women in the transformation of mankind. Caroline has been internationally acclaimed for the clarity and tenderness of her voice. Her previous CD, O Most Mighty Ocean! Selected Passages from the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, has become a most sought-after title, played worldwide at Feasts and Holy Days as well as for private meditation and creativity. Suite: Mothers & Angels includes the Little Maidservant's Prayer, a passionate ode for the Báb by the poet Táhirih, Let's Be Angels, and many more enchanting songs of mothers, daughters and grandmothers...a gift of heavenly ballads and blessings.

58 minutes High Spirits Music

Badí

The Pride of Martyrs by Ivan Lloyd $9.95 SC (BPM)

This bilingual edition (English and Persian) tells the story of one of the most courageous of the early believers, who personally delivered to the Shah of Persia a letter from Bahá’u’lláh and for that act of service suffered martyrdom. This booklet also includes full-color reproductions of original artwork by Ivan Lloyd, the author of the book and accomplished Bahá’í artist. Beautiful reproductions and an inspiring text help keep alive the story of one of the Faith's true heroes.

8½"x11", 16 pp., color illustrations Day Spring Studios

Citadel of Faith

حسن حسين شريعت الله Husn-Hasín Sharamatu’lláh

Citadel of Faith Shoghi Effendi $26.00 HC (PCFH), $20.00 SC (PCFS)

A Persian translation of letters written by or on behalf of the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith expounding upon the mission of the Bahá’ís of the United States and reminding them of their spiritual primacy as trustees and executors of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Divine Plan.

6½"x82, 267 pp. Bahá’í Verlag

Crossing Frontiers

Portrait of a World Citizen $19.95 VT (ECFN)

This video, on the life of Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, explores the frontiers she has crossed in her travels to over 185 countries. In the course of her travels she has given countless lectures, met many leading dignitaries, and been interviewed on radio, television and by the press throughout the world, continually promoting the essential teachings of the Bahá’í Faith.

22 minutes Badiyan Productions

Journey to the Heart of Africa

Mary Firman $6.95 SC (JHA)

An activity book from the same author who brought us Journey Into Exile about the life of Bahá’u’lláh. Designed for children 7 to 12 years old, this book has stories, activities, and information that will engage a child and make learning fun.

114"x8", 32 pp. Brilliant Books

BACK IN PRINT!

Robe of Light, SC (ROLS) $15.95 All Things Made New, SC (ATMNS) $9.95

Lua Getsinger

Herald of the Covenant Velda Piff Metelmann $29.95 SC (LGHC)

When so many Bahá’ís around the world name their daughter Lua in her memory, why do we know so little about her? This intriguing question drew Velda Piff Metelmann into a fascinating journey of research into the life of this renowned believer and teacher of the Bahá’í Faith whose tireless travels from east to west in the United States, in Europe and in India attracted hundreds to the love of their Lord. This book makes available for the first time Lua Getsinger's own voice through her letters, diaries and talks between 1898 and 1916. Though fragmented by distance and time, it is a voice that can't fail to find a response in modern readers.

5½"x8", 414 pp., photographs, notes, appendix George Ronald, Publisher

Spiritual Being

A User's Guide Happy Dobbs $18.95 SC (SBUG)

Every new appliance, from a toaster to a computer, comes with an instruction booklet giving information on how to use it, get the best from it, service it and fix it when it breaks down. Here's an instruction booklet for your spiritual self, containing all the information you need to know about yourself, develop your potential, understand your place in the universe, prevent personal disasters and solve problems when things go wrong. Using the Bahá’í writings, stories from Bahá’í history and poetry, Happy Dobbs helps us explore our true selves, from our purpose in life to our ultimate destiny. If you have ever asked yourself the question, "Who am I really?" then this book is for you.

6"x9", 318 pp. George Ronald, Publisher

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Bahá’í Distribution Service • 5397 Wilbanks Dr., Chattanooga, TN 37343 800-999-9019 Fax: 423-843-0836 • E-mail: [Page 8]

Moment of clarity leads to decision to learn about equality of women, men

By MARK SCHRODER

It was 5:30 in the evening and I had just left work. I pulled out of the parking lot and began the ritual drive home. I grabbed a tape from the passenger seat and slipped it into the cassette player. The rush hour traffic slowed and the music began to catch my attention.

My fingers tapped the steering wheel, keeping time with the music. The melody was familiar. I knew the lyrics; I had heard them many times before. But this time there was something different.

As I neared my apartment I put the car in neutral and coasted to a stop. I sat in the comfort of my car feeling uncomfortable. What I was hearing disturbed me. Were the words more provocative than I had previously thought?

The song was very demeaning to women, and it reminded me of all the music I grew up with that fell into the same category. Why had I never noticed this before? All at once it became frighteningly clear how pervasive such messages are in popular music, and how many people this has affected.

A song that hitherto seemed so innocuous now seemed offensive. The full weight of what I sensed began to settle in.

My thoughts drifted back several months to a conversation with a friend. We sat in my living room discussing the topic of the equality between women and men. She made a point I had never heard before: that it was no longer enough for women to educate men about this issue, but that it was up to men to educate other men.

This sounded like a challenge. It also sounded like the only viable option. I asked myself, "What am I going to do about this?"

I called a friend and pitched the idea of a regular gathering of Bahá’í men. It was just a start but we began planning. We would meet once per week and would tell other male Bahá’í friends about it. We printed a handful of fliers and passed them out among friends at Unit Convention in 1995.

We held our first meeting several weeks later. It was an informal affair. We shared past and present experiences and explored our feelings about what, in our own lives, needed change.

Over the next several weeks we collected a core of material dealing with this topic. Our sources were quite varied and included the Bahá’í writings as well as articles from Psychology Today, The Economist, World Order and the Utne Reader.

Among many topics, we focused on the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Universal House of Justice encouraging women in their endeavors. We also found articles that cited surprising statistics on the numbers of women in the Bahá’í Faith and the roles they assume, as well as studies on the education of girls.

There was no shortage of material. There was also, we found, no shortage of experiences to share.

We started with three people and eventually worked up to five. At times there were only two. The meetings became a popular topic of discussion among those who knew us. It eventually spawned a separate series of men's retreats, composed mostly of non-Bahá’í friends, that are continuing.

We had found an arena in which to talk openly about our experienes without being judged. We also had found a way to begin addressing our roles as Bahá’í men.

The National Committee for the Advancement of Women applauds efforts by men to promote the equality of women and men, hoping their example will inspire others and lead to individual and community action from the ground up.

The committee would like to hear stories about activities that YOU or your community are engaged in to promote this principle. Please contact us with your exciting news! National Committee for the Advancement of Women, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201

Book summons up reminder that faith requires action

To the Editor:

I have been a Bahá’í for 46 years this coming September, have served the Faith as a Pioneer overseas twice (once during the Ten Year Plan), worked at the United States Bahá’í National Center, been on a national committee, served on LSAS all over the world, been a delegate to the National Convention, and I don't know what all else. Which brings me to something I feel should be passed on, especially to the younger Bahá’ís.

That is, I have been reading Marzieh Gail’s Summon Up Remembrance about the life of her father, and I find it to be not only one of the most informative and interesting books I have ever read but something that can teach a great deal to all of us about the Covenant and the process of becoming spiritual followers and servants of Bahá’u’lláh.

Even my wife, a native born Bahá’í from Iran, has learned things about Iran and that culture that she did not know. We have both found our reading (in this case, joint with me reading it to her at night) exciting beyond words and most stimulating.

It goes without saying that we have a tremendous new appreciation for Ali-Kuli Khan, the subject of the book. But more important, it has vulcanized and helped to direct our quest for a deeply spiritual life of service.

Please, my friends in the Faith, do not miss this opportunity, and for the younger ones (I was once young, believe it or not, and in a number of university Bahá’í clubs) remember Bahá’u’lláh’s counsel, "Night hath succeeded day, and day hath succeeded night, and the hours and moments of your lives have come and gone, and yet none of you hath, for an instant, consented to detach himself from that which perisheth. Bestir yourselves, that the brief moments that are still yours may not be dissipated and lost. Even as the swiftness of lightning your days shall pass, and your bodies shall be laid to rest beneath a canopy of dust. What can ye then achieve? How can ye atone for your past failure?"

This is the time all eternity has been waiting for. How I regret all the time of my life that I wasted on things that have no importance at all.

Donald S. Hawley Ruidoso, New Mexico

Virginian salutes musical group

To the Editor:

I would like to take the time to thank the musical group El Viento Canta for three recent concerts in Southwestern Virginia.

As an individual and as a returned pioneer from Peru, I salute their passion for their music, their professionalism and most of all their passion for the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh!

May they spread the Greatest Name throughout Tahuatinsuyu, the four quarters of the world.

W. Jay Bender Roanoke, Virginia

Treasurer’s corner

The Treasurer's Corner is devoted to helping local treasurers and others who have special interest in development of the Funds by offering suggestions and ideas that might be helpful in this work. If you would like to offer stories or ideas that have proved useful in your community, you are invited to share them with other communities through this column. Just contact the Office of the Treasurer and Development at 847-733-3472 or e-mail.

With thanks to Paul Olson of Herndon, VA, here are some suggestions Treasurers might consider:

• Regular visual reports to Feast work best; more pictures-fewer words. Avoid statistical reports, though, as the sole content of the Feast report.
• Local Treasurers could consider themselves personally responsible to make sure every community member is aware of the conditions in the Fund.
• Present a portion of the Stewardship and Development deepening session at every Feast.
• Stress that unity appears at many levels in the community; the Funds are one easy way a community can unite, which will lead to other levels of growth.
• Special, small articles can be written in local and area newsletters; a steady flow of information, encouragement and review in the same place is highly effective in educating any group of people.
• Assemblies need to understand their role in overseeing the spiritual well-being of the community vs. the business of the community. The Funds can be a gauge of the spiritual condition of a community. The sacredness of monies given for spiritual purposes needs to be internalized by Assembly members and shared with the friends.
• Compare the Funds to the responsibility each household has to pay certain obligations and to budget for them. If we do not pay the electric bill, our power is cut off; in a spiritual sense, if we neglect our spiritual obligation to support the Faith financially, our spiritual power can be cut off, as well.

Assemblies can appoint assistants to the Treasurer to keep the focus on the Fund in ways that are creative, enjoyable, uplifting.

Automatic contributions

Subscriptions for the Automatic Contribution System, or ACS, have made modest progress, according to recent figures in the Office of the Treasurer and Development. The monthly total has risen by over $16,000 between July and October, pushing the annual total donated via ACS to about $3.5 million. Thanks for your efforts!

"... 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. Non-Bahá’ís cannot contribute to our work or do it for us; so really our first obligation is to support our own teaching work as this will lead to the healing of the nations."

(Shoghi Effendi, from a letter to an individual believer published in Bahá’í News, Aug. 1948) [Page 9]

MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE FAITH

ENROLLMENTS

August........ 80 September.................154 Total since May 1.... 752

THE FUND

May 1-September 30, 1997

Contributions received by National Treasurer

Received since May 1: $6,883,792 Goal for entire year: $27,000,000 25.5% of goal has been met

May 1, 1997 42% has passed of fiscal year Sept. 30

Allocations to other funds

Arc Projects Fund $1,179,535 17% of contributions received by National Assembly (goal is 19%)

International Bahá’í Fund $415,163 6% of contributions received by National Assembly (goal is 7%)

Continental Bahá’í Fund $123,295 1.8% of contributions received by National Assembly (goal is 2%)

Other contributions $379,956

Total revenues and expenses at Bahá’í National Center May 1-Aug. 31 (latest avail.)

Revenues* $5,685,000 Expenses + $7,173,000 Resulting deficit: $1,488,000

• Includes contributions plus revenues from Bahá’í Publishing Trust, Bahá’í Home, permanent schools, etc.

+ Operating and capital expenses, not including depreciation.

Mail contributions to: National Bahá’í Fund 112 Linden Avenue Wilmette, IL 60091-2800 Please write Bahá’í ID # on check

Advisers sketch vision of financial future

Fifteen financial advisers gathered to help the National Spiritual Assembly chart a course for future investments and enterprises. The meeting Oct. 25-26 in Wilmette was a follow-up to one held in May at Bosch Bahá’í School.

Results included a final draft of an investment policy that traces short-term guidelines for investing the funds of the Faith.

Long-term guidelines in the draft address preparation for creating endowments for the properties and long-term programs of the National Assembly.

Socially responsible investing, in which Bahá’í ideals for social justice and environmental health can be applied to creating investment portfolios, was stressed in these guidelines.

Socially responsible investing, in which Bahá’í ideals for social justice and environmental health can be applied to creating investment portfolios, was stressed in these guidelines.

The advisers at the meeting had backgrounds in financial planning and investment, consumer financial services, accounting and entrepreneurship in various business fields.

Consultations focused on updating the investment and banking policies of the National Spiritual Assembly; planned giving; and fostering entrepreneurial activity among Bahá’ís of all ages but especially among younger believers who are making their career plans.

A presentation was also made on concepts for future Bahá’í financial services.

These friends were unanimous in their commendation of the work the Office of the Treasurer and Development carries out to manage the increasingly complex affairs of the Faith with such a small staff.

The advisers assigned themselves follow-up tasks and set a February meeting date for their third encounter.

Treasurer's books pass yearly audit

The final report of the independent auditors on the National Spiritual Assembly's financial results for May 1, 1996, through April 30, 1997, was received just in time for the Assembly's October meeting.

Once again, Arthur Anderson LLC, the National Assembly's auditors, presented a report indicating no irregularities found in the Treasurer's books.

Arthur Anderson is arguably the most demanding and reputable of the major national accounting firms.

These reports cost the National Assembly a significant, unavoidable fee each year, but constitute a careful and complete examination of the records and methods of the Office of the Treasurer and Development.

As such, these reviews represent an important factor in ensuring the careful management of the Funds of the Faith. Not only do the Assembly's bankers require such reports, but the National Assembly's staff look forward to receiving the auditors' observations and recommendations about procedures and controls.

As one staff member commented, "When we sit with them and go over their thinking and their findings, we have access to some of the most current thinking about financial management and control. This helps the Assembly in many ways, and should be another source of comfort to the friends who make their sacrificial gifts to the Faith."

Contribution in dollars, shoe leather

A 70-year-old Navajo Bahá’í woman recently walked five miles from her home to the Native American Bahá’í Institute in Houck, Arizona, to make a contribution to the Bahá’í Fund.

She presented the donation in a sealed Fund envelope and said that NABI's staff had shown great kindness toward her. After buying groceries and taking care of her other needs, she said, she had money left over to give to the Faith.

The woman is a shepherd in the area and a supporter of NABI programs. Although unable to read, write or speak English, she is working to gain a deeper understanding of the Faith.

Her walk and action are a victory for every Bahá’í community, as they show that we have the language that touches hearts and lifts everyone to higher levels of understanding that lead to greater participation in the Cause.

Answering questions on Huqúqu’lláh

Payments to Huqúqu’lláh should be made to "The Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust" (please write your Bahá’í idenfication number on your check) 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, 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.

Obedience to Law of Huqúqu’lláh deepens connection with Covenant

This issue of The American Bahá’í reaches us close to the Day of the Covenant. It is good to think of the connection between obeying the Law of Huqúqu’lláh and the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh.

In one of His tablets ‘Abdu’l-Bahá writes: "In accordance with His inscrutable wisdom and in order to apply a unique test to distinguish the friend from the stranger, He hath enjoined the Huquq upon His servants and made it obligatory."

What are the distinguishing attributes of a friend? Are they not love, loyalty and willingness to sacrifice? To be counted as a friend of Bahá’u’lláh we need to exhibit faithfulness to His Covenant to the utmost of our ability.

The whole edifice of the laws of Bahá’u’lláh rests upon loyalty to His Covenant, a loyalty that is inspired by the love of His beauty. It is this love-inspired obedience to His laws that is a sign of spiritual growth and maturity that He expects of us.

A frequently asked question: How do we observe the law of Huqúqu’lláh in families where one spouse is not a Bahá’í?

Preservation of unity is Bahá’u’lláh's first principle. You must make sure that the non-Bahá’í spouse has a full understanding of your spiritual needs and is radiantly in agreement with you in applying the law of Huqúqu’lláh to the half of the community property that is yours. Otherwise you pray that through your love and wisdom your spouse will come to appreciate your need.

Helpful Hint: Please put your Bahá’í I.D. number on your checks every time. [Page 10]

ACTIVITIES

from the pages of Brilliant Star.

The Hidden Signs of God

God made it all. Everything in nature is a sign of God. Some things are made by people. But people are made by God. The only way we can see or understand God is through His signs. We study God’s signs to learn about their Maker.

The Sacred Writings give us clues. Read the verse at the left. Can you find the pebbles in the picture? Read the verses in the boxes. The bold words are all signs of nature. Can you find these signs in the picture? What can these signs tell you about God?

Who Made It?

“Gather the people around this Word that hath made the pebbles to cry out: ‘The Kingdom is God’s, the Dawning-place of all signs!’” —Bahá’u’lláh. The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 81

“The snake and the mouse will share one hole, and the eagle and the partridge one nest.” — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 45

“The grazing animals, the birds of the air, the fishes neither toil nor undergo hardships.” — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 184

“Look thou upon the trees, upon the blossoms and fruits, even upon the stones. Here too wilt thou behold the Sun’s rays.” — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 42

“Sheep, cows and horses graze together in concord and agreement.” — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 208

“The wolf and the lamb will drink from the same stream, the owl and the vulture will nest together in the same branches.” — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 369

“Be like the butterfly who is the lover of the light.” — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Some Answered Questions, p. 77

Purchase a Subscription from Bahá’í Subscriber Service:

Please enter my subscription for (check box) [ ] $18 United States, one year (six issues) [ ] $32 United States, two years [ ] $18 All other countries, surface mail, one year [ ] $32 All other countries, surface mail, two years [ ] $28 Airmail, one year [ ] $52 Airmail, two years Bahá’í ID # __________________________________ Name _______________________________________ Street ______________________________________ City & State ________________________________ Zip/Postal code _____________________________ Payment must be enclosed. Canadian/International orders enclose international money order or bank cheque drawn on a U. S. bank in U. S. dollars. To charge your VISA/MC account, give number, expiration date, and name on account. Telephone orders accepted. VISA/MC # ___________________________________ Exp. Date __________ Name ____________________ Signature ____________________________________ Make check out and mail to: Bahá’í Subscriber Service 5397 Wilbanks Drive Chattanooga, TN 37343 800-999-9019

Reprinted from Brilliant Star, July-August 1997 [Page 11]

Bahá’ís helping cause of Earth Charter

The decade-long movement for an Earth Charter took a step forward Oct. 9 with the help of the Bahá’ís, as the National Spiritual Assembly was represented at a meeting of dozens of U.S. organizations reviewing a “benchmark draft” of the document in Washington.

The groups at the meeting pledged to help stimulate discussion of the values expressed in the charter—a statement of global ethics for sustainable development—which is being prepared with an eye toward adoption by the United Nations and ultimately could be the basis for binding international treaty.

“We can grow into a family of cultures that allows the potential of all persons to unfold in harmony with the Earth Community,” the charter draft states. “Our best actions will embody the ‎inter-gration integration‎ of knowledge with compassion.”

Find out more about the Earth Charter

For more information on the Earth Charter, contact: The Earth Council P.O. Box 2323-1002 San José, Costa Rica The benchmark draft of the charter can be seen at the Web site: http://www.ecouncil.ac.cr Relevant documents from the Bahá’í International Community: “Earth Charter” statement “World Citizenship: Global Ethic for Sustainable Development” Both available through Bahá’í Distribution Service or the Web site: http://www.bic-un.bahai.org

Among the principles the Earth Charter promotes are respect and responsibility for Earth and its diverse life, wise use and preservation of natural resources, nonviolence and social justice with emphasis on gender equity and the rights of indigenous peoples, and efforts to allow all to participate in a vital economic and civic life.

The National Assembly is encouraging Bahá’ís to study and consult on the document within and outside the Bahá’í community. It could be a topic for study groups, public talks and panel discussions, letters to the editor, school essays and art contests.

In addition, the Earth Charter will be the focus of the environmental seminars set for December in Orlando, Florida, to precede the Bahá’í Conference on Social and Economic Development for the Americas.

The idea for an Earth Charter surfaced in the 1987 report “Our Common Future” by the U.N. World Commission on Environment and Development, which called for a world statement guiding individuals and nations toward “new norms” of action “needed to maintain livelihoods and life on our shared planet ... in the transition to sustainable development.”

The National Spiritual Assembly has been involved along with numerous other non-governmental organizations since 1990 in developing the charter. A statement by the Bahá’í International Community titled “Earth Charter” outlines a number of elements it sees as important to include in the charter.

Though governments fell short of agreeing to endorse an Earth Charter at the 1992 “Earth Summit” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, many involved in its early development have vowed to keep the movement alive.

A renewed Earth Charter initiative began in 1994, led by Maurice Strong, chairman of the newly formed Earth Council and former head of the U.N. environmental commission, and Mikhail Gorbachev, chairman of Green Cross International and former Soviet Union leader. A major international gathering launched global consultation in 1995 and the convening of an Earth Charter Commission in early 1997 followed.

The benchmark draft was released March 18, a result of work at the “Rio+5 Forum” sponsored by the Earth Council. The Bahá’í International Community was one of several non-governmental organizations involved.

The Oct. 9 meeting was one of 70 similar meetings planned to be held in national capitals around the world.

The Earth Charter, participants agreed, should be a statement of enduring, basic principles shared by people of all races, cultures and religions, reflecting universal spiritual and ethical values and written in a clear, concise and inspiring manner.

For the charter to have meaning, its principles should be widely understood so that it can influence the conduct of individuals, educators, business executives, scientists and religious leaders as well as governments and globally focused organizations.

The National Assembly would like to know of efforts by individuals and communities to discuss the benchmark draft or promote its principles in the community at large. Please contact the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, 1320 19th St. N.W., Suite 701, Washington, DC 20036 (phone 202-833-8990, fax 202-833-8988, e-mail

Green Lake explores Institutions

More than 1,400 people gathered to learn about and discuss “The Institutions: Channels of God’s Grace” at the 38th annual Green Lake Conference, Sept. 12-14 in Green Lake, Wisconsin.

The theme was particularly relevant with the first-ever elections of Regional Bahá’í Councils approaching, and Counselor Stephen Birkland opened the conference with an overview of the main theme.

Other principal speakers included Counselor Abdu’l-Missagh Ghadirian, Auxiliary Board member Dianne Bohannon-Letzer, Michael Penn, Marguerite Sears, Javidukht Khadem, Dwight Allen, Dan Popov, Linda Kavelin Popov and Derek Cockshut.

Topics explored in detail included: The Institution of the Elected, The History of the Covenant and the Institutions, The Institution of the Learned, The Hands of the Cause of God, The Institutions and the Community, What are Centers of Learning and How Do We Form Them? The Essential Verities of the Faith and The Family, Entry by Troops and the Local Spiritual Assembly, and Two Wings of a Bird.

The Saturday evening gathering was entranced as Mrs. Sears and Mrs. Khadem, in an interview conducted by Mr. Birkland, talked of their lives as devoted wives of Hands of the Cause of God and their own experiences in service to the Faith.

A number of dramatic and musical presentations throughout the weekend infused the gathering with beauty and great depth of feeling.

For the youth, a full weekend of programs, activities and hands-on workshops provided education, enrichment and fun, often with participation of several of the main speakers. One youth group elected a mock Spiritual Assembly and hosted a mock Feast.

A large, well-stocked bookstore also offered jewelry, posters and T-shirts, while the adjoining cafe was a great place for visiting.

The longest continuously running conference in the Bahá’í world, the gathering has been held since its inception at the Green Lake Conference Center, operated by the American Baptist Assembly. The main conference facilities on the wooded 1,000-acre site are on the shore of Green Lake, the deepest lake in Wisconsin.

The conference aims every year to present a broad range of interesting and relevant programs for adults and youth, as well as knowledgeable, engaging and dedicated speakers, seminar presenters, program coordinators and assistants.

Conference dates for 1998 are Sept. 18-20. You may contact Green Lake now at 800-558-8898 to register for this wonderful family weekend experience. On-site accommodations fill up quickly, but ample nearby lodging is available.

Marguerite Sears (left) and Javidukht Khadem (right) are interviewed by Counselor Stephen Birkland about their experiences as teachers and as spouses of Hands of the Cause of God, during an evening session at the Green Lake Conference. (Photo submitted by the Green Lake Conference)

Text on the banner in the photograph: THE WORLD’S EQUILIBRIUM HATH BEEN UPSET THROUGH THE VIBRATING INFLUENCE OF THIS MOST GREAT, THIS NEW WORLD ORDER. MANKIND’S ORDERED LIFE HATH BEEN REVOLUTIONIZED THROUGH THE AGENCY OF THIS UNIQUE, THIS WONDROUS SYSTEM—THE LIKE OF WHICH MORTAL EYES HAVE NEVER WITNESSED. —Bahá’u’lláh

In brief

Forum examines equality

A forum on the equality of men and women brought together a diverse panel to discuss the changing roles of men and women in society, including the family, the workplace and religion, on Sept. 18 in Concord Township, Indiana.

A question-and-answer session at the end of the event dealt with a number of issues including the impact of the Christian men’s movement Promise Keepers and cultural differences between the sexes.

Panelists for the event, held in Elkhart, Indiana, were Frank Ramirez, writer, actor and Christian pastor; Robin Ravenscroft, a women’s resource center administrator; Gordon Gibson, a Unitarian Universalist minister; and Ann Kronemeyer, a member of the Bahá’í community. Moderator was Steve Kirkpatrick, a Bahá’í who heads the Concord High School English Department.

Series can be rented in Beta

Communities may now rent Beta-format tapes of the new 12-part Spiritual Revolution III television series, produced to help friends teach the Faith to Christians.

Communities that purchase local time to air the programs may rent a set of the tapes from Pavone International for 10 days at a cost of $300. The tapes would be taken to the station so masters can be made for airing.

Special Ideas at 800-326-1197 is handling the rentals.

VHS-format tapes of the 13-show series are available from the Bahá’í Distribution Service, 800-999-9019. [Page 12]

N.A.T.F.

Never Acting Thoroughly Fulfilled?

Navigating Aardvarks Through Fog?

Nuts At The Front?

National Arts Task Force!

Are you a sculptor, actor, photographer, painter, singer, videographer, fabric artist, musician, filmmaker, weaver, composer, installation artist, playwright, puppeteer, writer, performance artist, storyteller, screenwriter, poet, novelist, movement/theater artist, dancer, metalworker, choreographer, illustrator, animator, cartoonist, director, glass artist, comedian, mime, quilter, printmaker, graphic designer, clown, ceramist, woodworker, folk artist .....?

From cutting edge to traditional, controversial to mainstream, skeptical to sensitive, the National Arts Task Force is looking for you. We are a task force of the National Teaching Committee.

---

Name _________________________________________________________________

Bahá’í ID number _______________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________________

Tel/Fax ________________________________________________________________

Email __________________________________________________________________

Talent/What You Do _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Contact person (if other than self) _______________________________________

Please R.S.V.P. with samples of your work (prints, tapes, slides, etc.) by January 1, 1998. If possible please attach an artists statement, biography, and listing of upcoming exhibits/concerts, etc. and mail to: NATIONAL ARTS TASK FORCE - Jaine Toth, Secretary, Carpinteria CA 93013. [Page 13]

Music rises at House of Worship

Interview by RAMZIA DUZSYNSKI

“I need 36 hours to complete my everyday task list,” laughs Kathy Tahiri, newly appointed music director at the Bahá’í House of Worship.

Auditions, meetings with the musical committee, searching for choir members, creating new programs, singing during the devotions—there is a lot of work to do considering that the Bahá’í House of Worship did not have a full-time music director for almost a decade.

During a break between auditions recently, Ms. Tahiri said her coming to the House of Worship was a miracle in its own right: Finding out from a friend that the House of Worship lacked a regular choir, she contacted Caswell Ellis, activities director at the Temple, and offered her musical services.

“It is such an honor to be here,” she said. “I feel that I am at the right place at the right time. It’s a fulfillment of my very special dream.”

Q: I heard your beautiful singing [Oct. 13] during the Bahá’í devotional program. Was that your debut as music director of the House of Worship?

A: Yes, indeed, it was my debut. ... Indescribable feelings. ... (she continued talking with tears in her eyes) Rosamond Brenner, the new choir accompanist, and I each had a solo and sang two duets. We tried to choose pieces that went well with the readings.

Q: I know that music is one of your passions and that aviation is another. How do those two things mix together? Tell us about yourself.

A: I began to play piano when I was 3 years old. My neighbor, a piano teacher, taught me how to love music. On the other hand, my parents were in the Air Force. My dad served as a pilot and my mom was a line officer.

When I graduated in 1974 from the University of Michigan with a degree in music composition, I received my commission as an officer in the United States Air Force.

Because of my passion for aviation I decided to go to navigation school when the career field finally opened to women. ... I learned about the Bahá’í Faith from the chief surgeon of a military hospital and his wife. I declared in 1974.

As a navigator of a Boeing KC-135 tanker, I flew all over the world: Panama and the Philippines, England and Saudi Arabia, Korea, Japan, plus Desert Storm. It was an experience of a lifetime that helped me to understand and appreciate the real values of life, peace and unity in their real meanings.

Four years ago I retired at the rank of major after being in the Air Force for 19 years. A very special number!

You know, being in the Air Force means you travel all the time—like a gypsy. After we settled in Maine, I promised my 10-year-old daughter Khamsin that we were not going to move again, but when I got this job, she was so excited! ...

I always have lived with music in my soul, but everything else that I have done has been some sort of training for this job. Even my Air Force career has given me the managerial and logistical skills I will need. I am so happy to be here. I have been given a great gift.

Q: Being music director of the House of Worship is a special privilege and a great responsibility. How do you see yourself in that role?

A: First of all, I work hand-in-hand with the Music Committee. The mission of the committee is to create a sustainable program that will reflect the diversity of our culture, and be of such high quality that those who experience it will be spiritually quickened.

In the spirit of consultation and cooperation of members of the committee (Caswell Ellis, Sheila Kime, Dave Clayborne and Warren Kime), we’ll develop everything toward that end.

There are going to be several choirs, including adult, pre-youth and training choirs. There will also be “sub-choirs” specializing in specific types of music, such as Gospel and ethnic; wherever their interests lie.

These can function as mobile teaching teams, with a hope that the choirs and ensembles would perform and teach not only locally but internationally.

No one who wants to sing in the House of Worship will be turned away. Those who do not have experience or cannot read music or need vocal training will be placed in the training choir. Then, when ready, they will move to the regular choir.

Publishing Bahá’í musical literature is another goal, because there is a great need for it. Also in our plans is the recording of performances, and eventually classes in music theory and composition.

Of course, it will not happen overnight; it’s an evolutionary process. A lot of exciting work to do!

We have to be on the right track spiritually. That is why our rehearsals and classes will begin with prayers and deepening, reading the Writings on music and the arts, scholarship and trustworthiness, spiritual qualities and whatever else applies. I want to establish the sense of loving and supporting family in the choirs. We will all have to “check our egos at the door.”

Q: What are your personal goals? What are you trying to achieve?

A: My biggest goal is to raise my daughter to be a kind and loving person. I want to be a good mom for her. This is a wonderful environment for her and she is turning into a great assistant.

I want to achieve a high level of excellence as a music director of the House of Worship. For me personally it means constantly learning. I love to learn.

I am working on finishing my master’s degree in choral conducting. I am creating a bibliography of Bahá’í choral music as my thesis. I believe it is being done for the first time, so I’d like to take this opportunity and ask Bahá’í composers from all over the world to send me their music.

A few years ago I published my first volume of Bahá’í music, called Spiritual Food, Volume I. The second volume is in progress.

I am working on my first opera, Zainab—and very excited about it! My hope is to compose a lot of music.

To reach the Music Director’s office at the House of Worship, phone 847-853-2328 (e-mail

Kathy Tahiri, House of Worship music director, says she has an apt helper in her daughter, Khamsin. (Photo by Piri Miller)

Floridians raise $50,000 for media

South Florida’s Bahá’í communities got busy preparing and funding the region’s biggest-ever media campaign, even as the successes of the Atlanta effort were becoming apparent and the national teaching campaign was being planned.

A gathering of more than 300 friends in Coral Springs on Sept. 12 raised over $50,000 for the “Victory 2000” campaign—with contributions from 98 percent of those attending.

“Truly universal participation was occurring,” a report on the event said. “The Army of Light in South Florida had arisen and responded.”

The six-month campaign was expected to be launched in early November with radio ads and billboards. Composed in English, those materials were to be translated into Spanish and French Creole as well.

Those who want to respond directly will have ways to contact the Bahá’ís of the region—a toll-free telephone number and a World Wide Web site were planned for that purpose.

But from the beginning organizers emphasized that individuals and communities have crucial roles in taking advantage of interest kindled by the advertising.

Assemblies in Dade and Broward counties have galvanized to follow up the media effort with solid teaching plans, said Candy Grant of Plantation, Florida, a member of the Victory 2000 Steering Committee.

“We have just got to get the name of Bahá’u’lláh out there,” Mrs. Grant said. “All the communities are excited about this.”

In addition to each community’s efforts, the regional campaign has formed task forces not only for media, but for teaching, deepening, social and economic development, public worship services and communication information.

Some of the materials, especially the follow-up packets for inquirers, will draw on work already done in Atlanta—“Why reinvent the wheel?” Mrs. Grant commented.

But while the TV production for the Atlanta campaign focused on racial unity, she said, “We want to use the broader theme of unity, because we have so many different cultures here.”

A series of “spot” announcements, professionally produced for airing on South Florida radio stations over the next six months, drew repeated loud applause when they were played at the September fund-raising meeting.

The gathering already had been stirred by speeches from Carole Miller of Atlanta, who filled in on short notice; Charles Cornwell, Auxiliary Board member; and Frank Grant.

The next day about 100 Bahá’ís stayed to consult on teaching plans for the 12 communities they represented.

The fund-raising event had been six months in the planning, with various communities asked to provide food decorations and dinnerware, and cooks and youth servers recruited in advance. The event itself was paid for independently of the $50,000 raised for the media campaign.

Keynote speaker Carole Miller is greeted by master of ceremonies Sylvester Braithwaite at the “Victory 2000” banquet in Coral Springs, Florida. (Local photo)

Arts journal Orison offers latest issue

Announcing the latest edition of Orison, an arts journal published by the Bahá’í Institute for the Arts, a section of the Association for Bahá’í Studies-North America.

The issue, whose central theme is time (“the realm of duration and the realm of eternity”), includes:

• Poetry by Paul Vreeland, William Barnes, Jaine Toth, Michael Fitzgerald, Jim Smith, David Erickson, Billy Howell-Sinnard, Robert Kogan, Claire Vreeland, Cynthia Yamach, Ian Kluge, Catherine Patrick, Janet Bixby, Bruce Grover, Dick Grover, Loretta Crosby and Jalaliyyih Quinn.
• Artist profiles on Callan Davison, Muhtadia Rice and Keith Eldridge.
• Essays by Rhonda Palmer and Brian Carlson.
• Artwork by various artists including Jaci Ayorinde, Jalaliyyih Quinn, Michael Hughey and Keith Eldridge.
• A new column called Artscene/Artseen, with information about Bahá’í arts organizations, artists, galleries, publications, Web sites and more.

Orison VI is beautifully printed and hand-bound. Copies of the journal can be ordered for $6 plus $1 for shipping. Send order and check to Anne Gordon Perry, editor, Dallas, TX 75243. Submissions for the next issue are also welcome. [Page 14]

EXCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS

University of Alabama-Birmingham neurosurgeon James Markert is conducting a clinical trial of a potential treatment for glioblastoma, an extremely malignant type of brain tumor, according to a recent article in the university magazine.

UAB is one of 40 centers worldwide participating in a study of GLI-328, a gene derived from the herpes simplex virus.

The Birmingham Bahá’í performed brain surgery in February on an Alexander City, Alabama, man in the state’s first trial of the new therapy. It is hoped that GLI-328 will slow down the progression of cancer and enhance patients’ quality of life.

“It’s by no means a cure-all,” Dr. Markert told the magazine, “but gene therapy represents a promising new frontier for these patients.”

Dr. Markert is working with collaborators Yancey Gillespie and Richard Whitley to develop a modified herpes simplex virus. It would be both the delivery system for a gene therapy and an “assassin” in its own right.

“Our approach is to infect a tumor cell with a virus that has, for example, a cytokine gene added to it,” he was quoted as saying. “The virus would kill the host cell itself and then release the cytokine gene into the nearby space. This should stimulate the body’s own immune system, causing killer T-cells to activate and kill the tumor cells the virus missed.”

He hopes to hold clinical trials of the modified therapy within two years.

A newscast on this research and interviewing Dr. Markert appeared on local television and was picked up by national news outlets.

—Tom Mennillo

Nabil Guffey has accepted a five-year Honors Scholarship funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation to work toward two degrees at Bowie State University. The Bahá’í student graduated as valedictorian from high school in Mechanicsville, Maryland, with a 4.1 grade point average. He was voted most likely to succeed by his peers in high school, where he had perfect attendance for four years. Academic honors he has received include the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, Maryland Distinguished Scholar, second place for the state DAR Good Citizen Award, Tandy Corporation’s Top Student in Mathematics, Science and Computer Science, and other awards for excellence in math and science sponsored by universities and federal agencies. In his applications for university admission, Nabil cited his faith and deepening in the Bahá’í teachings as his motivation to “create a positive atmosphere and influence for others.”

Tony Lenardson, a 14-year-old Bahá’í from Newcastle, Wyoming, won the national freestyle archery championship for his age group at the Indoor National Archery Tournament in March. It was the second national title for Tony, who in 1994 won the top prize for a younger age group. His sister Heather Lenardson won third place in her age group, and his mother, Martha Lenardson, placed fifth in the women’s bowhunter category.

Geoff Maddox, a Bahá’í youth from Vista, California, is among the first 15 students in the United States to receive an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Certificate, for a yearlong chemistry research ‎projecton project on‎ pyrotechnics. He has received a Macy Minority in Medicine Award as a result of high test scores, and is part of the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Program. Geoff is entering 11th grade at ‎Guajone Guajome‎ Park Academy, the first U.S. school to participate in the Baccalaureate Middle Years program.

Mitra Kanaani, a Bahá’í who is an associate professor at the New School of Architecture in San Diego, California, was honored as the school’s best teacher in 1997 for the second consecutive year. Holder of master’s degrees in architecture and urban planning, she also is a principal with Universal Design and Codes Consulting Center in San Diego.

Jalal Volker, a 14-year-old Bahá’í from Japan, has been admitted to the State University of West Georgia through its Advanced Academy program, which admits high-achieving students, usually after grade 10 or 11. Jalal is the son of a couple originally from Montana.

Rachael Scott, a Bahá’í youth from Coarsegold, California, received the American Legion Certificate of School award at her eighth-grade graduation, the highest award granted by her school. She also was an award-winner for an essay on using her education to change the world.

Dr. Ray Johnson, a Bahá’í from Hays, Kansas, was honored as the outstanding teacher/scholar/innovator of the year at Fort Hays State University for 1996/97. The professor of educational administration and counseling has been recognized for his use of mediation in the classroom, and has developed ways of carrying out instruction through interactive television and the Internet, and is known on campus for his work toward multicultural understanding.

Florida Assembly has honor of first recognition ceremony

Members of the new Spiritual Assembly of Palm Coast, Florida, pose at a recognition ceremony: (Standing from left) Kenneth Kalantar Sr., Eleonora Kalantar, James Robinson, Ileana Kalantar (with son Jonathan Kalantar), Margaret Locher, Paul Locher, Kenneth Kalantar Jr.; (kneeling) Betti Robinson (holding Kevin Kalantar) and Viki Robinson.

A new Spiritual Assembly in Florida was introduced to the public on Sept. 12 with a recognition ceremony, the first of its kind under a new program of the national Office of Assembly Development.

Honoring the formation of the first local Spiritual Assembly of Palm Coast, the event included a performance by the Youth Workshop from Jacksonville, Florida, with music, dance, drama and readings on the theme of the equality of women and men. Yvonne Ferguson, leader of the workshop, also spoke on the importance of achieving equality of the sexes for the progress of humanity.

Vicente Ferguson, representing the National Spiritual Assembly at the gathering, spoke about the institution of the local Spiritual Assembly and introduced the nine members of the new Assembly to the gathering. A bouquet of nine roses was presented as a gift from the National Assembly.

More than 40 people at the performance and ceremony included a number of Bahá’ís from the nearby communities of Jacksonville and Ormond Beach, as well as seven non-Bahá’ís.

Advance publicity included a story in the Flagler/Palm Coast News-Tribune that headlined the Youth Workshop performance, as well as dozens of fliers distributed by the new Assembly to area churches, schools, public bulletin boards and supermarkets.

An article in the newspaper after the event focused on the National Assembly’s recognition of the local community.

The National Spiritual Assembly is encouraging localities to hold such recognition ceremonies to celebrate formation of each new Assembly, and to introduce the community at large to the Assembly through publicity and invitation to the event itself.

In its guidelines for planning recognition ceremonies, the National Assembly states, “The ceremony is intended to give Bahá’ís in the locality an opportunity to celebrate the formation of their Assembly and to savor the significance of the occasion. In addition, Bahá’ís in nearby communities can share in [the] joy and welcome the new institution.

“Moreover, the National Spiritual Assembly, through its appointed representative, and the Auxiliary Board, have the opportunity to greet the new Assembly and establish a warm and cooperative relationship with it.”

The Wilmette Institute introduces a...

Correspondence Course! Correspondence Course! Correspondence Course!

Topic: The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, 1853–1868

Answer: the call of the Universal House of Justice Study: the Bahá’í writings systematically Use: the knowledge you gain

No residential stay required College-level coursework begins January 1, 1998 $200 tuition fee; 20% discount for groups

Space is limited—register now!

Wilmette Institute, 536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL 60691, USA Telephone 847-733-3595 for 24 hour information and voice mail option Fax 847-733-3563 • E-mail [Page 15]

Balancing service with schooling

Part 2 of 2

How can I educate myself and serve at the same time?

The Universal House of Justice has pointed out that youth may “combine a pioneer project with a continuing educational program.” Today there is a growing number of opportunities for structured, “hands-on” learning experiences in other cultures and countries.

In a letter home a Bahá’í youth studying in Asia commented, “Life here has made me realize a lot about life in the States, the bad and the good. I think I can really learn a lot from [these] people because they work so hard, are so selfless and their morals and friendships have high standards.”

Bahá’í youth must take advantage of opportunities to broaden their education and world-embracing vision through service and study. For many, this is one of the best ways to prepare for longer-term pioneering and other service to the Cause as they mature.

The House of Justice tells us that “each individual must decide how he can best serve the Cause.” In deciding when to pioneer, it is helpful to remember: “Upon becoming a Bahá’í, one’s whole life is, or should become devoted to the progress of the Cause of God, and every talent or faculty he possesses is ultimately committed to this overriding objective. Within this framework he must consider, among other things, whether he can be a more effective pioneer later, or alternately whether the urgent need for pioneers, while possibilities for teaching are still open, outweighs an anticipated increase in effectiveness. This is not an easy decision, since oftentimes the spirit which prompts the pioneering offer is more important than one’s academic attainments.” Of course, other factors—such as financial situation and family needs—must be considered and consulted on with family, community and the Institutions of the Faith.

“Finally,” the Universal House of Justice tells us, “bearing in mind the principle of sacrificial service and the unfailing promises Bahá’u’lláh ordained for those who arise to serve His Cause, one should pray and meditate on what his course of action will be. Indeed, it often happens that the answer will be found in no other way.”

Current exciting opportunities around the world for youth to serve are listed on Page 27. The Office of Pioneering invites you to plan on joining us at the upcoming Pioneering/BYSC/SITA Institute Jan. 16–19 at Bosch Bahá’í School in Santa Cruz, California. More will be scheduled at future dates. To begin working toward service as a pioneer, contact your local Spiritual Assembly or the Office of Pioneering at 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3508, e-mail

Once I have decided when to pioneer, what can I do to prepare?

• Become a “spiritual warrior” right where you are. Study the Writings “with greater earnestness.” Consult with your local Spiritual Assembly, Auxiliary Board member or assistant about teaching a more diverse range of people, and ways to approach this. Go out and tell people about the coming of Bahá’u’lláh, confident in His power to attract receptive hearts.

Find out how you can help teach children’s classes and foster the movement of youth in your community, or render other services in the plans of your local Spiritual Assembly.

• Begin to orient your studies or your choice of work in accordance with the guidance of the Teachings and the Institutions.

One example of such guidance from the Universal House of Justice comes from a message to youth gathered in conference in 1983: “When deciding what course of training to follow, youth can consider acquiring those skills and professions that will be of benefit in education, rural development, agriculture, economics, technology, health, radio, and in many other areas of endeavor that are so urgently needed in the developing countries of the world. You can also devote time in the midst of your studies, or other activities, to travel teaching or service projects in the Third World.”

What if I’m ready to go very soon?

“May you all arise to seize the tasks of this crucial moment. May each inscribe his or her own mark on a brief span of time so charged with potentialities and hope for all humanity,” the House of Justice wrote in introducing the Four Year Plan.

The House of Justice looks expectantly to the response of the youth, calling upon them “with love and utmost longing” to “immerse yourselves in the Divine Teachings, champion the Cause of God and His Law, and arise for the quickening of mankind” with assurance “of the loving support and guidance of the Bahá’í institutions operating at every level.”

African youths share energy

Participants in the first Ethiopian and Eritrean Bahá’í Youth Gathering in North America grace the steps of the Washington, D.C., Bahá’í Center in late summer.

More than 40 Ethiopian and Eritrean Bahá’ís living in the United States and Canada met at the Bahá’í Center in Washington, D.C., in a youth gathering Aug. 29–Sept. 1 that was marked by a great sense of fellowship and love as well as responsibility toward the urgent needs of the Cause.

After arrival from many localities as far away as California, Texas, Canada and South Carolina, the Africans were served dinner by the host community and welcomed by local Assembly chairperson Zylpha Mapp-Robinson, who had pioneered in Ethiopia in the 1970s.

As they introduced themselves and shared their hopes for the conference in the opening session, many participants expressed their struggle to remain active in their new culture. The exercise brought the group to a new level of closeness and sense of purpose.

“During our stay, we rededicated ourselves to the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh. We recommitted ourselves to fulfilling our spiritual obligations as Bahá’ís,” reads a report on the gathering by Zelalem and Gail Amare.

“And, in accordance with the principle of unity in diversity, we recognized that as a culture we have contributions to make to the American Bahá’í community. At the same time we have many things to learn from our American community which we can contribute to the continent of Africa.”

Among topics the group discussed throughout the weekend:

• The contribution of Ethiopian and Eritrean Bahá’ís (and those from Africa as a whole) to the process of entry by troops in America.
• The messages of the Four Year Plan for America and Africa and how participants could contribute to their goals.
• Overcoming barriers associated with adjusting to a new culture and finding roles in new communities.
• Developing personal plans for service to the Faith.

A highlight of the gathering was a talk by Rebeka Getahun Murphy, an Ethiopian-born woman who had embraced the Faith in the United States, who told stories of the Bahá’í heroes of Africa and encouraged participants to rededicate themselves to the Covenant and never to sever their ties with their homeland. Michael Penn, Auxiliary Board member, also spoke to participants on emulating their spiritual ancestors in Africa.

Public events during the weekend included a presentation on the history of the Bahá’í Faith in Ethiopia and Eritrea, led by Yalem Karos, Sofia Berhane and Nazi Farhoumand. A photo exhibition followed.

The presence of Mrs. Farhoumand and her family, who were pioneers in eastern Africa for 20 years, was felt to be a special blessing for the gathering.

Bahá’ís and seekers from across the area also were invited to a cultural night, showcasing the characteristic food, clothing and dance of that region of Africa. Brief introductions to the Faith were presented in Amharic and English.

Upcoming youth activities!
Nov. 27–30: D.C. Thanksgiving Youth Conference; call 703-573-6364 Dec. 25–28: Grand Canyon Youth Conference, Phoenix; call 602-922-1919 Dec. 27–Jan. 1: Cleveland-area Mid-Winter Youth Conference; call 216-283-8526

Modesto social, teaching event brings out dozens

Youths from the Modesto, Calif., area gather for a summer youth project. (Photo submitted by the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office)

An area youth project in Modesto, Calif., drew about 40 young people last summer for prayers, deepenings, social interaction, teaching opportunities including a fireside, and two performances by the Bay Area Youth Workshop.

The first workshop performance, held at an apartment complex, was attended by nearly 40 Hmong youths, many of whom gave well-received individual dance performances. The next evening the performance attracted about 75 people, including many Hmong and Cambodian friends.

For more information about teaching or involving Southeast Asians in the Bahá’í community, please contact the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office at 847-733-3522. [Page 16]SOCIAL / ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Health for Humanity received warmly in China

When you’re doing a service for people in need, word gets around.

That’s what a delegation of physicians, dentists and health professionals found when they traveled to Anhui province in China on behalf of Health for Humanity last spring.

“Little did we anticipate that the trip was going to be one of the most powerful and profound experiences of each of our lives,” wrote Mahyar Mofidi, a dentist from Kentucky, in a follow-up report.

The trip was arranged with the help of Mansour Ahangarzadeh, a Dallas-area dentist who had visited Anhui several times already, and Zia Ahmadzadegan, the Health for Humanity liaison in the province.

Determining that the organization could best serve by arranging for American health professionals to volunteer a few weeks to train and advise their Chinese counterparts, the two recruited and helped prepare five other professionals for an excursion to begin on Naw-Rúz.

Besides the two dentists, the delegation included Robert Bassett, an orthopedic hand surgeon from Kansas; head and neck surgeon Terence Gallagher, pediatrician Timothy Thurber and surgery head nurse Soheila Zandi, all of Texas; and physical therapist Eric Lowcock of Florida.

A province in southeastern China generally west of Shanghai, Anhui is a highly productive agricultural zone along the Yangtze River. Its 60 million people are among the nation’s poorest.

But there was nothing stingy about the reception awaiting the group in Hefei, the province’s capital.

“There were banners lining the streets all the way from the hospital,” Mr. Ahmadzadegan reported. “The banners read, ‘Welcome American doctors from Health for Humanity.’ The people lined up at the entrance to the hospital welcoming us, and when we entered the conference room it was packed with doctors, nurses, other hospital staff, the mayor, invited dignitaries and city officials.”

The delegation dispersed to various hospitals and clinics in Hefei, Luan and Chahou, where they worked on patients, advised professionals and students on Western techniques and technologies, and in some cases trained them in the use of supplies and equipment that Health for Humanity had previously sent to the region.

Dr. Mofidi noted his direct services were especially welcomed in a less-developed setting, where preventive dentistry was practically nil and people generally put off visiting the dentist until they were in pain.

In Luan, Dr. Mofidi saw an average 25 patients a day, but “many times as I would proceed from one dental chair to another, several people would enthusiastically approach me and request that I examine their or their family member’s oral cavity. One such person was the mayor! Patients waiting in the chairs were generally nice and understanding about this, never complaining.”

Allowing foreign doctors to practice in private offices is highly unusual, but the delegation was allowed to go further, as in one case Dr. Gallagher performed surgery.

Not only did the host professionals welcome the help, they invited future exchanges as well as advice on hospital operation and management. As follow-ups to the spring trip, Chinese doctors have come to the United States for development of their knowledge and skills, and a smaller Health for Humanity delegation was in Anhui in October.

“Truly, this was the first time that I personally was able to internalize on a consistent basis the principle ‘work in a spirit of service is worship.’ To offer one’s time, energy and resources for humanitarian assistance, while expecting nothing in return, is one of the most humbling experiences of life,” Dr. Mofidi wrote about the spring visit.

Health for Humanity has a membership/support group of more than 1,200 individuals and organizations in 52 countries.

Based in Glencoe, Illinois, the service organization has conducted local volunteer-based projects this year on five continents and the Pacific Islands. Among its stated goals is to “assist in the emergence of local capabilities” by helping in problem-solving, organizing local health-care resources and expertise.

For more information or to inquire about volunteering, please contact Health for Humanity at —————, Glencoe, IL 60022 (phone 847-835-5088, fax 847-835-7088).

“To offer one’s time, energy and resources for humanitarian assistance, while expecting nothing in return, is one of the most humbling experiences of life.”

Dr. Mahyar Mofidi

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Atlanta physician has input in global health justice effort

An American Bahá’í was one of only five non-governmental organization (NGO) participants in a recent World Health Organization meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on equity in health care.

Elizabeth L. Bowen, an Atlanta-area pediatrician and medical educator, represented the Bahá’í International Community in the Sept. 29–Oct. 3 meeting, titled “Policy-Oriented Monitoring of Equity in Health and Health Care.”

The meeting sounded a “call to action” to remedy a number of inequities in health care worldwide, including the heavier burden of illness, injuries and health hazards on poorer communities, a widening “health gap” between the richest and poorest 20 percent of the population, and discrimination in health care based on race, sex, age, and socioeconomic and educational status.

In one alarming example, data from some countries reveal that far more girls than boys—in some cases four times more girls—die in infancy and childhood.

Tasks in the meeting included sharing practical ways of keeping track of fairness in how governments and institutions deal with health issues, as well as reviewing a draft policy for worldwide action titled “Health for All in the 21st Century.”

World Health Organization staff created a task force immediately after the meeting to study and advise the United Nations agency on a number of issues, including:

• Encouraging governments and responsible organizations to help reduce social gaps in health care, building new avenues of cooperation on the way.
• Working to translate into action U.N. human rights statements, paying particular attention to children’s and women’s rights and health.
• Developing moral leadership in human rights, social development and the abolition of war.
• Helping promote spiritual well-being as an essential dimension of human health and prosperity.

“Let us hope that the momentum begun in this meeting will be sustained by increasing involvement and full partnership of the NGO community,” Dr. Bowen said after the WHO meeting. “Many agree that WHO action is necessary but not sufficient. We all need to do our part at our level in our institutions and communities to fulfill the objectives of ‘Health for All in the 21st Century.’”

One major consensus from the “Monitoring of Equity” meeting was that all monitoring of health issues should be conscious of fair treatment for both women and men.

For instance, this emphasis in research could help agencies work to help bring girls closer to an equal status with boys in health and availability of health care.

On the other side of the coin, studies from South Africa and the United States find an excessive number of deaths of young men due to interpersonal violence.

Representatives of the NGO Forum for Health held an informal consultation to explore creating a “Global Health Watch” to monitor health equity. Financial and human resources from NGOs and foundations are needed to launch and sustain this initiative. [Page 17]

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

This is the fourth and final installment of a series of commentaries written on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly in response to a letter from the Universal House of Justice to the American Bahá’í community dated December 29, 1988, titled "Individual Rights and Freedoms in the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh."

Section 5

Because the Most Great Peace is the object of our longing, a primary effort of the Bahá’í community is to reduce the incidence of conflict and contention, which are categorically forbidden in the Most Holy Book. Does this mean that one may not express critical thought? Absolutely not. How can there be the candor called for in consultation if there is no critical thought? How is the individual to exercise his responsibilities to the Cause, if he is not allowed the freedom to express his views? Has Shoghi Effendi not stated that "at the very root of the Cause lies the principle of the undoubted right of the individual to self-expression, his freedom to declare his conscience and set forth his views"? (See item 75 at right)

The Administrative Order provides channels for the expression of criticism, acknowledging, as a matter of principle, that "it is not only the right, but the vital responsibility of every loyal and intelligent member of the community to offer fully and frankly, but with due respect and consideration to the authority of the Assembly, any suggestion, recommendation or criticism he conscientiously feels he should in order to improve and remedy certain existing conditions or trends in his local community." Correspondingly, the Assembly has the duty "to give careful consideration to any such views submitted to them." (76-78)

Apart from the direct access that one has to an Assembly, local or national or to a Counselor or Auxiliary Board member, there are specific oce for the airing of one's views in the community. The most frequent of these occasions for any Bahá’í is the Nineteen Day Feast which, "besides its social and spiritual aspects, fulfills various administrative needs and requirements of the community, chief among them being the need for open and constructive criticism and deliberation regarding the state of affairs within the local Bahá’í community." At the same time, Shoghi Effendi's advice, as conveyed by his secretary, goes on to stress the point that "all criticisms and discussions of a negative character which may result in undermining the authority of the Assembly as a body should be strictly avoided. For otherwise the order of the Cause itself will be endangered, and confusion and discord will reign in the community." (79-84)

Clearly, then, there is more to be considered than the critic's right to self-expression; the unifying spirit of the Cause of God must also be preserved, the authority of its laws and ordinances safeguarded, authority being an indispensable aspect of freedom. Motive, manner, mode become relevant; but there is also the matter of love: love for one's fellows, love for one's community, love for one's institutions. (85-86)

The responsibility resting on the individual to conduct himself in such a way as to ensure the stability of society takes on elemental importance in this context. For vital as it is to the progress of society, criticism is a two-edged sword: it is all too often the harbinger of conflict and contention. The balanced processes of the Administrative Order are meant to prevent this essential activity from degenerating to any form of dissent that breeds opposition and its dreadful schismatic consequences. How incalculable have been the negative results of ill-directed criticism: in the catastrophic divergences it has created in religion, in the equally contentious factions it has spawned in political systems, which have dignified conflict by institutionalizing such concepts as the "loyal opposition" which attach to one or another of the various categories of political opinion—conservative, liberal, progressive, reactionary, and so forth. (87-91)

If Bahá’í individuals deliberately ignore the principles embedded in the Order which Bahá’u’lláh himself has established to remedy divisive-

Comments and questions

75. What harm to the individual, the institutions and society—would result if individuals could not state "critical thoughts" during consultation?

76. The word "criticism" can be used two ways. It can be neutral or positive, referring to the necessary process of questioning to determine what is right; or it can be used negatively, referring to excessive or unnecessary questioning. The letter written on behalf of the Guardian and quoted in this paragraph uses the more positive definition of criticism.

77. In what ways can the individual voice his or her views "with due respect and consideration to the authority of the Assembly"?

78. How should the Spiritual Assembly respond to suggestions, recommendations or even criticisms from individuals?

79. The Universal House of Justice enumerates the various occasions on which a Bahá’í may air his or her views: to a local or National Spiritual Assembly; to a Counselor or Auxiliary Board member; and at the Nineteen Day Feast.

80. What qualities make criticism constructive instead of destructive?

81. What problems might arise if all Bahá’ís at a Feast do not have an opportunity to speak up?

82. What similarities and differences are there between access to Bahá’í institutions and U.S. government institutions?

83. What are some appropriate ways to question the decision of a Spiritual Assembly?

84. What changes in attitude can make it possible to maintain freedom of expression and avoid "conflict and contention"?

85. Why is authority an "indispensable aspect of freedom"? reacted harshly? Is it possible that your attitude encouraged that reaction?

86. Have you ever made comments in a Bahá’í meeting to which others How do the speaker's intentions—for others, for the community, for the institutions—have an impact on what is said and how it is received?

87. Does an individual's responsibility to ensure the stability of society affect his or her right to speak? To remain silent? degenerating into contention, strife and dissent?

88. What processes of the Administrative Order prevent criticism from

89. What might be some of the "dreadful, schismatic consequences" of dissent? What examples can you give of these effects in previous religions?

90. What is wrong with the institutionizing of a "loyal opposition"? Does not such a concept focus attention on who is right and who is wrong, rather than on unific solutions?

91. What is wrong with political labels such as liberal or conservative? Such labels often discourage individuals from considering the true merits of a proposition or opinion. Instead, ideas, or often even individuals, are judged on the basis of a perceived relationship with some other idea or group. Most political labels are used negatively to discredit individuals, ideas or groups.

92. In what ways has the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh been protected from the "baneful effects of the misuse of the process of criticism"? istrative Order). Among the protections provided by the Administrative The Covenant sets forth a "universal administrative system" (the Administrative Order) are the principle of consultation; divine guidance for local Spiritual Assemblies that are operating in unity; and the infallibility of the Universal House of Justice.

93. Dissidence comes from the Latin word meaning "to sit apart." It generally is a stronger word than dissent (which comes from the Latin word meaning "to feel differently") and implies a stronger disunity than dissent.

94. What would constitute some of the expected behaviors in a Bahá’í etiquette of expression?

95. What behaviors would not be acceptable in a Bahá’í etiquette of expression?

96. The Bahá’í writings describe the spiritual characteristics toward which the press must strive. It must seek to be "sanctified from malice, passion and prejudice"—that is, the press must be holy and detached from any desire to harm, any outburst of emotion, or any preconceived biases. The press must exhibit traits associated with independent investigation of the truth: [Page 18]ness in the human family, the Cause for which so much has been sacrificed will surely be set back in its mission to rescue world society from complete disintegration. May not the existence of the Covenant be invoked again and again, so that such repetition may preserve the needed perspective? For, in this age, the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh has been protected against the baneful effects of the misuse of the process of criticism; this has been done by the institution of the Covenant and by the provision of a universal administrative system that incorporates within itself the mechanisms for drawing out the constructive ideas of individuals and using them for the benefit of the entire system. Admonishing the people to uphold the unifying purpose of the Cause, Bahá’u’lláh, in the Book of His Covenant, addresses these poignant words to them: "Let not the means of order be made the cause of confusion and the instrument of union an occasion for discord." Such assertions emphasize a crucial point; it is this: In terms of the Covenant, dissidence is a moral and intellectual contradiction of the main objective animating the Bahá’í community, namely, the establishment of the unity of humankind. (92-93)

Section 6

We return to the phenomenal characteristics of speech. Content, volume, style, tact, wisdom, timeliness are among the critical factors in determining the effects of speech for good or evil. Consequently, the friends need ever to be conscious of the significance of this activity which so distinguishes human beings from other forms of life, and they must exercise it judiciously. Their efforts at such discipline will give birth to an etiquette of expression worthy of the approaching maturity of the human race. Just as this discipline applies to the spoken word, it applies equally to the written word; and it profoundly affects the operation of the press. (94-95)

The significance and role of the press in a new world system are conspicuous in the emphasis which the Order of Bahá’u’lláh places on accessibility to information at all levels of society. Shoghi Effendi tells us that Bahá’u’lláh makes "specific reference to 'the swiftly appearing newspapers,' describes them as 'the mirror of the world' and as 'an amazing and potent phenomenon,' and prescribes to all who are responsible for their production the duty to be sanctified from malice, passion and prejudice, to be just and fair-minded, to be painstaking in their inquiries, and ascertain all the facts in every situation." (96-99)

In His social treatise, The Secret of Divine Civilization, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá offers insight as to the indispensability of the press in future society. He says it is "urgent that beneficial articles and books be written, clearly and definitely establishing what the present-day requirements of the people are, and what will conduce to the happiness and advancement of society." Further, He writes of the "publication of high thoughts" as the "dynamic power in the arteries of life," "the very soul of the world." Moreover, He states that "Public opinion must be directed toward whatever is worthy of this day, and this is impossible except through the use of adequate arguments and the adducing of clear, comprehensive and conclusive proofs." (100-102)

As to manner and style, Bahá’u’lláh has exhorted "authors among the friends" to "write in such a way as would be acceptable to fair-minded souls, and not lead to caviling by the people." And He issues a reminder: "We have said in the past that one word hath the influence of spring and causeth hearts to become fresh and verdant, while another is like unto blight which causeth the blossoms and flowers to wither." (103)

In light of all this, the code of conduct of the press must embrace the principles and objectives of consultation as revealed by Bahá’u’lláh. Only in this way will the press be able to make its full contribution to the preservation of the rights of people and become a powerful instrument in the consultative processes of society, and hence for the unity of the human race. (104-105)

Section 7

Some of the friends have suggested that the emergence of the Faith from obscurity indicates the timeliness of ceasing observance in the Bahá’í community of certain restraints; particularly are they concerned about the temporary necessity of review before publishing. (106)

Commentary

justice, fair-mindedness, thoroughness and accuracy.

97. Why does the Order of Bahá’u’lláh emphasize the accessibility of information to all levels of society?

98. In what ways does the modern press uphold the standards of the Bahá’í writings? In what ways does it fall short of those standards?

99. How is the press "the mirror of the world"?

100. What are "high thoughts"? ‘Abdu’l-Bahá refers to "the present-day requirements of the people" and to that which will promote "the happiness and advancement of society." Which current publications address such concerns? What "high thoughts" could they emphasize?

101. "Sound bites" (10- to 15-second remarks on current topics) have become popular on evening television news programs. Can sound bites offer "adequate arguments" and "clear, comprehensive and conclusive proofs"?

102. What standards are used in modern society to judge what works are published?

103. The full quotation from Bahá’u’lláh is as follows:

"Thou hast written that one of the friends hath composed a treatise. This was mentioned in the Holy Presence, and this is what was revealed in response: Great care should be exercised that whatever is written in these days doth not cause dissension, and invite the objection of the people. Whatever the friends of the one true God say in these days is listened to by the people of the world. It hath been revealed in the Lawh-i-Hikmat: 'The unbelievers have inclined their ears toward us in order to hear that which might enable them to cavil against God, the Help in peril, the Self-Subsisting.' Whatever is written should not transgress the bounds of tact and wisdom, and in the words used there should lie hid the property of milk, so that the children of the world may be nurtured therewith, and attain maturity. We have said in the past that one word hath the influence of spring and causeth hearts to become fresh and verdant, while another is like unto blight which causeth the blossoms and flowers to wither. God grant that authors among the friends will write in such a way as to be acceptable to fair-minded souls, and not lead to caviling by the people." (Quoted in "House of Justice on Bahá’í Scholarship," Bahá’í National Review, no. 109, pp. 1-2)

What does it mean that a work should be acceptable to "fair-minded souls"?

104. What is the purpose of the press?

105. What are the means by which the press fulfills its purpose?

106. The significance of the topic of review is indicated by the fact that the Universal House of Justice devotes an entire section of the letter to it. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Himself initiated review in the early years of this century when He required that a translation of a tablet of Bahá’u’lláh from Persian to Arabic that He had approved be submitted to the Spiritual Assembly of Cairo for its approval as well. He explained that, if a translation of the Bahá’í writings were authenticated and official, it would carry weight, whereas unauthorized translations would not receive due recognition (Bahá’í Administration, 23). He also established a review system in the U.S. whereby the Spiritual Assemblies of Chicago and New York City would jointly approve manuscripts by Bahá’ís that describe the history and teachings of the Faith (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 83). Later, Shoghi Effendi transferred the authority to review manuscripts to the National Spiritual Assemblies (Bahá’í Administration, 23). All manuscripts by Bahá’ís that mention the Faith and are to be circulated in a particular locality must be approved by the local Spiritual Assembly of that place; if they are to be distributed more widely, they must be reviewed by the National Spiritual Assembly. Shoghi Effendi explained that the purpose of review is to ensure that any work by a Bahá’í meet the standards of accuracy and dignity of presentation of the Faith. He added that review was a temporary requirement and would be lifted once the teachings of the Faith were widely understood.

With the emergence of the Faith from obscurity and the enormous increase in the range and volume of published literature on the Faith, many Bahá’ís have asked the Universal House of Justice whether the time has come to remove the requirement of review. The Universal House of Justice, in this section, agrees that the teachings of the Faith are much more widely known today than in the past, and that the existence of the Faith has been discussed in some of the most influential forums on earth. However, the Guardian notes that review must be conducted "in these days when the Cause is still in its infancy" (Bahá’í Administration, 38). The Universal House of Justice states that the Bahá’í community has not yet attained maturity; thus review is still appropriate.

107. The Faith has emerged from obscurity and has entered a "triumphant stage in the efforts of the community to register its existence on the minds of those who influence world events." Describe some ways in which the Faith has been brought to the attention of national, state and local leaders.

108. The Universal House of Justice writes that the Faith's emergence from obscurity "frees the Cause to pursue objectives hitherto unreachable." Can [Page 19]

DEEPENING/COMMENTARY

109. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá warned:

That the Faith has emerged from obscurity on a global scale is certain. you identify some of these objectives?

This definitely marks a triumphant stage in the efforts of the community to register its existence on the minds of those who influence world events. Consider how, because of the sufferings and sacrifices of the friends in Iran, the concerns of the community in these respects have become a matter of discussion in the most influential parliaments and the most important international forums on earth. That this emergence frees the Cause to pursue objectives hitherto unreachable is also undeniable; but that it marks the attainment of the community's anticipated maturity is entirely doubtful. (107-108)

How could it have attained maturity, when we know from the clear guidance of the beloved Guardian that obscurity is but one of the many stages in the long evolution toward the Faith's golden destiny? Has he not advised us all that the subsequent stage of oppression must precede the stages of its emancipation and its recognition as a world religion? Can the friends forget the oft-quoted warning of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá concerning the bitter opposition that will confront the Cause in various lands on all continents? In the case of the American believers, has Shoghi Effendi not alluded to this coming fury in his description of them as "the invincible Army of Bahá’u’lláh, who in the West, and at one of its potential storm centers is to fight, in His name and for His sake, one of its fiercest and most glorious battles"? (109-110)

Those who are anxious to relax all restraint, who invoke freedom of speech as the rationale for publishing every and any thing concerning the Bahá’í community, who call for the immediate termination of the practice of review now that the Faith has emerged from obscurity—are they not aware of these sobering prospects? Widespread as has been the public revulsion to the current persecutions in Iran, let there be no mistake about the certainty of the opposition which must yet be confronted in many countries, including that which is the Cradle of the Administrative Order itself. (111-112)

The Faith is as yet in its infancy. Despite its emergence from obscurity, even now the vast majority of the human race remains ignorant of its existence; moreover, the vast majority of its adherents are relatively new Bahá’ís. The change implied by this new stage in its evolution is that whereas heretofore this tender plant was protected in its obscurity from the attention of external elements, it has now become exposed. This exposure invites close observation, and that observation will eventually lead to opposition in various quarters. So, far from adopting a carefree attitude, the community must be conscious of the necessity to present a correct view of itself and an accurate understanding of its purpose to a largely skeptical public. A greater effort, a greater care must now be exercised to ensure its protection against the malice of the ignorant and the unwisdom of its friends. (113-117)

Let us all remember that the struggle of the infant Faith of God to thrive is beset with the turmoil of the present age. Like a tender shoot just barely discernible above ground, it must be nurtured to strength and maturity and buttressed as necessary against the blight of strong winds and deadly entanglements with weeds and thistles. If we to whose care this plant has been entrusted are insensitive to its tenderness, the great tree which is its certain potential will be hindered in its growth toward the spreading of its sheltering branches over all humankind. From this perspective we must all consider the latent danger to the Cause of ill-advised actions and exaggerated expectations; and particularly must we all be concerned about the effects of words, especially those put in print. It is here that Bahá’í authors and publishers need to be attentive and exert rigorous discipline upon themselves, as well as abide by the requirements of review at this early stage in the development of the Faith. (118-122)

Section 8

The right of the individual to self-expression has permeated the foregoing comments on the various freedoms, but, even so, a word more might be said about individual freedom. The fundamental attitude of

"How great, how very great is the Cause; how very fierce the onslaught of all the peoples and kindreds of the earth! Erelong shall the clamor of the multitude throughout Africa, throughout America, the cry of the European and of the Turk, the groaning of India and China be heard far and near. One and all they shall arise with all their power to resist His Cause. Then shall the Knights of the Lord, assisted by grace from on high, strengthened by faith, aided by the power of understanding and reinforced by the legions of the Covenant, arise and make manifest the truth of the verse: 'Behold the confusion that hath befallen the tribes of the defeated!'" (Bahá’í Administration, 123; God Passes By, 354-55)

110. Consider this quotation from the Guardian:

"Let not, however, the invincible army of Bahá’u’lláh, who in the West, and at one of its potential storm-centers is to fight, in His name and for His sake, one of its fiercest and most glorious battles, be afraid of any criticism that might be directed against it. Let it not be deterred by any condemnation with which the tongue of the slanderer may seek to debase its motives. Let it not recoil before the threatening advance of the forces of fanaticism, of orthodoxy, of corruption, and of prejudice that may be leagued against it. The voice of criticism is a voice that indirectly reinforces the proclamation of its Cause. Unpopularity but serves to throw into greater relief the contrast between it and its adversaries; while ostracism is itself the magnetic power that must eventually win over to its camp the most vociferous and inveterate amongst its foes." (The Advent of Divine Justice, 42)

What fierce but glorious "battles" can we expect to fight for the Faith in the U.S.? What forms might opposition to the Faith take here? What should our response to this opposition be?

111. Consider this statement by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá about the opposition to the Faith in the West:

... the friends in the West will unquestionably have their share of the calamities befalling the friends in the East. It is inevitable that, walking the pathway of Bahá’u’lláh, they too will become targets for persecution by the oppressors....

"Now ye, as well, must certainly become my partners to some slight degree, and accept your share of tests and sorrows. But these episodes shall pass away, while that abiding glory and eternal life shall remain unchanged forever. Moreover, these afflictions shall be the cause of great advancement." (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 196, 238-39)

112. The Universal House of Justice writes that those who wish to relax all restraints invoke "freedom of speech" as their rationale. How does an appreciation of the Bahá’í concepts of rights and freedoms rebut this argument?

113. What possible dangers to the Cause could result if the review process did not exist during a time when the Faith was being actively opposed?

Bahá’ís, allowed to write anything and everything, could make any attacks on the Faith worse in their innocent and independent attempts to ameliorate them.

114. Consider this statement by the Guardian:

"They [Spiritual Assemblies] must supervise in these days when the Cause is still in its infancy all Bahá’í publications and translations, and provide in general for a dignified and accurate presentation of all Bahá’í literature and its distribution to the general public." (Bahá’í Administration, 38)

Shoghi Effendi here says that review is a task that must be carried out during the "infancy" of the Faith. In its letter, the Universal House of Justice asserts that the Faith is still in its infancy and therefore that review needs to be continued. The Guardian also lists the two primary reasons that review exists: to assure the accuracy and dignity of presentations of the Faith.

115. The Universal House of Justice uses the term "tender plant" in referring to the Faith. So does the Guardian:

"Let us also remember that at the very root of the Cause lies the principle of the undoubted right of the individual to self-expression, his freedom to declare his conscience and set forth his views. If certain instructions of the Master are today particularly emphasized and scrupulously adhered to, let us be sure that they are but provisional measures designed to guard and protect the Cause in its present state of infancy and growth until the day when this tender and precious plant shall have sufficiently grown to be able to withstand the unwisdom of its friends and the attacks of its enemies." (Bahá’í Administration, 63; emphasis added)

The "certain instructions of the Master" appear to be an allusion to the review process. [Page 20]

Statement

the Faith in this respect is best demonstrated by statements of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá concerning the family. “The integrity of the family bond,” He says, “must be constantly considered, and the rights of the individual members must not be transgressed.... All these rights and prerogatives must be conserved, yet the unity of the family must be sustained. The injury of one shall be considered the injury of all; the comfort of each, the comfort of all; the honor of one, the honor of all.” (123)

The individual’s relation to society is explained by Shoghi Effendi in the statement that “The Bahá’í conception of social life is essentially based on the principle of the subordination of the individual will to that of society. It neither suppresses the individual nor does it exalt him to the point of making him an antisocial creature, a menace to society. As in everything, it follows the ‘golden mean.’” (124)

This relationship, so fundamental to the maintenance of civilized life, calls for the utmost degree of understanding and cooperation between society and the individual; and because of the need to foster a climate in which the untold potentialities of the individual members of society can develop, this relationship must allow “free scope” for “individuality to assert itself” through modes of spontaneity, initiative and diversity that ensure that viability of society. Among the responsibilities assigned to Bahá’í institutions that have a direct bearing on these aspects of individual freedom and development is one that is thus described in the Constitution of the Universal House of Justice: “to safeguard the personal rights, freedom and initiative of individuals.” A corollary is: “to give attention to the preservation of human honor.”

How noteworthy that in the Order of Bahá’u’lláh, while the individual will is subordinated to that of society, the individual is not lost in the mass but becomes the focus of primary development, so that he may find his own place in the flow of progress, and society as a whole may benefit from the accumulated talents and abilities of the individuals composing it. Such an individual finds fulfillment of his potential not merely in satisfying his own wants but in realizing his completeness in being at one with humanity and with the divinely ordained purpose of creation. (125-127)

The quality of freedom and of its expression—indeed, the very capacity to maintain freedom in a society—undoubtedly depends on the knowledge and training of individuals and on their abilities to cope with the challenges of life with equanimity. As the beloved Master has written: “And the honor and distinction of the individual consist in this, that he among all the world’s multitudes should become a source of social good. Is any larger bounty conceivable than this, that an individual, looking within himself, should find that by the confirming grace of God he has become the cause of peace and well-being, of happiness and advantage to his fellowmen? No, by the one true God, there is no greater bliss, no more complete delight.” (128-129)

Section 9

The spirit of liberty that in recent decades has swept over the planet with such tempestuous force is a manifestation of the vibrancy of the Revelation brought by Bahá’u’lláh. His own words confirm it. “The Ancient Beauty,” He wrote in a soul-stirring commentary on His sufferings, “hath consented to be bound with chains that mankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisoner within this most mighty Stronghold that the whole world may attain unto true liberty.” (130-131)

Might it not be reasonably concluded, then, that “true liberty” is His gift of love to the human race? Consider what Bahá’u’lláh has done: He revealed laws and principles to guide the free; He established an Order to channel the actions of the free; He proclaimed a Covenant to guarantee the unity of the free. (132)

Thus, we hold to this ultimate perspective: Bahá’u’lláh came to set humanity free. His Revelation is, indeed, an invitation to freedom—freedom from want, freedom from war, freedom to unite, freedom to progress, freedom in peace and joy. (133-134)

You who live in a land where freedom is so highly prized have not, then, to dispense with its fruits, but you are challenged and do have the obligation to uphold and vindicate the distinction between the license that limits your possibilities for genuine progress and the moderation that ensures the enjoyment of true liberty. (135-136)

Commentary

116. Give some examples of the “unwisdom of the friends” from which review can protect the Faith.

The Bahá’í Faith, with no clergy, and with its tenets of individual investigation and the right to self-expression, is particularly susceptible during its infancy to misunderstanding. Until the world understands that only the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice are authoritative, other writings that appear to offer a Bahá’í perspective need to be reviewed.

Some examples of the need for review could be: daring interpretations of Bahá’í beliefs that could be confused with Bahá’í principles; and information about the Faith in countries where it is persecuted that could endanger the Bahá’ís or the Faith in those countries.

117. Has the importance of review increased or decreased as a result of the new stage into which the Faith has entered?

118. Bahá’u’lláh comments on the problems of unwise actions by the friends as follows:

“We have said: ‘My imprisonment doeth Me no harm, nor do the things that have befallen Me at the hands of My enemies. That which harmeth Me is the conduct of My loved ones who, though they bear My name, yet commit that which maketh My heart and My pen to lament.’ Such utterances as these have again and again been revealed, yet the heedless have failed to profit thereby, since they are captive to their own evil passions and corrupt desires.” (Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, 70)

119. Some Bahá’ís believe that since the Bahá’í Faith is the religion of God, their actions cannot harm. Is this true?

120. What might “the blight of strong winds” and “deadly entanglements with weeds and thistles” refer to?

121. What result could come from our failure to be sensitive to the Faith’s tenderness?

122. If a Bahá’í wrote something that might be harmful to the Faith, how likely is it that someone might use the information?

123. The Universal House of Justice uses the analogy of the family in describing the attitude of the Faith toward the individual and society. Can you think of examples in your own family life when you or another family member made a personal sacrifice for the sake of family unity? Can you think of examples when another member of the family made a sacrifice for your benefit?

124. How can the will of the individual be subordinated to that of society without suppressing the individual?

Part of the answer to this question lies in the willingness of the individual to police himself or herself, so that society does not have to force conformity to necessary rules and norms.

125. How do we create a society in which individualism is given free scope to assert itself without causing a breakdown in civilized norms?

126. What can individuals and Bahá’í institutions do to preserve human honor?

127. What role should the human ego play in a mature society?

128. How often do popular movies and novels portray heroes experiencing pleasure and delight when they have been a source of social good? What motivations are more commonly portrayed instead? What impact would the media have on society if the plots of stories reflected spiritual values?

129. What sort of knowledge and training is necessary to maintain freedom and improve its quality?

130. How did Bahá’u’lláh’s imprisonment set humanity free? Why must Manifestations of God suffer to establish the truths of their revelations? In the Fire Tablet, Bahá’u’lláh describes His suffering and its significance.

131. Can you give examples of how suffering by persons who are not Manifestations of God can bring about liberation?

132. For a discussion of true liberty, see Section 2 (issue of Sept. 8, 1997).

133. What might the Universal House of Justice have meant by the phrase “freedom to unite”?

134. What are some of the Bahá’í principles that would accomplish “freedom from want”?

135. Give some examples of the distinction between license and “true liberty.”

136. For most people, the word “freedom” means the right to do whatever they please. How would you summarize the definition of the Universal House of Justice’s use of the word “freedom”?

The Universal House of Justice December 29, 1988

(Aid for study: Previous installments of this statement by the Universal House of Justice and the accompanying deepening/commentary were printed in the Aug. 1, Sept. 8 and Oct. 16 issues of The American Bahá’í.) [Page 21]

NEWS FROM OVERSEAS

• • Liberian friends forge ahead despite turmoil in their country**

In war-torn Liberia, the events of the past few months have failed to deter the work of the Faith, according to a report from the country's Bahá’í Administrative Committee.

"Tell the world, the Bahá’í Faith is alive and well in Liberia," said the report, dispatched in late summer.

Among highlights of activity:

• Since mid-March, some 51 souls have declared their faith in Bahá’u’lláh.

• The local Spiritual Assembly of Paynesville built its center from local materials, and planned to start a tutorial school in the fall. The Assembly also adopted Johnsonville as an extension goal, and its first trip there resulted in 10 declarations of faith.

• In April, a group of Bahá’ís registered with the government a non-governmental organization, Liberian Community Development Inc., whose goal is to provide job training for the friends and related services to the community at large. A program to manufacture and teach others to produce cement roofing sheets was the first project planned.

• A group of parents planned to launch Anisa Academy, a secondary school.

• A newly formed National Teaching Committee is planning teaching activities throughout the country and will identify five locations for homefront pioneers.

• • Bolivia: Provinces collaborate**

Bahá’ís from seven provinces in Bolivia spawned a teaching project that resulted in enrollments of 520 new believers within seven days in the Oruro and North Potosí regions. The two-day conference, held Aug. 23-24 in the city of Oruro, drew 110 Bahá’ís who afterward formed eight teaching teams. The teaching effort was coordinated with a massive proclamation campaign using the press, radio and television.

• • Mongolia: Cycle of growth**

Teaching and confirmation flowed full circle with each other in Mongolia, as summer teaching projects and summer schools brought at least 89 new believers into the fold. Local communities organized 17 teams to visit with other Bahá’í communities around the country to consolidate their activities and teach the Faith. One project teamed Mongolian teachers with several from Russia and one from the United States to spread the Faith in the Tuva region of Russia. The projects culminated in four regional summer schools, which drew 114 Bahá’ís and resulted in dozens of new enrollments.

An Australian Aboriginal youth plays the didjeridu at a Bahá’í "gathering of reconciliation" for Aboriginals at Rockdale, New South Wales, in July.

• • Ukraine: New paper**

VALORE M UNIDAD

Admiring the "Virtue Quilt" displayed at the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Panama City, held July 25, are (from left) Donald Witzel, pioneer to Venezuela; Counselor Ruth Pringle, representing the Universal House of Justice; and Dr. Ruth Berta de Barreto, representing the first lady of Panama.

Bahá’ís in Ukraine launched a newspaper for the public called Vyrii, aimed at "spreading knowledge about the Faith through indirect teaching." The Ukrainian-language paper, whose three-times-a-year publication was started in July, is to be distributed to local Bahá’í communities, which will disseminate it to the public as well as media representatives and libraries. A report from the country's National Spiritual Assembly says the paper "will include poems of Ukrainian poets, suitable aphorisms of profound thinkers, [and] excerpts from the Writings of the world's religions."

The July issue was put to use immediately, distributed along with a variety of Bahá’í literature at a July 11 conference in Kiev titled "New Religions in Ukraine," sponsored by the government's Committee on Religious Affairs.

• • New Caledonia: Sweet music**

The Bahá’í musical group Crescendo won first prize in traditional song and music for its song "Nengone" at a music festival in June at Dumbéa, New Caledonia. The group has performed Bahá’í music at various public events, including a crafts fair earlier in June for an audience estimated at 15,000.

Read more from the Bahá’í International News Service at http://www.usbnc.org (you must use your Bahá’í ID number to log in).

• • Brazil: Through the schools**

A program in Brazil to promote entry by troops among people of prominence has brought some 150 school principals in São Paulo to "Human Plenitude" seminars, with the result that three have embraced the Faith. Developed in the communities of Mogi Guacu and Santo André with the Soltaniéh Bahá’í Educational Center, the courses combine several traditional academic subjects with the Sacred Writings of the world's religions, in an effort to infuse spiritual energy into their professional conduct. The teaching results are positive: Participants "invite the Bahá’ís to their schools to talk to hundreds of teachers and parents. Bahá’í leaflets with prayers are ordered by the hundreds," states a report from the Continental Board of Counselors. Enthusiastic principals say the training has helped them improve the atmosphere in the classrooms, and their communication with colleagues and parents. The state school system has arranged to provide the training for educators in several other localities.

• • Armenia: Opening cities**

Bahá’ís in Armenia launched a teaching project to open the provinces of Vanadzor, Gumri and Kamo over the summer. During a three-week visit to Vanadzor by one pioneer from Tadjikistan, 16 people declared their faith in Bahá’u’lláh. An administrative committee has been appointed in that city, in anticipation of its first local Spiritual Assembly.

Youth around the world

• • Europe: Coming into focus**

A series of "Focusing All Efforts" seminars sparked a wave of youth energy across Europe last summer. Participants report the gatherings, organized by the European Bahá’í Youth Council, were marked by a spirit of unity and dedication, and often showed a high degree of development in expressing the Teachings through music, drama and dance. Intensive workshops focused on spreading the message, and teaching projects followed each seminar.

• From Jelaga, Latvia, where friends from the Baltic states, Scandinavia, England and even Alaska participated: "In a united, loving and disciplined atmosphere, we learned about spiritual and practical dynamics of teaching.... We are determined to win great triumphs for the advancement of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh."

• From Edirne, Turkey, where youth from 15 countries met: "... we developed practical and spiritual skills using the dramatic arts, music and dance, with the participation of the Turkish Dance Workshop. Youth were involved in direct teaching using techniques they practiced through role-playing in their workshops."

• From Lille, France, the biggest gathering with 130 youth: "All the elements were combined when the [European Diversity] Dance Workshop performed in the center of Lille.... For two hours, the youth were able to approach the crowd and spread the healing Message of Bahá’u’lláh."

• From Krakow, Poland, where a relatively small gathering dispersed young teachers to four countries: "Many new friends were found and invited to a concert which displayed the group's artistic talents." A teaching team sent to Bielsko-Biala, Poland, took advantage of that locality's "twin city" relationship with ‘Akká to establish contacts with the mayor, who praised the gardens at the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh.

• From Figueira de Foz, Portugal, where active participants ranged in age from 10 to 52: "We consulted on many ways to bring together all parts in a true community and realized that only by doing this could we offer a credible example to our disillusioned countrymen."

• • Alaska: Pitching in**

The volunteer spirit is helping raise up the Dow Bahá’í Camp near Anchorage, Alaska. Youth participating in the three-week ALCAN International Youth Training Institute in June put in two hours a day building and refurbishing facilities amid a training program that focused on teaching, work with children, and Youth Workshop development. The site was donated recently for summer schools, institutes, deepenings and other functions.

• • Ecuador: National Conference**

The National Youth Conference in Ecuador brought 125 youths to Las Conchas in July for a new grounding in the significance of being a Bahá’í. A talk on the station of Bahá’u’lláh brought four new enrollments, and 10 youths pledged to undergo a year of service. [Page 22]

THE ARC

Work has begun on the principal structure of the International Teaching Center beginning on Level 7, which will house the Council Chamber and the offices of the Counselors and their secretaries.

Once the six levels of the building's Common Area were completed, workers quickly launched the first task in constructing the main building of the Teaching Center: casting the concrete slab for Level 7.

It is here that the curved entrance portico will emerge, looking across the Arc Gardens toward the Shrine of the Báb. The entrance portico of the Teaching Center is designed with eight Ionic-style columns and a rear colonnade of 12 Tuscan-style columns. These columns, made in Italy from Piastrone marble, are expected to arrive on site by the end of the year.

Though differing in design from the Center for the Study of the Texts, the facade of the Teaching Center will harmonize with that building in an overview of the Arc.

Work along the northern perimeter of the building continues, and 40 to 45 feet has been backfilled with soil. This area not only will provide storage space for large quantities of marble, but also will serve as a platform for a mobile crane to be brought in for installation of the marble columns.

A series of stairs has been constructed from the roof of the Common Area to the level of the auditorium and the main building of the Teaching Center. This will provide access into the building from Golomb Street next to the main entrance to the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.

Above it, the base wall for the rear colonnade, which eventually will be covered with bush hammered marble, has been constructed. Designed in the round, this wall is meant to direct the eye toward the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.

The curved base wall of the rear portico over the Common Area of the International Teaching Center is now defined. The superstructure of the building will be raised during the next few months.

Study of the Texts

Another delicate operation was accomplished with the installation of nine large, clear laminated glass panels around the patio in Level 7 of the Center for the Study of the Texts. Each panel was lifted and maneuvered into place by a number of workers.

Earlier, 18 such panels had been installed around the main fountain in the Library, in the heart of the building. The edge of the fountain pool has been finished with marble.

Among other work at the Center for the Study of the Texts:

• Mahogany doors have been installed on all levels.
• Precast, fiber-reinforced gypsum moldings have been fitted in all lobbies, corridors and conference rooms.
• Most of the T-bars for the ceilings are in place so that acoustic tiles can be installed.
• Cabinets for kitchens and pantries have arrived, and installation will begin as soon as electrical and mechanical work is completed.
• Glass is on order for a 15mm-thick tempered glass balustrade for the two-story-high, curved main staircase in the entrance hall.

Vineyard of the Lord Part 23

With finishing work in the interior at advanced stages, the focus is beginning to shift toward decor.

Chandeliers for the entrance vestibule, main hall and other public areas on either side are in the final stages of design. Custom furniture—conference tables, coffee tables, upholstered seating etc.—is in the shop drawing stage. As carpet details are finalized, samples are being obtained for approval.

Terraces 15 to 19

The structural outlines of Terraces 15 to 19 above the Shrine of the Báb became better-defined as architectural detailing was begun. A new crew of Turkish masons has been employed to expedite stone work on these terraces.

Terrace 19, at the crest of Mount Carmel, is the most outstanding with more than 100 balustrades, interspersed with columns, decorating its first-level balcony and its contours. Its entire two-story structure, including the arches, is faced with local stone.

From every other terrace above the Shrine of the Báb, two staircases will form arcs linked by a balcony at the top, leading to the next-higher terrace.

Similar architectural work on Terraces 18 and 17 has been completed, and construction of the terrace walls is under way on Terrace 15.

Most of the current landscape work on the Upper Terraces is being done on the eastern outer areas. Terrace 15 is the only one with its inner slopes filled with soil and planted with ivy.

Trees, shrubs and ground cover have been planted extensively on Terraces 19 down to 16. Many of the plants are drought-tolerant, such as succulents, oleanders, rosemary, lantana, olive, jacaranda, coral and plumeria. Besides being low-maintenance plants, most are native to Israel and fit in the natural environment of Mount Carmel.

The irrigation network has been activated on the eastern side. Unlike the drip-irrigation scheme on the Lower Terraces, the system higher on the mountain uses sprinklers because the lower-maintenance plants will need watering only once a month.

On the western side, after completion of the rough grading of the mountain, topsoil was spread and seeded with clover to prevent erosion. A few olive trees also have been transplanted, with major plantings planned for next month. [Page 23]

THE ARC

(Above) The Kings’ Pathway leading up to the Shrine of the Báb is seen from Terrace 6. (Below) Terrace 17 above the Shrine is ready to receive stone pavings. (Right) The Shrine regally sits above these completed Terraces with their beautiful landscaping, ornamental vases, iron grillwork and lighting.

Vineyard spring.

As structural work continues on Terraces 13 and 14, excavations have begun on Terrace 12 with the relocation of the contractor's site offices to the roof of the Common Area of the International Teaching Center.

Hatzionut Avenue

Work is proceeding at full force along Hatzionut Avenue, with construction of the 825-foot north retaining wall under way. This wall will support the garden of the Main Terrace at the existing elevation, more than 15 feet above the lowered road.

Meanwhile, concrete work is being done on the foundation of the north pier of the bridge. Digging is finished on the pedestrian tunnel on the same side of the road, allowing concrete work to begin.

Fifty-three prestressed anchors were installed to support the soil behind the structure of the building under Terrace 11. That work was done with a 15-ton anchoring machine placed on the roof of the building.

A slab is being cast to bridge the gap between the building under Terrace 11 and the mountainside. This will allow the building to stand free of the mountain retaining system.

The Information Center in the building under Terrace 11 has, among other things, an auditorium, exhibition areas and a recording studio. A group of specialists has started to prepare materials for display in the exhibition areas.

The Afnán Reservoir

Next to the retaining wall of the Shrine of the Báb, in the outer western area of Terrace 9, is a pond in the shadow of the Shrine.

Restored and embellished with local stone, it is the only lotus and lily pond anywhere in the Terraces.

However, in the days of the beloved Master, it served a more crucial purpose. The pond was an outlet for a cistern—an underground water reservoir—which today stands preserved beneath the Terrace of the Shrine.

In the early days in the Holy Land, wells and cisterns to save rainfall were generally used to provide water for home use. A modern system of distributing water was put into place only after the country of Israel was established.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá had this cistern built well before the construction of the Shrine was initiated. This foresight allowed a small garden to flourish around the Shrine at a time when there was a severe shortage of water on Mount Carmel.

The Hand of the Cause of God Ugo Giachery wrote in his book Shoghi Effendi, “I vividly recollect Shoghi Effendi speaking of this important step taken by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá right after He had decided to erect that sacred building [the Shrine of the Báb].”

Dr. Giachery went on to say how the beloved Guardian built upon this precious resource with his creative ability and eagerness, making it possible to bring more water to the mountain and develop extensive gardens.

The cistern below the Shrine also stands as testimony to the devoted services of one of the Afnán, Mírzá Muhammad Báqir, grandson of the younger uncle of the Báb. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá honored him by naming the reservoir after him.

Two views of sections of the entrance portico of the Center for the Study of the Texts. (Photos by Ruhi Vargha via the Bahá’í International News Service) [Page 24]

Institute offering correspondence course on Revelation

A correspondence course on Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation, 1853–68, will be offered by the Wilmette Institute from Jan. 1 through early May.

Open to 75 students, the course will examine the writings of Bahá’u’lláh during the Tehran, Baghdad, Constantinople and Adrianople periods, including the Hidden Words, the Seven Valleys, the Four Valleys, the Book of Certitude, the Tablet of the Holy Mariner, the Tablet of Ahmad and most of the tablets to the kings.

The course will be divided into 18 weekly units, with reading assignments and learning exercises including artistic projects, writing assignments, ‎firesires firesides‎ and deepenings.

Communication between students will be facilitated with an e-mail discussion group or conference calls for those who don’t have e-mail. Group study exercises will be provided for members of local discussion groups.

Students will submit their learning exercises to the correspondence course faculty for comments and suggestions. Each weekly assignment will take five to eight hours to complete.

The faculty will include Habib Riazati, well-known scholar of the Bahá’í writings; Dann May, instructor of religion and philosophy at Oklahoma City University; and Robert Stockman, world religions instructor at De Paul University.

Registration is under way, and will end when the class is full. Registration forms are available from the Wilmette Institute and $200 tuition is payable in advance to the Bahá’í Services Fund.

A 20 percent discount is offered for members of a local discussion group of three or more who register for the course and pledge to study together.

For more information, contact the Wilmette Institute (phone 847-733-3595, fax 847-733-3563, e-mail

24-hour Wilmette Institute info line

To answer a growing number of calls for information on the Wilmette Institute, a 24-hour information line has been set up:

847-733-3595

Callers to the automated line get a quick description of the Wilmette Institute, an opportunity to leave voice mail, and a menu for more information about the institute’s programs:

• Press “1” to hear about the four-year Spiritual Foundations for a Global Civilization program.
• Press “2” to hear about a correspondence course on the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh.
• Press “3” to hear about planned courses on the Persian language.
• Press “4” to hear about the institute’s joint course with Bosch Bahá’í School on world religions, philosophy, and Bahá’í theology.

During business hours this line can connect to a person; however, the Wilmette Institute’s regular telephone number, 847-733-3415, remains the fastest way to speak directly with a person.

1997 BAHÁ’Í CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE AMERICAS

THEME: DEVELOPING BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITIES OF SERVICE.

“...service to humankind is the purpose of both individual life and social organization.” —The Prosperity of Humankind

With featured presentations and speakers from throughout the Americas and a series of track networks for in-depth consultation, participants will enhance their capacities “...in equipping people and institutions with the means through which they can cultivate the limitless potentialities latent in human consciousness.” —The Prosperity of Humankind

DECEMBER 18-21, 1997 - CLARION PLAZA HOTEL - ORLANDO, FLORIDA

FEATURED PRESENTATIONS: Radio Bahá’í in Latin America - Foundation for the Application and Teaching of Science (FUNDAEC) - Núr University - Four Worlds International Institute for Human and Community Development

Representatives and Program Participants Invited from 150 Bahá’í Projects, Institutions/Agencies and Bahá’í-Inspired Organizations from 29 countries, plus Bahá’í International Community

FEATURED SPEAKERS AND PLENARY SESSION PRESIDERS: Haleb Arbab (‎Columbia Colombia‎), William E. Davis (U.S.), Phil Lane, Jr. (Canada), Eloy Anello (Bolivia), Kenneth Gould (U.S.), Jack Lenz (Canada), Jacqueline Left Hand Bull (U.S.), Duncan Hanks (Bolivia), Patricia Osorio (Chile), Elizabeth L. Bowen (U.S.), Ann Jorgensen (Panama), David S. Ruhe (U.S.), Gustavo Correa (‎Columbia Colombia‎), May Khadem (U.S.), Andy A. Tamas (Canada), Susanne E. Tamas (Canada).

Eloy Anello (Bolivia) Andy A. Tamas (Canada) Jacqueline Left Hand Bull (U.S.)

OTHER FEATURED TRACK PRESENTERS: Dwight Allen (U.S.), Alfred K. Neumann (U.S.), Barry Smith (Honduras), Austin Bowden-Kerby (Puerto Rico), Helen Mirkovich (Costa Rica), Marilyn J. Smith (Honduras), Jaime Duhart (Chile), Gordon A. Naylor (Canada), Neil Whatley (Costa Rica), Joseph Andrejchak Galata (U.S.), Brian O’Toole (Guyana), Donald R. Witzel (Venezuela), Michael W. Horton (Bahamas), Pamela O’Toole (Guyana), ...and many more, Owrang Kashef (Canada), William Roberts (U.S.), Larry M. Miller (U.S.), Barbara J. Rodey (U.S.).

FEATURED PERFORMERS: Red Grammer (U.S.), Jack Lenz (Canada), Thelma Khelghati (U.S.), Mary K. Makoski (U.S.), Phil Lane, Jr. (Canada), Joel V. Oroná (U.S.).

TRACK NETWORKS: Advancement of Women; Agriculture; The Arts; Broadcast/Media; Business and Economics; Education; Environment; Health; Indigenous Peoples; Literacy; Marriage and Family; Peoples of African Descent.

“Let them step forth to take their places in the arena of service where their talents and skills, their specialized training, their material resources, their offers of time and energy and, above all, their dedication to Bahá’í principles, can be put to work in improving the lot of man.” —The Universal House of Justice (Message to the ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ of the World, October 20, 1983)

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

PLEASE PRINT NAME __________________________________ ADDRESS ________________________________ CITY _______________ STATE _________ ZIP _________ PHONE ___________________ CHILDREN NAMES AND AGES ________________ ________________________________________ INDICATE ANY SPECIAL NEEDS ______________ ________________________________________ E-MAIL __________________________________

Adult Fee Before November 20: $99 After November 20: $119 Children & Jr. Youth Fee (3-14 years) Before November 20: $39 After November 20: $59 Youth Fee (15-20 years) Before November 20: $59 After November 20: $79 Add $19, if possible, to assist with Scholarships. No refund for “no-shows.”

HOTEL/AIRLINE INFORMATION Special Bahá’í group discount rates for: Hotel rooms at the Clarion Plaza Hotel in Orlando: $44 per night (up to 4 persons) Limited Availability Call Promptly Hotel Reservation: 1-800-627-8258 or 407-354-1703 Airfare Discounts from American Travel Consultants 1-800-393-5050 (outside North America 407-679-6655) File No. XS883 Make Check Payable and Mail To: RABBANI CHARITABLE TRUST 1477 W. FAIRBANKS AVE., Suite 200 WINTER PARK, FL 32789 GENERAL INFORMATION: 407-740-5415

Attend a session at one of the permanent Bahá’í schools or institutes:

Bosch Bahá’í School 500 Comstock Lane Santa Cruz, CA 95060-9677 408-423-3387

Louhelen Bahá’í School 3208 S. State Rd. Davison, MI 48423 810-653-5033

Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute Rt.2, Box 71 Hemingway, SC 29554-9405 803-558-9131

NABI 830 Burntwater Road Box 3167 Houck, AZ 86506-3167 520-587-7594

Green Acre Bahá’í School 188 Main Street Eliot, ME 03903-1827 207-439-7200

See Calendar on back cover for upcoming dates and course schedules [Page 25]

NABI ready to intensify its role in service

Intensifying its focus on service, the Native American Bahá’í Institute is developing plans to help advance the Cause by raising the institute’s profile as a center of learning attuned to the needs and values of the indigenous peoples in its area.

“Promoting the Native American Bahá’í Institute as a center of learning and as an integral part of the community will aid in the advancement of the process of entry by troops in this region,” a report from the institute says.

The staff of NABI, in Houck, Arizona, has embarked on an assessment project on the needs of the community it serves and to heighten the institute’s standing with other organizations in the community.

Continuing to help build strong communities of indigenous peoples in the region, which is home to the Navajo, Hopi and other cultures, is one of the main purposes of this effort.

The institute is intent on reaching a large portion of the region’s indigenous populations to introduce them to the ways in which to resolve community conflicts.

In the past few years NABI has joined forces with local educational institutions and other community agencies concerned with development in these areas of service.

The institute also has been the site of monthly health-care committee meetings. Bahá’í perspectives on alleviating many reservation issues were offered and warmly received.

Part of the institute’s plan is to develop and promote more hands-on programs and workshops to train people in applying Bahá’í teachings and principles to the various social and humanitarian concerns in the region.

Segments of the programs are to include awareness of the cultural values of the indigenous peoples, to provide the volunteers at the institute greater sensitivity and better communication skills. An additional benefit is to identify those able to financially support NABI’s vision.

Training local homefront pioneers and others will establish a core group of deepened members who can then serve the community at various levels.

“Integrating indigenous perspectives with the Bahá’í principles will provide models that will increase integrity and give rise to a new level of self-reliance for the surrounding community,” the institute’s report said.

NABI will continue to direct its teaching work toward the needs directly affecting the people of the community.

Strengthening the marriage bond

Ohio couples help give momentum to new Core Curriculum program

Six couples were trailblazers as Ohio’s first-ever Core Curriculum course on marriage and family life—and one of the first in the country—was conducted in June at the Columbus Area Bahá’í Center.

Facilitators for the two-weekend course were Lisa Shademan and Azin Tedjarati, who were specially trained at Louhelen Bahá’í School to offer the workshop. They plan a companion course in December for couples preparing for marriage and family life.

Both courses assist couples to perceive the link between self-knowledge and marriage and to enhance their understanding of standards of chastity, consultation, roles, and relationships within a Bahá’í marriage. They offer a thorough study of the writings on the topic and represent a true marriage enrichment opportunity.

Participants in the June marriage and family life course in Columbus were excited about what they learned and the unique way it was presented. Many mentioned that they would continue to use the materials beyond the classroom setting in their daily lives.

Asked to evaluate the course, couples remarked, “We had so much fun, and we learned a lot and we were so motivated to work hard on our marriage” and “It did not solve all of our ‘problems’ but gave us the tools to grow in the right direction together.”

Couples participate in a role-playing exercise, performing a skit they had composed after studying the Writings, at a course on marriage and family life in Columbus, Ohio.

The couples also said they intend to “consult more,” “spend more time as a family,” “be more spiritual,” and become “more active members of the Bahá’í community.”

A key element in the training was its setting. As a couple noted, “Even though the air conditioning was broken and it was 90 degrees, the spirit conveyed was wonderful and the music was great.”

Other Core Curriculum courses include race unity, parenting, and teaching training. Any communities that would like further information on Core Curriculum programs can contact Louhelen Bahá’í School at 810-653-5033.

Calls for research papers

ABS regional conference

The Association for Bahá’í Studies will hold its annual regional conference Feb. 6–8 at Bosch Bahá’í School in Santa Cruz, California. The theme is “Profound Faith and Freedom of Thought: Developing Bahá’í Scholarship.”

The goals of the conference are to advance understanding of the unique approach to scholarship found in the Bahá’í writings, and to find new ways through presentations and discussions to apply Bahá’í principles to current issues and to various fields of endeavor.

This is an opportunity for people to present their scholarly work, whether finished or in progress; to participate in workshops developing research and presentation skills; and to share ideas in discussion groups.

Building on the success of the 1997 conference, which included presentations on a wide variety of topics by men and women of diverse backgrounds, ages and education, the committee felt there was much more to explore on the same theme. The concept of Bahá’í scholarship is so inclusive and different from the traditional concept that we are challenged to comprehend its full potential.

Those who would like to make a presentation at the conference are asked to submit a 250-word description or abstract by Dec. 15 to Brian Miller, Secretary, La Selva Beach, CA 95076 (e-mail)

For information on the conference or to register, contact Bosch Bahá’í School at 408-423-3387.

Professional development

Papers and presentations are sought for a professional development institute for established and aspiring educators, “Before All Else, God Created the Mind...” July 10–15, 1998, at Louhelen Bahá’í School in Davison, Michigan.

This institute is intended for:

• Bahá’í educators involved in Bahá’í or Bahá’í-inspired education projects.
• ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ involved in public or private education as a profession.
• Bahá’í faculty members in college or university education departments.
• Educators interested in infusing Bahá’í principles into educational processes or institutions.

Sessions will be structured to benefit both well-established and younger educators. The institute will explore how education theory, practice and processes may be improved through the application of Bahá’í principles and Bahá’í-inspired approaches; and how Bahá’í educators and ideas can improve non-Bahá’í educational institutions from within.

Those interested in submitting proposals for papers and presentations may request submission guidelines by contacting Louhelen Bahá’í School c/o Drs. Rick and Barbara Johnson, 3208 South State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 810-653-5033, fax 810-653-7181, e-mail).

Regional schools open for winter

November

Florida, Nov. 27–30 Program: “The Four Year Plan.” Speakers include James Sturdivant, Charles Bullock, Howard Tangler, Dr. Kerry McCord, Gilbert Hakim, Dr. Susan Mike. Location: Holiday Inn, Cocoa Beach, Florida. Contact: Denise Godsey (phone 954-942-1844, e-mail)

Oregon Western, “Menucha,” Nov. 27–30 Program: Designed for adults and youth 15 and older. Speakers include Henri Cross, Barbara Rosencrantz and Dr. Faris Badi’i. Location: Wooded retreat center about 20 miles east of Portland overlooking the Columbia Gorge. Facilities: Dormitories and a limited number of semi-private rooms. Bring your own bedding, pillows and towels, and pack warm clothes. Recreation: Hiking. Registrar: Lynne Nesbit, Portland, OR 97213 (phone 503-236-4708). Space is limited.

December

Texas North, Dec. 19–22 Location: New site! Green Family Camp near Waco Registrar: Homa Villagomez (phone 817-451-1819).

California Southern, Dec. 26–28 Program: Family camp. Speakers include Cynthia Thomas. Location: Pilgrim Pines Oak Glen, behind Yucaipa, CA in the San Bernardino Mountains. Facilities: Cabins with showers; room for 1–2 families per cabin. Dormitory space for disabled participants. Registrar: Edye York, Ontario, CA 91764 (for information phone 909-983-1022, 909-735-1509, or 909-987-7129). Space is limited to 84.

January

Illinois “Heartland,” Jan. 2–4, 1998 Location: Hilton Hotel, Springfield, Illinois. Program: “Connecting our Hearts with Love and Unity.” Workshop on celebrating diversity facilitated by Aden Lauchner, panels on “Releasing our Power to Love” and “Loving the Unlovable,” and other classes. Registrar: Carl Clingenpeel, 905 Camden Lane, Aurora, IL 60504 (e-mail phone 630-898-6385). Early registration deadline Dec. 1.

Colorado East, Jan. 9–11 Location: Barclay Lodge at YMCA Estes Park Center, Estes Park, Colorado. Registrar: Don Brayton, Woodland Park, CO 80863 (phone 719-687-3351, e-mail).

March

North Dakota, March 27–29, 1998 Location: Mayville University, Mayville, North Dakota [Page 26]

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

OPPORTUNITIES to serve at the Bahá’í National Center. Program Coordinator I and Program Coordinator II, Office of the Treasurer and Development. Both will help formulate and execute strategies for increasing participation, regularity and levels of donations to the Funds, particularly the National Bahá’í Fund. Will help educate the community, especially local treasurers and Assembly members, on the principles underlying contributions and help them apply these principles. Both must be well-grounded in the fundamental verities of the Faith, exceptionally skilled in written and oral communication, and able to coordinate many tasks. Prefer at least a bachelor’s degree in a human services field with experience in program design and management. Program Coordinator I is responsible for the Weekend Visit Program: Solicits and offers recommendations on prospective visitors, coordinates visits, maintains a database of past and prospective visitors, and evaluates program annually. Also helps prepare and present training materials on issues relating to fund raising, including spiritual principles and the relationship between individuals and the Fund. Program Coordinator II is mainly responsible for education of children and youth in the spiritual nature and practical aspects of giving to the Funds; conducts presentations/training sessions at conferences and summer schools; designs Fund-related educational programs/materials for children and youth; produces articles for The American Bahá’í, Brilliant Star and other publications.

Meeting and Travel Assistant, Meetings and Travel Office. On-site meeting and travel specialist experienced in hospitality supervision with strong organizational skills, good understanding of hotel business, site research, contract negotiation, meeting room arrangements, food functions and accommodations. Knowledge of travel industry with Sabre or ‎Appollo Apollo‎ experience. Reconciliation of bills and claims. Must be able to work under pressure and to handle several meetings at the same time. Administrative Assistant, Media Services. Supports day-to-day operations in the office; combines office work with unorthodox and unexpected requests to provide support for Media Services projects and personnel; responsible for procurement and payment of goods and services; maintains budget; directs all incoming communications including faxes, e-mail, phone calls and mail to the staff; assists Media Archives library. Must be able to perform administrative duties in an efficient and professional manner; good communicator, highly organized, capable of working steadily on many things at once; a self-starter who can work flexible hours is preferred. Must be familiar with computer word processing and spreadsheets, with desktop publishing experience desired; knowledge of video production process preferred; must have valid driver’s license. Consultant/International Service, Pioneering Office. Recruits, counsels, trains and dispatches prospective short-term and long-term international pioneers, Bahá’í Youth Service Corps volunteers, and travel teachers. Excellent verbal and written communication skills; good organizational skills, preferably with office experience; word processing skills; knowledge of Windows 95, Word, e-mail, and various databases extremely helpful. Must be well-grounded in the spiritual principles and administration of the Bahá’í Faith; and have proven ability to work well with people over the phone and in person. International experience preferable; should demonstrate interest in and understanding of cross-cultural interaction, international affairs. Mailroom Services Clerk. Performs all duties that pertain to Mail Services and efficiently handles incoming and outgoing mail, shipping and receiving of materials other than mail, distribution and storage of same. Must be able to promote cooperation and good will among co-workers, to serve effectively as a team member on assignments, to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. Needs proven record in a customer service environment; must be able to speak, read and write English, and have a current and valid driver’s license. Membership support manager, Management Information Services. Responsible for management, efficient day-to-day operation and personnel management of the data-entry, membership/records and Spiritual Assembly formation functions of the MIS department, as well as managing the electoral unit boundaries function. Must be able to perform and manage effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. Minimum of 2 years’ experience required in management of business and/or operations. Must have a track record of establishing harmonious work environments where people work as a team. Experience in membership/customer database procedures, central file procedures and record-keeping helpful. Must be proficient in the use of personal computers and Word or WordPerfect software. Assistant Director for Southeast Asian Program, U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office. Assists the Refugee Coordinator in executing the work of the Department. Primarily responsible for Southeast Asian teaching and consolidation activities. Prepares correspondence to refugees, LSAs, Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í agencies (both government and non-government). Prepares monthly, quarterly and annual reports, and the annual budget proposal for the Southeast Asian activities. Gathers, organizes, and reproduces audiovisual and printed materials for the refugee program. Provides administrative and logistical support. Compiles and writes quarterly Southeast Asian Helpers Bulletins and articles for The American Bahá’í and other publications. Coordinator of Volunteer Services, Bahá’í House of Worship. Recruits, interviews, places, trains, supervises the House of Worship’s volunteer staff for all categories of service at the House of Worship, including guides, speakers, devotional readers, choir members, educational teachers. Contributes to a loving and hospitable environment. Must have a clear knowledge of the Bahá’í teachings and be tactful, courteous and cheerful in person and on the telephone. Should enjoy interaction with people of all ages and from all cultures. Evaluates situations logically and reaches sound decisions with limited directions. Must possess excellent command of the English language. Must be familiar with WordPerfect or Word. Recruiting Specialist, Department of Human Resources. Identifies the Human Resources staffing needs of the National Bahá’í administrative offices and agencies; ensures that those needs are quickly and efficiently filled with personnel who meet the technical/professional requirements of the positions and the organizational standards for spirit and manner in which the work is accomplished. Needs exceptional interpersonal skills including courtesy, warmth, hospitality, tact, diplomacy in relaying sensitive information. Must be multi-tasked, extremely flexible, and able to respond to constant change with a kind and loving attitude. Background in recruiting desirable. Able to use WordPerfect and Word for Windows. System Support Specialist, Management Information Systems. Responsible for management and maintenance of the following Bahá’í National Center enterprise-wide systems: electronic mail, telecommunications (PBX switches at all sites), help desk and training. This position also provides direct support to the Hardware Support Specialist in maintenance and troubleshooting of computers and related hardware systems. Will communicate with Network Support Specialist in the operation of all enterprise networks. Programmer/Analyst, Management Information Systems. In this position you will be primarily responsible for enhancing and maintaining existing systems and the planning, development, documentation and support for new client/server systems. Prior Windows programming experience and SQL is necessary along with some knowledge of reporting, HTML, networks and the Internet.

If interested in any of these positions, please mail updated resume to Christine Stanwood, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201, or fax 847-733-3430.

THE BAHÁ’Í International Community has a position open for an aide to the principal representative to the United Nations. The aide will provide administrative and secretarial support, and will work closely with the principal representative at the Bahá’í offices at the UN in New York. The position requires strong writing and verbal skills in English; proficiency in Spanish and/or French in addition is preferred. Knowledge of computerized word processing is essential. Please direct replies to Dorothy Longo, Operations Officer, Bahá’í International Community, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 120, New York, NY 10017 (fax 212-803-2566).

TEACHING-EDUCATION Coordinator needed at Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute in Hemingway, South Carolina. Responsible for planning, implementation and evaluation of all teaching and education programs at the Institute. Four years’ administrative/management experience and a graduate degree in education, management or a comparable field desired. For information or an application, please contact Christine Stanwood, 1233 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201, or fax 847-733-3430.

MAINTENANCE worker needed at the Native American Bahá’í Institute. Should have some knowledge of building construction and repair. Please send resume to Joel Orona at NABI, Box 3167, Houck, AZ 86506 (phone 520-587-7599, fax 520-521-1063) and a resume to Christine Stanwood, 1233 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201 (fax 847-733-3430).

ADMINISTRATIVE coordinator, Bosch Bahá’í School. Knowledge of computer programs, specifically Word, My List, Meeting Pro, Publisher, PageMaker, Quicken, CC:Mail and Pro-Cite desired. Communication skills including the ability to generate written correspondence, accounting and bookkeeping experience, typing skills and knowledge of most office business machines required. Some college required, bachelor’s degree preferred. Should be knowledgeable in the spiritual, administrative and historical precepts of the Faith. Experience on a Local Assembly or other administrative communities is desirable. Please send resumes to Mark Bedford, Bosch Bahá’í School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-9615 (phone 408-423-3387 fax 408-423-7564).

THE WILMETTE Institute is searching for a Youth Service Corps or other volunteer who can serve as Office Manager starting in January 1997. The position involves writing letters, responding to e-mails, managing financial information in Quickbooks, maintaining organized files, and explaining the Wilmette Institute’s programs over the telephone. Excellent organizational and telephone skills are required. The person should be able to work independently but also to work well in a team environment. Depending on skills available, the person also may be asked to grade homework assignments or write and edit curricular and publicity materials. Contact Robert Stockman at 847-733-3425 or Lisa Roy at 847-733-3415.

IF YOU are qualified as a Hospital Administrator/Program Director or have experience in News Editing, there are positions in China currently open in these fields, plus many opportunities for teaching English as a Second Language. Many ways to be of service in this fast-changing, developing country. For further information, contact Susan Senchuk (phone 847-733-3506, e-mail

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

EMPLOYMENT opportunities overseas. Although the Office of Pioneering tries to help by providing information on employment opportunities that come to its attention, it does not have the resources for actual job placement.

AFRICA: Ethiopia—Self-supporting volunteer to help the National Spiritual Assembly and secretary and to train a replacement. Kenya—Program Director needed for the Center for Wildlife Management Studies, Program Coordinator to plan, implement and evaluate relief and rehabilitation programs for Sudanese refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp. Liberia—On-site Project Manager needed by the International Foundation for Election Systems to establish and operate a multimedia elections resource center in Monrovia. Tanzania—Teachers, Health Coordinator, Controller to direct, control and manage implementation of the International Rescue Committee. Zambia—Teachers.

AMERICAS: Honduras—Teachers. Turks & Caicos—Government doctor. Venezuela—Computer outlet store for sale.

ASIA: India—Vice-Principal for the New Era High School. Korea—Program Manager to manage contract and personnel with the Theater automated command & Control Information System/Global Command & Control System, Airport Systems Engineers. Macao—Teachers. Sakhalin—Teachers.

AUSTRALASIA: Mariana Islands—Physician at a health center on Rota. Solomon Islands—Custodians at the Bahá’í Center. Western Caroline Islands—Self-supporting assistant to the National Assembly Secretary.

EUROPE: Czech Republic—Primary and Secondary Teachers in mathematics, science, humanities, Spanish, English as a secondary language. Lithuania—Evaluation and Program Adviser needed by the U.S. Agency for International Development to supervise the monitoring and evaluation of ongoing programs.

‎MULTl MULTI‎-REGIONAL: Director of Program Operations needed by international family planning organization to manage the strategic efforts and day-to-day activities of its offices throughout the world. Educational Services Institute (ESI) is recruiting instructors to teach project management methodology, product [Page 27]

ADS

development, global project management, information technology, scheduling, risk management, contracting or project initiation and recovery. Global Classroom Inc. offers free placement assistance to English as a second/foreign language (ESL/EFL) professionals seeking overseas employment. All positions require a minimum of an ESL/EFL certificate or one year ESL/EFL teaching experience. They have openings for instructors in Korea and Taiwan. URGENT NEEDS: Honduras—Elementary and Secondary school teachers. India—Experienced, qualified Vice-Principal for the New Era High School. Macau—The School of Nations needs qualified kindergarten, primary and secondary teachers. Solomon Islands—Self-supporting couple to serve as Custodians of the Bahá’í Center in Honiara. Volunteer to train National Center office staff. For additional information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette IL 60091 (phone 847-733-3508, fax 847-733-3509, e-mail

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

THE BENTON County, Oregon, local Spiritual Assembly is in jeopardy. Eight active members remain in this vibrant community adjacent to Corvallis and Oregon State University. Hewlett Packard has a significant presence in the community, as do a host of other silicon-related firms. Excellent climate and fine public schools make for a terrific place to raise a family. For information please contact Terry Kneisler, Assembly Secretary, phone 541-929-2827.

WANTED

THE WILMETTE Institute would like to hear from Bahá’ís who are experts in educational technology and distance learning. The Institute is planning two courses on Bahá’í scripture and is considering several others, and would like to be in touch with experts who can offer it advice and assistance. If you can help, contact the Wilmette Institute, 536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 847-733-3425, fax 847-733-3563, e-mail

INFORMATION SOUGHT on the lives and Bahá’í activities of Gertrude and Alvin Blum. Alvin became a Bahá’í at Englewood, New Jersey, in 1935, and served in New Zealand and the Pacific during World War II. Gertrude Gewertz became a Bahá’í in New York in 1930 and pioneered in South Carolina and Alabama. After marrying, the couple lived in Little Rock, ‎Árkansas Arkansas‎, then pioneered in New Zealand and later became Knights of Bahá’u’lláh in the Solomon Islands, where they lived until they passed away. Anyone with information on their early years as Bahá’ís in the United States may contact their granddaughter Natasha Jarrah, Rockville, MD 20850 (phone/fax 301-738-1175, e-mail

YOUTH

THE ENTHUSIASTIC services of Bahá’í youth are needed all over the United States and the world. The wide gamut of opportunity includes such arenas as reaching the masses with the message of Bahá’u’lláh, deepening new believers, conducting classes for children, youth and others, assisting the administrative work of Bahá’í institutions, hands-on work with a variety of social and economic development projects, proclaiming the Faith through the arts, supporting the growing number of training institutes, mobilizing the youth of a region or even a country, teaching fellow students and teachers, and many more. In the document “Countries and Territories in Need of Pioneers and Traveling Teachers” recently updated by the Bahá’í World Center, 79 countries listed specific needs and opportunities for youth pioneers, including university study options. National Spiritual Assemblies and other institutions also continually write to our national community to advise of their needs. Due to space limitations, the following opportunities are summarized only from letters received from Bahá’í institutions overseas and not from the above-mentioned document compiled at the Bahá’í World Center.

AFRICA: Botswana—English: The John Robarts Long-Term Teaching Project focusing on five rural areas needs help with children’s classes, deepening classes, devotional meetings, Feast and Holy Day celebration assistance, coordinating institute programs, and making friends! Cameroon—French: Youth Service Organizer to help mobilize youth and further organize youth service program. Ethiopia—Amharic, Italian, Arabic and English: Youth with office experience to assist the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly with the administrative work of the National Office. The Gambia—English: Assist with the urban pre-school, the Rural Education Center, or with National Office administrative assistance, possibly involving production of educational materials. Madagascar—French: Long-term teaching project begun in May needs help in teaching and consolidation in rural villages, training children’s class teachers, social and economic development projects, and editing the national bulletin. Senegal—French: Olinga Teaching Project near Dakar needs French-speaking youth to help with teaching, children’s classes, activities for women and for youth. Abilities in drama welcome. Zimbabwe—English: Help with development of the permanent deepening institute and teaching the Faith in secondary schools.

AMERICAS: Alaska—English and indigenous languages: Nome youth service project, Norton Sound Project as well as assisting the efforts of the many Bahá’í youth in Anchorage. Also check out the Alcan youth institute’s programs. Bolivia—Spanish: Variety of opportunities from the long-term Faizi teaching project in warm Santa Cruz to work with Radio Bahá’í or social and economic development projects in the cool highlands. Brazil—Portuguese: School of the Nations, an elementary school owned and operated by the Bahá’ís of Brazil, needs volunteers to serve at the school, work with the Bahá’í community and assist with community development in the favelas that surround Brasilia. Canada—English: The Maxwell International Bahá’í School needs volunteers in administrative services, finance and personnel services, student services, academic services and facilities services. Colombia—Spanish: Seven-week “year of service” deepening course, offering ideal preparation for Latin American service posts, offered twice per year at Ruhi Institute. Need for youth with performing arts abilities. Costa Rica—Spanish: Bahá’í willing to live on a small rural island with limited material resources, to take charge of Bahá’í kindergarten to allow present teacher to continue studies. Ecuador—Spanish: Guayaquil project, designed to function around planned Bahá’í activities in rural communities with full logistical and training support of the national and regional teaching committees. El Salvador—Spanish: Variety of needs for volunteers at the Jamálíyyih Bahá’í Institute, New Garden Bahá’í Institute, Badasht Institute or Ridván School, or in supporting the local youth year of service efforts on other fronts. Guatemala—Spanish: Ruhiyyih teaching project at Petén, in the rain forest and Mayan ruins area, needs help with direct teaching, community development, children’s classes, deepening and training believers. Haiti—French: Teach subjects at the Anis Zunuzi School including English, oral French, arts and crafts. Honduras—Spanish: Project Bayán needs youth who have studied Spanish at least two years and can stay for 6–12 months, or medical students who have completed two years of medical school for four-month periods. Jamaica—English: Serve for the summer or for a year assisting youth workshops, teaching in rural areas, helping with the radio show and/or a television conference, with institutes and other training programs, teaching children’s classes, or administrative work at the National Center. Venezuela—Spanish: Three “entry by troops projects” and an ongoing year of service program supported by local youth, incorporating proclamation, teaching, consolidation, theater and music, need 6–10 youths at a time for at least six months’ service. Knowledge of Spanish a must. Low living costs.

ASIA: India—English: New Era Development Institute, which “offers a unique opportunity to learn about social and economic development in a Bahá’í context,” needs one or two deepened Bahá’ís who enjoy working closely with each other for four months to a year, preferably arriving in June. Macau—Cantonese (Chinese), Mandarin (Chinese), English and Portuguese: Variety of opportunities at the increasingly renowned School of the Nations, as well as other office support posts for qualified youth. Thailand—Thai and English: The Santitham School, a social and economic development project of the National Spiritual Assembly and “a landmark of the Bahá’í Faith in the northeast of Thailand,” needs dedicated volunteers for periods of at least six months. Taiwan—Mandarin (Chinese), Taiwanese, Hakka and English: Service opportunities possible for youths with initiative. Other urgent needs in Asia. Contact the Office of Pioneering as soon as possible.

AUSTRALASIA: Australia—English: Youth Year of Service Project Directory, listing three major teaching and service projects operating in 21 areas including the House of Worship, available from the Office of Pioneering. Cook Islands—Cook Island Maori and English: Youth groups needed to help local youth reach a wider audience through drama, dance and music. Eastern Caroline Islands—Carolinian, English and Japanese: Youth teaching, development and consolidation work. Fiji—English: “Our youth are very interested in dance and drama workshops and are practicing daily.” Ongoing training courses, institutes and teaching projects. Kiribati—Gilbertese: The Ootan Marawa Bahá’í School is looking for mature youths to work as teacher aides, to help the school’s 30 students learn English, and to help with various social and economic development projects. Mariana Islands—Chamorro, Carolinian and English: Assist teachers, help teach classes such as “virtues,” and work with students at the new, still small Marianas Bahá’í School on Guam. Samoa—Samoan and English: Guide at the Temple, work with children at the nearby Montessori Bahá’í School, help organize displays and Bahá’í literature at book sales, teach and deepen new believers, teach children’s classes, learn new songs with youth and other friends, and more. Solomon Islands—Pidgin and English: Help local youth reach a wider audience through drama, dance and music. Tonga—Tongan and English: Youths to help develop existing youth workshop. Vanuatu—Bislama, French and English: Help local youth reach a wider audience through drama, dance and music.

EUROPE: Europewide—1) Diversity Dance Theater traveling Year of Service project needs 14 youths from around the world to begin nine-month performing tour of Europe beginning in January, followed by three months of individual performing arts teaching plans. Has application deadline. 2) European Bahá’í Youth Council’s Year of Service Directory available from the Office of Pioneering. Baltic States—Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian and Russian: Community service including children’s classes, youth activities, publication work, expansion consolidation projects. Possibility to pursue university studies in medicine or engineering, in English. Belarus—Belorussian and Russian: Youths to serve at the National Office, preferably with computer skills, to staff Bahá’í centers and carry out teaching work, with option to study Russian simultaneously. Art and music especially effective in the teaching work. Denmark—Danish, English and German: National Office and Bahá’í Information Office each need assistants to secretary. Help work on preparations for the U.N. decade on Human Rights, possibly contacting NGOs. France—French: Occasional needs for volunteers at the Office of Public Information of the Bahá’í International Community in Paris. Lithuania—Study engineering or medicine in English at Kaunas Medical Academy for an annual tuition equivalent to $3,000! Malta—Maltese, English and Italian: Urgent need for youths to join teaching project, aiming to establish the first National Spiritual Assembly of Malta as soon as possible in the Four Year Plan. Russia—Russian: Earn a college degree through a U.S. university while living in Russia! Tuition considerably less than in U.S. To prepare, consider serving the teaching work in Russia this summer with the Marion Jack Project. Switzerland—English and/or French: Two youths needed to work with the National Bahá’í Secretariat, caring for the Hazira, traveling teaching and possibly studying French or German. Occasional opportunities at the offices of the Bahá’í International Community in Geneva.

If you can arise to meet one of these or other critical international needs, please contact your local Spiritual Assembly for initial consultation and to receive a copy of the Pioneer/Bahá’í Youth Service Corps Volunteer Form. As you work toward your goal, the Office of Pioneering will also work closely with you. Office of Pioneering, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201; Bahá’í Youth Service Corps/Traveling Teaching Desk (phone 847-733-3511, e-mail

ARCHIVES

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is seeking original letters written on behalf of the Guardian to the following individuals: Delia Brandin, Ruth H. Brandt, Ralph Breed (died in New York City, 1959), Anne Brien, Alexander Brin, Dick Britt, Jack F. Britt, Mrs. John F. Britt, Margaret Britt and Eudora Broadhead. Anyone knowing family members or relatives who might have these Guardian’s letters is asked to contact the Archives at 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-869-9039).

PHOTOGRAPHS of American Indian Bahá’ís, Bahá’í communities on Indian reservations and American Indian teaching activities and gatherings are being sought by the National Bahá’í Archives. Please identify the photographs if possible with the names of individuals, locality and date. Anyone with photographs they can donate may contact the Archives at 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611. [Page 28]

Southern region looking back on accomplishments

With its area of responsibility to be assumed by the Regional Bahá’í Council, the Southern Regional Teaching Committee had an inspiring list of accomplishments to report to the believers at Unit Conventions in the region.

“There are many bright spots in this region,” the committee reported. “The friends in several communities have labored diligently and with imagination and initiative to attract a steady flow of enrollments.”

The report singled out for special praise the Bahá’ís in Dover, Delaware; West Virginia; Bowling Green, Kentucky; Charlotte, North Carolina; greater Atlanta, Georgia; Delray Beach and the Glades area in Florida; Austin, Texas; and Burke County, North Carolina.

The committee also cited its support for traveling teaching programs and statewide conferences, sponsorship of several regional conferences, and its work and consultation with youth across the region—particularly mentioning a door to door/street teaching project with youth in South Carolina.

Among highlights of the committee’s work was a Vision Statement written with an eye toward the “unique features” of the 16 states and their history of large-scale growth, as well as the Southern regional plan, “Unlocking the Power of Action.”

A regional office was established and a coordinator appointed, and the office ran with support from numerous volunteers.

The report also pointed to development of state teaching committees throughout the region. Those committees were mandated to establish state goals and assist statewide and traveling teaching initiatives, as well as encouraging local teaching efforts.

Consultation with the friends in several areas of the South has resulted in the designation of four areas to launch large-scale growth campaigns, drawing from the strengths and resources of a number of communities. Those areas are metro and suburban Dallas, Texas; the Raleigh-Durham, Chapel Hill Triangle in North Carolina; the WLGI broadcast/Pee Dee area of South Carolina; and Metro District of Columbia.

A Southern Regional Race Unity Task Force has developed a package of materials for distribution to every community, designed to encourage an “honest and cleansing exchange among the friends on the destructive forces of racism.”

Other projects mentioned in the report were a 45-day regional prayer campaign, designation of several Bahá’í College Clubs as “special focus” clubs, and regular contributions to The American Bahá’í.

The committee also oversaw production of several materials of national interest, including:

• “Unlocking ‘the Power of Action,’” a compilation prepared by the Research Department at the Bahá’í World Center on individual initiative, previously unpublished in the United States.
• T-shirts that promote the theme: “RACISM Hurts Everybody”.
• A dramatized audio version of “The Vision of Race Unity” and an audiocassette introduction to the Faith, as well as a musical deepening presentation, “Electing Bahá’í Assemblies.”

In its report, the committee expressed joy at having had worked in “close, loving collaboration with the Auxiliary Board members in the South ... on the needs of the region and the prospects for accelerating the process of entry by troops.”

“The key to the success of all endeavors is the wholehearted and unreserved response on the part of the individual believer. May each of us arise with renewed conviction to champion this Cause,” the report concluded.

Thirteenth Annual Grand Canyon Bahá’í Conference and Grand Canyon Bahá’í Youth Conference

Sponsored by The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Phoenix P.O. Box 9961, Phoenix, AZ 85068-9961 Phone: (602) 922-1919

The 13th Annual Grand Canyon Bahá’í Conference and Grand Canyon Bahá’í Youth Conference will be held this year at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona, beginning with registration Wednesday evening, December 24, and programs Thursday morning through Sunday evening, December 28, with a full day of proclamation and teaching. The theme of the conference is the Covenant. Adult and youth workshops will focus on the following topics:

Adults	Youth
Center of the Covenant Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Divine Plan Kitáb-i-‘Ahd Kitáb-i-Aqdas Institutions of the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice	Living Within the Covenant Obligations of Being a Bahá’í Youth Facing Teaching Challenges Race Unity on Campus

Speakers include Dr. Dwight Allen, Dr. Jena Khodadad, Dr. Soheil Bushrui, and Mr. Aziz Yazdi. Youth workshop leaders are being confirmed.

Children’s programs will run concurrently with the adult and youth conferences. Fees for mailed registration postmarked by December 1 are $35 per person or $70 per family. A family is defined as a father, mother, and children 12 and under. Mailed registration postmarked after Dec. 1, or on-site registration, is $45/person or $85/family. Hyatt Regency room rates are $65/room with a king-size bed or $72/room with two full-size beds. Hyatt reservations can be made by calling (800) 233-1234 or (602) 252-1234.

To ensure pre-registration, please completely fill in the form below and send your check for the full amount to the address above.

Adults and Youth:

Name: ________________________________________________ Bahá’í ID: __________

Name: ________________________________________________ Bahá’í ID: __________

Name: ________________________________________________ Bahá’í ID: __________

Name: ________________________________________________ Bahá’í ID: __________

Children:

Name: ________________________________________________ Age: __________

Name: ________________________________________________ Age: __________

Name: ________________________________________________ Age: __________

Address: _______________________________________________________________

_________________________________ City: __________________________________

State (Province): __________ Zip: __________ Phone: ___________________________

Grand Canyon Conference was youth ‘mission possible’

It began in January 1985, when the local Spiritual Assembly of Phoenix asked the youth to organize a regional youth conference in Phoenix, Arizona, as a way of bringing the youth of Arizona closer to one another.

About 25 youths from the Phoenix and Tucson areas met to talk about a conference. One consensus of their consultation was that the conference should be open to all the youth in the United States.

No one had any experience organizing a national-scale conference, nor did anyone realize the massive amount of work before them.

The next few months the organizers gathered information and reviewed their options, ultimately realizing they needed more than $10,000 to do all the necessary work.

Nevertheless, no one was discouraged. The Spiritual Assembly of Phoenix was asked to help finance the conference. A donation from an individual paid the rent for the convention center. Although the Phoenix Assembly felt the task might be too large to handle, they still approved the idea and gave the youth their full support.

The youth of the valley then met every weekend: forming task forces to plan the logistics of the conference, holding an overnight deepening each Friday, spending many Saturdays washing cars and mowing lawns to raise funds. Their unity was infectious, and everyone looked forward to the weekends.

They chose a theme—“Youth, The Key to Peace”—and topics and speakers, youth and adult, to reinforce it. They invited performers, including Native American dancers and a youth group that had entertained at a national conference.

The youths took responsibility for registration, security, videotaping, managing the back stage, introducing the speakers: all aspects of running the conference.

Their perseverance, courage and confidence was rewarded with the attendance of more than 2,300 participants at the first annual Grand Canyon Bahá’í Conference.

The experience caused the youths to grow spiritually, as they realized that anything can be accomplished if love and faith in Bahá’u’lláh remains constant in the hearts at all times. They immediately asked the Spiritual Assembly to consider sponsoring this event for the next year. The Assembly gladly agreed.

The conference has kept going for 13 years, and Bahá’ís from all over the world who were at the first conference continue to bring their friends and families each year.

Over the years many have found the Grand Canyon Bahá’í Conferences to be meaningful occasions to strengthen family bonds and enjoy the company of old friends as well as deepen in their knowledge of the Faith.

Thanks to the spirit and dedication of many who sacrificed and served, the bounties of past years’ conferences have been abundant—for example, substantial contributions have been made to the Arc Projects Fund.

Like the 25 youths who found His assistance after taking the first courageous steps to create a conference, the Assembly has had opportunities to develop capacity, confirm its love of Bahá’u’lláh and mature in its obedience to the Covenant.

This year the Assembly has renewed its commitment to the youth and will hold the 13th annual Grand Canyon Bahá’í Conference and Grand Canyon Bahá’í Youth Conference.

The youth are deeply involved in organizing a youth conference that will strengthen their bonds with Bahá’u’lláh. Friends of all ages, races, and cultures are invited to bring to Phoenix the loving spirit, reminiscent of the 1992 World Congress, prepared for a special occasion of spiritual renewal and personal consecration in the service of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.

For information on this year’s conference, being held Dec. 25–28, call 602-922-1919.

— submitted by Grand Canyon Bahá’í Conference Committee [Page 29]

Institutes

Continued from Page 1

gional training institutes have been established in the Southern States: Florida, South Texas, North Texas/Dallas, North Carolina, greater Atlanta, and metropolitan District of Columbia.

In each case, the Regional Committee engaged the help of the Auxiliary Board members in pinpointing areas to be served by the institute and in selecting candidates for the board of directors.

Once established, these institutes and the Auxiliary Board members work hand in hand to identify the needs and concerns of both the Bahá’í community and the community at large, then to offer appropriate courses.

In turn, the institute’s directors collaborate with area Spiritual Assemblies, which are responsible for channeling the initiative of the believers.

The most successful courses have focused on the Word of God, memorization of the Word, use of participatory study methods and fostering of a learning atmosphere characterized by spiritual discipline, yet permeated with love.

Existing programs such as the New Believers Course, the Fundamental Verities Course, Ruhi Institute and Core Curriculum have been offered.

In addition, institutes have designed “experimental” courses that address unique needs of specific populations. These courses include “Arming for Victory,” “Planning and Administrative Skills,” “Playing Our Part in Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant in the Age of the Internet,” “Service to Bahá’u’lláh,” “Curriculum Alternatives for Children’s Classes,” “The Gift of God: Local Spiritual Assembly Workshop” and “The Twin Manifestations.”

Both existing and experimental courses are being refined to make institute courses more attractive, interesting and meaningful.

As a consequence of offering a diverse curriculum and training methods, participation of believers has been very positive. From new to veteran to African-American, Spanish, Southeast Asian and Persian-speaking friends, and from children to youth, institutes have witnessed a diverse range of students attend courses.

In Florida, for example, nearly 300 believers of diverse backgrounds have completed at least one course.

About 50 adults, six youth and four children in the Atlanta area completed the “Arming for Victory” course. Seekers have also participated in different courses, with at least two declarations.

Additionally, about 125 people offered to be of service to the Atlanta Task Force, the Regional Committee and the Atlanta Area Bahá’í Training Institute in response to a general appeal.

In South Texas, several courses are taught in Spanish aimed at the consolidation of the Spanish-speaking friends. Courses requested by youths participating in teaching projects have been designed and implemented.

As Mr. Mofidi sees it, the results of the formal, systematic programs offered by regional training institutes can be seen in a renewed spirit to serve and teach the Faith. Participants have expressed their appreciation and have described the training experience as life-changing and unique.

Another goal of the board is to collaborate with the Juárez, Mexico, ‎insititute institute‎ in border training. These courses will need to be bilingual.

To assess the effectiveness of institute courses, a survey will be sent to all Assemblies and an evaluation form will be given to course participants.

In addition, a course syllabus is nearly finished. A letter listing the courses offered has already been sent to Assemblies.

The seven courses that have begun or are ready to go include “The Covenant,” “A Sense of Oneness: An Exploration of Moral Education” (aimed at youth and pre-youth), “Ruhi Institute,” “Core Curriculum Teacher Training” (two teams of trainers, one in northern New Mexico and one in the southern half of the state), “Strategic Planning for the Four Year Plan,” “Teaching Christians,” and “Marriage and Family Life” (one course for adults and one for youth).

In addition, a Core Curriculum trainer, on behalf of the institute, helped launch a new believers course, “We Are Bahá’ís,” in Albuquerque.

Ms. Staples says the moral education course has been offered twice, with good repeat attendance.

The strategic planning course was offered at a Bahá’í summer school with good adult participation and favorable response. Emphasis was that the participants were to take the course and present it to their home communities. This concept was well-received.

Western States

Institute boards of directors have been appointed in several areas of the Western States: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico (also serving West Texas), Oregon and Washington/Northern Idaho.

Boards for training institutes in other areas are being appointed. An institute also functions in the Los Angeles area.

The path taken by the Rio Grande Regional Training Institute in New Mexico and West Texas illustrates efforts in the geographically far-flung Western States.

According to Carolyn Staples, a director, the institute’s board first met in January. El Paso, Texas, and Las Cruces and Santa Fe, New Mexico, were among areas represented.

On Sept. 6, a convocation for institute faculty was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Seven courses were represented and a synopsis of each course was presented to the group so that through consultation the faculty could arrive at a few core concepts that will be included in every institute course.

Ms. Staples says the board hopes this will reinforce these concepts with repeat participants and begin the process of the faculty seeing itself as a team with common and coordinated goals. The faculty also received instruction in participative learning methods from a Core Curriculum facilitator trainer.

Central States

Regional institutes in the Central States are up and running in St. Louis, Missouri; Columbus, Ohio; Minnesota; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Their development recently was given a shot in the arm when representatives of the region’s existing and budding institutes met at Louhelen Bahá’í School with Auxiliary Board members, the Regional Committee, and representatives of the National Bahá’í Education Task Force and the National Trainer Training Center.

The boards of the institutes consulted closely to determine areas of success and challenges that seem common to all such as funding, assessing community needs, and responding to those needs.

Barbara Johnson, director of the National Teacher Training Center at Louhelen, highlighted educational and training programs of the National Spiritual Assembly including the Core Curriculum materials on teacher training, race unity, parenting, marriage and family life, preparation for marriage and others.

Dr. Johnson also described the Fundamental Verities Course materials, specifically designed for implementation by institutes. These materials are available through the Bahá’í Distribution Service.

Robert Stockman, academic coordinator of the Wilmette Institute, offered course materials from that institute as an additional resource.

Other workshops included an opportunity to develop a fireside from Part 2 of the verities course, facilitated by Auxiliary Board member Bill Smits and Dr. Johnson. This hands-on approach offered participants an opportunity to experience courses that are ready to implement immediately.

Special importance was also placed on “Developing Devotional Meetings,” a workshop facilitated by Mary Darling of the Louhelen staff ending with the participants planning a beautiful devotional meeting for Saturday evening.

An example of how far the region’s institutes have come is the Minnesota Bahá’í Institute.

Corresponding secretary Robert Moshrefzadeh says the institute works closely with Counselor Stephen Birkland, Auxiliary Board members, their assistants and Local Assemblies.

Their collaboration has resulted in highly successful activities such as a two-year course on the Bahá’í Faith, race unity symposia, a marriage workshop and new believers workshops.

The institute is offering the following courses:

• Consultation: a four-part workshop focusing on making spiritual connections.
• Devotional Meetings: organizing gatherings that attract the Holy Spirit.
• Fundamental Verities: a three-part course of which the first part, “To Serve the Covenant,” is being offered now.
• From Believers to Teachers: a four-part course helping participants become effective teachers of the Faith.
• Race Unity Training: a two-day, four-module course especially for teachers, parents, and others who are dedicated to raising the first generation of prejudice-free children.

Each course above has been offered more than once. All have been well attended.

The course on the Covenant also is being offered at Minnesota Glad Tidings School adult classes every Sunday morning. Each week between 30 and 40 participants attend the class.

In addition, the institute has sponsored training of individuals at Louhelen and has sponsored seminars by Bahá’í scholars.

And two more courses are being developed: “Living the Life as a Bahá’í Youth” and “Response to Opposition.”

Response to all courses has been very positive, says Mr. Moshrefzadeh. Here are some comments that have been received:

“I loved everything about the course. The love and enthusiasm was lovely. Thank you for using the Creative Word to help quicken us.”

“I liked the well-organized small groups that allowed every one to participate.”

“I loved the music. Thank you for the materials to take home.”

“I made a specific plan to teach. I will follow the plan.”

“I have learned that I am worthy and I can do tasks before me.”

The institute is working hard to raise the community’s awareness of its mission and activities, says Mr. Moshrefzadeh.

“We try to take every opportunity to remind the friends about the importance of the Four Year Plan and our role in accelerating the process of entry by troops,” he says. “We make presentations at large gatherings such as Unit Conventions, and hope to become a part of summer schools offered in Minnesota.”

Northeastern States

The Regional Committee’s focus since its appointment has been to formulate and implement a vision and plan for teaching.

Dynamic campaigns under way in such cities as Rochester, New York, and Boston, Massachusetts, attest to that.

Now, says secretary Mary K. Makoski, regional training institutes that complement the teaching effort are being formed.

Rochester’s board of directors is being appointed, and Boston’s is soon to follow.

In addition, a thriving web of local institutes in areas such as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and its Main Line is meeting friends’ quests for knowledge and skills.

In fact, about 60 “mini-institutes” are functioning in that area under the guidance of Auxiliary Board members Tahereh Ahdieh and Michael Penn. [Page 30]

CARTA A LOS AMIGOS/Letter to the friends

de la Comisión de Trabajo Latinoamericana

Queridos y Estimados Amigos en la Causa de Bahá’u’lláh:

Chicago y sus alrededores han comenzado a dar sus primeros pasos hacia el establecimiento de una campaña de enseñanza enfocada en la población Hispana.

El 20 de septiembre, el Centro Bahá’í de Chicago fue la sede de una exitosa y animada consulta entre los miembros de la Comisión Latinoamericana y un buen número de Bahá’ís del área.

El tema de la consulta, “Iluminando el Corazón,” hace referencia a la localización geográfica en la zona de los Estados Centrales, “el corazón del país”: Dakota del Norte, Dakota del Sur, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin y Ohio, mencionados por ‘Abdu’l-Bahá en las Tablas del Plan Divino:

“Estos doce Estados Centrales de los Estados Unidos son como el corazón de América ... Alabado sea Dios que desde el comienzo de la difusión de las fragancias de Dios han sido un corazón fuerte ... La llamada del Reino fue levantada en Chicago desde el principio mismo ... Hasta ahora, todo movimiento que se inició en Chicago, su efecto se extendió a todas partes en todas direcciones así como todo lo que aparece y se manifiesta en el corazón tiene influencia en todos los órganos y miembros del cuerpo ...” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablas del Plan Divino, Haifa, Palestina, Febrero 8 de 1917)

A medida que avanza el Plan de los Cuatro Años, nuestras esperanzas están firmemente ligadas a la promesa implícita del Maestro, de que el éxito de los esfuerzos de los creyentes en los Estados Centrales, influenciará de manera especial al resto del país.

Por el momento, los amigos en Chicago y sus alrededores, los cuales representan a un buen número de diferentes comunidades, han comenzado a formar una red intercomunitaria de apoyo mutuo que fortalezca los lazos de unión y asegure el éxito de las tareas a emprender, al mismo tiempo que continúan la consulta sobre los planes de la futura campaña.

En el panorama nacional, los programas enfocados en la población Hispana parecen estar tomando mayor importancia a medida que se multiplican los esfuerzos y aparecen nuevas iniciativas.

Es imprescindible, sin embargo, si hemos de lograr éxito, no perder de vista la vital importancia del proceso mismo: Sin la base fundamental de la unidad de toda la comunidad embarcada en un esfuerzo conjunto de expansión y de consolidación, bajo el amparo de las Instituciones y fortalecida con un proceso continuo de oración, consulta, acción y reflexión, los cimientos de la futura comunidad, así crezca de momento, estarán débiles y por lo tanto, tarde o temprano fallarán bajo el peso de las nuevas responsabilidades.

La Comisión Latinoamericana ve con especial agrado y optimismo, el afán de todos los amigos que a lo largo y ancho del país, se han consagrado al servicio de la Fe, y buscan activa y amorosamente la integración en el seno de la comunidad nacional de todos los sectores y grupos poblacionales, contribuyendo así a la creación y al fortalecimiento de una comunidad de extraordinaria capacidad, riqueza y colorido, destinada por Bahá’u’lláh a desempeñar un delicado y extraordinario papel en el ámbito internacional.

Alláh-u-Abhá, amigos.

From the Latin-American Task Force

Dear and Esteemed Friends in the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh:

Chicago and its environs have begun to take the first steps toward the establishment of a teaching campaign focused on the Hispanic population.

On Sept. 20, the Bahá’í Center of Chicago was the site of a successful, animated consultation between members of the Latin-American Task Force and a good number of Bahá’ís from the area.

The theme of the consultation, “Illuminating the Heart,” refers to the geographic location in the zone of the Central States, “the heart of the country”: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio, mentioned by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Tablets of the Divine Plan:

“These twelve Central States of the United States are like the heart of America ... Now praise be to God that Chicago and its environs from the beginning of the diffusing of the fragrances of God have been a strong heart ... The call of the Kingdom was in the very beginning raised from Chicago ... Up to the present time, every movement initiated in Chicago, its effect was spread to all parts and to all directions, just as everything that appears in and manifests from the heart influences all the organs and limbs of the body ...” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of the Divine Plan, Haifa, Palestine, February 8, 1917)

As the Four Year Plan advances, our hopes are firmly linked to the implicit promise of the Master: that the success of the efforts of the believers in the Central States will have a special influence on the rest of the country.

For the moment, the friends in Chicago and its environs, who represent a number of different communities, have begun to form an intercommunity network of mutual support to strengthen the bonds of union and ensure the success of the tasks to be undertaken, at the same time that they continue consulting about the plans for the future campaign.

Nationally, the programs focused on the Hispanic population appear to be taking on greater importance as efforts multiply and new initiatives appear.

It is essential, nevertheless, if we are to be successful, that we do not lose sight of the vital importance of the process itself. Without the fundamental basis of the unity of the entire community embarked on a joint effort of expansion and consolidation, under the shelter of the Institutions and strengthened with a continuous process of prayer, consultation, action and reflection, the foundations of the future community, though it may grow for a time, will be weak and therefore, sooner or later, will fall under the weight of the new responsibilities.

The Latin-American Task Force views with special pleasure and optimism the desire of all the friends who, throughout the length and breadth of the country, have dedicated themselves to the service of the Faith, and are seeking, actively and lovingly, integration into the bosom of the national community of all sectors and groups of the population, thus contributing to the creation and strengthening of a community of extraordinary capacity, richness and color, destined by Bahá’u’lláh to play a delicate and extraordinary role in the international arena.

Alláh-u-Abhá, friends.

Friends in U.S. may order books in Simplified Chinese

The Chinese Teaching Task Force is happy to announce that books and materials in Simplified Chinese to share with our Chinese friends are available through the Bahá’í Distribution Service. Individuals may order any titles they’d like to have on hand, while institutions or groups may choose to order multiple titles to supply local or regional teaching efforts.

Especially highlighted is the new teaching booklet, designed for one-to-one or small-group sharing of the teachings of the Faith to someone of Chinese background.

Titles available are:

• Art of Living
• Exploring a Framework for Moral Education
• Foundation of World Unity
• Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh
• New Dawning light for Mankind
• The Power of Divine Assistance
• Bahá’u’lláh
• The Greatness That Might Be Theirs (Beijing Women’s Conference)
• The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh
• The Hidden Words
• The New Garden
• The Promise of World Peace
• The Prosperity of Humankind
• Family Life
• The Bahá’ís (Magazine)
• The Bahá’í Faith: The Emerging Global Religion
• The Secret of Divine Civilization
• Postcards (set of 12) - Chinese traditional cartoons
• Postcards (set of 8) - Bahá’í Temples/Bahá’í Center

To order, contact the Bahá’í Distribution Service (phone 800-999-9019, fax 423-843-0836, e-mail).

Some titles may be temporarily out of stock but can be back-ordered.

For a complete listing with descriptions and prices, contact the Chinese Teaching Task Force.

The Task Force also encourages the friends involved in Chinese teaching or interested in getting started to share their news and needs with them! Contact De-Yin Jeng (phone 818-991-7525,

Fund

Continued from Page 1

new hardware that will support Local Spiritual Assembly Automation and increased Internet access for a wide range of users.

• Some $348,000 has been spent so far on printing, up $32,000 from last year, owing to larger issues of The American Bahá’í, to preparation for the election of the Regional Bahá’í Councils, and the production of several new publications including the Treasurer’s “Stewardship” and Core Curriculum materials.
• Capital expenditures, mainly related to Temple restoration during the high-activity summer months, are higher this year by more than $300,000.
• Staff costs, including salaries, federal and state taxes and benefits, were up $124,000 through August, reflecting additions to staff in several key departments related to the teaching and consolidation of the community.
• Meetings and travel outlays were up $139,000 as a result of increased travel by various offices and committees—costs related directly to working with more volunteers in the field and to decentralizing certain National Center operations via the Regional Bahá’í Committees and others.

Debt payments this fiscal year will total more than $1 million, reducing interest expense and strengthening the national balance sheet. In fact, interest expense is down $62,000 to $128,000, thanks to lower bank borrowings and the use of lower-cost borrowing methods.

The growing deficit has obliged the Office of the Treasurer and Development to begin contacting department managers to explore program cutbacks.

Still, the overall pattern is one of gearing up for growth: more communication to Bahá’ís and seekers, more support for local and regional teaching, more support for the work of Local Spiritual Assemblies, and continuing care for the holiest House of Worship.

These are expenses that should not wait, that must be made. In a sense, they represent an act of faith by the national administration: faith in the believers who have the power to realize every goal. [Page 31]

کنفرانس انجمن مطالعات بهائی

ABS REGIONAL CONFERENCE

کنفرانس ناحیه‌ای انجمن مطالعات بهائی که سالانه برگزار می‌شود از ۶ تا ۸ ‎فوریوری فوریه‎ سال ۱۹۹۸ در مدرسه بهائی بوش تشکیل خواهد شد.

موضوع کنفرانس "ایمان راسخ و آزادی اندیشه: گسترش مطالعات تحقیقی بهائی" خواهد بود.

از جمله اهداف تشکیل این کنفرانس دستیابی به درک عمیق‌تری از نگرش ویژه به مطالعات تحقیقی در آثار بهائی و یافتن راه‌هائی برای به کار بردن اصول بهائی در حل مسائل حاضر در زمینه‌های گوناگون است.

کنفرانس به احبا، فرصت خواهد داد که تحقیقات خود را ارائه دهند و در کارگاه‌های گوناگون شرکت کنند و در ارائه پژوهش‌های خود مهارت یابند و نیز با گروه‌های مختلف به مشورت و تبادل آراء بپردازند.

از کسانی که مایل باشند تحقیقات خود را ارائه دهند تقاضا می‌شود خلاصه‌ای از کار خود را در حداکثر ۲۵۰ کلمه تا ۱۵ دیسمبر سال جاری به آقای برایان میلر بفرستند.

e-mail Brian Miller, La Selva Beach, CA. 95076

برای شرکت در کنفرانس و دریافت اطلاعات بیشتر دربارهٔ نام‌نویسی و غیره می‌توان با مدرسه بهائی بوش تماس حاصل کرد. تلفن: ۳۳۸۷-۴۲۳ (۴۰۸)

درباره پیام معهد اعلی به احبای ایرانی

MESSAGE OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO IRANIAN BAHÁ’ÍS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

چنانکه یاران عزیز آگاهی دارند بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی پیامی به تاریخ شهرالبهاء، سال ۱۵۴ بدیع خطاب به احبای ایرانی در سراسر جهان صادر فرمودند.

از آنجا که آشنائی بیشتر با پیام مذکور از اهمیت ویژه‌ای برخوردار است و وظائف احبای ایرانی‌تبار را در طی نقشه چهارساله مشخص می‌سازد، مطالبی در پیرامون آن به آگاهی خوانندگان عزیز می‌رسد.

پیام بیت‌العدل اعظم به سنت دیرین معهد اعلی با اظهار لطف به دوستان ایرانی و مخاطب ساختن آنان به "ای دلدادگان جمال کبریا، ای یاران عزیز باوفا" آغاز می‌شود و با همین "دلداده" خواندن و "باوفا" نامیدن، یاران را با وظیفه روحانی و اخلاقی خود دوباره آشنا می‌سازد.

سپس معهد اعلی به این نکته می‌پردازد که نیروی نهائی امر مبارک هر روز جلوهٔ بیشتری می‌کند و تعالیم الهی به مدد سه نیرو، یکی فیض ایزدی، دیگری جبر زمان و سوم همت یاران در جهان گسترش می‌یابد.

در اینجا امر مبارک به درختی تشبیه می‌شود که در زمین ریشه دوانده و استوار گشته و شاخ و برگ به آسمان کشانده است.

استواری این درخت به دو نیرو صورت می‌گیرد: یکی نیروی ذاتی بهار روحانی که شرایط رشد را فراهم می‌سازد و با ریزش باران و اعتدال هوا بالیدن آن درخت را امکان می‌بخشد و دیگری استعداد ذاتی آن درخت - امر مبارک - برای رشد و باروری است که در شرایط مناسب ناگزیر از رشد خواهد بود.

آنگاه معهد اعلی به نقشه‌های گوناگونی که تا کنون طرح و اجراء شده اشاره می‌کنند و خاطرنشان می‌سازند که ۱۷۴ محفل روحانی ملی که در جهان تأسیس شده پی‌آیند اجرای آن نقشه‌های الهی است.

تکلیف کلی احباء، در سراسر جهان تا سال ۲۰۰۰ در پیام رضوان سال ۱۵۳ بدیع معین گردیده است اما غرض از خطاب مخصوص به احبای ایرانی بازگو ساختن نکاتی است که همچون وظیفه‌ای روحانی برای بهائیان ایرانی‌تبار معین شده است.

در اینجا معهد اعلی به سابقه لطف همیشگی یادآور امتیاز ویژهٔ احبای ایرانی می‌شوند و گوشزد می‌کنند که احبای ایران بودند که در زمان ظهور "چون مرغان سحر اول بار مقدم شمس حقیقت را خوشامد گفتند." اما تنها خوشامد نبود که اینان را از دیگران ممتاز می‌کرد. پذیرفتن مدعای مظهر امر مخالفت مخالفان را از پی داشت و مؤمنان صدر امر از این نکته خوب آگاه بودند و ایمانشان اقتضا می‌کرد که ستم را تحمل کنند و محرومیت و زندان و شکنجه و حتی ترک جان را نیز بپذیرند.

شیوهٔ بیدادگرانه ستمکاران دوران اولیهٔ امر بهائی در زمان ما نیز دوباره تجدید شد و "تندباد امتحان" بر یاران ایران وزیدن آغاز کرد. اما دوستان ایران که اخگر ایمانشان زیر خاکستر تعلقات این جهان پنهان بود، به خود آمدند و بار دیگر بلا را پذیرا شدند و "ترکتازی و پاکسازی را با پاکبازی و بی‌نیازی مقابله کردند."

بسیاری از دوستانی که در خارج از ایران به سر می‌برند از گزند آنگونه ستم‌ها که بر همکیشانشان در ایران وارد می‌شود، در امانند. اما فراموش نباید کرد که از دیدگاهی دیگر، اینان نیز آسوده نیستند. معهد اعلی خاطر نشان کرده‌اند که امتحاناتی که یاران در بلاد آزاد جهان در مقابل دارند هر چند نوعش تفاوت دارد ولی به همان اندازه شدید و فریبنده است.

بنابراین به گمان بی‌اساس نباید پنداشت که یاران ایرانی که در خارج ایران زندگی می‌کنند، گلیم خود را از آب کشیده و در ساحل راحت به امان رسیده‌اند. در ایران خلاصی حقیقی اهل ایمان آنگاه دست داد که "همه از پیر و جوان و زن و مرد حتی اطفال خردسال طبیب جمیع علت‌های خویش را ذکر حضرت ذوالجلال دانستند و منظماً مستمراً به مطالعه آیات و آثار پرداختند و از این طریق فیض روح‌القدس.... مدد فرمود و آن جامعه را خلقی جدید ساخت."

احبای ایرانی ساکن خارج نیز برای خلاصی از "آفات محیط" همان نسخه برایشان تجویز شده است و اینان "به مدد آیات و دعا و مناجات و استمرار در خدمات" است که خواهند توانست بر دشواری‌ها و ناگواری‌ها و تباهی‌ها فایق آیند.

بیت‌العدل اعظم در دستخط مذکور بیانی از حضرت ولی امرالله نقل کرده‌اند که در آن شرایط اهل بهاء معین شده است. معهد اعلی خود اذعان فرموده‌اند که "مولای بی همتا چه مقام و وظیفه خطیری برای آن عزیزان مقدر ساخته است."

آنچه در بیان حضرت ولی امرالله آمده همان است که یاران به احتمالی بارها شنیده‌اند. هیکل مبارک در بیان خود نصی از حضرت عبدالبهاء نقل فرموده‌اند که جان کلامشان در این خلاصه می‌شود که "بهائیان باید نظر به این امر دقیق نمایند که مانند سایر ادیان به عربده و هایوهوی و لفظ بی‌معنی کفایت ننمایند." کوتاه سخن آنکه به رفتار بهائی باشند نه در گفتار.

اما راه رسیدن به این آرمان چیست؟ حضرت مولی‌الوریٰ شرح آن را گفته‌اند که احبا، "شب و روز بکوشند تا در مراتب وجود ترقی و صعود نمایند." "مراتب وجود" را می‌توان هر آنچه دانست که به انسان مربوط می‌شود بدین معنی که در برون و درون کمال یابند. پیشرفت در تحصیل و علم و هنر و کار و حفظ بهداشت تن کمال ظاهری انسان را در بر می‌گیرد. اما ترقی روحانی در حیطه اخلاق و رفتار است.

احبا در جامعهٔ بشری زندگی می‌کنند. این جامعه نظام و مرام و قوانین و فرهنگ و سیاست ویژهٔ خود را دارد. هدف امر بهائی تقلیب کلی همهٔ این جوانب جامعهٔ بشری است. نظم نوینی که حضرت بهاءالله از آن در کتاب اقدس یاد فرموده‌اند می‌باید بساط نظم کهن را فرو پیچد و خود جایگزین آن گردد. دشواری کار اهل بهاء در اینجاست که باید در بساط نظم کهن زندگی کنند و با آگاهی از ویژگی‌های آن در غرقاب تباهی‌ها به سر برند و در عین حال بکوشند که دامن تر نکنند.

حضرت ولی امرالله پس از نقل کلام حضرت عبدالبهاء، گوشزد فرموده‌اند که "ملاحظه فرمائید که این بیان چه قدر شدید و متین و مشکل‌الاجراست." البته آشکار است که "مشکل‌الاجرا" به معنی محال نیست و این خود تخم امید در دل می‌کارد. فرموده‌اند که یاران "باید نظر به پستی محیط خود و دنو اخلاق و سوء رفتار نفوس در حول خود ننمایند." زیرا چه بسا که نظر به پستی عادت چشم شود و قبح آن را از میان ببرد. در عین حال اشاره فرموده‌اند که احباء "راضی به امتیاز و تفوق نسبی نگردند." زیرا رضا به امتیاز نسبی ممکن است جایگزین مطلق اخلاقی شود. نصیحت هیکل مبارک این است که دوستان "باید نظر را به اوج مرتفع نمایند و نقطه نظرگاه را تعالیم و نصائح قلم اعلی قرار دهند." زیرا تا زمانی که نظر انسان متوجه بالا باشد امید رفتن به فراز را نیز دارد اما وای اگر به امتیاز نسبی بسنده کند، زیرا در آن هنگام ممکن است نیازی به پیشرفت و بالا رفتن نبیند و به سکون مبتلا شود که خود آغاز سرنگونی است.

پیام بیت‌العدل اعظم خطاب به احبای ایرانی همراه با ترجمه انگلیسی آن به طبع رسیده است و علاقه‌مندان می‌توانند آن را از مرکز توزیع مطبوعات امری Bahá’í Distribution Service سفارش دهند. شماره تلفن: ۹۰۱۹-۹۹۹ (۸۰۰)

[Page 32]جناب آقا میرضیا، آبادی؛ جناب ملا یوسف خوسفی نخعی؛ جناب میرزا حیدر علی اسکوئی؛ سرکار خانم سرور خسروی.

اینک با تقدیم مراتب تشکر و امتنان از جنابات عباس ثابت؛ ابوالفضل رحمانی؛ عزت‌الله نور؛ منوشان علائی؛ محمد نخعی؛ خانم مهرانگیز خسروی؛ غلامعلی دهقان؛ بدرالدین فدائی؛ دکتر محمود صبیحی؛ ضیاءالدین ندیمی؛ ضیاء جعفری؛ سید عباس جعفری؛ دکتر هوشنگ رأفت؛ فروغ‌الدین فرزانه که تاکنون با طرح مورد بحث صمیمانه همکاری فرموده‌اند از سایر یاران الهی که نیاکان و منسوبانشان به دریافت الواح مبارکه سرافراز شده‌اند تقاضا می‌شود که فتوکپی الواح مبارکه به اعزاز ایشان را با شرح حالشان به نشانی زیر ارسال فرمایند تا اوراق واصله پس از تنقیح و تصویب مورد طبع و نشر قرار گیرد و وظیفه‌ای که نسبت به آن نفوس مبارکه که به دریافت الواح الهی مفتخر شده‌اند بر عهده داریم به نیکوترین وجه انجام پذیرد.

تلفن: ۳۲۸۹-۳۷۷ (۳۳۰) Dr. Give Khavari Warren, Oh. 44483

یادی از سرهنگ عزت‌الله نور

IN MEMORIAM

جناب عزت‌الله نور در سال ۱۲۹۲ شمسی (۱۹۱۴ میلادی) در طهران در خانواده‌ای مؤمن که اعضایش در آثار حضرت بهاءالله و حضرت عبدالبهاء مورد عنایت قرار گرفته‌اند، متولد شد.

جد ایشان آقا علی نور به حضور حضرت بهاءالله مشرف شده و لقب نور از هیکل مبارک به او عنایت گردیده بود. پدر جناب عزت‌الله نور اهل اصفهان و به تجارت مشغول بود اما بعد از شهادت سلطان‌الشهداء و محبوب‌الشهداء به ناچار آن شهر را ترک گفت و به طهران نقل مکان کرد. منزل ایشان در طهران "بیت نور" نامیده می‌شد و عرش مطهر حضرت باب به مدت ۴ سال در این بیت بود و آقا حسینعلی نور در این مدت افتخار نگهداری عرش مبارک را بر عهده داشت.

جناب عزت‌الله نور ۳۰ سال در ژاندارمری کشور به نهایت صداقت به خدمت و ایفاء وظیفه اشتغال داشت و مورد احترام همگان بود و سرانجام با درجهٔ سرهنگی بازنشسته شد.

سرهنگ نور در سال ۱۳۲۱ شمسی (۱۹۴۳ میلادی) با خانم مستورهٔ محمودی ازدواج کرد. پس از ازدواج صلای حضرت ولی امرالله در مورد مهاجرت را لبیک گفت و ترک وطن کرد و مهاجر عراق شد و در بغداد اقامت گزید. ایشان سه سال در آن دیار به خدمت مشغول بود اما چون اجازهٔ اقامت او را تمدید نکردند مجبور به ترک عراق و بازگشت به ایران شد و خدمات امری خود را در هر نقطهٔ ایران که ساکن بود صمیمانه ادامه داد.

ایشان بعد از انقلاب اسلامی ترک وطن گفت و عازم آمریکا شد تا سالیان آخر زندگی را در کنار فرزندانشان - که سال‌ها پیش به آمریکا رفته بودند - بگذراند.

در مدتی که جناب عزت‌الله نور در ایالات متحده اقامت داشت هم خود به خدمات امری می‌پرداخت و هم احباء را به خدمت امر مبارک و اطاعت از تشکیلات تشویق می‌کرد. در مدت اقامت در هیوستن کلاس‌های گوناگونی برای احباء دائر کرد و در آن آثار امری را به یاران می‌آموخت.

سرهنگ نور مردی متین و بی‌تظاهر و خوش‌محضر و مؤدب و شدیداً پایبند شعائر عاطفی و انسانی بود و دوستان و آشنایان بهائی و غیربهائی ایشان از هر سن و مرام بر این شهادت می‌دادند.

احباء به ویژه احبای آمریکائی بی‌نهایت ایشان را دوست می‌داشتند. ایشان نه تنها احباء را به خدمات امری و فعالیت‌های تبلیغی و اطاعت از تشکیلات تشویق می‌کرد بلکه خود نیز در عمل این خصائل را آشکار می‌ساخت.

سرهنگ عزت‌الله نور در سوم فبروری سال ۱۹۹۷ در شهر هیوستن تکزاس چشم از جهان فرو بست و مرغ جانش به آشیان الهی شتافت.

یادش گرامی و روانش غرقۀ مهر ایزدی باد.

کنفرانس جوانان در فینکس

GRAND CANYON BAHÁ’Í YOUTH CONFERENCE

در جنیوری سال ۱۹۸۵ محفل روحانی فینکس در ایالت آریزونا از جوانان خواست که دست‌اندرکار تشکیل کنفرانسی شوند تا از این طریق جوانان آریزونا به هم نزدیک‌تر شوند.

۲۵ نفر جوان بهائی از فینکس و توسان گرد هم آمدند و دربارۀ کنفرانس به بحث و مذاکره پرداختند. موضوعی که دربارۀ آن اتفاق رأی داشتند این بود که کنفرانس باید برای همهٔ جوانان ایالات متحده باشد.

هیچ‌کدام از این جوانان تجربه‌ای در مورد تشکیل کنفرانس نداشتند اما با همت فراوان خود و پشتیبانی محفل روحانی فینکس موفق شدند اولین کنفرانس جوانان آن محل را با شرکت بیش از ۲۳۰۰ نفر تشکیل دهند.

از آن سال تا کنون ۱۳ سال است که کنفرانس جوانان سالانه تشکیل می‌شود و به شرکت‌کنندگان امکان می‌دهد پیوندهای خانوادگی را تحکیم کنند و از دوستان قدیم دیدار نمایند و در عین حال اطلاعاتشان را دربارۀ امر مبارک عمیق‌تر سازند.

کنفرانس امسال نیز از ۲۵ تا ۲۸ دسامبر تشکیل خواهد شد و علاقه‌مندان می‌توانند برای دریافت اطلاعات بیشتر با دست‌اندرکاران کنفرانس تماس حاصل نمایند. تلفن: ۱۹۱۹-۹۲۲ (۶۰۲)

انتشارات جدید

خوشه‌هایی از خرمن ادب و هنر (۸)

هشتمین مجلد خوشه‌ها منتشر شد. در این شماره علاوه بر الواح نازلۀ خطاب به حاجی میرزا حیدر علی اصفهانی مقالات متعددی دربارۀ احوال و آثار این بزرگ‌مرد تاریخ امر بهائی و نیز مروری بر الواح نازله به افتخار ایشان و تصاویر جالبی از جناب حاجی به چاپ رسیده است.

همچنین مقالاتی با این عناوین در این مجلد درج گردیده است: افتتاح دورهٔ حاجی میرزا حیدرعلی اصفهانی؛ مروری بر کلمات مکنونهٔ عربی؛ نگاهی به تفسیر کنت؛ کنزاً مخفیاً؛ آیندهٔ تعلیم و تربیت از منظر آثار بهائی؛ حضور ایران در اسلام؛ نظم نوین؛ مبانی و تحولات فکری عصر جدید؛ عکاس‌باشی؛ نخستین فیلم‌بردار ایرانی؛ ملاحظاتی دربارۀ موسیقی ملی ایران توسط محققان بهائی و غیربهائی چون دکتر شاپور راسخ؛ دکتر نادر سعیدی؛ خانم ناهید روحانی؛ دکتر فریدون وهمن؛ دکتر بهروز ثابت؛ آقای فرخ غفاری و مهندس عبدالحمید اشراق درج شده است.

همچنین آثاری از حاجی میرزا حیدر علی اصفهانی و اشعاری از شعرای معاصر بهائی و گزارش دورهٔ حاجی میرزا حیدر علی در این مجلد به چاپ رسیده است.

جلد هشتم خوشه‌ها در ۲۰۰ صفحه با تصاویر زیبای رنگی و متعدد از آثار هنرمندان بهائی و جلد چهار رنگ در دسترس دوستان قرار دارد. ناشر این مجموعه مؤسسهٔ عصر جدید در آلمان است.

هدیۀ زرین مجموعۀ اشعار خانم زرین‌تاج ثابت با عنوان هدیۀ زرین منتشر شد. در مقدمهٔ ‎محققانۀ ای محققانه‌ای‎ که به قلم دکتر شاپور راسخ نوشته شده آمده است: "از خواندن این مجموعه به راستی لذت بردم. خانم زرین‌تاج ثابت شاعری است لطیف‌طبع و خوش‌سخن و غزل‌سرائی پراحساس که سخن اخلاقی و روحانی آثارش او را در میان دیگر زنان شاعر پارسی‌گوی ممتاز می‌کند...".

این مجموعه نیز توسط مؤسسه عصر جدید به چاپ رسیده است. علاقه‌مندان می‌توانند دو مجموعۀ بالا را با تلفن مجانی از مؤسسهٔ Images International سفارش دهند. شمارهٔ تلفن: ۴۹۲۵-۲۷۰ (۸۰۰)

مهاجرت در جزیرهٔ مالتا

مالتا جزیره‌ای در قلب دریای مدیترانه است و فرهنگ و تاریخ ویژه‌ای دارد. امر بهائی نخستین بار در دههٔ پنجاه قرن حاضر به همت چند تن از فاتحان امر مبارک به ساکنان این جزیره معرفی شد. اما از آنجا که ساکنان مالتا کاتولیک هستند پیشرفت امر بهائی در آن بسیار کند بوده و تعداد احباء در جزیرۀ مزبور پس از گذشت ۴۰ سال حدود ۳۰ نفر است.

در اپریل سال جاری احبای مالتا نقشه‌ای تبلیغی طرح کردند که با توفیق همراه بوده و منجر به تصدیق ۱۰ نفر شده است. با این حال اجرای نقشۀ مذکور به علت کمبود تعداد مهاجران با اشکال رو به رو شده به طوری که در حال حاضر تنها یک نفر تمام وقت دست‌اندرکار اجرای آن است.

احبای مالتا برای پیشبرد امر مبارک به تعدادی زن و مرد مهاجر نیاز دارند. اگر دوستان الهی قصد مهاجرت داشته باشند یا کسانی را بشناسند که مایل به خدمت به امر مبارک باشند، تقاضا می‌شود جزیرۀ مالتا را برای این منظور در مد نظر بدارند. برای دریافت اطلاعات بیشتر می‌توان با دفتر مهاجرت تماس حاصل نمود. شمارهٔ تلفن: ۳۵۰۸-۷۳۳ (۸۴۷) [Page 33]از ظهر شرکت نمودند و جمعی از یاران ایرانی الاصل در جلسه عصر حاضر شدند.

جناب دکتر منوچهر صادقی با نواختن سنتور و ترنم آهنگی که جدیداً تصنیف فرموده اند بر رونق و صفای جلسات در هر دو شهر افزودند.

هیأت ملی امور احبای ایرانی/آمریکایی امیدوار است در آتیه نزدیک جلسات مشابهی در سایر مناطق کشور ترتیب دهد.

مؤسسات آموزشی ناحیه‌ای

REGIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTES

هیجده ماه از آغاز نقشه چهارساله می گذرد و در این مدت تأسیس مؤسسات آموزشی ناحیه‌ای در سراسر ایالات متحده همچنان ادامه داشته است.

بیت العدل اعظم الهی در پیام رضوان سال ۱۵۳ بدیع اشاره فرمودند که مؤسسات مذکور - که از جمله دوائر و متعلقات محفل روحانی ملی است - باید تأسیس گردد.

هدف از تأسیس مؤسسات مذکور کمک به احباء برای فراگیری اصول و مبانی امر مبارک و نیز تعلیم روش‌ها و مهارت‌هائی است که تشکیلات بهائی بتوانند از آن در راه خدمات امر و تبلیغ و جز آن استفاده کنند.

مؤسسات آموزشی ناحیه‌ای با دیگر مؤسسات محلی تفاوت‌هائی دارند. یکی از این تفاوت‌ها این است که هیئت مدیره مؤسسات آموزشی ناحیه‌ای را محفل روحانی ملی انتخاب می‌کند و دیگر اینکه مؤسسات مذکور به تدابیر خاص و برای رفع نیازهای ویژه یا جهت به کار بردن منابع موجود در جامعه تأسیس می‌شوند.

گزارش خلاصه‌ای از آنچه تا کنون صورت گرفته است در زیر درج می‌گردد:

ایالات جنوبی

به گزارش یکی از اعضای لجنه ناحیه‌ای ۶ مؤسسه آموزشی ناحیه‌ای در ایالات جنوبی تأسیس شده است: فلوریدا، جنوب تگزاس، شمال تگزاس و دالاس، کرولاینای شمالی، آتلانتا و حومه آن، واشنگتن دی.سی.

هیئت‌های مدیره این مؤسسات انتخاب شده‌اند و یک برنامه جهت‌یابی و تشخیص وضع موجود نیز طرح‌ریزی شده است. در همه موارد لجنات ناحیه‌ای از کمک اعضای هیئت معاونت جهت تعیین اعضای هیئت مدیره و مشخص کردن حیطه عمل مؤسسه‌های مذکور برخوردار بوده اند.

در مؤسسات مذکور مواد گوناگونی تدریس می‌شود اما تاکید اصلی بر محور استفاضه از آثار مبارکه و از بر کردن برخی از نصوص و به کار بستن روش‌های گوناگون آموزشی بوده است. واکنشی که احباء در برابر مؤسسات آموزشی داشته‌اند تا کنون بسیار مثبت بوده است.

به عنوان مثال در فلوریدا تقریباً ۳۰۰ نفر از یاران دست کم یک کلاس را گذرانده اند، در آتلانتا و حومه آن بیش از ۵۰ نفر. در جنوب تگزاس کلاس‌هائی به زبان اسپانیائی تدریس می‌شود. در مجموع احباء از مؤسسات آموزشی ناحیه‌ای استقبال کرده اند.

ایالات غربی

محفل روحانی ملی اعضای هیئت مدیره مؤسسات آموزشی ناحیه‌ای ایالات غربی را نیز انتخاب کرده است و این مؤسسات با همکاری اعضای هیئت معاونت در ایالت‌های کلورادو، نیومکزیکو، اورگان، واشنگتن و غرب آیداهو شده‌اند. در لوس انجلس مؤسسه‌ای مشغول به کار است.

در جلساتی که هیئت‌های مدیره تشکیل داده‌اند درباره مواد آموزشی تصمیماتی گرفته شده و هفت ماده درسی و طرح کلی آنها مورد بررسی قرار گرفته و قرار شده است اصولی که همه یاران باید از آن آگاه باشند در هر کدام از کلاس‌ها گنجانده شود. برخی از موضوع‌های این مواد درسی عبارت است از: عهد و پیمان، ارزیابی آموزش اخلاقی، تبلیغ مسیحیان، ازدواج و زندگی خانوادگی....

زبان تدریس در برخی از مؤسسات مذکور به علت وجود افراد اسپانیائی زبان، زبان اسپانیائی خواهد بود.

ایالات مرکزی

مؤسسات آموزشی ناحیه‌ای در ایالات مرکزی از سینت لوئیس گرفته تا شیکاگو و میلواکی و مینه سوتا دائر شده است.

به تازگی نمایندگان مؤسسات مذکور در مدرسه بهائی لوهلن با اعضای هیئت معاونت و نمایندگان لجنة ناحیه‌ای و برخی از دوائر محفل روحانی ملی دیدار کردند و نقشه جدیدی یافتند.

ایالات شمالی

لجنة ناحیه‌ای ایالات شمالی از آغاز تأسیس در پی ایجاد نقشه‌ای برای تبلیغ بوده است و برنامه‌های پررونقی در راچستر و بوستون در شرف اجراست.

در این ایالات مؤسسات آموزشی ناحیه‌ای که فعالیت‌هایشان بتواند متمم فعالیت‌های تبلیغی باشد، در شرف انتخابند.

در پنسیلوانیا نیز مؤسسات موقتی برقرار شده است که تعداد آنها بالغ بر ۶۰ است.

دعوت از موسیقی‌دانان

Musicians Invited

از موسیقی دانان عزیز دعوت می شود که برای جشن های عید اعظم رضوان موسیقی تازه تهیه فرمایند. این موسیقی می تواند سازی یا آوازی یا هر دو باشد و برای بهترین از هر نوع جایزه نیز تعیین شده است. علاقمندان می توانند ‎توانندنسخه‌ای توانند نسخه‌ای‎ از اثر خود را (نوشته، نوار کاست، ویدئو، سی دی و غیره) همراه مدارک و مآخذ مربوط به آن و اجازهٔ استفاده از آن در جشن های عید رضوان تا آخر نوامبر به نشانی زیر ارسال فرمایند:

Anne and Tim Perry, Arts Afire, Dallas, TX 75243 Fax: (972-680-9128) e-mail:

اطلاعیه انجمن ادب و هنر

AN ANTHOLOGY OF CONTEMPORARY POETRY

دعوت از سرایندگان معاصر بهائی

یکی از اهدافی که انجمن ادب و هنر (سوئیس) از آغاز تأسیس تا کنون دنبال کرده "تلاش برای نشر آثار ادباء، و شعراء، و هنرمندان بهائی و کمک به خلاقیت و نوآوری و پرورش و شکوفائی قریحه‌ها و استعدادهای ادبی و هنری آنان" بوده است.

در اجرای این منظور از جلد اول نشریه انجمن، خوشه‌هائی از خرمن ادب و هنر، تا کنون فصل مستقلی به نام "گلبرگهائی از گلزار ادب ایران" تأسیس شده است. در این بخش آثار منشور و منظوم شعراء و ادبای متقدم و متأخر بهائی درج شده است.

در اجرای هدف فوق‌الذکر اکنون از عموم شعرای فارسی زبان بهائی دعوت می‌کنیم زبده اشعار خود را (به شیوه سنتی یا نو) به نشانی زیر بفرستند.

قبل از ارسال اشعار لطفاً به نکات زیر توجه فرمائید:

۱- اشعار ارسالی باید دارای انسجام و استحکام لازم باشد و از تازگی و حسن مضمون برخوردار باشد و طبعاً روح بهائی در آن سریان داشته باشد.

۲- هر منظومه حد اکثر از ۲ صفحه بیشتر نباشد. (از درج اشعار چندصفحه‌ای معذوریم.)

۳- هر گاه اشعار قبل از جلسات سالیانه برسد، در آن مجامع خوانده خواهد شد.

۴- اشعار رسیده پس از بررسی در هیئت اجرائی انجمن و در صورت تصویب مراجع ذیصلاح در خوشه‌ها در بخش "گلبرگ‌ها" به چاپ خواهد رسید.

هیئت اجرائی انجمن ادب و هنر

پروژه شرح حال مخاطبین الواح مبارکه

BIOGRAPHIES OF ‎RECEIPIENTS RECIPIENTS‎ OF TABLETS OF BAHA’U’LLAH

در تعقیب اعلانات که مؤسسه معارف بهائی به زبان فارسی در کانادا در نشریات امری درج فرمود، به اطلاع دوستان عزیز الهی می‌رساند که پروژهٔ شرح حال مخاطبین الواح مبارکه مدتی است به مورد اجراء گذاشته شده است و در نتیجه دوستانی که نیاکان و منسوبانشان به دریافت الواح مبارکه مفتخر شده بودند با ارسال فتوکپی الواح مزبور و شرح حال نیاکان و ‎منسوبات منسوبان‎ خود طی مکاتبات لازم با این طرح همکاری فرمودند. این همکاری به تنظیم شرح حال نفوس نفیسهٔ مذکور در ذیل با ذکر مطالع الواح نازله به اعزازشان منجر گردیده است:

جناب میرزا جعفر رحمانی شیرازی؛ جناب میرزا جعفر ثابت اصفهانی؛ جناب صدرالصدور همدانی؛ جناب آقا سید حسن متوجه؛ جناب آقا علی نور اصفهانی؛ جناب مشهدی حیدر؛ جناب حسینعلی نور اصفهانی؛ جناب میرزا محمد باقر طبیب؛ جناب مشتاق نیریزی؛ سرکار خانم عطیه رحمانی؛ جناب ناظم الحکماء گیلانی؛ جناب میرزا حسین کلانتر خان؛ جناب رستم خسروی؛ [Page 34]PERSIAN

هیأت ملی امور احبای ایرانی/ آمریکایی در جنوب کالیفرنیا

روز شنبه ۲۵ اکتبر ۱۹۹۷ به دعوت هیأت ملی امور احبای ایرانی/ آمریکایی جلسه‌ای با حضور جناب دکتر عبدالمیثاق قدیریان و جمعی از اعضاء محافل روحانی لس آنجلس و اطراف آن در حظیرة القدس لس آنجلس تشکیل شد. هدف از تشکیل این جلسه مشاوره درباره خدمات احبای ایرانی الاصل بود و انتظارات بیت العدل اعظم الهی و محفل روحانی ملی از آنان در سال‌های باقیمانده از نقشه چهارساله.

پیام شهرالبهاء، ۱۵۴ بیت العدل اعظم خطاب به احبای ایرانی در سراسر عالم محور اصلی مذاکرات بود و با کمک حاضران روش‌ها و کوشش‌های یاران عزیز ایرانی الاصل که بتواند وسیله پیشبرد اهداف جامعه و تحقق بخشیدن به نوایای معهد اعلی باشد بررسی شد.

عصر آن روز هم جلسه‌ای عمومی به زبان فارسی در تالار زیبای حظیرة القدس لس آنجلس ترتیب داده شد که صدها نفر از یاران آن منطقه در آن شرکت فرمودند. در آغاز جلسه جناب دکتر فیروز کاظم زاده به نمایندگی از جانب محفل روحانی ملی مراتب تعلق خاطر آن محفل را نسبت به احبای ایرانی الاصل و قدردانی از خدمات پر ارزشی که به جامعه بهائی تقدیم نموده اند ابراز داشتند و علل تشکیل هیأت ملی امور احبای ایرانی/ آمریکایی و هیأت‌های ناحیه‌ای که به تدریج تأسیس خواهد شد را بیان فرمودند. جناب دکتر کاظم زاده همچنین بیاناتی در خصوص رابطه فرهنگ‌ها ایراد نمودند و توجه حاضران را به این نکته معطوف داشتند که نتیجهٔ تماس فرهنگ‌های مختلف تحول جوامع بسوی فرهنگ بهائی است که باید مآلاً به وجود آید.

سپس جناب دکتر قدیریان رؤوس مطالب پیام اخیر معهد اعلی خطاب به یاران ایرانی را مرور فرمودند و در باره اهمیت نقش آنان در تقویت بنیان جوامع بهائی و پیشبرد اهداف تبلیغی نقشه چهار ساله و لزوم اطاعت از تشکیلات شرح مبسوطی بیان داشتند.

بخش مهم دیگر برنامهٔ آن جلسه سخنان بسیار مؤثر خانم گیتی قدیمی وحید، تنها عضو دومین محفل روحانی ملی ایران که در جریان تضییقات دهه گذشته جان سالم بدر بردند، بود که جانبازی‌ها و فداکاری‌های خادمان جامعه ایران را توصیف و توجه حاضران را به وظایفی که در قبال آن جانفشانی‌ها بر عهده داریم جلب نمودند.

خانم گیتی اجتماعی و جناب دکتر سهراب کورش دو نفر از اعضاء هیأت ملی امور احبای ایرانی/ آمریکایی نیز در آغاز و انجام جلسه هدف‌ها و برنامه‌های هیأت را به استحضار دوستان رساندند و از جمله حاضران را دعوت کردند که در پاسخ به پیام بیت العدل اعظم اجرای خدماتی جدید را بر عهده گیرند. هیأت امیدوار است که بر اساس تعهدات یاران گزارشی برای تقدیم به ساحت رفیع تهیه نماید.

روز یکشنبه ۲۶ اکتبر هم جلساتی با همین برنامه در حظیرة القدس سن دیگو تشکیل شد و گروهی از نمایندگان محافل روحانی آن حدود در جلسه شور بعد...

بیانیه لجنه ملی پیشرفت زنان

NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN

بیانیه اهداف و مقاصد

رسالت پیشبرد و تعمیم اصل جهانی تساوی حقوق زن و مرد

دورنما لجنه ملی پیشرفت زنان در خلال نقشه چهارساله در صدد است که جامعه بهائی را برای تحقق بخشیدن به سرنوشت روحانی خود با نمودار کردن و فعلیت بخشیدن به تساوی کامل زن و مرد تحرک بخشد. برای تقلیب روحانی جامعه بهائی امریکا و تسهیل امکانات دخول دسته جمعی مردم در ظل امر مبارک بیانیه ’دو بال یک پرنده: تساوی حقوق زن و مرد‘ به نحوی منظم توزیع خواهد شد. فعالیت‌های لجنه بر اساس آگاهی بخشیدن بیشتر درباره این مسأله در جامعه بهائی و موضوع تساوی به طور کلی در جامعه امریکا استوار خواهد بود. تغییر بنیادی در نگرش و رفتار زنان و مردان و کودکان مستلزم تعهد افراد و تشکیلات و جامعه بهائی خواهد بود.

اهداف و مقاصد

۱- ایجاد تحول کلی در فرضیات و نگرش و رفتار زنان و مردان

• بالا بردن آگاهی نسبت به مقام زنان در جامعه بهائی و غیربهائی.
• ایجاد محیط سالم و محبت آمیزی که در آن به احساسات مردان اهمیت داده شود و نظریات زنان شنیده شود.
• ارزش دادن بیشتر به وظیفه مقدس مادری و پدری.
• تشویق مردان به قبول مسؤولیت درباره تساوی زن و مرد و مشارکت در برقرار ساختن آن.
• کند و کاو در مسؤولیت‌های سنتی زن و مرد و بررسی مفاهیم بهائی برای همکاری کامل.

۲- به وجود آوردن نسل جدیدی که در قبال تساوی زن و مرد تعهد داشته باشد

• تشویق فعالیت‌هائی که کودکان و جوانان را امکان بخشد که سرشت اصلی خود را بدون برداشت‌های مصنوعی و قالبی درباره زن و مرد شکوفا کنند و پرورش دهند.
• تشویق همهٔ بهائیان به درک و قبول حقیقی عفت و عصمت و اظهار آن در عمل.
• تشویق احباء به درک عمیق‌تری از بنیاد روحانی ازدواج و تعهد نسبت به آن.
• تشویق کلوب‌های بهائی در دانشگاه‌ها به اینکه در فعالیت‌های خود درباره مسألهٔ تساوی حقوق زن و مرد تأکید کنند.

۳- اشاعه موضوع پرورش و سعادت و رفاه زنان

• کمک کردن به احباء در ایجاد روش‌های لازم برای از میان بردن خشونت علیه زنان.
• اشاعه شناسائی کردن و تشخیص و درک و حل مسائلی که منحصر به زنان از فرهنگ‌ها و پیشینه‌های گوناگون است.
• تشویق جوامع امری به حمایت از گزینه‌ها و راه هائی که زنان در امور شخصی و خانوادگی و حرفه‌ای خود برمی گزینند.
• تشویق جوامع امری به ایجاد و پرورش خصائل مربوط به قیادت و رهبری در زنان.

۴- تشویق احباء به توزیع گسترده و سریع بیانیّه محفل ملی و مذاکره درباره آن در داخل و خارج جامعه بهائی.

• تأمین اینکه بیانیّه مذکور در میان همهٔ بهائیان و نیز رهبران فکری و مردم سرشناس توزیع شود.
• استفاده از رسانه‌های گروهی برای آگاه ساختن مردم از بیانیّه مذکور و تأثیر نهادن در افکار عمومی.
• تهیه مواد درسی برای مطالعه عمیق بیانیّه مذکور و بررسی دقیق اصل تساوی حقوق زن و مرد.
• تشویق افراد و محافل محلی و جوامع امری به شرکت در مذاکرات گسترده درباره اصل تساوی حقوق زن و مرد.
• شناسائی و ایجاد یک شبکه ملی منابع مربوط به تساوی حقوق زن و مرد.

لجنه ملی پیشرفت زنان

از دفتر امین صندوق ملی

THE ‎TRASURER’S TREASURER’S‎ CORNER

تبرعات اتوماتیک بنا به گزارش دفتر امین صندوق ملی تبرعات اتوماتیک (برداشت ماهانه وجوه تبرعات از حساب‌های احباء و واریز کردن آن به صندوق ملی) به تازگی اندک افزایشی داشته و از جولای تا اکتبر سال جاری این مبلغ افزایش یافته ماهانه بالغ بر ۱۶ هزار دلار شده است. تبرعات اتوماتیک احباء به صندوق ملی سالانه حدود ۳/۵ میلیون دلار است.

نظرات دوستان کارمندان دفتر امین صندوق مطلبی را اظهار می‌داشتند که باید با دوستان در میان گذاشته شود. از برخی از احباء شنیده شده است که می‌گویند: "در هر نامه محفل مدام از ما خواسته می‌شود بیشتر پول بدهیم!" آیا این بحث در جامعه شما نیز به میان می‌آید؟

در دو ماه گذشته کارکنان دفتر امین صندوق با تعدادی از محافل روحانی محلی دیدار کرده‌اند و مایلند مطالب زیر را برای دوستان بازگو کنند:

محفل روحانی ملی برای خود تقاضای پول نمی‌کند! دوستان باید در نظر داشته باشند که محافل روحانی اعم از ملی و محلی موظفند که احباء را از نیازهای مالی جامعه آگاه سازند. تبرع به صندوق امری دو فایده دارد: یکی اینکه نفس تبرع و فداکاری ناشی از آن به رشد و بلوغ روحانی یاران کمک می‌کند، و دیگر اینکه با گسترش دامنه امر مبارک فرد فرد احباء باید از این گسترش و نیازهای مالی ناشی از آن آگاه باشد.

محفل روحانی ملی در واقع بازگوکننده احتیاجات امر مبارک است و بر این عقیده است که اگر احباء از نیازهای مالی جامعه امری آگاه باشند به رفع آن همت خواهند گماشت. [Page 35]

Media

Continued from Page 1

duced by SIDCorp of Atlanta, should be ready for local communities this winter. Another focusing on the equality of women and men is in the planning stages at U.S. Bahá’í Media Services, possibly available this spring.

Put together, the array of programs is planned to appeal to a variety of Americans. It is the first step in plans to make national media efforts a permanent fixture of the U.S. teaching strategy.

To help Bahá’ís gain confidence in raising local public awareness of the Faith, the Office of Public Information is developing several resources:

• A menu of public relations activities from which local communities can choose according to their circumstances.
• Sample press releases, ads, flyers, public service announcements and other materials geared to coordinate with the national campaign. This could help local Public Information Representatives cultivate relations with media in the weeks leading to the national campaign launching.
• Sample letters to be mailed to like-minded civic and religious groups alerting them to the video showings and any associated public events.
• A network of Bahá’í public relations professionals available to help local communities make the most of their opportunities. The panel also would advise the national office of local developments.

Radio spots up to 60 seconds long, to promote the video programs, are being produced by WLGI Radio Bahá’í for nationwide use. They are expected to be available this spring through the Bahá’í Distribution Service.

The station also is producing 30-minute radio programs, featuring discussions, music, news of Bahá’í activities and quotes from the Writings, with African-Americans as the intended primary audience. The programs will be designed to allow locally produced segments to be interspersed with the main program.

A public Web site will be established to get inquirers interested in knowing more about the Faith—as well as finding out more about the people who are interested.

The site will allow users to request various kinds of additional information, as well as providing links to local Bahá’í Web pages. It will be promoted in the videos along with the toll-free phone line.

The phone response system will rely on AT&T’s Intelligent Call Processing software, so that any call can be routed automatically to a local community nearest the point of the call’s origin.

In the case of areas where there are no nearby local Bahá’í communities, a “default” mailbox will take calls that can be retrieved at one central location.

Local believers will be called on to take responsibility for responding to callers in and near their localities. The national task force will be contacting local Assemblies in due course to help get the phone system organized.

Local communities will be asked to bear the costs of establishing their own line ($75), plus the cost of inbound calls (roughly $35-55 per month, depending on the number of calls).

“Research and our experiences in actual field tests indicate that [the above preparations] are all valuable components in a national effort. They will all be put in place in the first few months of 1998,” a report from the task force states.

Assemblies and groups are encouraged to consult within or between their communities on how these resources can be used best in their areas.

Bahá’ís nationwide will be updated on the progress of the campaign through the National Spiritual Assembly’s administrative Web site (www.usbnc.org) and future articles in The American Bahá’í.

The National Teaching Committee is working with the National Education Task Force, Office of Public Information and others to develop training programs at the regional institutes in support of the campaign. Consultation is at an early stage.

Videotapes and relevant literature will be generally available well in advance of the broadcasts and at the lowest prices compatible with BDS’s operating needs.

“All of these efforts are designed to advance the process of entry by troops. The endeavor should be understood as another step forward in that process. Thus, we need to be able to evaluate and refine our approaches at every level,” the report advises.

As for the further future, the National Spiritual Assembly will be looking at a plan for the months after the initial broadcasts, as early results from the campaign can be reviewed and analyzed.

The National Teaching Committee hopes to develop networks of believers with expertise in fields that aid national proclamation.

Fowler, longtime Texas Bahá’í

Marlana Suzan Fowler, a Bahá’í of almost 30 years in Midland, Texas, died in a bicycle accident Sept. 25, 1997, between Midland and Odessa. She was 45.

A native of West Texas, Marlana became a Bahá’í at age 17 in Odessa in 1969. She served for a number of years on the local Spiritual Assembly in Odessa and later in Midland.

At a local Bahá’í memorial service, about 200 attendees heard youths from both cities reading passages from the Writings. A second Bahá’í memorial was held in Austin, Texas, where she is remembered fondly.

The Permian Basin Bicycle Association held its own memorial on her birthday, Oct. 25, with hundreds of local bicyclists traversing the bike path she traveled when she was killed.

The accident happened just yards from a sign reading “Bahá’í Faith,” marking the two-mile stretch of highway adopted by the Midland and Odessa Bahá’í communities as a service project.

Marlana is survived by her husband of 20 years, Dale, and their 14-year-old son, Gregory, named after Louis Gregory.

Kahn was instrumental in founding of NABI

Benjamin Kahn, who helped organize development projects on the Navajo Reservation and was instrumental in the founding of the Native American Bahá’í Institute, passed away Oct. 12 from a heart attack. He was 47.

A vibrant Bahá’í teacher who was highly influential among Native Americans, Mr. Kahn organized the Pinesprings Singers, a traditional Navajo performing group of Bahá’ís that helped spread the teachings in many areas across the United States. He worked especially to involve youths in the singing group.

Over the years he also worked to promote the principles of the Faith in Canada, Alaska and Sweden.

He traveled to several reservations in North America to promote unity and cooperation. In 1989 he presented a “Peace Flame” as a gift from the Navajo Bahá’ís to the White Mountain Apaches, helping establish a youth exchange between the two reservations. The same year he helped organize an intertribal gathering of spiritual elders in Fort Qu’appelle, Saskatchewan, dedicated to promoting spiritual solutions to the problems of indigenous peoples.

In the 1980s, Mr. Kahn was one of a few key people who developed the vision that led to the establishment of the Native American Bahá’í Institute in Houck, Arizona, within the reservation.

Mr. Kahn was an active and visible helper of his wife, Lorraine Kahn, when she was administrator at the institute for several years.

Mr. Kahn owned BK Advertising of McKinley County.

As vice president of the Oaksprings-Pinesprings Chapter on the Navajo Reservation for six years, Mr. Kahn helped bring in electricity, water lines and road improvements for the benefit of local residents. He also was president of the Pinesprings Association, a grass-roots organization for social and economic development.

Mr. Kahn was respected on and beyond the Navajo Reservation for his knowledge of ancient traditions and ceremonies of several North American Indian nations.

He suffered the heart attack while he was present at a traditional ceremony near Ganado, Arizona, on the Navajo Reservation.

He is survived by his wife; son Leander Cowboy Kahn; daughters Celena, Olivia and Carmella Burnside Kahn; brothers Franklin, Chester, Raymond and Alfred Kahn; and sisters Evangeline Kahn, Susie Begay and Stella Woody.

Benjamin Kahn helped organize development projects that benefited many residents of the Navajo reservation.

In Memoriam

Charles Alkire North Haven, CT September 4, 1997	Joe Gachupin Jemez Pueblo, NM May 1997	Soheyl Manavi Atlanta, GA July 29, 1997	Clair Sathern Mt. Vernon, WA October 1, 1997
Ian K. Anderson Wichita, KS June 26, 1997	Margaret A. Green Frederick, MD September 8, 1997	Kenneth L. Mantz Bothell, WA September 10, 1997	Marie M. Sawyer Beverly Hills, CA August 26, 1997
Robert C. Austin Ashford, CT September 16, 1997	Sharokh H. Haghighi Grand Island, NE September 14, 1997	William McDermott Talent, OR September 27, 1997	Margaret E. Spicer Clarksville, TN May 1997
Charles W. Barnes Tucson, AZ September 21, 1996	Emily M. Hardt Fish Creek, WI September 10, 1997	Malon L. Miller Tucson, AZ March 1997	Rosie Stillday Red Lake, MN July 3, 1997
Alice Beaudette Crofton, NE July 26, 1996	Harold H. Higgins Richmond, VA August 22, 1997	Mary Mobly Delray Beach, FL September 1997	Warren Stillday Sr. Red Lake, MN July 3, 1997
Prudence D. Belina Springfield, MO September 25, 1997	Frances F. Hunter Mocksville, NC September 28, 1997	Samadieh Modjarrad San Diego, CA September 1, 1997	Barbara Stubbs San Diego, CA August 3, 1997
Ruth M. Dye Thousand Oaks, CA February 18, 1997	Linda D. Kazemzadeh Bloomington, MN August 7, 1997	Ray Olivarez Houston, Texas September 25, 1997	Lucy G. Tennant Byron, CA June 29, 1997
LaVerne C. Enoanyi Sacramento, CA August 28, 1997	Kathryn C. Lawson Bradenton, FL September 1, 1997	Valiollah Parsa Reston, VA July 13, 1997	Walter Topliff South Windsor, CT February 12, 1997
Valen French San Diego, CA September 11, 1997	Sylvia Lieberman Bexley, OH September 12, 1997	Claudia C. Peterson Little Rock, AR April 11, 1997	Willette Vary Kissimmee, FL September 23, 1997
George L. Garrison Farmington, NM January 31, 1997		Frederick L. Ritchie Chula Vista, CA July 22, 1997	Melba Wheatley Battle Creek, MI October 4, 1997

[Page 36]Members of the Bahá’í community of Skokie, Illinois, pose with a local police officer and some of the 40 stuffed toy bears the local Assembly donated to the Skokie Police Department in a recent project that was assisted by several nearby communities. The police use the bears to help comfort young children in traumatic situations where police are called. The donation was the subject of a front-page photo and an article in the Skokie newspaper, and a press release from the police department also praised the Bahá’ís for their record of community involvement.

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 Green Acre Bahá’í School, phone 207-439-7200; fax 207-438-9940; e-mail Louhelen Bahá’í School, phone 810-653-5033; fax 810-653-7181; e-mail Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute, phone 803-558-5093; fax 803-558-9114; e-mail Native American Bahá’í Institute, phone 520-587-7599; fax 520-521-1063; e-mail

NOVEMBER

27–30: Oregon Western Bahá’í School, near Portland, Oregon. Contact Lynne Nesbit, Portland, OR 97213 (phone 503-236-4708).

27–30: Florida Bahá’í Winter School, Holiday Inn, Cocoa Beach. Theme: “The Four Year Plan.” Contact Denise Godsey (phone 954-942-1844, e-mail

27–30: 14th annual Washington, D.C., Thanksgiving Youth Conference, “Obeying the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh,” at the Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, Virginia. Speakers to include Dwight Allen, Kit Cosby, Michael Penn, Tahereh Ahdieh and Artemus Stover. ‎for For‎ information, call 703-573-6364 (e-mail or see Web page http://www.dc-conf.dawnpt.com).

28–30: Two courses at Green Acre Bahá’í School: “Bridges from the Bible” with Gary Matthews; “The Worlds of God,” with Diane Iverson and Ron Tomanio, members of the Foundation for the Science of Reality.

28–30: Third Divine Art of Living Conference, Sheraton Grande Torrey Pines, La Jolla, California. Talks by Dr. Riaz Ghadimi in Persian, translated simultaneously into English, on family, courtship, spouse selection, marriage and child rearing. Sponsored by Spiritual Assembly of San Diego, California. For registration information mail to San Diego, CA 92130 or contact Bahia Farahi, phone/fax 619-755-7623; e-mail

28–30: Youth Training Conference, facilitated by Linda Gilpatrick and Alice Moore, Bosch Bahá’í School.

DECEMBER

4–7: Singles Retreat/Friends/Partners and God, Bosch Bahá’í School.

5–7: “The History and Future of the Covenant,” Louhelen Bahá’í School.

6–7, 13–14: Teacher training on the Core Curriculum for Spiritual Education of Children, Green Acre Bahá’í School

19–22: Texas North Bahá’í School, Green Family Camp. Contact Homa Villagomez, phone 817-451-1819.

19–22: English as a Second language/literacy tutor-training workshop, on West Virginia University campus, sponsored by Spiritual Assembly of Morgantown, West Virginia. Led by Dara Shaw, certified Laubach ESL tutor-trainer. Contact Nancy Joy Allchin and Dara Shaw, editors of the Bahá’í ESL Teachers Newsletter, c/o Morgantown, WV 26505 (phone 304-293-3604 or 304-284-9224, e-mail or

20–23: Children’s Academy, directed by Linda Bedford, Bosch Bahá’í School.

25–28: Thirteenth annual Grand Canyon Bahá’í Conference and Youth Conference, Phoenix, Arizona. Theme: The Covenant. Registration Wednesday evening, Dec. 24. Phone 602-922-1919 for conference information and registration materials; phone the Hyatt, 800-233-1234, for hotel reservations.

26–28: California Southern Bahá’í School, at Pilgrim Pines Oak Glen near Yucaipa, California. Contact registrar Edye York, Ontario, CA 91764 (phone 909-983-1022, 909-735-1509 or 909-987-7129).

26–31: Winter School at Green Acre Bahá’í School: “Building a Flourishing Community for the Troops,” presented by John Woodall. Includes special session for youths 15 and older.

26–Jan. 1: Winter School general session, including children’s program, Bosch Bahá’í School. Special presenters: J. Richard Hoff, “Training to Assist with Entry by Troops”; Christine Rayner, “Bahá’í Family Life in Today’s World”; Jeffrey Huffines, “Bringing the UN Home.”

27–Jan. 1: Cleveland-area Mid-Winter Youth Conference, theme: “The Covenant and the Administrative Order.” For information contact the Bahá’í Youth Board, Cleveland, OH 44122 (phone 216-283-8526, e-mail

27–Jan. 1: Family Winter School, Louhelen Bahá’í School.

JANUARY

2–4: College Club Weekend, Bosch Bahá’í School.

2–4: Illinois Bahá’í School, “Heartland,” at Hilton Hotel, Springfield, Illinois. Contact Carl Clingenpeel (phone 630-898-6385). Early registration deadline Dec. 1.

2–4: “Preparation for Marriage and Family,” Louhelen Bahá’í School. Presented by Hana Kneisler and Dr. Rick Johnson.

9–11: Course on Hinduism and Buddhism presented by the Wilmette Institute, Bosch Bahá’í School. Course credit offered. Contact Robert Stockman for information on the series of courses on religions; phone 847-733-3425.

9–11: Colorado East Bahá’í Winter School, Barclay Lodge at the YMCA Estes Park Center, Estes Park, Colorado. Registrar: Don Brayton, Woodland Park, CO 80863 (phone 719-687-3351, e-mail

16–18: Assembly Team Development Weekend, Bosch Bahá’í School. Please call Marsha Gilpatrick at Bosch to register your Assembly for the weekend; a quorum of the Assembly or more is required for attendance.

16–19: Two Core Curriculum sessions at Louhelen Bahá’í School: Teacher Trainer workshop (continued June 5–7) and Parent Facilitator workshop

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 three weeks for processing. (This also updates the National Center’s data base.)

Bahá’í National Center 1233 Central St. Evanston, IL 60201-1611

QAWL B.E. 154 • NOVEMBER 23, 1997