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[Page 1]

THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í

MARCH 21, 2000 BAHÁ/SPLENDOR JALÁL/GLORY BAHÁ’Í ERA 157 VOLUME 31, NO. 2

As goals evolve, we respond

‘Traces which shall last forever’

Special coverage: A look back at the Four Year Plan, 1996–2000

In times past, goal-oriented activity to advance major teaching plans in the Bahá’í Faith was rather clear-cut. Goals for the United States community took numerical forms: a certain number of Spiritual Assemblies established, a certain number of homefront pioneers and teaching trips, and so forth.

In the Four Year Plan the overarching goal as set by the Universal House of Justice—“a significant advance in the process of entry by troops”—presents a more fluid challenge.

In fact, in its Ridván B.E. 153 (1996) letter to the Bahá’ís of the world, the Universal House of Justice welds spiritual purposes together with practical steps on all levels: “It is the individual who manifests the vitality of faith upon which the success of the teaching work and the development of the community depend.” “A community ... is a composition of diverse, interacting participants that are achieving unity in an unremitting quest for spiritual and social progress.” “... Spiritual Assemblies must rise to a new stage in the exercise of their responsibilities as channels of divine guidance, planners of the teaching work, developers of human resources...”

SEE FOUR YEAR PLAN, PAGE 5

Distribution of the National Spiritual Assembly’s statement Two Wings of a Bird: The Equality of Women and Men has reached a new phase, with Local Assemblies of several state capital cities presenting the statement to their governors as requested by the National Assembly. Above, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (right) receives the statement and greets Earl McGuire of the Little Rock Bahá’í community as Angelic Caruthers looks on, during December 1999.

Mildred Mottahedeh, 1908–2000

Message from the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies, February 20, 2000

We are deeply grieved at the passing of Mildred Mottahedeh, so esteemed, so greatly loved, so staunch and trusted a supporter and defender of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. With her departure from this earthly life the Bahá’í world community has lost an outstanding figure of the opening epochs of the Formative Age of the Bahá’í Dispensation.

Her more than half a century of tireless endeavor in its service involved her in teaching and administrative activities at the local, national, continental and international levels. At the same time she maintained a rigorous schedule as a businesswoman, a contributor to the arts, and a promoter of humanitarian works. To these manifold tasks, she brought the combined resources of a selfless spirit, a compassionate heart, a creative mind, a practical sense, and a leonine will tempered by humility, candor and wit.

She remained for almost three decades at the forefront of the external affairs work of the Bahá’í International Community and in the service of the world center of the Faith, culminating in her membership on the International Bahá’í Council, the first globally elected Bahá’í body.

With assured hearts, we supplicate in the Holy Shrines for the progress of her illumined soul throughout the divine worlds. Our loving sympathy is extended to the members of her family and all others who mourn her loss. National Spiritual Assemblies are urged to hold befitting memorial gatherings in her honor in all Houses of Worship and other centers.

The Universal House of Justice

Tribute to her life and service / page 3

Letter of condolence from the U.S. president

The National Spiritual Assembly is happy to share with you a copy of a letter from President Clinton on the passing of Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum and the response from Firuz Kazemzadeh, secretary of external affairs, on behalf of the American Bahá’í community.

Letters/ Page 3

I·N·S·I·D·E

• MOUNT CARMEL PROJECTS — PAGES 14–15, 18
• IMAGES FROM THE PLAN — PAGES 16–17
• PARLIAMENT OF RELIGIONS — PAGE 31
• CLASSIFIED • 21–22
• DISTRIBUTION SERVICE • 23–25
• IN MEMORIAM • 26
• SEEKING YOUR RESPONSE • 27
• PERSIAN PAGES • 28–30

THE NATIONAL FUND

Between May 1, 1999, and Feb. 29, 2000

$22,500,000	Goal/All Funds
$16,034,659	Received/All Funds

See page 3 for details

E·X·C·E·R·P·T·S

“I am the royal Falcon on the arm of the Almighty. I unfold the drooping wings of every broken bird and start it on its flight.” —Bahá’u’lláh [Page 2]

Naw-Rúz

A Bahá’í Holy Day

• Observed between sunset March 20 and sunset March 21
• Work is to be suspended

Rooted in an ancient Persian new year festival, Naw-Rúz was adopted by Bahá’u’lláh as a Holy Day. The Bahá’ís of the Western world observe Naw-Rúz on March 21, though eventually it will always be observed on the day of the spring equinox. The Guardian directed that the Feast of Naw-Rúz be celebrated separately from the administrative Feast for the month of Bahá.

“As it is a blessed day it should not be neglected, nor deprived of results by making it a day devoted to the pursuit of mere pleasure. During such days institutions should be founded that may be of permanent benefit and value to the people.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá, quoted in Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, p. 182

Festival of Ridván

Bahá’í Festival and Holy Days

• Observed sunset April 20 through sunset May 2
• First Day of Ridván observed sunset April 20 through sunset April 21; devotional gatherings should be 4 p.m. daylight time April 21 (3 p.m. where standard time is in effect)
• Ninth Day of Ridván observed sunset April 28 through sunset April 29
• Twelfth Day of Ridván observed sunset May 1 through sunset May 2
• Work is to be suspended on each of the three Holy Days within the 12-day Festival of Ridván

Bahá’u’lláh has called Ridván the “King of festivals.” The word Ridván means paradise. During this period, Bahá’u’lláh celebrated the 12 days in 1863 when Bahá’u’lláh resided in a garden in Baghdad—later called the Garden of Ridván—and in that time proclaimed His mission as God’s Messenger.

“Verily, all created things were immersed in the sea of purification when, on that first day of Ridván, We shed upon the whole of creation the splendors of Our most excellent Names and most exalted Attributes.” —Bahá’u’lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, para. 75

The Universal House of Justice is elected every five years during the Festival of Ridván; the latest such election was in 1998 (B.E. 155). National Spiritual Assemblies are elected each year, usually during Ridván, though during years of House of Justice elections the National Assembly elections are moved to late May. Local Spiritual Assemblies are chosen by the friends each year at election meetings held during the First Day of Ridván.

Some significant dates in Bahá’í history

• March 1889: Edward G. Browne delivered the first lecture on the Bahá’í Faith in the West, to a private audience in Newcastle, England.
• March 21, 1909: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá placed the sacred remains of the Báb in their final resting place. The Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel at the time consisted of a rectangular six-room structure.
• March-April 1922: Shoghi Effendi for the first time directed the formation of National Spiritual Assemblies and established conditions for forming Local Spiritual Assemblies. He then entrusted the worldwide affairs of the Faith to the Greatest Holy Leaf and withdrew to Europe before returning to fully take the reins of the Guardianship.
• April 1948: The name Bahá’í International Community was first used for the global non-governmental organization involving, at that time, eight National Spiritual Assemblies.
• April 6, 1954: The Guardian created five Auxiliary Boards to help and advise the Hands of the Cause of God in Asia, the Americas, Europe, Africa and Australia.
• March 21, 1990: Bahá’ís in Cluj, Romania, formed the first Local Spiritual Assembly in Eastern Europe since World War II.

Facts in the “Some Significant Dates” section compiled from A Basic Bahá’í Chronology.

EXCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS

ROBERT RENEAU is a hero to performers of all types in his native country of Belize, so it was with enthusiasm that the Belize Arts Council presented the Wilmette, Illinois, resident with a Lifetime Achievement Award at a November ceremony in Belize City.

Reneau, born in 1920 and a Bahá’í since the early 1960s, not only has sung and played piano before presidents and members of British royalty, but inspired many others with his direction of musical and dramatic groups; his songwriting, ‎playwrighting playwriting‎ and choreography; and his activity to preserve and promote Belizean culture in the arts.

This is not his first award. Among a few examples, he and groups he directed consistently won prizes in Belize’s National Festival of the Arts until he moved to the United States in the 1970s. In 1975 he was given an MBE medal by Britain’s Prince Philip for his artistic efforts. He was listed in Who’s Who Among Black Americans 1980-81.

Determination and hard work in a variety of fields—including his childhood study of music and art and his training and experience as a tailor in Belize City—led him to all-around excellence in the arts.

Overcoming a severe speech defect, in young adulthood he sought training in speech and schooled himself in singing and dance. He began acting on stage, and by 1959 was a regular radio announcer.

As early as 1948 he was staging mammoth musical, dance and dramatic productions, writing many of them himself. He achieved national distinction in then-British Honduras as a musician, a popular songwriter, a choirmaster and a “coach” for the popular singing group the Bobettes, as well as a theatrical set and costume designer.

He touched the lives of many students at the St. Mary’s School and the Bob Reneau School of the Dance in the 1950s and 1960s. His dance troupe performed for enthusiastic audiences in the Americas and the Caribbean in the 1950s and ’60s.

As British Honduras became an independent Belize, Reneau used his influence and built relationships to preserve the Creole culture as an important artistic voice in his country, when political currents appeared to threaten it. His songs and productions showed a sense of joy that aimed to bring out the best points of the national character.

After moving to the Chicago area, he continued to perform from time to time, and contributed to such productions as the Miss Belize Florida Pageant in 1991–92.

NEFERTITI ABDULLAH, a Bahá’í in Jacksonville, Florida, was the valedictorian of her graduating class at Ribault High School this past June. She has been a youth ambassador to the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference.

MICHAEL MISSAGHI, a 17-year-old Bahá’í from Blaine, Minnesota, received his state’s top score in the Chemistry Olympiad test sponsored by the American Chemical Society.

GAIL MEYER SELCUK, a Bahá’í in Longboat Key, Florida, accumulated a 4.0 average in earning a master’s degree in education. Her final project’s focus was applying the principles of “transformational learning” to Bahá’í consultation. With her husband, Emin, she has since then given presentations on various Bahá’í principles to universities and women’s groups in Cyprus.

Readers may notice a change from the usual publication date of The American Bahá’í. Beginning with this issue, we have made an adjustment in our publication schedule. We will continue to publish 10 issues each year, to be received by U.S. Bahá’ís on or about the first day of every second Bahá’í month (except for one issue to be dated Feb. 26).

THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í
PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES Bahá’í National Center 847-869-9039
Editorial Office of The American Bahá’í Mail: 1233 Central St. Evanston, IL 60201 Phone: 847-853-2352 Fax: 847-256-1372 E-mail:
Editor James Humphrey Associate Editor Tom Mennillo
Facilities Manager, Bahá’í Media Services Artis Mebane
Contributors Julie Badiee, Addison Bibb, James Cheal, Kandra Crute, Caswell Ellis, Patricia Humphrey, Ivan Lloyd, Soroush Shakib, Ruhi Yargha, Yael Wurmfeld
PUBLISHED ONCE EVERY 38 DAYS (plus one special issue) for a total of 10 issues per 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 Canada: Publications Agreement Number 1486683
ADDRESS CHANGES If you have an address change, or wish to stop or consolidate mailings, contact the Membership Office, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (e-mail: ). There is no need to contact the Editors directly. A form is on the back page.
SUBMITTING ARTICLES AND PHOTOS THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í welcomes news, letters or other items of interest from individuals and institutions of the Bahá’í Faith. ARTICLES should be clear, concise and relevant to the goals of the Four Year Plan and the National Teaching Plan. We may edit stories for length. We cannot print advance articles to publicize locally sponsored events, but may be able to list them in the Calendar. PHOTOGRAPHS may be color or black-and-white prints. Please submit photos that are well-composed and in focus, and identify people in photos when possible. If you wish photos returned, include a self-addressed envelope (you do not need to supply postage). DEADLINES for upcoming issues: June 5: Deadline April 21 July 13: Deadline May 26 PLEASE ADDRESS ALL ITEMS for possible publication to The American Bahá’í, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (e-mail: ).
©2000 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

[Page 3]

Mildred Mottahedeh passes away at 91

Businesswoman was first official Bahá’í observer at United Nations

The many facets of Mildred Root Mottahedeh were etched from one gem: the station of servant. They include elected member of the International Bahá’í Council, first official Bahá’í observer to the United Nations, world-renowned producer and collector of fine porcelain, pioneer in Bahá’í social and economic development, wife and mother.

Mildred Mottahedeh, 91, died Feb. 17 at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. Services were held three days later at the Frank E. Campbell funeral home, 1076 Madison Ave.

Born in Seabright, New Jersey, on Aug. 7, 1908, Mrs. Mottahedeh discovered her natural affinity for design while collecting Japanese prints at age 13.

She met Rafi Y. Mottahedeh, an Iranian-born importer, in New York and in 1929 the “two collecting nuts,” as she told the New York Times in 1989, were united in marriage.

As newlyweds the couple formed Mottahedeh & Co., and it became one of the most prestigious firms in the reproduction of porcelain and in other decorative arts.

A Bahá’í since 1929, Mrs. Mottahedeh based her life on the principle that service is worship.

Her long service to the New York City Bahá’í community was typified by an episode recounted in Martha Root: Lioness at the Threshold by M.R. Garis.

Mildred Mottahedeh (center), familiar with ceremony from her years as a U.N. special observer, was equally at home traveling to underdeveloped areas of the world to organize projects for their benefit. File photo

SEE MOTTAHEDEH, PAGE 22

A letter on Rúhíyyih Khánum’s passing from President Clinton

Letter to Firuz Kazemzadeh, National Spiritual Assembly secretary for external affairs, dated Feb. 11, 2000:

Dear Firuz:

Hillary and I were saddened to learn of the death of ‎Ruhiyyih Rúhíyyih‎ ‎Rabbani Rabbání‎.

As the wife of Shoghi Effendi, and later as one of the Hands of the Cause, she made extraordinary contributions to the internal continuity of the ‎Baha’i Bahá’í‎ faith, and her extensive travels fostered the integration of that faith in the global community. She also played an important role in the commitment of the ‎Baha’is Bahá’ís‎ to racial reconciliation and the cause of women’s rights.

To read of ‎Ruhiyyih Rúhíyyih‎ ‎Rabbani’s Rabbání’s‎ wide-ranging interests in literature, the environment, the arts, and other pursuits is to understand in small part what her loss means not only to your community, but also to the world. Please know that our thoughts are with you and the entire Bahá’í community.

Sincerely, Bill Clinton

‎Reponse Response‎ to the president, dated Feb. 22, 2000

Dear Mr. President:

On behalf of the American Bahá’í community and on my own I thank you and Mrs. Clinton for your thoughtful letter, expressing sympathy on the occasion of the passing of Madame Rabbani.

She had, indeed, as you have so accurately noted, made extraordinary contributions to the development of the Bahá’í Faith and won the hearts of its adherents throughout the world. A New Yorker by birth, Canadian by upbringing, world citizen by choice and conviction, she lived her ideals and left a rich heritage to future generations.

Permit me once again to thank you and Mrs. Clinton for your kind words.

With high regard and best wishes, Firuz Kazemzadeh

Enrollments

February 2000	186
Since May 1, 1999	1,238

THE FUND

May 1, 1999—Feb. 29, 2000

Contributions received by National Treasurer

Received since May 1, 1999: $16,034,659

Goal for entire year: $27,000,000

59% of year’s goal has been met

83% of fiscal year has passed

April 30, 2000

Total cash-basis revenues and expenditures

for Bahá’í National Fund May 1, 1999—Jan. 31, ‎1999 2000‎ (latest available figures)

$17,856,316

Revenues (contributions, book sales, school fees etc.)

$19,677,048

Expenditures (operations, capital and debt payments etc.)

Critical projects that could no longer be deferred have forced our Bahá’í national operations into a cash deficit.

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

91st Bahá’í National Convention

• April 27–30, 2000 • Sheraton Arlington Park • Arlington Heights, IL •

The National Spiritual Assembly looks forward to greeting the elected delegates at the 91st Bahá’í National Convention. The Convention will open Thursday evening, April 27, and close midday Sunday, April 30.

Complete information on the Web: www.usbnc.org

Visitors may pre-register with this form or a copy (separate copy for each person, please). Those who pre-register will be given priority for seating. Mail ASAP to:

Conventions Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette IL 60091 OR: Fax 847-869-0247 OR: Register through www.usbnc.org OR: e-mail

No phone registrations, please

Last name	First name
Bahá’í ID number	E-mail
Mailing address	Day phone
	Evening phone
Please check if you will require: Wheelchair accessibility ____ Sign language translation ____
Specify any other special assistance needed __________________________________________________

Convention location is wheelchair accessible

Room Reservations at the Sheraton: Phone 800-344-3434 or 847-394-2000 • Fax 847-394-9868 Contact hotel directly by March 28 • Ask for Bahá’í contract room rate ($85 per room + tax) [Page 4]

Carta de la Casa Universal de Justicia

Spanish translation of a letter of the Universal House of Justice that appeared in the Dec. 31, 1999, issue of The American Bahá’í

A los bahá’ís del mundo, 28 de diciembre de 1999

A lo largo del Plan de Cuatro Años hemos estado revisando las leyes que se aplican universalmente, con objeto de determinar cuales sería oportuno poner en vigor a partir de ahora.

Vemos en todas partes una sed creciente de vida espiritual y de esclarecimiento moral. Se reconoce la ineficacia de planes y programas de mejoramiento humano que no estén arraigados en una vida consciente del espíritu y de la virtud ética. ¿Quiénes pueden estar mejor preparados para colmar este anhelo que quienes ya han recibido la inspiración de las Enseñanzas de Bahá’u’lláh y cuentan con el auxilio de Su Poder?

Por ello, hemos decidido que es imperativo que todos los creyentes ahonden en su comprensión de la bendición que les confieren las leyes que promueven directamente la vida devota de la persona y, por tanto, de la comunidad misma. Los bahá’ís conocen en esencia lo que son estas leyes; ahora bien, hacerse cabalmente consciente de ellas comporta asimismo llevar a cabo todos los aspectos divinamente revelados para su observación. Nos referimos a las leyes relativas a la oración obligatoria, el ayuno y la recitación del Más Grande Nombre noventa y cinco veces al día.

Bahá’u’lláh afirma: "Quien no realiza buenas obras ni actos de adoración es como un árbol que no da fruto, y una acción que no deja rastro. Aquel que experimente el sagrado éxtasis de la adoración rehusará trocar ese acto o cualquier alabanza de Dios por todo lo que existe en el mundo. El ayuno y la oración obligatoria son como dos alas para la vida del hombre. Bendito sea el que se remonta con su ayuda en el cielo del amor de Dios, el Señor de todos los mundos."

Los amigos han estado familiarizados durante mucho tiempo con la gran importancia que Bahá’u’lláh atribuye a la oración obligatoria y al cumplimiento del ayuno; no obstante, algunos aspectos de la ley, tales como los relacionados con las abluciones, el viaje y la compensación de oraciones perdidas, faltaban por aplicarse universalmente. Éste es el paso que ahora se da. De este modo, todos los elementos de las leyes relativos a la oración obligatoria y el ayuno, sin excepción, son ya aplicables.

También hemos decidido que es el momento propicio para que los bahá’ís de todos los países presten atención a las palabras siguientes del Kitáb-i-Aqdas:

"Se ha ordenado a todo creyente en Dios, el Señor del Juicio, que cada día, habiéndose lavado las manos y luego la cara, se siente y, volviéndose hacia Dios, repita noventa y cinco veces Alláh-u-Abhá. Ese fue el decreto del Hacedor de los Cielos cuando, con majestad y poder, Se estableció en los tronos de Sus Nombres." Sintamos todos el enriquecimiento espiritual que este acto sencillo de meditación devota ha de reportar a nuestras almas.

El crecimiento espiritual generado por los actos de devoción personales se refuerza mediante el trato amoroso entre los amigos de cada localidad, mediante la adoración comunitaria y mediante el servicio a la Fe y a nuestros congéneres. Estos aspectos comunales de la vida piadosa guardan relación con la ley del Mashriqu’l-Adhkhár que aparece mencionada en el Kitáb-i-Aqdas. A pesar de que no ha llegado la hora para la edificación de los Mashriqu’l-Adhkháres locales, la celebración de reuniones regulares de adoración abiertas a todos y la participación de las comunidades bahá’ís en proyectos de servicio humanitario son expresiones de este elemento de la vida bahá’í y constituyen un paso más en la puesta en práctica de la Ley de Dios.

Bahá’u’lláh ha escrito: "Hemos adornado el cielo de la expresión con las estrellas de la sabiduría divina y de las disposiciones sagradas como una merced de Nuestra parte. Verdaderamente, Nos somos el que Siempre Perdona, el Más Generoso. ¡Oh amigos de Dios en todas las regiones! Sabed el valor de estos días y aferraos a todo aquello que ha sido enviado desde Dios, el Más Grande, el Más Exaltado. Verdaderamente, Él os recuerda en la Más Grande Prisión y os instruye sobre lo que hará que os acerquéis a una estación que deleita los ojos de los puros de corazón. La gloria sea con vosotros y con los que han alcanzado esa fuente viviente que fluye desde Mi Pluma maravillosa."

Rogamos ante el Sagrado Umbral a fin de que, al prestarse mayor atención a esa esencia espiritual de las enseñanzas que se expresa en estas leyes, se potencie la devoción de los amigos hacia la Fuente de todas las mercedes y con ello se atraiga a la Causa las almas receptivas de entre Sus hijos espiritualmente hambrientos.

La Casa Universal de Justicia

HUQUQU’LLÁH: THE RIGHT OF GOD

Payments to Huqúqu’lláh should be made to "The Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust" (please write Bahá’í ID number on your check) and sent to one of the Trustees:

• Amin Banani, Santa Monica, CA 90402 (phone 310-394-5449, fax 310-394-6167)
• Stephen Birkland, Arden Hills, MN 55112 (phone 651-484-9518, fax 651-415-1766)
• Sally Foo, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 (phone 609-671-9125, fax 609-671-0740)
• Daryush Haghighi, Rocky River, OH 44116 (phone 440-333-1506, fax 440-333-6938)
• Elizabeth Martin, P.O. Box 178, Winnsboro, SC 29180 (phone 803-635-9602)

Office of the Secretariat, Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust: Rocky River, OH 44116 (phone 440-333-1506, fax 440-333-6938)

Scholarly conferences issue calls for papers

‘Irfán Colloquium—three sessions:

London School of Economics, London, July 14-16 Louhelen Bahá’í School, Oct. 6-8 Bosch Bahá’í School, Nov. 23-26

The ‘Irfán Colloquia and Seminars began in 1994 and are conducted in honor of Haj Mehdi Arjmand, an early Iranian Bahá’í of Jewish background who was an expert in interpreting the Bible and the Qur'án.

The main theme of each colloquium in 2000 will be "Mysticism and the Bahá’í Faith," as part of the series of colloquia on "World Religions and the Bahá’í Faith."

The seminar, which follows each colloquium, will be devoted to the revelation of Bahá’u’lláh in the ‘Akká period (at London and Louhelen) and in the Istanbul period (at Bosch). Presentations of papers on mysticism, "Principles of Bahá’í Theology" and "Writings of Bahá’u’lláh" are welcome. Abstracts of about 250 words should be sent in advance and as early as possible.

To submit abstracts or for more information, contact Iraj Ayman, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-733-3501, fax 847-733-3502).

For registration information for the respective sessions, contact:

• London School of Economics, Mirta Lopez-Claros, Flat 1, London W14 8JL, UK (phone and fax 0171 371 6022)
• Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423-8603 (phone 810-653-5033, fax 810-653-7181)
• Bosch Bahá’í School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-9677, (phone 831-423-3387, fax 831-423-7564)

American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting

Nashville, Tennessee, Nov. 18-21

The Bahá’í Faith has maintained a presence at the American Academy of Religion since about 1985. Bahá’í papers are presented at a Bahá’í Studies Colloquy, held in association with the AAR. Bahá’ís are also encouraged to submit papers dealing with aspects of the Faith to other AAR panels.

The Bahá’í Studies Colloquy will host one or two sessions of talks on the Bahá’í Faith as it relates to themes and interests of the American Academy of Religion, which is a professional gathering of 8,000 university professors and graduate students of religion and the Bible. Presentations should be 30 minutes long.

Talks will be selected based on 250-word abstracts describing their main points. Please submit abstracts by April 30 to Robert Stockman (fax 240-209-1273).

First International Conference of Hebrew University of Jerusalem Chair of Bahá’í Studies and Landegg Academy of Switzerland

"The Bábí and Bahá’í Religions In the Context of Modern Religious Movements" At Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, Dec. 24-27

The appearance of the Báb in Iran coincided with highly significant developments in the worlds of Judaism, Christianity and Sunni Islam. The aim of this conference is to examine the development of the Bábí and Bahá’í religions in the broader context of developments in the other major monotheistic religions since the 19th century.

Scholars who wish to participate in the conference are requested to send by June 1 the name of the proposed paper and a brief summary of its contents, plus a short curriculum vitae containing personal details, the institution of affiliation and main areas of research and publication.

For registration and other information, contact the convenor, Linda Egger, Chair of Bahá’í Studies, Faculty of Humanities, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus, 91905, Jerusalem, Israel (phone +972-2-5324390, fax +972-2-5883742). [Page 5]

‘Traces which shall last forever’

The Four Year Plan 1996-2000: A look back

Stories by Tom Mennillo • Part three of four parts

In Part One of The American Bahá’í’s retrospective on the Four Year Plan, we traced how institutions at the national, regional and local levels formulated “strategic, flexible teaching plans” to advance the process of entry by troops. As our look back continued in Part Two, we turned to how the knowledge and tools gained during this momentous period have helped strengthen Local Spiritual Assemblies and provide the American Bahá’í community with efficient administration and prompt consolidation. The Regional Bahá’í Councils have played a role in Assembly development, as have the national Office of Assembly Development and Treasurer’s Office through their training modules and seminars. Within the community, we’ve seen during the Plan unprecedented development of human resources, and greater social cohesion through such elements as integration of refugees and more effective use of the arts. This issue, in Part Three of the retrospective, we focus on how we have carried out plans at all levels: Goal-directed behavior: increasing the active core of the community; reaching all strata of society; pioneering; interlocking our efforts in response to the National Teaching Plan; the youth “Heroic Deeds of Service” campaign; involvement of the individual; Fund development; and publishing activity. Relating the Faith to contemporary social and humanitarian issues: the National Spiritual Assembly’s Two Wings of a Bird statement; social and economic development; race unity forums; and training programs. Reaching people of capacity: presentations of Universal House of Justice and National Assembly statements to leaders; and community and individual initiatives. Also in this issue are international highlights during the Plan, including the Mount Carmel Projects and worldwide teaching, education, development and external affairs activities. The April 9 issue will wrap up our retrospective with themes that have run through published Universal House of Justice messages and our National Spiritual Assembly’s messages and Feast letters during the Plan. The main topics have been drawn from “Promoting Entry by Troops,” a document by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. ◆

COMMUNITY ACTION: PATTERNS FOR GROWTH OF THE FAITH

For any plan to succeed, it must be energetically and systematically pursued.

American Bahá’ís are demonstrating more and more that they’ve internalized that truth. They’re putting their all into expansion of the community, and they’re growing not just in numbers but in capacity and unity.

Bowling Green, Kentucky

The friends here found that if you build it they will come.

The “it” in this case is a well-integrated mix of devotional gatherings, teaching, Feasts, individual and family life, youth activities, children’s classes, deepenings, development projects and social activities. The most recent addition was a local training institute.

The “they” are seekers and, eventually, new believers. Bowling Green has attracted people of all backgrounds and...

SEE COMMUNITY ACTION, PAGE 6

Charleston, South Carolina: People-to-people connections were what a 1997 conference, “Race Unity: A Prescription for the Healing of the Nation,” was all about. Bahá’ís and local dignitaries and scholars gathered in a three-day conference aimed at examining practical models of racial unity. It also celebrated initial restoration work at the childhood home of the Hand of the Cause Louis Gregory.

FOUR YEAR PLAN, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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resources, builders of communities, and loving shepherds of the multitudes.”

With the Four Year Plan close to its conclusion, how can we measure the progress made by Bahá’í institutions, communities and individuals toward these goals?

There still are numbers to be toted up—highly encouraging ones in at least two areas:

The national media initiative, part of the National Teaching Plan, helped rally Bahá’í communities from across the country in unprecedented ways. Before the initiative was brought into nationwide operation in early 1998, perhaps a few national-scale efforts may have drawn about 200 local Bahá’í communities into cooperation.

Now, an astounding 1,371 localities or regional task forces are hooked into the 1-800-22-UNITE system to receive phone responses from people attracted by national or local Bahá’í broadcasts.

Since March 1998, those broadcasts and other mass media proclamations have stimulated tens of thousands of responses by inquirers on the phone or the Internet—36,000 since Ridván 1999 alone. For a growing number of communities, that translates into more seekers in contact with Bahá’ís, more energy put into welcoming them, and in cases more enrollments.

Pioneering was the only field of Bahá’í activity that had national numerical goals from the beginning of the Plan. As of the end of February, the 5,113 international traveling teaching trips by American Bahá’ís ‎has have‎ far surpassed the goal of 4,500, while fewer than 10 people must settle abroad before May 1 to meet the international pioneering goal of 1,200.

But beyond numbers, the House of Justice has called for “a significant enhancement in patterns of behavior” characterized “in the unity and fellowship of the community and the dynamism and activity of its growth.”

And the patterns are emerging. Bahá’ís at all levels are reaching out to humanity in increasingly advanced and diverse ways. We are inviting the public to get to know our communities, not only through proclamation and firesides but through public devotional meetings and deeds of service.

As decentralization advances, we are taking greater responsibilities for our Bahá’í life at the local and regional levels. We are solidifying local, area and regional communities with activities that unite us with a common purpose.

Through Bahá’í schools, training institutes and other means, we are educating ourselves by the thousands in the verities of the Faith and the skills to help transform those teachings into positive action.

We are increasing our inward maturity and outward confidence in moving forward the ideals of racial unity and gender equality, as well as in serving people through development efforts.

The national Bahá’í community is on a tide of momentum that places us well to meet the challenges of the Twelve Month Plan—including an even sharper honing of our skills, knowledge and character, and a fuller embrace of children and junior youth.

This ongoing series of articles looking back at the Four Year Plan continues to demonstrate such patterns that show American Bahá’ís, as a whole, growing more energetic and more systematic in all these avenues for advancing the process of entry by troops. [Page 6]

YOUTH PLEDGES OF SERVICE: MANY ‘HEROIC DEEDS’ ADD UP TO A LOVING GIFT

In mid-1999 a gift winged its way to the Universal House of Justice with “love, faith and support from the Bahá’í youth of the United States.”

The gift consisted of several hundred pledges from youths of all ages to “perform, during the Four Year Plan, heroic deeds of service to the Cause,” as the Universal House of Justice had urged the American believers in its Ridván 1996 message to North America.

The “Heroic Deeds of Service” campaign was launched by the National Youth Committee in May 1998, at the midpoint in the Four Year Plan and 150 years after the Conference of Badasht.

Each youth was asked to pray, deepen and think about what makes an action heroic, then choose one action he or she considers to be heroic. Youths were also asked to fill out a pledge sheet describing their planned actions and why they consider them to be heroic.

In its announcement, the committee noted that what is “heroic” will mean something different to each person, but that heroism involves sacrifice, idealism, love, faith, hard work and persistence. Some teaching and service opportunities for the upcoming summer period of traditionally heightened activity were listed.

As the campaign progressed, periodic reminders were issued—some quoting from pledges that had been received.

By February 1999, with 15 months remaining in the Plan, the committee reported that 195 pledges had come in to its office.

A month later, the number topped 200. The committee reminded youths that, although pledges could be submitted at any time during the Plan, little time remained for inclusion in the nearly wrapped-up gift to the Supreme Institution.

That spurred additional youths to tell the National Youth Committee of their plans, and the gift was dispatched.

Later, a response came from the Department of the Secretariat at the Bahá’í World Center:

“The Universal House of Justice was delighted to receive your letter dated 26 July 1999 enclosing a letter from your National Youth Committee together with a list of American Bahá’í youth who have pledged a wide range of ‘heroic deeds of service,’ and we are to assure you of its ardent prayers in the Holy Shrines that these youth may attain their heart’s desire in service to the Faith.”

And the deeds of service go on.

LOCAL GLIMPSES: COMMUNITY COLLABORATION

If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community—better yet, several of them—to attract, nurture and confirm believers. These communities and sets of communities drew on training resources, artistic talents and each others’ energies to further the National Teaching Plan and regional and local teaching plans.

Portland, Oregon, area

A cluster of 23 Bahá’í communities in two states found strength in unified action. With help from the Regional Committee and Auxiliary Board members, they joined in the Helen Bishop Teaching Campaign for the Martyrs. At a consultation event, they devised a set of goals for firesides, devotional gatherings and race unity dialogues.

A coordinating team was appointed (the photo above is from a 1998 meeting), as well as task forces for community development, diversity-building, external affairs, individual teaching, media and youth. Supporting the campaign were courses offered, in response to Assemblies’ stated needs, by the regional training institutes in Oregon and Washington.

Columbus, Ohio

Sometimes good ideas can be contagious.

The Bahá’í community in Columbus maintained a database of about 300 seekers, and several mailings were sent out each year. But they took a good look and realized no real contact was involved.

Assembly members had heard of a successful system for seeker follow-up used in Marquette, Michigan. They met with the Marquette Assembly and reviewed the teaching model that community had developed.

Columbus decided to adopt that model. As a first step, primary teachers were assigned to each seeker and monthly reports on each seeker given to the Assembly.

The community stepped up the number and frequency of its firesides and devotional gatherings so there would be plenty of events for seekers. Once people declared, a training institute course based on We Are Bahá’ís was ready for their participation.

COMMUNITY ACTION, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

helped them arise to serve the Faith and humanity.

The community’s assessment of all that has gone on: “We have been thrilled and stunned by our experience of rapid growth. We have had our lives immeasurably enriched by our new friends, weddings, births, new families, and by the indescribable love and dedication we all share. We have only begun to taste what community truly means in Bahá’u’lláh’s vast renewal of all life on earth.”

Across the West

A Trail of Light team of 14 believers taught the Faith in several states en route from the Native American Bahá’í Institute to the Neah Bay Councilfire.

The traveling teachers visited pioneers and other Bahá’ís; attended an Indian tribal fair; were invited to participate in a parade (and won second place); and served communities by picking up litter.

Ultimately, their biggest reward was to give a fireside whenever the opportunity arose. And people were attracted everywhere they went, because of each member’s example of service and openness.

Since then, “mini-Trail of Light” teaching teams have gone out to different parts of the ‎Najavo Navajo‎ Reservation and others will travel to adjoining reservations during the rest of the Four Year Plan.

On the road, Southern States

Wherever there was teaching in the Southeast during the Plan, the mobile Bahá’í Information Center sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Hamilton County, Tennessee, was liable to be in the thick of things.

Activities on successive weekends in 1997 typify the converted airport shuttle’s effective use by communities.

First the teaching bus, as it is known, motored down Interstate 75 to Atlanta to assist with the consolidation of Southeast Asian believers in Chamblee, Doraville and north DeKalb County. Families were visited and curious neighbors were invited into the van for impromptu firesides.

The next day, teachers went into new neighborhoods. The van was parked in prominent places and people spilled outdoors to see what it was. Contact was made with dozens of people (black, white, Asian and Latino), literature was distributed in five languages and enrollments resulted among Cambodians, Vietnamese and Guatemalans.

One weekend later as the teaching bus stayed in the Chattanooga area, it was put to good use helping the Bahá’í group of Red Bank with its first-

The Trail of Light teaching team focused on community service as well as spreading the Bahá’í teachings wherever it went in Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Washington last summer. [Page 7]

FUND DEVELOPMENT: SHINING A SPIRITUAL LIGHT ON OUR MATERIAL MEANS

When is a discussion of the Funds not about money? Quite often, actually, because giving is a spiritual thing.

Fund development was a critical element in prosecuting the National Teaching Plan and other goals of the Four Year Plan.

After all, the National Spiritual Assembly had commitments to keep, including an unprecedented and expensive media campaign; decentralization of administrative duties to erect the infrastructure for a much larger Bahá’í community; emergence of the divine institution of Regional Bahá’í Councils; establishment and expansion of regional training institutes; renovation and maintenance of Bahá’í properties, including the House of Worship; and aid for the International Fund, including the Mount Carmel Projects, as well as for the Continental Fund.

Therefore, lovingly deepening the friends on their obligation to contribute not just time and energy but material resources to the Cause became an ongoing priority of the national Treasurer’s Office.

The message took many forms, from articles in The American Bahá’í to frequent Feast letters, Local Assembly goal-setting and the Stewardship and Development program.

In articles and letters, the Treasurer’s Office discussed the role of the local treasurer as a helpmate to personal spiritual transformation and community growth; empowered children and youth; advised of opportunities—some one-time in nature—that the National Assembly could use if resources were available; told of materials available on tax questions as well as will writing and other, newly expanded options for planned giving.

As a goal was set each year for the National Bahá’í Fund, the office’s communications showed it to be an assessment by the National Assembly of our potential and responsibility in relation to the Faith’s material support. Responses by institutions and individuals to Fund needs were related through heartwarming stories of sacrifice and determination. Sometimes, the office had to advise of cutbacks that Fund shortfalls made necessary at national agencies and, just as important, the impact of those cutbacks.

The Local Assembly goal program evolved during the Plan as local institutions came to grips with change. The program had begun in 1990 with a core of 750 Assemblies participating, and expanded the next year to all Assemblies. In 1993–94, the National Assembly asked local institutions to set their own goals. That worked fine at first, but over time fewer and fewer Assemblies apprised the Treasurer’s Office of their commitments.

Education was the key to changing that situation as well as the overall Fund picture. And that’s where the Stewardship and Development program came in. Training of seminar facilitators began in early 1997.

Before long, hundreds of local treasurers, Assembly members and others across the country were learning how to meet and manage the material resources needed to build thriving Bahá’í communities and, ultimately, the Kingdom of God on earth.

As an aid toward that purpose, revised editions—first on paper, then online—of the Stewardship and Development reference manual were published.

LOCAL GLIMPSES: COMMUNITY COLLABORATION

Issaquah, Washington: The Bahá’í Faith Information Center downtown in this small city was opened in late 1996 as a project of an inter-Assembly committee for teaching, and in its first year alone was the site for numerous firesides, prayer meetings, singles activities, youth and children’s gatherings and several well-publicized musical events.

Louisiana/Mississippi

Collaboration and universal participation were hallmarks of a conference involving 90 Bahá’ís from these two states in early 1997.

The host Assembly of Jackson, Mississippi, worked with the Regional Committee and Auxiliary Board members to plan the event. Believers of all ages from both states developed the devotions and sessions, made decorations and shared their talents.

Workshops were held on teaching and the elements involved in advancing the process of entry by troops, with the friends given tools to create their own individual and community teaching plans.

Inspiration abounded. Tales of the history of the Faith in the area were told. Stories of victories and activities were shared. Counselor Tod Ewing spoke to the public on the Bahá’í view of race unity.

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time participation in the annual Red Bank Jubilee.

Since the Jubilee’s theme was “Education Excellence,” quotations from the Writings on the topic were handed out and area Bahá’ís, including the valedictorian of that year’s senior class at Red Bank High School, marched in the parade behind the van. Later, Bahá’ís staffed a booth and directed interested people to the van.

Lawrenceville, New Jersey

It might have seemed impossible to the Bahá’ís of Lawrenceville: host a series of three public talks, hand-deliver a personal invitation to every one of the town’s 10,000 households, coordinate the series with a new Web site and follow up with a six-week rotating schedule of firesides.

But the community of 11 adult Bahá’ís did just that, amid a full schedule of Assembly meetings, devotions, deepenings, personal firesides and children’s classes.

Over a few months, the talks—on the spiritual dimension of the new millennium—were carefully crafted and tested. An inspirational audio-visual presentation was put together. The Web site was created, modeled after the Atlanta site. The formal invitations were lovingly designed, printed and folded.

Two weeks before the first talk, the Bahá’ís hit the sidewalks with the invitations. Media contacts were stepped up and the fireside schedule created. The community gathered a final time to recite special prayers. The speech venue was decorated.

When all was complete, every community member had contributed something to the project. And the results showed it: More than 40 people showed up for the first talk, about 2,500 people visited the Web site, hundreds more were introduced to the Bahá’í message while reading an excerpt of the talk on the invitation, and questions about the Faith poured in.

Southern States

Youths from across the South engaged in an activity that coupled individual initiative with systematic planning.

The Victory Initiative, a first for the Southern Regional Youth Coordinating Team, was a plan for individual youths and youth groups to act in promoting the harmony of the races.

The first component was for participating youths to present The Vision of Race Unity statement to principals, deans, etc., and recite the prayer for the Southern States every day.

The second was for Bahá’í youths to act in any way they felt capable to promote race unity and a Bahá’í perspective on race relations. This flexibility left youths feeling free to contribute in ways that matched their talents or capacities.

Two youths in Florida hosted a fireside on race unity for youth. A Texan initiated a monthly dialogue on racism. Alabama brothers participated in a Bahá’í play on racism. A South Carolina youth dedicated a week of her service at WLGI to the promotion of race unity. The Bahá’í club at the University of North Carolina held its second annual Rally for Race Unity.

Houston, Texas

Charletta Martin had a positive impression of Bahá’ís from her childhood in Houston, Texas.

But it was only recently that she came in contact again with the Faith through billboards and Bahá’í Web sites. Could it be the answer to her prayer that God would lead her to truth?

Martin began downloading and copying information on the Faith. She also used the Internet to communicate with Bahá’ís and continually deepen.

Still, she found it difficult to declare her faith, fearing the loss of her family. She struggled with this issue until she read on the Internet a quote from the Universal House of Justice that stirred her to action.

The next day she declared at a weekend coffee hour in Houston hosted by the local teaching committee. [Page 8]

PUBLISHING ACTIVITY: PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR STUDY AND TEACHING WORK

Supporting Bahá’ís as they advance the process of entry by troops has been the aim of every step taken by the Bahá’í Publishing Trust and Bahá’í Distribution Service during the Four Year Plan.

Among the more important steps:

A succession of books, pamphlets and other products has been coordinated with the National Teaching Plan and its twin foci of race unity and the equality of women and men.

An increasing emphasis was placed on marketing. Plans were made for sale of products over the Internet and for greater collaboration with National Assembly-owned retail sales outlets at the permanent schools and the Bahá’í House of Worship.

The Distribution Service moved from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Fulton County, Georgia, in time for the final year of the Plan. The new facility will allow for expansion of stock and staff as needed and is conveniently located near an overnight shipping hub and Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport.

Perhaps most exciting, the publishing organization began taking a new shape to establish a presence for Bahá’í literature in general trade bookstores and public libraries. It was acknowledged that this undertaking would require several years of development and investment, to make a positive impression on the competitive and expensive commercial book trade.

From the beginning of the Plan, these agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly saw that they would need to reorganize in order to keep up with any rapid expansion of the American Bahá’í community.

As they realigned functions and responsibilities, they kept two mandates in mind: disseminate publications at the lowest possible cost and function as a profitable business.

The agencies also moved to aid teaching and training. Prices were reduced on some of the most popular teaching and deepening books, while new low-cost teaching materials were brought out and deeper discounts for communities were introduced.

One result has been both a triumph and a challenge. The popularity of the lower-cost items increased by 21 percent the total number of units shipped by BDS—but reduced incoming money by 9 percent.

At mid-Plan, the umbrella agency Bahá’í Publications spearheaded a publishing vision with a conference in June 1997.

That conference, involving several task forces and agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly, produced a publishing agenda, both to anticipate seekers’ needs and to help the friends develop skills and insights for attracting and nurturing souls.

This plan has stimulated publication of an exciting mix of books, pamphlets, records and videotapes was designed to stimulate individual spiritual transformation and influence the life of society.

This collaboration also launched a process of targeting, testing and refinement similar to that used in developing the broadcast videos. And it yielded a unity of vision between Bahá’í Publications and the National Teaching Committee.

Other vital steps in U.S. Bahá’í publishing activity during the Four Year Plan:

• The role of local publications coordinators was expanded so they could become a more effective community resource.
• A special events program was inaugurated, making it easier to have bookstores at conferences and other large Bahá’í gatherings.
• Customer service hours at the Distribution Service were extended.

LOCAL GLIMPSES: COMMUNITY COLLABORATION

Eastern Tennessee

Response to the national media initiative was immediate and ingenious as communities tailored their activities to local circumstances.

In Chattanooga, Tennessee, residents could view The Power of Race Unity on cable. Chattanooga Bahá’ís instituted a multilayered teaching effort to take advantage of the broadcasts. A billboard, bus placards and radio announcements invited people to watch the show or to call for information on how they could “join the Bahá’ís in helping Chattanooga bridge the racial divide.”

Events sponsored by the Bahá’ís for that purpose included firesides seven days a week in various parts of town, weekly prayer meetings and worship services featuring a talk. A public information center was opened in a mall frequented by the minority community. And a public meeting featured speakers who are descendants of slaves and slave owners, respectively.

In Wilson County, 120 miles to the northwest, the program could not be found on TV, so the Bahá’ís took a different tack.

A public showing of The Power of Race Unity in Lebanon, site of several recent racial incidents, was followed by a discussion of concrete steps residents can take to bring the races together.

The Spiritual Assembly of Wilson County also sent a letter urging community leaders to find ways to “open honest dialogue between all citizens.” The Bahá’ís offered their experience in building unity and declared they stand ready to aid the process.

San Diego County, California

Teaching and service collaboration among five communities in the county’s northwest have resulted in dozens of enrollments and thousands of seeker visits to programs at the Oceanside Bahá’í Center since the Center’s opening in June 1996.

The four Assemblies and one Group that form the intercommunity coordinating team developed a multi-phased, well-organized plan.

It focuses on teaching Latino and minority populations, use of the Center as a hub of activity, incorporation of music into activities, developing personal connections with seekers and, finally, individual systematic teaching.

LOCAL GLIMPSES: INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE

Wausau, Wisconsin: A couple in nearby Antigo saw the need for proclamation and teaching geared to the Filipino community. The early 1998 event they organized in Wausau, drawing about 50 people to the downtown YMCA, was supported with publicity, logistics and other help by Bahá’ís from around the area and as far away as Chicago.

From Arizona to the nation

Are you wondering what has become of the freewheelin’ Knudsons since the couple passed through your community?

They’re still on the road, pedaling their dream of traveling by recumbent bicycle to teach through the end of the Four Year Plan.

The Kingman, Arizona, pair began their trek at the Desert Rose Bahá’í Conference in November 1997. Since then, they have covered nearly every state and several Canadian provinces in successive loops.

Along the way, Jerome and Lucia bring the Bahá’í message to thousands, whether in coffeehouses, bike shops, media interviews or firesides. They also keep a long list of e-mail pals up to date on their experiences.

Jerome used to work in the winter and travel the rest of the year. For this odyssey, the Knudsons saved up enough to stay on the road through Ridván 2000.

And beyond? Who but God knows.

From North Carolina to South Africa

Many American Bahá’ís of African descent heeded the call of the Universal House of Justice and ventured to the Mother Continent during the Plan.

Among them was Richard Beane, a North Carolina dentist. Alongside former pioneer David Hoffman, a real estate developer of European descent, Beane traveled to South Africa.

The visitors saw vestiges of the country’s apartheid past. But mostly they saw hope. And they recorded it all on videotape in hopes of inspiring other Bahá’ís to catch the “Spirit of Africa” and follow them across the ocean.

A video with that title was edited and broadcast on public television in Greensboro.

Rehearsal by “Spirit of Africa” youth workshop. [Page 9]

TWO WINGS OF A BIRD: A BOLD STATEMENT OF OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY

With the release of Two Wings ‎a of a‎ Bird: The Equality of Women and Men at the Bahá’í National Convention in 1997, believers were handed language they can use to develop their understanding of the issue and, in turn, help others understand its significance.

The National Spiritual Assembly’s statement is a living document meant to be used both in our lives and in our teaching, delegates to that Convention were told.

Indeed, as explained by Secretary-General Robert C. Henderson, the statement went through 26 drafts before the National Assembly was galvanized in a “moment of understanding” to approach it from the standpoint that God has redefined the oneness of humanity in this Revelation. Thus, the issue of equality goes far beyond fairness.

Partnership is a theme that runs throughout the document.

“The Bahá’í teachings offer a model of equality based on the concept of partnership,” one section reads. “Only when women become full participants in all domains of life and enter the important arenas of decision-making will humanity be prepared to embark on the next stage of its collective development.”

The entrance of more women into positions of prominence and authority will not in itself create a just social order, Two Wings makes clear.

“Without fundamental changes in the attitudes and values of individuals and in the underlying ethos of social institutions, full equality between women and men cannot be achieved. A community based on partnership, a community in which aggression and the use of force are supplanted by cooperation and consultation, requires the transformation of the human heart.”

A special role in effecting that transformation is reserved for men, whose own destiny depends on it.

“Men have an inescapable duty to promote the equality of women. ... The destructive effects of inequality prevent men from maturing and developing the qualities necessary to meet the challenges of the new millennium.”

But the wholehearted commitment of “every man, woman, youth and child” will be necessary to bring about that transformation, the statement concludes.

Quoting Shoghi Effendi in The Advent of Divine Justice, the National Assembly counsels us:

“To overcome such a condition requires the exercise of nothing short of ‘genuine love, extreme patience, true humility, consummate tact, sound initiative, mature wisdom, and deliberate, persistent, and prayerful effort.’”

UTILIZING STATEMENTS: KEY DOCUMENTS PROVIDE FOCUSES FOR OUR VISION

Infusing the National Spiritual Assembly’s statement Two Wings of a Bird: The Equality of Women and Men into public discourse is a story of the Four Year Plan that is still being written.

Before this Plan began, distribution of another statement, The Vision of Race Unity, was well under way. This gained special impetus in the latter stages of the Four Year Plan as hearts attracted by the national media initiative and race unity dialogues inquired further about the Faith.

The Promise of World Peace and Turning Point For All Nations, statements from the Universal House of Justice, were already available to help Americans make sense of the forces propelling humankind into the third millennium of the Common Era. The Bahá’í International Community’s 1999 document Who Is Writing the Future? became another resource for Bahá’í teaching themes with its look back at the 20th century.

But as the the 1990s waned, the time had clearly come to bring people a vision of true partnership of the sexes and a language for exploring how this might play out in their lives.

So at Ridván 1997 the National Assembly unveiled the Two Wings statement for study by Bahá’ís and for distribution nationwide. And it appointed a National Committee for the Advancement of Women to bring this issue to the forefront.

By late 1998, more than 100,000 copies of the statement had been distributed. In addition, numerous deepenings, conferences, training sessions, public meetings and consultations had taken place regarding gender equality.

To reinforce this momentum, the National Assembly renamed its committee the National Committee for the Equality of Women and Men (NCEWM) and launched a national campaign designed to complement the race unity campaign, “The Power of Race Unity.”

Each Local Spiritual Assembly was asked to present the Two Wings statement to its community’s mayor and city council by April 1999 and report the results to the national committee.

Simultaneously, NCEWM beckoned Bahá’í college clubs to participate in a second round of One Voice efforts to promote the equality of women and men and raise awareness among campus populations about the Faith’s commitment to gender equality.

Bahá’í communities also were urged to join in commemorations of International Women’s Day in March and use the occasion to explore themes presented in Two Wings.

Packets of materials were available from NCEWM to aid in all these efforts. For Assemblies they included sample letters to officials and the media, an activities list and a resource list. For campus clubs, similar materials targeted faculty, student organizations and women’s studies programs.

Results came in a trickle at first, then about mid-1999 communities started reporting in by the dozens.

Two Wings in the hands of people of influence

As of the beginning of March 2000, here are region-by-region statistics on presentation of Two Wings of a Bird:‎The  The‎ Equality of Women and Men and related activities, from the 231 communities who have reported their activities to the National Committee for the Equality of Women and Men.

Governors of the following states have been presented with the statements, by communities in capital cities as directed by the National Spiritual Assembly:

• Arkansas
• Indiana
• Maine
• Montana
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin

Local-level activity:

• 156 mayors presented with the statement
• 135 city councils presented with the statement
• 148 women’s organizations presented with the statement
• 185 community organizations presented with the statement
• 53 articles printed in local newspapers
• 17 televised presentations of the statement
• 114 “equality” firesides and 96 proclamation events
• 19 libraries presented with the statement

Counselor Tod Ewing (center) of Columbia is flanked by other South Carolina Bahá’ís, (from left) Deborah Martin of Charleston, Bahiyyih Young of Seneca and Marvin Holladay of Mt. Pleasant, during the presentation of the statements Two Wings of a Bird and The Vision of Race Unity to Gov. James Hodges (right) in December. [Page 10]

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE INCREASE

Three letters have indelibly entered the Bahá’í consciousness: SED, standing for social and economic development.

On both grand and small scales, understanding and practice of SED are growing greatly with each passing year. The guidance of the Universal House of Justice helps us see SED as an essential means for applying Bahá’í principles to society’s ills.

SED is not teaching, and it is not undertaken with expansion of the Faith in mind. But as we help people within and outside the Faith help themselves, the Bahá’í community is increasingly strengthened and its power of attraction magnified.

Three pillars of this effort in the United States have been Health for Humanity (HH), Mottahedeh Development Services (MDS) and the Eshraghieh and Mahmoud Rabbani Charitable Trust.

Left: Health for Humanity recruited a giant green frog—croaking “Hop into reading!”—in its “Prescribe a Book” efforts to promote literacy among children at a West Side Chicago health clinic. Above: The Atlanta area’s Family Unity Institute, with a spiritual education class pictured, has been helped along by MDS.

Health for Humanity

The work of Health for Humanity can be seen as a metaphor for the Bahá’í Faith’s global vision.

A development agency of the National Spiritual Assembly, Health for Humanity embraces four central principles that guide its internal organization and the projects it undertakes: the nobility of humanity, group consultation, unified service and comprehensive health.

These principles reflect the agency’s recognition that the problems confronting humankind require solutions that are world-embracing but, at the same time, are tailored to each locale’s culture and unique circumstances.

HH, now 8 years old, has more than 1,500 members and supporters in 50-plus countries—twice the participation and scope it enjoyed when the Four Year Plan began.

The agency’s headquarters near Chicago conducts a preschool literacy project that receives grants from three foundations. Networks established in eight other locations across the country conduct a variety of social and economic development programs such as marriage enrichment, smoking cessation, wellness clubs, new mother training and support, and after-school tutoring.

But HH is best known for its international projects. Volunteers travel to all continents providing service and training in health and community development.

Projects range from combating river blindness in Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Ethiopia to a major eye-care initiative in Albania.

HH also has a significant presence in Guyana, Honduras and China and is expanding its efforts in Bolivia, where it is partnered with the Bahá’í-inspired Universidad Núr, and in Ecuador.

During the past fiscal year, the agency provided more than $454,000 worth of assistance to projects and programs.

Many of the projects are at least partially funded by grants, and HH collaborates with such entities as the World Health Organization. But the agency’s own fund-raising and member contributions continue to grow. The bottom line is that HH is entirely self-supporting from the standpoint of the Bahá’í Funds.

Mottahedeh Development Services

This agency of the National Spiritual Assembly is best known for its collaboration with the Spiritual Assembly of South DeKalb, Georgia, in creating and obtaining grant funding for the Family Unity Institute.

This granddaddy of American SED projects serves ever-larger numbers of African-Americans, Southeast Asians and Hispanics of all ages. It produces sometimes-dramatic results in student performance and provides a wide range of service opportunities for new and veteran Bahá’ís.

Programs include STAR, which combines tutorial sessions and character development with basketball for at-risk African-American youths; the Chamblee Project, which offers after-school sessions and family development education to Asian and Hispanic immigrants; the Umoja Soldiers Youth Program, which consists of Friday night basketball and facilitated discussion; a computer literacy program that started as an individual initiative; and award-winning Toastmasters (adult) and Gavel (youth) chapters for development of public speaking skills.

MDS continues to guide the Institute’s expansion. At present, additional funding is being sought for renovations at the Institute’s Bahá’í Unity Center home and for computer acquisition, so the Institute can triple the number of people served.

But MDS is working with the host Assembly to transfer responsibility for program development to the local community. At the same time, MDS is reaching out nationwide as a resource broker between communities seeking to initiate

LOCAL GLIMPSES: ACTION ON SOCIAL ISSUES

The Universal House of Justice said in its Ridván 153 letter to North America that the American Bahá’í community is positioned to receive opportunities unlike any others on earth. As these stories demonstrate, the friends are taking advantage by relating the Faith to contemporary social and humanitarian issues.

New York, New York

When Roya Movafegh organized a photography workshop for young children in Harlem, her students’ pictures turned out so well they were included in a Manhattan show titled “The Art of Change.”

Not only that, despite being the only children represented alongside 60 professional artists, Movafegh’s students won second place in photography.

But the story just gets better.

Movafegh discovered when she sought to expand the workshop into digital photography and drama that many of the children could not read. So she enlisted fellow Bahá’ís, particularly African-American men, to attack the problem head-on with an after-school literacy program that uses the arts.

One of the photos by young students of Roya Movafegh was captioned “A piece from the people on my block, photo taken by Kandra Crute, 10 years old.” [Page 11]

LOCAL GLIMPSES: ACTION ON SOCIAL ISSUES

Detroit, Michigan The Bahá’í message of unity drew an enthusiastic response from crowds attending the National Town Meeting for a Sustainable America.

In a cavernous exhibit hall containing more than 300 educational, informational and technical displays, the Bahá’í exhibit was the only one with a spiritual theme. It emphasized the importance of accepting the oneness of humanity as a spiritual principle.

People viewing the exhibit were often heard to exclaim, “Yes! I believe that!” Passers-by collected more than 1,000 pieces of Bahá’í literature on development issues.

Several Bahá’ís participated in the event, including Peter Adriance, NGO liaison for the National Spiritual Assembly and a member of the national conference planning committee. Bahá’ís also enjoyed the exhibit hall and participated in an interactive project where they built a Bahá’í center as part of a model “sustainable city.”

Tucson, Arizona Photo by Ivan Lloyd

The Bahá’í Center no longer represents a strange, unknown religion to its neighbors, thanks to a Bahá’í-sponsored food distribution program.

Two or three days a week for five years, Bahá’ís have been helping needy families and the elderly in the neighborhood by collecting outdated food from supermarkets and the community food bank and giving it away. Clothing supplied by a social service agency is sold at a nominal price.

Publicity has drawn more needy people to the program and attracted inquiries about the Faith. A radio station also has invited the Bahá’ís to appear.

Carrollton, Texas A long-planned weekend of public events on the theme of “Building a Violence-Free World” was made that much more timely when, on the eve of the conference, a gunman opened ‎fired fire‎ on a Fort Worth church youth rally.

The tragedy gave fresh impetus to the vital search for answers. And it drew hundreds of Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex residents to the Bahá’í programs.

A luncheon attended by many prominent officials heard Robert C. Henderson, secretary-general of the National Spiritual Assembly, list “models of unity” being carried out every day by a “silent army” of people. One mayor asked for a video dub of the talk to use in brainstorming with neighboring officials.

That night, a youth meeting was held at the University of Texas-Dallas on the same subject, and it garnered a nearly two-minute report on the evening news. The next day, a public meeting drew another crowd in the hundreds.

Noted local Bahá’í Gigi Shamsy Raye, “The best publicity and teaching results come when we’re actively attempting to ‘live the life,’ promote the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, offer solutions to the crumbling world around us.”

Portsmouth, New Hampshire Youths attending a “Toward Oneness” class at nearby Green Acre Bahá’í School took their discussions on race to the public. The result was a monthly youth dialogue at a Portsmouth bookstore.

Melinda Salazar, a University of New Hampshire instructor who had led the Green Acre class, arranged the first dialogue so Bahá’ís could share with other local youths the ideas they had been exploring in class.

The dialogue’s success inspired her to schedule more. In these sessions, young people discuss the roots of racial prejudice and share how it affects them.

A daily newspaper covering the dialogue published a front-page article with a photo.

SED projects and resources within and outside the Bahá’í community. One vehicle for this shift is the Bahá’í Business Forum of the Americas. Last year, MDS appointed a leadership team for BBFA to stimulate three initiatives: a lively Internet forum; Local Enterprise Advisory Boards, such as one thriving in Atlanta that serves as an incubator for Bahá’ís seeking to develop enterprises; and an educational/training process that will include development and presentation of a curriculum on Bahá’í-centered management.

Internationally, MDS is active in expanding micro-credit opportunities for women; working with Bahá’í-operated Universidad Núr in Bolivia to help educators and specialists develop and apply a common vision of SED; brokering donation of computers to Bahá’í institutions; and assisting with Indian youth scholarships to study rural agriculture in Colombia, through the Bahá’í-inspired FUNDAEC.

In this country, MDS has established SED training workshops at which the friends can obtain the basic understanding and initial experience needed to promote SED in their own communities. Workshops have been given in a number of venues, including the three permanent Bahá’í schools and the Brighton Creek facility in Washington state, as well as in Atlanta.

Backing up the workshops is the manual Developing Patterns of Community Life: A Guide to Consultation on the Process of SED for Bahá’í Communities. It presents Bahá’í writings, including seminal letters of the Universal House of Justice on SED, and a 10-step method for planning, initiating and managing projects.

Rabbani Charitable Trust

The nonprofit Rabbani Trust for seven years has sponsored a conference in Orlando, Florida, that annually draws more than a thousand Bahá’ís eager to take home the skills and inspiration to engage in SED work.

These friends soak up insights from learned Bahá’ís and others on spiritually based social and economic development and its role in the advance of civilization, gather in special interest group sessions, network all hours of the day, and enjoy soul-stirring artistic expression.

From the atmosphere of participatory learning to a stripped-down program focusing on hands-on workshops rather than speeches and awards, the conference has helped attendees build a capacity to apply Bahá’í principles in the community.

Springboarding this great leap forward has been the power of example. In 1996 a seminar for grassroots SED practitioners was added at the request of the Office of Social and Economic Development of the Universal House of Justice.

This invitee-only event allows project managers from all over the Americas to tap their fellow laborers in the field for input that will help take their endeavors to the next level. Then, during the conference, these practitioners infuse every workshop or case study presentation with their spirit and experiences.

The list of U.S.-based projects showcased at the Rabbani Trust conference includes:

• The aforementioned Family Unity Institute in Georgia.
• The Táhirih Justice Center, a Virginia-based legal service defending the rights of immigrant women, spearheaded by Layli Miller Bashir.
• The Buffalo, New York, youth enrichment project started by Deana and Ray Choczynski, which was singled out for praise in the 1999 Ridván message of the House of Justice.
• HEARTS (Heaven on Earth Arts Resource and Teaching Service), begun by Leslie Asplund and Janis Gaines in Washington state to assist Bahá’í communities in more effectively using artistic talent.
• The Blue Ridge Encounters, a monthly series of SED training weekends in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, coordinated by Winnie and Oscar Merritt.
• The Fidelity Union Development initiative in west Palm Beach County, Florida, by Alphonso Milligan, Russell Ballew and others to improve skills, housing and the job base for rural African-Americans.
• The Boston-based Beyond Boundaries Foundation, through which Bahá’í medical specialists such as Jaleh Joubine-Khadem and Raymond Rudolph have undertaken five humanitarian missions to remote Ecuadoran provinces.
• The Intercommunity Social and Economic Development Project in northern Virginia, a product of consultation among MDS-trained facilitators Susie Clay and Janice Sadeghian and three Local Assemblies that operates a support group for single mothers and a tutoring/mentoring program for children and youth;
• The Corinne True Justice Centers, which the Bahá’í Justice Society, an agency of the National Assembly, and the Spiritual Assemblies of Denver and Los Angeles have begun to train Bahá’ís in mediation and offer their skills to the larger community.

They join dozens of other projects around the United States through which Bahá’í institutions and individuals are making an impact on the lives of people.

Typically projects start small, filling a specific need. But as skills and confidence grow, they expand in scope and sophistication. And they embolden other Bahá’ís to take up the same challenge. The beat goes on. [Page 12]

RACE UNITY FORUMS: DEMONSTRATING OUR COMMITMENT TO ALL AMERICANS

From where our National Spiritual Assembly stood on Dec. 17, 1997, it could see some American Bahá’ís working heroically on the front lines of race unity.

They also saw opportunities within the national discussion on race, led by President Clinton. And an unprecedented Bahá’í media initiative was about to send The Power of Race Unity video out over the nation’s airwaves.

So in a letter, the National Assembly called us to action: “The nation needs a model of interracial love and unity, based on the principle of the oneness of humanity, to restore confidence that race unity is possible and to give rise to new approaches to the organization of community life.”

The call took two forms.

One was for every Bahá’í to “rededicate himself or herself to the glorious task of eliminating the last traces of prejudice and alienation among the races within the Bahá’í community and to spare no effort to bring the healing message of reconciliation and love to our fellow Americans of all races and religions.”

The other was for every Local Spiritual Assembly, individual Bahá’í and community to assert leadership in the national dialogue on race. The National Assembly foresaw Bahá’ís hosting thousands of public gatherings to “help America advance toward her God-ordained destiny to be the first nation to proclaim the oneness of the human family.”

A public race unity forum co-sponsored by the Regional Bahá’í Council for the Northeastern States and set at the historic African Meeting House in Boston, Massachusetts, drew together experts from a variety of fields in early 1999 for a discussion “In Pursuit of a United America.” Photo by Soroush Shakib

Quick to take up the call were the Institutions of the Learned. In January 1998, the Continental Board of Counselors met in Dallas with every Auxiliary Board member serving North America. The topic: how to help communities address issues of racial prejudice and unity.

Other assistance was on the way from the National Teaching Committee, the National Education Task Force and the Education and Schools Office. That May, materials were sent to all Local Assemblies for use in preparing the friends to conduct neighborhood dialogues tied to The Power of Race Unity.

The materials aimed to help believers become familiar with Bahá’í writings on race unity; develop skills for organizing meetings and gatherings on the issue; understand the individual’s role in helping to establish race unity; recognize the progress made within the Bahá’í Faith in relation to the larger society; and become active promoters of race unity. They also encouraged us to take advantage of other race unity training activities in their area, such as those led by Core Curriculum trainers.

The Regional Bahá’í Councils took up the challenge as well. The Council for the Northeastern States, for instance, co-sponsored a high-visibility dialogue in Boston with other Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í institutions.

Soon, cities around the country were distinguishing themselves in this arena. For example:

Birmingham, Alabama, Bahá’ís hosted a weeklong series of workshops that drew many residents the friends had met while participating in a citywide convocation on racism, poverty and inequality. LeNise Jackson-Gaertner, founder and president of Mothers for Race Unity and Equality, came from Los Angeles to be principal presenter.

Three San Jose, California, believers were invited to help the Santa Clara County Human Relations Commission start a local dialogue on race relations. Bahá’í involvement was sought soon after Bahá’ís supported a forum that was part of the president’s initiative. The Bahá’í community also has been active long-term on the MLK Association and in other race unity efforts.

One more outcome thrust the Faith into the middle of the president’s race initiative. The Bahá’í presence in religious forums on race in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Louisville, Kentucky, prompted an invitation for National Assembly staff to help plan a summit of national faith leaders at the White House.

Secretary-General Robert C. Henderson and Kit Cosby, director of the National Spiritual Assembly’s Washington office, represented the Assembly at the summit. The meeting’s recommendations were incorporated into the president’s final report on the race initiative.

UNIFIC TRAINING: GAINING SKILLS TO BUILD THE KINGDOM IN OUR COMMUNITIES

A decade-long process bore abundant fruit during the Four Year Plan as hundreds of Core Curriculum-trained facilitators and trainers in turn presented courses to thousands of Bahá’ís in communities across the country.

Programs are available in teaching, race unity, parenting, marriage and family life, and equality of women and men. They are offered locally under the sponsorship of a Local Spiritual Assembly or through a regional training institute.

Each training team leaves the National Teacher Training Center at Louhelen Bahá’í School with a mission to empower community members to embrace the principles of Bahá’u’lláh in their daily lives, thereby uplifting families and spiritually educating children to become consecrated teachers of the Faith.

The core of the Core Curriculum is the Sacred Writings. All other aspects of the program have evolved with the friends’ needs.

More a process than a set of educational materials, the Core Curriculum model aims to engage both mind and heart. It goes beyond factual knowledge to help participants gain deeper understandings and actively express that learning.

Elements include a systematic approach to community growth and consolidation that is based on the Writings and is ever-changing; uses a learning model of knowledge, wisdom, spiritual perception and eloquent speech; employs art, music and drama as well as lecture; supports transformation, self-reflection and immersion in the Writings; encourages prayer and seeking divine assistance; emphasizes love; and results in service.

Marriage and family life trainers offer two workshops: one for married couples and one for youths and adults preparing for marriage.

Parenting sessions help parents create a spiritual environment in the home, guide the spiritual education of children, foster a loving and disciplined home life, and promote the principle of oneness through home and community life.

Teacher training includes a close examination of the spiritual reality of children and youth, the role and station of the teacher, child-development-centered communities and hands-on practice using curriculum materials to create learning activities.

Race unity workshops are specially designed to assist parents, teachers and other community members who desire that our children become a new, prejudice-free race.

Equality training proclaims the relationship between the establishment of equality and the achievement of world peace, supports girls and women in entering all professions, and reinforces vibrant and loving community life.

Training and action, hand in hand Core Curriculum training is empowering in and of itself. But when teamed with other unifying efforts, it reaches a new level of potency. For example, equality training is reinforcing and preparing the friends to pursue other National Assembly-sponsored initiatives that promote the principle: The National Committee for the Equality of Women and Men has trained people in public speaking and workshop facilitation. The Assembly Development program includes module workshops that give Local Assemblies methods of reflecting and promoting the principle locally. The campaigns to distribute the National Assembly’s statement Two Wings of a Bird: The Equality of Women and Men and to gain congressional ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) are being waged in many arenas, including by Bahá’í college clubs.

The impact of all the training programs is being played out across the spectrum of Bahá’í life, as the recipients of Core Curriculum training infuse their new insights and behaviors into everything from their “Sunday school” classes to their marriages and their embrace of diversity. [Page 13]

POWER OF EXAMPLE: SERVICE LEADS TO RECOGNITION BY PEOPLE OF CAPACITY

Service to humanity and reaching people of capacity usually go hand in hand, as these examples from the past four years illustrate:

Detroit, Michigan

It was natural that an institute founded by civil rights legend Rosa Parks turned to the Bahá’ís of Grosse Pointe and Detroit, Michigan, when events for a visiting historian were being planned.

After all, area Bahá’ís seem to be in the middle of any occasion that brings peoples together.

The Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development asked the Bahá’ís to host the opening event in four days of activities for Anthony Cohen, who was in town re-enacting a fugitive slave’s flight via underground railroad.

Forty-five people attended the welcoming dinner in a Bahá’í home. The highlight came when the Bahá’ís presented Parks and Cohen with the National Spiritual Assembly’s statement The Vision of Race Unity. Parks spoke highly of the Faith and noted that she has nieces who are Bahá’ís.

Above: Rosa Parks (left), a stalwart figure in the struggle to equalize civil rights in America, recruited the Bahá’ís in the Detroit area to be part of a 1998 event commemorating the pre-Civil War underground railroad.

Washington, DC

The Word of God as revealed by Bahá’u’lláh rang out through the Western Hemisphere’s largest Roman Catholic church when the Metropolitan Washington Bahá’í Chorale participated in the 19th annual concert of the Inter-faith Conference in the nation’s capital.

An audience of 4,000 erupted in applause after the Bahá’í Chorale provided the finale among performances representing nine major faith communities in the Washington area.

The chorale’s more than 50 members were a model of diversity, ranging in age from 11 to 84 and coming from black, white, Asian, Hispanic and American Indian backgrounds. The two pieces they performed helped further define that diversity: “God Is Sufficient Unto Me,” chanted with the fervor of the prisoners in the Black Pit, and “Cause Me to Taste,” sung in the African-American gospel style.

Carrboro, North Carolina

Marty Ravellette was just doing what’s right when he kicked out the window of a burning van so the aged driver could escape.

But local media accounts led to mentions of this longtime Bahá’í’s heroism on the Today and Rosie O’Donnell shows. And Ravellette used the occasions to plead from the heart for the rights and dignity of disabled people—he was born with no arms—and, by his actions, to proclaim the transforming power of the Bahá’í revelation.

Ravellette’s appearances generated calls from around the United States and beyond. He was invited to speak at churches.

He also was presented with his town’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Award for his lifelong service to people. Accepting that award, Ravellette remarked to the hundreds of leaders present that he was pleased to see how the multiracial gathering reflected the oneness of humankind that is so dear to his heart as a Bahá’í.

Marty Ravellette (right), his wife, Marie, and a young friend pose at the Martin Luther King Jr. awards ceremony in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in early 1999.

New England

A check for $1,886 wasn’t likely to dent the $1.4 billion American debt to the United Nations.

But when it was hand-delivered by a representative of two rural religious communities, widespread attention was brought to the needs of the world body.

The fund-raising effort was spearheaded by Margaret Parrott, a Bahá’í in Norwich, Vermont, and John Radebaugh, a Quaker from just across the Connecticut River in Hanover, New Hampshire.

Through a letter to the editor and a half-page newspaper ad, they invited residents to contribute $2 or more to their effort. Contributions poured in, and the check was handed to a 16-year-old Quaker for personal delivery to U.N. headquarters.

The next day the check was received by the U.N. treasurer and the U.N. assistant secretary-general for external relations in a televised ceremony. Also participating was Jeffery Huffines, the National Assembly’s U.S. U.N. representative.

The small size of the check did not diminish the gratitude of the world body. When informed of the fund-raising effort, a U.N. secretary was moved to tears.

Greater Vienna, Virginia

Young Bahá’í lawyer Layli Miller Bashir and the Bahá’í community of Greater Vienna, Virginia, were spotlighted when their tireless effort set a precedent in winning refugee status for an African woman, who had faced the prospect of forced marriage and genital mutilation.

The case brought significant media exposure for the Faith and numerous opportunities to teach prominent people in government, publishing circles and the entertainment industry.

It also allowed Bashir to found a legal defense project, the Tahirih Justice Center, to aid women facing international human rights violations.

The Tahirih Center, in three years, has handled a flood of cases and gained enough support to increase full-time staff to five. Organizations from the White House to CNN to Seventeen magazine have sought out the Center for its expertise.

Funding has come primarily from grants from foundations and private corporations, as well as an annual fund-raising banquet.

Los Angeles area, California

Two performances of a musical drama based on the life of Táhirih celebrated Women’s History Month and brought the Bahá’í principles of equality to many people of capacity.

The Táhirih Award for Service to Women was presented in conjunction with a performance of A Woman and Her Words: The Story of Táhirih by Muhtadia Rice and Parke McAlister.

The award honored the family of a murdered Fulbright scholar for carrying on her work in preparing citizens for South Africa’s first-ever open elections.

Dignitaries including a state senator, the consul-general of South Africa and a host of entertainers and civic leaders heard letters of congratulations from President Nelson Mandela and the speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia.

The evening before, Rice and McAlister presented the stage performance at the Bahá’í Center to an audience of 250, including a delegation of educators from the Culver City School District.

Both performances benefited MONA (Multicultural Organization for Neighborhood Arts), which serves at-risk local children.

Right: A one-woman drama on the life of Táhirih, by Muhtadia Rice, was part of the Los Angeles presentation of the Táhirih Award for Service to Women.

Nampa, Idaho

Bahá’ís here took to heart a call from the Regional Bahá’í Council to “honor interracial/ethnic married couples” and began hosting potluck dinners.

The initial dinner drew about 50 people in interracial marriages. All greatly appreciated this expression from the heart and asked to be invited again.

A follow-up dinner was arranged for the weekend before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and again the response was warm.

Some of these new friends of the Faith have attended the local “circle of learning,” and two enrollments allowed the community to re-form its Spiritual Assembly in Ridván 1999.

“All we have to do is what we are supposed to. It works,” a local Bahá’í said. [Page 14]

MOUNT CARMEL PROJECTS: VISION OF ‎SPELNDOR SPLENDOR‎ EMERGES ON THE MOUNTAIN

A panorama of the Upper Terraces and the Arc show landscaping work well on the way to completion at the Bahá’í properties on Mount Carmel.

It was with awe and joy that the faithful watched the Arc and Terraces on God’s Holy Mountain take shape during the Four Year Plan.

We hung on every word and gazed longingly at every photograph as the Bahá’í Newsreel, The American Bahá’í and returning pilgrims and Bahá’í World Center volunteers described the transformation of Mount Carmel.

Milestones at Ridván 1996

As the Plan opened, major structural work and stone ornamentation had been completed on seven Terraces below the Shrine of the Báb, and attention turned to landscaping the inner and outer areas of these Terraces. The first groups of pilgrims toured Terraces 3 through 7 on April 22, 1996.

Progress also was being made on the upper Terraces. Above the two-level Terrace 19, Panorama Street once again was open to two-way traffic. Plumbing for the fountains was complete on Terrace 18 and under way on Terrace 17.

Work on the Center for the Study of the Texts and the International Teaching Center had reached the point that exposed concrete was being poured and finished on both interior and exterior surfaces. Marble had just arrived for the entrance portico of the Center for the Study of the Texts.

A critical stage was reached with signing of the contract to lower ‎Hatziounut Hatzionut‎ Avenue so the Terraces could pass over it. And the city of Haifa began restoring the German Templar Colony and harmonizing it with the Terraces.

“Dazzling momentum”

That “dazzling momentum,” to quote the Universal House of Justice at Ridván 1997, was maintained in the Plan’s first year, “highlighted by the completion of the marble colonnade of the Centre for the Study of the Texts, by the rise of the International Teaching Centre building towards its seventh level, and by the ongoing emergence of the far-stretching features of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb.”

Other significant accomplishments that year were the partial lowering of Hatzionut Avenue and the removal of a building at the foot of the mountain that was obstructing completion of the lower Terraces.

Contributions to the Arc Projects Fund continued at goal-fulfilling levels. “Clearly, the financial demands in this regard are being met with incessant heroism by rich and poor alike,” the House of Justice wrote.

Such a commitment “must be sustained over the remaining years,” but not at the expense of the Bahá’í International Fund, the House of Justice cautioned.

Tours of upper Terraces

Another year of progress, and at Ridván 1998 Counselors from around the globe and delegates to the International Bahá’í Convention were able to tour the upper Terraces and sections of the Center for the Study of the Texts.

The tours started at Panorama Street at the crest of Mount Carmel and proceeded down through the five completed upper Terraces and the construction site of Terraces 14–11, then detoured to the Center for the Study of the Texts before ending on the bridge over Hatzionut Avenue.

That bridge was well toward completion when viewed by the Universal House of Justice’s esteemed guests. The structure had been raised, the cables stressed and formwork begun to be removed. The day before Convention, the last section of bridge was concreted.

In the Center for the Study of the Texts, the electrical infrastructure was complete and the complex task of equipment installation ready to begin.

Marble work progressed on the International Teaching Center building, with all 18 front and rear portico columns in place as well as the marble on the walls of the front portico.

Approaching completion

By Ridván 1999, the building projects were on track “towards their scheduled completion at the end of the century,” according to the House of Justice:

“The Centre for the Study of the Texts and the Extension to the Archives Building are being ready for occupancy within a few weeks; the exterior of the International Teaching Centre building is fully clad in marble, while finishing work at all levels of its interior is proceeding. The lowering of Hatzionut Avenue, to accommodate the bridge which now connects the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb on both sides of the road, has been completed and normal traffic restored.”

In fact, the House of Justice said, “the unfolding magnificence of the Terraces has so captured public attention that the [Page 15]

A BRIEF HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE PROJECTS

“Elements of wonder have all along dominated the establishment and embellishment of the World Centre of the Faith of God,” the Hand of the Cause Ugo Giachery wrote in his book Shoghi Effendi: Recollections.

It is history how ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and then Shoghi Effendi labored strenuously under trying circumstances during the first five decades of the 20th century to raise the Shrine of the Báb, acquire and develop the endowments surrounding the Shrine, and erect the International Archives Building, the first of several edifices the Guardian envisaged to stand around an arc on Mount Carmel as institutions of the World Administrative Center of the Bahá’í Faith in the Holy Land.

Under the direction of the Universal House of Justice the construction of its seat was completed in 1983 at the apex of this arc.

In August 1987 the Universal House of Justice unveiled plans to further expand the World Center by constructing the Center for the Study of the Texts, an extension to the Archives Building, the International Teaching Center Building and the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb. Since the inception of the current projects in 1990, through the turmoil the world at large and the Holy Land in particular have undergone, these projects have forged ahead with the confirmations of the Blessed Beauty, the encouragement of the Supreme Body, and the wholehearted contributions and support of Bahá’u’lláh’s lovers across the globe.

—From Vineyard of the Lord, report on the Mount Carmel Projects

Above: Clockwise from bottom, the completed structure of the International Teaching Center stands with the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the Center for the Study of the Texts and the Archives Building. Left: The Center for the Study of the Texts project in early 1996.

PHOTOS BY RUHI VARGHA

Right: As the Four Year Plan dawned in April 1996, concrete forming the frame of the lower levels of the International Teaching Center was being poured.

nineteenth terrace at the top of the mountain has already been opened to visitors with a daily schedule, evoking the enthusiastic response of a grateful populace.”

Bahá’ís weren’t the only ones proud of these accomplishments. The city of Haifa produced in six languages a pictorial brochure focusing on the Shrine of the Báb and the Terraces to stimulate tourism.

On the financial front, the Department of the Secretariat at the Bahá’í World Center wrote on May 25, 1999, to National Spiritual Assemblies:

“The House of Justice is confident that Bahá’ís throughout the world will continue to meet the need expressed in its 20 June 1995 letter to you for the contribution of ten million dollars each year until the end of the century.”

The letter also reminded believers that support for the Bahá’í International Fund will be critical once the Arc and Terraces are completed:

“The Edifices and Terraces on Mount Carmel must be maintained at a standard appropriate to their character and the dignity of the Faith; measures must also be instituted to handle, in an appropriate manner, the greatly increased number of people expected to visit the Terraces and to provide protection from damage.”

Taking final shape

Since Ridván 1999, the interior of the International Teaching Center has taken shape. The bridge over Hatzionut Avenue has become fully operational. And an additional 370,000 square feet of steep terrain was landscaped on the Terraces above the Shrine of the Báb.

As the full majesty of Mount Carmel continued to be revealed, the Universal House of Justice announced on Sept. 16, 1999, that preparations are being made to officially open the Terraces in May 2001. Activities over a five-day period will involve 19 believers from each National Spiritual Assembly jurisdiction and nine from every other territory.

Updates on developments in the Mount Carmel Projects / page 18 [Page 16]

The Four Year Plan: Images of service and victories

Huntington Park, California: Children play during a break in a virtues class at a park, part of a local teaching and service project in this largely Hispanic community. Several families have enrolled in the Bahá’í Faith as a result of the project, which had its roots in 1995 when a group of Los Angeles-area Assemblies adopted the community with the help of an Auxiliary Board member. Photo by Addison Bibb

Participants in the Bahá’í International Convention April 29–May 2, 1998, enjoy newly finished terraces above the Shrine of the Báb. Bahá’í International News Service

Members of 175 National Spiritual Assemblies took part in the election of the Universal House of Justice at the eighth Bahá’í International Convention in Haifa, Israel, at Riḍván 1998. Several National Assemblies participated for the first time, most of them from Asian nations that emerged from the Soviet Union.

Orlando, Florida: Betty Williams, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, chats with children at the Social and Economic Development Conference for the Americas in December 1998. She shared with the 1,300 participants stories from her activities in Northern Ireland helping to build a peace network. Photo by James Cheal

DeKalb County, Georgia: Abdul Bashir delivers a speech on “The Impossible Dream” for the Dawn-Breakers Toastmasters Club, which operates from the Bahá’í Unity Center. Photo by Tom Mennillo

Wilmette, Illinois: Jerome and Lucia Knudson pose by the gardens of the Bahá’í House of Worship during a cross-country bicycle teaching trip in summer 1998. Photo by Caswell Ellis

Tempe, Arizona: The Town Meeting on school violence organized as part of the Association for Bahá’í Studies conference June 1999 sparked considerable discussion afterward. Photo by Tom Mennillo [Page 17]

VINEYARD of the LORD

UPDATES ON THE MOUNT CARMEL PROJECTS

BUILDINGS ON THE ARC

A few weeks after Riḍván 1999 the Center for the Study of the Texts and the Archives Extension became operational.

Now the International Teaching Center Building is rapidly approaching substantial completion.

Wood and metal fixtures and carpeting for offices have been installed in the first few levels of the Common Area, which include:

• A central mailroom on Level 1 to serve the Bahá’í World Center.
• A bookstore and a household store on Level 3.

Features of the large dining room at Level 4 include a video link with the Auditorium, as well as several maple and steel units designed to enclose carts of food dishes, some movable to accommodate gatherings.

Woodwork installation is in progress at levels 5 through 8, as well as at the Library at level 9.

Outside, progress is substantial on lawn planting and other landscaping.

ENTRANCE PLAZA AND TERRACE 1

Work at the Entrance Plaza site, at the foot of Mount Carmel, is proceeding at an exciting pace.

• An underground mechanical room has been built to control the extensive water features in the plaza.
• The concrete structure of the star-shaped central fountain is in place.
• The entire area has been refilled with soil in preparation for final stone paving around the central fountain.
• Structural concrete for the cascading pools has also been completed and their stone decorations ordered.

Water will cascade through these small pools from the center of two sets of stairs leading from the Entrance Plaza to the base of the intermediary steps to Terrace 1. A series of pools will present a continuous flow of water from the pools of Terrace 1, through the cascades, into the central fountain of the Entrance Plaza.

Inside Terrace 1, the base for the balustrades on the contour walls has been fixed, and stone covering the pools and the paving has been installed. The inner areas are being prepared for landscaping.

TERRACES AND GARDENS OF THE SHRINE OF THE BÁB

By year’s end, the vast majority of the Upper and Lower Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb had been fully planted. The few exceptions included the inner gardens of Terraces 11, 12, 13 and 14, the inner and outer areas of Terraces 1 and 2, and the Entrance Plaza.

Intense efforts continue to go into the maintenance of these gardens encircling the Shrine. This task becomes more complicated as additional areas are brought under cultivation.

As the terraced gardens of the Shrine of the Báb are inspired by the divine teachings of the Cause of God, and as they are maintained with all the expertise and care that can be showered upon them, they evoke admiration and warm praise.

The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities from Jordan, a few months after he and other dignitaries toured the Terraces during Agritech ’99, wrote the following words to the Bahá’í World Center: “This is a way of looking at the Gardens of Eden from a different spot. It is peace that makes all places heavenly.”

After being closed for three years because of construction, the main entrance to the Shrine of the Báb and its gardens from Hatzionut Avenue is again open.

A refurbished ornamental gate beckons visitors, with its new columns crowned with coronets providing a beautiful sight as one approaches the newly paved courtyard of the Pilgrim House and the majestic Shrine.

After a decade’s construction work, the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb stand nearly completed. A major remaining project is the Entrance Plaza at the base of the Terraces, which will contain a series of cascading pools and other water features.

In July 1996, first stages of the lowering of Hatzionut Avenue were carried out along with foundation work for the Information Center.

In mid-1996, views of a terrace below the Shrine (above) and the uppermost terrace (left). [Page 18]

INTERNATIONAL PROGRESS

Like a finely tuned automobile working on all cylinders, the global Bahá’í community—individuals, communities and institutions alike—moved the process of entry by troops ever forward during the Four Year Plan.

Surveying the progress at the Plan's midpoint, the Universal House of Justice concluded: "[A] new confidence in teaching is stirring the friends, yielding impressive results in various regions. The potential for a steady and ever-expanding influx of new believers has always been great, and we are able to say with assurance that the capacity to actualize it is methodically being developed more than ever before with the prosecution of the current Plan."

Much credit for that new confidence could be attributed to the proliferation of training institutes.

"A sign of the immediate impact of the Plan was the speed with which steps were taken to establish nearly two hundred training institutes during the last twelve months," the Supreme Body reported at Ridván 1997.

Even better, the message noted, "Many of these have gone far beyond the point of designing their organization; they are actually in operation and have offered their first courses."

That translated a year later into tens of thousands of individuals having taken at least one institute course. The immediate effects upon attendees, said the House of Justice, "have been a greatly strengthened faith, a more conscious spiritual identity, and a deepened commitment to Bahá’í service."

By Ridván 1999, national and regional training institutes numbered 344, with the result that, "apart from North America and Iran where numerous courses have been given, some 70,000 individuals have already completed at least one institute course."

The Supreme Body's assessment: "All of this is contributing to a growing body of confirmed, active supporters of the Cause. The untold potential of this progression is illustrated in such reports as the one received from Chad, where in an area served by an institute more than 1,000 people embraced the Faith through the individual efforts of those who had received training. Understanding of the necessity for systematization in the development of human resources is everywhere taking hold."

Focusing on the Plan

Evidence of this unprecedented focus on a Plan's vision could be discerned early on by the House of Justice, which wrote at Ridván 1997:

"[I]n the movement of homefront and international pioneers and travelling teachers; in the increased attention given by individuals to deputizing teachers; in the preparations made to ensure the formation of Local Spiritual Assemblies only on the first day of Ridván; in the increasing endeavours to hold regular devotional meetings; in the widening efforts to make use of the arts in the teaching work and community activities—in all these respects could be discerned the friends' keen awareness of the importance of concentrating on the requirements of the major aim of the Plan, which is to effect a significant advance in the process of entry by troops."

The Supreme Institution came back to two of those themes later in the Plan. Noting "notable improvement in the conditions affecting the establishment and renewal of Local Spiritual Assemblies," the House of Justice reported at Ridván 1998:

"The decision to form these institutions only on the first day of Ridván, and to do so principally at the initiative of the communities to which they belong, was put into effect in 1997. While there was an immediate but not unexpected drop in the number of Local Assemblies worldwide, the decrease was not very large; in fact, increases were recorded in some countries. This outcome indicates that the process of maturation of these divinely ordained institutions is on course."

Artistic development

On use of the arts, the Ridván 1999 message singled out several outstanding examples: "the musical and other artistic performances associated with the celebration in Paris of the centenary of the establishment of the Faith in Europe"; the Voices of Bahá Choir, with members drawn from Europe and the Americas, which "delighted audiences in eight European cities and introduced the Faith to many"; Light and Fire, an opera/ballet on "recent heroic acts of the martyrs in Iran" by Bahá’í composer Lasse Thoresen of Norway that "exposed the audience to knowledge of the Faith"; the awarding of Austria's Cross for Sciences and Arts, "the highest award of its kind for Austria," to Bahá’í violinist and conductor Bijan Khadem-Missagh; and "the prominent part being played by youth all over the world in their employment of the arts in the teaching work," especially "renditions by their dance workshops."

SED initiatives

Initiative in another arena was seen by the House of Justice as a legacy of training institutes.

"The ever-expanding work in social and economic development is also benefiting from the operation of those training institutes that give attention to such subjects as literacy, primary health care and the advancement of women," the Supreme Body wrote at Ridván 1999.

"The more widespread efforts of the Office of Social and Economic Development to promote a global process of learning about relevant Bahá’í principles are enhanced by the work of these institutes, as well as by the rise of Bahá’í-inspired organizations scattered throughout the planet.

"Clearly, then, the institutional capacity to administer development programmes is gaining in strength. This is apparent in projects sponsored by Bahá’í institutions or initiated by individuals through the inspiration of the Faith."

The House of Justice held up two projects in particular for praise.

One, "Unity College, which was created by a family in Ethiopia as the first, and since late 1998, the only private college in the country, with a student body that swelled to 5,000 during this past year."

Another, "on a smaller scale but of significance nonetheless, is the initiative taken by a family in Buffalo, New York: here, in their home, they have been assisting tens of children and youth from the inner city to develop, through Bahá’í spiritual and moral teachings, patterns of behaviour that will enable them to overcome self-destructive attitudes bred by poverty and racism."

Institutions maturing

In its Ridván messages during the Plan, the Supreme Body also charted the inexorable maturation of the Faith's institutions.

"Consultations of the Continental Counsellors and National Spiritual Assemblies started an extensive planning process, also involving Auxiliary Board members and Local Spiritual Assemblies," wrote the House of Justice at Ridván 1997.

"Through such a process the national and regional character of the derivative plans took shape. But this world-encompassing exercise did more than yield distinctive schemes for the different countries; it also boosted the collaborative relationship of the two arms of the Administrative Order, a most welcome portent of the victories yet to come.

"A further and especially appreciated encouragement as we enter this second year is that circumstances have made it feasible for the re-establishment this Ridván of the National Spiritual Assembly of Rwanda. This victory over crisis will bring to 175 the number of National Spiritual Assemblies that will be eligible to participate in the Eighth International Bahá’í Convention."

In 1998, the House of Justice updated believers on this progress.

"Immediately ahead are the establishment in May of three new National Spiritual Assemblies—Sabah, Sarawak, and Slovakia—and the re-establishment of the National Spiritual Assembly in Liberia, raising to 179 the pillars of the Universal House of Justice.

"In contemplating the divine favours being bestowed on our community, we acknowledge with deep gratitude the constancy of the acts of service being performed by the individual Hands of the Cause of God, by the International Teaching Centre, and by the Counsellors and their auxiliaries on all continents. The increasing strength of National Spiritual Assemblies also bolsters our certitude in the imminence of resounding victories." [Page 19]Bahá’í communities continued to develop in the Eastern world.

Above: The first Teacher Training Institute in the Trans-Caucasus region was held in summer 1996.

Right: Children in Mongolia learn about vegetable growing in the Bahá’í-sponsored Erdenbulgan Community Development Project.

And in 1999 more good news could be reported.

"The momentum generated at the International Convention pervaded the Counsellors' Conference that immediately followed it, further galvanizing the indefatigable participants; and it charged the proceedings of the National Conventions held in May....

"That same energy infused the International Teaching Centre, which has been displaying a remarkable potency in the short time since its sixth term began on the anniversary of the Declaration of the Báb. Concentrating on refining and consolidating their organization, the Counsellor members have refrained from their usual travels during this first year, but they can be expected after this to resume their visits to various parts of the world, so as to reinforce their vitalizing influence on the successful conclusion of the Four Year Plan."

Development of Councils

That year, Regional Councils were established in a growing number of countries, and the House of Justice surveyed the impact of this institution.

"Collateral with the demonstrated efficacy of training institutes is the pragmatic emergence of Regional Bahá’í Councils in selected countries where conditions have made the establishment of these institutions necessary and viable. Where there is close interaction between a Council and a training institute, the stage is set for a galvanic coherence of the processes effecting expansion and consolidation in a region, and for the practical matching of the training services of institutes to the developmental needs of local communities.

"Moreover, the operational guidelines whereby the Continental Counsellors and the Regional Councils have direct access to each other give rise to a further institutional relationship which, along with that connecting the Councils to the National and Local Spiritual Assemblies, effectuates a dynamic integration of functions at the regional level."

Above: A youth plays didjeridu at a 1997 Bahá’í gathering of reconciliation for Aboriginals in Australia.

Left: Ecuador's President-elect Jamil Mahuad greets Heranush Reyes, a Bahá’í who was selected to represent the nation's children at a 1998 meeting of Children's International Defense.

External affairs

External affairs, of course, remained of paramount importance during this Plan.

At Ridván 1999, the House of Justice noted, "In the area of external affairs, the most energetic actions have been prompted by two tragic happenings in Iran."

The Supreme Body detailed the execution of an Iranian believer in 1998, which "registered a shock that provoked a worldwide and unprecedented outcry by governments and United Nations agencies," and the Iranian intelligence agency's attack on the Bahá’í Institute of Higher Education, which "inspired a global campaign of protest, still in progress."

Other external affairs developments detailed at Ridván 1999 included: "the four-month-long mission undertaken by an emissary of the House of Justice, Mr. Giovanni Ballerio, to islands of the Pacific Ocean where he met with 22 heads of state, 5 heads of government and more than 40 other high-ranking officials; the efforts pursued by a number of National Assemblies, at the urging of the Bahá’í International Community's United Nations Office, to promote human rights education; the participation, by invitation, of representatives of South Africa's Bahá’í community in the proceedings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, at which they were able to recount their record of unflinching support of racial unity throughout the years of apartheid; [and] the recent success of communities in Australia, Brazil, Finland and Portugal in obtaining the decision of educational authorities to include courses on the Bahá’í Faith in the curricula of primary and secondary schools."

The House of Justice said these, "not to mention the public information projects that generated publicity through all forms of the media, are examples of the broadly based enterprises in external affairs that engaged the energies of the community."

Other developments

During the course of the Plan, still other developments in the Faith worldwide were considered worthy of mention in Ridván messages (the year of the message is in parentheses):

• "the acquisition of the apartment at 4 Avenue de Camoëns in Paris where the beloved Master, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, resided during His historic visit to the city" (1997)
• "the special session... of the Federal Chamber of Deputies in Brazil to mark the 75th anniversary of the introduction of the Bahá’í Faith into that country a unique, official occasion at which Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum was present as the honoured guest" (1997)
• "the launching last July of the Bahá’í International Community's site on the World Wide Web, entitled 'The Bahá’í World,' which to date has received from more than 90 countries and territories over 50,000 visits, averaging some 200 per day" (1997)
• "the decision to raise the number of pilgrims in each group to 150 from 100—this to take effect when the revamping, now in progress, of the newly acquired building, situated across the way from the resting place of the Greatest Holy Leaf, has been completed and use can be made of its provision of a pilgrim hall and other facilities for the administration of an expanded pilgrimage programme" (1999)
• "the notable headway being made, despite the inevitable slowness of the process, in the plan to translate texts from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh with a view to publishing a new English volume of His works." (1999)

[Page 20]

CLASSIFIED

lassified notices in The American Classifie Bahá’í are published free of charge to the Bahá’í community. Because of this, notices are limited to items relating to the Faith; no personal or commercial ads are accepted. Some of the opportunities have not been approved by the National Spiritual Assembly; the friends should exercise judgment and care in responding.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES AT THE BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER EVANSTON, ILLINOIS

International Consultant, Office of Pioneering (2 positions). Recruits, counsels, trains and dispatches international pioneers, youth volunteers and traveling teachers; assists current volunteers and those returning to the States. Needs excellent communication and organizational skills and computer/word processing skills; office experience preferable. Should understand cross-cultural interactions, international affairs etc.

Staff Producer, Media Services. Full range of video/audio production tasks, especially writing/development of Bahá’í Newsreel. Will keep day-to-day production process in order; research, gather news, write and edit finished Newsreel stories, at times without assistance; help develop network of correspondents; arrange for duplication/distribution. Needs knowledge/experience in all production aspects of broadcast journalism; flexibility, organizational skills, familiarity with Bahá’í administration.

Conservation Coordinator, Conservation Office. Does inspection, recordkeeping, testing, research for Conservation Program at Bahá’í House of Worship; maintains Conservation Team information systems; manages some projects; must work at heights. Needs three years' experience in engineering technology or conservation/ preservation work; degree in engineering technology, museum science or related field; skill in sketching, word processing.

Concrete Artisan, Conservation Office. Assists Concrete/Stone Conservator in the conservation of the Bahá’í House of Worship and its surroundings. Must have competence in mixing, placing, finishing and curing concrete flatwork or architectural precast components, experience in building forms or making molds; should be familiar with pressure or acid cleaning, sandblasting, or pneumatic demolition; leadership or supervisory experience beneficial. Also essential: valid driver's license, ability to work comfortably at heights and to wear full or half-mask respirators, good communication skills and ability to interact pleasantly with public. Organized, thorough, patient, cooperative manner desired.

Maintenance Team Leader, Properties. Will manage facility/building maintenance and engineering staff to provide timely services at minimal costs; plan, estimate, schedule maintenance requests and projects; ensure that all equipment and buildings are efficiently and effectively maintained. Needs at least five years' experience in all areas of building maintenance (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting, cleaning etc.) with three to five years as a maintenance manager; valid driver's license; supervisory command of English.

OFFICE OF INFORMATION SERVICES

Applications Developer. Provides high-level analysis, design, implementation of information systems. Familiar with variety of technologies: Visual tools, database and Web tools.

URGENT NEEDS

Office of the Treasurer, Evanston: Program Coordinator I. Helps devise strategies for increasing regular participation in Bahá’í Funds and contribution levels; helps Local Assemblies apply principles underlying Fund contributions; helps administer Weekend Visit Program; helps prepare and present training materials. Must be well-grounded in the fundamental verities of the Faith; skilled in written/oral communication; able to coordinate many tasks; should have bachelor's degree in human service field, experience in program design and management.

Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, SC: Administrator. Responsible for Institute development, programming, operation and maintenance with its new mandate, including service to its local community and a focus on social and economic development. Must have proven administrative abilities (planning, coordination, budgeting, staff and volunteer management); in-depth understanding of Bahá’í teachings, administration and community life; commitment to behavior that meets Bahá’í standards and serves as a positive model.

Mail Services, Evanston: Clerk. Handles incoming/outgoing mail; carries out shipping, receiving, distribution, storage duties. Must be computer-literate, especially in Microsoft Office programs. Must speak, read and write English; needs valid driver's license.

U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office, Evanston: Administrative assistant (part-time). Prepares correspondence to refugees and to Bahá’í, government and other agencies involved in refugee resettlement. Develops reports, maintains records, helps process Southeast Asian Bahá’í refugees. Helps compile and write the Southeast Asian Helpers Bulletin, articles for The American Bahá’í and other publications. Needs proven ability to work with confidential information, strong skills writing and speaking English.

If interested, contact the Office of Human Resources, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3427, fax 847-733-3430). ◆

Network Administrator/Engineer. Responsible for configuration, maintenance and security of all computer networking infrastructure (LAN and WAN) including servers, cabling, routers, switches and NICs. Maintains documentation of network and servers setup and structure.

Web Designer. Responsible for designing the look and feel of our Web sites. Needs experienced in layout, design, use of colors; working knowledge of HTML, PhotoShop and MS FrontPage; understanding of Web production, file size optimization, load times, site construction, architecture, navigation issues.

Database Administrator. Coordinates database development. Responsible for Enterprise SQL server including security rights, table design, normalization. Responsible for design and implementation of user and departmental applications as front ends to SQL using MS Access, VB or other tools as determined.

AT BAHÁ’Í PUBLISHING TRUST WILMETTE, IL

General Manager. Responsible for creation and execution of publishing agenda, policies; communication with other departments; smooth operation, product quality and financial results of publishing enterprise. Acts as its public and legal spokesperson. Helps achieve National Spiritual Assembly's wishes to ensure that authoritative texts and related Bahá’í material are available to Bahá’ís; and to develop a presence for Bahá’í literature in retail bookstores and libraries, Needs high-level skills in communication, organization, consultation, presentation, negotiation, problem-solving; expertise in publishing and business management, including financial, personnel and marketing; ability to meet changing deadlines and establish priorities while holding firm to a long-term goal; bachelor's degree, publishing experience, knowledge of Bahá’í literature and principles.

AT BAHÁ’Í DISTRIBUTION SERVICE FULTON COUNTY, GA

Manager. Will oversee general direction, policies/strategies, interdepartmental collaboration, business operations; ensure high level of service to the community, performance of financial mandates and safeguarding of employee welfare; recruit, train and develop personnel; coordinate marketing/customer service, buying, information services and fulfillment. Needs high-level skills in communication, organization, consultation, presentation, negotiation, problem-solving; expertise in publishing and business management/marketing; ability to meet changing deadlines and establish priorities; knowledge of Bahá’í literature and principles; bachelor's degree; five years' experience in business management/development, specifically in personnel and financial management; knowledge/experience in distribution or publishing.

Customer Service Representative. Will take and enter orders for Bahá’í literature and other products; handle customer information requests (including content and use of books or other products) and complaints; provide feedback on trends and concerns in the community. Must have knowledge of Bahá’í literature and international/national Plans; a year's experience in customer service relevant to above duties; ability to speak English clearly and precisely; ability to work well, calmly and cordially under pressure, often while handling difficult personalities or changing deadlines. Desirable: a year's experience in word processing or data entry; six months' experience in phone orders and general office work.

If interested in any of these Bahá’í National Offices posts, contact the Office of Human Resources, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3427, fax 847-733-3430).

AT LOUHELEN BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL DAVISON, MICHIGAN

Outreach Coordinator, National Teacher Training Center. Will support implementation of Core Curriculum programs in local communities and otherwise support the work of the National Teacher Training Center. Needs formal or informal educational experience; familiarity with Core Curriculum training programs; experience training children, youths and adults.

Properties Associate. Open in June. Full range skilled maintenance and manual labor, to care for Louhelen's facilities and grounds year-round. Needs experience and training in any or all of the following: carpentry, construction, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, grounds etc.

If interested in either position, contact Rick or Barbara Johnson, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 810-653-5033, e-mail ) or see the Web site (www.louhelen.org).

AT GREEN ACRE BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL ELIOT, MAINE

Assistant Facilities Coordinator. Helps with inspections, preventive and routine maintenance, exterior and interior repairs. Must have proven skills in housekeeping and maintenace of buildings, equipment, vehicles and grounds.

If interested, please contact Jim Sacco, co-administrator, Green Acre Bahá’í School, 188 Main St., Eliot, ME 03903 (phone 207-439-7200, e-mail

INTERNATIONAL

China: Numerous openings for English teachers and professionals willing to travel for service in this rapidly developing country. For more information contact Susan Senchuk (phone 847-733-3506, fax 847-733-3509, e-mail ).

PIONEERING/OVERSEAS

The Office of Pioneering is eager to assist the friends preparing for international service. To that end, the Office will post service opportunities related to the needs of other national Bahá’í institutions. For international job and study opportunities, we will provide Web sites, e-mail addresses and other resources to benefit your search.

For more information regarding jobs and study abroad, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3508, e-mail

PIONEERING/HOMEFRONT

Please consider the beautiful community of Altoona, Pennsylvania, as a homefront pioneering post. Altoona is a goal area, and we need some help to maintain Assembly status. Our community in central Pennsylvania is a secure haven for families. Bahá’ís have lived here for more than 30 years, and many seeds have been sown. We have a four-year branch campus of Penn State and job possibilities in education and health care. We can provide temporary housing for prospective pioneers.

Please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Altoona c/o April Neal, Altoona, PA 16602 (phone 814-949-9353). [Page 21]

A change in homefront pioneering appeals

The four Regional Bahá’í Councils have taken on responsibility for coordinating U.S. homefront pioneering. As a result, The American Bahá’í is changing the way it presents appeals for homefront pioneers.

Beginning with the April 28, 2000, issue, we will regularly print the top-priority localities in each region for homefront pioneers, as designated by each Council. That will also be the last issue in which we print requests for pioneers sent by Local Assemblies, groups or individuals.

"Classified ads" seeking homefront pioneers have appeared in The American Bahá’í almost from its inception in 1970. However, at this time it is preferable for local communities to turn first to the Regional Councils on matters related to homefront pioneering.

The Bahá’í community of Troy, Michigan, needs two homefront pioneers to save the Assembly. In the northern suburbs of Detroit, this city is home to the headquarters of Kmart, Kelly Services, Saturn, Ziebart, Harmony House etc. The area is very diverse; local schoolchildren speak 50 languages. Please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Troy, P.O. Box 851, Troy, MI 48099.

Come and help form an Assembly in Plattsburgh, New York, 60 miles south of Montreal on Lake Champlain. This historic city, only five miles from the beautiful Adirondack Mountains, has a state university and many industries. Please contact Lynn Neale, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (phone 518-561-0054).

Help! We need three Bahá’ís to re-establish Paradise (the Spiritual Assembly, that is). Come to beautiful Paradise, California—above the fog, below the snow, 12 miles from Chico. Enjoy trees, valleys, fresh air. Chico State University and Butte Junior College are each 20 minutes away. Good schools, friendly people, housing about $50,000-$200,000. We have six united and active Bahá’ís. Please contact Iran Brown (phone 530-877-2159) or Vickie Groh (phone 530-877-1195).

Contemplating homefront pioneering? We invite you to consider Manhattan, Kansas. Our Assembly needs two or more adults by this Ridván to maintain Assembly status. Manhattan is a mid-sized town with an expanding number of light industries, plus Kansas State University and nearby Fort Riley, both of which lend a healthy diversity to the population. It is around an hour's drive from the capital, Topeka, and three hours' drive from Kansas City, Wichita or Lincoln. Please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Manhattan, c/o Sue Haas, corresponding secretary, P.O. Box 933, Manhattan, KS 66502 (phone 913-537-4547, e-mail

We need you to help form an Assembly in Murray or Paducah, Kentucky. Each community has six adult Bahá’ís. Murray has a university and is highly ranked as a place for retirees. Paducah is the medical and marketing center for its area. Within two hours' driving time, the area has seven active, cooperating Bahá’í communities—but no Assembly. For information from the Regional Bahá’í Council's Homefront Pioneering Coordinating Team, contact Connie Donley, Gilbertsville, KY 42044 (phone 270-362-4228, e-mail

Manteca, California, in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, is a city of about 50,000 where a Local Spiritual Assembly needs to be re-established. From this historic and scenic setting only 70 miles from San Francisco, you can take day trips to Monterey, Santa Cruz, Yosemite National Park, the Sierras and Lake Tahoe. Nearby Stockton has two universities. You can check out a Web site (www.relo-california.com/manteca/). For more information, contact the Bahá’ís of Manteca, P.O. Box 2102, Manteca, CA 95336 (phone 209-823-5270, e-mail

Kingstree, South Carolina, invites a homefront pioneer to settle into this friendly town of 8,000 and help the Bahá’í community bring its Spiritual Assembly into full functioning. Forty minutes from the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, 40 minutes from the beach and 40 minutes from the Bahá’í center in Florence, this town is a great location for teachers—10 schools within 15 minutes' drive—and also for retirees, because housing is reasonable. There are friends of the Faith, loving children's classes and regular Feasts with fellowship. Please contact the Bahá’ís of Kingstree (phone 843-354-5339).

YOUTH

A 19-day teaching project, July 12-Aug. 2, will follow the second annual Badasht Academy for youths (ages 12-18) on July 7-12 at Green Acre Bahá’í School, sponsored by the Northeast Regional Youth Committee. For more information please contact the committee (e-mail ). Space is limited, so register with Green Acre early!

MOTTAHEDEH

When Shoghi Effendi cabled the National Spiritual Assembly in July 1936 that intrepid Bahá’í teacher Martha Root soon was to arrive by ship, among those waiting at the pier to meet her on the appointed day were National Assembly members Roy Wilhelm and Mountfort Mills and the Mottahedehs.

And throughout Martha Root's stay in the City of the Covenant, "each day a secretary from the Mottahedeh firm went to the hotel and took dictation for Martha's letters of thanks and information to friends sprinkled around the globe."

Mrs. Mottahedeh was an advocate of the United Nations since its inception; she witnessed the signing of the U.N. Charter in San Francisco in 1945.

As related by archivist Lewis Walker in a 1997 series of articles in The American Bahá’í, Mrs. Mottahedeh became the Bahá’í International Community's first representative to the United Nations with the status of recognized observer—when the BIC was designated as a nongovernmental organization.

The first Bahá’í participation in an international U.N. conference came in May 1948, Walker wrote. Ugo Giachery, Charles Mason Remey and Mrs. Mottahedeh traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, to take part in a gathering of NGOs on human rights.

A frequent lecturer, she was a founder of the Speakers Research Committee for the United Nations and made numerous radio and television appearances.

Mrs. Mottahedeh's special field of interest was the U.N. Technical Assistance program. She closely followed the progress of assistance to underdeveloped countries, and in 1954 she made a survey of development possibilities throughout Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Fluent in French, German, Italian, Spanish and English, Mrs. Mottahedeh entertained many diplomats.

Her service at the U.N. spanned nearly 20 years, until in October 1967 she asked to be relieved of her duties because the growing responsibility required full-time service. And Mrs. Mottahedeh could not devote all her energies to one task.

Work kept the Mottahedehs busy. They had offices in Florence, Italy; New York; Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles and San Francisco, California. Their buying and designing trips took them to Europe four to five times a year and around the world every three years.

She and her husband founded and maintained a series of primary and secondary schools in Tilling and Odusai, Uganda, named in memory of the Hand of the Cause of God Louis G. Gregory.

In Maharashtra state, India, their Mottahedeh Foundation also helped to launch the Faizi Women's Development Institute as well as the New Era Development Institute, which has helped improve life in villages.

The Uganda and India projects include training in agricultural techniques, public health services and development of local handicrafts.

The Mottahedehs' efforts brought about the creation in 1958 of a foundation to help with social and economic development projects in the Third World.

Later, a nonprofit development agency of the National Assembly was named Mottahedeh Development Services Inc. in honor of their half-century of dedicated service.

Mrs. Mottahedeh played another critical role in the progress of the Faith. In 1961 she was elected to the International Bahá’í Council, an administrative institution created by the Guardian in 1951 and continuing until the election of the Universal House of Justice in 1963.

When her beloved husband passed away in 1978, Mrs. Mottahedeh succeeded him as president of Mottahedeh & Co. and remained active in the firm, even after it was sold, until her retirement in 1998.

Awards bestowed on Mrs. Mottahedeh for service included The Order of Commander of Prince Henry the Navigator, presented by the government of Portugal in 1987 for her role in the development of Portuguese porcelain in the United States; the International Tabletop Award (1990); the United Nations Woman of Honor (1993); membership in the Honorary Friends of Queen Catherine (1993); and the Mildred R. Mottahedeh Humanitarian Award (1994), established in her honor by the IFDA Educational Foundation.

She was a member of the Royal Society of Arts in England, the Oriental Ceramic Society and the China Society, and she was a life Fellow of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

She is survived by son Roy Parviz Mottahedeh of Brookline, Massachusetts, and daughter Peri Yousef of London, England; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial scholarship fund for children of the Third World is being established in Mrs. Mottahedeh's name. Contributions to this fund may be made to Mottahedeh Development Services Inc., 2370 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur, GA 30035.

Triumphs in art and commerce

Through the years, Mottahedeh & Co. "produced some 1,500 items for more than 3,000 stores, from Tiffany's to small gift boutiques," according to the New York Times. "The company also reproduced pieces in the collections of museums like the Metropolitan and the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Musee des Art Decoratifs in Paris for sale in their shops. Mottahedeh reproductions have graced the White House as well as the reception rooms of the State Department in Washington."

The company also designed the commemorative plates for the Holy Year, 1992-1993.

The family's collection of Chinese porcelains and other objets d'art was later described by Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller in his foreword to China for the West, an authoritative publication on the collection, as "utterly fabulous, an artistic and cultural treasure without comparison in its field." [Page 22]

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call us • 800-999-9019 • toll free

Hidden Words Gold Foil Cover from India Bahá’u’lláh $2.50 SC (HWGI)

This edition of Bahá’u’lláh’s ethical guidance for humanity is produced with a gold foil cover while the title and a calligraphic bird of paradise appear in colored ink. Inside, the text is printed in dark blue upon a muted floral background. 4½" x 6½", 66 pp.

Refresh and Gladden My Spirit—10/pack Selected Prayers Pamphlet (RGMS)

They are bulk priced as follows:

1–9	$2.50 per pkg.
10–99	$2.00 per pkg.
100+	$1.75 per pkg.

This small accordion-fold pamphlet features selections of Bahá’í prayers from the three Central Figures of the Faith. It includes such familiar and loved prayers as those for removal of difficulties, healing, children, unity, morning and spiritual qualities. 3" x 4"

Creating A New Mind Reflections on the Individual, the Institutions & the Community Paul Lample $5.95 SC (CNM)

The foundation of this thought-provoking and inspiring work begins with an examination of Bahá’u’lláh’s revelation as the revolutionizing force behind the unprecedented metamorphosis of humanity’s collective life. Drawing upon quotes from the Central Figures, Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice, Creating A New Mind explores some of the salient features of the individual, the institutions and the community. Each chapter presents a distinct topic such as organic growth, systematization and learning while offering inspiring glimpses of the complex whole that is the Bahá’í community. 5½" x 8½", 152 pp.

Heart To Heart suggestions for incorporating the performing arts into Bahá’í functions Created in conjunction with the HEARTS project in Northwestern Washington $2.50 SC (HTH)

This booklet provides a step-by-step guide for the integration of artistic expression into Bahá’í functions in an appropriate and effective way. Bahá’í artists provide a series of tips for creating effective collaborations between Bahá’í communities and their artists. 5½" x 8½", 12 pp.

The Seeker Interaction Model A Skill-Based Process for Sharing the Divine Message Morris Taylor $4.95 SC (SIM)

“… Offers an excellent process for the systematic development and practice of the effective communication skills so essential to teaching the Faith. ... The Seeker Interaction Model provides excellent material to support the systematic development of the human resources of the Faith.” —National Teaching Committee of the United States 5½" x 8½", 58 pp.

The Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith A Compilation $4.95 SC (ARTS)

This compilation is intended to enlarge upon guidance regarding the use of the arts as found in the 1996 Ridván message. In that message the Universal House of Justice drew attention to the use of the arts in relation to the proclamation, expansion and consolidation of the Bahá’í Faith. This compilation provides insight for incorporating the arts into a wider range of Bahá’í activities and community life. 5½" x 8½", 38 pp. [Page 23]

FOR CHILDREN

Children’s Stories from the Dawn-Breakers story by Zoe Meyer illustrated by Winifred Barnum-Newman $19.95 SC (CSFDB)

This new, richly illustrated edition of 30 exciting, ageless stories tells of the amazing events surrounding the birth of the Bahá’í Faith from 1844–1850. Children of all ages will enjoy these tales of the heroes and heroines who gave their lives for what they believed in. Adapted from Nabíl’s The Dawn-Breakers, the stories are perfect for reading aloud and convey a sense of the rich and dramatic spiritual heritage of all who call themselves Bahá’ís today. Includes a glossary of symbols found in the illustrations. 9" x 7", 156 pp.

Maggie Celebrates Ayyám-i-Há story by Patti Rae Tomarelli illustrated by Wendy Cowper-Thomas $9.95 SC (MCAH)

This new picture book tells the simple, lyrical story of one child’s joyous, creative celebration of Ayyám-i-Há. Each day finds Maggie doing something special and wonderful all on her own, without prompting from the adults in her life. Through her actions, Maggie shows the true meaning of Ayyám-i-Há, demonstrating that children can give to their communities and be of service to others. Includes instructions for repeating Maggie’s special activities in your home. 9" x 7", 32pp. Ages 3–9

Tender Seedling Persian Prayers for Children (Vol. I) Jena Taghvai (Mosrefzadeh) Setar by: Amin $15.00 CD (TSCD)

Clear and melodious chanting of Persian Bahá’í prayers for children, accompanied by traditional Persian setar. A wonderful gift that can be used as a soothing lullaby for children of all ages and cultures or for an enjoyable introduction to one of the beautiful and poetic languages in which the writings of Bahá’u’lláh were revealed. Dedicated to all the children of the world.

The Flute Player and the Lazy One story by Gail Radley illustrated by Anne Meadowcroft-Wright $9.95 SC (FPLO)

The family of Farhad and Bahram are carpet weavers. Farhad works hard and also is a most gifted flute player while Bahram is rather lazy and can barely play at all. Bahram’s ego tempts him to devise a scheme to take the credit for his brother’s musical gift. His deception brings upon him an unfortunate and unexpected consequence.

This charming story, set in the Middle East of long ago, demonstrates how truthfulness and honesty are the foundation of all virtues. 7 3/4" x 5", 32 pp.

PLANNING

Years of Silence Bahá’ís in the USSR 1938–1946 Asadu’lláh ‘Alizád $19.95 SC (YS)

Years of Silence presents the dramatic and harrowing story of the imprisonment, torture and exile to Siberia of Russian Bahá’ís during the Second World War who refused to leave their pioneering posts regardless of the consequences. This is the latest release of The Bahá’í Heritage series, which features works that document aspects of the rich tapestry of the history of the Bábí and Bahá’í Faiths. 7 1/4" x 5", 195 pp.

Multifaith Weekly Planner $9.95 CA (MWP)

Give the gift that promotes “unity through understanding.” Complete and accurate dates, times and descriptions of more than 140 religious and cultural occasions are concisely described in this attractive planner.

It is useful as a reminder of important religious dates that are unique to one’s own particular religion while increasing awareness of religious and cultural events that are sacred to others. 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", 144 pp.

Bahá’í Wall Calendar 2000—156 / 157 B.E. $10.45 CA (BPCAL)

This latest wall calendar shows each month separately and features breathtaking, full-color pictures of the Shrine of the Báb and the nearly completed Terraces. Bahá’í Feasts and Holy Days are indicated. Each month also includes powerful and inspiring excerpts from Bahá’u’lláh’s Tablet of Carmel and Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, selected quotes from Shoghi Effendi and prophetic quotes from Isaiah. Each and all praise the spot on which “... the tabernacle of Glory hath been raised.” 11" x 8 1/2" [Page 24]Under the Divine Lote Tree Essays and Reflections J.A. McLean $19.95 SC (UDLT)

In a variety of moods and voices, Under the Divine Lote Tree builds bridges between the scholar and the poet, offering the reader a synthesis between academic and creative thinking. Among the age-old themes explored are those of divine and human love, joy and sorrow, detachment, trust, death and the after-life. Within the span of these 85 short essays McLean considers such diverse themes as science and logic, theology, the self and spiritual transformation. Under the Divine Lote Tree is sure to stimulate reflection and provide companionship on any spiritual journey.

8½" x 5½", 200 pp.

Teaching with the Media A compilation on Media, Knowledge, Audience, Persuasion, and Unity $4.95 SC (TWM)

“This compilation pulls together from the writings ... a detailed exploration of the importance of the use of media, knowledge, audience, persuasion and unity in teaching the message of the Bahá’í Faith. Created in response to, and in an effort to develop an understanding of, the use of the media in teaching, this compilation not only serves to deepen our knowledge of the importance of using the media available to us in our current teaching work, it also places the recent systematic efforts of the National Teaching Campaign in a historical and spiritual context.” —National Teaching Committee

5½" x 8½", 47 pp.

Light of Unity: The Family BKT (LUF) Bulk priced as follows:

1 copy	1.25
1–9 copies	1.00
10–99 copies	.85
100–499 copies	.65
500–999 copies	.50
1,000 and up	.40

This full-color brochure is the fourth in the Light of Unity series reflecting the themes of video productions for the media initiative.

3½" x 5¼", 32pp.

The Power of Prayer A talk by Jack McCants $6.00 CS (POPCS)

This talk given by Jack McCants, in his spiritually profound yet down-to-earth style, provides deep insights into the potential power of prayer. Dr. McCants focuses our attention on familiar and lesser-known prayers while weaving in relevant stories that inspire both new and veteran believers to create a more disciplined pattern of prayer.

Talk by Mr. Hooshmand Fatheazam, Member of the Universal House of Justice $6.00 CS (HFCS)

This talk given by Hooshmand Fatheazam, member of the Universal House of Justice, rekindles our sense of mission by recounting the instructions and guidance given to us by the Central Figures and the Guardian. An insightful talk that assists one in the endeavor to make one’s mark in these closing months of the Four Year Plan.

In Search of Certitude Deepening Our Understanding, Strengthening Our Faith Extracts from the Bahá’í writings, with introduction and notes by Geoffrey Gore $6.95 SC (ISC)

This book provides fresh insights into becoming firm in the Covenant. Through extracts from the Bahá’í writings, the process of attaining spiritual fortitude is treated as an exciting journey of discovery. Such a path leads one to a condition of spiritual happiness and true liberty. In so doing one fulfills the spiritual destiny of the soul, and attains to what Bahá’u’lláh describes as “…the City of Certitude.” Insightful summaries conclude each chapter.

5¼" x 8¼", 104 pp.

MUSIC

Enlightened Heart Christine Deihim accompanied by Suzanne & Kingsley Swan $15.95 CD (EHCD)

These exhilarating and meditative songs cover the full range from light and rhythmic to reflective and deeply moving. The album features the voice of soprano Christine Deihim, accompanied by professional duo Kingsley and Suzanne Swan. Enlightened Heart is a thoughtful gift that will deeply touch the heart of any recipient.

Eastwind Adrienne Ewing-Roush & Harry Beall $15.00 CD (EWCD)

Adrienne had the voice and Harry had the melodies and words. Together they became Eastwind. This CD features the clean and soulful voice of Adrienne Ewing-Roush expressed through the contemporary songwriting skills of Harry Beall. Folk-rock and non-folk-rock fans alike will enjoy this latest expression of musical inspiration. Other Bahá’í musicians lend their talents to this project, providing additional diversity and power.

Jeff Jones Live In Concert with The Doug Riley B3 Quartet $18.00 CD (JJCD)

Jeff Jones is a vocalist of emotional depth and expression. His repertoire spans the decades and his style is “Jeff Jones.” He puts everything he has into his singing. This album features many familiar songs such as “Imagine,” “His Eye Is On The Sparrow,” “You’ve Got A Friend,” and “One Heart Ruby Red.” Yet each of these standard covers have been touched by and made new with his unique and soulful sound.

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Bahá’í Distribution Service • 4703 Fulton Industrial Blvd • Atlanta, GA 30336 call us • 800-999-9019 • toll free [Page 25]

Peter Boddy pioneered in Latin America

Peter Hanson Boddy died Jan. 2, 2000, in Escondido, California. He had fallen suddenly ill during a visit with family from his pioneering post in Nicaragua. He was 52.

He had served as a pioneer in Latin America for 28 years—most of that with his wife of 27 years, Patricia, and their two sons. He served at various times on the National Spiritual Assemblies of Peru, Honduras and Nicaragua.

As a physician since the 1970s, Boddy demonstrated unswerving commitment to improving the lives and health of people wherever he lived.

His work in public health and education also took him to Bolivia, Mozambique, Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Egypt and several U.S. states.

His funeral on Jan. 4 drew Counselor Arturo Serrano, former Counselor Fred Schechter and numerous other friends who spoke warmly of his attitude of service and his irrepressible humor.

Peter Boddy was born Feb. 15, 1947, in Massachusetts and grew up in a Bahá’í household in California and Colorado.

After earning anthropology and psychology degrees in California, he took a pioneer’s invitation to move to the Caribbean island of San Andrés, Colombia. There he helped set up a business school.

After a year he was drafted and served in Vietnam. Several Army buddies accepted the Bahá’í Faith because Boddy passed along teachings that helped them deal with their situation. He also had special permission from the Army to attend Bahá’í meetings weekly in Vietnam.

After his discharge, the Army returned him to Panama in time for dedication of the Bahá’í House of Worship. There he met Peruvian Bahá’ís who prevailed upon him to go to Peru directly from the Temple dedication and attend medical school in their country rather than in the United States.

He passed the exam for medical school after studying Spanish only a short time. He worked his way through school and traveled to teach the Faith.

In 1985 Boddy returned to earn a master’s degree in public health in San Diego, California. There he helped develop preventive medicine at a family health center and made early efforts in AIDS education.

He went back to Latin America in 1989, traveling to Honduras, Bolivia and Nicaragua. While in Bolivia he helped establish that country’s first graduate program in public health.

He traveled extensively in Latin America to teach moral leadership and to train people in organizing and maintaining Bahá’í institutes. Another favorite project was organizing workshops to study all directives from the Universal House of Justice. He also organized and trained teaching teams to facilitate entry by troops in Honduras and Bolivia.

At the time of his death he had worked for more than three years to develop the public health system in Nicaragua on the national and regional levels. He was supervising a project that focused on reducing deaths of infants and their mothers, and had planned to stay several years longer.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia; sons Louis of Peru and William of Nicaragua; parents Gregory and Marie of Poway, California; and brother Kim of Seattle, Washington.

Peter Boddy, a physician, organized public health clinics or trained people in the field in several countries.

Message from the Universal House of Justice

The Universal House of Justice transmitted the following message to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States on Jan. 3:

“We have learned with deep sadness of the passing of Peter Boddy, a dedicated, longstanding servant of Bahá’u’lláh, who achieved an enviable record of service as a pioneer to several countries in Latin America. He will surely be remembered for the radiant and humanitarian spirit that characterized his work. Be assured of our ardent prayers at the Holy Threshold for a joyous reception of his soul in the Abhá Kingdom and for the solace of the hearts of his loved ones.”

“The Universal House of Justice”

Champ McCarty was Makah elder

Champ McCarty, a Bahá’í who was an elder on the Makah Reservation in Washington state, passed away on Dec. 12, 1999.

McCarty had participated in many councilfires held in Neah Bay, Washington, since the mid-1960s.

He served his people as Tribal Council member, municipal director, fire chief and judge. He also taught sports and encouraged young people to master canoeing. A new fire station will be named after him.

At his funeral service Dec. 17, more than 500 people packed the Neah Bay High School gym. Tribal members described McCarty as a saintly and joyous man who promoted harmony, consultation and the oneness of humankind.

He was praised for his continual encouragement of community members, his never-failing support of the people, his tireless dedication to his family and his heartfelt desire that they live creative and consecrated lives.

There was little left for the Bahá’ís to say except to express their love for him and praise the tribe for its loving traditions and gracious hospitality. At the graveside, McCarty’s wife, Audrey, led all in singing Alláh-u-Abhá as a farewell. Makah songs also were sung.

McCarty’s family included seven children, 17 grandchildren and many who call Audrey and Champ “Auntie and Uncle.”

Beth Maglothin served the Faith in Kenya, Honduras

Beth Dickey Maglothin ascended to the Abhá Kingdom on July 4, 1999. She was 66 years old.

Beth Maglothin first arose to pioneer in 1975 and was able to serve in Kenya for almost five years. In December 1980 she returned to Africa, this time to serve her beloved Faith in Bophuthatswana for five years.

In 1985, she returned to the States after deciding she could better finance her pioneering efforts if she had a degree in teaching English as a second or foreign language. She was an anthropologist/archaeologist and dealt in traditional handicrafts and artifacts, but with the changing times, realized she needed other skills.

After obtaining teaching credentials, she explored the possibility of pioneering to the Bay Islands of Honduras, a difficult goal of the Six Year Plan. She set out again in 1988 and settled on the offshore Honduran island of Roatán.

Wherever Beth settled, she endeared herself to the people of that country. Her earthly life was centered on serving her Lord and it with this memory that we pray for the progress of her soul.

Mabel Turner Taylor, 103, was Bahá’í 6 decades

Mabel Turner Taylor passed away Jan. 5, 2000, at age 103 in Overland Park, Kansas. She was widely known as the oldest Bahá’í in the state.

She became a Bahá’í in 1939, having been taught by the Hand of the Cause of God Louis Gregory and by Edith Chapman, the first Bahá’í in Kansas City, Missouri. Her community remembers her not only for her distinguished Bahá’í heritage, but also for her joy, kindness, modesty and radiance of spirit.

IN MEMORIAM

Viola Bancroft Waukesha, WI February 1, 2000	Colette Couture-Zekas Fairfax County, VA December 27, 1999	Allen Irving Holly Springs, MS January 3, 2000	Hubert Matthias Arlington, TX December 31, 1999	Soltan Naraghi-Arani Diamond Bar, CA January 8, 2000	Arlene Rowland Calaveras County, CA January 4, 1996	Adeline Torres Mescalero, NM August 1987
Adele Beach Huntington Beach, CA December 1999	Nahid B. Endalew Houston, TX December 6, 1999	Edna R. Karczag South Ogden, UT January 15, 2000	Mary L. Mazcuri Houston, TX January 3, 2000	William A. Reeves Summerville, SC January 25, 2000	Clover J. Sanders Salt Lake City, UT December 24, 1999	Joe L. Ware Socorro, NM 1996
Peter H. Boddy Escondido, CA January 2, 2000	Arthur Hotchner Conway, SC May 31, 1999	Aynollah Khayyam Beverly Hills, CA December 28, 1999	Pauline Menser Beaverton, OR May 22, 1999	Shirley Reichenbach Lake County, FL January 29, 2000	Martha Stanford Cambridge, MA December 9, 1999	Mary A. Weir Miamisburg, OH December 23, 1999
Mary K. Boyce Hot Springs, ‎AK AR‎ November 19, 1999	Bertha Hudson Greenville, SC December 15, 1999	L. Jane Marsh Florissant, MO January 10, 2000	Fahimeh Mosbat Los Angeles, CA December 12, 1999	Clyde J. Rilliet Reno, NV December 31, 1999	Mabel T. Taylor Overland Park, KS January 17, 2000	Sadie E. White Washington, DC November 18, 1999

[Page 26]Your window to teaching, deepening and external affairs

World Order

Special Issue on Religious Freedom

World Order surveys America’s response to the attempt to close the Bahá’í Institute for Higher Education in Iran, and larger issues about religious freedom in a world community.

Editorial: "Religious Freedom: A Sacred Right"

Robert Stockman: "The American Defense of Iran’s Bahá’í Institute for Higher Education"

• Ghangiz Geula, Marianne Geula, and John Woodall: "Health Care in a Persecuted Community: The Iranian Bahá’ís"

Wilma Ellis: "Religious Freedom Abroad"

Coming in future issues:

Editorial: "Detachment in the Modern World"

Robert Hariman on "Radical Sociality and Christian Detachment in Erasmus' Praise of Folly"

• Arash Abizadeh: "Engaged Detachment, Comic Detachment: Modernity and the Mystic's Last Laugh"

Fatima Naqvi-Peters reviews Life Is Beautiful

Subscriptions: U.S. $19/year, $36 / 2 years Outside U.S. surface mail- $19/year, $36/2 years Outside U.S. air mail- $24/year, $46/2 years Single copy: $5 plus shipping/handling

YOUNG AT HEART CAMPAIGN

Association of American Bahá’ís 50 years and older

Organized by a task force under the auspices of the National Teaching Committee. OUR MISSION: To facilitate seasoned Bahá’ís to utilize their life and professional experiences, talents and resources, knowledge and skills in continued service to Bahá’u’lláh.

ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING/CONFERENCE

Louhelen Bahá’í School Davison, Michigan May 19-21, 2000

Plan ahead to attend this conference, organized to help "senior" Bahá’ís: • Get acquainted. • Inspire one another to keep active or be even more active, especially in teaching the Faith. • Strengthen the organization of the Young at Heart association.

Featured speakers: Counselor A.-M. Ghadirian (tentative), Dr. Elizabeth Bowen

JOIN THE ASSOCIATION!

Use the form below to respond by mail.

Special information: Indicate your area(s) of strength or experience: teaching, pioneering, administrative service, race unity, social/economic projects, escorted traveling teaching, advancement of women, youth tutoring, fireside/public speaking or other.

Please return form to: Virginia Harden St. Paul, KS 66771

Brilliant Star

Bimonthly children's magazine by the U.S. National Assembly

Subscriptions: US-$18/year, $32/2 years Outside U.S. surface mail-$18/ year, $33/2 years Outside U.S. air mail $28/ year, $52/2 years Single copy: $3.50 plus shipping/handling

The American Bahá’í

10 times a year; available by subscription to Bahá’ís outside the continental U.S.

Outside U.S. surface mail-$24/year, $45/2 years Outside US. air mail $32/ year, $60/2 years Single copy: $3 plus shipping/handling

One Country

Quarterly about development by the Bahá’í International Community

Subscriptions: U.S.-$12/ year, $22/2 years Outside U.S. surface mail-$16/year, $30/2 years Outside U.S. air mail-$20/year, $36/2 years Single copy: $3.50 plus shipping/handling

Herald of the South

Quarterly by National Assemblies of Australia and New Zealand

Subscriptions: US $28/year, $50/2 years Outside US: Contact Herald of the South, Ingleside NSW 2101, Australia; e-mail Single copy: $8 plus shipping/handling

Use a separate copy of this form for each subscription Which publication? Send to: Address City State, ZIP Country Daytime phone or e-mail

INFORMATION ON YOUR INTERNATIONAL TEACHING TRIP

To record achievement of traveling teaching goals, the Office of Pioneering needs information on 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.

Just contact the Office of Pioneering, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3508, fax 847-733-3509, e-mail

Use the Multipurpose Form below to respond by mail.

Special information (use a separate sheet as needed): Names and ID numbers of all Bahá’ís on each trip. Names of each country visited, plus the one or two main localities, and date(s) of visit(s). • Main purpose of your travel. • Did you arise to meet the call of the Universal House of Justice for: Native Americans to teach in the circumpolar areas? Hispanic believers to teach in Latin America? African-Americans to teach in Africa?

MULTIPURPOSE FORM

CLIP OR COPY AS NEEDED

For which event or activity? Sold to (if different from recipient): Name Address City State, ZIP Country Home phone Work phone Fax E-mail

Is this a gift subscription? (Circle one) Y N

Check/money order payment must be in U.S. dollars from U.S. bank, payable to Bahá’í Distribution Service. Do not combine subscription payments with payments for back issues or other single items. Georgia residents include applicable sales tax.

Credit card # Special information (please include dates if reporting international teaching trip): (if applicable) Exp. date Cardholder signature

Phone orders: 800-999-9019 Mail orders: Bahá’í Subscriber Service, 4703 Fulton Industrial Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30336-2017 [Page 27]خانم متحده ۱۷ فبروری سال جاری در ۹۱ سالگی در نیویورک جهان را به درود گفت و به ملکوت الهی شتافت. روانش شاد باد!

تصحیح و اعتذار در شماره پیشین نشریه "امریکن بهائی" شماره تلفن خانم ژنا تقوائی اشتباهی نوشته شده بود. بدین ترتیب از خوانندگان پوزش می‌طلبیم و به آگاهی ایشان می‌رسانیم که برای سفارش نوار کاست با شماره تلفن ۵۱۷۹-۹۴۱ (۶۰۴) تماس حاصل نمایند. همچنین دوستان می‌توانند برای تهیه دیسک فشرده CD با Bahá’í Distribution Service تماس حاصل نمایند. شماره تلفن: ۹-۹۹۹-۹۰۱-۸۰۰-۱

اطلاعیه کنفرانس دکتر ریاض قدیمی

DR. RIAZ GHADIMI’S CLASSES

طبق معمول سنواتی کنفرانسی به معلمی دکتر ریاض قدیمی در روزهای شنبه ۲۷ و یکشنبه ۲۸ ماه می سال جاری در ۸ جلسه در هتل هایت برلینگیم، در حومه سان‌فرانسیسکو تشکیل خواهد شد. سخنرانی‌ها همزمان به وسیله مهندس کامران نجاتی به انگلیسی ترجمه خواهد شد و با گوشی‌های مخصوص به سمع عزیزان انگلیسی زبان خواهد رسید. وجه نام‌نویسی تا قبل از ۱۸ می ۱۹ دلار برای بزرگسالان و ۱۰ دلار برای اطفال زیر ۱۲ سال خواهد بود. پس از ۱۸ می وجه نام‌نویسی به ۲۵ دلار برای بزرگسالان و ۱۵ دلار برای اطفال زیر ۱۲ سال افزایش خواهد یافت.

برای تهیه جا مستقیماً با هتل هایت تماس حاصل فرمائید. تلفن: ۱۲۳۴-۲۳۳ (۸۰۰)

همچنین دوستان می‌توانند برای دریافت اطلاعات بیشتر درباره کنفرانس با آقای کامبیز پتری تماس حاصل نمایند. شماره تلفن: ۸۵۰۰-۸۹۸ (۴۱۵) شماره فکس: ۷۷۷۴-۸۹۷ (۴۱۵)

اطلاعیه مؤسسه معارف بهائی

NEW PUBLICATIONS

مؤسسه معارف بهائی کانادا مطالب زیر را در معرفی نشریات جدید خود برای آگاهی دوستان ارسال داشته است:

تنی چند از پیشگامان پارسی نژاد

یکی از ویژگی‌های آئین بهائی روی آوردن بسیاری از پارسیان، نژادهٔ زردشت به کیش یزدان در دوران نخستین و زمان پیمان یزدانی است.

گر چه جسته گریخته تا کنون سرگذشت این جان‌های پاک که ندای خدائی را شنیدند و بندگی پروردگار را در روز پسین به گردن گرفتند و به این آئین نازنین پیوستند و به یاری یارانش برخاستند، بر برگ‌های پراکنده نگاشته آمده ولی هنوز دفتر همه‌گیر از سرگذشت این یاران جانفشان نوشته نشده و فراهم نیامده است.

تنی چند از پیشگامان پارسی نژاد که با پشتکاری سرور راستان عنایت خدا سفیدوش، بازماندهٔ راستین یکی از همین مردان خدا نگارش یافته تا اندازه‌ای این کمبود را بازسازی کرده و سرگذشت پاره‌ای از مردان و زنان آزاده‌ای را که به آئین بهائی در روزهای نخستین پیوستند از خامه به نامه آورده و در دسترس دوستان راستان نهاده است.

مؤسسه معارف بهائی که به چاپ این دفتر دست یازیده امیدوار است این برگ‌ها دیباچه‌ای پرارزش برای دفتری سترگ از نام و نشان و سرگذشت زنان و مردانی باشد که به مِهرِ شَهِ وخشوران برخاسته از سرزمین پاک ایران دل بستند و سر و جان و خواسته در راه دلبر آسمانی به رایگان دادند.

خاطرات فراموش نشدنی

خاطرات مهاجرانی که ندای حضرت ولی امرالله را اجابت کردند و از خانه و کاشانهٔ خود دست شستند و به دیار دیگر هجرت نمودند همواره خواندنی و جالب و عبرت‌انگیز است.

جناب جواد قوچانی از خاندانی روحانی شیعه در مشهد خراسان در سنین جوانی به امر بهائی ایمان آوردند و چند سال در مهد امرالله مصدر خدمات بودند و در اوائل نقشه ده‌ساله به اتفاق خانواده به ترکیه هجرت نمودند و بیش از سی سال در آن دیار به خدمات گوناگون مشغول گشتند.

جناب قوچانی در خاطرات فراموش نشدنی به تفصیل از مراحل پیشرفت و استقرار امر الهی در ترکیه و اماکن متبرکه در ادرنه و اسلامبول و مهاجران و مؤمنان اولیه آن کشور سخن گفته‌ا‌ند. روی جلد این کتاب با تصویر زیبائی از بیت عزت آقا (بیت مسکونی حضرت بهاءالله در ادرنه) زینت یافته و در ۱۹۰ صفحه چاپ و منتشر شده است.

دور و کور بهائی

امر بدیع الهی با ظهور خود دورهٔ جدیدی را که به کور بهائی موسوم شده آغاز کرده است. در آثار حضرت ولی امرالله این کور مبارک به دور و عهدها و عصرهای مختلف، با ممیزات مخصوص به خود، تقسیم گردیده و به تفصیل تشریح شده است.

نویسنده ارجمند جناب هوشنگ گهرریز در رسالهٔ دور و کور بهائی متجاوز از ۹۰ فقره از نصوص مبارکه و دستخط‌های معهد اعلی را در این موارد از آثار مبارکه استخراج کرده است. چون اطلاع بر این موضوع برای هر فرد بهائی ضروری به نظر می‌رسد مؤسسه معارف بهائی به طبع و نشر آن اقدام نموده است.

علاقه مندان می‌توانند برای خرید انتشارات فوق با مؤسسه معارف بهائی تماس حاصل نمایند. شماره تلفن: ۳۰۴۰-۶۲۸ (۹۰۵) شماره فکس: ۳۲۷۶-۶۲۸ (۹۰۵)

آگهی انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی

Friends of Persian Culture Conference

اطلاعات برای تماس با انجمن: تلفن ۳۵۲۸-۷۳۳-۸۴۷ فکس ۳۴۸۶-۷۳۳-۸۴۷

پست الکترونیکی: Friends of Persian Culture Association, Persian-American Affairs Office, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201

۱- هنرمندان و نمایشگاه هنری

از هنرمندان عزیزی که علاقه مندند آثار هنری خود را برای نمایش یا فروش در دهمین کنفرانس سالانه انجمن که از ۳۱ آگست تا ۳ سپتمبر ۲۰۰۰ در هتل مریات Chicago Marriott O’Hare تشکیل میشود به نمایش گذارند تقاضا میشود با هیأت مدیره انجمن تماس بگیرند و نیازمندیهای خود را برای برپا داشتن نمایشگاه اعلام کنند.

۲- برنامه شعر خوانی

هر سال یکی از بخشهای متنوع کنفرانس برنامه شعر و سخن بوده است. در کنفرانس امسال، از آنجا که چندین جنبه از تحولات فرهنگی ایران در قرن بیستم بررسی میگردد، فرصت بیشتری برای برنامه‌های ادبی فراهم شده است.

از شاعران و نویسندگان و دیگر علاقه مندان دعوت میشود چنانچه بخواهند از آثار ادبی فارسی که در یکصد سال گذشته به عنوان شاهکار نظم و نثر شناخته شده، یا از اشعار و آثار خود بخوانند با هیأت مدیره تماس بگیرند و اثر مورد نظر را ارسال فرمایند: تلفن ۳۵۳۱-۷۳۳-۸۴۷

رادیو پیام دوست

PAYAM E DOOST RADIO

پیام دوست، برنامهٔ رادیوئی بهائی بزبان فارسی، بمنظور ارائه اطلاعات صحیح در بارهٔ تاریخ و اصول معتقدات بهائی و رفع سوء تفاهم‌ها، شش سال پیش در منطقه واشنگتن دی سی تأسیس گردید.

در نوامبر سال گذشته، با همیاری یکی از یاران اهل فن در کامپیوتر، رادیو پیام دوست وارد شبکه اینترنت شد. از این راه، برنامه‌های رادیوئی بهائی به زبان فارسی در همه جای دنیا در دسترس زبان‌دانان قرار گرفته است.

بیت العدل اعظم این تحول را تاریخی قلمداد و پیش بینی فرموده‌اند که تأثیر آن در ایران فوق‌العاده باشد. برای اطلاعات بیشتر با دفتر امور احبای ایرانی-آمریکائی تماس بگیرید: ۳۵۲۶-۷۳۳-۸۴۷

تبرعات حقوق الله

HUQUQ’U’LLAH

برای ارسال حقوق الله، لطفاً از نشانی امناء حقوق الله مندرج در صفحه ۴ این نشریه استفاده فرمائید. [Page 28]نه تنها جامعه بهائی بلکه شهر حیفا نیز چنان به ساختمان‌های قوس فخر می‌فروخت که در جزوه‌ای به شش زبان عکس‌هائی از مقام اعلی و طبقات آن جهت جلب سیاحان تهیه نمود.

از لحاظ مالی نیز دارالانشاء معهد اعلی خاطر نشان ساخته بود که بیت العدل اعظم اطمینان دارد که جامعه بهائی به تعهدات خود برای اتمام ساختمان‌ها وفا خواهد کرد. همچنین تأکید شده بود که پس از اتمام بنای مشروعات کوه کرمل برای حفظ و نگهداری اماکن مذکور لازم است که تبرعات جوامع بهائی همچنان ادامه یابد.

از رضوان سال ۱۹۹۹ بخش‌های داخلی ساختمان دارالتبلیغ بین‌المللی شکل گرفته و ۳۷۰ هزار فوت مربع طبقات فوقانی مقام اعلی باغچه‌سازی و گل‌کاری شده است.

همانگونه که بیت العدل اعظم الهی در سپتامبر سال ۱۹۹۹ اعلام داشتند، طبقات قوس در ماه می سال ۲۰۰۱ رسماً افتتاح خواهد شد. در مراسم مذکور که ۵ روز ادامه خواهد یافت ۱۹ نفر از محدودهٔ هر محفل روحانی ملی و ۹ نفر از دیگر نقاط شرکت خواهند داشت.

IN MEMORIAM

یادی از جناب موسی مستقیم

MR. MUSA MOSTAGHIM

جناب موسی مستقیم در سال ۱۲۹۲ شمسی مطابق با ۱۹۱۴ میلادی در کاشان متولد شدند و بعد با خانواده راهی شهر اراک شدند. پدرشان جناب رفائیل مستقیم در آنجا بیمار شد و به ملکوت ابهی صعود کرد. مادرشان بانو سارا مستقیم با ۵ طفل از ۹ ماهه تا ۱۴ ساله زندگانی دیگری را شروع کرد.

موسی خان در ۱۸ سالگی در اراک به دیانت بهائی روی آورد و بلافاصله به ارشاد و تبلیغ سایر افراد خانواده پرداخت. برادران خردسال خود را هر جمعه صبح به کلاس‌های درس اخلاق و هر ۱۹ روز به جلسات ضیافت می‌برد و راهنمائی و تشویق می‌کرد و بدین ترتیب آنان نیز به تصدیق امر مبارک توفیق یافتند.

موسی خان پس از چندی از اراک به طهران رفتند و در آن شهر اقامت گزیدند. در سال ۱۳۲۲ (۱۹۴۴) با نیره خانم اقراری ازدواج کردند و به فرمان حضرت ولی امرالله که احبای ایران را به مهاجرت دعوت فرموده بودند، گوش فرا دادند و با خانواده به رودسر در استان گیلان رفتند. در آنجا عضو محفل روحانی و منشی آن بودند و پس از دو سال، بر اثر تضییقات به اجبار به طهران بازگشتند.

در سال ۱۹۵۷ به اتفاق همسر و فرزند به سعادت زیارت حضرت ولی امرالله و ارض اقدس نائل آمدند. هنگامی که جناب مستقیم در طهران به سر می‌بردند، در لجنه های گوناگون از جمله لجنة ضیافات نوزده روزه و لجنة احصائیه و لجنة حظیرة القدس ملی و نیز در محفل روحانی عباس‌آباد افتخار عضویت داشتند. ایشان همچنین ۸ سال نمایندهٔ احباء در کانونشن ملی بودند.

در سال ۱۹۷۶ به اتفاق خانواده از ایران به ایالات متحده آمدند و در شهر کوچکی به نام Ephrata در ایالت پنسیلوانیا ساکن شدند و تا آخر حیات با همسرشان در همانجا ماندند.

ایشان در ۴ ‎فوریوی فوریه‎ سال جاری در اثر سکتهٔ مغزی به ملکوت ابهی صعود کردند. از جناب موسی مستقیم همسر محترمشان نیره خانم و سه فرزند باقی مانده است. روانش شاد باد!

یادی از خانم فهیمه مثبت

MRS. FAHIMEH MOSBAT

خانم فهیمه مثبت در سال ۱۹۳۰ در تهران چشم به جهان گشود. مادرش خانم مهرانگیز میثاقیه و پدرش میرزا یعقوب هر دو بهائی و به خدمت امر در کاشان و طهران قائم بودند. جد مادری و پدری فهیمه خانم در آخرین سال حیات عنصری جمال قدم تصدیق امر مبارک کردند.

خانم مثبت پس از پایان تحصیلات متوسطه به فراگیری مینیاتور و نقاشی با رنگ روغن پرداخت و در دانشکدهٔ هنرهای زیبا به تحصیل مشغول شد و خرمن هنر استادانی چون تجدیدی و زاویه و کریمی خوشه‌ها چید.

فهیمه خانم با جناب نصرت‌الله مثبت ازدواج کرد و حاصل این ازدواج دو پسر به نام‌های ژوبین و رامین بود که هر دو در دههٔ هفتاد میلادی به ایالات متحده سفر کردند. خانم و آقای مثبت در سال ۱۹۸۰ به فرزندانشان در شیکاگو ملحق شدند و از همان زمان هر دو به خدمت در دفتر محفل ملی مشغول گردیدند.

خانم مثبت ۱۷ سال در خانهٔ سالمندان Baha’i Home به خدمت پرداخت و آن دوره را بهترین مرحلهٔ زندگی خود به شمار می‌آورد زیرا قادر بود که امر مبارک را به برخی از کسانی که در خانهٔ سالمندان زندگی می‌کردند ابلاغ کند. چند نفر از این افراد تصدیق امر مبارک کردند. همچنین خانم و آقای مثبت به مدت هفت سال کلاس‌های ‎تزئیید تزیید‎ معلومات در منزل خود دائر کرده بودند. حضرات مثبت در سال ۱۹۹۷ راهی لوس آنجلس شدند.

فهیمه خانم در ۱۲ دیسمبر سال ۱۹۹۹ به ملکوت ابهی صعود نمود. کسانی که او را می‌شناختند به راستی دلتنگ اویند. جایش خالی است. روانش شاد باد!

یادی از خانم میلدرد متحده

MILDRED ROOT MOTTAHEDEH

خانم میلدرد متحده در سال ۱۹۰۸ در Seabright ایالت نیوجرزی متولد شد. از نوجوانی تمایلی نسبت به طراحی در خود سراغ دید. ایشان در سال ۱۹۲۹ با جناب رفیع متحده که او نیز علاقه‌ای به طراحی و ظروف هنری چینی داشت، ازدواج کرد.

خانم و آقای متحده شرکتی به نام Mottahedeh & Co. تأسیس کردند که بعدها در شمار یکی از معتبرترین شرکت‌های تولید ظروف چینی و هنرهای تزئینی قرار گرفت. از جمله خریداران محصولات این شرکت می‌توان از مؤسسات تجاری و هنری معروفی چون تیفانی Tiffany’s و موزهٔ متروپولیتن و موزهٔ هنرهای مدرن نیویورک و موزهٔ هنرهای تزئینی پاریس نام برد. همچنین برخی از محصولات شرکت مذکور زینت‌افزای کاخ سفید و وزارت امور خارجهٔ ایالات متحده است. کلکسیون ظروف چینی خانم و آقای متحده نیز زبانزد خاص و عام بود.

اما شهرت خانم متحده در جامعهٔ امری برای خدماتی بود که برای توسعه و اشتهار امر مبارک تقدیم کرده بود. خانم متحده در همان سال ازدواجش (۱۹۲۹) در جرگهٔ پیروان امر مبارک وارد شد و از همان نخست خدمت برایش حکم عبادت داشت.

هنگامی که حضرت ولی امرالله در سال ۱۹۳۶ به محفل روحانی ملی اطلاع دادند که مبلغ مشهور امر مبارک میس مارشا روث قرار است با کشتی وارد ایالات متحده شود، از جمله مشایعت‌کنندگان مبلغهٔ شهیر، حضرات متحده بودند. در تمام مدتی که میس مارشا روث در نیویورک به سر می‌برد هر روز یک منشی از جانب شرکت متحده برای کمک به ایشان در هتل محل اقامتشان فرستاده می‌شد.

خانم متحده یکی از هواداران جدید سازمان ملل متحد و در سال ۱۹۴۵ شاهد امضای منشور آن در سن‌فرنسیسکو بود. پس از اینکه جامعهٔ جهانی بهائی به عنوان یکی از سازمان غیر‌دولتی معین شد، خانم متحده نخستین نمایندهٔ جامعهٔ جهانی بهائی در سازمان ملل بود.

در سال ۱۹۴۸ نمایندگان جامعهٔ بهائی به ژنو رفتند و برای نخستین بار در یکی از کنفرانس‌های سازمان ملل راجع به حقوق بشر شرکت کردند. این نمایندگان عبارت بودند از جناب اوگو جیاکری و چارلز میسن ریمی و خانم میلدرد متحده. ایشان به مدت ۲۰ سال نمایندگی بهائیان را در سازمان ملل متحد به عده داشتند. گفتنی است که چون خانم متحده با زبان‌های انگلیسی و آلمانی و فرانسوی و ایتالیایی و اسپانیائی آشنائی داشت، با دیپلمات‌های گوناگونی در تماس بود.

از جمله خدماتی که خانم و آقای متحده در صحنه بین‌المللی صورت دادند تأسیس تعدادی مدرسه ابتدائی و متوسطه در اوگاندا و هندوستان بود.

از طرف کشورها و افراد برجسته نشان‌های متعددی به خانم متحده به پاس خدماتش اهدا شده بود از جمله نشانی از جانب کشور پرتغال برای سهمی که ایشان در گسترش چینی‌آلات در آمریکا داشته است؛ نشان افتخار زنان از جانب سازمان ملل متحد و ....

محفل روحانی ملی ایالات متحده نیز مؤسسهٔ عمرانی و غیر‌انتفاعی خود را به پاس خدمات ۵۰ سالهٔ خانم متحده و به افتخار او Mottahedeh Development Services Inc. نامیده است. [Page 29]

نظری به جامعه بهائی ایالات متحده در طی نقشه چهارساله

(RETROSPECTIVE OF THE FOUR YEAR PLAN)

مرفوعه محفل روحانی ملی

(LETTER FROM THE NSA) مورخ ۲۲ فوریه ۲۰۰۰ خطاب به جامعه بهائی آمریکا

دوستان عزیز بهائی،

با سرور منیت نامه‌ی پرزیدنت کلینتون را درباره صعود ‎امت‌البیهاء أمة البهاء‎ روحیه خانم و همچنین پاسخ دکتر فیروز کاظم‌زاده منشی امور خارجی محفل روحانی ملی را که از جانب جامعه بهائی ایالات متحده ارسال شده است، به آگاهی آن عزیزان می‌رسانیم.

با تحیات ابدع ابهی منشی محفل ملی: رابرت سی هندرسن

پیام آقای بیل کلینتون رئیس جمهور ایالات متحده

درباره صعود ‎امت‌البیهاء أمة البهاء‎ روحیه خانم مورخ ۱۱ فوریه ۲۰۰۰

میلی و من از خبر درگذشت روحیه خانم متاسف و متاثر شدیم. خانم ماکسول در مقام همسر شوقی افندی و پس از آن به عنوان یکی از ایادیان امر بهائی سهم بزرگی در تداوم بخشیدن به امور دیانت بهائی داشتند و سفرهای ایشان به سراسر جهان به تحکیم پایه‌های این دیانت در جامعه جهانی کمک بسیاری کرد. ایشان همچنین نقش بزرگی در تعهد و پایبندی بهائیان به اصول آشتی نژادی و آرمان حقوق زنان بر عهده داشتند.

نگاهی به عشق و علاقه گسترده خانم روحیه ربانی به محیط زیست، ابنیه تاریخی و دیگر دستاوردهای ایشان، درک عمیق و مفهوم این فقدان را که نه تنها برای جامعه شما بلکه برای تمامی جامعه جهانی ضایعه‌ای به شمار می‌رود، در سطحی محدود امکان‌پذیر می‌سازد. لطفا بدانید که در این ضایعه با شما و تمامی جامعه بهائی احساس همدردی می‌کنیم.

بیل کلینتون

پاسخ منشی امور خارجی به پیام تسلیت رئیس جمهور

مورخ ۲۲ فوریه ۲۰۰۰

جناب رئیس جمهور عزیز،

از جانب خود و جامعه بهائی آمریکا از آن جناب و همسر محترمتان برای نامه‌ی تسلیتی که در خصوص درگذشت خانم ربانی ارسال داشته بودید، سپاسگزارم.

همانگونه که به دقت ذکر فرموده بودید، مشغله‌های بدراستی در گسترش امر بهائی سهم خارق‌العاده‌ای ایفا نمودند و مورد احترام دل و جان پیروان این دیانت در سراسر جهان بودند. در نیویورک زاده و در کانادا بزرگ شدند اما چنان برگزیدند که شهروند جهان باشند. ایشان مطابق آمال و جان‌های خود زیستند و میراثی غنی برای نسل‌های آینده بر جا گذاشتند.

اجازه می‌خواهم که بار دیگر از آن جناب و خانم کلینتون جهت محبت‌آمیزتان سپاسگزاری کنم.

با احترامات فائقه و آمال خیریه فیروز کاظم‌زاده

گسترش جامعه بهائی

واقعیت این است که برای تدقیق در اجرای هر نقشه‌ای باید آن را منطقاً و با شور و شوق دنبال کرد. جامعه بهائی در طی نقشه چهارساله این واقعیت را به صورت ملکه ثانوی در آورده است و نه تنها بر تعداد افراد افزوده بلکه ظرفیت و وحدت جامعه را نیز افزایش داده است.

تعهدات جوانان

در رضوان سال ۱۹۹۹ صدها نوجوان و جوان بهائی تعهد کردند که برای خدمت به امر مبارک به اعمال متهورانه و قهرمانی دست بزنند. سپس این تعهدات را به ارض اقدس ارسال داشتند. معهد اعلی خبر از این اقدام متهورانه اطمینان بخشید.

مؤسسه مطبوعات امری

مؤسسه مطبوعات امری در طی نقشه چهارساله اقداماتی برای تسهیل خدمات احباء به عمل آورد از جمله:

- تهیه کتاب‌ها و جزوه‌هایی هماهنگ با نقشه تبلیغی ملی - تأکید بر سهمی که بازاریابی در فروش آثار امری ایفاء می‌کند. - در دسترس نهادن آثار امری در کتاب‌فروشی‌ها و کتابخانه‌های عمومی

توسعه اجتماعی و اقتصادی

در زمینه توسعه اجتماعی و اقتصادی درک عمیق‌تری در جامعه بهائی ایجاد شده است. در برنامه‌های مربوط به امر مبارک کمک به گسترش نطاق امر مبارک نیست بلکه مراد کمک به ‎خیریه‌بانان خودکفایی یاران‎ است که بتوانند با کمک از احیاء گلیم خود را از آب بدر کشند. سه پایه اصلی توسعه اجتماعی و اقتصادی عبارت است از: سازمان بهداشت بشر؛ مؤسسه خدمات متحده؛ صندوق موقوفات ربانی.

اعضاء سازمان بهداشت بشر در طی نقشه چهارساله دو برابر شده و به بیش از ۱۵۰۰ نفر افزایش یافته است. این سازمان در بیش از ۵۰ کشور جهان حامی دارد. شهرت اصلی سازمان مذکور فرستادن داوطلب به همه قارات جهان برای آموزش در زمینه بهداشت و توسعه جامعه است.

مؤسسه خدمات متحده اساساً در خدمت آمریکاییان سیاهپوست، اسپانیایی‌زبان‌ها و افراد جنوب شرقی آسیاست. مؤسسه مذکور در ایالات متحده کارگاه‌های آموزشی گوناگونی جهت تعلیم اصول توسعه اجتماعی و اقتصادی تشکیل داده است.

صندوق موقوفات ربانی در هفت سال گذشته کنفرانس‌های سالانه‌ای در اورلندو در ایالت فلوریدا تشکیل داده است. در این کنفرانس‌ها بیش از هزار نفر بهائی شائق به فراگیری اصول توسعه اجتماعی و اقتصادی شرکت می‌کنند.

مواد آموزشی

در ۱۰ سال گذشته کوشش‌های مستمری برای ایجاد برنامه‌ها و مواد آموزشی صورت گرفته که ثمرات آن در طی نقشه چهارساله به ظهور رسید. موضوع این مواد آموزشی عبارت است از: ازدواج و حیات خانواده؛ آموزش مخصوص والدین؛ آموزش مبلغان؛ وحدت نژادی؛ تساوی حقوق زن و مرد.

تهیه و اقامه بیانیه‌ها

در سال ۱۹۹۷ بیانیه‌ی محفل روحانی ملی با عنوان «دو بال یک پرنده: تساوی زن و مرد» صادر و انتشار یافت. پیش از شروع نقشه چهارساله بیانیه دیگری تحت عنوان «وحدت نژادی» صادر شده بود.

در طی نقشه چهارساله بیانیه‌های فوق‌الذکر به بیانیه صلح و بیانیه نقطه عطف همه ملل بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی به نحوی مرتب در میان تعداد بیشتری از مردم ایالات متحده انتشار یافت.

پیروی وحدت نژادی

یکی دیگر از اقدامات مفیدی که در طی نقشه چهارساله به عمل آمد تهیه برنامه ویدیوئی "نیروی وحدت نژادی" بود. ویدیوی مذکور که با صرف وقت و دقت فراوان تهیه شده بود چندین بار در شبکه‌های سراسری تلویزیونی به نمایش گذاشته شد. احبای نقاط مختلف ایالات متحده نیز آن را در اماکن عمومی به نمایش درآوردند و باب گفتگو درباره مسائل نژادی را گشودند.

ساختمان‌های قوس کرمل

MOUNT CARMEL PROJECTS

در طی نقشه چهارساله جامعه جهانی بهائی شاهد تکمیل ساختمان‌های قوس حول مرقد مطهر در کوه کرمل بود. در سال ۱۹۹۱ اولین گروه زائران توفیق یافتند که طبقات مقام اعلی را زیارت کنند. کارهای ساختمانی مرکز مطالعه نصوص نیز در شرف اجرا بود.

در سال ۱۹۹۷ سرسرای ساختمان مذکور به پایان رسید و دارالتبلیغ بین‌المللی نیز در مراحل پایانی تکمیل بود. در همین سال ساختمان‌هایی که مانع اتمام طبقاتی تحتانی مقام اعلی بود از میان برداشته شد.

در سال ۱۹۹۸ شرکت‌کنندگان در کانفرانس بین‌المللی توانستند از طبقات فوقانی مقام اعلی و بخش‌هایی از مرکز مطالعه نصوص دیدار کنند.

در رضوان سال ۱۹۹۹ ‎مطعومات منظومات‎ کوه کرمل مطابق برنامه به پیش می‌رفت. در پیام معهد اعلی آمده بود که مرکز مذکور و ملحقات ساختمان دارالآثار بین‌المللی آماده بهره‌برداری است. همچنین بیت‌العدل اعظم اعلام داشتند که طبقات مقام اعلی توجه عموم را چنان به خود جلب کرده است که روزانه برنامه‌های برای دیدار از آن ترتیب داده شده است. [Page 30]

Parliament furthers dialogue of religions

Bahá’ís were prominent among the 7,000 people attending the Parliament of the World’s Religions Dec. 1-8 in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Parliament opened in a jubilant atmosphere, with a procession through the streets of Cape Town that included about 100 Bahá’ís marching under banners proclaiming “So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth”; “The purpose of justice is the realization of unity amongst men”; “Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch”; and “As ye have faith, so shall your powers and blessings be.”

Counselor Lally Warren of Botswana was among 20 dignitaries on stage during the opening session of the Parliament. She read a prayer revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for the unity of humankind. Also on stage were several key organizers, who ended the session with brief talks. These included Amy Marks of South Africa, a Bahá’í and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Parliament in South Africa, who included words of Bahá’u’lláh in her remarks.

Other Bahá’ís numbered among the organizers include Marks’ fellow board member Tahirih Mathee, also of South Africa, and Chicago-area Bahá’ís Charles Nolley and Yael Wurmfeld, members of the Board of Directors of the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions.

Bahá’í speakers during the Parliament’s program included Richard Afnan-Holmes, Farzin Aghdasi, Lawrence Arturo, Philip Christensen, Saeid Eshraghi, ‎Parvaheh Parvaneh‎ Farhangpour, Robert Henderson, Patricia Locke, Tahirih Mathee and Gregory Mathee, Abdia Naidoo, Mpunki Nakedi and Mokone Nakedi, Shoreh Rawhani, Judith Rouhani, Robert Sarracino, Cynthia Thomas and Belete Worku.

Bahá’ís also made a wide range of artistic presentations during the gathering. Suzanne and Mark Bamford screened their film Hero, Kevin Locke performed hoop dances, Ladjamaya Green Mahoney offered The African-American Experience: A Cry for World Peace, Muhtadia Rice acted in A Woman and Her Words: The Story of ‎Tábirih Táhirih‎, and the South African Bahá’í Youth Workshop danced.

On Dec. 3, the official newsletter of the Parliament, Vukani, carried the letter from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of South Africa to the Parliament as the lead article on its front page, with a photograph of a diverse group of Bahá’ís. Vukani, which means “spiritual awakening,” was distributed throughout the Cape Town metropolitan area as a four-page insert in its morning newspaper.

The Cape Town gathering had a twofold aim, according to its organizers. First, it engaged a wide range of religious leaders in interreligious dialogue. Second, it encouraged these leaders to collaborate with representatives of government, labor, commerce, science, education, the media and other spheres of activity to bring about social change.

To accomplish the second goal, a four-day assembly of 400 religious and spiritual leaders was held concurrently with the Parliament’s nine-day program. During this series of meetings, the leaders consulted on a range of issues including meeting essential human needs, pursuing universal human rights, fostering creative engagement of religion and spirituality with others, and building bridges of understanding and cooperation. A number of Bahá’ís took part in these consultations and helped with preparation of the Parliament’s final paper, titled “Call to Our Guiding Institutions.”

“We are witnessing the birth of a new system of organization of the world’s religions,” stated Henderson, the secretary-general of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States. “We have thousands of people representing all the religious traditions in one place. For the first time, they are giving birth to a common vision of their spiritual and redeeming purpose. ...

“For decades, neo-classical economists have argued that the laws of economics are completely independent of social context. Their argument was that economic laws were equally applicable in any nation among any people at any time. Now we’re beginning to see that that view is being set aside and people are beginning to say that there is a direct relationship between culture, religion and belief systems of a people and the economic function in that setting.

“That is a powerful recognition and opens the door for the meeting where religious leaders are now being invited to give their opinions.”

With the South African Bahá’í Youth Workshop among 100 Bahá’ís helping proclaim the message directly (top photo), thousands of people walked in a procession through the streets of Cape Town, South Africa, at the beginning of the Parliament of the World’s Religions. Photos by Yael Wurmfeld

Bahá’í addresses the Pope during inter-religious meeting in India

The Bahá’í Faith achieved major recognition during a state visit to India by Pope John Paul II, head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Among other important engagements during the three-day visit, the pontiff attended an inter-religious meeting in New Delhi Nov. 7, 1999. Against a backdrop of protests by various sectarian groups that oppose ecumenism, this particular function aroused keen interest.

Distinguished representatives of nine religions shared the platform with the Pope—including Zena Sorabjee, a member of the Continental Board of Counselors representing the Bahá’í community of India. Many ambassadors, high-ranking government officials, political and civic leaders and intellectuals, as well as cardinals, archbishops and other senior religious dignitaries, were at the event.

The religious representatives were introduced to the Pope as he entered the auditorium to a standing ovation. As the religions were listed in alphabetical order, Sorabjee, the only woman on the stage, was the first to be introduced.

Each representative had two minutes in which to welcome and address the Pope, and Sorabjee was the last to do so.

On television the Pope could be seen listening intently to her felicitations and address, in which she said in part:

“As His Holiness mentioned yesterday, the largest number of religions coexist in India where the Constitution upholds the right of every individual to believe in and practice the religion of his free choice. Mention was also made of the need for unity in diversity and respect to be accorded to all religions.

“The Bahá’ís of the world,” she continued, “followers of Bahá’u’lláh, strongly support every step which is directed towards upholding the unity of religions. It is an article of our Faith that there is but one religion, and the Source of that religion is the Creator, God. Different religions are but progressive chapters in that book of religion.”

She then quoted several passages from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh on the unity of religions and of humanity.

The Archbishop who introduced the speakers in turn thanked Sorabjee for her lovely words. After the speeches many of those present expressed to members of the Bahá’í delegation their appreciation of her words, some even requesting a copy of her address.

The event was telecast live throughout India and to many other parts of the world via satellite television.

The information kit presented to each participant contained an attractive multi-colored program sheet that contained quotations from the scriptures of various religions, including the words of Bahá’u’lláh. In addition, a souvenir distributed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference contained a message from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India.

“That the Catholic Church in India invited the Bahá’ís to participate in this highly important and prestigious gathering demonstrates the recognition accorded to the Faith as one of the major religions of the country,” the report read. “The unprecedented media publicity will open many more opportunities for the Bahá’í community to interact with religious leaders of the world at interfaith dialogues.” [Page 31]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. Numbers and e-mail addresses for the permanent Bahá’í schools and institutes are: Bosch Bahá’í School, phone 831-423-3387; fax 831-423-7564; 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 843-558-5093; fax 843-558-9136; e-mail [...]; Native American Bahá’í Institute (NABI), phone and fax 520-587-7599; e-mail [...].

MARCH

29–April 2: Pioneer Training Program (including SITA program) at the Bahá’í National Center.

31–April 2: “Bahá’í Marriage and Family Life: Building Stronger Communities” at Bosch.

31–April 2: “Fundamental Verities Part 3: A New Civilization” at Bosch; session continues April 28–30 and May 19–21. Recommendation by an Assembly, RTI or Auxiliary Board member required.

31–April 2: Two sessions at Green Acre: “Removing Obstacles from the Seeker’s Path: Reaching Atheists, Materialists and Others Who Avoid Religion”; Spiritual Empowerment Session for Junior Youth (Grades 7–9).

31–April 3: Advanced Core Curriculum seminar at Louhelen.

APRIL

7–9: Two programs at Louhelen: “Teaching Christians” and “Ethics and Spirituality in Medicine.”

7–9: Ruhi Course, “Reflections on the Life of the Spirit,” at Bosch.

7–9: Social and Economic Development Facilitator training by MDS at two locations: Green Acre (session 1) and Louis Gregory Institute (session 2).

14–16: “Advancement of Women” at Bosch.

14–16: Marriage Enrichment Retreat for Couples at Green Acre.

14–16: Social and Economic Development Facilitator training by MDS at Louhelen.

19–23: Two sessions at Bosch: Youth Preparation for Pioneering and Traveling Teaching; “The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh.”

21–23: Youth Eagle Institute at Louhelen.

21–23: “Consecration, Love of God and Teaching” at Green Acre.

27–30: 91st Bahá’í National Convention, Sheraton Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, IL. Seating is open to Bahá’í visitors who register. See page 3 for details and registration form.

28–30: Spiritual Empowerment Institute for Junior Youth at Louhelen.

28–30: “Socio-Economic Development” at Bosch.

MAY

3–9: “Encouraging the Artist,” retreat for musicians, artists and dancers, at Bosch.

5–7: Spiritual Empowerment Institute for Junior Youth at Louhelen.

5–7: Kansas Bahá’í School, “Cultivating Distinction”; near Junction City, KS. With David Freeman and Lynn Wieties. Lodging on site. Registrar: Gray Bishop, [...] Derby, KS (phone 316-788-5378, e-mail [...]). Pre-register by April 15.

12–14: “Creating Sacred Space: How the Arts Create Community” at Green Acre.

12–14: Parent-Child Weekend at Louhelen.

12–14: “Heroines of the Faith” at Bosch.

19–21: “Work as Worship” at Green Acre.

19–21: Two sessions at Bosch: Ruhi Course, “Twin Manifestations”; “Heroines of the Faith” (second presentation).

19–21: “Young at Heart: The Older Person and the Bahá’í Community” at Louhelen.

26–28: “Cultivating Distinction” at Green Acre.

26–28: “Consecration, Love of God and Teaching” at Louhelen.

26–28: Conference of Núr, “Make Thou This Garden to Flower: Using the Arts to Advance Entry by Troops”; Elizabethtown, PA. With David and Margaret Ruhe, Vaughn Loudenbach. Registrar: Mark Dunmire, [...] Harrisburg, PA 17104 (phone 717-234-0916, e-mail [...]).

26–28: Royal Falcon (Alabama) Bahá’í School, “‎Cultivting Cultivating‎ Distinction: Our Destiny Linked to Transformation”; Mobile, AL. Registrar: Carol Payne, P.O. Box 289, Skipperville, AL 36374, phone 334-774-0020, e-mail [...] Web site http://bahai.home.mindspring.com). Register by May 12.

26–29: “Health for Humanity” at Bosch.

26–29: Georgia Bahá’í School, “Developing Distinction and Citizenship ‎inthe in the‎ World Order of Bahá’u’lláh”; Hampton, GA. Registrar: C. Lavonte Steele, [...] Marietta, GA 30068 (phone 770-509-9686).

26–29: Utah Bahá’í School, near Zion National Park, UT. Indoor sleeping or camping. With Jack McCants. Registrar: Shokouh Imani, [...] Layton, UT 84040 (phone 801-771-0586) or e-mail [...] or fax 801-451-7993. Register by May 15.

PAID SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

AT BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL OFFICES Administrator, Louis Gregory Institute Administrative Assistant, Refugee Office Staff Producer, Media Services Clerk, Mail Services AND OTHERS

See Page 21

Xavier Chavez (from left), Karl Kecman, Micah Kecman and Stephen Maxwell of the Aztec, New Mexico, Bahá’í community pause in their highway cleanup to greet a few curious horses. The community has sponsored the cleanup for 10 years. Photo courtesy of Marko Kecman

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving The American Bahá’í, send all family members’ names, new address and mailing label to: Membership Office, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611. If acquiring a Post Office box, your residence address (B) must be filled in. Please allow three weeks for processing. (This also updates the National Center’s database.)
A. NAME(S) 1. ____________________ ID# __________ 2. ____________________ ID# __________ 3. ____________________ ID# __________ 4. ____________________ ID# __________
B. NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS	C. NEW MAILING ADDRESS
Street Address ____________________	Street Address ____________________
Apartment # (if applicable) _________	Apartment # (if applicable) _________
City ____________________	City ____________________
State ________ Zip code ___________	State ________ Zip code ___________
D. NEW COMMUNITY	E. HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER
Name of new Bahá’í Community ______ Moving Date ______	Area Code Phone Number Name ____________________
F. WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER(S)
Area Code Phone Number Name ____________________	Area Code Phone Number Name ____________________
G. WE RECEIVE EXTRA COPIES BECAUSE: [ ] We do not have the same last name. We do not want extra copies, so please cancel the copy for the person(s) and ID number(s) listed above. [ ] The last names and addresses on our address labels do not match. We have listed above the full names of family members as they should appear on the national records, their ID numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive only one copy.	H. I WOULD LIKE A COPY [ ] Our household receives only one copy of The American Bahá’í. I wish to receive my own copy. I have listed my name, ID number and address above.

BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER 112 LINDEN AVE WILMETTE, IL 60091-2849

MARCH 21, 2000 BAHÁ, JALÁL • B.E. 157

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FOR INFORMATION ABOUT EVENTS sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly. or its agencies at the Baha’{ National Center, please phone 847-869-9039 and ask for the relevant department. Numbers and e-mail addresses for the

School, phone 207-439-7200; fax 207-438-9940; e-mail Louhelen Baha’t School, phone 810-653-5033; fax 810-653-7181; e-mail . Louis G. Gregory Baha’i Institute, phone 843-558-5093;

permanent Baha’ schools and institutes are: Bosch Baha’{ School, phone 831- _ fax 843-558-9136; e-mail . Native American Baha’i Institute 423-3387; fax 831-423-7564; e-mail . Green Acre Baha’f (NABD, phone and fax 520-587-7599; e-mail :¢ MARCH APRIL MA & St & s 29-April 2: nee ‘Training 7-9: Two programs at Louhelen: 3-9: “Encouraging the Artist,” retreat 26-28: Conference of Nir, “Make

Program (including SITA program) at the Baha’f National Center.

31-April 2: “Baha’i Marriage and Family Life: Building Stronger Communities” at Bosch.

31-April 2: “Fundamental Verities Part 3: A New Civilization” at Bosch; session continues April 28-30 and May 19-21. Recommendation by an Assembly, RTI or Auxiliary Board member required.

31-April 2: Two sessions at Green Acre: “Removing Obstacles from the Seeker’s Path: Reaching Atheists, erialists and Others Who Avoid Religion”; Spiritual Empowerment

Session for Junior Youth (Grades 7-9).

31-April 3: Advanced Core Curriculum seminar at Louhelen.

PAID SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

AT BAHA’I NATIONAL OFFICES Administrator, Louis Gregory Institute Administrative Assistant, Refugee Office Staff Producer, Media Services Clerk, Mail Services AND OTHERS

See Page 21

BAHA'I NATIONAL CENTER 112 LINDEN AVE WILMETTE, IL 60091-2849

“Teaching Christians” and “Ethics and Spirituality in Medicine.”

7-9: Ruhi Course, “Reflections on the Life of the Spirit,” at Bosch.

7-9: Social and Economic Development Facilitator training by MDS at two locations: Green Acre (session 1) and Louis Gregory Institute (session 2).

14-16: “Advancement of Women” at Bosch.

14-16: Marriage Enrichment Retreat for Couples at Green Acre.

14-16: Social and Economic Development Facilitator training by MDS at Louh 19-23: Two sessions at Bosch: Youth Preparation for Pion ig and ‘Traveling Teaching; “The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah.”

21-23: Youth Eagle Institute at Louhelen.

21-23: “Consecration, Love of God and Teaching” at Green Acre.

27-30: 91st Baha'i National Conyention, Sheraton Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, IL. Seating is open to Baha'i visitors who register. See page 3 for details and registration form. 28-30: Spiritual Empowerment Institute for Junior Youth at Louhelen. 28-30: “Socio-Economic Development” at Bosch.

Xavier Chavez (from left), Karl Kecman, Micah Kecman and Stephen Maxwell of the Aztec, New Mexico, Baha’i community pause in their highway cleanup to greet a few curious horses. The community has sponsored the cleanup for 10 years. Photo courtesy of Marko Keoman

MARCH 21, 2000 BAHA, JALAL * B.E. 157

for musicians, artists and dancers, at

piritual Empowerment Institute for Junior Youth at Louhelen. 5-7: Kansas Baha’f School, “Cultivating Distinction”; near Junction City, KS. With David Freeman and Lynn Wieties. Lodging on site. Registrar: Gray Bishop,

Derby, KS (phone 316788-5378, e-mail

). Pre-register by

April 15. 12-14: “C the Arts Ci Acre. 12-14: Parent-Child Weekend at Louhelen. 12-14: “Heroines of the Faith” at Bosch. 19-21: “Work as Worship” at Green Acre. 19-21: Two sessions at Bosch: Ruhi Course, “Twin Manifestations”; “Heroines of the Faith” (second presentation). 19-21: “Young at Heart: The Older Person and the Baha’ Community” at Louhelen. 26-28: “Cultivating Distinction” at Green Acre. 26-28: “Consecration, Love of God and Teaching” at Louhelen.

ce: How ate Community” at Green

Thou This Garden to Flower: Using the Arts to Advance Entry by Troops Elizabethtown, PA. With Davida ad Margaret Ruhe, Vaughn Loudenbach. Registrar: Mark Dunmire,

Harrisburg, PA 17104 (phone 717-234-0916, e-mail

).

26-28: Royal Falcon (Alabama) Baha’f School, “Cultivting Distinction: Our Destiny Linked to Transformation”; Mobile, AL. Registrar: Carol Payne, P.O. Box 289, Skipperville, AL 36374, phone 334-774-0020, e-mail

Web site http://bahai.home.mindspring.com). Register by May 12. 26-29: “Health for Humanity” at Bosch. 26-29: Georgia Baha’i School, “Developing Distinction and inthe World Order of Baha’ Hampton, GA. Registrar: eele, arietta, GA 30068 (phone 770-509-9686). 26-29: Utah Baha’i School, near Zion National Park, UT: Indoor sleeping or camping. With Jack McCants. Registrar: Shokouh Imani, Layton, UT 84040 (phone 801-7710586) or e-mail or fax

Mah”; aavonte

801-451-7993. Register by May 15.

send all family members’ names, new address and entral St., Evanste

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A. NAME(S)

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B. NEW RESIDE!

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Aparunent # (if applicable)

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State Zip code

State Zip code

D. NEW COMMUNITY

E. HOME

L.EPHONE NUMBER

Name of new Bahi'i Community Moving Date ‘Area Code Phone Number Name F WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER(S) ‘Area Code Phone » ~__AreaGode Phone Number Name

G. WE RECEIV We do not have the same last

XTRA COPIES BECAUSE: ‘The last names and addresses

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name. We do not want extra copies, so please cancel the copy for the person(s) and ID number(s) listed above.

‘on our address labels do not match. We have listed above the full names of family members as they should appear on the national records, their ID numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive only one copy.

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THe AMERICAN BanA‘i