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[Page 1]JUNE 5, 2000 NÚR/LIGHT RAHMAT/MERCY BAHÁ’Í ERA 157 VOLUME 31, NO. 4

THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í

One YEAR PLAN 2000

RIDVÁN B.E. 157 MESSAGE FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE PAGES 3–6

Confidently into the future

Remembrance of Rúhíyyih Khánum imbues 91st National Convention

BY TOM MENNILLO

No timid souls, these 165 delegates to the 91st Bahá’í National Convention.

Inspired by the memory of the late Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, to whom the Convention was dedicated, they accepted without hesitation or question the challenge of the Universal House of Justice to walk a bridge into the future.

And walk it they did, confident their fellow American Bahá’ís will be abreast every step of the way.

This Convention, held April 27–30 at the Sheraton Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois, reflected brightly so many facets:

• The unveiling of a $60 million five-year comprehensive development project titled Building the Kingdom: It’s Our Time.
• Its symbolic launch in a ceremony outside the Bahá’í House of Worship marking the start of work to restore the gardens to the original design from the Guardian’s time.
• Expressions of affection and appreciation for retiring National Spiritual Assembly member Firuz Kazemzadeh.
• Universal participation in balloting for

SEE CONVENTION, PAGE 18

New National Spiritual Assembly member Erica Toussaint (left) is welcomed by fellow members William Davis (center) and David Young on announcement of Assembly election results at the National Convention April 29. Photo by Vladimir Shilov

Midway through the Convention, delegates boarded buses for the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette. Within its precincts they discharged their sacred duty to elect the National Spiritual Assembly. Participation in the election was universal: 162 delegates voting in person, all three others voting absentee, and no invalid ballots.

Members of the National Spiritual Assembly, listed alphabetically, are: Juana C. Conrad, assistant secretary William E. Davis, chairman Robert C. Henderson, secretary-general Patricia Locke Jack McCants Dorothy W. Nelson, vice chairman William L.H. Roberts, treasurer Erica Toussaint David F. Young

Media campaign building on 60,000 responses

More than 60,000 people responded to the National Spiritual Assembly’s national media campaign during the Four Year Plan, and the National Teaching Committee will continue to expand the initiative during the One Year Plan.

The impressive numbers of inquiries about the Faith serve to demonstrate to the Bahá’í community and the nation the importance of the guidance from the Universal House of Justice that “now is the time” for widespread growth of the Faith in America.

Early in the Four Year Plan, the National Spiritual Assembly initiated the media campaign to respond to a renewed level of spiritual search among Americans, and to provide greater access to the Message of Bahá’u’lláh. The response to date proves existence of a vast audience of potentially receptive souls who will respond if Bahá’ís make a systematic, sustained effort to reach them with the Faith.

Included in the numbers of seekers are more than 20,000 who have requested literature and a return call, mostly through the phone response system (1-800-22-UNITE) and the media campaign Internet site (www.us.bahai.org).

SEE MEDIA CAMPAIGN, PAGE 15

I·N·S·I·D·E

TO ENGAGE CHRISTIANS PAGE 7

BUILDING THE KINGDOM PAGES 8–9

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES PAGES 24–25

• KID’S CORNER • 13
• YOUTH • 14
• HONOR ROLL • 26–27
• CLASSIFIED • 28–29
• IN MEMORIAM • 30
• PERSIAN PAGES • 32–38

THE NATIONAL FUND

Between May 1, 1999, and April 30, 2000

$27,000,000 Goal/All Funds

$19,107,200 Received/All Funds

See page 7 for details

E·X·C·E·R·P·T·S

“The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.” —Bahá’u’lláh [Page 2]

Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Báb

A Bahá’í Holy Day

• Observed sunset July 8 through sunset July 9; devotional gatherings should be held at 1 p.m. daylight time July 9 (noon where standard time is observed)
• Work is to be suspended
• "(The Báb) withstood all persecutions and bore every suffering and ordeal with unflinching strength. The more His enemies endeavored to extinguish that flame, the brighter it became. ... Consider how the Báb endured difficulties and tribulations; how He gave His life in the Cause of God; how He was attracted to the love of the Blessed Beauty, Bahá’u’lláh; and how He announced the glad tidings of His manifestation."

— ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 139

The Báb and a companion were executed by firing squad in a public square in Tabríz, Persia, on July 9, 1850. For further study, see The Dawn-Breakers, pp. 500–526.

Some significant dates in Bahá’í history

June and early July

July 1848: In one of the most fateful months in the early annals of the Cause, events unfolded that led to martyrdoms and ultimate glory for the Báb and several of His foremost disciples.

• The Báb transformed a heresy trial in Tabríz into a formal public announcement of His mission, declaring before a tribunal—which included the crown prince of Persia—that He was the Qá’im promised in ‎Shf’ih Shi’ih‎ Muslim prophecy. The Báb was beaten, then sentenced to death; the execution was carried out nearly two years later.
• The Conference of Badasht ended with dozens of followers confirmed in the conviction that the Báb had authored an independent revelation from God, superseding the Qur’án and the laws of Islam.
• Mullá Husayn, unable to attend the conference, received the turban of the Báb and instructions to go to the Mazandaran region carrying a Black Standard. As many as 300 men rallied around him on a troubled mission that led to the Shrine of Shaykh Tabarsí, which soon was fortified and besieged. He was killed in battle the next February.
• Quddús was arrested soon after the Conference of Badasht. Following his release, which was arranged by Mullá Husayn, he joined the Bábís at Shaykh Tabarsí. He was taken prisoner when the siege ended the next May, then killed days later.
• Táhirih, only weeks after proclaiming the spiritual emancipation of women at the conference, was arrested and held in Tehran until her execution in 1852.

July 1869: Badí‘, after a four-month journey from ‘Akká in the Holy Land, delivered a Tablet of Bahá’u’lláh to the Shah of Persia in Tehran. The 17-year-old messenger was tortured and executed, and later designated as the Pride of Martyrs.

June 23, 1870: Mírzá Mihdí, the Purest Branch and a younger brother of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, died after an accidental fall in the prison in ‘Akká where Bahá’u’lláh and His family was confined. Bahá’u’lláh had asked Mírzá Mihdí whether he wished to live. The Purest Branch replied that he wanted his life to be a ransom for the opening of the prison gates to pilgrims.

July 4–9, 1925: The 17th Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada was the setting for the election of the two countries’ first National Spiritual Assembly.

July 1930: Shoghi Effendi completed his translation of the Kitáb-i-Íqán, the first of his translations of major works of Bahá’u’lláh into English.

June 1942: The Local Spiritual Assembly of San José, Costa Rica, became the first Spiritual Assembly to be legally incorporated in Latin America.

June 12, 1958: The central body of the Hands of the Cause of God released a definitive statement explaining that a second Guardian could not be named because Shoghi Effendi neither left a will nor designated a successor.

June 5, 1975: Excavation was begun for the seat of the Universal House of Justice. That building was finished and occupied in early 1983. ♦

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

EXCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS

RAMONA BEHSHAD, a 17-year-old Bahá’í in Paradise Valley, Arizona, earned a perfect combined score of 1,600 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test.

LEONARDO ANDRES DEL CAMPO, a Bahá’í student in Grass Valley, California, is to graduate this month as valedictorian at Nevada Union High School, from a senior class of nearly 900 students. Formerly of Costa Rica—where he helped found the Luz de Unidad youth workshop—he also has been designated a National Merit Hispanic Scholar and has won a scholarship to Harvey Mudd College in Southern California.

SANDRA T. HICKS, a Bahá’í in Manchester, New Hampshire, was one of eight women in southern New Hampshire recognized March 26 in a state proclamation for having “blazed a trail for all people of color” with their leadership and civic activity. A recipient of the local Martin Luther King Award, she has been a leader in the Greater Manchester NAACP, the New Hampshire Minority Health Coalition and other organizations supporting diversity and serving youth.

JONATHAN KALANTAR, a Bahá’í who is a fifth-grader in Palm Coast, Florida, was one of only four students in Flagler County receiving an honorable mention in the Disney “Dreamer and Doer” program, which annually honors three students in each county of Florida for outstanding characteristics including “curiosity, confidence, courage and constancy.”

AMANDA M. KOSS, a Bahá’í in Everett, Washington, who is a senior at the University of Washington majoring in urban horticulture, was recently awarded two major scholarships totaling $5,800. The larger of the two, the Mary Gates Leadership Endowment Grant, is awarded not only for academic achievement but also commitment to community service. Koss has served as a volunteer tutor and mentor at American Indian Heritage School in Seattle.

NEYSUN MAHBOUBI, a Bahá’í in New York, New York, is one of this year’s winners of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. The second-year student at Columbia University Law School, who is focusing on international law, was recognized in part for his continuing research in Chinese law, his activity in societies for Chinese and international law at Columbia, his previous service on an ethics task force and as assistant editor of the Journal of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, his internships for the U.S. State Department and the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, and his award-winning senior thesis at Princeton. Only 30 graduate students nationwide each year are awarded the fellowship, which is aimed at helping outstanding students who are immigrants or children of immigrants.

SHOHREH MISAGHI, a Bahá’í in El Cerrito, California, was recently chosen from among local students for the annual Soroptimist Award of Merit. The honor went to the El Cerrito High school senior on the basis of demonstrated commitment to home, school, community, country and world. ♦

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 Vladimir Shilov, photography; Amethel Parel-Sewell, design elements; Vivian Bergenthal, Jim Cheek, Steven Gonzales, Sheila R. Misra, Ruhi Vargha

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 [redacted]). 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 worldwide and national teaching plans. 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:
  August 20: Deadline July 7
  September 27: Deadline August 11

PLEASE ADDRESS ALL ITEMS for possible publication to The American Bahá’í, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (e-mail [redacted]).

©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]

FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE RIDVÁN 2000

LETTER TO THE THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE WORLD

Dearly loved Friends,

We bow our heads in gratitude to the Lord of Hosts, our hearts brimming with joy, as we witness how marvellous a difference four years have made since the launching of the global Plan now concluded at this Festival of Splendours. So marked was the progress achieved during this period that our world community attained heights from which bright new horizons for its future exploits can clearly be discerned.

The quantitative difference resulted mainly from a more critical qualitative difference. The culture of the Bahá’í community experienced a change. This change is noticeable in the expanded capability, the methodical pattern of functioning and the consequent depth of confidence of the three constituent participants in the Plan—the individual, the institutions and the local community. That is so because the friends concerned themselves more consistently with deepening their knowledge of the divine Teachings and learned much—and this more systematically than before—about how to apply them to promulgating the Cause, to managing their individual and collective activities, and to working with their neighbours. In a word, they entered into a learning mode from which purposeful action was pursued. The chief propellant of this change was the system of training institutes established throughout the world with great rapidity—an accomplishment which, in the field of expansion and consolidation, qualifies as the single greatest legacy of the Four Year Plan.

In the increased capacity of individuals to teach the Faith, as shown in the thrust of individual initiatives; in the improved ability of Spiritual Assemblies, Councils and committees to guide the endeavours of the friends; in the introduction of new patterns of thought and action which influenced the collective behaviour of the local community—in all such respects the system of training institutes demonstrated its indispensability as an engine of the process of entry by troops. By extending their operation through local study circles, many institutes magnified their capacity to cover wide regions with their programmes. Mongolia, for instance, set up 106 study circles and, as a result, recorded a significant rise in the number of new believers.

Concurrent with these kinds of developments, the members of our worldwide community also gave more attention to drawing on the power of prayer, to meditating on the sacred Word, and to deriving the spiritual benefits of participation in devotional gatherings. It is through the workings of these elements of an intensified individual and collective transformation that the size of the community is increasing. Although the number of new believers has as yet only slightly surpassed those of recent years, it is immensely gratifying to see that this increase is now geographically widespread, is engaging ever-larger segments of the community, and is successful in integrating new declarants into the life of the Cause.

So salutary, so promising a condition of the Faith also owes much, beyond measure, to the advisory influence, collaborative role and practical work of the Institution of the Counsellors which were amplified with respect to the formation and operation of institutes—an amplification that reflected the timely stimulation imparted by a vibrant and ever alert International Teaching Centre.

The central theme of the Four Year Plan—that of advancing the process of entry by troops—produced a high degree of integration of thought and action. It focused attention on a major stage of the evolution of the Bahá’í community that must be attained during the Formative Age; for until entry by troops is more widely sustained, the conditions will not be ripe for mass conversion, that breakthrough promised by Shoghi Effendi in his writings. The thematic focus of the Plan bore implications for all categories of Bahá’í activity; it called for a clarity of understanding which made possible systematic and strategic planning as a prerequisite of individual and collective action. The members of the community came gradually to appreciate how systematization would facilitate the processes of growth and development. This raising of consciousness was a huge step that led to an upgrading of teaching activities and a change in the culture of the community.

The integrative aspects of the theme were evident in the efforts at planning, building institutional capacity, and developing human resources. The threads connecting all these can be traced from the outset of the Plan to its very end. The December 1995 Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors in the Holy Land marked the beginning. There the Counsellors were oriented to the features of the Plan. This was followed by their consultations with National Spiritual Assemblies in national planning sessions that moved subsequently to the regional level, involving Auxiliary Board members, Local Spiritual Assemblies and committees. Thus, at all levels, elements of the Bahá’í administration became involved in the planning process, and reached beyond this stage to that of implementation, at which the institutional capacity to cope with entry by troops had to be created. Two major steps were taken in this regard: one was the establishment of training institutes; the other was the formal establishment and widespread introduction of Regional Bahá’í Councils as a feature of the administration between the local and national levels to strengthen the administrative capacity of certain communities where the growing complexity of the issues facing National Spiritual Assemblies required this development. Equally of relevance to integrating the essentials of the process were the strategies defined for the work in social and economic development, which is a critical part of consolidation, and in external affairs, which is a vital factor in enabling the Faith to manage the consequences of its emergence from obscurity.

The combined effect produced resounding results, the enumeration of which would far exceed the compass of these pages. We are moved, however, to cite certain highlights that illustrate the scope of the Plan's achievements. In the Holy Land, the construction of the Terraces and the buildings on the Arc forged ahead with every assurance of meeting the announced deadline for their completion at the end of this Gregorian year. Moreover, the building in Haifa to which we referred in our last Ridván message in connection with the expanded size of pilgrimage groups is ready for use as of this Ridván. In this same connection, architectural plans were approved for the much-needed facility to be built at Bahjí to accommodate pilgrims and other Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í visitors. The translation of the Texts for the expected new volume of Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings has been completed and preparations are under way for its publication.

Strides in expansion and consolidation were manifest in ways other than those already mentioned: in pioneering, proclamation, the publication of literature, the use of the arts, the formation of Spiritual Assemblies, and advances of Bahá’í studies associations. Some 3,300 believers settled as long- and short-term international pioneers. That many countries usually on the receiving end had themselves dispatched pioneers abroad was a further indication of the maturation of national communities. True to the mandate addressed to their members, the Canadian and United States communities excelled in the number of pioneers that left their shores and in the much greater number of travelling teachers, including a significant representation of youth. Especially noteworthy, too, was the heartening response of believers of African descent in the United States to the call that Bahá’í teachers travel to Africa.

Proclamation of the Cause involved a variety of actions which included the sponsoring of a wide range of occasions—anniversaries, commemorations, discussion groups, exhibits, and the like—that made it possible for large numbers of people to become acquainted with the teachings of the Faith. The Houses of Worship were magnetic centres for visitors who entered their doors in increasing numbers, especially in India, where some five million people were received during the last year. Added to such activities were the multiple uses of the media to get the Bahá’í message across. In the United States, some 60,000 inquirers responded to a media campaign designed by [Page 4]

FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

RIDVAN the National Teaching Committee. Worldwide, knowledge of the Faith was spread through the LETTER, appearance, more frequently than before, of unsolicited, sympathetic articles in the print media. There was a similar broadening of exposure through readiness on the part of radio and television stations to include regular Bahá’í programmes; this was so in such countries as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia. Such fortunate developments were crowned by the independent choice of international media establishments to use the Shrine of the Báb and the Terraces as the site for the telecast of the Holy Land's segment of the worldwide media programme celebrating the arrival of the year 2000.

The use of the arts became an important feature in the proclamation, teaching, deepening and devotional activities of the worldwide community. The arts attracted young people, who applied them to their teaching and deepening activities principally through the numerous drama and dance workshops active in many parts of the world. But the dynamics of the arts went far beyond singing and dancing to involve a range of imaginative activities that grounded people in the Cause. Where folk art was used, particularly in Africa, the teaching work was greatly enhanced. For example, Ghana and Liberia each mounted a Light of Unity Project for promoting the arts in teaching. In India, the Communal Harmony Group had a similar purpose.

Mostly at the urging of the Counsellors and with the support of the Continental Fund, a boost was given to the translation and publication of Bahá’í literature especially in Africa and Asia. Moreover, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas appeared in a complete Arabic edition and in other languages.

While the restriction of the formation of Local Spiritual Assemblies to the first day of Ridván, which took effect in 1997, produced the anticipated decrease in the number of these institutions, the fall was not drastic. The number has since held its ground and a sound process of consolidation is in place. Eight new pillars of the Universal House of Justice were raised up, bringing the total of National Spiritual Assemblies to 181.

Particularly gratifying has been the gathering momentum, during these four years, of Bahá’í scholarly activity, which forged ahead with the vital task of reinforcing the intellectual foundations of the Faith's work. Two invaluable results have been the impressive enrichment of Bahá’í literature and the production of a body of dissertations examining various contemporary problems in the light of Bahá’í principles. The network of Associations of Bahá’í Studies, celebrating this year its twenty-fifth anniversary, welcomed five new affiliates during the Plan. Reflective of the diversity and creativity that this field of service is attracting were the holding of Papua New Guinea's first Bahá’í studies conference and the Japanese Association's groundbreaking focus on the spiritual origins of traditional Japanese scholarship.

Progress in the field of social and economic development was decidedly qualitative, although figures showing an increase of projects were also impressive. Annually reported activities grew from some 1,350 at the beginning of the Plan to more than 1,800 nearing its end. The movement towards a more systematic approach remained the dominant characteristic of the work during this period. To promote consultation and action on the principles of social and economic development, the Office of Social and Economic Development at the Bahá’í World Centre sponsored 13 regional seminars in which an estimated 700 representatives from 60 countries participated. This Office also attended to the devising of pilot projects and materials suitable for the mounting of organized campaigns to foster youth empowerment and literacy, community health worker training, the advancement of women, and moral education. An example was the programme in Guyana that trained more than 1,500 literacy facilitators; another was the completion in Malaysia of eight modules for the advancement of women, which became the basis for training sessions held in Africa, Asia and Latin America. A plan to integrate Bahá’í radio stations with the work of training institutes was initiated in the Guaymi region of Panama. As institutes have the potential to provide training for social and economic development, a movement in that direction involved a dozen institutes, which are currently experimenting with such efforts in areas including literacy, community health worker training, and vocational training. A number of Bahá’í-sponsored and Bahá’í-inspired agencies have devoted their energies to projects, such as the one which involved collaboration with the World Health Organization in combating river blindness in Cameroon; more than 30,000 individuals have received the needed medication through this Bahá’í project. Another instance is the private university in Ethiopia, Unity College, whose student body has risen to 8,000. Another is Landegg Academy in Switzerland, which, while expanding and consolidating its academic programme, extended highly appreciated assistance in the ongoing quest for a remedy to the horrendous social consequences of conflict in the Balkans. Yet another is Núr University in Bolivia, which, in a collaborative project with Ecuador, offered training to more than 1,000 school teachers in its moral leadership programme. In this field of social and economic development, such evidences of capacity building were a great benefit to the purposes of the Plan.

Guided by the external affairs strategy communicated to National Spiritual Assemblies in 1994, the community's capacity in the fields of diplomatic and public information likewise expanded at an astonishing rate, placing the Bahá’í community in a dynamic relationship with the United Nations, governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the media. The strategy focused activities at international and national levels on two key objectives: to influence the processes towards world peace, and to defend the Faith. Through the measures adopted for the defence of our dearly loved co-religionists in Iran, the Bahá’í International Community won a new measure of respect and support that created opportunities for other aims of the strategy to be pursued. To meet the challenge of the intractable situation in Iran, our institutions and external affairs agencies devised new approaches to activating available instruments of governments and the United Nations. The case of the persecutions in Iran occupied the attention of the highest authorities on the planet. Indeed, the news that an Iranian court had reaffirmed death sentences for two of the friends and imposed a similar sentence on a third evoked a sharp response from the President of the United States, who issued a clear admonition to Iran. As a consequence of the interventions of world leaders and the United Nations, the executions of Iranian Bahá’ís virtually stopped and the number of those sentenced to long-term imprisonment was drastically reduced.

While we have welcomed these interventions, we acclaim the self-sacrificing spirit, the fortitude, and the indomitable faith of our brothers and sisters in Iran that have invested such efforts with potency. These manifest qualities of the soul baffle their compatriots as to the stamina with which they withstand the assaults so viciously and so relentlessly unloosed against them. How else could one explain that so few have been able to stand up to so many for so long? How else could they have aroused the active concern of the world when even a single one of them faces the threat of death? Iran's tragedy is that the assailants have until now failed to see that the divine principles for which these persecuted ones have sacrificed their possessions and even their lives contain the very solutions that would satisfy the yearnings of a population in its hour of discontent. But there can be no doubt whatever that the systematic tyranny to which our Iranian friends have so cruelly been subjected will ultimately yield to the Almighty Power guiding the mysterious proceedings toward their assured destiny in all its promised glory.

With regard to the other objective of the external affairs strategy, the lines of action were guided by four themes—human rights, the status of women, global prosperity, and moral development. Our records show a huge step forward in the work on human rights and the status of women. With regard to the former, the United Nations Office prosecuted a creative programme of human rights education which has, so far, served as a means of building the capacity of no fewer than 99 National Spiritual Assemblies for diplomatic work. Regarding the status of women, the existence of 52 national offices for the advancement of women, the contributions of numerous Bahá’í women and men to conferences and workshops at all levels, the selection of Bahá’í representatives to crucial positions on key NGO committees, including the one that serves the United Nations Development Fund for Women, show how the followers of Bahá’u’lláh assiduously promote His principle of the equality of women and men. At the same time an array of initiatives are disseminating information about the Bahá’í Faith to various publics. These include such innova- [Page 5]

FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

tive undertakings as: the launching of "The Bahá’í World" Web site, which is already averaging 25,000 visits a month; the issuing of a statement entitled Who is Writing the Future?, which is helping the friends everywhere talk about contemporary issues; the airing since last November on the World Wide Web of "Payam-e-Doost," the Persian-language radio programme broadcast for an hour weekly in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area—a programme which is available at all times throughout the world on the Internet; and the implementation of a highly original television programme, applying moral principles to day-to-day problems, which has won the warm endorsement of government authorities in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

A phenomenon that has gathered force as the century draws to its end is that the people of the world have arisen to express their aspirations through what has come to be known as the "organizations of civil society." It must be a source of great satisfaction to Bahá’ís everywhere that the Bahá’í International Community as an NGO representing a cross-section of humankind has won such trust as a unifying agent in major discussions shaping the future of humankind. Our principal representative at the United Nations was appointed to co-chair a committee of non-governmental organizations—a position that is giving the Bahá’í International Community a leading role in the organization of the Millennium Forum. This gathering, called by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and scheduled to be held in May, will give organizations of civil society an opportunity to formulate views and recommendations on global issues which will be taken up at the subsequent Millennium Summit in September of this year to be attended by heads of state and government.

Humanity's awakening to the spiritual dimensions of the changes occurring in the world have a special significance for Bahá’ís. The interfaith dialogue has intensified. During the Four Year Plan it increasingly involved the Faith as a recognized participant. The Parliament of the World's Religions held in Cape Town last December brought together some 6,000 attendees, among whom was a strong Bahá’í delegation. Bahá’ís served on both the South African and International Boards of Directors that planned the event. For Bahá’ís, interest in the occasion arose particularly from the fact that the first mention of the Name of Bahá’u’lláh at a public gathering in the West had occurred at the Parliament held in Chicago in 1893. Two inter-religious events held in Jordan last November included Bahá’ís as invited participants: a conference on conflict and religion in the Middle East, and the annual meeting of the World Conference on Religion and Peace.

Bahá’í representatives attended events in Vatican City and New Delhi sponsored by the Roman Catholic Church; on the latter occasion, in the presence of Pope John Paul II, Counsellor Zena Sorabjee was one of the representatives of religions addressing the gathering. In the United Kingdom, the Faith was placed in the public arena when Bahá’í representatives joined members of eight other major religions for an interfaith celebration of the new millennium in the Royal Gallery of Westminster Palace, where, in the presence of Royalty, the Prime Minister, the Archbishop of Canterbury and other distinguished persons, reference was made to the gathering of the "nine major religions of the United Kingdom." In Germany, for the first time Bahá’ís were included in an interfaith dialogue. This reversed a longstanding attitude of Christian denominations which had avoided contact with the Faith owing to a book written by a Covenant-breaker and issued by a Lutheran publishing house in 1981. The remedy was provided in a 600-page scholarly rebuttal written by three Bahá’ís and published in 1995 by a leading non-Bahá’í firm, representing a signal victory for the German Bahá’í community. An English translation was published in the last year of the Plan.

Interfaith dialogue took an unusual form when at Lambeth Palace in 1998 representatives of the World Bank and of nine major religions held a meeting which led to the formation of the World Faiths Development Dialogue. The announced aim of the Dialogue is to try to bridge the gap between the faith communities and the World Bank in order to enable them to work together more effectively to overcome world poverty. The frequency and wide embrace of interfaith gatherings represent a new phenomenon in the relations among the religions. It is apparent that the various religious communities are striving to achieve the spirit of friendliness and fellowship among themselves that Bahá’u’lláh urged His followers to show towards the followers of other religions.

The concentrated endeavour of the Bahá’í community in these four years occurred at a time when the wider society grappled with a torrent of conflicting interests. In this brief but intensely dynamic span, the forces at work in the Bahá’í community and throughout the world proceeded with relentless acceleration. In their wake was revealed more conspicuously than before the social phenomena to which Shoghi Effendi alluded. More than six decades ago, he had called attention to the "simultaneous processes of rise and of fall, of integration and of disintegration, of order and chaos, with their continuous and reciprocal reactions on each other." These twin processes did not continue in isolation from those specific to the Bahá’í community but at times proceeded in such a way as to invite, as has already been shown, the direct involvement of the Faith.

They seemed to run at opposite sides of the same corridor of time. On one side, wars fomented by religious, political, racial or tribal conflict raged in some 40 places; sudden, total breakdown of civil order paralyzed a number of countries; terrorism as a political weapon became epidemic; a surge of international criminal networks raised alarm. Yet on the opposite side, attempts at implementing and elaborating the methods of collective security were earnestly made, bringing to mind one of Bahá’u’lláh’s prescriptions for maintaining peace; a call was raised for an international criminal court to be established, another action that accords with Bahá’í expectations; to focus attention on the imperative need for an adequate system to deal with global issues, world leaders are scheduled to meet in a Millennium Summit; new methods of communications have opened the way for everyone to communicate with anyone on the planet. The economic disintegration in Asia threatened to destabilize the world economy, but it prompted efforts both to remedy the immediate situation and to find ways of bringing a sense of equity to international trade and finance. These are but a few examples of the two contrasting but interactive tendencies operating at this time, confirming Shoghi Effendi's inspired summation of the forces at work in God's greater plan, "whose ultimate objectives are the unity of the human race and the peace of all mankind."

At the conclusion of these four eventful years, we have arrived at a portentous convergence of ends and beginnings in measures of Gregorian time and the Bahá’í era. In one instance, this convergence entails the wrapping up of the twentieth century and, in the other, opens a new stage in the unfolding of the Formative Age. The perspective from these two frames of time prompts us to reflect on a vision of world-shaping trends that have synchronized, and to do so in the context of the insight so graphically projected by Shoghi Effendi at the inception of the Arc he conceived. During the course of the Plan, this vision assumed a brilliant clarity as the construction projects advanced on Mount Carmel, as world leaders took bold steps towards fashioning the structures of a global political peace, and as local and national Bahá’í institutions moved to new levels in their evolution.

We carry with us a sacred and enduring memory of the twentieth century that stirs our energies even as it sets our path: It is of that seminal moment in the history of humankind when the Centre of the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, during an unparalleled ministry, designed the architecture of a new World Order and when, subsequently during some of the most devastating years, the Guardian of the Faith devoted his utmost energies to raising up the structures of an Administrative System that, at the end of the century, stands before the gaze of the world in the wholeness of its essential form. We come thus to a bridge between times. The capacities developed through a century of struggle and sacrifice by a handful of intoxicated lovers of Bahá’u’lláh must now be applied to the inescapable tasks remaining to the Formative Age, whose many epochs of unremitting labour will lead to that Golden Age of our Faith when the Most Great Peace will envelop the earth.

We begin at this Ridván with a Twelve Month Plan. Brief though it is, it must and will suffice to accomplish certain vital tasks and to lay the [Page 6]

FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

ground for the next twenty-year thrust of the Master's Divine Plan. What was so carefully begun four years ago the systematic acquisition of knowledge, qualities and skills of service—must be augmented. Wherever they exist, national and regional institutes must activate to the full the programmes and systems they have adopted. New institutes must be formed where such needs have been identified. Greater steps must be taken to systematize the teaching work undertaken through individual initiative and institutional sponsorship. It is partly for this purpose that in several areas of each continent the Counsellors and the National Assemblies have established "Area Growth Programmes." The results will provide a body of experience for the benefit of future Plans. The individual, the institutions and the local community are urged to focus their attention on these essential tasks, so as to be fully prepared for the five-year enterprise to begin at Ridván 2001—an enterprise that will take the Bahá’í world to the next phase in the advancement of the process of entry by troops.

But beyond giving attention to these tasks, there is a pressing challenge to be faced: Our children need to be nurtured spiritually and to be integrated into the life of the Cause. They should not be left to drift in a world so laden with moral dangers. In the current state of society, children face a cruel fate. Millions and millions in country after country are dislocated socially. Children find themselves alienated by parents and other adults whether they live in conditions of wealth or poverty. This alienation has its roots in a selfishness that is born of materialism that is at the core of the godlessness seizing the hearts of people everywhere. The social dislocation of children in our time is a sure mark of a society in decline; this condition is not, however, confined to any race, class, nation or economic condition—it cuts across them all. It grieves our hearts to realize that in so many parts of the world children are employed as soldiers, exploited as labourers, sold into virtual slavery, forced into prostitution, made the objects of pornography, abandoned by parents centred on their own desires, and subjected to other forms of victimization too numerous to mention. Many such horrors are inflicted by the parents themselves upon their own children. The spiritual and psychological damage defies estimation. Our worldwide community cannot escape the consequences of these conditions. This realization should spur us all to urgent and sustained effort in the interests of children and the future.

Even though children's activities have been a part of past Plans, these have fallen short of the need. Spiritual education of children and junior youth are of paramount importance to the further progress of the community. It is therefore imperative that this deficiency be remedied. Institutes must be certain to include in their programmes the training of teachers of children's classes, who can make their services available to local communities. But although providing spiritual and academic education for children is essential, this represents only a part of what must go into developing their characters and shaping their personalities. The necessity exists, too, for individuals and the institutions at all levels, which is to say the community as a whole, to show a proper attitude towards children and to take a general interest in their welfare. Such an attitude should be far removed from that of a rapidly declining order.

Children are the most precious treasure a community can possess, for in them are the promise and guarantee of the future. They bear the seeds of the character of future society which is largely shaped by what the adults constituting the community do or fail to do with respect to children. They are a trust no community can neglect with impunity. An all-embracing love of children, the manner of treating them, the quality of the attention shown them, the spirit of adult behaviour toward them—these are all among the vital aspects of the requisite attitude. Love demands discipline, the courage to accustom children to hardship, not to indulge their whims or leave them entirely to their own devices. An atmosphere needs to be maintained in which children feel that they belong to the community and share in its purpose. They must lovingly but insistently be guided to live up to Bahá’í standards, to study and teach the Cause in ways that are suited to their circumstances.

Among the young ones in the community are those known as junior youth, who fall between the ages of, say, 12 and 15. They represent a special group with special needs as they are somewhat in between childhood and youth when many changes are occurring within them. Creative attention must be devoted to involving them in programmes of activity that will engage their interests, mold their capacities for teaching and service, and involve them in social interaction with older youth. The employment of the arts in various forms can be of great value in such activity.

And now we wish to address a few words to parents who bear the primary responsibility for the upbringing of their children. We appeal to them to give constant attention to the spiritual education of their children. Some parents appear to think that this is the exclusive responsibility of the community; others believe that in order to preserve the independence of children to investigate truth, the Faith should not be taught to them. Still others feel inadequate to take on such a task. None of this is correct. The beloved Master has said that "it is enjoined upon the father and mother, as a duty, to strive with all effort to train the daughter and the son," adding that, "should they neglect this matter, they shall be held responsible and worthy of reproach in the presence of the stern Lord." Independent of the level of their education, parents are in a critical position to shape the spiritual development of their children. They should not ever underestimate their capacity to mold their children's moral character. For they exercise indispensable influence through the home environment they consciously create by their love of God, their striving to adhere to His laws, their spirit of service to His Cause, their lack of fanaticism, and their freedom from the corrosive effects of backbiting. Every parent who is a believer in the Blessed Beauty has the responsibility to conduct herself or himself in such a way as to elicit the spontaneous obedience to parents to which the Teachings attach so high a value. Of course, in addition to the efforts made at home, the parents should support Bahá’í children's classes provided by the community. It must be borne in mind, too, that children live in a world that informs them of harsh realities through direct experience with the horrors already described or through the unavoidable outpourings of the mass media. Many of them are thereby forced to mature prematurely, and among these are those who look for standards and discipline by which to guide their lives. Against this gloomy backdrop of a decadent society, Bahá’í children should shine as the emblems of a better future.

Our expectations are alive with the thought that the Continental Counsellors will gather in the Holy Land in January 2001 on an occasion that will celebrate the occupation by the International Teaching Centre of its permanent seat on the Hill of God. Auxiliary Board members from throughout the world will participate with them in what will undoubtedly turn out to be one of the historic happenings of the Formative Age. The coming together of such a constellation of Bahá’í officers must by its very nature produce untold benefits for a community which will again be close to ending one Plan and embarking on another. As we contemplate the implications, we turn our hearts in gratitude to the very dear Hands of the Cause of God ‘Alí-Akbar Furútan and ‘Alí Muhammad Varqá, who by their residence in the Holy Land hold aloft the torch of service which the beloved Guardian lit in their hearts.

With this Twelve Month Plan, we cross a bridge to which we shall never return. We launch this Plan in the earthly absence of Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum. She remained with us to the virtual end of the twentieth century as a beam of the light that had shone during that incomparable period in the history of the human race. In the Tablets of the Divine Plan, the Master lamented His inability to travel throughout the world to raise the Divine call, and in the intensity of His disappointment He penned the hope: "Please God, ye may achieve it." Amatu’l-Bahá responded with boundless energy, touching far-flung spots of the earth in the 185 countries that were privileged to receive her inimitable gifts. Her example, which will retain forever its splendour, illumines the hearts of thousands upon thousands throughout the planet. Against the inadequacy of any other gesture, might we all not dedicate our humble efforts during this Plan to the memory of one for whom teaching was the primary purpose, the perfect joy of life?

The Universal House of Justice [Page 7]

UN resolution notes conditions in Iran

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights recently adopted a resolution that noted broad progress on human rights in Iran, but expressed concern about discrimination against religious minorities—noting particularly the "unabated pattern of persecution against the Bahá’ís, including death sentences and arrests" in that country.

Adopted April 18 at the commission's annual meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, the resolution welcomed seven specific points of progress on human rights in Iran. Some of those points regard freedom of speech, the status of women and openness in the electoral system. The commission's vote on the resolution was 22 in favor and 20 against with 11 abstentions.

This action at the United Nations came soon after our National Spiritual Assembly sent a letter asking Bahá’ís across the United States to take specific actions in support of a different resolution in Congress, which would restate the U.S. government's condemnation of "the repressive anti-Bahá’í policies and actions" of the Iranian government.

Look in the "What's New" list in the National Spiritual Assembly's Administrative Web Site (www.usbnc.org) for Internet links to: The full text of the UN commission's resolution, along with a UN press release. The full text of the pending resolutions in Congress, along with a related letter from the National Spiritual Assembly to Local Spiritual Assemblies in the U.S.

The congressional resolution, introduced in the House as H. Con. Res. 257 and in the Senate as S. Con. Res. 57, presents a varied list of actions Iran has taken against Bahá’ís solely on account of their religion since the early 1980s. That list includes executions, imprisonments, expulsions from universities and government jobs, confiscation of Bahá’í properties, and a sweep of arrests in an attempt to close the Bahá’í Institute of Higher Education.

At present, the number of Bahá’ís in Iran under sentence of death has is four, with seven others serving prison terms—all for their religious beliefs or activities.

The U.S. resolution calls on Iran to extend to Bahá’ís the full protection of human rights as specified in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which Iran is a signatory.♦>

Enrollments April 2000 53 Since May 1, 1999 ........1,389

THE FUND May 1, 1999-April 30, 2000 Contributions received by National Treasurer Received since May 1, 1999: $19,107,200 71% of year's goal was met Goal for entire year: $27,000,000 100% of fiscal year has passed April 30, 2000

To the next level of confidence

Materials being developed to help Bahá’ís share our message with Christian seekers

BY TOM MENNILLO

Nourses and materials on teaching the Faith effectively to Christian seekers are being readied as the result of a remarkable gathering in Dallas last December and a follow-up meeting the next month at the Bahá’í National Center.

The Dallas symposium, hosted by the Southern Regional Bahá’í Council, drew many outstanding scholars and authors on Bahá’í-Christian subjects and experienced teachers of Christian seekers, said Kambiz Rafraf of Dallas, Texas, a member of the Regional Bahá’í Council for the Southern States.

Three members of the Southern Council and a member of the Western Council participated, as did David Young of the National Spiritual Assembly and Bill Geissler and Ethel Crawford of the National Teaching Committee.

The consultation was held in response to a challenge identified by the Southern Council through a survey of the Spiritual Assemblies in the region, Rafraf said. The survey indicated that the friends often lack confidence in teaching people of a Christian background.

Rafraf said the Council asked the focus group to consider skills that would aid Bahá’ís in their teaching efforts and to identify the tools and materials that might be developed, including pamphlets and other publications. The role of regional training institutes in delivering appropriate courses of study was a key topic of discussion.

A recent Dallas gathering included a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, members of the Southern Regional Council and the National Teaching Committee and scholars interested in teaching the Faith to those of Christian background.

And despite the presence of many people with passionate opinions, consultation produced "total unanimity on virtually everything a unity of thought and spirit," said participant Gary L. Matthews of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Matthews, who has written and published several related SEE TEACHING, PAGE 30

Total cash-basis revenues and expenditures for Bahá’í National Fund May 1, 1999-April 30, 2000 $23,335,475 Revenues. (contributions, book sales, school fees etc.) $25,514,030 Expenditures (operations, capital and debt payments etc.)

Critical projects that could no longer be deferred 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

Electoral Unit boundaries shifted in advance of October Conventions

Unit boundaries for several of October's Unit Conventions have been redrawn, to maintain an equitable distribution of eligible voters or to ensure every Unit is entirely within one Regional Bahá’í Council's jurisdiction.

Distribution of adult Bahá’ís throughout the 48 continental states and the District of Columbia is reviewed each year to make certain the number of adult believers voting for delegates to the National Convention is equitably distributed.

Electoral Units whose boundaries were redrawn are listed at right. Adult believers living in the affected areas will receive letters explaining the changes. Any questions may be referred to your Regional Bahá’í Council or the Conventions Office at the Bahá’í National Center (phone 847-733-3505, e-mail).

Adjusted for numbers of eligible voters • Arizona and New Mexico: Several counties in these states were moved to Unit 124 (which had too few voters) from Units 117, 120 and 131. • California: Beverly Hills was moved to Unit 140 from Unit 141. • Florida: Palm Beach County was realigned with one Unit in the north and one in the south. This action affects Units 63 and 64. • Maryland: Some communities were moved to Unit 18 from Unit 19, which had too many voters. • South Carolina: Several Units were realigned because the number of adult believers had dedined. Fourteen delegates will be elected rather than the 17 elected in past years. • Texas: A new electoral unit was established. Some communities were moved to Units 100 and 102 from Unit 101, which had too many voters. • Washington: Two new Electoral Units were created in the Seattle area. Adjustments affect a number of voters previously assigned to Units 163, 164, 165 and 166. • West Virginia: Several counties were moved to Unit 47 from Unit 52 (which also includes parts of Kentucky and Western Virginia), which had too many voters.

Adjusted to align with regional boundaries • Unit 15 now includes only part of Pennsylvania. • Unit 48 now includes only parts of western Pennsylvania and western New York. • Unit I now includes North Dakota and part of South Dakota. • Unit 112 now includes counties in southwestern South Dakota and the Nebraska panhandle. • Unit 113 now includes counties in southeastern Wyoming and northeastern Colorado. • Unit 73 now includes counties in southern Indiana and southern Illinois. ♦ [Page 8]

BUILDING THE KINGDOM: IT’S OUR TIME

During His visit to America, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, characterized by Shoghi Effendi as the "Founder" of the American Bahá’í community, placed upon this land a mighty responsibility.

On May 1, 1912, with His own hands ‘Abdu’l-Bahá laid the cornerstone for the House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois. Later He would describe the creation of this Holiest House of Worship as marking "the inception of the Kingdom of God on earth." Today, and for all time, this sacred edifice symbolizes the charge with which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá entrusted this blessed American Bahá’í community:

"Your mission is unspeakably glorious. Should success crown your enterprise, America will assuredly evolve into a centre from which waves of spiritual power will emanate, and the throne of the Kingdom of God, will in the plentitude of its majesty and glory be firmly established."

Reflect on the station bestowed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on our House of Worship, and on the vision of Bahá’u’lláh walking on God’s Holy Mountain revealing the Tablet of Carmel, "calling into being the metropolis of the Kingdom of God on Earth." This reminds us of the significance of the day in which we live and what is yet to be, and is particularly meaningful as we prepare to celebrate the victory represented by completing the latest stage of the magnificent Mount Carmel Projects.

The Universal House of Justice states that we have already seen entry by troops in many parts of the Bahá’í world, and quotes the Guardian as saying of this process that it "will be the prelude to that long-awaited hour when a mass conversion on the part of these same nations and races, and as a direct result of a chain of events, momentous and possibly catastrophic in nature, and which cannot as yet be even dimly visualized, will suddenly revolutionize the fortunes of the Faith, derange the equilibrium of the world, and reinforce a thousandfold the numerical strength as well as the material power and the spiritual authority of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh." "This is the time," states the Universal House of Justice, "for which we must now prepare ourselves; this is the hour whose coming it is our task to hasten."

Building on the Foundation

Returning to the Holy Land after his visit to America, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sent us His Tablets of the Divine Plan, establishing the mission of the American Bahá’í community, and directing our first steps in achieving that mission. The many tasks now before us will not be easy: as the "chief trustees" of the Master’s Divine Plan, we have inescapable obligations to our Supreme Body, to our sister national communities and to each other, all across this specially blessed land. Our effort to meet these goals will, in and of itself, through the operation of the spiritual forces at the heart of the Cause, hasten the advancement of the fortunes of our Faith.

Our capacity must expand in order to foster and accommodate dramatic growth, which is fast approaching. Therefore, with the blessing of the Universal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States has designed a Comprehensive Development Plan to take the American Bahá’í community to our next level of advancement, maturation and service to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.

Comprehensive Development Plan

• • COMPONENTS OF THE KINGDOM PROJECT**

• **Mashriqu’l-Adhkár:** The Mother Temple and Gardens, Temple Visitor Center, Bahá’í Home for the Aged
• **Hazíratu’l-Quds:** National Hazíratu’l-Quds, National Archives
• **Advancing the Process of Entry by Troops:** Media Initiative, Bahá’í Publishing, Bahá’í-Owned Schools
• **Providing for the Future:** Strategic Reserves, Establishing an Endowment

The goal of the National Spiritual Assembly’s Comprehensive Development Plan is to build on the spiritual foundation laid by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and to "prepare ourselves," as instructed by the Universal House of Justice, "for... the hour whose coming it is our task to hasten."

The successful completion of this effort will ensure the restoration and protection of the House of Worship, the expansion of the dependencies of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, the redesign of the Hazíratu’l-Quds, the creation of appropriate archive facilities and the fundamental development of the Bahá’í-owned schools. It will also continue and expand the media initiative and other national teaching efforts, create strategic reserves to give our community the flexibility to respond promptly to opportunities for significant growth, and begin the establishment of an endowment to protect Bahá’í properties across the United States.

A financial commitment of $60 million over the next five years is required to achieve these initiatives. The goals of the plan represent investments in our future, and demand sacrifices above and beyond. [Page 9]the regular contributions needed to carry on the annual operations of our national community and our ongoing commitments to the international Funds of the Faith.

Preparing America’s Spiritual Home

Even as we work and pray for dramatic growth in our community, we must acknowledge the sobering reality that many of our national properties are in desperate need of repair and expansion even to meet today’s needs, much less the needs of a much larger community.

The most visible national institutions today in the eyes of the public are the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, a complex of buildings and lands that includes the House of Worship and its gardens as well as the Bahá’í Home for the Aged; the Hazíratu’l-Quds, seat of our National Spiritual Assembly; and our National Center.

Mashriqu’l-Adhkár

‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, “Not only does the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár have an effect upon those who built it but upon the whole world. . . . Whosoever arises for the service of this building shall be assisted with great power from His Supreme Kingdom, and upon him spiritual and heavenly blessings shall descend which shall fill his heart with wonderful consolation and enlighten his eyes by beholding the Glorious and Eternal God.”

The Mother Temple

The Master guided the early believers in the development of the “Holiest House of Worship,” calling it “the most important matter and the greatest divine institute.” The Guardian directed the completion of the Temple, naming it “the most important teacher of the Faith” and writing of “the vast, the immeasurable potentialities with which this Mother Temple of the West . . . has been endowed.” Sadly, however, due to decades of insufficient funds, our glorious teacher is truly endangered.

The white shell has been damaged by wind and weather, as have the 974 monumental stairs. The terrace, or walkway, around the bottom of the stairs has been the victim of water damage, which has in turn eaten away at the foundation of the Temple itself. The lacy surface of the dome, rising high above the lakefront, has also deteriorated. The Development Plan will restore the major structural elements and repair the water-damaged terrace and load-bearing walls.

In addition, the gardens will be returned to the Guardian’s own original designs. Two years of research have pieced together the design of the original landscape, which has devolved over time, and have created a thorough picture of what is necessary to restore the beauty and dignity of the gardens as envisioned by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Guardian. When the gardens are completed, the vistas of the House of Worship will be enhanced in new ways by a profusion of lush, fragrant plants whose leaves and colored flowers will enliven the experience of this sacred place for decades to come.

Temple Visitor Center

The devotional spaces of the House of Worship welcome many thousands of visitors each year, and awaken feelings of renewed commitment or the spark of inquiry in countless hearts. The Guardian made it abundantly clear that meetings in the Temple itself should be “purely devotional in character” and that the auditorium is dedicated to prayer and meditation. Therefore, it is essential to have a complementary facility where visitors can learn more about the history and principles of the Bahá’í Faith through books, inspirational talks and friendly consultation.

The basement space currently allocated for this purpose is already inadequate for the 250,000 annual visitors, and it is ill-equipped to welcome the greater numbers expected with the massive expansion of our community.

Our National Spiritual Assembly has decided to take advantage of the planned changes at the House of Worship itself to create a new, more appropriate Visitor Center, adjacent to the main parking lot and with a full view of the majestic Temple. A large exhibit space with abundant natural light, flexible auditorium and meeting spaces, video viewing rooms and a bookstore/café will all combine to create a welcoming atmosphere where visiting Bahá’ís and seekers alike can find answers to their questions and nurture their spiritual selves.

Bahá’í Home for the Aged

The first dependency of our Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, the Bahá’í Home for the Aged, has been in service since 1958. Since Shoghi Effendi first urged our National Spiritual Assembly to found the Home, it has distinguished itself for the caring attention given the elderly who reside there. However, the Home has slowly become outdated and does not offer the modern-day standard for such facilities, severely curtailing its ability to attract new residents.

While a major expansion is anticipated, our National Assembly has committed to immediate modernization and improvement in basic building elements to provide a safer, more comfortable environment for the residents. In addition, the grounds, visible through the large windows of the Home’s common area, will be landscaped to provide a more colorful view and to make possible recreation programs involving gardening, art and other pursuits. These combined enhancements to the environment will make the current residents feel more embraced by the spirit of the Faith and will continue to attract future residents.

Future issues of The American Bahá’í will explore the other components of the Kingdom Project and provide news updates. ♦

Convention is springboard for the project

BY TOM MENNILLO

It truly is our time, if the response at the Bahá’í National Convention to the $60 million Building the Kingdom comprehensive development project is any indication.

Delegates in the main sessions, as well as visitors who packed a workshop room, warmly embraced the effort informally known as the Kingdom Project. Contributions and pledges were made on the spot, and everyone wanted to know how they could take the message home.

The Kingdom Project was introduced by William Roberts, treasurer of the National Spiritual Assembly, who said that, more than meeting capital needs, it is about “increasing awareness of the joy of giving, the power of creation.”

Over the past 20 years, he said, the National Assembly has faced a quandary: a growing U.S. community with “costs . . . at one level and contributions at another.”

The National Assembly has managed to meet international commitments. But at the same time, the Assembly has had to delay some fundamental needs at home and pass up some opportunities.

“Now it is time to really look at addressing national needs,” Roberts said, “and the Universal House of Justice, which we consulted, agrees.”

Young Bahá’ís highlighted a ceremony at the House of Worship, launching both the Kingdom Project and garden restoration. At left, Baanu Ferdowsi of Nashville, Tennessee, chants “Blessed is the Spot” in Arabic; at right, Sean Cortes of Chicago turns one of the first shovelfuls of dirt. Photos by Vladimir Shilov

He stated the Kingdom Project’s monetary goals: to receive pledges totaling $60 million—over and above regular contributions—during the next two years and to see the pledges fulfilled in five years.

An inspiring video on the project was aired. Then, children’s Project Unity! mascot Liang the Lion helped hand out printed materials. People stood and clapped along as a gospel song, “Building the Kingdom,” played in the background.

As a delegate said during consultation: ‎“Kingdom’ “Kingdom”‎ will enable us to accommodate rapid growth and allow the properties to maintain the dignity they deserve. . . . It must come from our faith.”

The delegate urged his colleagues to rally around the National Assembly by promoting the project in their reports.

Non-delegates also sought ways to help fan the Building the Kingdom flames. In a workshop conducted by core advisers to the project, along with Kingdom Project Coordinator Rebecca Wilson, they found out how.

After the project’s many facets were explained, Wilson outlined plans to inform believers around the country.

But she hastened to add that there’s plenty of room for believers to talk it up on their own.

And when they do, momentum will be on their side: During Convention, pledges of $838,000 and outright contributions exceeding $8,500 were made to Building the Kingdom. Together with previous gifts to various components of the project, plus more pledges since then, resources committed to the Kingdom Project total $8.4 million. ♦

How can I participate right now in our National Spiritual Assembly’s development plan?

• Immediate contribution: A check to “Kingdom Project” can be mailed to the Office of the Treasurer (you may use a regular Bahá’í Funds envelope).
• Pledge to be fulfilled by Ridván 2005: Contact the Kingdom Project for a brochure and pledge card.

Calling all architects, engineers and builders!

Let us know if you would like to attend a one-day seminar focusing on the next phase of conservation on the House of Worship, conducted by the Conservation Office and the Kingdom Project. Beginning with special devotions in the Mother Temple of the West, the seminar will include a look at its history, its distinctive and celebrated design and the award-winning triumph of our previous restoration work. An in-depth orientation to the condition of the Temple will disclose recent discoveries and outline immediate and long-term plans for conservation of this sacred trust of the American Bahá’í community. Contact the Kingdom Project!

KINGDOM PROJECT

Office of the Treasurer 112 Linden Ave. Wilmette, IL 60091-2839 e-mail [Page 10]

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The Bahá’í World 1998-99 Seventh Volume

$25.95 hardcover (BW99H) $13.95 softcover (BW99S)

Shoghi Effendi referred to The Bahá’í World as a “testimony to the irresistible march of the Faith and the vitality of its indomitable spirit.” In 1993 the Universal House of Justice stated that it “feels that the availability of a liberally illustrated, attractively designed annual record of Bahá’í activities will facilitate the efforts of the friends and Spiritual Assemblies to present to non-Bahá’ís at all levels of society current information about the Cause. . . .” This volume includes an update on the situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran and a progress report on the Mount Carmel Projects, with numerous color photographs throughout.

6" x 9", 352 pp.

Spiritual Institutions The Unique Nature of Bahá’í Institutions Produced for the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States

(SPIN) Bulk priced as follows:

1–9	$3.50 each
10+	$3.00 each

Combining beautiful photographs with inspiring and relevant quotes, Spiritual Institutions educates and enlightens by covering subjects including the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, the nature of Divine Institutions, Local and National Assemblies, Regional Councils and the Universal House of Justice. Additional related quotes, photographs and graphics focus on the appointed and elected Institutions, the rarefied atmosphere of Bahá’í elections, Unit Conventions and the relationship between the Institutions and the individual.

11" x 8½", 16 pp.

Compilation of Compilations Volume 3

$21.95 HC (COC3)

Continuing in the same excellent quality and format as in its previous editions, Volume 3 compiles 11 Bahá’í compilations into a single volume. Ranging from arts, community functioning, cultural diversity, teaching indigenous people, scholarship and promoting entry by troops, this volume is a convenient reference on many of today’s topical issues and a necessary addition to any home or community reference library.

5¾" x 8¾", 319 pp.

Guidance For Bahá’í Groups Reference Booklet by the Office of Community Administration and Development

$5.00 SC (GBG)

This reference booklet has been prepared for the use of Bahá’í groups and isolated believers. Although Bahá’í groups are not official administrative institutions, they perform a vital role in a Bahá’í community’s growth, development and eventual raising of a Local Spiritual Assembly. This latest guide provides valuable assistance to those friends who, while diligently striving to share the healing message of Bahá’u’lláh, are committed to developing their community by establishing a Local Spiritual Assembly.

8½" x 11", 48 pp.

Picture Postcards of the Shrine of the Báb and of the Terraces from the Bahá’í World Center

$3.95 8-pack (PCBAB)

These most recently produced postcards feature large full-color photographs of the Shrine of the Báb and the soon-to-be-completed Terraces. Produced on extra-large postcard stock, they are suitable for special greetings and invitations to seekers, yet are also large enough for matting and framing. These eight new photographs breathtakingly proclaim the gradual unfoldment of Mount Carmel’s destiny.

Each postcard is 4¾" x 6¾" [Page 11]

BAHÁ’Í DISTRIBUTION SERVICE

The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh Two-CD Set Shoghi Effendi; read by Steve Boergadine $19.95 CD (DBCD)

Identified by our National Spiritual Assembly as the first book of study in a nationwide charge to deepen our understanding of the Bahá’í writings, The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh is now available, unabridged, in audio book form. This two-CD set provides the listener with a beautiful and professional recitation of the beloved Guardian’s letter. In The Priceless Pearl, our dear Rúhíyyih Khánum reflected upon the first release of this historical letter, stating, “I remember when I first read it I had the most extraordinary feeling as if the whole universe had suddenly expanded around me. ... all the frontiers of our understanding flew outwards. ...” “However Shoghi Effendi felt in his inmost heart about his other writings, I know from his remarks that he considered he had said all he had to say, in many ways, in the Dispensation.”

Making the Crooked Straight A Contribution to Bahá’í Apologetics Udo Schaefer Nicola Towfigh Ulrich Gollmer 59.95 HC (MTCS)

Referred to in the 157 Ridván Letter from the Universal House of Justice, this significant work is a masterly constructed rebuttal of a 450-page monograph written by an embittered former Bahá’í against the Bahá’í Faith. As mentioned in its foreword, this book “has wider implications for the study of the Bahá’í Faith than what otherwise might be viewed as a localized scholarly dispute in German-speaking Europe. By way of an apologia, the reader is led into an instructive exploration of the salient and distinctive features of the sacred teachings and history of the Bahá’í Faith.” 5¾" x 8¾", 862 pp.

Days to Remember compiled by Dr. Baber Forghani $13.95 SC (DTR)

Within one cover, Days to Remember provides a most efficient guide to individuals, committees, groups and Local Assemblies in their preparation and planning of Bahá’í Holy Days, celebrations and commemorations. Each Holy Day chapter includes a substantial list of suggested readings. Several Tablets and talks of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on the topic of Naw-Rúz are published for the first time in this edition. The addition of even more passages from Bahá’í sacred writings and the inclusion of several photographs of Bahá’í holy places related to historic events of the Holy Days all assist in deepening one’s appreciation and understanding of these nine holiest of days. 6" x 8", 209 pp.

Healing Mind, Body & Soul Alan Bryson 12.95 SC (HMBS)

While encouraging readers to follow the guidance of Bahá’u’lláh to consult competent physicians, Alan Bryson explores the fascinating and often-neglected relationship between health and spirituality. Writing from the perspective of an individual Bahá’í, Bryson reviews a wide range of research findings and examines their implications to our health. Throughout the book, he combines quotes from the Bahá’í writings and from famous individuals while sharing his personal insights on such health issues as diet, spirituality, emotions, faith, virtues, prayer, stress management and “finding one’s own inherent healing potential.” 5½" x 8½", 244 pp.

The Right of God A Workbook for Understanding, Appreciating and Applying the Law of Huqúqu’lláh compiled by Dr. Allan Waters $12.95 SC (HW)

This second edition comprehensively educates the reader about fulfilling their obligation to pay “The Right of God.” Contents include extracts from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice. In addition, there are chapters on the history and development of Huqúqu’lláh, excerpts from a collection of talks on the subject, a quick reference guide for the study of the major themes and guidance for calculation and for making necessary provisions in one’s will. 11¼" x 8¼", 164 pp.

The Right of God CD-ROM a companion to The Right of God workbook created by Dr. Allan Waters & Negin Golestani $12.95 CD (RGCDR)

This companion to The Right of God workbook contains a Huqúqu’lláh calculator, seven examples, a worksheet showing the value of 19 mithqáls in multiple currencies, an expense-calculation worksheet and a cash-flow worksheet. System requirements: Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Excel 97 or Lotus 1-2-3.

FOR CHILDREN

Animal Tales Jennifer Lemmon music composed by Colin Webber $21.95 CS (ATCS)

This double cassette serves as a companion to the Animal Tales books or can be used alone. It consists of 12 entertaining and captivating stories that reveal to children what virtues sound like, look like and feel like. Professionally produced and attractively packaged in a “book-style” case, Animal Tales will make a treasured addition to your children’s audio library or an ideal and most appreciated gift.

Dino-Bone, Dino-Bone, Have You Heard? Songs For Young Children Kim Ivy Milai $14.00 CD (DINOCD)

This new music CD for children contains active songs for dancing and jumping, quiet songs for sleeping and rest time, and multicultural songs for exposure to various cultures. Kim Milai brings to this project a master’s degree in music as well as 10 years’ experience in teaching music in public schools. Dino-Bone is sure to become a new favorite for children as well as the young in spirit.

Let Us Build A Peaceful World Together Rosa Vasseghi $5.95 SC (LBPWT)

Combining fictional narrative with Bahá’í prayers and holy writings, this children’s story tells the tale of a diverse group of students who live at a school within the City of Peace. One day the principal lovingly informs the students that they must go out into the world to teach the healing message of oneness and to lend their share to the lifting of the spirit of humanity. That evening the children, frightened by the charge they have been given and anxious about their possible departure from the city, share with each other the stories of pain and suffering that had brought them to this school. Through this sharing they also realize that significant people played a role in providing each of them succor as they find the strength to venture forth to proclaim the teachings for a new age. 5½" x 8½", 68 pp. [Page 12]The Singapore Bahá’í Studies Review, Volume 4, Number 1 Challenges for the New Millennium $12.95 SC (SBSR41)

The Singapore Bahá’í Studies Review promotes religious harmony by providing a forum to discuss how the application of the principles of the Bahá’í Faith can assist in solving contemporary problems as they relate to the cultural traditions of Asia and of the world. This volume includes papers on the role of religion in the rise of the women’s movement in Singapore, the status of moral values in modern society, moral education in schools, parallels between Bahá’í and Confucian approaches to human nature, and the study of the modern interfaith movement and its prospects for the future.

9" x 6", 276 pp.

A Concise Encyclopedia of the Bahá’í Faith Peter Smith 20.95 SC (CEBF)

Presenting from a clear and knowledgeable perspective, Dr. Smith traces the origins and development of the Bahá’í Faith from its beginning in 19th-century Iran to its modern position as the second-most-widespread religion in the world. Employing a readable and concise style, he provides a balanced overview of the Bahá’í sacred scriptures, doctrines and practices, social teachings and organization. Its extensive cross-referencing, a chronology and a thematic index and bibliography enhance this single-volume encyclopedia. Fully illustrated with maps and photographs.

5½" x 8½", 396 pp.

What’s In It For Me? An Introduction to the Bahá’í Faith Phyllis G.L. Chew $8.00 SC (WFM)

Directed to people investigating the Bahá’í Faith or to those searching for answers to the complex social problems of today, this book briefly reviews the Bahá’í blueprint as it relates to the divine remedies revealed by Bahá’u’lláh. While acknowledging the human tendency to favor one’s own self-interest, an aspect that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá states “is kneaded into the very clay of man,” Chew addresses the topics of: “The Search for Wealth, Happiness and Security.”

5½" x 8¼", 174 pp.

Angus From the Heart Patricia Verge $22.95 SC (ANGUS)

This biography shares the life story of a man who transcended childhood loss, poverty and alcoholism to become beloved by people throughout the Americas. An outstanding member of the Canadian Bahá’í community, Angus Cowan had special ties to America’s original peoples. His story provides heartfelt reflection, insight and inspiration into one’s own service to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. One excerpt from a recent literary review stated, “[The book] brought me to tears many times. It inspired me. It has caused me to reflect on my own life and relationship to the great Cause of God.”

6" x 9", 352 pp.

MUSIC

The Messengers Produced by Jack Lenz and Ron Allen Composed by Ron Allen; assisted by Jack Lenz $18.00 CD (MCD)

The Messengers is an inspiring and artistically impressive tribute to the Prophets of God Who, from time immemorial, have shed the light of divine guidance upon the world of humanity. It combines diverse instrumentals with subtle vocals, utilizing the human voice as more of a wind instrument than lyrical tool. Each selection is devoted to a different Messenger of God and musically reflects the unique cultural flavor of the time in which He appeared. The CD includes a brief description of what inspired the musical style of each piece, as well as a short history of each Prophet.

Evenin’ Tide Salt River Trio $15.00 CD (ETCD)

Mike and Bev Rogers and Lee Hosack have long entertained Bahá’í communities across the United States. This CD reflects the folk roots of this acoustic trio based along the North Atlantic seacoast. It features clear and distinctive vocal harmonies woven with acoustic guitar and the unique harmonica style of Mike Rogers. Three selections—“O Son of Spirit,” “The Remover of Difficulties” and “Healing Prayer”—are appropriate for the use at 19 Day Feasts.

Who Is Writing The Future Produced by Jack Lenz and Kevan McKenzie $18.00 CD (WWFCD)

This newest release from the heart and mind of Jack Lenz represents, as he states, “all that I don’t know about God and the soul.” Principally inspired by the life of Bahá’u’lláh and the birth and subsequent illness of Lenz’s daughter, this musical expression defies simple classification. Reflecting aspects of world music, gospel, pop, ancient Eastern melodies and traditional African rhythms, Who is Writing The Future achieves its author’s aim to “inspire other souls on their journey to the presence of the Beloved.” This CD is packaged with a copy of the Bahá’í International Community’s statement Who is Writing The Future?

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Bahá’í Distribution Service • 4703 Fulton Industrial Blvd • Atlanta, GA 30336 call us • 800-999-9019 • toll free [Page 13]

Rich & Noble, too!

Liang Pocket Paper Action Figure!

“O MY SERVANT! The best of men are they that earn a livelihood by their calling and spend upon themselves and upon their kindred for the love of God, the Lord of all worlds.” —Bahá’u’lláh

Activity by the Office of the Treasurer

Bahá’u’lláh teaches us that we should find a job we feel we can do well. The world has many different kinds of jobs, all of which are important. For example, a schoolteacher helps kids learn how to read, do math and get along with other kids.

When we work, we take care of our families and ourselves by making sure we have food, clothes and shelter or a home. All of these things keep us and others healthy, safe and strong.

You will need:

• Crayons or markers
• Construction paper
• Glue or paste
• Scissors

Directions: Glue or paste this activity to a piece of construction paper. When dry, color and cut along the light outside lines. For Liang the Lion cut along his outside line.

Liang the Lion

Papa Liang

Dr. Liang

Builder Liang

Farmer Liang

Chef Liang

Musical Liang

• How does each of these jobs help people?
• What job would you like to have?
• How will your job help others?

For subscriptions to BRILLIANT STAR, call Bahá’í Distribution Service at 800-999-9019 or see page 31 to subscribe. [Page 14]

Road trip to Wilmette

Nashville student travels with friends to make her own discovery of the Temple

Nine youths from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, traveled last summer to Wilmette to visit the Mother Temple of the West. Here is one youth’s account of this moving journey.

BY SHEILA R. MISRA

After nearly four hours of praying, consulting, discussing, and praying some more, we set out in two cars from Nashville. Our motto: Wilmette or bust!

The journey took more than 11 hours. Once in town, we decided to park a few blocks away, so that we could approach the Temple by foot. Only one of those in my car had been to the Temple before. Wanting to enhance our experience, he suggested that we close our eyes as we rode around Wilmette. I did so.

I got out of the car and was greeted by an excited “Did you see it?! Did you see it?!” from the other car. I, of course, had not seen the Temple yet, but I had a composite in my mind from the countless pictures I had seen.

However, nothing compares to seeing the Temple in person, as I soon found out. After we were all assembled, we began making our way to the Temple. I decided to part from the group and venture there by myself.

The road was lined with trees on both sides, so I was kept in suspense for a long time. I had walked about five minutes when I caught my first glimpse of the Temple. It was only a silhouette behind the trees, but I was caught so off-guard that I stopped dead in my tracks.

Many Bahá’ís had told me stories of how emotional it was for them to see the Temple for the first time, and these stories cluttered my thoughts. As a person who is generally stoic, I hoped that I would be able to contain myself. I took a deep breath and began walking again.

I did not know how much farther it was. The Temple was still only a silhouette behind the trees. My heart began beating faster and faster.

Finally, about a block away, I saw the Temple for the first time, completely unmasked by the trees. Again, I was frozen in my tracks. “Oh ... my ... God” was all I ‎wasable was able‎ to utter. Suddenly, I was struck by a deep sense of urgency—I felt that if I did not get to the Temple soon, I was surely going to explode.

I picked up my pace. Soon I was running, faster and faster—faster than I had run in a long time. I entered through the back side of the gardens and desperately tried to find the entrance to the Temple. I saw the beautiful white stairs, and I was running so fast I felt that my feet were not even touching the ground anymore.

I leapt up the stairs as quickly as I could, but stopped on the very top stair. Once there, I cautiously approached the Temple, and laid my hands on the cool concrete. Immediately, I felt a warmth circulating between the Temple and my hands.

Finally, I ventured inside and circumambulated the Temple twice. I made my way to the center, sat down, and looked up. There I saw the Greatest Name. A deep sense of calmness and complete and utter peace came over me. I closed my eyes and began meditating ... and finally opened them again 45 minutes later.

It seemed that time had stood still during that time, and the Temple shall remain that way in my mind—frozen in time. I have come to conclude that words cannot fully describe the glory and sheer grandeur of this most holy of places on the continent. ◆

Instant communication!

Did you know several Bahá’í e-mail lists exist just for youth? To subscribe, send your complete name, city and state of residence, and Bahá’í ID number to the address listed.

Bahá’í Youth (International)

Bahá’í College Students

Youth in the Northwest

Youth in the Southern States

Coordinators and Leaders of Bahá’í Youth Workshops

In addition, several other regional and area-wide e-mail lists have been set up for youth. To look for one in your area, visit the Web site (http://bounty.bcca.org/~cvoogt/) and select “mailing lists.” You may be surprised at what you find!

Note: Please check with the Office of Pioneering before you respond to any international traveling teaching opportunities by e-mail. ◆

Showing moral support in Arizona

The Bahá’í Club at the University of Arizona in Tucson showed their appreciation to more than 45 members of the student government at a special “Night of Appreciation,” offering praises, gifts and yummy Persian food. Of course, the event was an excellent opportunity to teach about the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, and the audience was eager, asking many questions and taking many pamphlets. One officer, surprised by this unique expression of thanks, commented, “I have been (here) for three years and no one and no club has ever done anything like this for (us) and I can’t begin to thank you for your initiative and kindness.” Once again, Bahá’í youths demonstrate in their deeds the potency of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh!

TRUE WEALTH

O YE THAT PRIDE YOURSELVES ON MORTAL RICHES! Know ye in truth that wealth is a mighty barrier between the seeker and his desire, the lover and his beloved. The rich, but for a few, shall in no wise attain the court of His presence nor enter the city of content and resignation. Well is it then with him, who, being rich, is not hindered by his riches from the eternal kingdom, nor deprived by them of imperishable dominion. By the Most Great Name! The splendor of such a wealthy man shall illuminate the dwellers of heaven even as the sun enlightens the people of the earth!

—Bahá’u’lláh, Hidden Word No. 53 from the Persian

SUMMER SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

• Bosch Bahá’í School (California)
• Green Acre Bahá’í School (Maine)
• Louhelen Bahá’í School (Michigan)
• Little Pond Retreat (Pennsylvania): A meeting place for the visual, literary and performing arts on a small farm just outside Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is looking for three individuals interested in serving as summer interns.

INTERESTED?

Office of Youth Affairs Bahá’í National Center 1233 Central St. Evanston, IL 60201 phone 847-733-3499 e-mail

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE ...

The National Spiritual Assembly has established an Office of Youth Affairs at the Bahá’í National Center. Among other things, the office will provide expert study, advise the National Assembly on youth matters, and work closely with regional youth committees. [Page 15]

MEDIA CAMPAIGN, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

More than 41,000 others have visited the Web site due to the media campaign exposure.

Seekers in more than 24 other countries have also inquired about the Faith, primarily through the Internet. Those inquiries are routinely forwarded to the respective National Spiritual Assembly for a follow-up.

The Universal House of Justice challenged the American Bahá’í community “to effect a significant advance in the process of entry by troops ... based on well-conceived plans ... animated by the urgency to act.” The response by the American public to the media campaign has been positive, 24 hours a day, and offers the challenge to local Bahá’í communities to initiate local plans to prepare the way for large-scale entry into the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.

1-800-22-UNITE • Making It Work in Your Community
How your community can join Assign a retrieval contact person who will be responsible for your community’s seeker response system. Establish your coverage area and research what ZIP codes you will be covering. Complete the application form located in the Administrative Web Site (www.usbnc.org). Look for the red phone. OR: call The National Teaching Committee (phone 847-733-3497) for an application. You will receive, within 10-15 business days, a voice-mail box number and password along with instructions for retrieving calls.	Useful Hints PLEASE delete your seeker calls after you have confidently transcribed the information. If you need to save a message, listen to the call, then hang up and the call will be placed in your “Saved Messages” for 15 days. After 15 days the call will automatically be deleted. When you access your voice-mail box again you will have the choice of listening to “New Messages” or “Saved Messages.” At that time please transcribe your “Saved Messages” and delete them from the system. Please do not save your messages as “New,” or the call will “bounce back” to your Bahá’í National Center five days after being placed in your voice-mail box, and will be logged as UNRETRIEVED. It will be re-forwarded to your voicemail box one additional time. If the call continues to “bounce back” it will be forwarded to your Regional Bahá’í Council for follow-up.
800UNITE Office • Phone 847-733-3497 • E-mail

Figures and factors

Tabulation of the numbers of inquiries received by communities and area campaigns shows that New York City, the City of the Covenant, leads the nation with 402 inquiries. A total of 3,000 more inquiries were made at the 15 localities with the next highest responses, and the next 35 communities received 3,200 more inquiries. Nearly 1,100 localities have received at least one inquiry.

Known enrollments stemming from exposure to the media campaign are also on the rise, with 55 enrollments reported from 35 communities in 22 states, small town to big city. Most of those came in the latter half of the past Bahá’í year.

The National Teaching Committee has continued to review the effectiveness of the national media campaign since Americans began responding in increasing numbers to the broad-based national campaign in October 1999. While many well-organized, systematic and sustainable local media campaigns are under way, the current analysis (based on patterns of calling associated with time, geographic distribution etc.) indicates that about 80% of seekers are responding to national broadcasts.

The same general pattern holds true on the Internet. An ongoing survey of visitors to the publicly advertised Web site (www.us.bahai.org) shows that about half the visitors in the past several months are not Bahá’ís. Of these, about 80% are visiting the Web site as a direct response to advertisements on television, the Internet or other media.

The number of non-Bahá’í visitors to the Web site is far higher than the number who call 1-800-22-UNITE. Counting only those who are visiting due to the media campaign, the number of Web site visitors is twice or three times the number of phone callers.

In addition to video products, Bahá’í communities have access to downloadable Fireside Development Programs for the videos, as well as a newsletter for seekers, Light of Unity, available for their local use. In development are a new teaching magazine, new print ads, radio spots and Internet ads.

New releases

Three new videotapes for proclamation and teaching of the Bahá’í message were released this spring:

• We Are One, which highlights aspects of the Faith that may bring more responses from a “country” audience.
• I Am A Bahá’í, which features Bahá’ís telling how they came to the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.
• Latinos And The Bahá’í Faith, which presents the Faith to a Hispanic audience.

Soon to be released are productions that speak to an American Indian audience, a video on the spiritual education of children, and a new production on unity in diversity.

In development is a production on the station and claims of Bahá’u’lláh.

Learning as we go

The National Teaching Committee is also incorporating lessons learned from earlier efforts in the campaign. The Spring 2000 media purchase, for example, is focused on 60-second commercials, afternoon, late-night and weekend time slots with time purchased on Black Entertainment Television (BET), the Odyssey Channel and the TV Guide Channel.

The WGN SuperStation, which has been responsible for a large number of responses, is unfortunately sold out for spring and summer. Also, because this is an election year, time on major networks is at a premium and generally unavailable to our broadcasts until mid-November.

Early findings indicate that for national broadcasts, 60-second commercials are far more effective on a response-per-dollar basis than 30-second commercials. The additional length allows promotion of the free literature offer of The Bahá’í magazine.

Commercials generally tend to be more effective than 30-minute videos, but this is not universally true. Some channels and time slots work very well for 30-minute programs. In such cases it is worthwhile to continue them.

On the whole, research to date indicates that exposure on the WGN SuperStation was very effective with the commercials, and the TV Guide channel a little less so. BET and the Odyssey Channel did relatively well with the 30-minute programs.

The usual assumption is that the networks with the largest audiences are the best. Yet campaign results have shown that this is not necessarily true, if cost per response is used as the standard.

Prime time is generally not the most effective national time slot for Bahá’í programming. Results indicate the most effective times for the national programming have been in the afternoons, late nights and weekends.

Prime time is generally not the most effective national time slot for Bahá’í programming. Results indicate the most effective times for the national programming have been in the afternoons, late nights and weekends.

The most effective video aired this year overall was The Power of Prayer, followed by Family: The Seeds of World Peace and The Power of Race Unity. However, these differences were not dramatic.

Seeker response systems

To maximize the successful follow-up on people whose interest is captured by the broadcast Message, the national media campaign seeker response system is continually being refined to improve the speed with which local Bahá’ís contact each inquirer.

An enhancement to the 1-800 phone system, to begin integration shortly after Ridván, will feature automatic routing of seeker calls to local communities, eliminating delays. The new system will feature optional access to seeker phone calls and requests through the Internet, as well as automatic tabulation of key data for national and local use. In addition, the new system will offer greater opportunity for experimentation with new scripts and other features to encourage seeker response.

The vast majority of visitors like the public Web site (www.us.bahai.org) and say positive things about the Faith. But few of them choose to take further steps, such as requesting a call-back or other contact with the Bahá’ís. One new feature of the Web site will be an online course on the Faith for seekers. The Aguila del Cielo regional training institute in Central Texas is also developing a course for seekers.

For the past year, the campaign has been airing 30-minute video productions The Power of Prayer, Family: The Seeds of World Peace, The Power of Race Unity and a selection of 30- and 60-second television commercials based on the same themes as the video productions.

Several new productions were released just before Ridván, and others are near completion or being developed.

As successful as the media campaign has been in creating positive impressions of the Faith, the National Spiritual Assembly has placed a renewed emphasis on community building in its One Year Plan. The Assembly is stressing the need for communities to demonstrate the unity of the Cause in order to capture the hearts searching for the message of Bahá’u’lláh as evidenced by the larger numbers of seekers in the United States. [Page 16]

Outreach brings adoptive children from Ethiopia

BY TOM MENNILLO

An Ethiopian emigré’s quest to aid her native village has evolved into an international project spearheaded by Chester, Vermont, Bahá’í Jayne Gallagher.

It was during a visit with a friend from Ethiopia that Gallagher learned of the emigré’s “remarkable efforts in a small village in the province of Tigray, Ethiopia.”

The woman had emigrated to the United States as an adult, become an American citizen, and earned a living. But never far from her thoughts were the people she had left behind in a small, primitive village.

She told Gallagher that the continuing war with Eritrea is increasing the number of orphans daily. It stands at about 50,000, and many live in caves or without any shelter.

Because of circumstances, the woman said, these children have little hope for a permanent family within the Ethiopian community.

The two women discussed the option of placing these children for adoption into American families. The emigré would research Ethiopian laws and Gallagher would research American laws, and they would proceed only if the Ethiopian government supported their efforts.

That support was obtained, said Gallagher, with the proviso that the adopted come from the ranks of the homeless, not from orphanages.

The government makes the selections, and Gallagher said she has been impressed by the integrity of officials. In return, she said, the government has complimented her for “doing things the way you are supposed to.”

On the U.S. end, Vermont officials steered Gallagher to a woman licensed to handle adoptions. The woman was skeptical that African children—ranging in age from newborn to 15—could find homes in what Gallagher calls “the whitest state in the Union.” But a small ad published locally produced 43 phone calls within 24 hours.

From a simple idea and tireless effort by volunteers in both countries, 28 adoptive families had been found by this spring.

Gallagher said that because of the volunteer assistance and the mutually respectful relationship with Ethiopian authorities, the cost of bringing these children to America is much smaller than normal for international adoptions.

Plans are also being made to dig wells within a half-hour of Ethiopian villages to improve health conditions—and to allow female children to go to school with their brothers, instead of having to walk up to six hours each way for their traditional water-bearing task.

A preschool has been started that Gallagher hopes can be expanded to accommodate other grades as the pupils get older.

And she is working with the National Spiritual Assembly of Ethiopia through its secretary, Asfaw Tessema, to develop Bahá’í centers in villages.

Gallagher left April 24 on her fifth trip to Ethiopia. Lifetime cable TV network provided equipment so she could film her experiences for a possible television special.

She didn’t know where to find the time to film in the midst of all her efforts. But she dearly wants to show how ordinary Americans can make a ‎differnece difference‎.

“If we can raise today’s children with the belief that the world is one and all of mankind its citizens, this may be the generation that ends prejudice and hate,” said Gallagher.

Jayne Gallagher may be contacted by telephone or fax at 802-875-2682 or written at Chester, VT 05143. ♦

‘Town Meeting’ brings home relevancy of gender equality

Bahá’í solutions on domestic violence shine in public light

INFORMATION FROM STEVEN GONZALES

Bahá’í communities in the Phoenix, Arizona, area again used the “town meeting” format to bring together community leaders as well as present to the public the Bahá’í teachings on solutions to violence.

The meeting, held Dec. 3, 1999, at Kerr Cultural Center in Scottsdale, focused on “Solutions to Domestic Violence.” It brought together anti-violence workers and advocates associated with local government, police, education, a women’s shelter, private nonprofit and religious groups. Trish Swanson represented the local Bahá’í community, and Steven Gonzales moderated.

Panelists shared what their programs and teachings can offer to end the horror of domestic violence, which rages worldwide in all cultures, social and economic classes, races and nations.

Particularly dramatic was a presentation by Kristina Rivera of the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence, illustrating how the current system, including well-meaning religious bodies, actually enables domestic violence by discouraging victims from leaving abusive relationships.

Many questions came from the audience, which also featured a number of experts including a Maricopa County assistant prosecutor, a psychologist and social workers.

Bahá’u’lláh wrote that the “friends of God” must “not allow ... tyranny to visit the handmaidens of God.” A 1993 letter written by the Secretariat on behalf of the Universal House of Justice declared that “the high incidence of violence within the family” is a sign “of the declining moral order” and that it is “a serious transgression of the Bahá’í Teachings” for a “man to use force to impose his will on a woman.”

“[It is a] transgression of the Bahá’í teachings ... [for a] man to use force to impose his will on a woman.” —From a letter on behalf of the Universal House of Justice

Members of the sponsoring committees, from the Phoenix and Scottsdale Assemblies, labored for months designing a town meeting to inform attendees about the Bahá’í view on this tragic ill facing humanity and proclaim the Faith.

The Bahá’í community also benefits from forging friendly relations with like-minded people in the greater community. In addition, December’s meeting commemorated the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Phoenix Bahá’ís’ earlier use of the “town meeting” format in 1999 was a June gathering held on “Alternatives to Violence in the Schools” in connection with the Association for Bahá’í Studies conference. ♦

Students applaud unity message

A member of the Universal Arts Company dances as part of a performance during a program at Martin Van Buren High School in Queens, New York—momentarily between banners depicting dancers. Photo by Vivian Bergenthal

In a creative effort to promote the principles of unity in public school, a Bahá’í schoolteacher in New York City was central in arranging a student assembly program March 30 at Martin Van Buren High School, titled “Celebrating Unity in Diversity through the legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi.”

Drawing on the themes of nonviolence and oneness, the program created a “pastiche of words, music, visual beauty and dance,” reported Vivian Bergenthal, a faculty member.

The audience burst into applause for the opening procession, with students in varied traditional dress assembling on stage gradually displaying letters that spelled out “Unity in Diversity.”

Other student performances centered on the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, in one case with a student playing the tabla, a traditional Indian instrument.

Professional ‎performaces performances‎ included a recitation in the Xhosa language, with translation into English, by a South African poet. “The two women eloquently addressed the issue of sisters in the fight for justice and peace across the globe. The students were fascinated with the exchange,” Bergenthal reported.

A highlight was a dance performance by the Universal Arts Company, including Bahá’ís Kamal Sinclair and Chitra Badii, of “Streams of the Unconscious” and “The Beat.”

At the center of the colorful stage backdrop was a banner representing the school’s One World Club. Composed of students of various ethnicities, the club is dedicated to the principles of oneness, and all that it implies. ♦ [Page 17]

Author, filmmaker chosen as key lecturer for ABS event

Author and filmmaker Bahiyyih Nakhjavani is to present the Hasan M. Balyúzí Memorial Lecture on the subject “Fact and Fiction: Interrelationships between History and Imagination” at the 24th Annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies-North America, Aug. 31-Sept. 3 in Toronto, Ontario.

On this 25th anniversary year for ABS-North America, the conference theme is “A Century of Light: Who Is Writing the Future?”

All are warmly invited to attend and participate in the conference. A parallel children’s conference will offer an educational curriculum along the themes of the main conference.

Speakers will include:

• Janet A. Khan, co-author of Advancement of Women.
• Jacqueline Left Hand Bull, member of the Continental Board of Counselors for the Americas.
• Howard Adelman, professor at York University.
• Senator Landon Pearson.
• Suheil Bushrui, professor and holder of the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace, University of Maryland.

ABS Special Interest Groups that will present programs at the conference include Agriculture, the Arts, Science and Religion, Consultation and Conflict Resolution, Women and Gender Issues, and the Study of Religion.

A symposium on Bahá’í scholarship, “Bahá’í Studies: Writing the Future,” will be sponsored by the Journal of Bahá’í Studies. Panel presentations and discussion will focus on the compilation Issues Related to the Study of the Bahá’í Faith.

Nakhjavani’s documentary films include The Other Dreyfus, for the ARTE TV channel in France; Creating a Culture of Growth, on the development of Bahá’í community life in diverse countries; Art and Faith; In Memory of Thomas Breakwell; Les Paroles des Femmes; and The Secret of Our Century.

Her books include When We Grow Up (1979), Response (1981), Four on an Island (1983) and Asking Questions: A Challenge to Fundamentalism (1990).

Her most recent book, The Saddlebag, is a novel based on an incident in The Dawn-Breakers. Published in February by the British literary publisher Bloomsbury, the novel has already received critical acclaim.

For registration and hotel information, see ad and coupon on page 31. ◆

I’ll take that one

A young art appreciator browses the array of posters drawn by students in southern Orange County, California, as part of the “No Room in My Heart for Prejudice” children’s art contest sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Mission Viejo. As a program to aid hate crime prevention in two school districts, the contest invited students in every area school to enter. The Shining Stars Bahá’í Children’s Chorus provided music for an awards ceremony April 2 at the Regional Bahá’í Center, which brought in nearly 200 people. Ding-Jo Currie presented a keynote talk focusing on ‎“prejudice-education “prejudice education‎ and the role of the family and community.”

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF gets support from Bahá’ís

For more than a decade, both the National Spiritual Assembly and the Bahá’í International Community have worked with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF on a variety of projects, including U.S. ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the international “Education for All” initiative.

In recent years, the Bahá’í community has extended its support for UNICEF’s work to the grassroots level by participating in the American tradition of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF began in 1950, when a group of young people in Philadelphia collected $17 in decorated milk cartons on Halloween to help children in need overseas. Since then, the program has educated millions of Americans about children in developing countries and has raised more than $100 million to help support UNICEF’s life-saving work.

Today, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is aimed at educating as well as fund-raising. Professionally designed educational materials promote multicultural awareness and teach compassion and civic responsibility on a global scale. Our children are then empowered to take an active role in helping their peers around the world by participating in fund raising for UNICEF.

For many families across the United States, the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF tradition has become one that bonds generations, as communities are brought together in a unified effort to help children around the world. It is only through their selfless dedication and hard work that the program has become such a success.

As their commitment has grown far beyond the month of October, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF has evolved into a year-round program. School classes and civic and religious youth groups, including many Bahá’í communities, organize bake sales and car washes; hold read-a-thons and dances; and write articles for their publications, in which they describe the work of UNICEF and ask for donations.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, is the lead children’s organization in the world. A recipient of the Nobel Prize for Peace, UNICEF works in over 160 countries and territories to provide children with lifesaving medicine, better nutrition, clean water and sanitation, education and emergency relief.

During a UN Day celebration last October hosted by the Bahá’ís of Gainesville, Georgia, several high-school-age speakers delivered moving speeches about the work of UNICEF. Another young Bahá’í member made a Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF display to inform others about the program.

“In today’s world, we depend on each other more than ever before to promote the survival, protection and full development of the world’s children,” said Lisa Fielding, National Director of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. “On behalf of the millions of children who benefit from Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, we commend the Bahá’í community for their vision and initiative.”

As we look forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of this effort in October, Randy Dobbs of the Los Angeles Bahá’í Center is planning to incorporate the campaign into several of the center’s programs. In addition to including information in their regional publications, Dobbs is working with local U.S. Fund for UNICEF staff to present the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program to the local Bahá’í Sunday school and Bahá’í Youth Workshop members.

For more information about Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF and how you can get involved, visit the Web site of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF (www.unicefusa.org) or contact them toll-free (phone 1-800-252-KIDS). Or, contact the UN Office of the National Spiritual Assembly in New York (phone 212-803-2500, e-mail ). ◆

Persian Culture Conference to view ‘Century of Light’ Aug. 31–Sept. 3

“Twentieth Century: The Century of Light” will be the theme of the 10th Annual Conference of the Friends of Persian Culture Association, Aug. 31–Sept. 3 at the Chicago O’Hare Marriott Hotel.

Sessions will be held both in Persian and in English, and there will be programs for youths and for children ages 3–12.

Topics of presentations will include:

• An Overview of the Twentieth Century—Evidences of “The Century of Light.”
• Scientific Developments of the Twentieth Century.
• The Iranian Bahá’í Community in the Twentieth Century.
• Persian Literature in the Twentieth Century.
• Women’s Movement in Iran.
• Construction of the Arc on Mount Carmel.
• Bahá’í Publications in Persian.

Presenters include Dr. Farzaneh Milani (University of Virginia), Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, Dr. Amin Banani, Dr. Qassem Bayat and Dr. Franklin D. Lewis (Emory University), as well as Mr. Fariborz Sahba and Dr. Vahid Rafati from the Bahá’í World Center.

Children who are interested in performing (poetry recitation, dance, etc.) should contact the Persian-American Affairs Office (phone 847-733-3528).

Hotel reservations: Contact the hotel (phone 773-693-4444). The rate for conference participants is $80 per room (1 to 4 people) plus tax; make reservations for “Bahá’í Arts Festival” to obtain this rate. Parking and shuttle service between O’Hare Airport and the hotel are free.

Registration: Fee for adults and youths is $40. For children’s classes (almost 12 hours of daily teaching, training and caring for three days), the fee is $50 per child for the duration of the conference or $20 per day per child. Please contact the Persian-American Affairs Office (phone 847-733-3528 or 3531). ◆ [Page 18]

Reports look back on an amazing year

MAIN CONVENTION STORIES BY TOM MENNILLO

How do you distill the Annual Report into a presentation at the National Convention?

You don't. Rather, you build upon it by singling out points you hope will particularly stick in the minds of delegates and observers.

National Spiritual Assembly Secretary-General Robert Henderson began with a reminder that the two main goals of the Four Year Plan were to complete this phase of the building projects on Mount Carmel—thereby releasing spiritual energies—and to advance the process of entry by troops.

At the Plan’s inception, he said, we knew too little about the foundations we would have to pour and too little about the elements of entry by troops or how to advance the process.

What a difference four years has made!

Delegates line up to speak during a consultative session at the Bahá’í National Convention. Photo by Vladimir Shilov

“The response of agencies and committees, Regional Bahá’í Councils, Local Spiritual Assemblies and individuals has been magnificent,” Henderson said.

We now have a “system that identifies seekers, addresses them and has them respond in unprecedented numbers,” he noted, along with a new system of institutions (Regional Councils) and a system of training (institutes at the local, regional and national levels).

“We find ourselves a community engaged in a process of learning, research and experimentation—and applying what we learn systematically,” he said.

Evidence of that, he said, comes in the variety of ways believers have embraced those who respond to Bahá’u’lláh’s message and in the spiritual transformation of individual Bahá’ís.

What challenges lie ahead in the One Year Plan?

Henderson pointed to several: teach more; retain new believers; enhance the quality of individual and community life; foster united, loving families, communities and institutions; nurture the spirituality of children, youths and adults; learn to balance the demanding pace of Bahá’í life with a need to infuse spiritual love and purpose in all things; foster gender equality within our community; and accommodate legitimate differences in thought and approach.

Firuz Kazemzadeh, making his last report as National Assembly secretary for external affairs, brought Convention attendees up to date on developments since the Annual Report went to press.

He painted a picture of innocent Iranian Bahá’ís caught in a struggle between conservatives who use them as scapegoats and reformers trying to curry respectability worldwide.

Thus, he said, we see simultaneously the courts upholding death sentences against Bahá’ís while the government implicitly allows Bahá’í marriages to be registered.

Kazemzadeh noted that an eighth resolution condemning the treatment of Bahá’ís in Iran is pending in Congress. He urged an outpouring of letters urging members of Congress to vote for the resolution and thanking those who have signed on as co-sponsors of the pending resolution.

CONVENTION, CONTINUED FROM PAGE I

• the National Assembly, which welcomed Erica Toussaint to its ranks.
• The emotional bestowal by Counselor Jacqueline Left Hand Bull and National Spiritual Assembly member Patricia Locke of a sacred eagle feather, symbolizing the love of Rúhíyyih Khánum for indigenous peoples, upon the upcoming Spirit Run.
• Wise and frank commentary throughout Convention by Counselor Wilma Ellis, who also conducted the delegates’ day of deepening and preparation.
• Loving and challenging reports from the National Assembly’s secretary-general, secretary for external affairs and treasurer, and from the National Teaching Committee, National Youth Committee and Regional Bahá’í Councils.
• Presentation of a revised codification of the law of Huqúqu’lláh as part of a report by four trustees.
• A variety of spirit-filled musical presentations to open Convention sessions.
• Showing of the latest Bahá’í Newsreel, as well as special videos relating to the Kingdom project and Kazemzadeh’s dogged pursuit of justice for the Iranian believers.
• The informative workshops and exhibits sponsored by offices and agencies of the National Assembly.
• The presence of Knights of Bahá’u’lláh and other longtime servants of the Blessed Beauty.
• And the sacrificial example of dozens of friends from the Bahá’í National Center who toiled behind the scenes to make the Convention run smoothly.

But the show belonged to the delegates, whose maturity matched the import of the days in which we live. They had an unprecedented total of 14 hours set aside for consultation.

With part of that time dedicated to focused consultation on the themes of the Ridván 157 letter, delegates explored how to optimize use of training institutes and how our community can model Bahá’í parenting and full involvement of children and junior youth.

Having witnessed the unveiling of the Kingdom Project, they made an indelible mark by pledging personal resources.

And handed news that several national committees would be disbanded in favor of a multiplication of efforts on the regional level, the delegates worked through initial discomfort to rally behind this move into the unknown.

The work of those national committees and task forces—the Youth Committee, the Committee for the Equality of Women and Men, the African American Teaching Committee, the American Indian Teaching Committee, the Latin American Task Force and the Chinese American Task Force—has been placed closer to home, with responsibility on the four Regional Bahá’í Councils. On the national level, specialized “desks” will handle research, policy and advice in those realms.

In fact, the Regional Bahá’í Councils—and particularly the Universal House of Justice’s vision for them—found a new level of acceptance this Convention. Delegates directed nearly as many recommendations and suggestions to the four regional bodies as to their national body.

Yet the defining example of delegates’ maturity may have been one that echoed the most memorable consultation of last year’s Convention.

That time, African-American delegates were joined by those of all backgrounds in objecting to the presence of Thomas Jefferson’s likeness in an exhibit at the House of Worship.

This time, indigenous delegates experienced “a humanity we have never felt in 500 years,” in the words of one, when their fellows embraced a plea for the Bahá’í Faith to be the first religious community to recognize the sovereignty of the 558 Indian nations of the United States and establish a nation-to-nation relationship with them.

The delegate chanted a song of thanks in honor of the Creator, ending with “Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá!” ◆

CONVENTION REFLECTIONS

INTERVIEWS BY JAMES HUMPHREY

MICHAEL O’NEAL SAVANNAH, GEORGIA FOURTH-TIME DELEGATE

THE ENERGY HAS BEEN DIFFERENT THIS CONVENTION BECAUSE OF THE ONE YEAR PLAN. Formulating what we’re going to do in a year is a lot different from formulating what we’re going to do in a few years.

In Savannah we’re excited about a new center we just bought. We’ve had a regular half-hour cable TV show. We’re planning on doing a community social and economic development project—we’ve decided to use the Mottahedeh (Development Services) process: Rather than going in with preconceived notions of what we should do, we’re going to try to learn from the expertise that we’ve gained over the years.

For instance, I’ve headed Parent University, which was started to help parents help their children receive a good education. ... The president of the school board and the superintendent of schools have signed on. We had 133 graduates this year. It’s a community venture that pulls everybody in.

These are the kinds of things we’re exploring as Bahá’ís, who are recognized due to our TV show. People know who we are and kind of understand what’s driving us. So we take it as a great victory that people are cooperating with us, knowing that we are Bahá’ís and beginning to realize that Bahá’ís are valuable for our principles. ◆ [Page 19]It is important, though, to see Bahá’ís mentioned favorably in other contexts, he said. And that’s been happening with increasing frequency.

He noted a recent New York Times article on WLGI Radio Bahá’í in South Carolina. Also highly visible, he said, has been Bahá’í participation in processes fostering race unity, the environment, moral education and gender equality.

In fact, as a result of significant Bahá’í participation in a recent White House interfaith event, Kit Cosby, director of the National Assembly’s Office of External Affairs, will chair the task force producing a book of references to race in religious writings.

But visibility has its price, Kazemzadeh said in cautioning ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ about what they say on the Internet.

“The days of anonymity are over,” he said. “In top circles everybody knows the Bahá’ís and are looking at us waiting for us to stumble. Don’t give them opportunities needlessly.”

Treasurer William Roberts, in a report titled “An Unmatched Reservoir,” reminded us that we ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ in the cradle of the Administrative Order have a special part to play in exercising the privilege of giving sacrificially.

He said support is there: stewardship and development seminars, treasurer’s special visits, new systems for local communities and materials for children and youths.

Inspiration also is abundant. Roberts told of From Oregon with Love, a project that yielded a 17 percent increase in contributions in that state and a challenge to believers in neighboring states “to meet them on that ground.”

Overall, though, the small increase in giving to Funds on the national and international levels has not kept pace with growth and consolidation needs.

Among those, he said, are the media initiative and other major thrusts; Regional Bahá’í Council operations; programs aimed at doubling the core of active believers (training institutes, Core Curriculum, encouraging devotional gatherings and daily prayer, etc.) and fostering maturity (race unity, gender equality, social and economic development); maintenance and operations; capital expenditures; and the Arc.

Delegates (second from left) Marvin Holladay of South Carolina, Phil Lucas of Washington and Charles Nolley of Illinois chat with an unidentified acquaintance between business sessions. Photo by Vladimir Shilov

National committees

“People are coming to us, as foretold by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,” said Ken Bowers, National Teaching Committee secretary. And he had tapes and quotes from 1-800-22-UNITE callers to prove it.

Far from “overly intellectualizing” the process of teaching as some ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ have feared, Bowers said, research on audience response has helped our national media initiative encourage people to learn more about the Bahá’í Faith—while retaining the spirit of the Cause.

“The Power of Race Unity is really about trust, about a community they would like to be a part of,” he said.

But even though we’re “very likely the most diverse religious community worshipping together,” he continued, “we have to be good at meeting diverse needs and expectations.”

Bowers noted that the American Bahá’í community is underrepresented in minorities, nontraditional families and young people, and faces a challenge in keeping the ones it has.

Still, he said, people who respond to Bahá’í broadcasts are remarkably diverse in ethnic and religious background, gender and age. Bowers called the response a “reinforcement of individual teaching efforts in the past.”

Looking ahead, Bowers said, the strategic challenge is to recognize that “all growth is local. It depends on leadership, community life and individual efforts.”

He concluded, “The first step in growth is to believe it can happen, then like to be a part of,” he said.

CONVENTION REFLECTIONS

PAMELA BRODE DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA VISITOR

AS A VISITOR AND PARENT, I think that what made this National Convention so momentous and deeply moving was the Ridván letter’s focus on children and youth, and that much of the discussions were on the topic of educating and parenting our precious young ones.

The delegates expressed their opinions, made motions, voted and consulted with astonishing maturity, humility, selflessness and detachment. Our beloved Continental Counselors and members of the National Spiritual Assembly were warm, loving, very human, and completely accessible to the friends.

Attending Convention is not only a privilege, but also an exciting and fun way to deepen one’s knowledge and understanding of the Bahá’í administrative process while basking in the heavenly spirit of Bahá’u’lláh and the joyful sense of belonging to this wonderful family of Bahá’í!

Hundreds had a day to sound their hooray for Firuz Kazemzadeh

A retired soul is not necessarily a retiring soul.

Case in point: Firuz Kazemzadeh.

The distinguished professor of Russian history retired from Yale University in 1992 “at the request of the National Spiritual Assembly,” according to Assembly Chair William Davis, “to devote full time to the function of the Office of External Affairs.”

“It was a great sacrifice,” Davis said, “but he did it with dignity and complete abnegation.”

Now Kazemzadeh has retired from the National Assembly itself after 36 years serving on that body.

End of story? Hardly.

He will remain as a senior adviser to the National Assembly on external affairs. He also will continue as a member of the presidentially appointed Federal Commission on Religious Freedom Abroad.

In Kazemzadeh’s words: “I am not going to disappear from the stage. I’m going to be around for a while, and whatever energies are left I will continue to expend in the service of this great Cause.”

Even so, his second retirement brought an outpouring of affection at Convention.

He arose to a standing ovation to deliver his final report as secretary of external affairs. Later, he recited the Tablet of Ahmad beautifully.

But the best was saved for last, an evening “dedicated to ‘hooray, hooray Kazemzadeh,’” said Assembly Vice Chair Dorothy Nelson—referring to how her children were coached years ago to pronounce his name.

Davis led off the celebration expressing Assembly members’ “deep and abiding affection and respect for his understanding of the history and principles of the Faith.”

The Assembly chair then took the audience through Kazemzadeh’s life, from birth in the Iranian Embassy in Moscow, where his father served, to his entry into the United States in 1944, his education at Stanford and Harvard, long service at Yale, authorship of “prescient” books on Mideast history, and longtime work on World Order magazine.

Davis also noted an “unwavering adherence to principle. ... Firuz was always seeking to say that the Bahá’í standard should not be the lowest standard, it should be the highest standard, and that is in every dimension.”

Kazemzadeh’s exacting nature earned him the nickname Mikey, after the boy in the cereal commercial whose rare stamp of approval is something special. “If Mikey likes it, it’s OK,” said Davis.

A poignant video was shown summarizing his decades of dogged pursuit of justice for the Iranian Bahá’í community. Taking the stage, Kazemzadeh maintained a current of good humor.

After describing the scene painted by Mark Twain in which the presumed-dead Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn sneak into their own funeral, he asked dryly, “Do I need to draw parallels?”

In a reflective turn, Kazemzadeh said he was always glad to serve in any way the National Assembly itself asked, “because I have always felt that I was a soldier in Bahá’u’lláh’s army. I was drafted and I had no choice.”

In Kazemzadeh’s view, “It is the National Spiritual Assembly that contributed to me, not the other way around. I am not even talking about personal satisfaction, about friendships that I have made. I am talking about opportunities to serve the Faith.

“There are few people who have been as blessed as I have been, because these opportunities were thrown at me for years and years. I’ve tried to rise to the occasion. It’s not mine to judge.”

Firuz Kazemzadeh received a rousing tribute at Convention. Photo by Vladimir Shilov [Page 20]

CONVENTION REFLECTIONS

ARTHUR FERNANDEZ-SCARBERRY LYNNWOOD, WASHINGTON VISITOR, ORGANIZER OF SPIRIT RUN

THIS IS MY FIRST NATIONAL CONVENTION. I’ve met so many people and made so many connections that my head is spinning. The response of the Bahá’í community [to the Spirit Run project] has been phenomenal.

I have been able to witness the amazing Administrative Order that we have in this country. Spirit Run began as a grassroots initiative. Then because it was supported by the institutions of the Faith—because of the coordination that happened between Local Spiritual Assemblies, the National Spiritual Assemblies, the National American Indian Teaching Committee, the National Teaching Committee, Regional Councils etc. all working together—it demonstrated the unity of the administrative body.

It’s so important, as we travel across the country, as this Spirit Run demonstrates racial unity in action and carries the message of Bahá’u’lláh to the indigenous people and invites the people to become part of our circle, that they’re nurtured and that we make efforts to ensure that the American Indian Bahá’ís are deepened and are brought into all aspects of Bahá’í administration. I think that will advance significantly not only the process of entry by troops, but also the maturation of our Administrative Order in this country. ◆

Spirit Run, launched May 28 in the Seattle area, is to bring nine young runners across the country this summer to proclaim the Cause and the principle of racial unity. It will focus especially on Indian populations. For schedule and funding information, see the Web site www.spiritrun.org

In an emotion-filled ceremony, Counselor Jacqueline Left Hand Bull (right) presents Arthur Fernandez-Scarberry with a cloth-wrapped eagle feather to be carried across the country during the Spirit Run this summer. The sacred feather had been presented to Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum decades ago by American Indian Bahá’ís. The Hand of the Cause, before she passed away, had asked that the feather be conveyed to the Spirit Run effort—and also that the runners carry reprints of her 1969 letter to North America’s indigenous peoples.

In the exhibits space downstairs from the main Convention hall, Theresa Mullen (left) shares material from the exhibit sponsored by her Office of Assembly Development with Alice Bathke, co-administrator of the Native American Bahá’í Institute, whose booth was a few feet away.

Music was integral to the Convention’s atmosphere of joy, and Illinois trumpeter David Young (left) as well as California’s Jeffrey Barnes Gospel Choir (above) were among featured artists.

Workshops, exhibits, bookstore give visitors great excuses to circulate

Oh, were it possible to be in two places at once!

Visitors—and perhaps even delegates—could be excused for having that thought, given the array of workshops offered by offices and agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly at the same time as Convention sessions.

Lots of exhibits also beckoned Convention-goers. Fortunately, they were open between sessions as well, giving everyone an opportunity to grab literature and query helpful staffers.

Then there was the bookstore/café run by the Bahá’í Distribution Service. Follow the aroma and you’d find yourself in a large room containing books, teaching pamphlets, CDs and, yes, coffee and pastries.

The 45-minute workshops, held Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, provided non-delegates in-depth information they could take home for themselves and their communities—and a chance to ask questions or give feedback.

A children’s activities fair from the Treasurer’s Office added a dimension of fun. Youngsters attending Convention could learn about Project Unity!, meet Liang the Lion and make Fund jars devoted to the Kingdom Project.

Exhibits also afforded visitors “face time” with agency representatives they might otherwise meet only via telephone or e-mail, but more informally than at workshops.

A Local Spiritual Assembly member seeking ways to improve the body’s functioning could pick up information on Assembly development modules and self-assessment tools, and on the Local Spiritual Assembly Integration project.

Someone considering service abroad could consult with Office of Pioneering staffers on priorities and preparation.

Potential visitors to a permanent Bahá’í school or institute could meet the co-administrators of each and pick up course brochures.

An isolated believer could find out from his or her Regional Bahá’í Council what resources are available to assist a local initiative.

And on and on—until that aroma from down the hall got the better of you and the bookstore/café became unavoidable.

There, materials were grouped invitingly by subject ranging from Texts to teaching to transformation. Browsers could pick them up and peruse at their leisure, perhaps over a latté, then gravitate toward the checkout. ◆ [Page 21]Mona Kashani and Faith Holmes work Thursday afternoon, April 27, to prepare the floral arrangements in time for the Convention’s beginning later that day. PHOTOS BY VLADIMIR SHILOV

The newly elected National Spiritual Assembly is presented to the Convention: (from left) David Young, Erica Toussaint, Jack McCants, Patricia Locke, Juana Conrad, Robert Henderson, Dorothy Nelson, William Roberts and William Davis.

Delegates exit the Bahá’í House of Worship after prayers that followed their voting for the National Spiritual Assembly.

Ford Bowers (right), Distribution Service manager, rings up a bookstore customer’s purchase of a new video on the Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga.

CONVENTION REFLECTIONS

CAROL BUTLER FORT WAYNE, INDIANA FIFTH-TIME DELEGATE

OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY IS WAY AHEAD regarding the guidance given to us in this year’s Riḍván letter. We have a strong Bahá’í school and worship service where Bahá’í kids bring their friends. After forming a consultation group, the kids trick-or-treated for UNICEF, had a class on how to teach the Faith, and visited senior Bahá’ís and nursing home residents. The neatest thing is, the children did it themselves! That is what I think the Universal House of Justice means by: “Children are the most precious treasure a community can possess”—and by: “An atmosphere needs to be maintained in which children feel that they belong to the community and share in its purpose.”

Since my husband became a Bahá’í in 1996, the friends in our Unit always receive two reports: one from the delegate and one from the perspective of a visitor who has seen the special workshops offered to the visitors.

After the historic, heartfelt consultation involving American Indians, I realize how rich my own community is in the American Indian heritage. The famous Miami chief Little Turtle lived and is buried in our city. I am inspired to do even more to share the Faith with American Indians in our area, and to take full advantage of the Spirit Run opportunity to teach! ◆

CHRIS BISHOP AUSTIN, TEXAS FIRST-TIME DELEGATE

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE CONVENTION for me personally was the magic that seemed to occur when it was time to elect the National Spiritual Assembly. I was very apprehensive the day before. I had no idea who I was going to vote for; I’d hardly met anyone. But over the last few days I’ve met so many people. ... When I walked into the room there was a feeling of serenity, and it seemed to magically happen. Names just seemed to flow.

As the youngest delegate [age 22], I was so encouraged by how much the other delegates have supported me and encouraged me to talk. ... If that kind of support can be seen throughout the community, if the youth are allowed and encouraged to give their input, I think we’ll see a major change in the Bahá’í community.

Austin is a unique city. We have a very large university—we have tons and tons of youth. We also have a tremendous regional training institute that is supported a lot by the youth.

We’ve had lots of media exposure in recent months—TV appearances, speeches in churches. The Bahá’ís have become well-known in Austin. ◆

The selection of workshops for Convention visitors

Office of the Treasurer: “Planned Giving Options Offered by Our National Spiritual Assembly”; “The Best Bahá’í Kids Activities Fair Ever!”; and “Building the Kingdom: It’s Our Time.” Office of Pioneering: “ ‘Oh That I Could Travel ... Raising the Call’ Throughout the World” National Teaching Committee: “The National Media Campaign, 1-800-22-UNITE and Your Community” Bahá’í Publishing Trust: “Getting Bahá’í Books into the Trade Market”

United Nations Office: “National UNICEF Month and UN Day” Office of Assembly Development: “Rising to a New Stage: Resources for Helping Local Spiritual Assemblies” National Committee for the Equality of Women and Men: “The Equality of Women and Men” House of Worship Conservation: “Steps to the Kingdom” Education and Schools Office: “Expanding the Media Initiative with Videos and Firesides” and “Youth Empowerment”

Wilmette Institute: “Systematic Education for Service: The Story of the Wilmette Institute” Board of Trustees of Huqúqu’lláh: “Questions and Answers about Huqúqu’lláh” Persian-American Affairs Office: “The Role of Persian-American Members of the U.S. Bahá’í Community in the New Plans” (once each in English and Persian) Regional Bahá’í Council for the Central States: “Update 2000: Planning for the Twelve Month Plan”

[Page 22]

CONVENTION REFLECTIONS

DEANNA SCHMIDT KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI VISITOR

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I’ve visited National Convention. I think it has helped me deepen myself about the Bahá’í administration. The first time I was at Convention, I went home on fire, spiritual fire.

Then after the second year I came, things made a lot more sense within the Bahá’í administration. Our Kansas City Assembly is pretty well-developed, at least from my experience. I started to see how, with the various committees and other branches, things work very much like a smaller version of how they do things at National.

This year, my third year, it will be easier to go back and see, in my own heart and mind, how it all fits in. We have 10 or 12 people from Kansas City at the Convention. Everyone I’ve seen is so happy, and we’re going to take that back home. We’re all taking notes about how the Riḍván letter mentions youth and children, and all the consultation about that. Those are extremely important issues. We already have teacher training going, and classes for children and pre-youth. But from the Riḍván letter we have a larger process, and that will help strengthen what we already have. ◆

REPORTS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

put in place what will make it happen. We have learned how to bring people to our doors. Every other challenge can be successfully addressed with persistence and belief.”

The National Youth Committee was not scheduled to report at Convention. But by popular demand members of the committee, the operations of which will be regionalized, took the stage to a standing ovation.

The members—Leili Towfigh, Eric Horton, Anthony Outler, Vesal Dini and Nancy Wong—urged adults to “train young minds on a spiritual basis and encourage spiritual practices that connect them to the Faith.”

They contrasted the labels placed on youth in general with the qualities attributed to Bahá’í youth, saying the Faith presents a viable alternative to most models available in society. And they said a need exists for materials that are “not patronizing or irrelevant, but allow youth creativity to come out.”

Delegates to the National Convention gather around a fountain in the Bahá’í House of Worship gardens for the official group photograph. Photo by Vladimir Shilov

Regional Bahá’í Councils

Each Regional Bahá’í Council was allotted an opportunity to touch on its ongoing thrusts.

June Thomas outlined how the Council of the Central States is systematizing its efforts through a simple action plan focusing particularly on race unity and teaching among special populations.

She said the Council is supporting youth through subregional committees and has set in place a network of traveling teaching coordinators.

In addition, the Council is working with the National Teaching Committee in carrying out the vision of the national media initiative on a metropolitan level, starting with Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Columbus, Ohio.

Northeastern States representatives Rebequa Murphy and Joel Nizin said the regional body’s fervent effort has been to help believers “connect with the Blessed Beauty.”

As a result, they said, “the temperature in the Northeast is rising. The Regional Council is absolutely amazed at change on the local level” in everything from training institutes to media.

And in a region “where prayer and devotion are counterintuitive,” the Council sees the recent Universal House of Justice letter on laws pertaining to prayer and devotion as “meant for us” in particular.

Kambiz Rafraf and James Sturdivant told how the Council for the Southern States has fostered collaboration and partnerships—essential given that 43 percent of seeker calls have come from people in that region.

They updated delegates on the Date with Destiny campaign: Goals were surpassed in the realms of traveling teaching and devotional gatherings, ‎while and while‎ significant progress was registered in home-front pioneering, firesides, teaching teams and social and economic development projects.

Also, a recent meeting of members of the Board of Counselors, the Auxiliary Boards, Local Assemblies, regional teaching institute boards and others looked at boosting growth and consolidation efforts in South Carolina. Lake City was chosen for particular attention.

Shannon Javid, speaking for the Council for the Western States, cheered the assemblage with news that the number of Local Assemblies in the region has grown by 32 in a year—including several on Indian reservations and a 50 percent increase in New Mexico.

He told how a partnership with Auxiliary Board members, their assistants and Local Assemblies has borne considerable fruit: the adoption of extension teaching goals, increased homefront pioneering and traveling teaching, more devotional gatherings, a larger number of Assemblies using development modules, encouragement of individual firesides, and the participation of 4,000 believers in regional training institute courses.

A teaching plan workbook has been shared among Assemblies, he said, and the region has instituted youth desks to serve young believers and encourage registration of children.

Huqúqu’lláh Board of Trustees

Four of the trustees of Huqúqu’lláh in the United States—Amin Banani, Sally Foo, Daryush Haghighi and Elizabeth Martin—were able to express in person their great privilege to serve the institution of the Right of God.

Foo led off, saying a mention of the “blessings of laws” in a recent House of Justice letter brought to mind the “mighty, sacred, great law of Huqúq,” with its “mysteries and benefits beyond comprehension.”

Relating a story of courage and strict obedience among believers in Tanzania, she noted that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said any offering made with profound devotion and love is like a treasure.

“Your payment is received as a treasure,” she concluded.

Martin told a story of her grandmother, whose checks to a seminary student in need were always marked “God’s part.”

“I feel the same about Huqúqu’lláh,” Martin said. “‘God’s part’ passes through my hands.”

“When I get a little put upon, I take my envelope [of letters accompanying Huqúqu’lláh payments], caress it and feel the love of the friends,” she said.

Haghighi described the expansion of regional Huqúq representatives and called the nine present to come forward for recognition.

Speaking of presents, he had one for delegates: newly printed copies of the revised codification of the law of Huqúqu’lláh, which will be widely available soon.

Haghighi reminded attendees that one of the responsibilities of a Local Assembly is promulgation of divine commandments.

“Soon, publications for the young will be available for use in local Bahá’í schools so from day one they will be familiar with the law and it will be an integral part of their lives forever and ever,” he added.

Banani, noting that trustees often get letters thanking them for their service, said, “It is we who are thankful for being with you at the time of joy and radiance that you have obeyed this law.”

Nothing, he said, “brings such security and joy and exultation as obedience to the law of Huqúqu’lláh.” ◆

CONVENTION REFLECTIONS

SHAHAB SAEED SALT LAKE CITY FOURTH-TIME DELEGATE

I BELIEVE ALL THE NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES have been put here by Bahá’u’lláh for us to spread His healing message. Our National Spiritual Assembly and Office of Information Services have done a great job of creating a presence on the World Wide Web for the Bahá’ís, and have added to the prestige of the Cause. But we have room to do a lot more. Technology allows us to provide a means of listening to the [spoken] words of Bahá’u’lláh ... along with music, available on the Internet 24 hours a day, so that when anyone needs a spiritual lift they can go to the Bahá’í Web site and get it.

To take advantage of some of these possibilities, it is going to require material means. We need to hire the professionals, we need the computers and we need the bandwidth. It takes money, it takes the healing words of Bahá’u’lláh, and it takes the devoted believers to contribute to the Fund and teach.

The high point of the Convention for me was the actual election of the National Spiritual Assembly. There is such a magnificent feeling in that process. Then there was the high volume of suggestions and ideas coming from the delegates across the spectrum. ◆ [Page 23]

MESSAGES TO AND FROM THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

From the Delegates to the 91st Bahá’í National Convention to the Universal House of Justice April 29, 2000

Dearly loved Supreme Body,

Surrounded by yellow roses a portrait of the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum was ever before us at this 91st United States National Bahá’í Convention, reminding the delegates of the strength, devotion, audacity and courage needed to fulfill the Twelve Month Plan that we dedicate to “the memory of one for whom teaching was the primary purpose, the perfect joy of life.” Our hearts embrace with great appreciation our beloved Hands of the Cause of God ‘Alí-Akbar Furútan and ‘Alí Muhammad Varqá whose prayers we seek in behalf of the American Bahá’í community. With loving gratitude we greet you, mindful of the critical issues you have laid before us in the Ridván 2000 message.

Firmly guided by your instruction, inspired and assisted by our beloved Counselors Wilma Ellis and Jacqueline Left Hand Bull, and empowered by the creative Plan lovingly conceived by our wonderful National Spiritual Assembly, we stand as one soul, united in our commitment to whatever lies ahead in the unfoldment of the visible Kingdom of God on earth. We are ever grateful for your gift of the Regional Bahá’í Councils, whose incredible resourcefulness, energy and creativity attend every aspect of our collective work. There is among us a palpable sense that this is the Day for which we have all waited. The 165 delegates in a rarified atmosphere elected the National Spiritual Assembly with 100% participation. There were 162 balloting in person and 3 by mail with no invalid ballots, a demonstration of our increasing maturity. May Bahá’u’lláh accept us in His service!

We have enjoyed the presence of the Trustees of the Huqúqu’lláh—Amin Banani, Sally Foo, Daryush Haghighi and Elizabeth Martin along with special guests Javidukht Khadem and Eunice Braun. In addition, we were privileged to have present Knights of Bahá’u’lláh Amin and Sheila Banani and Carole and Dwight Allen and Gayle Woolson, among others, whose lifetime of service is the foundation upon which so much of what we now contemplate rests. This Convention fondly expressed appreciation to Firuz Kazemzadeh for his extraordinary service to the American Bahá’í community for more than half a century and his 36 years of exemplary service to our National Spiritual Assembly. The delegates enjoyed the stirring gospel sounds of the Jeffrey Barnes Bahá’í Choir, the soul inspiring melodies of K.C. Porter and J.B. Eckl and the creative renditions of professional trumpeter David Young. The spiritual environment in which the Convention proceeded was enhanced by the beautiful voice of Evander Gilmer encouraging his fellow delegates to join him in a joyous noise unto the Lord that was responded to by the melodic tones of delegate Marvin “Doc” Holladay’s saxophone.

As our National Spiritual Assembly reminds us, it IS our time! We are determined to play our part in raising the necessary $60 million for the Kingdom Project that was dedicated during this Convention with the turning of the spade in a garden of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár during a ceremony in which prayers for the Temple were read by Bahá’í children. We are also determined to bring about the spiritual transformation of our community to help build the Kingdom of God.

There were many such memorable moments at this historic convention. Among them was the presentation by Jacqueline Left Hand Bull of a Sacred Eagle Feather, a gift from the collection of Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum received during one of her visits to North America, to the coordinator of the Spirit Run Project. This activity is comprised of nine youth of various races who will take the Feather across the United States symbolically taking the Hand of the Cause with them on this spiritual journey. Another was the emotional plea by the indigenous believers, accepted unanimously by the delegates, to the National Spiritual Assembly that it be the first religious institution to recognize the sovereignty of the American Indian nations. That action bonded the hearts of all present confirming the relationship each to another as true brothers and sisters.

We have consulted at length on training institutes and have come to an awareness that institutes can exist on many levels, in diverse forms and with infinite variation. We are also cognizant of the challenges and unseen bounties that are certain to become evident as we pursue diligently the goals of the Twelve Month Plan. The successful development of the institutes will undoubtedly release potent spiritual forces that will provide yet untapped resources to insure victory. We are committed to the task!

The 91st Bahá’í National Convention is humbly grateful to our beloved Universal House of Justice for its divine guidance in directing our focus to our precious treasures, our children. The result has been a unity of thought in our determination to alert the American Bahá’í community to the urgent need of providing spiritual protection not only to those in the Bahá’í family but to all children. We reflected on the time when parents and children were more respectful of each other, a time when love and discipline were inseparable, when family was more desirable than social position and when the love of God was the magnetic force that held society together. We are committed to addressing audaciously and courageously these issues among brothers and sisters in our Bahá’í family.

We are committed to raising by all possible means the standards for parenting and children’s spiritual education. The creation of a new climate for the nurturance of our youth and pre-youth is an issue in which we will endeavor to engage all of the Bahá’ís upon returning to our home communities. The contagious enthusiasm of the National Youth Committee in presenting its report greatly inspired and energized us to take immediate action.

We dedicate ourselves to strengthening our institutions to become sturdy pillars for the bridge over which all of humanity will enter into the Kingdom. Our personal pledge to you, our beloved Universal House of Justice, is that all of us will leave this Convention dedicating our lives anew to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.

Delegates to the 91st Bahá’í National Convention

From the Universal House of Justice to the Delegates to the 91st Bahá’í National Convention April 30, 2000

Dearly loved Friends,

The spirit of unity and the sense of high expectations that have so stirred your National Convention have also touched our hearts through your message of love and of reconsecration to the tasks laid upon you by the beloved Master’s Divine Plan to which the American Bahá’í community is so specially linked. The leaps of progress attained during the Four Year Plan through the creativity, persistence and confidence of that vibrant community leave us with no doubt that its members are well poised to meet, with characteristic dynamism, the great challenges and rich opportunities presented by the twelve-month enterprise on which they are embarking. The shortness of time demands a swiftness of action. May any believer in that dearly loved land who arises in service during this brief span experience the wonder of such divine rewards as only the Abhá Beauty out of the favors of His munificence can bestow.

The Universal House of Justice

Plan now to make a difference, Counselor urges

Counselor Wilma Ellis listened with joy as institution after institution told of its plans for the coming year.

She listened with awe to the words of the Universal House of Justice in its Ridván 157 message.

Then she stood up and asked National Convention participants what they plan to do to make a difference.

“I hear all these wonderful reports, and then the House of Justice talks about us entering a learning mode from which purposeful action flows,” she said.

“But I keep feeling that huge load of responsibility coming down on each of us. If after all that these institutions have done we do not end up with more Bahá’ís, we have no one to blame but ourselves.”

We’re all busy, she said. “But it comes down to, when am I going to take time to teach someone this Faith?”

She said training institutes are vital, then added, “It doesn’t do a bit of good to be trained if it’s an end in itself. We have to get the courage to teach.”

A day earlier, at Convention’s beginning, Ellis invoked the late Hand of the Cause Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum’s “energy, straightforwardness, love and appreciation for the Bahá’í community” for the strength she said we’ll need.

She also recalled David S. Ruhe remarking, upon his retirement from the Universal House of Justice, that we should “expect miracles.”

“We’re going to see miracles in this Plan and the one that follows,” she said. “We will see recruits who are amazing—a strong group of souls ready to assist us. Everything is in place for victory.”

Throughout the Convention, Ellis also reflected on the theme of children, junior youth and parenting in this year’s Ridván message.

Speaking frankly, she continued, “We can attract many, many people to this Faith if we would only follow our faith about children. We used to talk about the old ways of respect for elders and teachers and one another.”

When they teach the Faith, she said, adults and children alike “must look like Bahá’ís. ... If we look like any old thing on the streets, how can we say we’re a new race of men?”

She told parents in the audience, “We have to make a difference in our children. The [Ridván] message puts it so clearly, and I hope we take it very seriously: love demands discipline.” ♦ [Page 24]

Regional schools offer programs of ‘Distinction’

“Cultivating Distinction”—the nationwide study program for 2000 prescribed by our National Spiritual Assembly—is the general theme of this year’s regional summer schools across the country. A curriculum guide on this theme, from the National Education and Schools Office, is available on the Web (log into www.usbnc.org with your Bahá’í ID number, click on the “NSA Departments” icon at left, then follow the link to the Education and Schools Office).

Here is a list of summer schools, through Labor Day weekend, that have reported their plans to the Education and Schools Office in time for publication.

Northeastern States

NEW YORK "SOLOMON R.G. HILTON," AUG. 11-20 Program: Cultivating Distinction (three sessions). With Gary Matthews, Ray Estes, Shannon Javid, Phyllis Peterson, Ladjamaya Green. Location: Oakwood Friends School, Poughkeepsie, NY. Facilities: Campus with dining hall, semiprivate dorm rooms; gym. Fees: Adult (13+) $369, Child (5–12) $270, (0–4) free. Day rates available. Registrar: The Cabots, P.O. Box 122, Norwood, NJ 07648 (e-mail [email address] or see Web site, www.bahai.homepage.com).

Western States

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, JUNE 23-26 Program: Cultivating Distinction. Location: Pilgrim Pines Conference Center, Yucaipa, CA. Facilities: Conference center with central dining (vegetarian meals optional), cabins w/bunks or or limited separate rooms. Fees: Adult in low $100s, Child half price; discount for full cabins. Registrar: Amy or Frank Vahid (phone 909-278-2787, e-mail ) or Edye York (phone 909-983-1022, e-mail ).

COLORADO EAST, JUNE 21-25 Location: Woodland Park, CO. Facilities: School classrooms and dining hall, primitive camping (hotels/motels available nearby). Fees: Adult $55, Youth or Child (11–20) $45, Child (3–10) $35. Registrar: Don Brayton (phone 719-687-3351, e-mail ).

MONTANA "JOHN H. WILCOTT," JULY 30–AUG. 4 Program: Cultivating Distinction: Champion Builders and Apostles. With Shannon Javid. Location: Luccock Park Camp near Livingston, MT. Facilities: Main lodge with dining room, cabin housing (bring bedding). Swimming, horseback riding, hiking. Fees: Adult $160, Youth (12–18) $130, Child (4–11) $85, (0–4) $10. Registrar: Sandi Marisdotter, Helena, MT 59601 (phone 406-442-7526, e-mail ). Pre-register by July 10.

NEW MEXICO "FOUR CORNERS," JULY 19–23 Program: Cultivating Distinction. Location: Kamp Kiwanis near Gallup, NM. Facilities: Open-air meeting spaces, chapel, dining hall, dorm-style lodging (private rooms for special needs only). Outdoor and team recreation. Fees: Adult (19+) $75, Youth (15–18) $60, Pre-youth (11–14) $45, Child (7–10) $25, (3–6) $20, Infant free. Day rates available. Registrar: Bill Bright, Gallup, NM 87301 (phone 505-722-0039). Pre-register by July 4.

OREGON EAST, AUG. 12–15 Program: Cultivating Distinction. Location: Suttle Lake United Methodist Camp, in Cascade Mountains. Facilities: Central meeting, dining; cabins or lodge. Outdoor/water/team sports, crafts. Fees: Cabin stay (extra to stay in Lodge): Adult $105, Youth (13–17) $85, Child (6–12) $75, (2–5) $50, Infant free. Day rates available. Registrar: Dan Lincoln, Lyons, OR 97358 (phone 503-859-2390, e-mail ). Pre-register by July 20.

OREGON WEST (NORTH) “CARMEL,” JUNE 25–30 Location: 20 minutes east of Portland, OR. Facilities: Retreat center; meals on site. Fees: All ages $95. Registrar: Sue Koos (phone 503-829-8423).

OREGON WEST (SOUTH) “BADASHT,” AUG. 9–13 Facilities: Camp with cabins, dorm space. Fees: Family $350, Adult $115, Youth (12–21) $95, Child (0–11) $75. Registrar: Lynne Nesbit (phone 503-282-0182, e-mail ).

WASHINGTON “TINY SEED,” AUG. 11–16 Program: Cultivating Distinction. Location: Brighton Creek Conference Center, McKenna, WA. Facilities: Conference center with classrooms; cabins or tent/RV sites. Outdoor, team sports. Fees: Family $600, Adult $160, Youth $150, Pre-youth $100, Child $55, Infant $10. Registrar: Louard Crumbaugh III, Mount Vernon, WA 98273-2829 (phone 360-419-0408, e-mail ). Pre-register by July 21.

EASTERN WASHINGTON/NORTH IDAHO “SHELTERING BRANCH,” JULY 1–7 Location: Camp Wooten ELC, southwest of Pomeroy, WA. Facilities: Classroom buildings and cabins or tent/RV spaces; somewhat rustic. Pool, court games, outdoor recreation. Fees: Family $550, Adult (19–59) $175, (60+) $115, Youth (15–18) $115, (11–14) $105, Pre-Youth (6–10) $85, Child (2–5) $55, (0–1) $32, ‎Sopnsored Sponsored‎ Child $132. No day students or drop-ins. Registrar: Shannon McConnell, Richland, WA 99352 (phone 509-943-1236, e-mail ). Pre-register by June 10.

Central States

ILLINOIS “HEARTLAND,” JULY 15–19 Program: Cultivating Distinction: Building the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh. With Regional Council member Curtis Russell. Location: Knox College, Galesburg, IL. Facilities: Campus with dining hall; dorms w/o air conditioning (optional hotel nearby). Fees: Adult or Youth (12+) $165, Child (2–11) $105, Infant (0–1) $17. Day and meals-only rates available. Registrar: Carl Clingenpeel, Aurora, IL 60504 (phone 630-898-0520, e-mail ).

IOWA, JUNE 21–25 Program: Cultivating Distinction. Location: Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA. Facilities: Campus with dining hall and dorms (camping optional nearby). Fees: Adult $180; discounts for Youth, Child or Family (ask Registrar). Registrar: Gary Scott, Mount Vernon, IA 52314 (phone 319-895-0519, e-mail ). Pre-register by June 10.

MINNESOTA “WILLIAM SEARS GREAT NORTH WOODS,” AUG. 16–20 Program: Cultivating Distinction. Location: Camp Onomia near Onamia, MN. Facilities: Classroom setting, meals on site, private, family or dorm-style rooms. Lake, volleyball, outdoor recreation. Fees: Adult (16+) $150, Pre-youth (6–15) $115, Child (2–5) $40, Infant free. Ask about weekend and camping rates. Registrar: Ali Mahabadi, Plymouth, MN 55441 (phone 612-537-6039).

NEBRASKA “GREAT PLAINS,” JULY 20–23 Program: Cultivating Distinction. With Aaron Kreader, Ruth Hansen, Tracy Freeman, Billie Kay Bodie, Barron Von Lyle. Location: Peru State College, Peru, NE. Facilities: Campus with air-conditioned dorms, dining hall; bring bedding. Pool, court sports, crafts. Fees: Adult or Youth (11+) $95, Child $74 or $50 in sleeping bag on floor, Infant (w/o bed) $15. Day rates available. Registrar: Cecil Peterson, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0468 (phone 712-322-6399, e-mail ). Pre-register by June 15; late fees apply otherwise.

WISCONSIN “MARIAN STEFFES,” JULY 17–21 Location: Byron Center, Brownsville, WI. Facilities: Conference center, dining hall, double rooms. Pool, outdoor and team sports, crafts. Registrar: Lisa Riemer, West Bend, WI 53095 (phone 414-338-3023, e-mail ). Pre-register by July 10.

Southern States

FLORIDA, JUNE 30–JULY 4 Program: With Auxiliary Board members Farah Rosenberg and Cap Cornwell, Regional Council member Karen Pritchard, Dwight Allen, Dorothy Gilstrap. Choral camp with Tom Price and Barbara Baumgartner. Location: Florida Tech University, Melbourne, FL. Facilities: Campus with dining hall, dorm housing (optional; hotels nearby). Pool, tennis and soccer facilities. Fees: Adult $180, Youth $170, Pre-youth $150, Child (4–10) $140, (0–3) free. Prepayment and family discounts available; day rates available. Information: Donna Evertz (phone 954-242-2562, e-mail ). Pre-register by June 15 and discounts may apply.

KENTUCKY, SEPT. 1–4 Program: Cultivating Distinction. With Counselor Tod Ewing, Auxiliary Board member Jahangir Cyrus. Location: Kentucky Leadership Center, Faubush, KY. Facilities: Conference center; lodging in cabins or semiprivate lodge rooms. Outdoor, water and court recreation. Fees: School fee: Family $35, Individual $15. Meals and lodging per day, depending on accommodations: Adult $23.75–47.75, Youth $23.75–36.75, Pre-youth $17.75–31.75, Child (6–11) $8.88–20.88, (0–5) free with parent. Day rates available. Registrar: Nancy Ordaz, La Grange, KY 40031 (phone 502-241-8790, e-mail ). Pre-register by Aug. 25.

MARYLAND “DAYSPRING,” JULY 27–30 Program: Cultivating Distinction: The Unique Nature of the Bahá’í Dispensation. With David and Margaret Ruhe. Location: Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD. Registrar: Rob Chalmers, Laurel, MD 20707-0464 (phone 301-725-5604, fax 301-725-0464, e-mail ).

NORTH CAROLINA, JUNE 30–JULY 3 Program: Cultivating Distinction: Our Past, Our Future. With early pioneers to the South; Eric Dozier and One Human ‎Fmaily Family‎ Workshop Choir. Location: Catawba College, Salisbury, NC. Facilities: Campus with dorm and cafeteria. Pool, gym, outdoor activities. Fees: Registration: Adult $20, Child $5. Meals and housing per day: Adult, Youth, Pre-Youth or Child $37; Infant (0–3) free. Day rates available. Registrar: Sandra Miles, Winston-Salem, NC 27105 (phone 336-767-6888, e-mail ). Pre-register by June 16; late fee applies otherwise.

SOUTH CAROLINA, JULY 14–20 Program: Cultivating Distinction—Part II. Location: Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC. Facilities: Campus with dining hall and dorms or private rooms. Tennis, basketball, swimming. Registrar: V. Douglas Phillips, Rock Hill, SC 29732 (phone 803-328-6353, e-mail ). Pre-register by June 30.

TENNESSEE BAHÁ’Í INSTITUTE, SEPT. 1–4 Program: Cultivating Distinction. Location: DuBose Convention Center, Monteagle, TN. Facilities: Conference center, meals on site; private or dorm-style rooms or camping; nursery on site. Pool, team sports. Registrar: Kaihan Strain, Hixson, TN 37343 (information only phone 423-842-2750; please leave your e-mail address). Pre-register by mail only by August 15.

TEXAS, AUG. 4–6 Location: Bruceville, TX. Registrar: Muhammad Mazidi (e-mail ).

VIRGINIA “MASSANETTA SPRINGS,” SEPT. 1–4 Location: Massanetta Springs Conference Center, Harrisonburg, VA. Program: Cultivating Distinction: The Station of Distinction. Registrar: Ruth Clements (e-mail registrar- ). [Page 25]

Louhelen Bahá’í School

3208 S. State Road • Davison, MI 48423 810-653-5033 www.louhelen.org

The legacy continues

Attending Bahá’í school can be one of the most powerful and, indeed, life-changing experiences possible for some—investigating the Faith, or a friend of the Faith. Bahá’ís often bring seekers or friends of the Faith, and the loving community atmosphere is often exhilarating for these guests. Such a teaching role has long been a central feature of Louhelen’s service. A special story illustrates this legacy:

In 1934 Mary Maxwell initiated her summer of traveling and teaching by inviting her friend Marguerite Reimer to accompany her. Although Marguerite had been brought up in a Bahá’í family, she had not yet declared her faith in Bahá’u’lláh and her parents shared Miss Maxwell’s hope that this trip would confirm her faith.

A friend who attended that youth session at Louhelen provided this description: “Unforgettable to all present was the beautiful, simple inspired way in which Miss Mary Maxwell related day by day those gripping and thrilling stories of the heroes of the early days in Persia told in The Dawn-Breakers. Listening to these stories implanted a deeper desire to serve in the heart.”

Sure enough, after driving Miss Maxwell that summer, Miss Reimer made her declaration as a Bahá’í dedicated to raise up a world of peace and unity and oneness.

A few years later, Miss Maxwell, now known and loved around the world as Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, became the wife of the Guardian of the Cause of God, Shoghi Effendi, and continued her life of exemplary service—as a Hand of the Cause of God, as the Guardian’s representative to the first Bahá’í International Council, and as a traveling teacher throughout the world.

Miss Reimer’s lifetime of service has also touched the hearts of millions. Besides serving as a member of the National Youth Committee, she attracted the heart of sportscaster William Sears (appointed a Hand of the Cause of God in 1957) to this precious Cause and became his wife. She taught and pioneered with him, serving throughout America and Africa.

Eyes on the target

Justin Lee practices his archery at a recent Camp Louhelen. Children at the camp can participate in a number of physical activities as well as classes based on the writings and principles of the Faith. Photo by Jim Cheek

Upcoming programs

June 18–23: Camp Louhelen Children’s Institute I: Principles and Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.

June 25–28: Camp Louhelen Children’s Institute II: Bahá’u’lláh’s Principle of Oneness and Promoting Race Unity.

Both institutes are for children ages 8–12. With scholar-in-residence Fred Schechter, Joannie Yuille, Angela Blackshere, Gloria Holmes, Cam Herth, Liz Herth, Eileen Lozen-Kowalski, Rona Schechter, Ruhiyyih Yuille, Perry Taborn and/or others.

June 30–July 5: Persian-American Bahá’í Studies. With Dr. Tahereh Ahdieh, Habib Riazati, Fred Schechter; musicians Narges Nouhnejad and Shahram Shahriari.

July 7–12: Youth Eagle Institute. With Habib Riazati, Fred Schechter and Ruhiyyih Yuille; for Bahá’í youths and friends ages 15 and up. ◆

Wilmette Institute

EST. 1995

Spiritual Foundations: Still open!

Contact the Wilmette Institute now (before the end of June) to see if space is still open in the Spiritual Foundations for a Global Civilization program. The two-week intensive period of classes July 29–Aug. 12 in Wilmette, Illinois, will focus on basic metaphysical and theological concepts of the Bahá’í Faith and on early Bábí and Bahá’í history.

Distance learning

Islam for Deepening and Dialogue, June 1–August 31; students still accepted until July 1 if space is available.

This course is designed to give Bahá’ís an essential introduction to the religion that, Shoghi Effendi stressed, is essential to understand if one wishes to understand the origin and teachings of the Bahá’í Faith fully. Understanding of Islam is particularly important for Bahá’ís of the Western world who lack the background to appreciate the beauty and divinely guided role of Islam in world history. Tuition: $150*

The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, July 1–Sept. 30.

This course is designed to help Bahá’ís fulfill the National Spiritual Assembly’s request that they study this book together in the last half of 2000. The schedule leaves students three months to give firesides and deepenings on the book. Tuition: $150*

* 20% discounts apply to local study groups of three or more.

All courses include e-mail listservers for students and faculty, regular conference calls, systematic lesson plans, and a wide variety of learning projects to apply in your local community. All courses are available at an introductory, intermediate (college-level) or advanced (graduate) level. Financial aid is available for students unable to pay full tuition.

THE WILMETTE INSTITUTE 536 Sheridan Road Wilmette, IL 60091 Phone/fax: 877-WILMETTE (toll-free) E-mail: Web site: www.wilmetteinstitute.org The Web site is now secure for accepting credit card payment of tuition.

Green Acre Bahá’í School

188 Main Street • Eliot, ME 03903 207-439-7200 www.greenacre.org

‘Spirit of Children’

In its third year at Green Acre Bahá’í School, the Spirit of Children Conference on Children’s Literature and Art has been expanded to a five-day event Aug. 25–30.

The Spirit of Children conference is organized each year by a task force of writers, illustrators and musicians who produce materials for children. Organizers with particular interest in children’s literature have been spurred by concern about how few specifically Bahá’í children’s books are published each year worldwide.

The vision for the conference has been shaped by the need to explore what Bahá’í literature for young people might become, and how to develop it. The focus is on nurturing children’s spiritual nature, particularly toward the oneness of humanity, through high-quality literature, art, music and theater.

The event also aims to support creative people with resources, networking opportunities, education about publication and distribution of materials, exposure to book- and music-sellers, and encouragement for their own projects and artistic development.

Not only for writers and artists, the conference brings together storytellers, musicians, actors, designers, filmmakers, game designers, puppeteers, publishers and many others interested in creating materials for children.

The program will include presentations by storytellers, local children’s book-buyers, published writers and illustrators, educators, parents and librarians. Several well-known children’s book writers and illustrators will speak.

Workshop topics include: Nurturing the Creator of Works for Children; Finding Your Story; Getting Published; The Spiritual Content of Children’s Materials; Finding Personal Time and Space for Creating; An Educator’s Perspective on Children’s Literature; Self-promotion After Being Published or Produced; Literacy and much more.

Publishing presences invited to the conference include:

• Terry Cassiday, senior editor at the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, sharing information on the how-to’s of publication, especially submitting materials to the Publishing Trust. Several writers and illustrators have published their work as a result of meeting with her in past years’ conferences.
• The editorial staff of Brilliant Star magazine.
• Bahá’í publishing companies from around the world, sharing goals, insights, children’s materials they have published, submission procedures and other materials and resources.

Classes will be provided for children ages 3–14 during the five-day session. For information, contact Green Acre.

Other upcoming programs

June 23–28: Junior Youth Academy: Arising to Serve with Farah Rosenberg; for ages 11–14; limited enrollment.

June 30–July 5: Family Virtues Week with Kathy Grammer; also, The Bahá’í Administrative Order in North America—Its First 75 Years with Jack McCants.

July 2: Concert/Picnic with Red Grammer and special 75th Anniversary celebration. ◆ [Page 26]

1999-2000 COMMUNITY HONOR ROLL

The Office of the Treasurer is pleased to publish the Community Honor Roll for 156 B.E. Following is the list of the 985 local Bahá’í communities that met the Honor Roll criteria for their contribution to the National Bahá’í Fund. They have distinguished themselves by the diligence and care they have displayed in support of the National Spiritual Assembly.

The Honor Roll criteria are the same as last year. To be eligible, a community either must give 15 times or more during at least 12 of 19 months of the Bahá’í administrative year, or must participate in the Automatic Contribution System (ACS) for at least 10 of 12 Gregorian months between March 1999 and February 2000. Communities whose combined contributions by mail and through the ACS fulfill either criterion are also included.

We are pleased also to recognize Spiritual Assemblies and registered groups who submitted their community goals for 156 B.E. (indicated by a ♥) and audits for the fiscal year ending April 30, 1999, which were due June 30, 1999 (marked by a ★).

Congratulations to these communities, which have demonstrated regularity, consistency, responsibility and reliability—all characteristics of mature and unified action.

ALABAMA

Birmingham Fairhope Florence★ Huntsville Madison♥ Mobile Montgomery Tuscaloosa

ARIZONA

Avondale★ Chandler★ Chino Valley Coconino Co. S Coconino E Douglas Flagstaff Ganado Chapter Gilbert★ Holbrook★ Oro Valley Paradise Valley♥ Peoria♥★ Phoenix Pima Co. N Pima Co. Cent.♥ Pima Co. E★ Pinal Co.★ Prescott♥★ Scottsdale Sierra Vista Sun City Tempe★ Tsaile-Wheatfields Tucson

ARKANSAS

Fayetteville Hot Springs Little Rock Rogers Russellville

CALIFORNIA

Agoura Hills Aliso Viejo★ Altadena Anaheim★ Arcadia★ Arcata♥★ Arroyo Grande Bakersfield★ Belmont★ Berkeley Beverly Hills♥★ Brea Burbank Burlingame Calabasas Camarillo Campbell★ Capitola Carlsbad★ Cerritos Chico♥ Chula Vista Citrus Hts.★ Claremont★ Clovis★♥ Concord★ Corona★ Covina Culver City Cupertino♥★ Dana Point♥★ Danville Desert JD Diamond Bar Dublin★ El Cajon El Cajon JD El Dorado Co. NW El Dorado Co. SE Encinitas★ Escondido Eureka Fair Oaks-Orangevale♥ Fairfield★ Fallbrook San Diego♥★ Fillmore Folsom Freedom Fremont♥ Fullerton♥★ Glendale♥ Glendora Goleta★ Grass Valley Hanford♥★ Hawthorne Hayward♥ Healdsburg Hemet Highland Hollister Inglewood Irvine★ La Canada Flintridge La Crescenta La Mesa Lafayette Laguna Beach Laguna Hills★ Laguna Niguel★ Lakeside★ Lakewood Lancaster Lemon Grove Livermore♥ Lodi Lomita Long Beach♥ Los Alamitos Los Altos Los Angeles Los Gatos Madera Sierra JD★ Manteca Marin Co.♥ Martinez♥ Marysville Merced★ Mission Viejo♥★ Modesto Monrovia Monterey★ Moorpark Moreno Valley★ Mountain View♥ Mt. San Jacinto JD Murrieta♥★ Nevada Co. Cent. Nevada Co. SW Newark♥ Newhall JD Newport Beach♥ North Fork Novato♥ Oak Park♥★ Oakland Ontario Orange♥ Orange Co. S JD★ Orinda Oxnard♥★ Palm Desert♥★ Palmdale♥★ Palo Alto Paradise Pasadena♥ Petaluma♥ Poway♥★ Prunedale Rancho Cordova Rancho Cucamonga★ Redlands★ Redwood City♥★ Richmond Ridgecrest Riverside Riverside JD♥ Rocklin Roseville Sacramento Sacramento Co. SE Sacramento Co. NW♥ San Anselmo San Bernardino San Clemente San Diego San Diego Co. N JD♥★ San Jose San Juan Capistrano★ San Leandro★ San Leandro Hayward JD★ San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Co. NW★ San Luis Obispo Co. S★ San Marcos★ San Mateo♥ San Mateo Co. S JD San Rafael♥ San Ramon Santa Barbara Santa Clara♥ Santa Clarita♥ Santa Cruz♥ Santa Cruz Co. N Santa Maria♥ Santa Maria JD Santa Monica♥★ Santa Paula♥★ Santa Rosa Santee Saratoga★ Sierra Madre♥★ Simi Valley Sonoma Co. Supv Dist #4 Sonoma Co. Supv Dist #5★ South Pasadena Stanford Suisun City Sunnyvale♥ Temple City♥ Thousand Oaks★ Three Lakes JD♥★ Tiburon Toro and Laguna Seca♥ Torrance Tuolumne Cent. JD♥★ Union City Upland★ Vacaville Vallejo♥★ Ventura Ventura Co.★ Victorville♥ Vista★ Walnut Walnut Creek Westlake Village★ Whittier★ Whittier JD Yosemite-El Portal

COLORADO

Arapahoe Co.♥★ Arvada Aurora★ Boulder★ Boulder Co. Colorado Springs♥★ Cortez Denver Douglas Co. El Paso Co. E Fort Collins Golden★ Greeley Jefferson Co.♥★ La Plata Co.★ Lafayette♥ Larimer Co. Longmont★ Louisville★ Loveland★ Mesa Co. Montezuma Co. Northglenn Westminster♥★

CONNECTICUT

Farmington Town★ Hartford New Haven Oxford Town Plainville Stamford♥★ West Hartford Town

DELAWARE

Dover♥★ New Castle Co. N♥★ New Castle Co. W★ Newark Sussex Co.♥★ Wilmington★

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Washington

FLORIDA

Altamonte Springs Atlantic Beach Brevard Co. Charlotte Co. Citrus Co.♥★ Clay Co.♥★ Clearwater★ Collier Co. Cooper City Dade Co. Cent.★ Dade Co. N★ Dade Co. S Davie★ Deerfield Beach Ft Lauderdale Gainesville♥ Gtr. Gainesville♥ Gulfport★ Hillsborough Co. E★ Hillsborough Co. NW♥ Hollywood Indian River Co. Jacksonville★ Lake Co.★ Lakeland Largo♥★ Leon Co.★ Manatee Co.♥★ Marion Co.♥ Okaloosa Co. Orange Co. E♥★ Orange Co. W Orlando★ Palm Beach Co. N Palm Beach Co. S Palm Coast Pembroke Pines Pinellas Co. Polk Co. Pompano Beach♥ Royal Palm Beach♥ Sarasota Co. N★ Sunrise★ Tallahassee Weston Wilton Manors★

GEORGIA

Atlanta Augusta♥ Cobb Co. NE Cobb Co. S Cobb Co. SW♥★ Cobb Co. W Columbia Co. E Dalton DeKalb Co. N DeKalb Co. S Fulton Co. NE Gwinnett Co. N★ Gwinnett Co. S Hall Co. Peach Co. Roswell♥★ Savannah Valdosta

IDAHO

Ada Co.★ Boise Coeur d’Alene♥ Idaho Falls♥ Latah Co. Lewiston★ Meridian Moscow★

ILLINOIS

Arlington Hts. Aurora★ Bloomington♥ Bolingbrook Burr Ridge Champaign Chicago Decatur♥★ Deerfield★ Des Plaines Downers Grove East Peoria Edwardsville Elgin♥★ Evanston Glen Ellyn Glencoe Glenview Highland Park♥★ Hoffman Estates Joliet♥★ La Grange Lisle Lockport Mahomet Maine Twp.♥ Naperville Oak Park♥★ Park Forest Park Ridge Peoria Rockford Roscoe Twp.♥★ Schaumburg★ Skokie Springfield St. Charles Urbana Waukegan Wheaton♥★ Wilmette♥★ Woodstock

INDIANA

Angola Bloomington Twp. Bloomington♥★ Fort Wayne♥★ Gary Indianapolis Kokomo Mishawaka Mount Vernon Muncie South Bend★ Vincennes♥★ West Lafayette

IOWA

Ames★ Bettendorf Cedar Falls Cedar Rapids★ Council Bluffs♥ Davenport♥ Des Moines Mount Vernon Sioux City♥ Warren Co. Waterloo West Des Moines

KANSAS

Butler Co. Derby Dodge City Hays Hutchinson♥ Kansas City Lawrence Olathe Overland Park♥★ Wichita

KENTUCKY

Boyle Co. Jefferson Co.★ Jeffersontown Lexington Louisville

LOUISIANA

Avondale Baton Rouge♥ Bossier City East Baton Rouge Parish La Place♥★ Lake Charles New Orleans Saint Tammany Parish SE Shreveport

MAINE

Auburn Augusta Dexter Town Eliot Town♥★ Gorham Town Kingfield Lewiston Portland South Berwick South Portland★

MARYLAND

Anne Arundel Co. E Baltimore Baltimore Co. Cent. Baltimore Co. W♥★ Carroll Co.♥★ Frederick Co. Gaithersburg Greenbelt♥ Howard Co. Laurel Montgomery Co. Cent.★ Montgomery Co. N Montgomery Co. NW Montgomery Co. S Montgomery Co. SE [Page 27]

COMMUNITY HONOR ROLL

Montgomery Co. SW Montgomery Co. W Prince Georges Co. N Prince Georges Co. S Takoma Park

MASSACHUSETTS

Amherst Town Arlington Town Barnstable Town Boston Cambridge Chelmsford Town Dartmouth Town Easthampton Town Foxboro Town Ipswich Lexington Town Longmeadow Town Malden♥ Medford★ Milford Town Montague Town Nantucket Newton Northampton★ Northfield Town Quincy Salem Somerville South Hadley Town Waltham Wareham Town Watertown Town Westford Town Wilbraham Town★

MICHIGAN

Allen Park Ann Arbor Big Rapids Bloomfield Twp. Canton Twp. Clinton Twp. Detroit♥★ East Lansing♥ Flint Grand Rapids Hart Twp. Holland Huntington Woods♥ Kalamazoo★ Lansing★ Marquette♥ Midland♥★ Niles Twp. Oak Park Saginaw Saginaw Twp. St. Clair Shores Scottville Southfield St. Joseph Troy★ Washington Twp. White River Twp. Ypsilanti Twp.♥★

MINNESOTA

Aitkin Co. Arden Hills Beltrami Co.★♥ Chanhassen Duluth★ Eagan Falcon Hts. Foley Golden Valley Grand Rapids Greenwood Little Canada Maple Grove May Twp.★ Minneapolis Minnetonka Plymouth Rochester★ Roseville St. Paul Stillwater West St. Paul Woodbury

MISSISSIPPI

Gulfport Jackson Vicksburg♥★

MISSOURI

Chesterfield★ Columbia★ Joplin♥★ Kansas City Lee’s Summit★ Phelps Co. Saint Charles Co.♥★ Saint Charles★♥★ Saint Joseph Saint Louis♥★ Springfield♥★ Saint Louis Co. S★ University City♥

MONTANA

Billings Bozeman Butte-Silver Bow Flathead Co.★ Great Falls Helena★

NEBRASKA

Aurora♥ Bellevue Gering Grand Island Lincoln★ Nebraska City North Platte Papillion Scottsbluff Co.

NEVADA

Boulder City★ Carson City★ Churchill Co. Clark Co. W Las Vegas★ North Las Vegas Paradise Town♥ Reno Sparks Sunrise Manor♥★

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Concord♥ Exeter Town Keene Lebanon Manchester★ Nashua Peterborough Portsmouth♥

NEW JERSEY

Bloomfield★ Clifton★ Glassboro Hamilton Twp.♥ Hopewell Twp. Lakewood Twp. Lawrence Twp.★ Matawan♥ Montclair Twp.♥ Piscataway Twp.♥ Teaneck♥★ Trenton Ventnor City Wyckoff

NEW MEXICO

Alamogordo★ Albuquerque Aztec Belen Farmington Gallup♥ Hobbs Lincoln Co. Los Alamos Co.★ Los Lunas Rio Rancho♥ San Juan Co.★ Sandoval Co. N Santa Fe Santa Fe Co.

NEW YORK

Albany Amherst Town♥★ Beacon♥ Brighton Town Brookhaven Town♥ Clarence Town★ Geneva Greece Town Hamburg Town Hempstead Town♥★ Hoosick Falls Huntington Town★ Islip Town♥ Ithaca♥ Kingston Mount Vernon New Paltz New York City North Hempstead Town Olean Perinton Town♥★ Rochester Saratoga Springs Schenectady Smithtown Town♥★ Tonawanda Town♥ Utica Victor Town♥ Webster Town♥★ White Plains

NORTH CAROLINA

Asheville★ Black Mountain Buncombe Co. Carrboro Cary Chapel Hill Charlotte Chatham Co. Durham Co.★ Durham♥★ Greensboro★ Guilford Co.♥ Hamlet Henderson Co. High Point★ Kernersville New Hanover Co.♥★ Orange Co.★ Wake Co. Wilmington♥★ Winston-Salem

NORTH DAKOTA

Fargo♥ Jamestown Minot♥

OHIO

Bainbridge Twp. Bexley Bowling Green Bucyrus Cleveland Hts. Columbus♥ Dayton Fairborn Harrison Twp. Hilliard♥ Kent♥ Kettering Macedonia Mansfield♥★ Mentor Miami Twp. Poland Shaker Hts. Stow Sylvania Upper Arlington Urbana Warrensville Hts.♥ Weller Twp. Yellow Springs★

OKLAHOMA

Edmond♥★ Midwest City Moore♥★ Norman♥ Oklahoma City♥★ Ponca City Shawnee♥ Yukon

OREGON

Albany♥★ Ashland♥ Astoria Beaverton♥★ Bend Benton Co.★ Clackamas Co. NW Clackamas Co. S Clatsop Co. Deschutes Co.★ Douglas Co. Eugene♥★ Forest Grove★ Gtr. Grants Pass Gresham♥ Hillsboro Jackson Co. Klamath Falls La Grande Lane Co. Cent. Manzanita McMinnville Medford♥★ Milwaukie Pendleton Portland Roseburg♥ Salem Springfield♥★ Talent Tigard★ Tualatin Wallowa Co.★ Washington Co. N♥★

PENNSYLVANIA

Allentown Altoona Bethlehem Buckingham Twp. Elizabethtown Borough Harrisburg Lancaster Lower Merion Twp. Philadelphia♥ Pittsburgh State College Swarthmore Tredyffrin Twp.

RHODE ISLAND

Cranston Hopkinton Town Warwick

SOUTH CAROLINA

Adams Run Anderson Co.★ Clemson Columbia Conway Cross Florence Gtr. Orangeburg Greenville Greenwood Co.♥★ Horry Co.♥ Kingstree Lexington Co. N★ Mauldin Mount Pleasant North Augusta♥ Pendleton Pickens Co.★♥ Richland Co. N♥★ Rock Hill★ Spartanburg Co. Spartanburg♥★

SOUTH DAKOTA

Custer Pass Creek Dist. Pierre♥ Rapid City★

TENNESSEE

Brentwood Chattanooga♥ Hamilton Co.♥★ Hendersonville Knox Co.★ Maryville Memphis♥★ Murfreesboro★ Nashville♥ Rutherford Co. Shelby Co. Williamson Co.★ Wilson Co.

TEXAS

Addison Allen★ Arlington Austin Bedford♥★ Bellaire Benbrook Carrollton Cedar Park College Station Colleyville Coppell★ Corpus Christi★ Dallas♥ Del Rio Denison Denton Duncanville Eagle Pass Edinburg El Paso Flower Mound♥ Fort Worth♥ Frisco Garland★ Grand Prairie★ Grapevine★ Harlingen★ Harris Co. NW Harris Co. SE Harris Co. SW Houston♥ Hurst♥ Irving♥★ Kerr Co. Lake Jackson League City★ Lewisville Lubbock McAllen McKinney♥★ Midland★ North Richland Hills Pasadena Plano♥★ Richardson Round Rock San Antonio♥★ Sugar Land♥ The Colony★ The Woodlands Travis Co.♥★ Tyler Victoria★ Waco West University Pl. Williamson Co.

UTAH

Logan Ogden Salt Lake City♥ Salt Lake Co.

VERMONT

Bennington Town Brattleboro♥★ Colchester Fairfax Town Norwich Rochester Town Shoreham Town

VIRGINIA

Albemarle Co. Alexandria♥ Charlottesville♥ Chesterfield Co.★ Fairfax City Fairfax Co. Cent. S★ Fairfax Co. East★ Fairfax Co. NW★ Fairfax Co. W★ Falls Church★ Great Falls♥★ Gtr. Vienna★ Mount Vernon★ Henrico Co. Loudoun Co. McLean★ Newport News★ Norfolk Prince William Co. E Reston Richmond Roanoke Scottsville Staunton♥★ Vienna★ Virginia Beach

WASHINGTON

Anacortes Bellevue♥★ Bellingham♥★ Bothell★ Edmonds Everett★ Gtr. Walla Walla Issaquah★ Juanita Kenmore★ Kent★ King Co. E. Cent.♥★ King Co. NE★ King Co. SE★ Kirkland♥★ Kitsap Co. Cent.♥★ Kitsap Co. S♥ Longview♥★ Lynnwood♥ Makah Reservation Mercer Island♥ Moses Lake★ Mount Baker★ Mount Vernon Mukilteo♥ Newcastle♥ Olympia♥ Pasco★ Pierce Co. Pen. Port Angeles♥ Pullman♥ Redmond♥ Renton Seattle★ Shelton Shoreline♥★ Snohomish CCD 3♥★ Snohomish Co. N♥★ Snohomish Co. SE Spokane♥★ Spokane CCD 1♥★ Spokane CCD 2♥★ Tacoma Thurston Co. E Toppenish Tumwater★ University Place♥ Vancouver♥★ Walla Walla Wenatchee West Richland Whatcom CCD 3 Woodinville★ Yakima Yakima CCD 1★ Yakima CCD 3

WEST VIRGINIA

Charleston♥★ Jefferson Co. Morgantown♥★ Princeton

WISCONSIN

Algoma Appleton Beloit★ Brookfield♥★ Cedar Grove Cedarburg Chippewa Falls De Pere Delafield Eau Claire Farmington Town Fond du Lac★ Glendale Green Bay♥★ Greenfield♥★ Janesville★ Kenosha La Crosse★ Middleton Milwaukee Muskego New Berlin♥★ Oshkosh♥★ Portage Co. Saukville Twp. Sheboygan Stevens Point Sun Prairie Waukesha♥★ Waukesha Twp. Wausau Wauwatosa★ West Allis★ Wilson Twp. Winchester Twp. Winneconne

WYOMING

Laramie Newcastle [Page 28]Classified notices in The American 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

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.

International Consultant, Office of Pioneering. 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.

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.

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.

SQL 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.

Help desk. Coordinates support activities for LSAI project. Provides training and support for LSAI. Handles or delegates requests for support. Develops training-related materials, assists promotion and education.

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.

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

Properties Associate. Full range skilled maintenance and manual labor, to care for facilities and grounds year-round. Needs experience and training in carpentry, construction, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and/or grounds. If interested, contact Rick or Barbara Johnson, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 810-653-5033, e-mail ).

AT GREEN ACRE BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL ELIOT, MAINE

Assistant Facilities Coordinator. Helps with inspections, maintenance, exterior and interior repairs. Needs skills in housekeeping, maintenance of buildings, equipment, vehicles, 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 ).

URGENT NEEDS

Office of the Treasurer, Evanston: Assistant Coordinator/Kingdom Project. Will help Project Coordinator design and carry out an effective communication plan for the duration of the five-year Project. Needs strong grounding in fundamental verities of the Faith, exceptional written and oral communication skills and advanced computer skills, ability to coordinate tasks. Knowledge of desktop publishing a plus. Prefer bachelor’s degree in communication or related field; minimum three years’ related experience.

Bahá’í Distribution Service, Fulton County, Georgia: Customer Service Representative (2 positions). Will process phone, fax and electronic orders, respond to customer queries, maintain customer records, and handle correspondence. Should have strong communication skills, strong data entry skills, experience in telephone customer service or related work, pleasant voice and patient demeanor. Knowledge of Bahá’í literature is a plus.

Office of the Secretary, Evanston: Administrative Assistant. Interacts with all departments, composes responses to all correspondence, handles high volume of detailed information with frequent interruptions. Needs sound problem-solving/organizational judgment, ability to work with confidential information and to work as part of a team (with and without supervision), written and interpersonal communication skills, proficiency in word processing, driver’s license.

Office of the Treasurer, Evanston: Administrative Assistant. Coordinates administrative tasks; maintains relationships with institutions and volunteers through phone, mail and electronic correspondence; and helps in executing tasks assigned to the Office of the Treasurer by the National Spiritual Assembly.

Office of the Human Resources, Evanston: Benefits Administrator. Manages HRIS; administers medical, dental, life, AD&D, LTD and Flexible Spending plans; conducts benefit orientation; creates reports with HRIS and other special projects. Needs precision and accuracy in document/recordkeeping, skill in setting priorities and organizing files. Must be positive, service-oriented, sensitive in handling of confidential matters, able to maintain productivity amid rapidly changing priorities. Desired: Experience in ADP, Report Smith, Excel, Microsoft Office; two years’ college.

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.

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

OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION NEW YORK, NY

Director: Manages the National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of Public Information in New York. Functions as expert adviser to the National Spiritual Assembly, Regional Bahá’í Councils, Local Spiritual Assemblies and individuals in matters regarding media relations and public information concerning the Bahá’í Faith in the United States. This is a supervisory position, reporting to the director of the Office of External Affairs in Washington, DC.

Responsibilities:

• Acts as the National Spiritual Assembly spokesperson to the national communication media on general Bahá’í matters.
• Responds to national media inquiries on general issues related to the Bahá’í Faith.
• Develops and initiates stories about the Bahá’í community for national media.
• Coordinates and oversees Bahá’í contact with national media on general matters.
• Directs and guides the work of more than 1,200 public information representatives.
• Conducts media training seminars for public information representatives throughout the U.S.
• Advises and collaborates with the National Teaching Committee regarding national media campaigns including development of video, radio and press materials.
• Conceives and develops public information materials for public and private institutions such as the hospital industry, public libraries, the funeral/death care industry etc.
• Responds to media attacks against Bahá’í communities.
• Reviews and approves Bahá’í-sponsored articles and letters to the editor to be published in national media.

Requirements:

• Professional experience in media/public relations or related fields.
• College degree (graduate degree desirable).
• Mature understanding of the principles and teachings of the Bahá’í Faith (experience on Bahá’í institutions or committees is helpful).
• Proven ability to work with others in a high-pressure, time-sensitive environment.
• Supervisory/managerial experience.
• Proven ability to write and speak well.
• Ability to use discretion and diplomacy.
• Ability to handle simultaneous demands.

Please send a cover letter, résumé, and a writing sample of no more than two pages to the Office of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (fax 847-733-3430, e-mail ). We regret that no inquiries (by phone, fax or mail) or visits to the Office of Public Information or to the Office of External Affairs can be accepted.

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 ). [Page 29]The Spiritual Assembly of Washington, DC, is seeking a resident manager for the local Bahá’í Center. Married couples and single Bahá’ís are encouraged to apply. Must be able to provide loving hospitality to Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í visitors, answer phones, schedule events, coordinate cleaning and maintenance of the Center and its gardens and much more. To apply, please send a letter stating your interest and qualifications to the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Washington, DC, 1320 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011.

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 [email address]).

PIONEERING / HOMEFRONT

A change in homefront pioneering appeals

The four Regional Bahá’í Councils have taken on responsibility for coordinating U.S. homefront pioneering in the past year. Because of this, The American Bahá’í has changed the way it presents appeals for homefront pioneers. We will regularly print top-priority localities in each region for homefront pioneers, as reported to us by each Council.

“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 for this purpose.

Southern States

For more information, please contact the Southern Regional Traveling Teaching and Homefront Pioneering Coordination Team c/o Anne Jalali, secretary (phone 912-825-3542, e-mail [email address]) or Connie Donley, 140 Timberline Dr., Gilbertsville, KY 42044 (phone 270-362-4228, e-mail [email address]).

Owensboro, the third-largest city in Kentucky, is in dire need of the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. No Bahá’ís live in this city, the marketing center for the area. With great diversity in its economic base, a sound educational system, two private universities and a large community college, a large hospital and beautiful recreational opportunities, Owensboro is within two hours of Louisville, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee.

Clarksville, Tennessee, was just two members short of re-forming its Assembly (as of this writing). A wonderful dedication to teaching has resulted in two recent declarations. Near Fort Campbell, Clarksville has had a large number of recent inquiries through the 1-800-22-UNITE system.

Other priority localities:

• Arkansas: Fort Smith, Pine Bluff
• Florida: Daytona Beach, Hialeah, Melbourne, Miami, Pensacola, Sarasota, West Palm Beach
• Georgia: Albany
• Louisiana: Bossier City, Kenner, Lake Charles, Monroe
• North Carolina: Gastonia
• Oklahoma: Broken Arrow
• South Carolina: North Charleston
• Tennessee: Jackson
• Texas: Baytown, Beaumont, Galveston, Killeen, Laredo, Longview, Mesquite, Odessa, San Angelo
• Virginia: Danville, Lynchburg, Portsmouth, Suffolk
• West Virginia: Huntington

Western States

For more information, contact the appropriate Traveling Teaching-Homefront Pioneering Coordinator for each state or for American Indian reservations (list available in the Regional Councils section of the Administrative Web Site, www.usbnc.org).

Roswell is the fifth-largest city in New Mexico, with a population of 49,000, a large medical center, a state university and New Mexico Military Institute. It is a center for agriculture, shipping, manufacturing, oil production and UFO encounters. Roswell boasts 311 sunny days a year, and the median cost of an owner-occupied home is $44,600. There are special challenges and concerns for this city so those interested in pioneering here should contact state coordinator Sue Khozein, 712 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501-1267 (phone 505/984-2766, e-mail [email address]).

The Meridian and Ada County Bahá’í communities in the Boise, Idaho, area need restoration of their Spiritual Assemblies; Meridian has seven adults and Ada County was expected to have eight after annexations. With one of the fastest-growing local economies in the United States, the Boise area has many job opportunities as well as excellent schools and Boise State University. The county’s population is about 300,000, and surrounding counties add greatly to this number.

Other priority localities:

• Arizona: Apache Junction, Bapchule District*, Buckeye, Chino Valley, Goodyear, Houck Chapter*, Kingman, Surprise, Tolleson
• Idaho: Fort Hall Indian Reservation*, Kootenai Co.
• Montana: Blackfeet Indian Reservation*, Crow Agency*, Havre, Kalispell, Lewis and Clark Co., Missoula, St. Ignatius
• Nevada: Boulder City, Pahrump, Winchester, Lyon Co., Churchill Co.
• New Mexico: Bernalillo Co. E., Doña Ana Co. Cent., Jicarilla Apache Reservation*, Mescalero Apache Reservation*, Rio Arriba Co., Grants, Ruidoso, Lincoln Co., Socorro, Los Lunas, Deming, Carlsbad, Artesia, Lovington, Aztec, Luna Co., Shiprock Chapter*, Taos Co.
• Utah: West Jordan, Bountiful, Centerville, Clearfield, Farmington, LaVerkin, Layton, Midvale, Murray, Roy, South Ogden, Uintah-Ouray*
• Wyoming: Laramie, Cheyenne, Casper, Gillette, Cody, Rawlins, Newcastle, Weston County, Laramie County, Rock Springs
• Colorado: Cortez, Manitou Springs, Englewood, Thornton, Fremont Co., Pagosa Springs, Southern Ute Res.*, Canon City
• California: 83 goal communities
• Oregon: 21 goal communities
• Washington: 36 goal communities

* On Indian reservations; please contact Helen Kiely, 703 E. Green Ave., Gallup, NM 87301-4829 (phone 505-863-9074, e-mail [email address]).

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTER SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Contact the Office of Human Resources at the Bahá’í National Center for an application (phone 847-733-3427, e-mail [email address]).

YOUTH WANTED

The National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of External Affairs in Washington, DC, is accepting applications for the following unpaid internship positions for summer or fall 2000:

Research Assistant. Will assist in the office’s research on the status of women, sustainable development, support of the United Nations, human rights treaties and/or race unity, as well as helping with day-to-day office operation.

Project Coordinator. Will consult with staff and draw up proposals for Web site design and/or exhibits about the work of the Office of External Affairs; will also help with day-to-day office operation.

Applicants should be college students with a proven area of interest related to the work of the Office of External Affairs.

If interested, send a résumé and cover letter to Schahrzade Rezvani, Office of External Affairs, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the U.S., 1320 19th Street NW, Suite 701, Washington, DC 20036-1610 (e-mail srezvani@usbnc.org). Information about the Office of External Affairs can be found at www.usbnc.org under “NSA Departments.”

Desert Rose Bahá’í Institute Inc. in Southern Arizona is rapidly developing as a major center of learning for an integrated community of Bahá’ís of all ages. Provisions are being made for construction of independent living units for those who may have left the work force and would like to be a part of this exciting concept. In the short term we aim to offer training courses, programs and conferences as well as to develop an outreach program beyond the Bahá’í community. Longer-term plans include an accredited center of learning focusing on the arts. We wish to utilize the knowledge and expertise retirees may wish to contribute while living in a Bahá’í community on the Institute’s 80-acre grounds. If interested, please contact Ruth Tobey Hampson, project manager, Desert Rose Bahá’í Institute, P.O. Box 163, Eloy, AZ 85231 (phone 520-466-3783, e-mail [email address]).

ARCHIVES

The National Bahá’í Archives is seeking original letters written on behalf of the Guardian to the following: Gertrude Atkinson, Gloria Dorlan, Bennett Dorm, Martha C. Dorrida, Hildegard Doty, Lawrence F. Doty, Erich Doubek, Jack Alfred Downs, Eleanor Drury and Bessie C. Duckett. Anyone knowing family members or relatives who might have these Guardian’s letters is asked to contact the National Bahá’í Archives, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-869-9039).

The National Bahá’í Archives is seeking photographs of ‘Alí Nakhjavání, Peter Khan, Adib Taherzadeh, Ian Semple, Hooper Dunbar, Farzam Arbab, Douglas Martin, Hushmand Fatheazam and Kiser Barnes. Please identify the photographs if possible with name, locality and date. Anyone having photographs they could donate is asked to send them to the National Bahá’í Archives, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611.

I am a Bahá’í youth writing a booklet for and about youth, and I would like to enlist your help. I need positive and negative stories of your experiences and those of others, especially dealing with interactions between adults and youths. How did you and others deal with the situation, and what was the outcome? I also can use stories of teaching experiences, uplifting experiences or moments in your Bahá’í life that changed you, and your challenges, triumphs and what you have found to be effective in teaching the Faith to your peers. All stories will be confidential; please do not include vindictive accounts. Please include permission to publish or distribute your story. If you have any questions, please feel free to write or call. Send all information to Sholeh Loehle, 6459 Charette Rd., Naperville, IL 60564 (phone 630-527-0785, e-mail sloehle@aol.com or sl@lucent.com).

HUQUQU’LLÁH THE RIGHT OF GOD

Payments to Huqúqu’lláh should be made to “The Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust” (please write your Bahá’í identification 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, e-mail banani@ucla.edu
• Stephen Birkland,	Arden Hills, MN 55112
Phone 651-484-9518, fax 651-490-7521, e-mail sbirkland@usbnc.org
• Sally Foo,	Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Phone 609-671-9125, fax 609-671-0740, e-mail sfoo@usbnc.org
• Daryush Haghighi,	Rocky River, OH 44116
Phone 440-333-1506, fax 440-333-6938, e-mail dhaghighi@usbnc.org
• Elizabeth Martin, P.O. Box 178,	Winnsboro, SC 29180
Phone 803-635-9602, e-mail emartin@usbnc.org

Office of the Secretariat, Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust, 20300 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River, OH 44116 (phone 440-333-1506, fax 440-333-6938, e-mail dhaghighi@usbnc.org). [Page 30]

NEWS

This eight-page brochure from the Office of the Treasurer contains some Bahá’í teachings and practical advice on:

• Importance and advantages of a will
• Five steps to creating a successful will
• Checklist for preparing a will
• Burial instructions
• Bequests to the Bahá’í Faith

Individual copies may be requested free. There is a nominal charge for ordering these brochures in quantity.

The National Spiritual Assembly’s Planned Giving Program has been established to help believers make a variety of financial arrangements for themselves, their families and the Faith:

• Providing for the Bahá’í Faith in your will
• Making a gift of securities
• Making a gift of real estate
• Making a gift ‎of through through‎ life insurance

Receiving income from your gift:

• Charitable Gift Annuities
• Charitable Remainder Trusts

To order The Writing of a Will or to find out more about planned giving:

• Phone 847-733-3466 or e-mail
• Or, fill out the form with the attached envelope.

INFORMATION ON YOUR INTERNATIONAL TEACHING TRIP

To record achievement of traveling teaching goals, the Office of Pioneering needs information on all international trips taken for the sake of promoting the interests of the Faith. 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 on page 31 to respond by mail. Include the following 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? ◆

Glimpses of the Faith in the media

New York Times article publicizes Bahá’í nationwide

The New York Times profiled WLGI Radio Bahá’í in a highly positive feature article, accompanied by photos, in its March 31 editions. Headlined “Hemingway Journal: A Little Bit of a Change From Old-Time Religion,” the article was available to newspapers nationwide via the Times’ news service.

Reporting from Hemingway, South Carolina, writer Gustav Niebuhr briefly outlined the beginnings of the Bahá’í Faith, a few basic teachings—particularly on race unity—and even some facts about the Hand of the Cause Louis Gregory. The station is housed at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute.

The article also touched on services the station provides for its listeners. Beyond spreading the Bahá’í message directly and playing gospel and other popular music, the 50,000-watt FM station airs announcements for local churches and fills prayer requests.

“The obvious question is, Why here?” the article continued. “Well, this state is important to Bahá’ís, and has been ever since thousands of South Carolinians converted to the religion in the 1970s.”

Documentary to feature Temple

Restoration efforts on the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, were to be mentioned as part of “Modern Marvels,” a documentary on the development of concrete, produced for the History Channel of cable TV.

First broadcast was set for May 31. Repeat airings of such programs are common on that channel.

The documentary’s producer and director “fell in love with the Temple” when they viewed video footage of the ongoing project to restore and conserve the building’s decorative concrete and structure.

“They recognized the Temple’s unique role as the impetus for the development of architectural precast concrete now used throughout the world,” Armbruster said.

The restoration and conservation projects have won several national and international awards for their innovation in formulation and application of concrete.

Portrait of an artist

An article in the winter 2000 issue of MSFocus magazine, a national publication of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, profiled Linda Hastings-Johnson, a Bahá’í ‎who who who‎ has maintained her work in intaglio-style sculpture despite suffering from the debilitating illness since 1987.

The Deerfield Beach, Florida, resident carves detailed three-dimensional figures and scenes on the back of clear acrylic blocks, to be viewed from the front. She sells the artwork at East Coast craft shows.

“How is she able to continue this finely detailed work despite her MS symptoms?” the magazine’s report reads. “Linda, a member of the Bahá’í Faith since 1970, credits her faith and love of her art. ‘My hands are steady when I’m sculpting,’ Linda says. ‘God gives me that gift.’ ” ◆

TEACHING, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

books and pamphlets, said teaching Christians is all about “making friends and finding common ground, not arguing prophecies.”

That was borne out in a series of Dallas-area firesides that weekend that featured the participants as guest speakers.

When the group reconvened on Sunday morning to “debrief” on these experiences, many commented that Bahá’ís often tend to complicate the questions posed by Christian seekers, said Rafraf.

The view of participants, he said, was that the friends, rather than engaging Christians in detailed discussions of theology, must respectfully convey our love for Christ, His teachings and the Bible and the connection between Christ and Bahá’u’lláh.

So successful was the Dallas symposium in the eyes of all attendees that the National Teaching Committee invited a small number of the participants to consult with it in January. Again the spirit and the degree of unanimity were high, said Matthews.

Since then, several lines of action have been pursued, Rafraf said.

The Southern Regional Council organized training in May on teaching Christians for regional teaching institutes in the South.

Material related to teaching Christians is being collected by the National Teaching Committee so it can be shared with Assemblies and RTIs and, ultimately, with believers—probably through the national Administrative Web Site.

Similarly, a summary of Bahá’í positions on Christianity is being assembled for dissemination to the friends.

These steps, Matthews said, will help the friends take advantage of a “window of opportunity” brought on generally by Americans’ movement toward Bahá’í positions on “all the hot-button issues” and specifically by heavy response to the National Spiritual Assembly’s media initiative.

Just as social principles of the Faith have been adopted by more and more people in recent years, now “the spirit of the age is penetrating to people who haven’t even heard of Bahá’u’lláh,” he said.

But to exploit that opportunity, Matthews said, we must be able to respond with confidence when a caller to the 800-22-UNITE line expresses agreement with the content of a Bahá’í video, then says, “I’m happy in my church—what do you have to say about that?” ◆

IN MEMORIAM

Jahan Azimi Richardson, TX March 29, 2000	Elijah Buckner Houston, TX April 2, 2000	Isadore I. Fine New Rochelle, NY November 25, 1999	Roger Gordon Thousand Oaks, CA January 30, 2000	Leslie Marcus White Plains, NY April 8, 2000	Rouhangiz Poustchi Orlando, FL April 2000	Lucinda G. Spoor Keene, NH December 28, 1999
Mary F. Baral Tucson, AZ March 24, 2000	Terrence L. Clark Detroit, MI December 4, 1999	Annabell Gault Twisp, WA December 12, 1999	Stella V. Johnson Brooksville, FL March 22, 1999	Veda Matteson Orlando, FL March 24, 2000	Grace Sevier Riverside, CA October 30, 1999	Charlotte Stirrat Mozambique March 30, 2000
Natalie A. Bowen Florence, OR December 9, 1999	Zahra Darougar Heravi Hemet, CA February 9, 2000	Clarence Gomes II Fort Lauderdale, FL February 21, 2000	Elisabeth Kurianski Romoland, CA March 23, 2000	Stanley B. Olewinski Green Lake, WI February 10, 2000	Aloysius F. Shortman Fort Belknap, MT March 6, 2000	Juanita R. Ziegler Bennington, VT November 22, 1999

[Page 31]

BAHÁ’Í SUBSCRIBER SERVICE • 800-999-9019

World Order

Your window to teaching, deepening and external affairs

Fall 1999 issue

• Editorial: “Taking Dogmatism Seriously”
• Interchange: The editors reflect on P.T. Anderson’s recent film, Magnolia
• Robert Hariman on Christian detachment in Erasmus’ Praise of Folly and in Pulp Fiction
• Jim Stokes on the power of Shakespearean comedy for individual and social change in “Where Does a ‘Jest’s Prosperity’ Lie? Comedy and Community”
• Duane L. Herrmann on “Rolling Prairie: Politics, the Press, and the Bahá’í Faith in Kansas, 1897”
• Ahang Rabbani translates into English a 1901 plan for surveillance of Bahá’í activities in Palestine and Iran

Coming in future issues:

• Bahá’í scholars review the most important secular books of the 20th century
• Muhammad Afnan on the Kitáb-i-Bayán
• Sandra Hutchison on Rúhíyyih Rabbání’s written legacy
• A tribute to the Báb on the 150th anniversary of His martyrdom

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, $48 / 2 years Single copy: $5 + shipping/handling

Brilliant Star Bimonthly children’s magazine by the U.S. National Assembly Subscriptions: U.S.—$18 / year, $32 / 2 years Outside U.S. surface mail—$18 / year, $32 / 2 years Outside U.S. air mail—$28 / year, $52 / 2 years Single copy: $3.50 + shipping/handling See Kid’s Corner, page 13

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 + 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 U.S. air mail—$32 / year, $60 / 2 years Single copy: $3 + shipping/handling

Herald of the South Quarterly by National Assemblies of Australia and New Zealand Subscriptions: U.S.—$28 / year, $50 / 2 years Outside U.S.: Contact Herald of the South, Ingleside NSW 2101, Australia; e-mail Single copy: $8 + shipping/handling

Use a separate copy of this form for each subscription

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Phone orders: 800-999-9019 • E-mail orders: Mail orders: Bahá’í Subscriber Service, 4703 Fulton Industrial Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30336-2017 TAB 6/5/00

A Century of Light: Who is Writing the Future?

Association for Bahá’í Studies 24th Annual Conference Aug. 31– Sept. 3 • Delta Meadowvale Resort and Conference Centre, Toronto, Canada

Program: Featured speakers include:

• Dr. Bahiyyih Nakhjavani
• Dr. Janet Khan
• Jacqueline Left Hand Bull
• Prof. Howard Adelman
• Sen. Landon Pearson
• Prof. Suheil Bushrui

Details on page 17.

Fees: All conference fees are in Canadian dollars; the exchange rate may vary. Conversion is automatic if you pay by credit card.

Full four-day registration ABS member: $80 by June 10, $90 by July 3, $100 on site. Non-member: $120 by June 10, $130 by July 3, $140 on site. Fee includes one-year membership. Child or Pre-Youth (age 5–15): $50.

Discounts (no more than one discount may apply) Couple: members, $20 discount per couple; non-members, $50 discount per couple. Senior (65+), Student or Unwaged: member, $20 discount; non-member, $35 discount.

One-day registration ABS member: $25 by July 3, $35 on site. Non-member: $30 by July 3, $40 on site. Child or Pre-Youth: $20.

Refunds: Registration fees are refundable, less 10% administrative fees if ABS is notified by Aug. 15, and less 20% administrative fees if notified after Aug. 15.

To register: Use any of the following ways to register.

• Web site: www.bahai-studies.ca
• Fax: 613-233-3644
• Phone: 613-233-1903
• Mail this ad and form to: Association for Bahá’í Studies, 34 Copernicus St., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 7K4

To mail in your registration: Please use a separate form or copy for EACH person or couple registering. Fill out the registrant’s name, address, country, phone and e-mail information. Under “Special Information,” please indicate ALL of the below that apply:

• Applicable fees in Canadian dollars, plus any amount you add for scholarships.
• If you’re an ABS-North America member, enter membership expiration date (or “Life Member” if that applies).
• If you’re paying by cheque or money order, please indicate that.
• If you’re paying with Visa, MasterCard or American Express, please enter the credit card number, expiration date, and the printed name and signature of the cardholder.

Hotel information: At the conference site, the Delta Meadowvale Resort and Conference Centre, near the Toronto International Airport, a block of rooms at the special rate of $99 Canadian (about $67 in U.S. dollars) plus taxes will be available until July 30. MAKE ROOM RESERVATIONS directly with the hotel (phone 800-422-8238); specify Association for Bahá’í Studies to receive the special rate.

MULTIPURPOSE FORM

CLIP OR COPY AS NEEDED

For which event or activity? _____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

Name _________________________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

City ________________________________________ State, ZIP ________________

Phone _______________________________________ E-mail __________________

Special information (please include dates if reporting international teaching trip): ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ TAB 6/5/00 [Page 32]در سالهای بعد از انقلاب اسلامی دکتر کاظم زاده از جانب معهد اعلی و محفل روحانی ملی مدافع حقوق احبای ستمدیده ایران بوده و در کنگره ایالات متحده و وزارت امور خارجه و همچنین در رسانه‌های گروهی با شهامت و صراحت به شرح تضییقات احبای ایران و دفاع از حقوق آنان و آگاه ساختن مردم از وضع ایشان و تلاش برای رفع دشواریهایشان پرداخته است.

البته استعفای ایشان از سمت خود در محفل به هیچ روی به معنی برکناری از خدمات نیست بلکه ایشان مشاور ویژه محفل ملی و نماینده بهائی در کمیسیون آزادی ادیان در خارج از ایالات متحده خواهد بود.

آگهی انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی

Friends of Persian Culture Association Tenth Annual Conference

اطلاعات برای تماس با انجمن: تلفن ۳۵۳۱-۷۳۳-(۸۴۷) و ۲۸۲۵-۷۳۳-(۸۴۷) فکس ۳۴۸۶-۷۳۳-۸۴۷

پست الکترونیکی:

نشانی پستی: 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 علاقه‌مندند آثار هنری خود را برای نمایش یا فروش به نمایش گذارند تقاضا می‌شود با هیأت مدیره انجمن تماس بگیرند و نیازمندیهای خود را برای برپا داشتن نمایشگاه در دهمین کنفرانس سالانه انجمن اعلام کنند.

۲- برنامه شعرخوانی 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، از جمله برنامه یک‌ساعته گنج سخن، در هر روز در اختیار علاقه مندان گذاشته شده است.

از شاعران و نویسندگان و دیگر علاقه مندان دعوت میشود چنانچه بخواهند از شاهکارهای نظم و نثر فارسی یا از اشعار و آثار خود بخوانند با هیأت مدیره تماس بگیرند و اثر مورد نظر را ارسال فرمایند: تلفن ۳۵۳۱-۷۳۳-۸۴۷

۳- دهمین کنفرانس سالانه انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی از ۳۱ آگوست تا ۳ سپتامبر ۲۰۰۰ در هتل مریات Chicago Marriott O’Hare تشکیل می‌شود. موضوع اصلی کنفرانس قرن بیستم: قرن انوار است. سخنرانان اصلی کنفرانس عبارتند از ایرج ایمن، امین بنانی، قاسم بیات، وحید رأفتی، فریبرز صهبا، فیروز کاظم زاده، فرنکلین لوئیس، فرزانه میلانی و ...

جوانان نمونه

EXCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS

خانم رها بهشاد یک دختر خانم ۱۷ ساله بهائی ساکن پردایز ولی Paradise Valley در ایالت آریزوناست. خانم بهشاد در امتحان SAT که بمنزله کنکور قبولی در مؤسسات تحصیلات عالی است موفق شده است بالاترین نمره را که ۱۶۰۰ است، دریافت کند.

آقای نیما محبوبی از احبای ساکن نیویورک یکی از برندگان جایزه Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans شده است. آقای محبوبی که در سال دوم دانشکده حقوق دانشگاه کلمبیا مشغول تحصیل است، این جایزه را برای پژوهش‌های خود دربارۀ قوانین چین دریافت داشته است. ۳۰ نفر دیگر نیز به دریافت این جایزه توفیق یافته‌اند. جایزه مذکور به دانشجویان مهاجر یا فرزندان مهاجران تعلق می‌گیرد.

خانم شهره میثاقی از احبای السریتو El Cerrito در کالیفرنیا به تازگی برای دریافت جایزه‌ای با عنوان ‎Soroptomist Soroptimist‎ Award of Merit انتخاب شد. خانم میثاقی محصل کلاس دوازدهم دبیرستان است و جایزۀ مذکور را برای خدمت به خانه و مدرسه و جامعه و کشور و جهان دریافت کرده است.

به این سه جوان نمونه و خانواده‌هایشان تبریک می‌گوئیم و توفیق روزافزون آنان را از درگاه الهی خواهانیم و در انتظار دریافت خبرهای مشابهی از دیگر جوانان بهائی.

رادیو پیام دوست

PAYAM-E DOOST RADIO

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

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

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

یادآوری

لطفاً به هزینه نام‌نویسی تا اول آگوست و در محل کنفرانس توجه فرمائید:

	قبل از اول آگوست	در محل کنفرانس
بزرگسالان (بالای ۱۲ سال)	۳۵ دلار	۴۰ دلار
خردسالان (۳ تا ۱۲ سال)	۱۵ دلار	۲۰ دلار
تور شیکاگو	۱۵ دلار	در محل بفروش نمی‌رسد

نعیم نبیل اکبر.

آقای رحمت الله بدیعی مقیم دانمارک و خانم شکوه رضائی از مینه سوتا و گروه موسیقی از ونکوور در کانادا از جمله هنرمندان عزیزی هستند که امسال با انجمن همکاری خواهند داشت. اطلاعات بیشتر در بارۀ سخنرانان و هنرمندان در شمارۀ آینده درج می‌شود. علاقه‌مندان به شرکت در کنفرانس لطفاً فرمهای زیر را به دقت مطالعه کرده و خوانا و صحیح تکمیل و به نشانی انجمن ارسال فرمایند.

برگ نام‌نویسی دهمین کنفرانس سالانه انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی

۳۱ آگوست - ۳ سپتامبر ۲۰۰۰

نام و نام خانوادگی --------------------------

شماره تلفن --------------------------

نام و نام خانوادگی همراهان --------------------------

سن شما: ۳ تا ۱۱ سال (چند نفر) --------------------------

۱۲ سال به بالا (چند نفر) --------------------------

ویزا --- مستر کارت --- چک ---

تاریخ انقضاء اعتبار کارت -------------------------- مبلغ --------------------------

امضاء صاحب کارت --------------------------

برگ نام‌نویسی برای دیدار از اماکن تاریخی بهائی در شیکاگو

پنجشنبه ۳۱ آگوست یا دوشنبه ۴ سپتامبر ۲۰۰۰

تعداد نفرات (نفری ۱۵ دلار) --------------------------

نام و نام خانوادگی --------------------------

تلفن --------------------------

نام و نام خانوادگی همراهان --------------------------

ویزا --- مستر کارت --- چک ---

تاریخ انقضاء اعتبار کارت -------------------------- مبلغ --------------------------

امضاء صاحب کارت --------------------------

برای اطلاعات بیشتر با دفتر امور احبای ایرانی/آمریکائی به شماره‌های زیر تماس بگیرید: ۸۴۷-۷۳۳-۳۵۲۸ و ۸۴۷-۷۳۳-۳۵۳۱ [Page 33]

انتخاب اعضای محفل روحانی ملی

MEMBERS OF THE NEW NSA

در خلال کانونشن اخیر ۱۶۲ تن از نمایندگان شخصاً رأی دادند و ۳ نفر نیز رأی غیابی دادند و بدین ترتیب هیچ رأی باطلی ‎ابداء ابداع‎ نشد.

نام اعضای محفل روحانی ملی ایالات متحده با قید سِمت آنان در محفل جدید به قرار زیر است:

• خانم جوانا سی کانرد، کمک منشی
• جناب ویلیام دیویس، رئیس محفل
• جناب رابرت سی هندرسن، منشی محفل
• خانم پتریشا لاک
• جناب جک مگتنس
• خانم درتی نلسن، نایب رئیس
• جناب ویلیام رابرتس، امین صندوق
• خانم اریکا توسانت
• جناب دیوید یانگ

گزارش سالانه محفل روحانی ملی

THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NSA

دکتر رابرت هندرسن، منشی محفل روحانی ملی گزارش سالانه محفل را با یادآوری دو هدف اصلی نقشه چهارساله آغاز کرد. ایشان خاطرنشان ساخت که یکی از این دو هدف اتمام مرحله کنونی ساختمان‌های قوس و دیگری پیشرفت و تسریع جریان دخول دسته جمعی مردم در جرگه امر مبارک بود. آگاهی اهل بهاء درباره هر دو هدف اندک بود اما در فاصله این چهار سال چه تغییراتی که رخ نداده است!

با توجه به این آگاهی اندک، پاسخی که دوائر و لجنات و شوراهای ناحیه‌ای و محافل روحانی و افراد احباء به این صلا دادند بسیار شکوهمند بود.

دکتر هندرسن اظهار داشت که در حال حاضر نظامی در دست داریم که می‌تواند متحریان را شناسایی کند و با تعداد بی‌سابقه‌ای از آنها تماس برقرار کند. ایشان همچنین به وجود نظام‌های تشکیلاتی مانند شوراهای ناحیه‌ای و به نظام‌های آموزشی مانند مؤسسات تبلیغی در سطح‌های محلی و ملی اشاره کرد.

دکتر هندرسن گفت که جامعه بهائی با یک جریان آموزشی و پژوهشی و آزمایشی در حال دست و پنجه نرم کردن است و شواهد آن به طرق گوناگونی که احباء با متحریان روبرو می‌شوند، دیده می‌شود.

اما وظیفه و کار ما در نقشه یکساله چیست؟ دکتر هندرسن به این نکات اشاره کرد: باید بیشتر تبلیغ کنیم؛ تازه تصدیقان را نگهداریم؛ کیفیت حیات فردی و اجتماعی را بهبود بخشیم؛ در پی تثبیت خانواده و جامعه و تشکیلاتی بر اساس وحدت و محبت باشیم؛ به پرورش روحانی کودکان و جوانان و بزرگسالانمان رسیدگی کنیم؛ در میان سختی‌های مربوط به تمسک به حیات بهائی و اظهار محبت و روحانیت نسبت به همه تعادلی ایجاد کنیم؛ برای تحقق ایجاد تساوی حقوق زن و مرد در جامعه امری کوشش کنیم و تفاوت‌های معقول در میان افکار و رویکردها را با سعه صدر بپذیریم.

گزارش دفتر امور خارجی

دکتر فیروز کاظم زاده حاضران در کانونشن را با اتفاقاتی که از زمان چاپ شدن گزارش سالانه محفل و زمان تشکیل کانونشن روی داده بود، آگاه ساخت.

ایشان از احبای بی گناه ایران سخن به میان آورد و گفت در اختلافاتی که بین جناح محافظه‌کار و جناح اصلاح‌طلب در ایران بروز کرده است، آن یک احبای ایران را پیرهن عثمان کرده و این (با تغییر روش‌های قبلی) در تلاش است که حرمتی برای خود دست و پا کند.

بدین جهت است که از یک سو دادگاه‌ها حکم اعدام بهائیان را تأیید می‌کنند و از سوئی دیگر دولت به طور غیرصریح اجازه می‌دهد که ازدواج بهائیان رسماً به ثبت برسد.

دکتر کاظم زاده همچنین به هشتمین قطعنامه کنگره ایالات متحده آمریکا راجع به تضییقات احبای ایران اشاره کرد. قطعنامه مذکور در حال حاضر در کنگره آمریکا در دست بررسی است. ایشان توصیه کرد که احباء از طریق نامه‌نگاری با اعضای کنگره برای تصویب هرچه زودتر این قطعنامه تماس حاصل نمایند و از کسانی که بانی و عامل پیشنهاد آن بوده‌اند تشکر کنند.

دکتر کاظم زاده همچنین اظهار داشت که وقتی از احباء در جائی ذکر مثبتی می‌شود، موجب نهایت سرفرازی و خرسندی است، و این موارد به نحو روزافزونی دیده می‌شود.

ایشان به‌عنوان مثال از مقاله‌ای که در روزنامه معتبر نیویورک تایمز درج شده بود، ذکری به میان آورد. در مقاله مذکور راجع به رادیوی بهائی WLGI در کارولینای جنوبی مطالبی نوشته شده بود. ایشان همچنین گفت احباء در امور مربوط به وحدت نژادی و حقوق زنان و تربیت اخلاقی و مسائل محیط زیست نیز مذکور و در معرض داوری مثبت بوده‌اند.

در واقع در نتیجه شرکت احباء در جلسه‌ای راجع به روابط بین ادیان که در کاخ سفید تشکیل شد، قرار است هیئتی برای تألیف کتابی درباره ذکر امور نژادی در کتب ادیان تشکیل شود. ریاست این هیئت را یک بهائی بر عهده خواهد داشت.

دکتر کاظم زاده همچنین انذار کرد که هر چند این توجهی که به احباء می‌شود بسیار مقبول است اما باید مواظب بود چه مطالبی مثلاً در اینترنت به میان می‌آید.

ایشان گفت دوران مجهولیت ما به سر آمده است. در طبقات بالای جامعه همه بهائیان را می‌شناسند و بسیاری منتظرند که لغزشی از ما ببینند. باید مراقب باشیم که بی جهت مستمسکی بدانان ندهیم.

گزارش دفتر امین صندوق

جناب ویلیام رابرتس، امین صندوق محفل روحانی ملی در بیانات خود اظهار داشت که تقدیم تبرعات به صندوق‌های گوناگون، امری است که باید با فداکاری و افتخار صورت گیرد.

ایشان سپس از آنچه برای درک بهتر امور تبرعات وجود دارد از جمله سمینارهای توسعه و ملاقات‌های ویژه امین صندوق و مواد آموزشی برای کودکان و نوجوانان سخن گفت. ایشان ذکری از اقدامی که احبای ایالت اورگان به عمل آورده‌اند به میان آورد که چگونه آن اقدام ۱۷ درصد بر میزان تبرعات احبای آن ایالت افزوده است.

جناب رابرتس گفت افزایش اندکی که در تبرعات احباء دیده شده برای مخارج کنونی از جمله برنامه‌های تبلیغی از طریق رسانه‌های همگانی، کافی نیست.

دوائر و لجنات گوناگون محفل روحانی ملی از طریق کارگاه‌های مخصوص برنامه‌هائی برای شرکت‌کنندگان در کانونشن ملی تهیه دیده بودند. از جمله دفتر امور احبای ایرانی/آمریکائی نیز برنامه‌ای با عنوان "سهم بهائیان ایرانی ‎تبارجامعه تبار جامعه‎ بهائی ایالات متحده در نقشه‌های جدید" تهیه کرده بود که یک بار به زبان فارسی و یک بار به زبان انگلیسی اجرا شد.

دکتر فیروز کاظم زاده

DR. KAZEMZADEH’S RETIREMENT

در سال ۱۹۹۲ دکتر فیروز کاظم زاده از شغل خود به‌عنوان استاد تاریخ در دانشگاه ییل استعفا کردند. محفل روحانی ملی از ایشان درخواست کرده بود که تمام وقت خود را صرف امور خارجی امر مبارک کنند و چون دکتر کاظم‌زاده استاد تمام‌وقت دانشگاه نیز بود، صلاح کار را در آن دید که درخواست محفل ملی را بپذیرد.

دکتر کاظم‌زاده پس از ۳۶ سال خدمت در محفل روحانی ملی ایالات متحده درخواست کرد که از انتخابات محفل در سال جاری معذور باشد.

هنگامی که ایشان برای اقامه گزارش دفتر امور خارجی در پشت سکوی خطابه رفت، همه حاضران به پا خاستند و با کف‌زدنی طولانی از خدماتش قدردانی کردند.

جناب ویلیام دیویس، رئیس محفل روحانی ملی گفت که همه ما محبت عمیقی نسبت به او داریم و به عمق اطلاعات امری و درک او از اصول و تاریخ و احوال طلعات قدسیه امر مبارک احترام می‌گذاریم.

دکتر کاظم‌زاده در سفارت ایران در مسکو چشم به جهان گشود و در سال ۱۹۴۴ به ایالات متحده آمد و در دانشگاه‌های ستنفورد و هاروارد به تحصیل پرداخت و سپس سالیان دراز استاد دانشگاه معتبر ییل در رشته تاریخ شوروی بود. [Page 34]قلوبمان به شدت متأسف و متأثر است. امثال این امور چنان زیاد است که نمیتوان تمام موارد آن را ذکر نمود. بسیاری از این اوضاع هول انگیز را والدین خود بر اطفالشان تحمیل میکنند و از آن راه صدمات روحی و روانی که به این کودکان وارد میشود خارج از حد حساب است. جامعه جهانی ما هم نمیتواند از عواقب این شرایط و احوال مصون بماند. ملاحظهٔ این احوال باید همه ما را برانگیزد تا به کوششهای فوری و پیگیر برای حفظ منافع کودکان و حفظ آینده پردازیم.

اگرچه فعالیتهای مربوط به اطفال بخشی از نقشه گذشته بود اما، اقدامات مزبور برای رفع نیازمندیها کافی نبوده است. تربیت روحانی اطفال و نوجوانان برای پیشرفت بیشتر جامعه حائز اهمیت اساسی است. بنابر این ضروری است که این کمبود برطرف گردد. مؤسسات آموزشی باید حتماً برنامه هائی برای تربیت مربیان کلاسهای کودکان که میتوانند خدمات خود را در اختیار جوامع محلی بگذارند ترتیب دهند. اگرچه تأمین تربیت روحانی و تعلیمات مدرسه ای برای اطفال ضروری است اما این امور فقط بخشی از اقداماتی است که باید در تربیت اخلاقی و ساختن شخصیت اطفال معمول گردد. این نیازمندی وجود دارد که افراد و مؤسسات در تمام سطوح یعنی تمامی جامعه نسبت به اطفال طرز تلقی و توجهی که در خور آنان است داشته باشند و نسبت به رفاه اطفال علاقه و دلبستگی نشان دهند. چنین طرز تلقی و توجهی باید با وضعی که در خارج موجود است و بسرعت رو به اضمحلال میرود تفاوت کلی داشته باشد.

در دارائی یک جامعه کودکان گرانبهاترین گنجینه اند زیرا اطفال امید و ضامن آینده اند. کودکان حامل بذرهائی هستند که خصوصیات جامعه فردا را در بر دارد، خصوصیاتی که بیشتر در اثر رفتار بزرگسالان، یا در اثر قصور و کوتاهیهای آنان، شکل می پذیرد. کودکان اماناتی هستند که هر جامعه ای که آنها را نادیده گیرد نمی تواند از کیفر چنین غفلتی در امان بماند. محبّت همه جانبه به اطفال، نحوه رفتاری که با آنان داریم، کیفیت توجهی که به آنها مبذول میکنیم، طرز سلوک و رفتار بزرگسالان نسبت به کودکان، همه عبارت از جنبه های حیاتی طرز توجّه و تلقی مورد لزوم است. محبّت لازمه اش انضباط است و شهامت اینکه کودکان را به سختی عادت دهیم، نه اینکه اطفال را به هوای و هوس خود واگذاریم تا کاملاً خود رو بار آیند. باید محیطی بوجود آورد که اطفال احساس کنند به جامعه تعلق دارند و در اهداف و مقاصد جامعه شریک و سهیم گردند. باید با محبّت و پا فشاری اطفال را راهنمایی نمود تا مطابق اصول و موازین امری زندگی کنند و امر بهائی را فرا گیرند و آن را بنحوی که با شرایط آنان سازگار باشد تبلیغ نمایند.

در بین افراد جوان جامعه افرادی هستند که نوجوان نامیده میشوند و بین سنین ۱۲ تا ۱۵ سال قرار دارند. این افراد گروه خاصی را تشکیل میدهند که نیازمندیهای مخصوص به خود دارند زیرا بین سنین کودکی و جوانی قرار گرفته اند و این زمانی است که تغییرات زیادی در وجود آنها روی میدهد. باید توجه همراه با ابتکار و خلاقیت به کار برد تا نوجوانان را در برنامه ها و فعالیتهائی وارد نمود که بدانها راغب اند، و استعداداتشان را برای تبلیغ و خدمت پرورش میدهد و آنها را در فعالیتهای مشترک با جوانان بزرگسال تر وارد میکند. در چنین فعالیتهـا استفاده از انواع هنرها به صور مختلف بسیار مفید واقع می شود.

حال مایلیم چند کلمه ای به پدران و مادران که مسؤولیت اولیّهٔ پرورش اطفال را بر عهده دارند خطاب نمائیم. از آنها می خواهیم که به تربیت روحانی اطفالشان توجه مداوم مبذول دارند. برخی از والدین تصور میکنند که این وظیفه منحصراً بر عهدهٔ جامعه است. برخی دیگر عقیده دارند که برای حفظ استقلال اطفال در تحری حقیقت نباید امر بهائی را به آنها تعلیم داد. بعضی دیگر از والدین برای تعهد چنین وظیفه ای احساس عدم لیاقت می نمایند. هیچیک از اینها صحیح نیست. حضرت عبدالبهاء فرموده اند که "بر پدر و مادر فرض عین است که دختر و پسر را به نهایت همت تعلیم و تربیت نمایند." و اضافه فرموده اند که اگر در این خصوص قصور کنند در نزد ربّ غیور مأخوذ و مذموم و مدحورند.

صرف نظر از میزان تحصیلات، پدر و مادر در موقعیت حساسی برای تربیت و شکل دادن به رشد روحانی اطفال خود قرار دارند و هرگز نباید توانائی خود را برای تربیت اخلاقی اطفالشان نارسا انگارند. زیرا محیطی که در اثر عشق به خداوند، کوشش برای اجرای احکام، روحیّهٔ خدمت به امر الهی، عدم تعصب خشک (fanaticism)، و آزادی از تأثیرات مخرب غیبت کردن، در خانواده بوجود می آورند تأثیر قطعی در پرورش اطفال دارد. هر پدر و مادری که به جمال مبارک مؤمن و معتقد است مسؤولیت آن را دارد که به گونه ای سلوک و رفتار نماید که خود بخود اطاعت از والدین را ایجاب کند. زیرا تعالیم امر بهائی برای اطاعت از والدین ارزشی بسیار قائل است. البته علاوه بر کوششهایی که در خانواده می شود پدران و مادران باید از کلاسهایی که برای تربیت اطفال در جامعه تشکیل می شود پشتیبانی کنند. همچنین باید به خاطر داشت که اطفال در دنیائی زندگانی می کنند که از طریق تجربهٔ مستقیم مخاطراتی که قبلاً متذکر شدیم و یا حقایق تلخی که از طریق رسانه های غیر قابل اجتناب گروهی پخش می شود آنها را از واقعاتی ناگوار مطلع می سازد. بنا بر این بسیاری از اطفال اجباراً به بلوغ زودرس میرسند و در بین آنها اطفالی هستند که در جستجوی موازین و نظامی هستند که زندگی آنها را هدایت کند. اطفال بهائی باید در برابر این وضع تیره و تاریک جامعه رو باضمحلال، همچون علائمی از آیندهٔ بهتر بدرخشند.

دیده انتظار ما به اجتماع مشاورین قاره ای در ژانویه ۲۰۰۱ در کوه خدا است که به مناسبت استقرار دارالتبلیغ بین المللی در مقرّ دائمیش جمع خواهند شد. در این اجتماع که یکی از رویدادهای تاریخی عصر تکوین خواهد بود اعضای هیئت های معاونت با مشاورین مشارکت خواهند داشت. دور هم آمدن این صاحب منصبان جامعهٔ جهانی باید بالطبیعه فوایدی را برای جامعه ای بوجود آورد که در حال خاتمه دادن به یک نقشه و شروع نقشه دیگریست. وقتی به آنچه این واقعه در پی خواهد داشت می اندیشیم قلوب خود را با احساس سپاس متوجه حضرات ایادی بسیار عزیز امرالله جناب علی اکبر فروتن و جناب علیمحمد ورقا می نمائیم که با اقامت در ارض اقدس مشعل خدمت را که حضرت ولیّ امرالله در قلوبشان افروختند همچنان فروزان نگاه داشته اند.

با این نقشهٔ دوازده ماهه از پلی خواهیم گذشت که هرگز به آن باز نخواهیم گشت. ما این نقشه را در فقدان عنصری حضرت امة البهاء روحیه خانم آغاز می کنیم. حضرت امة البهاء تا خاتمهٔ قرن بیستم بمنزلهٔ شعاع نوری که در خلال دوره ای بی نظیر از تاریخ نوع بشر تابان بود با ما ماندند. حضرت عبدالبهاء در الواح نقشهٔ تبلیغی افسوس میخورند که میسّر نیست به سراسر عالم سفر نمایند و صلای امر الهی را مرتفع سازند و بعد در نهایت حسرت چنین مرقوم می فرمایند "بلکه انشاءالله شماها موفّق گردید". حضرت امة البهاء با نیروئی بی پایان به این ندا پاسخ دادند و به اقصی نقاط جهان، به ۱۸۵ کشور سفر کردند و آنها را از مواهب بی نظیرشان مستفیض ساختند. نمونه و مثالی که ایشان باقی گذاشتند همواره تلألو، و درخشش خود را حفظ خواهد نمود، و قلوب هزاران نفوس را در سراسر کرهٔ ارض روشن و منور خواهد ساخت. چون قادر نیستیم به نحو دیگری مراتب سپاس و احترام خود را آن طور که شایسته است به حضرت امة البهاء عرضه داریم آیا ممکن است که مساعی خاضعانه خود را در این نقشه به خاطر نفسی وقف نمائیم که تبلیغ امر الهی برایش هدف اولیّه و سبب سرور کامل در زندگی محسوب بود؟

بیت العدل اعظم [Page 35]بسیار سرشناس آلمان آنرا در سال ۱۹۹۵ منتشر نمود. انتشار این اثر نشانه پیروزی بسیار مهمی برای جامعه بهائی آلمان محسوب میگردد. ترجمه انگلیسی این کتاب نیز در سال آخر نقشه منتشر گردید. هنگامی که نمایندگان بانک جهانی و ۹ دیانت عمده جلسه‌ای در سال ۱۹۹۸ در کاخ لمبث تشکیل دادند که در نتیجه آن برنامه‌ای تحت عنوان گفتگوی ادیان جهان برای توسعه و عمران ترتیب داده شد، مذاکرات بین الادیان از صورت معمولی خارج گشت. هدف از تشکیل این مجمع کوشش برای برقراری همکاری لازم بین بانک جهانی و جوامع دینی برای توفیق در اشتراک مساعی جهت اقدامات موثر غلبه بر فقر در جهان است. فراوانی تعداد و گستردگی شمول اجتماعات بین الادیان پدیده جدیدی در روابط بین ادیان بشمار میرود. آشکارا ملاحظه میشود که جوامع مختلف دینی میکوشند تا روحیه اخوت و دوستی را بین خود به وجود آورند، روحیه‌ای که حضرت بهاءالله از پیروان خود خواسته اند تا نسبت به تمام ادیان دیگر دارا باشند.

اقدامات مجدانه جامعه بهائی در این چهار سال در زمانی صورت گرفت که جامعه بشری دستخوش سیل منافع و اغراض متضاد بود. در این مدت کوتاه اما پر تحول نیروهای موجود در داخل جامعه بهائی و در سراسر جهان با سرعتی شدید به حرکت در آمد. در پی این تحولات پدیده ها و حوادثی که حضرت ولی امرالله بدان اشاره فرموده اند با وضوحی بیشتر آشکار گردید. متجاوز از شصت سال قبل هیکل مبارک توجه ما را به دو جریان هم زمان یعنی "صعود و نزول - تالیف و تحلیل - انتظام و انقلاب که بموازات یکدیگر در عالم وجود مشهود و تاثیرات متقابله اش مستمر و محسوس" (ترجمه) است معطوف فرمودند. این دو جریان توأمان در جهان از جریاناتی که اختصاص به داخل جامعه بهائی داشت جدا نبود بلکه همان طور که قبلاً نشان داده شد گاه گاه مشارکت مستقیم امر بهائی را در بر داشت. بنظر میرود که این دو سلسله جریانات با هم ولی در دو طرف متقابل در مسیر واحد زمان به پیش میروند. در یک طرف آتش جنگهای ناشی از درگیری های مذهبی، سیاسی، نژادی، و قبیله ای در حدود ۴۰ نقطه جهان شعله ور بود؛ فرو ریختن کامل و ناگهانی نظم مدنی، تعدادی از کشورها را فلج کرد؛ تروریسم بصورت سلاحی سیاسی شیوع یافت؛ بر آمدن شبکه های بین المللی جنایتکاران زنگ خطر را به صدا در آورد. اما در طرف مقابل برای برقراری و تکمیل روشهای امنیت دسته جمعی که یاد آور یکی از راه حلهای حضرت بهاءالله برای برقراری صلح است کوششهایی جدی انجام گرفت؛ و برای رسیدگی به جنایات تأسیس دادگاهی بین المللی که بهائیان در انتظارش بوده اند عنوان گردید. همچنین قرار است رهبران جهان در "کنفرانس سران بمناسبت هزاره جدید" (Millennium Summit) به آنچه لازمه برقراری نظمی جدید برای رسیدگی به مسائل جهانی است توجه مخصوص مبذول دارند؛ روشهای جدید مخابره سبب شد تا هر کس بتواند با هر کس دیگری در سراسر کره ارض مخابره نماید. بحران اقتصادی در آسیا سبب تهدید اقتصاد جهانی شد اما در عوض آن کوششهایی بعمل آمد تا مشاغل حاصله برطرف شود و راه هائی تعبیه گردد که در بازرگانی و امور مالی بین المللی عدالت و تساوی حقوق برقرار شود. اینها مثالهایی از دو سلسله جریاناتی است که متضاد یکدیگرند و در هم تاثیر متقابل دارند و بیان معجز شیم حضرت ولی امرالله را در بارۀ نقشۀ کلی الهی به یاد می آورند که فرمودند: "مقصد و هدف نهائیش وحدت عالم انسانی و استقرار صلح و سلام در بین کافه انام است." (ترجمه)

در پایان این چهار سال پر حادثه بنا بر سال شماری تقویم میلادی و تقویم بدیع بهائی به تقارن شگفت انگیز پایان ها و آغازها رسیده ایم. از یک سو این تقارن خاتمه قرن بیستم را در بر دارد و از سوی دیگر مرحله جدیدی را در سیر تکاملی عهد تکوین افتتاح می کند. دورنمائی که در این دو نوع سال شماری آشکار میگردد ما را بر آن میدارد که تفکر و تأمل نمائیم که چگونه جریانهای متفاوت در راه بنای جهانی نو با هم متقارن گشته و دور اندیشی و بصیرتی را که حضرت ولی امرالله بنحوی روشن در ابتدای بوجود آوردن قوس کرمل پیش بینی و تبیین فرمودند جلوه گر ساخته است. در طی نقشه چهار ساله، این دور اندیشی و بصیرت حضرت ولی امرالله در زمانی که ابنیه کوه کرمل ساخته می شد وضوح و روشنی بیشتر یافت و ملاحظه شد که در عین حال هم رؤسای جهان قدمهای قاطعی در راه پایه گذاری بنای صلح سیاسی و بین المللی برداشتند و هم محافل محلی و ملی بهائی به سطح بالاتری از سیر تکاملی خود رسیدند. قرن بیستم خاطره ای مقدس و ماندگار در ما بودیعت می گذارد زیرا هم راه گشای ما می گردد و هم قوای ما را به حرکت می آورد: خاطره ما از آن لحظه سرنوشت سازی در تاریخ بشری است که مرکز میثاق حضرت بهاءالله در دوران عهد بی نظیر و مثیل میثاق بنای نظم جدید بهائی را طرح ریزی فرمود و نیز خاطره سالهائی پر مخاطره است که حضرت ولی امرالله قسمت اعظم قوای خود را مصروف تأسیس نظم اداری فرمود که حال در پایان قرن شکل اصلی آن در برابر انظار حیرت زدۀ جهانیان جلوه گر شده است. بنا بر این اکنون به پلی رسیده ایم که این دو مرحله زمانی را به یکدیگر متصل میسازد. استعدادات و امکاناتی که در اثر کوشش و فداکاری جمعی قلیل از عشاق دلباخته حضرت بهاءالله بوجود آمده حال باید صرف اجرای وظایف باقیمانده عصر تکوین گردد عصری که عهود متعدد "اقدامات بلا انقطاعش به عصر طلائی امر الهی منجر خواهد شد" یعنی زمانی که صلح اعظم کره ارض را فرا خواهد گرفت.

در این رضوان نقشه دوازده ماهه را آغاز میکنیم. گرچه مدت این نقشه کوتاه است اما باید برای تحقق برخی از وظایف حیاتی، و نیز برای تهیه مقدمات لازم جهت اجراء نقشه تبلیغی حضرت عبدالبهاء، در بیست سال بعد کافی باشد و کافی نیز خواهد بود. آنچه که چهار سال پیش با نهایت دقت آغاز شد، یعنی کسب معارف امری و خصائل و مهارتهای لازم برای خدمات منظم و سیستماتیک، باید شدت و افزایش یابد. مؤسسات آموزشی ملی و منطقه ای در هر کجا وجود دارند باید برنامه ها و نظاماتی را که برقرار کرده اند بنحو کامل بمرحله اجرا گذارند. مؤسسات جدید باید در نقاطی که نیاز به آنها تشخیص داده شده است تأسیس گردد. برای منتظم ساختن خدمات تبلیغی از طریق ابتکارات فردی و پشتیبانی مؤسسات امری باید گامهای بلندتری برداشته شود. تا اندازه ای به همین منظور است که "برنامه های رشد و توسعه ناحیه ای" در چندین ناحیه در هر قاره توسط مشاورین و محافل ملی ایجاد شده است. از نتایج تجاربی که از این برنامه ها بدست خواهد آمد در تهیۀ نقشه های آینده استفاده خواهد شد. از افراد احباء و مؤسسات امری و جوامع محلی مصراً انتظار میرود که توجه خود را به این وظایف اساسی معطوف دارند تا برای نقشۀ پنجساله ای که در رضوان ۲۰۰۱ آغاز میگردد کاملاً آماده باشند زیرا نقشۀ مزبور عالم بهائی را به مرحله بعدی پیشرفت دخول افواج مقبلین خواهد رسانید.

گذشته از بذل توجه به این وظایف با مشکل حادّ دیگری نیز باید مواجه شد: کودکان ما نیازمندند که پرورش روحانی یابند و در حیات امر بهائی جذب شوند. کودکان را نباید رها نمود تا در دنیائی که پر از مخاطرات اخلاقی است سرگردان گردند. اطفال در وضع حاضر جامعۀ بشری با سرنوشتی بی رحمانه مواجه هستند: میلیونها طفل در بسیاری از کشورها از نظر اجتماعی بی سر و سامان و سرگردانند. کودکان چه از خانواده های غنی و چه فقیر احساس میکنند که والدین آنها و سایر بزرگسالان نسبت به آنها بیگانه اند. ریشۀ این بیگانگی در خود پرستی ناشی از ماده پرستی (Materialism) است که هستۀ مرکزی آن بی اعتقادی به خداوند است و قلوب مردم را در همه جا تسخیر کرده است. بی خانمانی و در بدری اجتماعی اطفال در زمان ما به یقین نشانه جامعه ایست که در حال فرو ریختن است. این وضعیت اختصاص به نژاد، طبقه، ملت و یا وضع اقتصادی خاصی ندارد، همه بدان گرفتارند. از ملاحظه این که در بسیاری از مناطق جهان کودکان را برای سربازی استخدام می کنند و آنانرا بعنوان کارگر به کار میگمارند و عملاً به بردگی میفروشند، وادار به فحشاء می کنند و موضوع تصاویر وقیح و شهوت انگیز (pornography) قرار میدهند، پدران و مادرانی که در پی هوی و هوس خویشند کودکان خود را رها می کنند و اطفال به صور گوناگون قربانی مطامع دیگران میشوند [Page 36]بهائی. در اثر اقداماتی که برای دفاع از احبای عزیز و محبوبمان در ایران معمول گردید، جامعه بین‌المللی بهائی از احترام و پشتیبانی جدیدی برخوردار شده که امکاناتی برای تعقیب سایر اهداف دستور‌العمل مزبور را به وجود آورده است. به منظور مواجهه با وضع معضلی که در ایران پیش آمده مؤسسات ما و دفاتر روابط خارجی راه‌های جدیدی برای فعّال ساختن امکانات موجود دولتها و سازمان ملل متحد تعبیه نموده‌اند. مسأله تضییقات در ایران توجه عالیترین مقامات دولتی جهان را بخود معطوف داشت. مثلاً اشاعهٔ این خبر که دادگاهی در ایران احکام اعدام دو نفر از احبّاء را ابرام کرده و حکم مشابهی برای نفر سوم صادر نموده موجب بروز عکس‌العمل شدیدی از طرف رئیس‌جمهور ایالات متّحده آمریکا گردید و اخطار صریحی به ایران صادر گشت. در اثر وساطت رهبران دنیا و سازمان ملل متحد اعدام احبای ایرانی عملاً متوقف شد و تعداد کسانی که به حبس‌های طولانی محکوم شده‌اند بطور محسوس کاهش یافت.

در حالی که این وساطتها را استقبال می‌کنیم روحیهٔ جانبازی و استقامت و ایمان راسخ برادران و خواهران خود را در ایران تحسین ‎می‌نائیم می‌نمائیم‎ که چنان مساعی جمیله‌ای را با چنان نیرو و قدرتی مبذول میدارند. این خصائل بارز روحانی، هموطنان آنان را به شگفت آورده است که بهائیان ایران با چه طاقت و استقامتی با حملاتی چنان کینه‌آمیز و چنان بیرحمانه که بر آنان وارد شده مقابله می‌نمایند. به چه نحو دیگری میتوان بیان کرد که تعدادی چنین قلیل برای مدّتی چنین طویل در برابر تعدادی چنان کثیر اینگونه ایستادگی کرده‌اند؟ آیا راه دیگری وجود داشت که احبای ایران بتوانند حتی وقتی فقط یکنفر از آنان محکوم به اعدام شود در سراسر جهان ایجاد نگرانی خاطر کنند؟ فاجعه و مصیبتی که ایران با آن روبرو است در اینست که مهاجمان بر آن جامعه تا کنون نتوانسته‌اند این نکته را دریابند که اصول و تعالیم الهی که به خاطر آن این ستمدیدگان مال و منال و حتّی جان خود را فدا کرده‌اند دقیقاً متضمّن راه حل‌هائی است که خواسته‌های مردم را در زمان نارضایتی برطرف می‌سازد. تردیدی نیست که ظلم و ستم پی‌گیری که با این قساوت بر احبای ایران وارد می‌شود بالمال مغلوب و مقهور ید قدرت الهی خواهد گردید و جریان حوادث را به اسبابی غیبی بسوی مقدّرات قطعیهٔ پر شکوه و جلالی که از مواعید الهی است سوق خواهد داد.

در بارهٔ هدف دیگر خط مشی روابط خارجی خط سیر اقدامات مبذوله در چهار زمینه حقوق بشر، مقام زن، رفاه جهانی و تربیت اخلاقی نیز مورد راهنمائی و هدایت قرار گرفته است. مدارک موجود در مرکز جهانی حاکی از پیشرفت بزرگی است که در زمینه حقوق بشر و مقام زن حاصل گردیده است. در مورد حقوق بشر دفتر جامعه بین‌المللی بهائی در سازمان ملل متحد برنامه‌ای ابتکاری برای تعلیم و تربیت در این زمینه بمرحلهٔ اجرا گذاشته که تاکنون در تقویت و توسعهٔ توانائی اقدامات دیپلماتیک ۹۹ محفل روحانی ملّی مفید واقع شده است. در مورد مقام زن، تأسیس دفاتری برای ترقی نسوان توسط ۵۲ محفل روحانی ملّی، مشارکت تعداد کثیری از زنان و مردان بهائی در کنفرانسها و جلسات بحث و مذاکره در سطوح مختلف محلی، ملّی و بین‌المللی، برگزیده شدن نمایندگان بهائی برای تصدّی سمتهای مهمّی در کمیته‌های اصلی سازمانهای غیر دولتی از جمله کمیته‌ای که به صندوق توسعه و گسترش امور زنان در سازمان ملل خدمت می‌کند، نشانه آنست که پیروان حضرت بهاءالله با جدیت و پشتکار اصل تساوی حقوق زن و مرد را ترویج می‌نمایند.

همزمان با اقداماتی که ذکر شد یک سلسله اقدامات ابتکاری دیگر برای پخش اطلاعات در بارهٔ امر بهائی به جماعات مختلف مردم اختصاص یافته است. این نوع کوششها شامل اقداماتی بدیع نظیر ارائهٔ صفحهٔ مخصوص "جهان بهائی" در شبکه اینترنت است که تا بحال در هر ماه بطور متوسط بیست و پنج هزار بار موردمراجعه علاقه مندان قرارگرفته است؛ انتشار بیانیة موسوم به "آینده را چه شخصی رقم می‌زند؟" در همه جا به احباء کمک می‌کند تا در بارهٔ مسائل جاری جهان صحبت کنند؛ در شبکهٔ جهانی اینترنت، پخش برنامه رادیوئی "پیام دوست" از نوامبر گذشته آغاز شده است. این برنامه به زبان فارسی هفته‌ای یک ساعت در منطقه واشنگتن پایتخت ایالات متحده امریکا پخش می‌شود امّا در تمام اوقات در شبکهٔ اینترنت در تمام دنیا در دسترس عموم است. یک برنامه تلویزیونی بسیار بدیع نیز که برای نشان دادن نحوهٔ کاربرد اصول اخلاقی در مسائل روز مرّه می‌باشد با گرمی و رضایت مورد تأیید مقامات دولتی آلبانی، بوسنیا هرزگوینا، بلغارستان، کرواتیا، هنگری، رومانی، اسلوینیا، جمهوری سابق یوگسلاو در مقدونیه قرار گرفته است.

پدیده‌ای که همزمان با اختتام این قرن شدّت یافته قیام مردم جهان برای اظهار خواسته‌های خود تحت عنوانی است که حال به "سازمانهای جامعهٔ مدنی" تسمیه گردیده است. برای احباء در جمیع نقاط مایهٔ خوشوقتی است که جامعهٔ بین‌المللی بهائی بعنوان سازمانی غیردولتی که مردم نقاط مختلف جهان در آن عضویت دارند در مذاکرات عمده‌ای که آیندهٔ جامعهٔ بشری را تعیین می‌کند اعتماد همگان را بعنوان عاملی برای ایجاد وحدت جلب نموده است. نمایندهٔ اصلی جامعهٔ بین‌المللی بهائی در سازمان ملل بعنوان رئیس مشترک کمیتهٔ سازمانهای غیردولتی منصوب شده. انتصاب نمایندهٔ بهائی به سمت مزبور سبب گشته که جامعهٔ بین‌المللی بهائی در ترتیب دادن کنفرانس "هزاره جدید" (Millennium Forum) مسؤولیت و وظیفهٔ هدایت کننده ای داشته باشد. این کنفرانس که به دعوت آقای "کوفی عنان" دبیر کل سازمان ملل در ماه می منعقد می‌گردد به سازمانهای جامعهٔ مدنی فرصت میدهد تا نظرات و توصیه‌های خود را در بارهٔ مسائل جهانی ارائه دهند تا بعداً در "اجلاس سران کشورها" (Millennium Summit) که در سپتامبر امسال بمناسبت آغاز هزاره جدید منعقد میگردد مورد شور و بررسی قرار گیرد.

بیداری جامعه انسانی نسبت به ابعاد روحانی تغییرات و تحولاتی که در دنیا روی میدهد برای بهائیان معنی و مفهومی خاص دارد. تشکیل جلسات بین‌الادیان شدّت یافته و در طول نقشهٔ چهار ساله در این نوع جلسات امر بهائی بنحوی روز افزون بعنوان یکی از ادیان شرکت کننده پذیرفته شده است.

پارلمان ادیان جهان در ماه دسامبر در شهر "کیپ‌ تاون" تشکیل شد و شش هزار نفر که در بین آنان هیئت قوی نمایندگی بهائی نیز وجود داشت در آن شرکت جستند. بهائیان در هیئت مدیرهٔ پارلمان در افریقای جنوبی و هیئت مدیرهٔ بین‌المللی که این اجلاسیه را ترتیب دادند عضویت داشتند.

علاقه مندی بهائیان به این رویداد از آنجا سرچشمه میگیرد که در همین پارلمان در سال ۱۸۹۳ در شیکاگو برای نخستین بار نام حضرت بهاءالله در اجتماعی عمومی در مغرب زمین بطور علنی ذکر شد.

در دو اجلاسیه دیگر بین‌الادیان که در ماه نوامبر گذشته در اُردن تشکیل شد بهائیان بعنوان شرکت کننده رسمی دعوت داشتند. یکی کنفرانس "منازعات خاور میانه و نقش ادیان" و دیگری جلسه سالانه کنفرانس جهانی "دین و صلح" بود.

نمایندگان بهائی در اجتماعاتی که در واتیکان و در دهلی‌نو توسط کلیسای کاتولیک تشکیل گردید حضور یافتند. در اجتماعی که در دهلی‌نو در حضور پاپ جان پل دوم منعقد گردید خانم زینا شرابیجی عضو هیئت مشاورین قاره‌ای یکی از نمایندگان ادیانی بود که در جلسهٔ مزبور مطالبی ایراد کردند.

در انگلستان هنگامی که نمایندگان بهائی با اعضای هشت دیانت عمده دیگر در مراسم تجلیل هزاره جدید در گالری سلطنتی قصر وست مینستر شرکت جستند دیانت بهائی رسماً در معرض انظار عموم قرار گرفت. این مراسم در حضور اعضای خاندان سلطنتی، رئیس‌الوزراء، اسقف اعظم کانتربری، و سایر شخصیتهای برجسته تشکیل گردید و در جریان برنامه به ۹ دیانت عمده در انگلستان اشاره شد.

در آلمان برای اولین بار بهائیان در مذاکرات بین‌الادیان شرکت دادند. این رویداد طرز تلقی فرقه های مسیحی را نسبت به امر بهائی تغییر داد. به سبب کتابی که یکی از ناقضین علیه امر نوشته و توسط مؤسسه مطبوعاتی کلیسای لوتـران در سال ۱۹۸۱ نشر شد فرقه‌های مسیحی آلمان برای مدتی طولانی از تماس با احباء احتراز میکردند. درمان این حالت پرهیز و احتراز کتابی عالمانه در ۶۰۰ صفحه بود که توسط سه نفر از احباء تألیف شده و یکی از ناشران غیر بهائی و [Page 37]نظر عدد مبلّغین سیاری که به کشورهای دیگر اعزام داشتند از تعدادی که برای آنان تعیین شده بود فراتر رفتند. جمع مهاجرین و مبلّغین اعزامی تعداد قابل توجهی از جوانان را در بر میگرفت. آنچه بویژه جلب توجه نمود پاسخ دلگرم کننده احبای افریقائی تبار در ایالات متحدۀ آمریکا به صلا برای سفرهای تبلیغی به افریقا بود.

اعلان و تبشیر امرالله متضمّن اقدامات گوناگونی مشتمل بر بزرگداشت سالگردها، مسامرات، تشکیل گروههای مباحثه، نمایشگاهها و امثال آنها بود و این امکان را فراهم آورد که تعداد کثیری از مردم دنیا با تعالیم امر بهائی آشنا شوند. مشارق اذکار مغناطیس جلب و جذب بازدید کنندگان بودند و تعداد روز افزونی از نفوس را پذیرا شدند. مخصوصاً مشرق الاذکار هندوستان که در سال گذشته در حدود پنج میلیون نفر بازدید کننده داشته است. علاوه بر این اقدامات رسانه‌های گروهی به انحاء گوناگون برای پخش پیام امر بهائی مورد استفاده قرار گرفت. در ایالات متحده آمریکا در اثر برنامۀ تلویزیونی که لجنۀ ملّی تبلیغ ترتیب داد در حدود شصت هزار نفر طالب کسب اطلاعات بیشتر در بارۀ امر بهائی شدند. آشنائی با امر بهائی در سراسر عالم در اثر انتشار مطالب و مقالاتی در معرّفی امر که بدون اقدام و تقاضای جوامع بهائی منتشر میشود و با نظری موافق دیانت بهائی را معرّفی میکند توسعه یافت. آمادگی ایستگاههای رادیوئی و تلویزیونی برای پخش مرتّب برنامه‌های بهائی همانند آنچه در جراید و مجلات منتشر شد سبب توسعه معرّفی امر از طریق رسانه‌های مذکور گردید. این نوع اقدامات از جمله در کشورهائی از قبیل جمهوری دموکراتیک کنگو و لیبریا انجام گرفت. اکلیل جلیل چنین موفقیتهائی انتخاب مقام اعلی و طبقات آن بعنوان صحنه پخش برنامۀ تلویزیونی بزرگداشت آغاز سال ۲۰۰۰ در بخش مربوط به اراضی مقدّسه توسط رسانه‌های بین المللی بود که بدون تقاضا و اقدام جامعۀ بهائی اجرا گردید.

استفاده از هنر از وسائل مهمّ نشر نفحات الله و تبلیغ امرالله و تزیید معلومات امری و اعمال عبادتی و تبتّل و ابتهال در جامعۀ بهائی گشت. استفاده از هنر سبب جلب و جذب جوانان شد و عمدۀ بصورت رقصها و نمایشهائی که در مناطق مختلف جهان به اجرا در آمد در اقدامات تبلیغی و تزیید معلومات امری به کار رفت. نیروی محرکۀ بهره جوئی از هنر از خواندن سرود و آواز و اجرای رقص فراتر رفت و شامل اقدامات ابتکاری متنوّعی شد که موجب تحکیم مبانی ایمانی مردم در امر الهی گردید. هر جا هنرهای محلی و مردمی به کار گرفته شد، مخصوصاً در افریقا، سبب پیشرفتی شگرف در امر تبلیغ گشت. مثلاً در هر یک از دو کشور غانا و لیبریا به منظور ترویج استفاده از هنر در امر تبلیغ برنامه‌ای تحت عنوان "نور یگانگی" تهیه و اجرا شد و در هندوستان نیز برنامۀ "گروه همسازی در جامعه" به همین منظور به موقع اجرا در آمد.

بیشتر در اثر تشویق مشاورین و با کمک مالی صندوقهای قاره‌ای ترجمه و طبع آثار امری مخصوصاً در افریقا و آسیا تقویت و فزونی یافت. بعلاوه مجموعۀ کامل کتاب مستطاب اقدس به زبان عربی، و به سایر السنه انتشار یافت.

اگر چه تجدید انتخاب و تشکیل محافل روحانی محلّی که از سال ۱۹۹۷ محدود به یوم اوّل عید اعظم رضوان گشته طبق پیش‌بینی قبلی سبب تقلیل تعداد مؤسّسات مزبور شد، اما این کاهش شدید نبود. تعداد محافل روحانی مآلاً ثابت ماند و تحکیم و تقویت اساس و بنیان آنها بنحوی سالم در جریان است. هشت ستون بر تعداد اعمده بیت العدل اعظم افزوده گردید و به این ترتیب تعداد محافل روحانی ملّی به ۱۸۱ محفل بالغ شد.

آنچه بویژه مایۀ خوشوقتی و رضامندی است آن که در این چهار سال توسعه کوششهای مربوط به تحقیقات و مطالعات علمی در امر بهائی شتابی بیشتر یافته و همراه با وظیفۀ حیاتی تقویت مبانی فکری و علمی اقدامات امری پیشرفت داشته است. یکی از نتایج پر ارزش این کوششها غنی‌تر شدن کتب و نشریات امری بنحوی مؤثّر و دیگری تولید مجموعه‌ای از رسالات پایان‌نامۀ تحصیلات عالیه دانشگاهی است که در بارۀ مسائل جاری جهان از نقطه نظر اصول امر بهائی تألیف شده است. به شبۀ انجمن‌های مطالعات بهائی که امسال بیست و پنجمین سال تأسیس آن را جشن می‌گیرند در طی نقشۀ چهار ساله پنج انجمن جدید اضافه گردیده است. تشکیل اولین کنفرانس مطالعات بهائی در گینۀ جدید (پاپوآ) و اقدام ابتکاری انجمن مطالعات بهائی ژاپن در بذل توجّه مخصوص به مبانی روحانی تحقیق و پژوهش سنّتی در ژاپن انعکاسهائی از تنوع و خلّاقیتی است که این میدان خدمت بخود جلب کرده است.

بدون تردید پیشرفت اصلی در خدمات مربوط به توسعۀ اجتماعی و اقتصادی جنبۀ کیفی داشت، اگر چه آمار و ارقام نشان می‌دهد که افزایش تعداد طرحهای مربوط به این گونه خدمات نیز جالب توجه بوده است. گزارشهای سالانۀ این اقدامات حاکی از آن است که ۱۳۵۰ طرح که در ابتدای نقشه وجود داشت به بیش از ۱۸۰۰ طرح در پایان نقشه بالغ گردیده است. حرکت به سوی منظّم ساختن هرچه بیشتر این اقدامات از مشخّصات برجسته در این دورۀ چهارساله است. به منظور ترویج مشورت و اقدام در بارۀ اصول خدمات توسعه اجتماعی و اقتصادی، دفتر خدمات توسعۀ اجتماعی و اقتصادی در مرکز جهانی بهائی سیزده سمینار منطقه‌ای ترتیب داد که مجموعاً حدود ۷۰۰ نماینده از ۶۰ کشور در آنها شرکت کردند. دفتر مزبور همچنین برای شروع به اقدامات منظّم جهت تقویت روحانی جوانان، سواد آموزی، آموزش مروّجین بهداشت در جوامع محلّی، ترقّی نسوان، و تربیت اخلاقی، اقدام به تهیۀ مواد و طرحهای آزمایشی مناسب نمود. نمونۀ این گونه اقدامات طرحی بود که در گویان برای آموزش ۱۵۰۰ نفر مروّج سواد آموزی اجرا شد، و نیز تهیۀ هشت دوره مواد آموزشی برای ترقّی نسوان در مالزی بود که بر اساس آن دوره‌های آموزشی مخصوصی در آسیا و افریقا و امریکای لاتین به موقع اجرا در آمد.

در ناحیۀ گوایمی Guaymi در پاناما نقشه ای جهت هماهنگ نمودن اقدامات ایستگاههای رادیوئی بهائی با برنامه‌های مؤسّسات آموزشی آغاز گردید. نظر به اینکه مؤسّسات آموزشی میتوانند در تعلیمات لازم برای خدمات توسعۀ اجتماعی و اقتصادی مفید واقع شوند اقداماتی به این منظور آغاز شده است که شامل دوازده مؤسّسۀ آموزشی است. مؤسّسات مذکور در حال حاضر اقداماتی از قبیل سواد آموزی، تعلیم مروّجین بهداشت در جوامع محلّی، و تعلیمات حرفه‌ای را مورد آزمایش و تجربه قرار داده‌اند. تعدادی از مؤسّساتی که بوسیله بهائیان و یا با الهام از تعالیم بهائی تأسیس شده نیز مساعی خود را مصروف چنین طرحهائی کرده اند. از جمله همکاری با سازمان بهداشت جهانی در مبارزه با بیماری مخصوصی در کامرون است که از رودخانه‌ها ناشی می‌شود و سبب نابینائی می‌گردد. بوسیله این پروژه بهائی تا بحال متجاوز از سی هزار نفر مورد معالجه قرار گرفته اند. مورد دانشگاهی خصوصی در اتیوپی است که "کالج وحدت" نام دارد و تعداد دانشجویانش به ۸۰۰۰ بالغ گردیده است. نمونۀ دیگر آکادمی لندگ در سوئیس است که ضمن توسعه و تقویت برنامه‌های آکادمیک خود به تلاشی که برای جبران عواقب وخیم اجتماعی زد و خورد در بالکان ادامه دارد کمکهای پر ارزشی نموده است. نمونۀ دیگر دانشگاه نور در بولیوی است که در طرح مشترکی با اکوادور در اثر اجرای برنامۀ رهبری اخلاقی که ترتیب داده موجبات آموزش یکهزار معلّم مدرسه را فراهم آورده است. در زمینۀ خدمات توسعۀ اجتماعی و اقتصادی این قبیل اقدامات توان‌بخش که سبب افزایش کار آتی می‌شود برای اهداف نقشۀ چهارساله فوایدی بسیار داشته است.

به کمک دستور العمل مربوط به روابط خارجی که در سال ۱۹۹۴ در اختیار محافل روحانی ملّی قرار داده شد ظرفیت و قابلیت جامعۀ بهائی در زمینۀ اقدامات دیپلماتیک و اطلاعات عمومی به میزان شگفت‌انگیزی توسعه یافت و جامعۀ بهائی را در ارتباط فعّال با سازمان ملل و دولتها و سازمانهای غیر دولتی و رسانه‌های گروهی قرار داد. دستور العمل مزبور اقدامات را در دو سطح بین‌المللی و ملّی را حول دو هدف اساسی متمرکز ساخت: یکی تأثیر گذاری بر جریانات مربوط به صلح جهانی و دیگری دفاع از امر [Page 38]ترجمه

پیام بیت‌العدل اعظم مورخ رضوان سنه ۲۰۰۰ خطاب به بهائیان عالم

Persian Translation of the Message of the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the World Ridvan 2000

یاران عزیز الهی

با قلوبی سرشار از شعف و سرور در این عید پر شکوه که نقشهٔ جهانی چهارساله به پایان می‌رسد از مشاهدهٔ تفاوت شگفت‌انگیزی که از آغاز نقشه حاصل شده سر تعظیم و سپاس به آستان حضرت ربّ‌الجنود فرو می‌آوریم. پیشرفتی که در این مدّت نصیب گشته چنان بارز است که سبب ارتقاء جامعهٔ جهانی به مقامی گردیده که میتوان افقهای روشن انتصارات آینده را به وضوح تشخیص داد.

تفاوت در کمیت از نتایج تفاوت در کیفیت است که امری مهمتر و خطیرتر از کمیت محسوب می‌گردد. در فرهنگ جامعهٔ بهائی تحوّلی روی داده است. این دگرگونی را میتوان در عوامل سه‌گانه‌ای که مجریان اصلی نقشه اند یعنی افراد، مؤسسات امری و جوامع محلی به وضوح دریافت و ملاحظه کرد که قابلیاتشان توسعه یافته و نحوهٔ اقداماتشان اسلوبی متین و منظم داشته و در نتیجه بر عمق اطمینان و اعتمادشان افزوده شده است. سبب این تغییر آنست که یاران الهی بیش از پیش در صدد بر آمده ‎ان اند‎ تا معلومات خود را دربارهٔ تعالیم الهی با جدیّتی بیشتر افزایش بخشند و بنحوی منظم‌تر و با نظامی برتر از سابق در انتشار امر الهی و در اقدامات فردی و گروهی و نیز در همکاری با هم‌نوعان خود به کار بندند. کوتاه سخن آنکه در احیاء اشتیاقی نسبت به کسب معارف امری ایجاد شده که نتیجهٔ آن بکار بستن معارف مزبور در زندگانی روزانه است. قوّهٔ محرّکه این تحول تأسیس شبکهٔ مؤسسات آموزشی است که با سرعت تمام در سراسر عالم تأسیس گردید و می توان گفت که این اقدام در میادین توسعه و تحکیم امر الهی بزرگترین میراث نقشه چهارساله محسوب میگردد.

در تحولاتی نظیر افزایش استعداد افراد برای تبلیغ امر الهی که نمونهٔ آن ازدیاد ابتکارات فردی است و در ازدیاد توانائی محافل روحانی و شوراها و لجنات برای هدایت مساعی یاران و نیز در ارائه نحوه های جدید تفکر و عمل که در طرز اقدامات جامعه محلی مؤثر واقع شده ضرورت نظام (سیستم) مؤسسات آموزشی به منزلهٔ قوّه محرّکه جریان تبلیغ جمهور به ثبوت رسیده است. بسیاری از مؤسسات آموزشی با تشکیل دادن گروههای کوچک محلی برای مطالعات بهائی دامنهٔ عملیات خود را توسعه داده و بدین ترتیب بر امکانات خود جهت بهره مند ساختن نواحی وسیعتری از برنامه های مطالعاتی افزوده‌اند. مثلاً در مغولستان یکصد و شش گروه مطالعاتی تشکیل شد و در نتیجه تعداد مصدّقین جدید افزایش شایانی داشت. همزمان با این اقدامات اعضای جامعهٔ جهانی بهائی به توسل به نیروی دعا و مناجات توجّه بیشتری مبذول داشته و به تأمّل و تعمّق در آثار مقدسه پرداخته و از فواید و آثار روحانی شرکت در مجالس دعا و مناجات بهره‌مند شده‌اند. در اثر این عوامل که تقلیب روحانی فردی و گروهی را شدت می‌بخشد جامعه روز به روز بزرگتر می‌شود. تعداد مصدّقین جدید گرچه نسبت به سالهای اخیر افزایش قلیلی داشته امّا مایهٔ کمال خشنودی است که ملاحظه می شود از نظر جغرافیائی گسترده بوده و پیوسته بخشهای وسیعتری از جامعه را در بر گرفته و در جذب مصدّقین جدید به حیات بهائی توفیق حاصل شده است.

وضعیتی چنین مطلوب و امید بخش به میزانی زائد الوصف مرهون تأثیر مشاورات و همکاریها و اقدامات عملی مؤسّسهٔ مشاورین است که در ارتباط با تأسیس و فعالیّت مؤسّسات آموزشی افزایش یافت و این افزایش تأثیر و همکاری، بازتابی از تشویق و ترغیب بموقع دارالتبلیغ بین المللی بود مؤسّسه ای که پیوسته نبّاض و همواره مراقب و آگاه است.

موضوع اساسی نقشهٔ چهارساله که تسریع و توسیع جریان دخول افواج مقبلین بود مرتبةً بالاتری از هماهنگی میان تفکّر و عمل به وجود آورد و توجّه را به این مرحلهٔ عمده در سیر تکاملی جامعهٔ بهائی که باید در عصر تکوین تحقّق یابد معطوف ساخت؛ چه تا دخول افواج مقبلین بنحوی وسیعتر ادامه نیابد شرایط لازم جهت تحقّق وعدهٔ حضرت ولی‌امرالله که در آثار خود بدان اشاره فرموده اند یعنی اقبال مردم بصورت گروهی به امر الهی فراهم نخواهد شد. این هدف اصلی و مرکزی نقشه در انواع فعالیّت‌های امری تأثیر نمود و سبب درک و فهم روشنی گشت که بموجب آن طرّاحی نقشه منظم و دقیق (سیستماتیک) بعنوان ابزار لازم برای اقدامات فردی و گروهی میسّر گردید. اعضای جامعه بهائی بتدریج دریافتند که چگونه مراعات نظم و ترتیب و منظم ساختن خدمات مایهٔ تسهیل جریان رشد و توسعه میگردد و توجّه به این امر قدم بزرگی بسوی تشدید مساعی تبلیغی و دگرگونی فرهنگ حاکم بر جامعه بود.

جنبه های وحدت بخش این موضوع اساسی در اقدامات مربوط به طرح نقشه و تقویت کارآئی مؤسّسات امری و پرورش نیروی انسانی مشهود گشت. خطوطی را که همهٔ این مراحل و اقدامات را به یکگرد متصل میسازد می‌توان از ابتدا تا انتهای نقشه پی گیری نمود. کنفرانس هیئت‌های قاره ای مشاورین که در دسامبر ۱۹۹۵ در ارض اقدس منعقد گردید نقطهٔ آغاز بود. در کنفرانس مزبور مشاورین با جنبه‌های مشخّصهٔ نقشه آشنا شدند. در پی این کنفرانس، مشاورین با محافل روحانی ملّی در جلسات طراحی و تهیهٔ نقشه‌های ملّی به مشورت پرداختند. این اقدام مآلاً به سطح منطقه‌ای منتقل گردید و اعضای هیئت‌های معاونت و محافل روحانی و لجنات محلی در آن مشارکت جستند. بدین ترتیب، در تمام سطوح جامعه، عناصر تشکیلات بهائی در جریان طرح و تنظیم نقشه دخیل و سهیم گردیدند و از این مرحله نیز فراتر رفته به اجرای نقشه پرداختند و در این مرحله اجرا بود که ضرورت یافت تا مؤسّسات امری توانائی لازم را برای مقابله با دخول افواج مقبلین حاصل نمایند. در این زمینه دو قدم عمده برداشته شد: یکی تأسیس مؤسّسات آموزشی و دیگری تأسیس و ازدیاد شوراهای بهائی منطقه‌ای. این شوراها که مؤسّساتی مابین سطوح محلی و ملّی هستند ظرفیت و قابلیت ادارهٔ برخی از جوامع را که محافل ملّی آنان با مسائل روزافزون پیچیده ای مواجه هستند تقویت می‌نماید. ایجاد وحدت بین عوامل اساسی این جریان با تعیین خط مشی‌های لازم برای دو دستهٔ دیگر از اقدامات ارتباط داشت: یکی در زمینه خدمات مربوط به توسعهٔ اجتماعی و اقتصادی که نقش مهمی در تقویت و تحکیم جامعه دارد و دیگری در روابط خارجی، یعنی عاملی حیاتی که امر الهی را قادر به مقابله با عواقب خروج از مرحلهٔ مجهولیّت میسازد. تأثیر مجموع این عوامل و اقدامات نتایج وسیع و همه‌جانبه ای داشته که برشمردن آنها در این اوراق میسّر نیست. با وجود این لازم میدانیم برخی از رویدادهای برجسته‌ای را متذکّر شویم که دال بر وسعت دامنهٔ اقدامات نقشه می‌باشد.

در ارض اقدس ساختمان طبقات و ابنیهٔ قوس کرمل بنحوی پیشرفت نموده که امید کامل میرود که طبق اعلان قبلی تا پایان سال میلادی جاری خاتمه یابد. بعلاوه در این رضوان ساختمانی که در پیام رضوان سال گذشته بدان اشاره شده بود که به منظور ازدیاد عدد زائرین در حیفا تهیه گردد، برای استفاده آماده است. در همین زمینه نقشه های لازم دیگری جهت ساختمان ابنیه ای که شدیداً برای پذیرائی از زائرین و بازدیدکنندگان بهائی و غیر بهائی در بهجی لازم است به تصویب رسیده است. ترجمهٔ نصوص برای مجلّد جدیدی از آثار قلم اعلی تکمیل شده و تهیّه مقدّمات طبع آن در جریان است.

در راه توسعه و تحکیم گامهای بلندی به انحاء دیگری نیز جز آنچه قبلاً ذکر گردید برداشته شده است: از جمله در مهاجرت، اعلان و تبشیر امرالله، طبع و نشر آثار امری، استفاده از هنرها، تشکیل محافل روحانی، و پیشرفت انجمنهای مطالعات بهائی. در سطح بین المللی حدود ۳۳۰۰ نفر از احباء موفّق به مهاجرتهای کوتاه و یا طولانی شدند. بسیاری از کشورهایی که معمولاً مهاجرپذیر بودند مهاجرینی به کشورهای دیگر اعزام نمودند که حاکی از بلوغ جوامع ملّی مزبور است. جوامع بهائی کانادا و ایالات متّحده امریکا از نظر عدد مهاجرین و به مراتب از دیگران پیشی گرفته‌اند. [Page 39]

Teaching Projects

• Poland: Preparatory Institute and direct teaching in Cieszyn: July 15–22, study of Ruhi Institute Book 2 (books will be made available in English). July 23–28, street teaching, inviting people to evening performances (supported by a dance workshop from Germany).
• Russia: Small-team teaching in selected cities ‎startging starting‎ in July. Teams will spend 1–2 months doing proclamation, teaching and consolidation work. Wide range of skills and diversity of believers needed.
• Central America: Hearts Ablaze Project June 18–Aug. 18. Fifty to 60 youths (minimum age 15) from different countries are anticipated, forming a traveling team proclaiming to youth population through performing arts (dance); or residential team(s) teaching and serving in one community. Project preceded by nine-day on-site training; includes International Youth Congress in El Salvador.
• South Africa: Beyond Words youth performing arts teaching project, July 2000 to June 2001 (part-time membership possible). South Africa is a country with constant expansion of the Faith and performance has proved very effective in promotion of the Bahá’í teachings.

Conferences, Schools and Events

• Marshall Islands: Ocean of Light Conference June 28–July 2 in Majuro. International participation, including in artistic presentations, warmly encouraged.
• Kyrgyzstan: Summer School July 5–10 on Lake Issyk-Kul; theme: “New Values for the New Century.”
• Greece: Summer school July 10–16 at the San Stefano Hotel in Tsangarada. This region is well-known for the singular beauty of Mt. Pilion, the excellent shore of Milopotamos and the clear waters of the Aegean Sea.
• Hawaiian Islands: Summer School July 11–16 in Koke’e, Kaua’i; theme: “The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh Catalyst for Change.” With Nabil and Azadeh Fares. For information, contact National Bahá’í Office, Honolulu, HI 96817 (phone 808-595-3314, e-mail ). Deadline June 15.
• El Salvador: International Youth Congress for Central America, Mexico, Panama and Belize, July 12–16, near Coatepeque Lake. For more information, please see Web site (http://elsal2000.homepage.com)
• Canada: Youth Congress July 20–24 in Vancouver, British Columbia; and June 29–July 2 in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
• Pakistan: Asian Youth Conference 2000, July 21–23 in Karachi. Honorable speakers, cultural shows and other art performances.
• Poland: Summer School July 29–Aug. 3; theme: “The Family.” With Bijan and Agnes Ghaznavi.

Please contact the Office of Pioneering for further information about these and other opportunities for international traveling teachers. Office of Pioneering, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3508, fax 847-733-3509, e-mail ).

Police investigate theft at Guardian’s monument

Our National Spiritual Assembly received the following letter, dated April 20, 2000, from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom.

Dear Bahá’í friends,

The following statement is being issued from this office about the shocking theft of the eagle from the monument to Shoghi Effendi at his Resting Place.

The police have, after a slow start, begun a full-scale investigation. We had to persuade them that this was not just a piece of cemetery statuary of limited interest but a matter of concern to the millions of members of a world-wide faith community. It was only when the international and religious dimensions of the crime were drawn to their attention that the police began to act with any vigour.

At a much higher level, Lembit Opik MP, the Member of Parliament who is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Friends of the Bahá’ís, has tabled a Parliamentary Question to the Home Secretary asking what actions the police are taking to recover the eagle; Mr Opik and I have also written a joint letter to the Home Secretary drawing the ‎serious seriousness‎ of the matter to his attention and making him aware of the significance of the Guardian’s Resting Place as an international place of pilgrimage.

We have been in daily contact with Mr Fariburz Sahba at the Bahá’í World Centre. The Universal House of Justice has placed Mr Sahba in charge of replacing the eagle, should that be necessary, and he is ‎liasing liaising‎ between the National Assembly and the House of Justice on this matter. Mr Sahba is currently undertaking research into the casting of the eagle so that any replacement will as near as possible match the original. A number of friends have offered to sculpt a new eagle or to contribute towards its replacement. We emphasize that the matter of the replacement is entirely in the hands of the House of Justice.

The friends should be assured that every possible step is being taken to recover the eagle, which has special significance since it was the one chosen by Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, and to put in place improved security measures at the Guardian’s Resting Place to try to ensure that such an outrage does not happen again.

In all matters to do with the Guardian’s Resting Place the National Spiritual Assembly acts under the direction of the Universal House of Justice.

With loving Bahá’í greetings Barney Leith, Secretary National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the UK

Intergenerational study

Youths and adults in Relva, Cape Verde Islands, study Ruhi Book 1 during an institute study circle. The gathering was initiated as part of a teaching project carried out last fall. Bahá’í International News Service

MEDIA

• Germany: A public television special titled “On the Way to the Land of Unity—The Bahá’í Religion” was broadcast in January, viewable in south-western Germany and parts of neighboring countries. Produced by Raimund Ulbrich, a journalist who has been acquainted with the Faith for years, it conveyed a glimpse of the life, work and station of Bahá’u’lláh, as well as the basic history and tenets of the Faith. It combined footage of Bahá’í holy places in Israel with film of Bahá’í community life in Erfurt and Esslingen.

The National Spiritual Assembly worked closely with Ulbrich in all stages of development and was impressed with the reverence, respect and integrity in his approach. It was investigating ways to show the program on other television channels in Germany.

YOUTH

• Venezuela: Two 18-year-old Bahá’ís in Cabudare, Georgeani Camara and Michelle Hemmat, organized a successful interreligious conference in February at Yacambu University. On the theme of life after death, the program included representatives of the Bahá’í, Muslim, Christian and Hindu communities. Through the two youths’ efforts, news of the conference was broadcast on nearly all the region’s radio stations and printed in two newspapers.

• Kenya: Some 550 Bahá’ís from 26 countries attended the International Youth Conference Dec. 23–27 in Nairobi. International Counselors Firaydoun Javaheri and Joan Lincoln as well as 13 Continental Counselors were among presenters. A teaching campaign that followed led to enrollment of 11 souls into the Faith.

DEVELOPMENT

• Taiwan: When a devastating earthquake struck western Taiwan in September 1999, the National Spiritual Assembly recognized its responsibility to help in the recovery. But how?

“We do not have the monetary resources to provide financial assistance, and our human resources are limited,” the Assembly reported. “But we do have the healing message of Bahá’u’lláh.”

After consultation, the National Children’s Committee decided to start children’s classes in Puli, which sustained some of the worst damage, and to ensure the classes would run regularly for six months. Curriculum and teaching materials were developed, and volunteers soon were in place.

But familiar places suitable for classes had been destroyed by the quake, and the ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ lacked contacts that would lead them to other facilities. After several fruitless visits, the committee bought a map of Puli, prayed, and began to drive around the area.

They encountered children playing near a few tents. Asked about the idea of the classes, the children were enthusiastic and took the committee to meet with their school’s principal. In turn the principal listened to the ‎Bahá’í’s’ Bahá’ís’‎ plans, read their curriculum—and readily agreed to make the school building available.

Arrangements were made to start classes in early November. “Imagine our surprise when we ‎arrived arrived to find‎ 345 children waiting for our beginning session!” the committee wrote. “These lessons continue to be held every Sunday morning.”

Another response to the disaster came from a believer in Nantou City, who arranged to carry out regular radio broadcasts on dealing positively with emotional reactions to the earthquake’s destruction. The pre-recorded programs begin and end with music and Bahá’í readings and feature interviews with people expressing Bahá’í viewpoints on each week’s subject. ♦ [Page 40]

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT EVENTS sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly or its agencies at the Bahá’í National Center, please phone 847-869-9039 and ask for the relevant department. 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 bosch@usbnc.org; Green Acre Bahá’í School, phone 207-439-7200; fax 207-438-9940; e-mail greenacre@usbnc.org; Louhelen Bahá’í School, phone 810-653-5033; fax 810-653-7181; e-mail louhelen@usbnc.org; Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute, phone 843-558-5093; fax 843-558-9136; e-mail lggbi@usbnc.org; Native American Bahá’í Institute, phone 520-587-7599; fax 520-521-1063; e-mail nabi@usbnc.org

JUNE

9–11: “Planning Progress: Lessons from Shoghi Effendi” at Green Acre.

10–15: Texas Family Reunion at Bosch: “The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh.”

16–17: Hemlock Haven Bahá’í School, Marion, VA. Details, page 24.

16–18: S.E. Asian Roundtable Conference at Bosch: “Fostering the Spiritual and Social Development of Children.”

18–23: Camp Louhelen Children’s Institute I for ages 8–12 at Louhelen.

21–25: Colorado East Bahá’í School, Institute I for ages 8–12 at Louhelen.

21–25: Tiny Seed Bahá’í School, Woodland Park, CO. Details, page 24.

21–25: Iowa Bahá’í School, Grinnell, IA. Details, page 24.

23–26: Southern California Bahá’í School, Yucaipa, CA. Details, page 24.

23–28: Junior Youth Academy: “Arising to Serve” for ages 11–14 at Green Acre.

24–29: Youth Eagle Institute at Bosch.

25–28: Camp Louhelen Children’s Institute II for ages 8–12 at Louhelen.

30–July 3: North Carolina Bahá’í School, Salisbury, NC. Details, page 24.

30–July 3: Ocean of Light Teaching Conference at Bosch.

30–July 4: Florida Bahá’í School, Melbourne, FL. Details, page 24.

30–July 5: “Family Virtues Week”/“The Bahá’í Administrative Order in North America” at Green Acre.

30–July 5: Persian-American Bahá’í Studies: “The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh” and The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh at Louhelen.

JULY

2: Concert-Picnic with Red Grammer at Green Acre.

1–4: Bellemont Bahá’í Summer School, near Flagstaff, AZ: “The Advent of Divine Justice.” Information and registration: Bellemont Bahá’í Summer School, P.O. Box 2533, Flagstaff, AZ 86003 (e-mail ). Sponsored by Spiritual Assembly of Flagstaff.

1–7: Sheltering Branch Bahá’í School, near Pomeroy, WA. Details, page 24.

7–12: Badasht Academy at Green Acre for youths ages 12–18; sponsored by Northeast Regional Youth Committee. To be followed by a 19-day teaching project. Register with Green Acre; for more information contact the committee (e-mail ).

7–12: Children’s Academy at Bosch.

7–12: Youth Eagle Institute at Louhelen.

14–19: Two sessions at Louhelen: “Spiritual Parenting”; Friends and Families I.

14–20: South Carolina Bahá’í School, Rock Hill, SC. Details, page 24.

15–19: Heartland (Illinois) Bahá’í School, Galesburg, IL. Details, page 24.

15–20: Persian Session: The Advent of Divine Justice at Bosch.

17–21: Marian Steffes (Wisconsin) Bahá’í School, Brownsville, WI. Details, page 24.

17–23: “Art and the Mystic Path,” retreat on the creative process with Bill George and Sally Cordova at Little Pond retreat center, Nazareth, PA (phone 610-837-2741, e-mail , Web site www.littlepond.org). Sponsored by Spiritual Assembly of Bethlehem, PA.

19–23: Four Corners Bahá’í School, near Gallup, NM. Details, page 24.

20–23: Great Plains (Nebraska) Bahá’í School, Peru, NE. Details, page 24.

21–26: Spiritual Empowerment Institute for Junior Youth at Louhelen.

22–26: Two sessions at Green Acre: “The Complement and Helpmeet of Each Other: Gender Equality”; Camp Green Acre for ages 8–12.

22–27: Persian/American Session at Bosch.

27–30: Dayspring (Maryland) Bahá’í School, Frostburg, MD. Details, page 24.

28–Aug. 2: Friends and Families II: “Bahá’u’lláh: Creator of World Order” at Louhelen.

28–Aug. 2: “The Dynamics of Authentic Relationships” at Green Acre.

29–Aug. 3: Youth Institute at Bosch.

29–Aug. 10: Youth Academy at Bosch.

30–Aug. 4: John H. Wilcott (Montana) Bahá’í School, near Livingston, MT. Details, page 24.

AUGUST

4–6: Texas Bahá’í School, Bruceville, TX. Details, page 24.

4–9: “Packing for the Five Year Plan: Are We Ready?” at Green Acre.

4–9: Friends and Families III at Louhelen.

5–10: Junior Youth Institute at Bosch.

11–16: Friends and Families IV: “Building Humanity’s Future” at Louhelen.

11–16: Two sessions at Green Acre: “Mystic Medicine: Religion Shaping Science”; Core Curriculum teacher training.

21–25: Tiny Seed Bahá’í School, McKenna, WA. Details, page 24.

11–20: Solomon R.G. Hilton Bahá’í School, Poughkeepsie, NY. Details, page 24.

12–17: Family Session at Bosch.

16–20: William Sears Great North Woods Bahá’í School, near Onamia, MN. Details, page 24.

18–20: United Spiritual Gathering Councilfire at Neah Bay, WA: “Renewing Spiritual Energy.” With Jack McCants and Reggie Newkirk. Fees: $12 registration, $10 camping. Sponsored by Spiritual Assembly of the Makah Reservation (phone 360-645-2153, e-mail , Web site www.olypen.com/jensens).

SUMMER BAHÁ’Í SCHOOLS Sessions through Labor Day Details on page 24

Liang the Lion, the Treasurer’s Office helper for children’s fund education, greets National Convention visitor Rezvan Mohragi during a rare live appearance—adding to the celebration after introduction of the Kingdom Project.

Photo by Vladimir Shilov

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)

2. ____________________ ID# __________ | 3. ____________________ ID# __________ | 4. ____________________ ID# __________

B. NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS | colspan="2" | C. NEW MAILING ADDRESS

____________________ | Street Address | ____________________

__________ | Apartment # (if applicable) | __________

____________________ | City | ____________________

__________ Zip code __________ | State | __________ Zip code __________

D. NEW COMMUNITY | colspan="2" | E. HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER

Moving Date | Area Code Phone Number | Name

__________ | (____) ___________ | ____________________

F. WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER(S)

Name | Area Code Phone Number | Name

____________________ | (____) ___________ | ____________________

G. WE RECEIVE EXTRA COPIES BECAUSE: | colspan="2" | H. I WOULD LIKE A COPY

[ ] We do not have the same last name. We do not want extra copies, so please cancel the copy for the person(s) and 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. | colspan="2" | [ ] 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

JUNE 5, 2000 NÚR, RAHMAT • B.E. 157

THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í