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[Page 1]Techeste Ahderom, principal UN representative for the Bahá’í International Community, addresses heads of state Sept. 8 at the Millennium Summit. UN Department of Public Information photo by Eskinder Debebe

Bahá’í voices heard at UN summits

BY JEFFERY HUFFINES, US/UN BAHá’í REPRESENTATIVE

In a gathering of world unprecedented gathering of a proposed International Advisory leaders at the 200 session of the General Aug. 28-31 at the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders. Immediately afterward came the UN Millennium Summit, at which President Clinton and 148 other heads of state pledged to strengthen peacekeeping capabilities and to reduce absolute poverty by half within 15 years.

The religious and spiritual leaders gathered to address proposals aimed at building tolerance, fostering peace, and encouraging interreligious dialogue among all the also considered Leaders, which would provide a voice at the United Nations for faith communities. It drew, in the words of former UN Under Secretary General Maurice Strong, a veritable "galaxy of leaders" from all of the world's major religions, including the Bahá’í Faith, Buddhism, Christianity,

Message of the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies dated Sept. 24, 2000

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

In its Ridván 2000 message, the Universal House of Justice pointed with keen anticipation to the occurrence this year of millennial gatherings concerned with global issues needing urgent solutions, and with how the United Nations is to address them. During the first week of this month, the United Nations Millennium Summit, the last and most significant of three related events, convened in New York with the participation of the largest number of heads of state and of government ever to be assembled. In view of the historic importance of this and the two earlier occasions, and considering the prominent involvement of representatives of the Bahá’í International Community in all three, the House of Justice has directed us to convey the following.

United Nations also suggested the merit of their inviting the views and recommendations of organizations of civil society; this gave birth to the idea of a Millennium Forum. Another thought that won the warm support of the Secretary-General was that a meeting of religious and spiritual

U.S. House passes resolution on Iran

Members of Congress have re-emphasized the U.S. government's position that the Bahá’ís in Iran, the nation of our Faith's origin, should be fully emancipated according to the terms of international human rights standards.

The eighth congressional resolution since 1982 condemning the treatment of Bahá’ís in Iran, H. Con. Res. 257, was passed Sept. 19 in the U.S. House of Representatives. The concurrent resolution

'No call will go unanswered'

News of the national media campaign and how it is energizing local teaching in several localities

Survey shows great efforts for education and retention support

BY BARBARA MCCORD, EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS OFFICE

The education of children and youth through community participation, continuous management, Assembly overview and more shows that most young believers in the United States are the recipients of a great effort by their communities to make spiritual education available.

Local Spiritual Assemblies responding to the survey say that sponsoring the education process requires a number of tasks: providing necessary funds and facilities, and more.

More than half the reporting Assemblies indicated they sponsor Bahá’í education

NATIONAL FAMILY CONFERENCE

SAVE THESE DATES: JUNE 28-JULY 1, 2001 More information in future issues!

QUDRAT/POWER QAWL/SPEECH BAHÁ’Í ERA 157

THE NATIONAL FUND

Between May 1 and September 30, 2000 Goal/all funds: $11,250,000 Received: $6,481,238 Excluding Kingdom Project

EXCERPTS

"Whatsoever is latent in the innermost of this holy Cycle shall gradually appear... for now is but the beginning of its growth." — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá [Page 2]

ALMANAC

Anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh

A Bahá’í Holy Day

• Observed between sundown Nov. 11 and sundown Nov. 12
• Work is to be suspended

Mírzá Husayn-’Alí, Bahá’u’lláh, was born in Tehran, Persia, on Nov. 12, 1817. His birth signaled the dawning of the Day of God on earth and the appearance of the Greatest Name of God. “We should feel deeply gratified and thankful to God that at a time when all humanity seems to be struggling in despair we can come together and, with great assurance, feast and be merry over the dawn of a new day; that in the darkness which envelops the world we see the approach of a new light and the breaking of a new era.” —Shoghi Effendi, Light of Divine Guidance Vol.1, p. 45

Day of the Covenant

A Bahá’í Holy Day

• Observed between sundown Nov. 25 and sundown Nov. 26
• Work is not suspended

“ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá told the Bahá’ís that ... [May 23] was not, under any circumstances, to be celebrated as His day of birth. It was the day of the Declaration of the Báb, exclusively associated with Him. But as the Bahá’ís begged for a day to be celebrated as His, He gave them November 26th, to be observed as the day of the appointment of the Centre of the Covenant.” —H.M. Balyuzi, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 523

Anniversary of Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

A Bahá’í Holy Day

• Observed Nov. 28 at 1:00 a.m.
• Work is not suspended

“It is clear how that most dire of calamities, that most great disaster which was the ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, may our souls be sacrificed for His meekness, has set our hearts on fire and dissolved our very limbs and members in grief. ... No more does the ardent nightingale carol its joyous songs, and the sweet and holy melodies of the immortal dove are hushed.” —Shoghi Effendi, Bahíyyih Khánum, pp. 148-149

Some significant dates in Bahá’í history

November and early December

Dec. 1–12, 1863: Bahá’u’lláh and His companions traveled in bitter cold from Constantinople to Adrianople in the European section of Turkey, one of the phases of His banishment. It was the first known time that a Manifestation of God resided on European soil.

Nov. 26, 1901: The Bahá’ís of North America celebrated the Day of the Covenant for the first time.

November 1944: God Passes By was published. Chronicling the first century of the Bábí and Bahá’í Faiths, it is the only full-size book by Shoghi Effendi.

Nov. 4, 1957: Shoghi Effendi died while in London, after nearly 35 years as Guardian. His funeral was Nov. 9 in London. The Hands of the Cause of God, after thoroughly inspecting the contents of his safe and desk on Nov. 19, declared that he had left no will naming any successor as Guardian. These events began the ministry of the Hands of the Cause as chief custodians of the Bahá’í Faith.

Nov. 23–26, 1992: The second Bahá’í World Congress convened in New York City, a highlight of the Holy Year that was observed a century after the passing of Bahá’u’lláh. This celebration of Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant drew 27,000 believers from nearly 180 countries and was shared through a historic satellite television linkup with nine auxiliary conferences held at the same time around the world.

Facts in the “Some Significant Dates” section were compiled from A Basic Bahá’í Chronology and past issues of The American Bahá’í.

EXCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS

CAMERON COLENDA, a 7-year-old Bahá’í in Angel Fire, New Mexico, finished third among 6- to 7-year-olds in the alpine category at this year’s National Snowboarding Championships. He is a second-year state champion.

SHIRLEY LOUISE KROWITZ, a Bahá’í in Plymouth, Massachusetts, was given the Julio J. Sanchez Prize on her graduation with honors from Harvard University. This honor is given to the most distinguished undergraduate over age 50.

DONNA PUTNAM SOSNOWSKI, a Bahá’í in Sparks, Nevada, was presented this year’s Distinguished Performance Award by the Washoe County Teachers Association. She was recognized for her commitment to teach all students, even those labeled “hopeless,” and for her involvement in a multitude of activities to reduce youth violence, promote environmental awareness, encourage reading and writing and build intercultural bridges.

BILL DETALLY, a Bahá’í in Jamestown, New York, has been presented with this year’s local T. Richard Parker Award for Social Justice. His years of recognized commitment to racial justice and understanding include the founding of the Downtown Dialogue on Race Unity and a central role in the local re-establishment of the NAACP.

SHOHREH MAJIDI, a Bahá’í in St. Louis, Missouri, was one of a handful of people honored for their commitment to racial equality and justice by the local organization Focus (Engaging Citizens to Strengthen the St. Louis Region). Majidi was recognized for founding the Race Unity Dialogue held regularly in the Webster Grove/Rock Hill Family Community Center.

ELIZABETH WALKER, a Bahá’í in New York City, spent eight weeks last summer in Nepal working on a women’s empowerment project with a Nepalese nongovernmental organization, as winner of the Oprah Winfrey Award for Volunteerism. She had just graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, after growing up in a Bahá’í pioneer family in Kathmandu, Nepal.

BRIAN FIROOZ, a Bahá’í in Loveland, Colorado, was recently awarded the Tia Beierwaltes Memorial Scholarship. The presentation that earned him this full-ride scholarship included an essay, videos and slides on his five-year experience with the N.I.N.E. Bahá’í Youth Workshop.

ARDYTHE MORROW, a Bahá’í in Norfolk, Virginia, and an associate professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School, was one of only 30 medical faculty awarded a fellowship in this year’s Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine for Women program. Among other things, she was recognized for helping launch a project to increase child immunizations in public housing.

NAVID F. ZAER, a 15-year-old Bahá’í from Savannah, Georgia, graduated as valedictorian at the top of his high school class. He was this year’s youngest graduate. Other awards include the Georgia Certificate of Merit, Presbyterian College Fellow Award and designation as a Governor’s Scholar.

KEVIN S. HEMMATI, a Bahá’í in Des Plaines, Illinois, received the Eagle Scout award from the Boy Scouts of America at the first known Eagle court of honor ceremony held at the Bahá’í House of Worship.

BRIAN SCOVEL, a 17-year-old Bahá’í in Lake Elsinore, California, was recently given the Eagle Scout award by the Boy Scouts of America. In his service project he built a steel and timber creek bridge at Santa Rosa Plateau State Park. [Page 3]

Our 2001 study focus

The 2001 theme study focus for the United States, as directed by the National Spiritual Assembly, will begin in January.

During 2001, study will focus on the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf and The Secret of Divine Civilization.

Materials to support this educational process will be available soon.

Watch for announcements as you look ahead to 2001.

You may wish to check your bookshelves to be sure you have copies of these texts as part of your preparation.

National Assembly reaches across the U.S.

Meetings to focus on progress toward goals

The National Spiritual Assembly wishes to meet with you, and all our fellow believers, at the midpoint in the Twelve Month Plan. The purpose is to share with you our progress toward meeting the goals of the Twelve Month Plan, with particular emphasis on the Kingdom Project, and to consult with you on the challenges and rewards of the upcoming Five Year Plan.

The first series of meetings in this effort were held in 18 localities on Oct. 21–22. Another 18 meetings will be held Dec. 2–3 in the metropolitan areas listed below. To find out the location and time of the meeting nearest you, please call the automated information line (phone 847-733-3500). ◆

Saturday, Dec. 2 Metro areas of: Indianapolis, IN; New York City, NY; Durham, NC; San Diego, CA; St. Louis, MO; Salt Lake City, UT; Baton Rouge, LA; Atlanta, GA; Greater San Francisco Bay Area, CA

Sunday, Dec. 3 Metro areas of: Columbus, OH; New York City, NY; Boston, MA; Dallas, TX; Albuquerque, NM; Wichita, KS; Las Vegas, NV; Houston, TX; Columbia, SC; Sacramento, CA

Hold steady, now

A child gets a facial decoration courtesy of the Bahá’ís of Charlottesville, Virginia, who sponsored a booth at the 12th annual African American Culture Festival. The Bahá’í community, which has participated every year, gave out balloons as well as painting faces. Summer Bahá’í activity was varied and vigorous; see pages 7 and 8 for more. Photo by Derrick Stone, Charlottesville, VA

Enrollments

September 2000	114
Since May 1, 2000	636

THE FUND

May 1–September 30, 2000

Contributions received by National Treasurer (excluding Kingdom Project)

Received since May 1, 2000:	Goal for entire year:
$6,481,238	$27,000,000

• 24% of year’s goal was met
• 42% of fiscal year has passed
• April 30, 2001

Total cash-basis revenues and expenditures for Bahá’í National Fund May 1, 1999–August 31, 2000 (latest available)

$7,411,479 Revenues (contributions, book sales, school fees etc.)

$9,082,977 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

Regional Councils to be elected soon

Regional Bahá’í Councils will be elected in November according to guidance from the Universal House of Justice:

“In view of the experience gained over a period of several years, the Universal House of Justice has recognized that it would be more practical to set a new date for the formation of these institutions. Henceforth, then, the election or appointment of Regional Councils will take effect every year on 26 November, the Day of the Covenant.” —Letter from the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies, dated March 13, 2000

The four Regional Bahá’í Councils in the United States have been working diligently to advance the process of entry by troops and achieve the goals of the One Year Plan.

At this special time, believers throughout the country are encouraged to pray for the upcoming election for this special institution as members of Local Spiritual Assemblies gather to cast their ballots.

Many Local Spiritual Assemblies will hold community events to celebrate the Day of the Covenant, at which a time will be provided for Assembly members to retire to a private room to vote for the Regional Bahá’í Council. Information about events in every region will be available through Local Spiritual Assemblies.

The National Spiritual Assembly looks forward to hearing that the number of Local Assemblies participating in these elections will increase over May 1999, when the Regional Councils were last elected. ◆

COVENANT-BREAKER NOTICE

The Universal House of Justice has confirmed that Mr. Michael Zargarov should be considered a Covenant-breaker.

By his own repeated admissions, Mr. Zargarov has become an active member of the group formed by Mr. Joel Marangella and calling itself the “Orthodox Bahá’í Faith.”

Mr. Marangella is an active Covenant-breaker and one of the several former followers of Charles Mason Remey who have laid claims of their own to the Guardianship.

Although Mr. Zargarov has been living outside the country, he has resided in the Houston, Texas, area and periodically returns to the United States.

The National Spiritual Assembly reminds the friends of the admonition given to every Bahá’í to strictly avoid communication or contact with any Covenant-breaker.

Guidance on the subject of Covenant-breaking can be found on pages 5.12–17 of the Local Spiritual Assembly reference manual Developing Distinctive Bahá’í Communities: Guidelines for Spiritual Assemblies.

The friends are asked to inform their Auxiliary Board member for Protection should they receive any communications from Mr. Zargarov. ◆ [Page 4]"Each child is potentially the light of the world, and its darkness. Lighting the lamps of these souls is a collective responsibility we must collectively assume if civilization is to thrive. Children must not be deprived of moral education." -Albert Lincoln, secretary-general, Bahá’í International Community, at the Summit of Religious Leaders

"Throughout history, from the abolition of slavery to the recognition of the equality of women and men, most great social movements have begun not with governments but with ordinary people." -Techeste Ahderom, principal representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the UN, speaking at the Millennium Summit

Report on the Millennium Forum and Summits

al leaders devoted to peace would enhance the work of the United Nations.

Thus, the Millennium Forum, the first of these major gatherings, brought together on 22-26 May more than 1,000 representatives of non-governmental organizations from more than 100 countries "to consult about the role of the United Nations in confronting the great global challenges facing humanity in the 21st Century." They focussed their consultations on the following specific topics: 1) peace, security and disarmament; 2) eradication of poverty, including debt cancellation and social development; 3) human rights; 4) sustainable development and environment; 5) facing the challenges of globalization: achieving equity, justice and diversity; and 6) strengthening and democratizing the United Nations and international organizations.

As a result, the participants in the Millennium Forum adopted a declaration, for presentation to world leaders at the subsequent Millennium Summit, in which they set forth their vision and made their recommendations for revitalizing the United Nations. "In our vision," these representatives of civil society declared, "we are one human family, in all our diversity, living on one common homeland and sharing a just, sustainable and peaceful world, guided by universal principles of democracy, equality, inclusion, voluntarism, non-discrimination and participation by all persons.... It is a world where peace and human security, as envisioned in the principles of the United Nations Charter, replace armaments, violent conflict and wars. It is a world where everyone lives in a clean environment with a fair distribution of the earth's resources. Our vision includes a special role for the dynamism of young people and the experience of the elderly and reaffirms the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights civil, political, economic, social and cultural."

The Millennium Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, which was held on 28-31 August and involved more than 1,000 attendees, constituted the second of these gatherings. The "very specific purpose" of this meeting of religious leaders was, as stated in the introductory statement of the programme, "to further the prospects for peace among peoples and nations, and within every individual." The outcome of this Peace Summit was the adoption and signing of a declaration committing the participants to global peace. Noting that "the United Nations and the religions of the world have a common concern for human dignity, justice and peace," accepting that "men and women are equal partners in all aspects of life and children are the hope of the future," and acknowledging that "religions have contributed to the peace of the world but have also been used to create division and fuel hostilities," the declaration resolved to "collaborate with the United Nations and all men and women of goodwill locally, regionally and globally in the pursuit of peace in all its dimensions."

As you were previously informed in our letter of 15 August 2000, the Secretary-General of the Bahá’í International Community, Mr. Albert Lincoln, represented the Faith on this occasion. He was listed among the "Pre-eminent World Religious and Spiritual Leaders" in attendance and was afforded the opportunity both to offer a Bahá’í prayer during the opening ceremony and to speak during the third plenary session held in the General Assembly Hall on the second day of the event. His oral presentation was an abridged version of his written statement, the full text of which was distributed to the participants, as shown in the enclosure.

The Millennium Summit, the third and culminating event, was held in response to a resolution of the General Assembly that expressed the conviction that "the year 2000 constitutes a unique and symbolically compelling moment to articulate and affirm an animating vision of the United Nations in the new era." On the last day, the leaders of more than 150 nations unanimously adopted a declaration that began by asserting: "We, Heads of State and Government, have gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 6 to 8 September 2000, at the dawn of a new Millennium, to reaffirm our faith in the Organization and its Charter as indispensable foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world."

Highlighting certain "fundamental values"—freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature, shared responsibility—the leaders resolved to work towards such objectives as: peace, security and disarmament; development and the eradication of poverty; protecting our common environment; human rights, democracy and good governance; protecting the vulnerable; meeting the special needs of Africa; and strengthening the United Nations. They made a firm commitment to world peace and world order, concluding their declaration on this resounding note: "We solemnly reaffirm, on this historic occasion, that the United Nations is the indispensable common house of the entire human family, through which we will seek to realize our universal aspirations for peace, cooperation and development. We therefore pledge our unstinting support for these common objectives, and our determination to achieve them."

It is striking that the spokesman of civil society called upon by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to address so historic a gathering was Mr. Techeste Ahderom, the principal representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations. He was accorded this honour because as its co-chair he had presided at the United Nations Millennium Forum. After all the national leaders had spoken and before the Summit had adopted its declaration on 8 September, Mr. Ahderom made a speech in which he conveyed to that unprecedented assemblage a report of the Forum. The text of his speech is enclosed herewith.

For any observer imbued with the Bahá’í vision of peace and its inherent processes, the substance and implications of these recent events, seen together with previous world conferences that during the last decade also involved leaders of nations, must be gratifying indeed to contemplate. It must, too, be doubly thrilling to realize that at so early a stage in the Bahá’í era, representatives of our international community took part so notably in these occurrences that have set down milestones along the way towards that new World Order so clearly foreshadowed by the Pen of Bahá’u’lláh.

With loving Bahá’í greetings, For Department of the Secretariat

The full written text of the addresses by Albert Lincoln and Techeste Ahderom, mentioned in the above letter, are available on the National Spiritual Assembly's Administrative Web Site (www.usbnc.org). If you do not have access to the Internet, you may contact the nearest Local Spiritual Assembly for a copy.

The Millennium Peace Summit

Hinduism, Jainism, Judaism, Islam, Shintoism, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism, as well as indigenous religions from nearly every continent.

"This summit of religious and spiritual leaders is without doubt one of the most inspiring gatherings ever held here," said Kofi Annan, UN secretary-general, in an address to the Religious Summit. "Whatever your past, whatever your calling, and whatever the differences among you, your presence here at the United Nations signifies your commitment to our global mission of tolerance, development and peace."

Calling for a "global community based on unity in diversity," Albert Lincoln, secretary-general of the Bahá’í International Community, called for the world's religious leaders to take on the task of identifying "core values that are common to all religious and spiritual traditions."

"Our disordered world is in desperate need of a moral compass that is above passing fashion and untainted by the pervasive materialism of the modern era," Lincoln said in addressing the first such gathering of high-level religious leaders ever held in the United Nations. "The convening of this summit suggests that the world has become aware of this need and of the capacity latent in the world's religious traditions."

Media executive Ted Turner, whose Better World Fund underwrote much of the summit's expenses—and whose idea was the genesis for the summit of spiritual leaders—received a standing ovation from the assembled leaders for his remarks in which he shared a bit of his personal belief. Turner said in recounting his early desire to be a missionary: "So I said, maybe instead of all these different gods, maybe there is only one God who manifested Himself and revealed Himself in different ways to different people. Huh? What about that?"

In a landmark document, the religious and spiritual leaders pledged to "practice and promote inner and outer conditions that foster peace and the nonviolent management and resolution of conflict."

Jeffery Huffines, US/UN Bahá’í representative, represented the National Spiritual Assembly at the proceedings and Yael Wurmfeld, the National Assembly's representative to the board of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions, attended as an observer. Counselor Zena Sorabjee of India was also invited to participate in the Summit in her individual capacity as were other Bahá’ís from Indonesia, Tanzania and Canada representing indigenous peoples.

The following week witnessed another [Page 5]

UN agency's partnership helps Bahá’í in quest to bridge the digital divide

BY JEFFERY HUFFINES, US/UN BAHÁ’Í REPRESENTATIVE

While heads of state were meeting at the UN Millennium Summit, the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) announced a partnership with an organization founded by a young Bahá’í to help people in developing countries make greater use of the Internet.

At a New York news conference Sept. 7, UNOPS announced the launching of the Digital Service Corps, a private-sector partnership with the nonprofit Global Technology Organization (GTO), whose founder and president is Neysan Rassekh.

Digital Service Corps will send volunteers to developing countries and countries in transition, to conduct intensive training programs in the use of the Internet as a community development tool.

Reinhart Helmke, executive director of UNOPS, introduced Rassekh as a "young social entrepreneur of the dot-com generation" who is bridging two "gaps" through the Digital Service Corps—the generation gap at the UN and the digital divide in the developing world.

Now in his 20s, Rassekh was born in Portland, Oregon. His family left the U.S. when he was 4 years old to pioneer in the West African countries of Senegal, The Gambia and Mali. He later attended Maxwell Bahá’í School in Canada.

Rassekh, a recent graduate of the Wharton School of Business and the University of Pennsylvania, did his master's thesis on technology as a tool for development.

"My generation of Americans grew up taking computers for granted. By the time we got to college, most of us were regularly doing research on the Internet," Rassekh said.

"To work in development at the grassroots, my family lives in Mali, one of the poorest countries on the planet. I have seen firsthand how extreme the digital divide really is. I know there are thousands of people like me who would gladly give four to six weeks of their time to personally contribute to closing that gap. That is why I am sure that GTO's Digital Service Corps will be a success," he said.

UNOPS reported that in May, GTO completed a successful pilot project in Mali. A team of three professors and 30 students from the University of Pennsylvania, armed with refurbished computer equipment and the accessories needed to connect to the Internet, spent four weeks in Mali and trained 120 carefully selected professors, primary- and secondary-school teachers, students and teacher trainers.

The team established four computer centers, now operated by the Victory Foundation, a Mali-based organization whose mission is to promote innovation in public education.

The day after the press conference, Rassekh introduced President Alpha Oumar Konare of Mali at a roundtable discussion on public-private partnerships convened by UNOPS and Global Leaders for Tomorrow of the World Economic Forum. At a news conference after the roundtable, the president thanked the Global Technology Organization for its efforts and the impact it had in his country.

Moreover, contacts at the UN Millennium Assembly and the State of the World Forum afforded Rassekh the opportunity to meet with several heads of state and foreign ministers. Five of them invited Rassekh to look at implementing GTO projects in their countries in the coming months.

Hugh Locke, adviser for international development for the Private Sector Partnership Unit of UNOPS, is a Bahá’í who was instrumental in introducing Rassekh to UNOPS. He has joined GTO as vice president in this community development initiative.

One purpose of UNOPS is to form partnerships with socially responsible corporations interested in putting their resources at the service of UN values and mandates.

Bahá’í representatives attended other conferences in New York during the global UN gatherings, including:

The 53rd annual UN Department of Public Information NGO Conference, Aug. 28-30, titled "Global Solidarity: The Way to Peace and International Cooperation."

The annual State of the World Forum, Sept. 4-10.

The NGO Conference focused on the implementation of the action plans that were agreed upon during the major United Nations and NGO conferences of the 1990s. These UN conferences made historic achievements in establishing a broad global consensus on the issues of environment and development, human rights, population control, women's rights, social development and housing.

Conference organizers emphasized that the work at the grassroots to educate others about the goals of the UN plans of action, and to ensure their implementation at the local and regional levels, is essential to the success of the collective efforts organized by the United Nations.

Eleven Bahá’ís from around the country accepted the invitation of the National Assembly's United Nations Office to attend the NGO Conference. Afterward, Mark Griffin from Oxford, MA wrote, "Thanks for the chance to attend this year's DPI/NGO conference. It was an exciting time and it has re-energized my desires for development work. I made some wonderful connections with people, some of which will hopefully continue."

The Millennium Summit was a historic occasion when Techeste Ahderom, the principal representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations, addressed world leaders at the Millennium Summit. Speaking in his capacity as co-chair of last May's Millennium Forum, Ahderom urged leaders at the summit to join in a global partnership with civil society to create a peaceful and more prosperous world.

"This historic summit may well be remembered as having opened the door to a long-awaited era of peace, justice and prosperity for all humanity," he said.

"This new era will, of course, require concrete deeds and not just words," Ahderom continued. "We in civil society stand ready to work with you and your governments, side by side, in a strong new partnership to create this new world. At the same time, civil society also stands ready to hold you to your commitments if you do not deliver on your words."

In May, Ahderom had led the Millennium Forum, which brought together some 1,350 representatives of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) at the United Nations to consult about humanity's future in anticipation of the Millennium Summit.

Internet links

• • Religious Summit**
• For more information about the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders: www.millenniumpeacesummit.org
• Streaming audio of Albert Lincoln's address to the Religious Summit at the UN is available on the Bahá’í World Web site: www.bahai.org/article-1-1-0-2.html
• The written text of Albert Lincoln's address is available on the National Spiritual Assembly's Administrative Web Site: www.usbnc.org

• • Millennium Summit**
• For more information about the UN Millennium Summit: www.un.org/millennium
• Streaming audio of Techeste Ahderom's address to the UN Millennium Summit: www.bahai.org/article-1-1-3-1.html
• The written text of Techeste Ahderom's address is available on the National Spiritual Assembly's Administrative Web Site: www.usbnc.org

• • Other recent UN events**
• For more information about the Millennium Forum, May 2000: www.millenniumforum.org
• For more information about the 53rd annual UN DPI/NGO conference: www.un.org/Moreinfo/ngolink/53conf.htm
• For more information about the State of the World Forum: www.worldforum.org

• • The digital divide**
• For information on the Global Technology Organization, founded by Neysan Rassekh: www.gtobridge.org
• For information on the United Nations Office for Project Services: www.unopspartnerships.org

[Page 6]ONE YEAR NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN GOAL: CARRY OUT THE NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN 2000

Involve individuals, communities and institutions • Encourage leadership and initiative among youth • Make training institutes fully operational

Look at what's on the Web! www.usbnc.org

Bahá’í Newsreel Whether you missed the last Feast or just want to see it again, check out the stories from Bahá’í Newsreel volume 10, number I on the Administrative Web Site today!

• See the progress on God's Holy Mountain. • Watch as the Bahá’ís of College Station, Texas, rally around their local teaching plan to advance the process of entry by troops and develop a distinctive community. • Experience the momentum of initiatives fueled by the dreams of individuals, such as Spirit Run, the Day of Honor Campaign and the Children's Theatre Company.

Find out how each believer can contribute to building the Kingdom of God on Earth. Each story can be downloaded separately and viewed on RealMedia Player.

Online newsletters La Luz de la Unidad

• U.S. BAHÁ’Í UPDATE. A four-page quarterly report on the activities of the U.S. Bahá’í community. • LA LUZ DE LA UNIDAD. A spanish version of The Light of Unity, a downloadable newsletter for seekers, available in a format that allows you to insert local contact information, print and distribute.

Teaching project report forms: Let us know about your success!

PLUS: How to make the most of the 1-800-22-UNITE seeker contact system, materials to help your publicity and fireside development, tips on using national media campaign videos locally, and more!

Communities answer the call

Localities pick up pace even during lull in national broadcasts

Spiritually activated local Bahá’í communities and a receptive national audience are helping to maintain a consistent level of response to the national media campaign, even while the national broadcast schedule was slowed to accommodate election season.

The National Spiritual Assembly's representatives began visiting cities around the nation in October, driving home the point that "no call will go unanswered" from the waiting souls who are responding to the media campaign. Bahá’í communities, they emphasize, must respond immediately to seeker inquiries with a loving and nurturing spirit.

National AND local components

The media campaign, consisting of national broadcast and local media initiatives, is leading thousands to investigate our Faith. It is built on the foundations of the Four Year Plan (1996-2000) and on the guidance from the Ridván 153 letter from the Universal House of Justice that "In North America, there are opportunities for the advancement of the process of entry by troops, the like of which presently exist in no other place on earth."

Just maintaining a consistent response level is actually a positive display of the enthusiasm by the national Bahá’í community in support of the National Teaching Plan. Start-up efforts such as one in Albuquerque, New Mexico, were leading the nation in responses at press time. Local campaigns were sustained in California (Oakland, Laguna Niguel, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco), Florida (Miami, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Tampa, Manatee County), Massachusetts (Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Holyoke), Texas (San Antonio, Houston, Dallas metroplex), across Missouri, in New York City and southeastern New York state, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

At the start of the fourth quarter (October through December), inquiries for literature or call-backs were running slightly ahead of the summer average of about 1,500 inquiries a month, plus about 3,000 other visits to the public Web site (www.us.bahai.org) as a result of the broadcasts.

Looking for Bahá’ís, literally

Increasingly, the seekers want to meet Bahá’ís in their areas. Over time, nearly 65% of all Web inquirers want to know how to contact the local Bahá’í community—and that figure rose in early October to about 85%.

Not only has the campaign placed clear examples of the message of Bahá’u’lláh before millions, resulting in thousands of seekers requesting literature, it has motivated thousands who have heard of the Faith before to contact Bahá’ís now. Many stories from new believers reveal that seekers who "meant to call earlier, but didn't" took that step after seeing a national or local broadcast. National and local broadcasts also have

Seeking souls, local communities and the national media campaign The national media campaign is a component of the Kingdom Project, our National Spiritual Assembly's comprehensive development plan.

Seekers in SC bring their children

In Conway, South Carolina, the community has been consulting on how to accommodate a revamping of its Sunday morning devotional gathering to include Bahá’í classes, as a number of seekers have been attending with their children.

Some of the seekers had called 1-800-22-UNITE, others had heard the devotional gathering advertised on the WLGI Radio Bahá’í community calendar, and others have been invited by Bahá’ís. One young seeker has joined the local youth workshop. In addition, the local shelter home brought a van load of children and youths one Sunday, after hearing about it on WLGI.

The Bahá’ís also had to improvise, with the devotions' speaker giving a very basic introductory talk on the Bahá’í Faith in addition to the scheduled talk. The devotions activity has also prompted "wonderful consultations" at Feast with particular involvement by youth.

After the Conway Bahá’í Youth Workshop (renamed "Youth of Zion") performed for the Martin Luther King Jr. program "Youth and Children for the Dream" at a children's festival, as well as at an Ayyam-i-Há party, it added a performance at a middle school.

The workshop is reportedly working on a script (to be approved by the schools so there is no appearance of promoting the Bahá’í Faith in school). That script will be the basis of four performances at each middle and high school in the county on Bahá’í Holy Days as their community service project.

Longtime teachers-by-example are also showing results.

A man who had been acquainted with a Bahá’í for eight years recently called the Bahá’ís "first thing Monday morning."

"I want to know more about the

Invisible Soldiers, Unheard Voices

The national image of the Bahá’í Faith before the general public was to take a major step forward Nov. 9, with the National Spiritual Assembly's co-sponsorship of the first broadcast of Invisible Soldiers, Unheard Voices on the Public Broadcasting System.

Produced by William Smith, a Bahá’í in Sudbury, Massachusetts, Invisible Soldiers, Unheard Voices details how African-American and other minority World War II veterans faced and dealt with racism in the military and American society.

Two 15-second Bahá’í Faith commercial spots were to air at the start and close of the broadcast and will become a permanent part of the program. Their dignified style is typical of the short promotions that run with many PBS programs. The program is scheduled to air at 10 p.m. Eastern time; please check your listings for local broadcast time.

Schools and libraries across the country that are part of the PBS system are allowed to record the program and use it for rebroadcast in classrooms. Copies of the tape may be obtained through a toll-free telephone number to be broadcast during the program.

The production is at the heart of the National Day of Honor program, which was honored with a congressional resolution. President Clinton signed the resolution in a White House ceremony with Smith in attendance.

Many local Bahá’í communities have organized National Day of Honor service projects utilizing the film and by inviting other to participate in local Day of Honor activities.

Among others, communities organizing programs include: • Charleston, West Virginia. • Salem, Clemson and Donald, South Carolina. • Montgomery, Alabama. • New York City. • Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Those interested in the Day of Honor program can learn more at the Web site (www.dayofhonor2000.org). [Page 7]

NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN

Summer and youth go together with teaching!

A summer teaching project in Arkansas involved Marshall Islander youth living near Rogers alongside visiting youth teachers from across the South. Photo by Duane Troxel

Teaching fires blaze across the South

cross the Southern States, more than traveled to spread the Bahá’í teachings and put them in practice in the last 19 days of July. Nine local Bahá’í communities provided the stage for teaching teams to promote the Cause directly through the arts and the spoken word, to engage in service projects, and to encourage new and veteran believers with their visits. Several days' training was reinforced with daily deepening and prayer. The results came forth sometimes in numbers of people brought into the Bahá’í family, sometimes in a greater visibility of the Bahá’í community, and often in the development of the Bahá’í community itself. Certainly a lot of lessons were learned to help make future events even stronger.

A previous issue of The American Bahá’í reported on projects in Gainesville, Florida; San Marcos, Texas; and Florence, South Carolina. A close-up look at one facet of the Durham, North Carolina, project appears on page 18.

Ark Teaching Project Rogers, Arkansas

Youth participants in this project worked with a large group of Bahá’í youth from the Marshall Islands who live in Springdale, according to project coordinator Duane Troxel. "I think they were very successful in accomplishing that goal," he reported.

The visitors and the Springdale youth prayed, deepened and picnicked together. Activities they collaborated on included artistic proclamations with music, dance and drama; direct teaching in parks; and joint worship with a church group.

"We focused on the process more than the outcome," Troxel added. "The victory is not just declarations, but increased love, unity, trust, knowledge, certitude and readiness to BE Bahá’ís."

College Station, Texas

The teaching blossomed astoundingly

Hundreds in Tucson respond to moral message

Moral leadership and empowerment of youth were the driving forces of the Tucson 2000 Bahá’í youth project. And southern Arizonans responded by the hundreds.

Conducted July 25-Aug. 8, the project drew nearly 100 young servants of the Cause to Tucson, Arizona, from around the country. They carried out human service projects, proclaimed the Bahá’í Faith through talks and performances, and studied the teachings daily.

The project culminated in an Aug. 5 performance event at the Tucson Civic Center, titled "Nothing Less than Peace," which attracted an audience of about 1,100.

"We were trained not just in moral leadership, but in the importance of teaching and the different ways there are to teach, [and] in the need for community support," one participant reported afterward.

"We saw the example that living the life provides."

The two-week project was planned and overseen by a task force of Tucson and Los Angeles Bahá’í youth, in collaboration with the Youth Desk of the Regional Bahá’í Council for the Western States and the Spiritual Assembly of Tucson. Much groundwork was done by sub-taskforces drawn from Bahá’í communities in greater Tucson.

Considerable advance publicity radio announcements, billboards, TV ads, and newspaper articles—was arranged by the Greater Tucson Media Committee with support from the National Teaching Committee.

"The youth were told that after the news coverage, those handling the incoming telephone messages were swamped and had a difficult time keeping the message box empty enough to receive more calls," participants from Oregon reported.

The organization was as impressive as the results, according to a spokesman for the Regional Council, which has planned follow-up meetings with the Tucson Assembly to discuss ways of adding to the momentum.

"We're hoping the lessons from this event will be repeated throughout the region," the spokesman added.

Focused on empowering Bahá’í youth through service and teaching of the Faith, Tucson 2000 was underpinned from the start by the principle of moral leadership.

For a week before the project officially began, two facilitators from Núr University in Bolivia trained several coordinators in the university's Moral Leadership program.

Then when youth participants arrived at a University of Arizona dormitory, they underwent four days' orientation on the aims of the project. Not only the coordinators, but such lights as Counselor Wilma Ellis; Jack McCants, a National Spiritual Assembly member; and Fernando Huerta, a member of the Regional Latin American Task Force, were on hand to drive home the importance of seizing teaching opportunities.

‘Dawning’ workshop tour spreads light across center of U.S.

BY CODY LANGNESS, CARLSBAD, CA

From the time I joined the Dawning of a New Light Bahá’í youth teaching project, I knew it was going to be something different.

Sure, I had attended conferences before. I was a part of the Bahá’í Youth Workshop in San Diego for five years. I had even done a year of service and had such a spiritual transformation in Central America that I cannot even begin to write about it.

But this youth workshop teaching trip would be something never before attempted:

Two months, 12 youths, 50 cities, eight states.

All of us from different workshop backgrounds, most from different cities.

Starting in Bloomington, Indiana, our trip took us to Kentucky, Ohio, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas and back north to Wilmette, Illinois.

By the end, with the aid of many newspaper articles, radio and TV spots, an estimated 1.5 million people heard the name of Bahá’u’lláh or the Bahá’í Faith because of the Dawning of a New Light project. Many more may have seen us on television as just a group of youth working to better the world.

When I met the group in Bloomington, I knew only one person: Frank Hall, who had laid out this project on paper and sent e-mails to all the workshop coordinators he could, seeking performers who could take two months of their summer for this service.

A small number responded—probably a wisdom of God. There was so much for us to learn.

After a week's performances, we found that many of the audiences were much younger than we anticipated. We also discovered the need to communicate during preparation on a more personal level than many were used to.

Workshop does not normally require that 15 people live together for two months, crowded in a van with broken air conditioning and towing a 28-foot trailer. Conflicts and disagreements came up. The continuation of the group was threatened from the get-go.

Yet this group had one power we had not yet realized, and which soon became clear as the noonday sun:

That’s the spirit

"Spirit of Unity," the Bahá’í youth workshop from southern Ohio, was so well-received during a July 3-5 visit in the Huntington-Hamlin area of West Virginia—including participation in a holiday parade—that it received four invitations to return, including one from a community center. Two observers at performances also asked for information on the Bahá’í Faith to bring to their churches. [Page 8]for Teaching season NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN room no room "my heart PREJUDICE POWER

Youth, of course, weren't the only Bahá’ís making extra efforts to teach during the summer. Here are some of the local efforts that sprouted up across the country (clockwise from upper left):

• Greensboro, North Carolina: For the second year the Bahá’í community was the only religious organization participating in the Fun Fourth Festival. A canopy provided relief from heat, and Bahá’í staffers distributed literature, stickers, pens and balloons to a number of people.

• Highland Park, Illinois: Paulette Heber of Mundelein (center left) and Diana Harris of Highland Park march in an annual effort in which area Bahá’ís cooperate to participate in two or three Fourth of July parades every year. Photo by Vladimir Shilov

• Manatee County, Florida: A curious pair stops by the Bahá’í booth at the Manatee County Children's Summit. Many were drawn by the booth's theme, "We Are All One Family ... the Human Family," and children could play a "virtues game" with materials at the booth.

• Wolfeboro, New Hampshire: A float refurbished with the aid of Bahá’ís from several localities took second place in the local Fourth of July parade, and was enthusiastically received. Photo by Kirk E. Felix

Bryan-College Station, Texas

...when the combined forces of local Bahá’ís and visiting youth turned their attention to the nearby town of Caldwell. A "UnityFest" children's celebration of racial unity drew 350 people to the county fairground, despite the fact that four of the largest churches warned their parishioners to stay away from the event.

"It appeared that all of the opposition had only piqued people's interest," reported Grant Suhm of the Spiritual Assembly of College Station. Area believers poured out resources and talents to provide music, dance and magic performances, as well as free refreshments and face painting. Visiting youth teachers took to the streets teaching and passing out fliers, and a fence-painting project gained considerable local publicity.

It was only one of a dozen events during the youth campaign to bring the teachings of the Faith to the Bryan-College Station area through word and deed.

The youth project was incorporated into the ongoing College Station teaching and community development plan. With vigorous follow-up and the support of the Aguila del Cielo Regional Training Institute, the project has increased both numbers and participation within the Bahá’í community over more than a year.

Rock Hill, South Carolina

A total of 23 new Bahá’ís were enrolled during a teaching project that involved four generations of believers. The Spiritual Assembly's Planning Committee reported, "Incorporated in the format and pith of the initiative was having veteran believers present and involved who are experienced in many aspects of direct teaching projects, early enrollment, etc."

Not only the prayers of the young teachers, but also the unity and support of the community and institutions plus the focus on structure and plan, were important to creating an "atmosphere of security and safety for the teachers," the local report states. The idea evolved for the young teachers to keep open "in a spontaneous way" to finding opportunities for deeds of human service while carrying out teaching trips.

Atlanta, Georgia

The Youth Teaching Team carried out service projects at a museum, a children's services center, an "Intergenerational Center" and a day camp at a housing project. The goal was to help establish a deeper bond between the Atlanta Bahá’í Center and the surrounding community.

Along the way there was some direct teaching, including a fireside and an information booth at a local shop. This was aided by training that focused on teaching the Faith to Christians.

The youths' daily prayer, project leaders reported, "was strongly influential to the success of the youth in establishing genuine friendships with the faculties, children, clients and patrons at all four sites" of service projects. The Atlanta community is making a point of maintaining those connections.

the earth is but one country. and mankind its citizens B Bahauth

The Ark Teaching Project in northwestern Arkansas included a number of public contacts for young teachers in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers area, including a public proclamation/teaching event in a public square. Photo by Duane Troxel

Dallas, Texas

With the aid of preparatory classes by the North Texas Regional Training Institute, both local and visiting youth teachers became aware they had the profound choice of living a normal life, or "standing in the gap" to assist the loved ones of God, local organizers report. "They all rose to the occasion."

Highlights included a service project at a veterans hospital, which "gave the youth a greater perspective on life, and gave the men cheer, laughter, music and company"; a day of teaching in the suburb of McKinney, which brought the Bahá’í message to 500 people; and "a relaxed, effortless, miraculous teaching time" coinciding with a cleanup effort at a public park in which, again, hundreds learned about the Faith.

Dedicated to Emma

Why was the summer youth teaching project in San Marcos, Texas—which brought 23 souls into the Faith—named for Emma Welter? Here is a look at the life of a girl who inspired many in her short life.

Emma Welter was born in 1984 and moved to China Spring, Texas, in 1991. Her parents, the only adult Bahá’ís in China Spring, actively participated in the Waco community.

At her 15th birthday party Emma affirmed her belief in Bahá’u’lláh. A ninth-grade honor student at Vanguard College Preparatory School in Waco, she attended many Bahá’í youth activities in Dallas and Austin, and was well-known and much loved by her fellow Bahá’í youth.

On Feb. 9, 2000, Emma died in an automobile accident in her hometown of China Spring. Emma had touched many people with her kindness and love for others, her bright and smiling face, and her love of animals.

More than 400 people attended her Bahá’í funeral. Her school held a memorial service, dedicated a garden in her name, renamed its Community Service Day "Emma's Day," and began an Emma Welter Scholarship Fund. In March, the Bahá’í youth of Waco and surrounding areas cleaned up a neglected cemetery as a service project in Emma's name. [Page 9]

International needs categorized

The pioneer calls of the Three and Four Year Plans encouraged the friends to consider the entire world as their arena for pioneering and traveling teaching. Those responding to the call are asked to examine their own particular experiences, inclinations and possibilities, and after prayer and consultation, choose a destination.

This is the most recent list of countries and territories. (Universal House of Justice, letter dated March 7, 1999)

HELP WANTED: PIONEERS

Combining to such a degree the essential qualities of audacity, of consecration, of tenacity, of self-renunciation, and unstinted devotion that will prompt them to abandon their homes, and forsake their all, and scatter over the surface of the globe, and hoist in its uttermost corners the triumphant banner of Bahá’u’lláh

(Requirements from The Advent of Divine Justice)

TO REPORT YOUR INTERNATIONAL TEACHING TRIP SEE PAGE 32

CATEGORY 1

The needs are especially pressing.

• Africa: Mauritania, Rodrigues
• Americas: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, Martinique, Saint Pierre and Miquelon
• Australasia: Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna
• Europe: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Corsica, Croatia, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Macedonia, Malta, Slovenia, Yugoslavia

CATEGORY 2

The Faith is established, but pioneers are needed to stimulate the process of growth and to help open new centers.

• Africa: Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Congo Republic, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Namibia, Réunion, Rwanda, Sao Tomé and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, St. Helena, Swaziland
• Americas: Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Chiloé Island, Dominica, East Leeward Islands, Easter Island, Falkland Islands, French Guiana, Galápagos Islands, Greenland, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Juan Fernández Islands, Nicaragua, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Turks and Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands, West Leeward Islands
• Asia: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Armenia, Asiatic Russia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Georgia, Japan, Korea-South, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Ogasawara Islands, Ryukyu Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan
• Australasia: Christmas Island, Eastern Caroline Islands, Fiji Islands, Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands, Norfolk Island, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Caroline Islands
• Europe: Albania, Andorra, Azores, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus-Northern, Czech Republic, Denmark, Elba, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madeira, Moldova, Monaco, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Sicily, Slovakia, Ukraine

CATEGORY 3

The process of expansion and consolidation has a significant momentum, but there is a need for pioneers who can undertake specific tasks, such as arousing the interest of prominent people, strengthening the communities in certain areas, or assisting with projects of social and economic development.

• Africa: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
• Americas: Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
• Asia: Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Kazakhstan, Macau, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sabah, Sarawak, Taiwan
• Australasia: Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa
• Europe: Canary Islands, Iceland

CATEGORY 4

Pioneers are greatly needed, but entry is difficult due to restrictions on Bahá’í activity, lack of security, or other circumstances that may present serious difficulties. These conditions present a need for believers who will resourcefully seek out opportunities for pioneering.

• Africa: Angola, Burundi, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan
• Americas: Cuba
• Asia: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Brunei, Indonesia, Korea-North, Laos, Turkmenistan, Vietnam
• Europe: Spitzbergen

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

The Office of Pioneering is eager to assist the friends preparing for international service. For information regarding jobs and study abroad, or international traveling teaching opportunities and other events, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3508, e-mail [redacted]).

Answers to frequent questions about serving internationally are posted on the Web (www.usbnc.org, NSA Departments). See page 32 to report an international trip.

HOMEFRONT SERVICE

Detailed information to help those who wish to travel and teach or pioneer within the 48 contiguous states is available on the Administrative Web Site (www.usbnc.org), in the Regional Bahá’í Councils section.

Northeastern States

To inquire about locating as a homefront pioneer, contact the Northeast Regional Bahá’í Council secretary, Joel Nizin (phone 609-883-7450, e-mail nercsec@aol.com).

To inquire about traveling teaching, contact the traveling teaching coordinator, Diana Rouse Kaufman (phone 207-883-9488, e-mail deark1@aol.com).

Central States

To inquire about locating as a homefront pioneer, contact the Central Regional Bahá’í Council secretary, Lynn Wieties (phone 217-356-0683, e-mail lwi@aol.com).

To inquire about traveling teaching, contact the appropriate state traveling teaching coordinator (list is available on www.usbnc.org in the Regional Councils section) or contact Marilyn Ray (phone 847-733-3492, e-mail mray@usbnc.org).

---

The below goals and opportunities have been designated or reviewed by agencies of the Regional Bahá’í Councils.

Northeastern States

Consider relocating in the diverse, active community of Lawrenceville, New Jersey. We are in a fast-growing business community within commuting distance to both New York City and Philadelphia. Good schools, access to arts, culture and academia, and quiet suburban atmosphere. Our Bahá’í community hosts children’s Sunday classes, an annual race unity festival, youth activities and deepenings. Contact Sally Foo for more information (phone 609-896-1681).

Southern States

The Regional Council has placed top priority for homefront pioneering on cities with populations of 50,000 or more and no Local Spiritual Assembly in March 2000.

• Arkansas: Fort Smith, Pine Bluff
• Florida: Daytona Beach, Hialeah, Melbourne, Miami, Pensacola, Sarasota, West Palm Beach
• Georgia: Albany
• Kentucky: Owensboro
• 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

Lynchburg, Virginia, a city of 69,000 with a metro area of 150,000, is a blue-collar city. However, it has 6 colleges and universities, including one with a strong business degree and another highly rated in special education. The nuclear industry, including manufacturing and software development, is an avenue for employment. Very deepened and dedicated Bahá’ís are needed here. Hialeah, Florida, with a predominantly Hispanic population of 210,000, 10 miles from Miami International Airport, needs homefront pioneers. It is home to Miami Dade Community College. A strong industrial and business base is complemented by many parks and recreational facilities. Please contact the Southern Regional Traveling Teaching and Homefront Pioneering Coordinators listed at right.

Western States

The Regional Bahá’í Council has put emphasis on Assembly goals in the seven “breath of life” states designated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Tablets of the Divine Plan: Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Goal localities include the following (complete list on www.usbnc.org). For communities on Indian reservations (marked with *), contact the American Indian regional traveling teaching-homefront pioneering coordinator listed at right.

• Arizona: Apache Junction, Bapchule District*, Buckeye, Chino Valley, Goodyear, Kingman, Houck Chapter*, Surprise, Tolleson
• Idaho: Ada Co., Fort Hall Indian Reservation*, Kootenai Co., Meridian
• Montana: Blackfeet Indian Reservation*, Crow Agency*, Flathead County, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Lewis and Clark Co., Northern Cheyenne Reservation*, St. Ignatius, Yellowstone County; Assembly communities seeking support: Billings, Bozeman, Butte-Silver Bow, Missoula County, Ravalli County
• Nevada: Boulder City, Churchill Co., Lyon Co., Pahrump, Winchester
• New Mexico: Artesia, Deming, Grants, Jicarilla Apache Reservation*, Los Lunas, Lovington, Luna Co., Mountainair, Rio Arriba Co., Shiprock Chapter*, Socorro
• Utah: Bountiful, Centerville, Farmington, La Verkin, Layton, Midvale, Ogden, Roy, Uintah-Ouray*; Assembly community seeking support: West Valley City
• Wyoming: Casper, Cody, Gillette, Laramie County, Newcastle, Rawlins, Rock Springs, Weston County, Wind River Reservation*; Assembly communities seeking support: Cheyenne, Laramie
• Colorado: 11 goal communities, including jeopardized Assemblies in Lafayette, Manitou Springs
• California: 42 goal communities, including jeopardized Assembly in Sierra Madre
• Oregon: 19 goal communities
• Washington: 40 goal communities; jeopardized Assembly in Washougal

Western States Contacts

To inquire about locating as a homefront pioneer or about traveling teaching, contact the appropriate traveling teaching-homefront pioneering coordinator for each state (list available on www.usbnc.org in the Regional Councils section), or one of the regional coordinators:

Traveling teaching: Jan Saeed, 1219 Highland Court, Rapid City, SD 57701 (phone 605-343-7301, e-mail jsaeed@aol.com).

Homefront pioneering: Flor Toloui, 2138 S. Peekskill Way, Aurora, CO 80014 (phone 303-671-5507, e-mail ftoloui@aol.com).

For information on American Indian reservations, contact the American Indian regional traveling teaching-homefront pioneering coordinator, Helen Kiely, 1212 - 1/2 S. Judd St., Tempe, AZ 85281 (phone 480-968-0720, e-mail hkiely@usbnc.org).

Southern States Contacts

To inquire about locating as a homefront pioneer, please contact the regional homefront pioneering coordinator, Susan Crossley (phone 813-948-1854, e-mail scrossley@usbnc.org)

To inquire about traveling teaching, please contact the regional traveling teaching coordinator, Kitty Schmitz (phone 770-517-8178, e-mail kschmitz@usbnc.org) [Page 10]

‘More connected heart to mind’

Two summer weeks with the Wilmette Institute led to a transforming experience for its students.

“I feel that Wilmette Institute has enhanced my life. I am more connected heart to mind,” said first-year student Diann Stevens after the residency session, July 29–Aug. 12 at Kendall College in Evanston, Illinois.

In its fifth year, the institute’s “Spiritual Foundations for a Global Civilization” program attracted students from nine states scattered across the U.S., providing instruction from university-level faculty in several fields.

In welcoming the 12 students, National Spiritual Assembly member David Young called the Wilmette Institute “the most effective and best-functioning training institute in the Bahá’í world.”

He praised the institute for its work in systematically tracking the results of its programs such as the number of firesides, deepenings, and other programs given by the students and new believers brought into the Faith.

Young also stressed how fortunate the students are to be a part of this endeavor of learning how to learn through the institute process.

That set the tone for a curriculum that was focused on comparative religions combined with study of philosophy, public speaking, Bahá’í theology, the Kitáb-i-Íqán and Some Answered Questions.

Support staff for the faculty included two alumni members of the Wilmette Institute, Alice Ferro and Nancy Turner.

Throughout the program, students strove to develop a deeper grasp of Bahá’u’lláh’s fundamental teaching of the oneness of religion.

A special highlight was the chance to visit Buddhist and Hindu temples in the greater Chicago area. Visits to these centers of worship gave the students greater awareness and appreciation for the cultural and spiritual values practiced by these populations.

They also appreciated the value of becoming familiar with the Arabic and Persian languages in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of many terms and concepts used within the writings of the Faith.

First-year student Sherry Krannichfeld expressed her thanks that she had been “given the chance to study the Holy Writings in a systematic way.”

“The two weeks I spent at Wilmette Institute have changed my life,” she said. “I feel closer to the Faith and drawn to study daily. I have a thirst that I have not known in years.”

This year’s students dedicated their studies to the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum and donated books in her honor to the Wilmette Institute library.

At the graduation dinner, keynote speaker Counselor Wilma Ellis used humor and honesty to encourage the students to put their learning into concrete action.

After offering special encouragement to the female students to become active as public speakers, she addressed the class with a loving challenge: “Your sleeping days are over.” ♦

Patricia Haynie (left) of Florida, a fourth-year student of the Wilmette Institute’s Spiritual Foundations program, confers with Nancy Turner of California, an alumna of the four-year program who served as a support staffer. Photo by ‎Manuhehr Manuchehr‎ Derakhshani

A groundbreaking institute session

Participants in one of the first Ruhi Institutes conducted in Persian in the U.S. are pictured. The session in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania, was facilitated by Auxiliary Board member Tahereh Ahdieh and Feridoon Aryani.

Wilmette Institute Distance Learning

Distance learning: Bahá’í Theology; the Qur’án

Bahá’í Theology, Nov. 1, 2000–Jan. 31, 2001 (registration still open)

This topic is not over the heads of most Bahá’ís—in fact, the course discusses some of the most basic and important teachings of the Bahá’í Faith:

• The Bahá’í concept of God, which our scriptures address in detail.
• The Bahá’í concepts of the Manifestation of God, divine revelation, the nature of human beings and the nature and purpose of physical creation.

From these concepts flow two related ideas: the nature and purpose of the afterlife, which relates closely to the nature and purpose of life; and the Covenant, which relates to the idea of progressive revelation.

The Qur’án, Dec. 1, 2000–Feb. 28, 2001

The Qur’án is the divine revelation on which Islam is based. The Bahá’í sacred writings are filled with quotations from it and allusions to it. Its study by Bahá’ís is emphasized by Shoghi Effendi: “They must . . . approach reverently and with a mind purged from preconceived ideas the study of the Qur’án which, apart from the sacred scriptures of the Bábí and Bahá’í Revelations, constitutes the only Book which can be regarded as an absolutely authenticated Repository of the Word of God.” —The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 49

The course will examine the entire text of the Qur’án and Islamic and Bahá’í commentaries on its meaning.

Future courses

• Watch for information about courses on The Secret of Divine Civilization and the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf.
• Judaism for Deepening and Dialogue is to begin Feb. 1.
• The Báb and the Bábí Faith, 1844–63 is to begin March 1.

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.

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 secure for accepting credit card payment of tuition.

Regional Training Institute Contacts

Southern States

Central States

Regional contact: Susan Nossa • Training institutes: Aguila del Cielo Central Texas • Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum Alabama, Georgia • Crimson Ark DC, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia • Greater Houston • Jubilee Tennessee and Arkansas • Magdalene Carney Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi • Mathew Kaszab South Texas • North Texas • Oklahoma • Sam McClellan Kentucky • South Carolina • Supreme Talisman North Carolina •

Regional contact: Council secretary • e-mail Training institutes: Chicago • Dorothy Baker Ohio • Gateway Missouri • Iowa • Kansas • Metro Milwaukee • Minnesota • Western States Regional contact: Council secretary • e-mail Training institutes: Arizona • Columbine Colorado • California Northeast • California Northwest • California South • IMWW Western Washington • Native American Bahá’í Institute • Nevada South • Oregon • Rio Grande • Northeastern States Regional contact: Chet Makoski • e-mail Training institutes: Doris McKay Rochester, NY • Roy Wilhelm Northern New Jersey • Sadie Oglesby Boston • Thornton Chase Connecticut River Valley • William Sears Eastern Pennsylvania •

[Page 11]

A Tribute to Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum

Violette Nakhjavání

$14.95 SC (TABRK)

$24.95 HC (TABRKH) limited edition

This intimate tribute to the beloved wife of Shoghi Effendi and Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum provides the world with a unique and historical perspective from Khánum’s own close friend and longtime traveling companion, Violette Nakhjavání. In her prologue she writes of our beloved Khánum, “We are still too close to her to be able to understand the true value of her services to the Bahá’í world community and still too limited in our grasp of our own history to be able to evaluate the different perspectives afforded by her personality.” Divided into three parts and covering her life from Mary Maxwell’s birth to Rúhíyyih Khánum’s final years, this tribute chronicles her earlier life in North America, her years of marriage to Shoghi Effendi, and her final years of service and travels.

5½" x 8½", 182 pp.

A Message to the Indian & Eskimo Bahá’ís of the Western Hemisphere

Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum

(MINES)

1–49	$3.95 each SC
50–99	$3.50 each SC
100+	$3.00 each SC

Reprinted with permission from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada by the Native American Bahá’í Institute in honor and loving memory of Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum. This is a reprint of Rúhíyyih Khánum’s 1969 message to the Indians of the Western Hemisphere in which she lovingly encouraged the members of indigenous peoples to strive for full partnership in society. This publication includes pictures from the Green Light Expedition—a six-month trip that she led through the Amazon basin, representing one of her many personal endeavors towards fulfilling her individual teaching goals. The publication’s size and format is most suitable for wide distribution at Bahá’í teaching events and other gatherings.

6" x 6", 35 pp.

‘Ahd-i A‘lá Zindigáníy-i Hadrat-i Báb

The ‎Bábi Bábí‎ Dispensation / The Life of the Báb

Abu’l-Qásim Afnán

$60.00 HC (PLBABH)

This major Persian work, 20 years in the making and enjoying access to original-source and previously unpublished materials, is authored by the last custodian of the House of the Báb in Shíráz. Mr. Afnán is also among a small group of individuals in the world who may be regarded as current experts on the life and writings of the Báb. This remarkable work includes numerous photos and facsimiles of original historical documents and Tablets of the Báb, many of which appear for the first time in this publication. Those who are fortunate enough to read Persian will most certainly relish this new and significant publication.

7" x 9¾", 672 pp.

The Saddlebag

A Fable for Doubters and Seekers

Bahíyyih Nakhjavání

$22.00 HC (SBAGH)

“A first novel of astonishing power and originality. … Inspired by the Holy books of the major religions of the world. … This is both a thriller and a meditation on the ultimate goal of human existence.”—The Good Book Guide

This review reflects the sentiments of critic after critic for the exciting novel by Bahíyyih Nakhjavání. Publisher’s Weekly, the primary industry periodical for publishing, states, “The novel’s Bahá’í message is beautifully rendered in these tales of multiple paths leading to one destination. …” Inspired by the story of a stolen saddlebag filled with divinely revealed scriptures, The Saddlebag expands the work of Bahá’í artists into the popular genre of religious/spiritual fiction. If you read one novel this year, you will want it to be The Saddlebag.

5½" x 8½", 258 pp.

Consent of Parents

John F. Skeaff

$9.00 SC (COPA)

Written to increase the understanding and appreciation of the obligation for Bahá’ís to obtain parental consent before marriage, this important book addresses not only the law of consent but continues further in drawing together many quotes from the sacred Bahá’í writings as well as a wide range of insights from leaders of thought on the subject of marriage and family. A most useful tool for couples seeking parental consent, parents considering issues of consent and institutions assisting individuals.

5½" x 8½", 60 pp.

Dreams, Nightmares and Dreams Again

Angéla Szepesi

$19.95 SC (DNDA)

Presented here is the amazing story of a life lived in times of great upheaval, for the world and the author, spanning World War II and formative years of the Bahá’í Faith. Written from an intensely personal perspective, this book is presented as such; it does not pretend to be an official statement about the history of the Bahá’í Faith, its institutions, or even her family. It is about a personal relationship with her family, God, and the Bahá’í Faith. Not a smooth pathway, but a journey worth taking, and now through this book, worth observing.

5½" x 8½", 60 pp.

Women’s Talk

Florence Conway

$7.50 SC (WT)

Florence Conway’s interest in the status and advancement of women spans many decades. Her experiences of living in a diverse range of cultures and her extensive travels have enabled her to closely observe the prevailing conditions and influences on the lives of women throughout the world. Her passion for these issues clearly rings through this volume as she encourages women from all walks of life to arise and, through their deeds, become a catalyst for change.

5½" x 8½", 112 pp.

Her Eternal Crown

Queen Marie of Romania and the Bahá’í Faith

Della L. Marcus

$24.95 SC (HEC)

“If ever the name of Bahá’u’lláh or ‎Abdu’l-Bahá ‘Abdu’l-Bahá‎ comes to your attention, do not put their writings from you. Search out their Books, and let their glorious, peace-bringing, love-creating words and lessons sink into your hearts as they have into mine.” —Marie, Queen of Romania

Her Eternal Crown is the compelling story of Queen Marie and her association with the Bahá’í Faith, told through her own letters and diary entries, and through the letters and articles of her teacher, Martha Root.

5½" x 8½", 324 pp. [Page 12]

First Time Ever Available to the World...

Writings and Utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá a compilation $39.95 HC (WUABH)

Writings and Utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is a compilation, in a single volume, of almost all the writings and talks of our beloved Master available in English. The book consists of two sections to allow for division between writings and talks. This anthology of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s writings in English is most gratefully welcomed as we strive to emulate His life through the study and application of His Writings that are “boundless in wisdom, consummate in form, generous and loving in spirit, and rich in significance.”

6¼" x 9¼", 1,368 pp.

Supporting Our National Media Initiative

The most recent videos that have been broadcast as part of the national media initiative are now available for individual and bulk sales. Whether used for local community support of the media aspect of the National Teaching Plan or for individual firesides, each represents a wonderful advancement in constructing a message ever-more “suited to the capacity of those who hear it.”

Bulk pricing as follows:

1 .......... $19.95	2–4 .......... $15.00 ea.
5–9 .......... $10.00 ea.	10+ .......... $7.50 ea.

We Are One (EWAON)

This video explores the effect of Bahá’u’lláh’s extraordinary teachings of oneness on ordinary rural people. It opens with Dan Seals and his son Jesse using the guitar as an analogy to introduce principles of unity in diversity gently. Jesus the Christ is mentioned a number of times with great reverence. Throughout his series of poignant interviews with Bahá’í friends, Dan combines a spiritual compassion with his music and insightful lyrics.

28 minutes 30 seconds

I Am a Bahá’í (EIABN)

A diverse range of everyday people describe, in their own words, their spiritual fulfillment as members of the Bahá’í Faith as well as the impact their religion has had on their lives. The Bahá’ís interviewed range from single mothers, to mid-level career women and men, to young and old families. They discuss such issues as parenting, professional aspirations, interracial understanding, service to others and the power of the independent investigation of truth as elements of faith.

28 minutes

The Power of Prayer (EPOPN)

A series of personal and highly accessible profiles introduce the viewer to Bahá’ís from diverse backgrounds and regions of the country and explores how they use prayer in their lives to meet challenges and create unity. Intermixed with basic Bahá’í principles and statistics, The Power of Prayer is a great introduction to basic concepts of the Bahá’í Faith.

28 minutes 30 seconds

La Fe Bahá’í—Latinos in the Bahá’í Faith (ELBFN)

This introductory video represents the first one to focus on Bahá’ís of Hispanic descent. Although filmed in English, the friends share their thoughts and impressions of being a Bahá’í from a Hispanic perspective. This inspiring and heartfelt video is suitable for seekers of any nationality.

28 minutes 30 seconds (in English)

FOR CHILDREN

Bahá’í Education for Children Books 1, 2, & 3 ‘Ali-Akbar Furútan $4.50 SC

Book 1:	Ages 5–6	(BEC1) 58 pp.
Book 2:	Age 7	(BEC2) 64 pp.
Book 3:	Age 8	(BEC3) 70 pp.

In light of the special focus given to us in the Ridván 2000 Message, this series of books provides yet another welcomed tool for educating children of various ages. Created years ago by the Hand of the Cause of God ‘Ali-Akbar Furútan, and later translated and revised with his permission, these lessons include Bahá’í quotes regarding the education of children, lesson plans and lesson reviews.

5½" x 8½"

Sally’s Coat written & illustrated by Gillian Nix $6.95 SC (SACO)

One day Sally is invited to play with her friends. Her mother encourages her to have fun but to be careful with her new coat. Yet, during a game of tag, her coat is accidentally torn. In order to avoid her mother’s anger, she and her friends imaginatively create potential stories. After fabricating a great number of incredible scenarios, Sally must decide what to tell her mother. The story concludes with quotes from various sacred scriptures regarding truthfulness.

8¼" x 5¼", 40 pp.

Readings To Grow By from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh illustrated by Anja Shanmugampillai $10.95 HC (RWBGBH) $6.95 SC (RWBGBS)

Thirty-eight beautiful gems from the words of Bahá’u’lláh are combined with wonderful illustrations depicting a child, seated and reading the Writings, against a variety of settings that span the globe. These writings, covering a wide range of subjects, are of ideal length for memorization.

4¾" x 6¾", 48 pp. [Page 13]

A Special Opportunity for a Most Special Issue of ‘World Order’

World Order Winter 1999–2000

Available now in a limited edition and for sale as a single issue for commemorative purposes $5.00 SC single issue (WO3102)

This most special issue of World Order includes the article “The Path of Beauty: The Literary Life of Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum.” Based on personal interviews with Rúhíyyih Khánum and additional research, the author explores the literary aspect of her life, which has often been relegated to the background in light of her other extraordinary contributions to the Bahá’í Faith. Her literary legacy includes poems, scripts, literary criticism, history and biography that can be appreciated as much by those who share Amatu’l-Bahá’s faith as by those who do not. Other World Order highlights include “Religious Pluralism: A Bahá’í Perspective,” by Julio Savi.

10" x 7", 48 pp.

Cultivating Distinction: Newly Released Assembly Development Modules

These development modules prepared by the Office of Assembly Development at the instruction of the National Spiritual Assembly are designed for the purpose of “... enabling Assemblies to rise to ‎a ‘a a‎ new stage in the exercise of their responsibilities.’” As with each of the previous Assembly Development Modules, Assemblies are reminded that they may study these modules as an institution, invite other Assemblies in their area to study together, or invite their community to join them in exploring these educational modules.

Bahá’í Electoral Practices An Assembly Development Module Workshop $15.00 (DMPBEP) 10 pack of participant handouts $30.00 (DMFBEP) 1 Facilitator’s Guide

Objectives include gaining a broad understanding of the process and practices of Bahá’í elections, recognizing the spiritual principles underlying these practices, and appreciating the importance of participation in elections as a sacred responsibility.

The Spiritual Nature of Bahá’í Elections An Assembly Development Module Workshop $15.00 (DMPSNBE) 10 pack of participant handouts $30.00 (DMFSNBE) 1 Facilitator’s Guide

Objectives include exploring aspects of “a new state of mind,” identifying ways to prepare oneself throughout the year to perform one’s sacred duty, recognizing qualities to consider and ignore in deciding who to vote for, and heightening ‎ones one’s‎ appreciation of the significance of Bahá’u’lláh’s Administrative Order.

MUSIC

Sacred Verses Grant Hindin Miller $16.95 CD (SVCD) This collection of familiar passages such as “Whither Can a Lover Go,” the Tablet of Ahmad and “Blessed is the Spot” is combined with other prayers and writings recited and sung by Miller as well as other adults and children. Sacred Verses is a most reverent and diverse musical selection that will provide new melodies for feasts and devotionals.

Beyond This World Mansoor Sobbani $15.00 CD (BTWCD) Whether chanting a prayer by Bahá’u’lláh or singing a heartfelt rendition of “Dastam Begir ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,” Sobbani empowers each familiar piece with his radiant spirit. Many selections are accompanied by santour. Prayers also include “The Healing Prayer” and “Is There Any Remover of Difficulties.”

In Quest of the Beloved The Seven Valleys and other selections from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh recited by Lisa Janti music by Bob Alcivar $15.00 CD (QBCD) These selections from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh represent some of the most inspirational and mystical verses from His vast Revelation. The meditations have been taken from The Seven Valleys, The Four Valleys, Gleanings and the Hidden Words. Lisa Janti is executive producer of U.P. Inc., an arts and education organization for youth. Bob Alcivar is a Grammy and Golden Globe-nominated producer and arranger. Together they have created a wonderful mix where the spoken word and original music interact in a uniquely beautiful and dynamic way.

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Bahá’í Distribution Service • 4703 Fulton Industrial Blvd. • Atlanta, GA 30336 call us • 800-999-9019 • toll-free [Page 14]Firuz Kazemzadeh, former National Spiritual Assembly secretary for external affairs, was singled out for commendation in House discussion on the resolution.

The National Spiritual Assembly's Washington office, the Office of External Affairs, thanks all Bahá’ís who contacted their senators and representatives to request that they co-sponsor the resolution. Feedback from congressional offices indicates that these calls and letters made a significant impact.

Selected Local Spiritual Assemblies will be contacted by the National Assembly to request that they write their respective representatives to thank them for co-sponsoring the resolution.

House

The Office of External Affairs worked closely with aides to Rep. John Porter, primary sponsor of the resolution, and to Rep. Ben Gilman, chairman of the International Relations Committee. Other leading House sponsors include Reps. Tom Lantos of California, Chris Smith of New Jersey and Steny Hoyer of Maryland.

Statements by representatives in support of the resolution included: • Updates on the situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran. • Brief recitation of basic Bahá’í teachings. • Examples of Bahá’í service. • Special praise for Firuz Kazemzadeh, former external affairs secretary of the National Assembly and still a key adviser to the Assembly, for his action over the decades in defense of the Bahá’ís of Iran.

"Despite the fact that they are committed to nonviolence, tolerance and loyalty to government, the Bahá’ís continue to suffer deprivations and harassment from the fanatical elements of Iranian society, ranging from local clergy and their uneducated followers to highly placed government officials," said Gilman, who is credited with guiding the resolution to passage.

Gilman condemned the fact that several Bahá’ís remain in Iranian prisons, "arrested, tried and sentenced as a result of their personal religious beliefs and peaceful religious activity."

Porter, Lantos, Rep. Earl Hilliard of Alabama and Delegate Donna Christensen of the Virgin Islands also made statements supporting the resolution. Remarks were made in praise of Gilman, Porter and other principal co-sponsors for their continued work to ensure Congress remains aware of the treatment of Bahá’ís in Iran.

To find the complete text

The complete text of H. Con. Res. 257, "Concerning the emancipation of the Iranian Bahá’í community," was published in the April 28, 2000, issue of The American Bahá’í. The resolution was passed on Sept. 19, 2000, in the U.S. House of Representatives. A concurrent resolution, S. Con. Res. 57, was passed in the Senate on July 19, 2000. Its wording is nearly identical—except for slightly different statistics on the number of Bahá’ís in Iran on death row or otherwise imprisoned on charges arising solely from their religious beliefs or activities.

The House resolution and statements entered in its support are available in full on the Internet. Access the Web site http://thomas.loc.gov/ then type in "H.CON.RES. 257" in the space marked "By Bill Number."

House discussion on the resolution

The following remarks by members and a delegate in the House of Representatives, excerpted from discussion appearing in the Congressional Record, illustrate the support within the U.S. Congress for the basic human rights of Bahá’ís living in Iran. Our National Spiritual Assembly's Office of External Affairs believes that one significant reason for the passage of the resolution is that Bahá’í individuals and communities have responded to the National Assembly's calls to contact their members of Congress.

From remarks by Rep. Benjamin Gilman of New York: Bahá’u’lláh's most fundamental teachings are oneness of God, oneness of the foundation of all religions, oneness of mankind and all peoples are equal in the sight of God.

Bahá’í religious gatherings and administrative institutions were banned [by the Iranian government] in 1983. A 1991 government document calls for the continued obstruction of the economic and social development of the Bahá’í community....

Bahá’ís continue to be denied government employment, denied university employment, denied legitimately earned pensions, denied admission to Iranian universities, denied access to the legal system, denied access to decent places to bury their dead, and a host of other civil liberties that we in our nation have come to take for granted as basic elements of a free and just society....

We have seen some improvement in the treatment of individual Bahá’ís. In the last 2 years, Bahá’ís have been granted passports for travel abroad more frequently and some have been granted business licenses again. A significant concession to the Bahá’ís was a recent modification of the rules of registration of marriages that now omits references to religion, allowing Bahá’ís to register marriages and legitimize their children for the first time in many years.

Those steps are significant and they should be acknowledged as signs of promise for full emancipation to come in the future. Yet those actions have been taken silently and come far short of granting Bahá’ís the recognition under the constitution, the Iranian constitution, that would improve their situation and protect them from fanaticism.

From remarks by Rep. Earl Hilliard of Alabama: The resolution states that the Congress continues to hold the government of Iran responsible for upholding the rights of all its nationals, including members of the Bahá’í community.

The resolution also condemns the repressive anti-Bahá’í policies and actions of the government of Iran. These policies include, first, the denial of legal recognition of the Bahá’í community; preventing the community from organizing and electing its leaders; stopping the education of Bahá’í youth; and stopping the Bahá’ís from conducting the normal activities of a law-abiding religious community.

The Porter resolution also urges the government of Iran to permit Bahá’í students to attend Iranian universities and to permit the Bahá’í Open University to reopen.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, the resolution calls on President Clinton to continue to make Iran's treatment of the Bahá’í community a significant factor in the development of U.S. relations with Iran; to emphasize the need for the UN Special Representative for Human Rights to be allowed to enter Iran, and to urge the government of Iran to emancipate the Bahá’í community; and finally, to encourage other governments to appeal to Iran to protect the rights of Bahá’ís.

Mr. Speaker, the Bahá’ís in Iran have been persecuted far too long.

... Iran's leaders must understand that their anti-Bahá’í policies are being closely watched by the international community.

From remarks by Donna Christensen, Delegate from the Virgin Islands: [T]he Bahá’í Faith is the most recent world religion. Its founder, a Persian nobleman, declared his mission in 1863, proclaiming he was the promised one of all religions who would usher in a new age of peace for all mankind. Among

The Bahá’í Faith was established in my district, the U.S. Virgin Islands, in 1954, with the settlement of pioneers on St. Thomas. The first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’í[s] of St. Thomas was incorporated in 1965. The Bahá’í[s] of the Virgin Islands have been and are active in, among other things, providing education and enrichment programs for young children and adults, working with the Interfaith Coalitions on St. Thomas and St. Croix, as well as assisting in hurricane recovery efforts.

Mr. Speaker, the Bahá’í community of the Virgin Islands strongly supports House Concurrent Resolution 257 because it would condemn the repressive anti-Bahá’í policies and actions of the government of Iran, and expresses concern that individual Bahá’í[s] continue to suffer from severely repressive and discriminatory government actions, including executions and death sentences, solely on account of their religion.

From remarks by Rep. John Porter of Illinois: Thousands of human rights abuses take place around the world on a daily basis. Almost all go unnoticed by the U.S. media. The Bahá’ís of Iran are one such group.

... Dr. [Firuz] Kazemzadeh immigrated to the United States from Iran in the 1950s and became a professor of history at Yale University. He has devoted a great deal of his time and efforts to improving the condition of his fellow Bahá’ís in Iran. He has quietly, in his way, been a tremendously effective fighter for his fellow Bahá’ís and has clearly saved many Bahá’í lives and much Bahá’í suffering. I would like to specifically commend Dr. Kazemzadeh for his decades of work helping the Bahá’ís.

Bahá’ís have suffered persecution since their religion was founded, but the situation gravely worsened in the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Many of the leaders of the Bahá’í community were jailed at that time and many were executed solely for their religious beliefs. The fact the Bahá’í community has survived in Iran over the past 20 years is a testament to the Bahá’í people and their commitment to their fa.th.

This adverse situation for the Bahá’í community could be completely reversed by the Iranian Government at any time. ...

Religious intolerance has caused the world's people untold suffering and its presence is felt across the entire world. But in Iran it is institutionalized and written in law. And it is not only discrimination. In Iran it can mean torture, imprisonment, and death.

From remarks by Rep. Tom Lantos of California: I have had the very good fortune over the past 20 years of working very closely with John Porter on a vast number of human rights issues....

[O]ne of the human rights issues that John Porter has championed since the day he was elected to the Congress is the situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran. The Bahá’í [community] has suffered greatly since Iran's Revolution in 1979. The constitution created by the Ayatollahs establishes Islam as the state religion of Iran. It also recognizes Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians—religions that flourished in Persia before Islam—as "protected religious minorities" which are afforded legal rights. Iran's 350,000 Bahá’í[s], however, are not afforded these protections, and they enjoy no legal rights whatsoever. [Page 15]Our recent research indicates that the most active Bahá’í communities are those with children. The following story, the first in an ongoing series on local spiritual education efforts, is a wonderful illustration of how an entire community is enriched by striving to promote the spiritual growth of its children—even if there are only three. Children, by their very existence, bring vibrancy to that community. How much more vibrant the community that fully engages children in its fabric and function! —Nancy Davis, National Education and Schools Coordinator

Blossoming in Bloomington

Small numbers don’t deter a community’s drive to give children their best

First of a four-part series on local Bahá’í school initiatives

BY BARBARA McCORD, EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS OFFICE

Summer is often a time when local teachers of Bahá’í children’s classes scramble to figure out what to do for their students.

Families are going on vacation, and children seem to think they deserve a break from it all.

At the same time, churches often have exciting summer programs for their children and friends at Vacation Bible School (VBS).

“With this year’s Ridván Message and its emphasis on children, engaging our children locally in ‘something Bahá’í’ seemed more important than ever,” said Barbara Qualls, a mother and children’s teacher near Bloomington, Indiana.

“Several area Bahá’ís had recently completed our National Spiritual Assembly’s Core Curriculum Teacher Training, so the community seemed prepared in this way as well,” Qualls said.

“We tried a new twist. ... We held our own VBS, but it was a Vacation Bahá’í School.”

That effort July 24–28 drew seven children and nine adults as participants. Qualls served as coordinator and main teacher.

Only three of those children were Bahá’ís; the other four were friends or relatives of Bahá’ís.

Yearning to develop

The genesis of the project came some months earlier, as organizers of local children’s classes were yearning to develop them further, according to Marsha P. Waren, chair of the Spiritual Assembly of Bloomington.

“The instructors had been working hard but had reached a point of not knowing what to do next, so they came to our LSA for help,” Waren said.

The Assembly decided to send Qualls and Bev Enslow, another teacher from the area, to the Core Curriculum sessions at the National Teacher Training Center at Louhelen. In turn, they trained several others in the Bloomington area in May.

“That training was a real eye-opener for those of us who had always considered children’s classes a chore,” Waren reported.

“It was only after experiencing that training that I had the confidence to volunteer for Vacation Bahá’í School,” she said.

The children at the school, ages 6 to 9, included about as many boys as girls and a mix of racial backgrounds.

For some participants, this was their first real study of the Bahá’í teachings—but all seemed equally at home, Waren said. “It was awesome!”

One special moment provided an example of opportunities for growth during the session, Qualls related:

“One of our guests didn’t like it when he felt that some of the kids were making an issue of a necklace he was wearing.

“He challenged all of us to live up to a Bahá’í standard by saying ‘Bahá’ís don’t do this sort of stuff. Everyone is welcome with the Bahá’ís!’

“He was right and everyone knew it. The kids rose to the occasion and changed what they were doing and saying to be inclusive.

“By the end of the day, this same boy wanted to be sure to let us know that he wants to come to Bahá’í things any time he’s back in Bloomington,” Qualls said.

Alternatives for helping

Adult believers had opportunities to help out—‎signigng signing‎ up for two-hour blocks of time—without committing to teach classes, she added.

“Adults came to help and to shower the children with love ... everything from a touch on the shoulder to a smile ... and, oh, how the children responded!” Qualls said enthusiastically. “For five hours each day, we were a community!”

SEE VACATION, PAGE 16

Marsha Waren (left), chair of the Spiritual Assembly of Bloomington, rides a slide with Britt Sweeting during playtime at the Vacation Bahá’í School. Photo by Barb Qualls

A ‘gift’ of Core Curriculum training

Core Curriculum Teacher Training was so important to Bahá’í education in Bloomington, the Spiritual Assembly called on Barb Qualls and Bev Enslow to undergo training as teacher trainers—even though the two live outside the Assembly’s jurisdiction.

The two jumped at the chance, part of the chain of events that led to a successful Vacation Bahá’í School.

“We went through the training and then involved the others in the community,” Qualls said. That took the form of a 32-hour training course in Bloomington in May. Eight people, some from more than two hours away, participated in the 32-hour training. Five completed the course.

Five members of the Bloomington Spiritual Assembly were present during at least part of the training, either participating or in support roles.

That training, Qualls said, was itself conducted ‎withthe with the‎ Core Curriculum approach, which aims to cultivate knowledge, wisdom, spiritual perception and eloquent speech. She added that she and Enslow had excellent models in National Education Task Force members Joannie Yuille and Barbara Johnson.

“Core Curriculum is a wonderful, systematic program with a real vision for what Bahá’í education can become throughout our country. I just wish I’d found it sooner,” Qualls said.

“The whole experience is a gift.” ♦

Barbara Qualls (top center) has high praise for the Core Curriculum system of training for children’s education.

GOAL: INTENSIFY DEVELOPMENT OF SPIRITUALLY DISTINCTIVE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
One Year Plan 2000 Foster love, happiness and spiritual devotion Insure children and junior youth acquire spiritual virtues and are free of prejudice Foster devotional life of individuals and community

Cultivating Distinction
A national program of focused study in 2000 The study material for July through December includes these six letters from the book The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh: The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh: Further Considerations The Goal of a New World Order The Golden Age of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh America and the Most Great Peace The Unfoldment of World Civilization

[Page 16]

New Assembly module packed with practical skills

It’s a need expressed by many Local Spiritual Assemblies: to function more efficiently and effectively.

One positive answer: the new Assembly Development Module Workshop, “Channels of Divine Guidance: Becoming a More Efficient and Effective Assembly.”

This practical workshop is designed to help Assemblies:

• See how efficiency and effectiveness can address the demands implicit in entry by troops.
• More thoroughly understand the duties of Assembly secretaries and chairs.
• Appreciate the need for a variety of process skills within the Assembly.

Participants can find ways to express the spiritual qualities of efficiency and effectiveness in the Assembly’s functioning through development of specific skills, such as time management, agenda planning, and delegation.

The Office of Assembly Development designed this workshop as the result of input from many Local Spiritual Assemblies stating that these issues were of great immediate concern. The office gained this input through surveys, returned Self Assessment Tools and comments at its Assembly Development Forums.

In response, the office undertook a study of the Writings of the Faith, and gleaned practical tips for improving Assembly functioning from books by Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í authors.

As with all Assembly Development Module Workshops, this module employs a learning style designed for high retention and for helping to change behavior. All information is presented in the context of the spiritual nature of the Local Spiritual Assembly.

One Assembly can do this module by itself or with a number of other Local Spiritual Assemblies. When facilitated with a group of five to nine participants from the same Assembly, this workshop will require about two hours for the core material plus additional time for each optional extension. A larger or more diverse group will require extra time for group discussion and reporting back.

Assembly Development Representatives are available to facilitate this workshop or any of the 15 other Assembly Development Modules. A list of the workshops and representatives is on the Administrative Web Site (www.usbnc.org) or can be obtained directly from the Office of Assembly Development (phone 847-733-3490, e-mail).

Assemblies would need to purchase the workshop Facilitation Guide only if they are using the services of another facilitator of their own selection. The guides can be obtained from the Bahá’í Distribution Service (phone 800-999-9019). ♦

Songs of humanity ring through night at Neah Bay

INFORMATION FROM ROXANA JENSEN

Granted, there was some difficulty balancing the needs of those who wanted to sleep with those who wanted to sing and dance into the early hours of the morning. But overall, this year’s Neah Bay United Spiritual Gathering was an inspiration to its more than 300 participants.

The Aug. 18–20 event on the Makah reservation in Washington state began with an acknowledgement of those who passed on during the year, including the Hand of the Cause Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, Universal House of Justice member Adib Taherzadeh and local elder Champ McCarty.

Songs and dances were offered throughout the program. There were songs of a classical nature, folk songs, songs from Tonga and songs from various American Indian origins combined to bring an appreciation of the diversity of humanity.

Honored guests included Reggie Newkirk of Canada and Shannon Javid, a member of the Regional Bahá’í Council for the Western States. Both spoke of the work that lies ahead in the Five Year Plan and of the need for race unity.

Another highlight was having some participants in the newly completed Spirit Run share their experiences.

The Native American Bahá’í Institute also sent some participants from the Trail of Light teaching campaign. They brought a recently republished edition of Rúhíyyih Khánum’s address to the American Indians. This brochure was given to every attendee.

Several hundred dollars was raised for the Bahá’í Fund. One guest from Oregon became a Bahá’í during the program.

Carvings, baskets, jewelry and other artworks were donated and given away to raise money for the Fund. The salmon bake dinner was a success. ♦

Children’s activities included beading, nature walks and making a large mural. ♦

Bloomington, Indiana fast facts

• Population: 60,000
• Bahá’í community: 25 adults, three children
• Have held children’s classes on and off for years
• Currently holding Sunday Bahá’í classes during school year every other Sunday with 1–3 children attending
• Presented special Summer Vacation Bahá’í School (VBS) Session, involving seven children and nine adults

Millard “Pop” Qualls (center) gets together with his granddaughter, Cassie, and her friend Daniel Fox at a community ice cream social held to mark the last day of Vacation Bahá’í School last summer in Bloomington. Photo by Andy Qualls

National statistics: survey response from Bahá’í communities nationwide

• Most communities band together to provide instruction for children. Only 15% of all communities (and 26% of those that sponsor education classes) say they provide education independently.
• At least three-fourths of Bahá’í children and youth live in communities that sponsor Bahá’í classes for children.
• Communities with children tend to have higher participation rates.
• The majority of Bahá’í children (60%) live in smaller communities with fewer than 50 members.
• More than half of Local Spiritual Assemblies sponsor Bahá’í education classes for children and youth. A variety of curriculum formats are used for the ‎instruction children instruction of children‎ and youth, with almost half (47%) of communities that sponsor education said they use the Core Curriculum materials.

More statistics regarding local Bahá’í education on page 31

VACATION,

‎CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15‎

Music and art were integral parts of the experience, as were games, independent study and teamwork.

“We began by exploring spiritual principles and virtues, both those acquired and desired,” Qualls said.

“The next day, we examined ways principles could be manifested through social principles.

“Day three: in-depth study of the equality of women and men, complete with a three-legged race where the girls were not allowed to help (think of two wings of a bird).

“The next day was dedicated to the study of the need for race unity. The children became the experts at ‘Bahá’í University.’

“The last day was a wrap-up, ending with an ice-cream social and open house with the community. Nearly 20 people came together to celebrate the children’s accomplishments,” Qualls said.

“We talked about respect, kindness and caring and stuff like that,” said Diana Fox, age 8. She said that she made new friends and that she would like to go again next year “if my mom will let me.”

Her mother, Kathy Fox, seems inclined to agree.

“I think [her children] learned more about how to respect each other than they knew before,” she said.

“It was a very valuable experience. Our family is not Bahá’í, but I appreciate the vision of unity taught by the Faith.”

For Waren, the school has brought about “a stronger sense within our community of the importance of children’s education; and a breaking down of barriers among the age groups.”

“For example, we now know that we don’t have to send the children off by themselves in order for us all to have a good time,” she said.

In the meantime, classes on alternate Sundays are continuing.

“I hope Barb and Bev are persistent in getting adults involved in children’s classes,” said Waren. “Too often we tend to stand around and wait to be asked—and then miss out on the fun.”

“People who normally didn’t do anything with children became involved in this and had a great time,” she said. ♦

For more information on the National Teacher Training Center, contact the center (phone 810-653-5033, e-mail).

If you have questions about this series of articles, or can contribute information, contact Barbara McCord (phone, e-mail). [Page 17]

BAHÁ’Í EDUCATION

Louhelen Bahá’í School 3208 S. State Road • Davison, MI 48423 810-653-5033 www.louhelen.org

Grace and spirit

BY LIZ DONALDSON

Kevin Locke, one of the foremost American Indian flute players and Lakota dancers, also an Auxiliary Board member for Propagation (North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming), enchanted Bahá’ís and local residents during a hoop-dancing exhibition at Louhelen Bahá’í School on Aug. 6.

His grace with the numerous hoops prompted a 6-year-old child to call out, “Look! He looks like he is soaring through the sky!”

Locke’s performance before nearly 100 people also included prayers and songs in the Lakota language.

Between songs on his 100-year-old flute and dances incorporating up to 28 hoops, Locke spoke of the universal human need for spiritual connection with each other and with God. The Davison Index, the local weekly newspaper, published an advance story inviting local residents to attend Locke’s performance.

The Bahá’ís attending that special Family and Friends session at Louhelen Bahá’í School wrote a follow-up article, which the local paper also published.

“Inviting the public to this special performance is consistent with the Guardian’s direct statement that Louhelen should be ‘an attractive center not only to the believers but especially to non-Bahá’ís,’ ” said Barbara Johnson, co-administrator of Louhelen.

In fact, Johnson said, an upcoming session featuring well-known author Adrienne Reeves will likely appeal to Bahá’ís and friends of the Faith. This workshop, aimed at published and aspiring writers, includes study of the Bahá’í writings on literature and the arts. “Expressing Creativity through the Writer’s Art” will be a weekend session at Louhelen beginning Dec. 8.

Dr. Reeves is a well-known author of romance novels that appeal particularly to African-American women with a spiritual orientation to life, whether subscribing to Christian, Bahá’í or other beliefs. Reeves says her stories are “emotionally satisfying and have optimistic endings.” They differ from many novels of this genre because her characters behave chastely.

She started her creative writing career relatively late in life, and is working on her sixth novel in as many years. This latest work is set in the historical backdrop of Charleston, South Carolina’s black community.

Adrienne Reeves is to conduct a Louhelen session for aspiring writers. Photo courtesy of the Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)

Other upcoming programs

Nov. 16–19: “Caring for the Light of the Spirit,” the second annual conference of the Association of Bahá’í Mental Health Professionals.

Nov. 17–19: “Spiritual Empowerment for Junior Youth,” fast-paced interactive workshops designed to deepen 12- to 15-year-olds. ♦

Complete list of upcoming Louhelen events on Calendar, page 40

Green Acre Bahá’í School 188 Main Street • Eliot, ME 03903 207-439-7200 www.greenacre.org

Holiday weekend fun

Here’s a great idea for the family to do together during the long weekend after Thanksgiving, an activity that is aligned with the Ridván Message, will take place at Green Acre and looks like it will be a lot of fun.

It evolved naturally.

“I think I’ve been concerned about the spiritual needs of children, and have been their advocate for a long time now,” said Barbara Yazdi Markert, Auxiliary Board member for Protection.

Markert

“I have seen firsthand how instilling a sense of the Spirit of God and an appreciation of the wonderful bounty we all share as a common family are very important for these precious gems, these beautiful children, whom we have in our midst,” she said.

“And as I looked around the greater Bahá’í community, I saw some families who were happy and flourishing and some who have been through tough times. I couldn’t help but feel that we, as a community, have a real responsibility to fortify our children against unnecessary suffering,” said this woman whose Bahá’í genealogy stretches before and after her for at least two generations.

Markert said she has been clipping and saving related articles and materials for some time.

“Then when we received the most recent Ridván message, I had this file and knew I had to DO something,” she said.

So she invites you: “Come and bring your family and friends the day after the national Thanksgiving holiday to a conference called ‘CHILDREN! Functional Families and Caring Communities.’ ”

An intense and uplifting text-based deepening session is planned for adults, with age-appropriate deepenings for children as well. A panel discussion, exciting workshops, a Family Fun Night and a child-friendly Holy Day celebration will also be included.

The workshops and sessions for children, adults and all ages together, will focus on two important points: 1) the spiritual needs of children and 2) the need for and process of building functional families and caring communities as a pivotal step in raising strong Bahá’í children.

Topics will include:

• Testimonials from folks who grew up in a positive Bahá’í family.
• Children’s spiritual destiny.
• Consultation and unity in the family.
• Promoting violence-free families in today’s society.
• The importance of the Bahá’í community.
• Single parents.
• The idea of developing “divorce-prevention.”
• Special inspirational stories, music, arts and more.

This weekend program will open with a Friday lunch and includes interesting and fun classes and activities for children ages 3–14, as well as a special celebration of the Day of the Covenant. ♦

Complete list of upcoming Green Acre events on Calendar, page 40

Bosch Bahá’í School 500 Comstock Lane • Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-423-3387 www.bosch.org

Approaches to teaching

It takes all kinds. For example, as students of the history and principles of the Faith, we need all kinds of teachers as well.

Two outstanding sessions at Bosch Bahá’í School recently demonstrated that reality. Both were focused on specific questions and actions related to the need for all believers to understand the urgency and extent of the tasks ahead.

The questions were asked: “How do we, the servants of Bahá, create a new world order and transmit, as Shoghi Effendi said in The Advent of Divine Justice (p. 18), ‘the energizing influence’ of Bahá’u’lláh’s revelation to those thirsty and wakeful souls?

“This new Revelation has in reality been the water of life unto the thirsty, a sea of knowledge unto the searcher, a message of condolence to the weary and a new spirit and life to the whole world. And now it remains that we, the humble servants of our Lord should be confirmed, through our own effort and through His bounty to diffuse this light everywhere and to carry this Glad Tidings to every cottage and princely home.” —Shoghi Effendi, from Bahíyyih Khánum: The Greatest Holy Leaf, p. 188

Three teachers with three styles; all with the same message.

Fred Schechter, a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for his pioneering to French Somaliland, former Counselor member of the International Teaching Center and a former member of the Continental Board of Counselors in the Americas; and Eddie Diliberto, former Auxiliary Board member and longtime South American pioneer, led their students through the Tablets of the Divine Plan, The Advent of Divine Justice and Citadel of Faith. This text-based approach combined with study circles and group research generated a great deal of energy and love—the same forces essential for the revitalization of mankind.

Schechter maintained his buoyant enthusiasm throughout the sessions and shared an incredible amount of information as well as a few stories of Shoghi Effendi’s wisdom, kindness and humor. Diliberto, noted for his class on The Dawn-Breakers and his depth of knowledge of the Faith, presented in a lovingly intense manner and captured the attention of the class.

Their session was immediately followed by a class led by Jack McCants, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly and also a former pioneer in the islands of the Pacific. With great fire and spirit, McCants brought the power of the Faith to life through the recollection of his many personal experiences, speaking of the importance of faith and sharing stories of believers who demonstrated willing submission to the Will of God.

As a result of being exposed as a group to the offerings of these three great men, what had simply been a lecture class was rapidly transformed into an intimate circle radiating laughter and awe. As memories poured forth of devoted pioneers and consecrated believers to the Cause, spiced with humor and bound with sincerity, those in attendance watched each other grow in faith and determination. ♦

Complete list of upcoming Bosch events on Calendar, page 40 [Page 18]

Connecting with “special needs” youth in Durham

BY PAMELA BRODE

“I had never worked with children and youth with mental and physical impairments and wasn’t sure at first what to expect,” said 18-year old Alexandra Asbaghi of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, reflecting on her experiences as a volunteer at Camp Civitan—a summer camp for children and teens with developmental disabilities in Durham, North Carolina.

Alexandra was one of nine Bahá’í youths who traveled to Durham from Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and elsewhere to participate in a youth teaching initiative during July, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Durham.

For more than two weeks the youth engaged in teaching and service projects, including six days’ service at Camp Civitan. Interaction with young people with disabilities, the young Bahá’ís agreed, raised in them a new awareness of the need for inclusion of all children and youth in the Bahá’í community.

Bahar Hatami, 16, of Houston, Texas, volunteered four days at the camp. “I have a whole new perspective,” she said. “I never thought about serving Bahá’u’lláh in that way, but I really enjoyed it.”

“Interacting with the kids at the camp made me realize that there’s no reason to separate the children and youth with impairments in the Bahá’í community. We are all human beings. We need to create activities to make all children and youth in our community feel comfortable. The camp made all of the children and youth feel comfortable in a loving atmosphere. We in the Bahá’í community need to do that too.”

Camp Civitan provides campers with a daily routine of sports, games, swimming, field trips and socialization. However, all activities were adapted in a way to include everyone, regardless of physical and mental challenges.

Serving at the camp exposed the youth to an egalitarian, inclusive community in which everyone felt he or she belonged, was busy, active and had a sense of purpose. In addition, the youth discovered that young people with disabilities, as all children and youth, need friends and want to feel accepted within their community.

“My attitude about how we should regard children and youth in the community has changed,” said volunteer Sonya Lopez-Lengowski, 14, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. “I never before worked with kids with impairments, and after this experience—I just love them! ... I think that it would be great if the Bahá’í youth went to the movies with kids with disabilities in their community and did things with them that they can do. Their hearts are just the same as ours—they can still connect with their spirituality and realize Bahá’u’lláh.”

Nushan Zareey, age 15 and visiting from abroad, agreed. “I worked with the older youth at the camp and found them to be very spiritual,” she said. “They were very friendly and very generous. ... It was a learning experience for me because I kind of see what it must feel like to be them in the outside world. I would like to work with them again—with youth who have impairments. I would like very much to see them participate in Bahá’í activities.”

A very personal commentary: Including all youth and children in the community

Through the years my husband and I have watched our sons Alex, 19, and Ben, 13, miss out on countless Bahá’í children’s and youth activities—not because of a lack of will or desire on their part, but because those activities were not geared to meet their special needs and learning styles.

Alex and Ben were born with Fragile X syndrome, a genetic disease. It is the leading known hereditary cause of developmental disabilities that can include mild to severe mental impairment, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, autism and attention disorders.

Although Alex and Ben function in the upper-moderate range of mental impairment, they are very spiritual, sociable young people with delightful, lovable personalities. They love music, enjoy sports, and—as any other child or youth—they want desperately to have friends and to feel good about themselves.

On the downside, they read and write at a 5-year-old level, and while they have fairly good verbal skills, their comprehension of speech is limited. Let’s face it—a program focused on discussion and reading text is not going to elicit their attention.

Alex and Ben, as all children with special needs, are multi-modality learners. They learn best when information is presented to them through creative and imaginative approaches, including the use of music, arts, visual aids and verbal cues. They also function best when their routine is consistent and well-structured in a happy and orderly environment.

Their potential for learning and doing can best be realized in an atmosphere where they feel unconditional love and acceptance, and receive the appropriate support.

Through the years, my husband and I have labored arduously to involve Alex and Ben in activities that enrich their lives, help them develop skills, and provide them with opportunities to be active participants, such as the Special Olympics, Very Special Arts, special education programs, summer camps, and dances for the Special Population. The boys also love to go to the movies, bowl, play basketball and soccer, and love to dance and sing. Most importantly, they love Bahá’u’lláh.

There have been times when I have attempted to advocate for my children to be more fully included in the Bahá’í community. However, it has only been recently, certainly inspired by the Ridván 2000 letter from the Universal House of Justice, that I have sensed a keener receptivity among the believers regarding the need for inclusion of all children and youth in the community.

Bahá’í planning committees for children’s and youth programs can show support by contacting parents and asking for suggestions about how to meet their children’s needs. For example, children with special needs often have food allergies—which is useful to know when planning those “Bahá’í pizza parties.” Whether the child has a mental or physical impairment, a mild learning disability or behavior problem—the parents can often provide useful input and guidance.

The Bahá’ís may also wish to consult special education teachers or therapists for suggestions about how to make programs more inclusive.

All children and youth basically have the same needs: to be loved and dwell in an atmosphere in which they “feel that they belong to the community and share in its purpose.” Certainly, the needs of all young people for inclusion will be better understood if we strive to nurture and integrate “into the life of the cause” those precious young souls whose needs are the most challenging.

Several of the Bahá’í youths who volunteered at Camp Civitan in Durham, North Carolina, pose with (left) Alex Brode and (lower right) Ben Brode, two Bahá’í teenagers who are among the “special needs” population served by the camp.

Pamela Brode, a Bahá’í in Durham, North Carolina, is a journalist and a former professional advocate for children with developmental disabilities at Duke University Medical Center’s Child Development Unit.

ATTENTION COLLEGE STUDENTS

Stand up and be counted!

One Bahá’í representative from each university and college in the United States is requested to register with the Office of Youth Affairs. You can find out more on the U.S. Bahá’í Administrative Web Site (www.usbnc.org), or by contacting us:

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

TRUE WEALTH

“The more we study the present condition of the world, the more deeply we become convinced that there just cannot be any way out of its problems except the way of God, as given by Him, through Bahá’u’lláh.

The early Persian Bahá’ís gave their lives for the Cause; the Western believers have been spared this necessity, but their comfort, to some extent, they must sacrifice if they are going to discharge their moral obligation to a tortured humanity. ...”

—Shoghi Effendi, Unfolding Destiny, p. 177 [Page 19]

Brilliant Star Kid’s Corner!

Find out what Liang did last month during his summer vacation by writing in the name of each picture. The circled letters will reveal the answer!

[Cat] → _ _ ( )	[Mouth] → _ _ _ _ ( )
[Train engine] → _ ( ) _ _ _ _	[Beetle] → _ ( ) _ _ _ _
[Apple] → ( ) _ _ _ _	[Candle] → _ ( ) _ _ _ _
[Violin] → ( ) _ _ _ _ _	[Corn] → ( ) _ _ _
[Eye] → _ _ ( )	[Chicken] → _ ( ) _ _ _ _ _
[Lollipop] → ( ) _ _ _ _ _ _ _	[Ice cream cone] → _ ( ) _ _ _ _ _ _ _
	[Penny] → _ _ _ _ ( )
	[Puppy] → _ _ _ ( )

Write to Brilliant Star (at brilliant@usbnc.org) and tell us about your summer stories!

Brilliant Star is hiring new editors. See page 26

Activity by the Office of the Treasurer Art by C. Aaron Kreader

For subscriptions to BRILLIANT STAR, call Bahá’í Distribution Service at 800-999-9019 or see page 27 to subscribe.

[Page 20]

Children’s Theatre takes center stage

BY TOM MENNILLO

Kim Wilson, 7, is the title character in “The Last Flower,” a Thurber tale illustrating the toll war takes on humanity and the environment. Photo by Mike Relph

Excerpts from messages in response to CTC’s work

From a message of the Universal House of Justice Department of the Secretariat to the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the City of New York, dated June 22, 2000:

[The Universal House of Justice] was so delighted with the nature of the Company’s program as a service project that employs the dramatic arts that we have been asked to convey through your Assembly to the founders, Mehr Mansuri and Roya Movafegh, its deep pleasure at their success to date and its enthusiastic encouragement of their continuing endeavor.

From a letter of the International Teaching Center to Counselor ‘Abdu’l-Missagh Ghadirian, dated June 6, 2000:

We share your joy in acknowledging the vital service to children that is rendered by this activity, and praise the recent decision of the Local Spiritual Assembly of New York City to incorporate parenting classes into the reach of the program.

Please convey to the organizers of this effort ... our deep appreciation for their selfless commitment and assurance of our prayers that their devotion and perseverance may attract greater confirmations from on high and win fresh victories for the Cause of God.

From a letter of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States to the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the City of New York, dated May 31, 2000:

We congratulate the organizers on the public recognition of this valuable program.

We commend the group’s effective use of the arts to encourage and inspire children to excel, an effort with particular relevance during the Twelve Month Plan in which the Universal House of Justice emphasizes the need to provide “urgent and sustained effort in the interests of children and the future.”

Bahá’í centers are centers of attraction for believers and seekers. More and more, they are also pivots around which the friends operate service projects and systematic social and economic development projects. Starting with the Children’s Theatre Company on this page, we spotlight some notable examples from around the United States:

• Page 21, Children’s Enrichment Project of Los Angeles.
• Page 24, longtime programs in south DeKalb County, Georgia; Denver, Colorado; and Tucson, Arizona.
• Pages 24-25, other innovative projects now making their mark.

Children’s Theatre Company directors Mehr Mansuri and Roya Movafegh say it’s simply a matter of ABCD.

Asset-Based Community Development, that is.

Assets? The acclaimed year-old New York City troupe has a wealth to draw on in providing nonprofit “theatre by children for grownups”:

• The children themselves, ages 4–13, chosen more for their character and teamwork skills than for their talent.
• Their parents, whose power to influence children positively is harnessed through discussion groups and volunteer service.
• A core of professional artist-instructors dedicated to implementing a curriculum rooted in social values.
• The New York City Bahá’í Center, which donates use of classroom, performance and exhibition spaces.

And it’s working. CTC has been singled out repeatedly for unsolicited attention, Mansuri and Movafegh report humbly—and a little stunned.

Time-Warner Cable cited the project’s founders as New Yorkers of the Week in late May. The popular “Parenting Report” television program profiled the CTC twice. An Emmy-winning TV producer has recruited the children for nine appearances this fall on Sesame Street and Nickelodeon programs.

More importantly, CTC’s impact has radiated from its participants.

The combination of top-notch artistic instruction and exposure to universal truths has transformed the children before the very eyes of their parents and teachers.

Likewise, the tireless service of Bahá’í instructors has inspired fellow artists—Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í alike, including Broadway stars, film and TV actors, award-winning playwrights, choreographers and costume designers—to lend time and talents to the program.

People who attend the Bahá’í Social and Economic Development Conference for the Americas in Orlando, Florida, will get to see for themselves. CTC will be the subject of a workshop, and about 30 of the project’s young students will exhibit their artwork and perform during the Dec. 14–17 event.

Leonard McClean, 9 (at left in above photo), is surrounded by his proud family after an award ceremony. In the right photo, he portrays the king in Dr. Seuss’ “Yertle the Turtle,” a story of greed vs. generosity and power vs. service. Photos by Mike Relph

The four seasons

The Children’s Theatre Company started by attracting bright children from an inner-city school where Mansuri teaches sixth-grade language arts. Diversity has increased with each of the year’s four nine-week seasons.

More than 50 child participants are chosen through auditions that test their focus and ability to work together.

“We’re not here to rescue children,” Mansuri explained. “Instead, we build on their strengths.”

Some talented children, though, need one-on-one attention CTC simply cannot provide. For them, the program isn’t a good fit.

The children who do get in gather on Saturdays at the Bahá’í Center, on 11th Street in the Greenwich Village section of lower Manhattan.

They study drama, art, dance and musical theater with professionals who eagerly give their time “between gigs” to share their crafts in bite-size pieces. The curriculum is guided by Mansuri, a veteran of Los Angeles and New York stages who also produces and writes.

They create striking artwork, such as African masks or “peace quilts,” that are professionally mounted by Movafegh, a photographer and illustrator, and exhibited for a month at the Center’s public space.

And they rehearse for each season’s much-anticipated performances, which fill the Center’s 160-seat red-velvet proscenium theater.

Stories the children present on stage range impressively from “Gold in the Fire,” a profile of African-American heroines Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman and Mary McLeod Bethune, to Dr. Seuss’ Yertle the Turtle, to the poem “Womb World” by Kamal Sinclair, a Bahá’í who has toured extensively with the Broadway show Stomp.

Interspersed, and providing answers to the questions raised in the stories, are SEE THEATRE, PAGE 29 [Page 21]INFORMATION FROM TERESA LANGNESS

Left: A CEP summer student displays kites made in the arts and crafts program. Above left: Derrick Burton sings “If I Could Give You Anything” to express his feelings for the new friends he made at the Braille Center for the Blind. Above right: Leila Sedeghan (right), CEP program director, poses with one of the parents who volunteers her time. Photos courtesy of the Los Angeles Bahá’í Journal

L.A. program cultivates ‘habits of heart’

Summer program for 8-year-old CEP runs 10 hours a day, 5 days a week at parents’ request

Have students of the summer Children’s Enrichment Program in Los Angeles been growing “spiritual arms and legs”? Judge for yourself:

One day a boy rushed out to recess waving a wide piece of chalk. He also carried the long, laminated “conflict bridge” used in his classroom.

“What are you doing?” a teacher asked.

“I’m going to draw a conflict resolution bridge right here on the playground,” he said. “That way, I can resolve a problem I’m having with another boy. If we have a conflict bridge out here, we can do it on our own without using class time.”

He drew with a vengeance, but that soon dissipated as he walked the bridge with his friend. They worked out their differences peacefully without a teacher’s help, and anger gave way to good will.

This boy was the first of the summer to use his chalked-out conflict bridge to settle a dispute. He wasn’t the last.

And that’s a prime example of “habits of heart” cultivated by the Children’s Enrichment Program (CEP), an independent, nonprofit venture housed at the Los Angeles Bahá’í Center and fueled in part by plenty of Bahá’í inspiration.

Parents of the participating students can’t say enough nice things about CEP and its aim to educate the “whole child.” All respondents to the 2000 survey reported improvements in their children’s attitudes about learning, their social awareness, or their capacity to express themselves through critical thinking and through the arts.

This came a year after fully 80 percent of the 1998–99 students showed an increase in their national percentile rankings in standard reading and math tests.

“My son especially has a better attitude about learning,” one parent wrote. “He’s not so negative now when it comes to trying new things or experiencing different activities that motivate creativity.”

Founded after the 1992 civil unrest in Los Angeles, CEP has developed after-school and summer school programs that are highly valued, especially in the Baldwin Hills neighborhood where the Center is located. The 2000 summer program was expanded to 10 hours a day, five days a week, at the request of parents—who said CEP was their children’s home away from home.

The curriculum is carefully built around the project’s mission: to help children embrace their role as society’s helpers and healers. It integrates academic and arts enrichment with character education, conflict resolution and community service.

The highly popular Virtues Guide by Linda Kavelin and Dan Popov helps program developers identify a “habit of heart” to emphasize each week.

The process is not always easy. Everyday school environments often fail to reinforce the goals of parents, or to feed a child’s need for nurturing and ethical development. Students can bring in a raft of problems as a result.

Mark Bamford (top), a Los Angeles Bahá’í who is a filmmaker, volunteers regularly for the year-round after-school program conducted by CEP.

The CEP model insists that intellectual and psychological development connect so tightly that the fostering of noble human beings motivates and elevates all the aspects of their learning.

Thus, the teaching style employs a prime virtue—patience—along with its cousins preparation and perseverance.

“Providing a consistent structure for these kids from the beginning of the day until the end of the day makes a big difference in their development,” said program director Leila ‎Sedighan Sedeghan‎.

“We saw major changes in the temperament and outlook of one student who had been with us four years because, finally, he had an outlet for resolving conflicts throughout the day. It was refreshing to teach the kids these skills during the first three weeks and, in the second three weeks, see them taking initiative to resolve their own conflicts.”

Vocabulary is one launching point. New words are taught for more than just their own sake.

Each week, all year, teachers present a weekly vocabulary word such as unity, compassion, empathy, or generosity. The children are coached in the meaning of the word, then in the skills to turn the word into a behavior and, finally, a habit.

Thus, the classtime writing work: “In this class, there’s unity,” a second-grader writes in his spelling assignment.

“I will practice unity and cooperation by sharing and listening. I will be selfless and practice sportsmanship, patience and working together,” another student writes in her journal. Beneath the printed words, she draws a picture of herself and a friend with hearts floating

SEE ENRICHMENT, PAGE 29

High parent approval

A few highlights of parents’ responses in the 2000 survey on the effectiveness of the CEP: 100% reported benefits as a result of the family’s enrollment. 100% reported improvements in the children’s reading abilities and motivation to learn. 85% reported improvements in the children’s mathematical abilities. 100% reported a pronounced difference in the children’s awareness of social issues, scientific issues and geographic regions. 100% reported improvements in the children’s approach to goals or to life-long learning. 100% reported improvements in the children’s critical thinking skills. 100% reported increased capacity or interest in graphic arts, performing arts, or writing and poetry. 100% reported several benefits in terms of character development.

[Page 22]

PROJECT FACTS

COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN COMPONENTS

• Mashriqu’l-Adhkár
• The Mother Temple and Gardens
• Temple Visitor Center
• Bahá’í Home for the Aged
• National Hazíratu’l-Quds
• 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

PROGRESS REPORT LATE OCTOBER 2000

• More than 2,500 individuals have pledged or made cash contributions.
• About $19 million in pledges or cash contributions has been committed to the Kingdom Project.

IT’S OUR TIME

"Your mission is unspeakably glorious. Should success crown your enterprise, America will assuredly evolve into a center from which waves of spiritual power will emanate, and the throne of the Kingdom of God will, in the plenitude of its majesty and glory, be firmly established." —‘Abdu’l-Balsá

MEETING TODAY’S CHALLENGES

The investments outlined in this Comprehensive Development Plan are too large to fit within our national operating budget; they represent resource needs that exceed the routine requirements of the Faith's day-to-day work. For this reason, it is vital for every Bahá’í to understand that support of the Development Plan should not come at the expense of regular contributions to the local, national and international Funds of the Faith.

Our National Spiritual Assembly is fully aware that it is calling the Bahá’ís to a new level of sacrifice, but it does so with the firm conviction that our community is as capable today of meeting any challenge as it has been at any time in its long and distinguished history.

THE TASK BELONGS TO EACH ONE OF US

Urging our completion of the House of Worship, Shoghi Effendi set the standard for our involvement with a letter on April 11, 1949:

"Nor can this campaign yield its richest fruit unless and until the community, in its entirety, participates in this nation-wide sacrificial effort. Nor can this collective effort be blessed, to the fullest extent possible, unless the contributions made by its members involve acts of self-abnegation, not only on the part of those of modest means, but also by those endowed with substantial resources. Nor, indeed, can these self-denying acts, by both the rich and the poor, be productive of the fullest possible benefit unless this sacrificial effort is neither momentary nor haphazard, but rather systematic and continuous throughout the period of the present emergency."

We are all now being called upon to rise to this challenge in the pursuit of this bold effort to reach the high standards set by Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi and to bring our community into true spiritual alignment with the plan of Bahá’u’lláh to build the Kingdom of God on earth.

It's our time. ♦

"May the inhabitants of this country become like angels of heaven with faces turned continually toward God. May all of them become servants of the omnipotent One. May they rise from their present material attainments to such a height that heavenly illumination may stream from this center to all the peoples of the world." —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

In 1916 and 1917, ‘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.

As "chief trustees" of this 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, hasten the advancement of the fortunes of our Faith.

Our capacity must expand 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, building on the spiritual foundation laid by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

A financial commitment of $60 million over the next five years is required to achieve the initiatives listed above.

This development plan's goals represent investments in our future, and demand sacrifices above and beyond 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.

A few more things you should know

Q. I will be giving a certain amount to the Kingdom Project every month for the next five years, but I have not filled out a pledge card. Should I send in a pledge card?

A. Yes, if your plan is to continue giving until the end of the Kingdom Project. Informing the National Spiritual Assembly by making a pledge for the total amount that you will be giving helps the National Spiritual Assembly know that the money will be available to complete the component projects.

Q. Is the Automatic Contribution System (ACS) a better way to fulfill my pledge or should I use my credit card?

A. Either way is fine. However, once it is established, ACS is constant and requires very little maintenance, while credit cards are often changed. This requires that new information be submitted to the Office of the Treasurer in order to avoid interruption of pledge contributions.

Q. Do I have to give a certain amount to make a pledge?

A. Absolutely not. As with any contribution to the Funds, the amount you give is your personal decision. Likewise, a pledge can be any amount. Making a pledge can help you plan your giving, and assists the National Spiritual Assembly in its planning for the work of the Kingdom Project. ✦ [Page 23]

Calculating your obligation

This article is the third in a series containing excerpts from the Codification of the Law of Huqúqu’lláh. It was prepared with reference to the compilation on Huqúqu’lláh, which is available from the Bahá’í Distribution Service.

Among principles expressed in previous issues: The fundamentals of the Law of Huqúqu’lláh are promulgated in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas; further explanations are to be found in other writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and letters from Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice. The Huqúqu’lláh (Right of God) is to be offered joyfully and without hesitation; when offered in this spirit it will impart prosperity and protection to the friends, purify their worldly possessions, and enable them and their offspring to benefit from the fruits of their endeavors.

Determining the Huqúqu’lláh

Everything that a believer possesses, with the exception of certain specific items, is subject once and only once to the payment of Huqúqu’lláh.

A. Exempt from assessment to Huqúqu’lláh are:

1. The residence and its needful furnishings (note: it is left to the individual to decide which furnishings are “needful.”)

2. The needful business and agricultural equipment which produce income for one’s subsistence.

B. Payment falls due:

1. Huqúqu’lláh is payable as soon as a person’s assessable possessions reach or exceed the value of 19 mithqáls of gold. 19 mithqáls equals approximately 2.2 troy ounces, or approximately 69.2 grams.

a) The amount to be paid is 19% of the value of the assessable property.

b) The payment is due on whole units of 19 mithqáls of gold.

2. Huqúqu’lláh is payable on further units of 19 mithqáls of gold when subsequently acquired possessions, after the deduction of the annual expenses, raise the value of the assessable property sufficiently. Among the expenses to be deducted are:

a) The general expenses of living.

b) Losses and expenses incurred on the sale of possessions.

c) Sums which are paid to the state, such as taxes and duties.

3. When a person receives a gift or bequest it is to be added to his or her possessions and augments the total value in the same way as does an excess of annual income over expenditure.

4. If a property increases in value, Huqúqu’lláh is not payable on that increase until it is realized, e.g. on the sale of the property.

5. If possessions decrease, such as through the expenses of a year exceeding the income received, Huqúqu’lláh falls due again only after the loss has been made good and the total value of one’s assessable possessions is augmented.

6. The payment of debts takes precedence over the payment of Huqúqu’lláh.

7. The payment of Huqúqu’lláh is dependent on the person’s financial ability to meet his obligations.

8. On the death of a believer, the completion of his/her payment of Huqúqu’lláh is accomplished in the following manner:

a) The first charge on the estate is the expense of burial.

b) Secondly, the debts of the deceased must be paid.

c) The Huqúqu’lláh still due on the property should then be paid. In establishing the value of the property on which Huqúq has not already been paid, the following are ‎arnong among‎ the deductions to be made: expenses of burial, debts of the deceased, loss of value of the assets when realized, and expenses incurred in realizing the assets.

Next issue: Further notes on determining one’s Huqúqu’lláh obligation.

HUQÚQU’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, 140 N. Gunston Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90049, phone 310-394-6167, fax 310-394-6167, e-mail abanani@ucla.edu Stephen Birkland, 304 High St., Marshall, MN 56258, phone 507-532-6016, fax 651-490-7521, e-mail sbirkland@aol.com Sally Foo, 25 Spring Hill Rd., Skillman, NJ 08558, phone 609-671-0428, fax 609-671-0740, e-mail sfoo@aol.com Daryush Haghighi, 1111 West Lake Rd., Bay Village, OH 44140, phone 440-333-6938, fax 440-333-6938, e-mail dhaghighi@aol.com Elizabeth Martin, P.O. Box 178, Winnsboro, SC 29180, phone 803-635-4309, fax 803-635-9982, e-mail emartin@bahai.org Office of the Secretariat, Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201, phone 847-733-3450, fax 440-333-6938, e-mail bht@usbnc.org.

THE BAHÁ’Í FUNDS

Raising our ‘comfort level’

Materialism is not the same as having money; it is excessive attachment to the material world. Bahá’ís need to become comfortable with money because, as Bahá’u’lláh tells us, “the fulfillment of every undertaking on earth [is] dependent on material means.”

The Stewardship and Development program, developed by the Office of the Treasurer, helps educate the friends about the spiritual nature of giving and sacrificing for one’s beliefs. The program helps communities structure their thinking on a wide variety of topics related to the local treasury and the Bahá’í funds in general—including bold initiatives like the Kingdom Project.

In the Ridván 2000 letter, the Universal House of Justice describes a noticeable change in the “expanded capability, methodical pattern of functioning and the consequent depth of confidence of ... the individual, the institutions and the local community.”

The Stewardship and Development program facilitates the material expression of this expanded capability. A group of new Stewardship and Development facilitators underwent four days’ training at the end of August. Trained facilitators across the country are ready to offer their services to communities in the form of half, full-day or two day seminars. Contact Regina Blum (phone 847-733-3469, e-mail treasury@usbnc.org) to locate a facilitator in your area.

We must continue expanding our capacity in order to foster and accommodate the dramatic growth which is fast approaching. “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.”

The Stewardship and Development program can help. ♦

Charitable Gift Annuities

now offered by our National Spiritual Assembly as a gift-planning option

A charitable gift annuity is a contract between you, as the donor, and our National Spiritual Assembly—providing advantages for both.

Under a charitable gift annuity:	Benefits:	Requirements:
A donor irrevocably transfers funds to our National Spiritual Assembly, which are invested with other annuity funds. Regular quarterly payments are made to you, the donor, for your lifetime. The remainder of the annuity fund is transferred to the Bahá’í Fund after your passing.	Guaranteed fixed payments for life, a portion of which are non-taxable. A charitable income tax deduction for a portion of the gift in the year in which the annuity is established. Reduced capital gains taxes if funded with an appreciated asset. Increased support of the Bahá’í Fund.	Must be at least 60 years of age to enter into an annuity agreement with our National Spiritual Assembly. Must establish the annuity with a minimum of $10,000. Must irrevocably transfer the funds. Will receive a lifetime annuity payment.

Examples (based on a $10,000 annuity): Age 60: Charitable deduction $3,782.30; annual lifetime annuity $660 Age 70: Charitable deduction $4,261.20; annual lifetime annuity $750 Age 80: Charitable deduction $4,907.40; annual lifetime annuity $920

Not yet licensed in Arkansas, California, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin.

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 brochures in quantity.

The Writing of a Will

The National Spiritual Assembly’s Gift and Estate Planning Program has been established to help believers make a variety of financial arrangements for themselves, their families and the Bahá’í Faith: Providing for the Bahá’í Faith in your will Making a gift of securities Making a gift of real estate Making a gift 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 the gift and estate planning program: Phone 847-733-3466 / e-mail plannedgiving@usbnc.org Or, fill out the form with the Bahá’í Funds envelope attached to this paper.

[Page 24]

Well-known Center-based projects pave way for others nationwide

Bahá’í Unity Center outside Atlanta, Georgia

The Spiritual Assembly of South DeKalb County teamed up six years ago with Mottahedeh Development Services, a social and economic development arm of the National Spiritual Assembly, to offer tutoring and character development to inner-city students; after-school sessions and family development education to Asian and Hispanic immigrants; a computer literacy program; and public speaking training in the form of Toastmasters for adults and Gavel Club for youths. Grants are being sought to expand and sustain the project.

Denver, Colorado, Bahá’í Center

The Dorothy Baker project was founded in 1991 to provide area poor with a “bank” of food, clothing and household goods, as well as counseling, resource referral, and financial assistance with medical and dental needs. The Corinne True Justice Center has been training mediators and providing conflict resolution services since 1996 and more recently has expanded its efforts to aid in the maturation of Bahá’í communities. It is co-owned by the Spiritual Assembly of Denver and the Bahá’í Justice Society, a membership-based agency of the National Assembly. A Corinne True Justice Center also has been launched in Los Angeles.

Tucson, Arizona, Bahá’í Center

For six years, the Bahá’í Food Distribution Program has helped needy families and the elderly in the neighborhood by collecting outdated food from grocery stores and giving it away. The Bahá’í program also is connected with social service agencies that supply high-quality used clothing for distribution to their clients under a voucher program.

Centers open new avenues of service

BY TOM MENNILLO

Bahá’í centers have long provided refuge from the storms of society to believers and seekers alike. Increasingly, these often-modest structures are helping the Bahá’í and wider communities in another way, as home to community service and systematic social and economic development projects.

Considered the “granddaddy” of this trend is the Los Angeles Bahá’í Center [see related story on page 21].

Other pacesetters about which The American Bahá’í has reported extensively in recent years include the Bahá’í Unity Center outside Atlanta, Georgia; the Denver, Colorado, Bahá’í Center; and the Tucson, Arizona, Bahá’í Center [see capsules above].

But in other communities large and small, Local Spiritual Assemblies are assessing needs inside and outside the Bahá’í community and are unleashing material and human resources for their amelioration.

A few examples follow:

Paramedic Jim DeDecker demonstrates CPR to some of the 30 people who came to the Detroit, Michigan, Bahá’í Center for a health fair that the community hopes to make an annual event.

Madison, Wisconsin

INFORMATION FROM ELLIE JACOBI

Even before Madison Bahá’ís formally invited the public to their long-dreamed-of Center on June 11, a volunteer project was under way to tutor children who attend a nearby public school.

The Spiritual Assembly of Madison also had approved a request by a neighborhood committee to hold its meetings at the new facility.

This flurry of community-minded activity was no accident. As pointed out at the grand opening by Caswell Ellis of the Regional Bahá’í Council for the Central States, the friends sited their Center here partly because the families, singles and college students in its culturally diverse neighborhood were so receptive.

It didn’t hurt that the rented building, formerly a delicatessen, came at a good price and met the community’s space needs. Paralleling the Lake Mendota shoreline, it boasts floor-to-ceiling front windows and a green awning proclaiming “Bahá’í Center” in white letters.

The opening celebration on Race Unity Day drew Bahá’ís from several communities, including a busload from Milwaukee 125 miles away. More than 200 people attended.

A reporter in attendance later wrote, “I am grateful to have been part of a happy event, where genuine love for one human race is not just expressed in word but in deed.”

The day’s theme was “One Human Family,” and rice, the universal food of humanity, was served in the many recipes of the world’s cultures.

The Madison area’s Bahá’í Youth Workshop performed dances depicting how prejudice has divided our world and how people can heal those divisions. The One Human Family Workshop Choir, led by Martha Banda, made the new Center ring with soulful gospel selections.

The sight and aroma of foods from many cultures draw a crowd to the buffet tables during the formal opening of the Madison, Wisconsin, Bahá’í Center.

This watershed event of putting down roots in the community had immediate effect. Most obvious was the media coverage, mainly by two television stations, a daily newspaper and a weekly newspaper that serves minority communities.

The publicity has caused other reverberations. For example, a Madison police cadet assigned to deal with diversity issues has started consulting with the Assembly on ways she can become involved in our community and learn about the Faith.

Fresno, California

INFORMATION FROM RICHARD ROWLAND

After 15 years’ contact between the Hmong community and one or two Bahá’í families, members of the Yang clan asked the Spiritual Assembly of Fresno for permission to base literacy and Hmong-language classes at the Bahá’í Center.

The clan explained that its goal was to keep its children and youth as safe as possible from the more negative and materialistic aspects of American culture and provide them with a deeper knowledge of their heritage.

The Assembly agreed. That was seven years ago, and the weekly classes continue as a Bahá’í community project.

The Bahá’í Center has been a silent teacher throughout. Photographs and quotations adorning its walls have moved many Hmong to inquire about the Faith. A number have joined the Bahá’í family.

This connection brings an increasing number of Fresno residents to the annual Southeast Asian Community Builders Roundtable Conference at Bosch Bahá’í School.

This year the clan leader and several other elders visited Bosch.

Support from Fresno Bahá’ís has played a major role in the project’s success. Likewise, their welcoming of new believers has aided the process of consolidation.

One American Bahá’í family became so close to the Yangs that they were welcomed as members of the clan.

SEE CENTERS, PAGE 25 [Page 25]

CENTERS,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

comed into the clan as members in a traditional Hmong ceremony at the Center. The Hmong see them as a bridge between their two peoples and cultures.

Detroit, Michigan

INFORMATION FROM MORRIS RICHARDSON II

In Metro Detroit, Bahá’ís have been recognized leaders in race unity for many years, and the Detroit Bahá’í Center has been a pivot for that activity.

Another element of public service was added July 15 when the Bahá’ís of Southfield and Detroit held a health fair at the Center. Its purpose was to provide health care for the Bahá’í and surrounding communities.

The fair included blood screenings, eye checks and prescription checks. There were demonstrations on CPR and helping someone who has had a seizure, a presentation on high blood pressure and an information booth supplied by a local cancer institute.

Practitioners volunteering their time include Dr. Ruth Rydstedt, Dr. Fariba Hickinson, Dr. Ari Richardson and paramedic Jim De Decker.

About 30 people attended. Organizers are looking forward to repeating the health fair next year.

Springfield, Illinois

INFORMATION FROM MARY LOU LAUCHNER

Last year, three Bahá’ís and sisters from the Dominican and Ursuline orders of the Roman Catholic Church joined forces to launch the Unity Institute of Illinois. Its first objective is to promote the development of the first generation of children and youth free of racial, ethnic, and cultural prejudice.

A second objective is to educate parents and other adults in the elimination of prejudice so they can support and supplement the work of the institute.

The Bahá’í Center-based project has held a very successful Calling All Colors conference and is planning another. Other activities also are on the table.

Future visions include a system of children’s training and support programs to develop a prejudice-free society and provide peer training.

The independent institute is in the process of obtaining 401(c)3 nonprofit status so it can accept funds from grants and other sources.

Directors hope to extend the project beyond Springfield, and at some point to move to its own offices.

Casa Grande, Arizona

INFORMATION FROM RUTH TOBEY HAMPSON

A different kind of Bahá’í center, the conference and retreat center, is cropping up in various parts of the United States.

The Desert Rose Bahá’í Institute is such a creature. Located where Interstates 8 and 10 meet, it serves the Bahá’ís of Phoenix, Tucson, and—through the annual Desert Rose Bahá’í Conference—beyond.

Plans to construct a senior living center are moving forward, with expectations that the units will be ready for ‎occupany occupancy‎ in fall 2001.

Residents’ volunteer service in all areas of institute operations will be welcomed. But a central purpose will be to encourage retirees to be active in programs of Bahá’í learning for all ages.

That’s why the board of directors, after consulting on the Universal House of Justice’s Ridván 157 letter, accelerated plans for the senior center and adopted the training of youth and preyouth as a major institute goal.

The board sees facilities for encouraging youthful moral leadership as an urgent need. Working closely with Auxiliary Board members and others involved with the Tucson 2000 Youth Project, it is considering construction of a 40-bed dormitory and a swimming pool.

These facilities might also be used in support of a social and economic development project envisioned for a neighboring city.

Center planning process strengthens communities

Other Bahá’í centers being brought on line might not immediately be put to use in community service.

But often the thought and care put into their planning help strengthen the internal development of local Bahá’í communities.

Above: Members of the Clifton, New Jersey, Bahá’í community gather on the front steps of their new Bahá’í Information Office.

Left: A large sign invites passers-by to visit the newly opened Bahá’í Faith Information Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

INFORMATION FROM STEVE BONNETT

Cedar Rapids is not a large Bahá’í community, but thanks to vision, timing and cooperation among several localities, it now owns a Bahá’í Information Center—debt-free.

Now one year old and located on the city’s main thoroughfare, the center helps attract seekers to call 1-800-22-UNITE, as well as serving as a hub of activity for the Bahá’í community.

A report from the Spiritual Assembly credits Rohollah Hosseini, a real estate investor who immigrated from Iran in 1984, with much of the know-how and rallying energy that brought the property into the Bahá’ís’ hands.

After several years’ vigilance, the Assembly made a bid for the property—and doubtless with the help of the many prayers said locally, the price of the two-story house was half what the Assembly was prepared to pay.

Much of the price came from a bequest from the estate of a longtime Bahá’í, and the rest was pledged by Bahá’ís in Cedar Rapids and neighboring communities.

All was paid off by the end of 1999.

A low price for a nearly 90-year-old house, of course, means plenty of renovation work is ahead.

With Hosseini as project manager, the friends volunteered hundreds of hours of loving labor to complete the center in time for a public opening Dec. 31, 1999.

Qualified people worked on plumbing, carpentry, masonry, drywall, and others contributed just plain elbow grease.

Improvement efforts continue today, with all the work helping the friends become continually better-prepared for service.

Clifton, New Jersey

INFORMATION FROM HABIB HOSSEINY

A lot of prayers, persistent planning and cooperative work with local authorities led to the opening of the Bahá’í Information Office on June 3 in this New York City suburb.

Though without a Spiritual Assembly, the Clifton community had made financial preparations to buy a center over several years.

They even picked out a downtown site—only to be denied a permit.

On its second attempt with another site, the Bahá’í community hired an attorney, prepared their case for the local Board of Adjustment, and passed review with flying colors.

The hearing itself was a proclamation because it was televised to the Clifton community.

With a reading room/library set up visually to invite curious people inside from the street, the Information Office provides information regarding firesides and other community activities.

An intensive, sustained media campaign is being planned to help ensure it has plenty of business. ♦ [Page 26]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

If you know of anyone who has skills in the following areas, or know of people who may know others with these skills, especially for positions listed as “Urgent Needs,” please contact our Human Resources Department.

URGENT NEEDS

Office of the Treasurer, Evanston: Fund Development Coordinator. Helps formulate strategies to increase participation, regularity and levels of contributions to the Bahá’í Funds; helps educate communities, treasurers and Assemblies on the principles underlying contributions to the Funds and helps them apply these principles; reaches the community mainly through letters, phone calls and presentations; frequent travel. Needs strong communication skills and warm, mature personality; computer proficiency, ability to coordinate many tasks. Must be grounded in fundamental verities of the Faith. Related work experience a plus. Bahá’í Distribution Service, Fulton County, Georgia: Customer Service Representative. 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 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: Executive 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. If interested, contact the Office of Human Resources, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3427, fax 847-733-3430). ♦

URGENT NEED

DIRECTOR OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION NEW YORK, NY For a complete job description with responsibilities and qualifications: Visit www.usbnc.org and click on the “Current Opportunities for Service” link in the What’s New list. 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.

Assistant Researcher, Research Office. Responsibility and salary depend on ability to match the following skills: writing basic correspondence; organizing files/tracking many projects; organizing small scholarly gatherings and conferences; creating, maintaining, expanding databases; critiquing manuscripts and corresponding with authors about their work; interacting with, encouraging and answering questions from academics (Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í) about the Faith; carrying out basic literature and/or statistical research about the Faith and its community in answer to research questions; analyzing and responding to articles critical of the Faith in a friendly, persuasive, thorough fashion. Bachelor’s degree required; doctorate or master’s degree highly desired.

Concrete Journeyman, Conservation Office. Utilize your skills in state-of-the-art concrete repair for the historic Bahá’í House of Worship. Opportunity to manage and train concrete artisans in a unique studio environment.

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.

Staff Producer, Media Services. Full range of video/audio production tasks, especially writing/development of Bahá’í Newsreel. Keeps day-to-day production process in order; op network of correspondents; arranges duplication/distribution. Needs broad knowledge and experience in broadcast journalism; flexibility, organizational skills, familiarity with Bahá’í administration.

Switchboard Operator/Receptionist, Office of Human Resources (part-time). Receives and routes telephone calls; greets visitors to the Bahá’í National Center in a pleasant and friendly manner; interacts with all staff and National Assembly agencies as well as the Bahá’í community at large and some international contacts. Must be flexible, effective in service as a team member in a fast-paced environment, able to promote unity in the workplace.

FOR BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE, WILMETTE, ILLINOIS

Associate Editor. Helps coordinate and execute all phases of content acquisition/development, proofing, and digital print production for all six issues of Brilliant Star magazine in a creative, deadline-driven atmosphere; assists with other print projects within Bahá’í Media Services. Must have two years’ experience with editorial and production work in educational publishing for children (ages 6–12); familiarity with children’s activities and educational materials to suit various reading levels and learning styles in the context of Bahá’í teachings. Must have strong creative writing and editing skills. Should be detail-oriented; able to work in a consultative manner as a member of a team, as well as independently with little supervision.

Activities Editor (10 hours per week). Will develop, acquire and compile fun and engaging activities for children and junior youths, network with contributors, help foster cultural diversity, participate in magazine and article development including research, writing, editing and on-site proofreading for all six issues each year. Must be able to stay abreast of trends and needs in Bahá’í children’s activities, participate in regular staff meetings, assist with marketing and promotional activities. Should be self-motivated, flexible with time, comfortable with a creative, deadline-driven atmosphere, and broadly familiar with Bahá’í writings and principles. Needs background in education and in children’s varied learning styles. Must be a good communicator. Experience with publishing preferred. Applicants who live within 100 miles of Evanston, IL, are preferred.

OFFICE OF INFORMATION SERVICES

Systems Support Manager (technical manager). Must know Windows NT.

Senior Applications Developer (2 positions). Provides high-level analysis, design, implementation of information systems. Familiar with a variety of technologies: Visual Basic, SQL7, Microsoft Access, Web tools, Delphi, C++.

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.

Telephone Systems Specialist.

Report Writer. Skilled in Access, Crystal Reports; Visual Basic helpful.

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.

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 BOSCH BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL, SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA

Facilities Manager. Responsible for the maintenance of all buildings, grounds, equipment and vehicles. Directs work of maintenance employees and volunteers; creates and maintains operating procedures and system documentation; supervises renovation, repair, restoration and new construction projects. Must have knowledge and skills in basic building maintenance/repair, including carpentry, roofing, painting, masonry, electrical, plumbing, HVAC; general contractor’s license (certification in electrical, plumbing and HVAC system repair desirable); five years’ facility management experience (e.g. hotel, motel, school, condominium or light industrial plant) with three years supervising three or more personnel. Should be familiar with CAD software. Vehicle maintenance skills and construction project management experience are desirable.

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

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.

Receptionist/Office Assistant. Receives phone, e-mail and fax communications; greets visitors in a courteous, efficient manner; provides administrative support for co-administrators, registrar, program coordinator; helps bookstore manager with sales and inventory.

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).

AT NATIVE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í INSTITUTE, HOUCK, ARIZONA

Administrative Assistant. Maintains relationships with institutions, volunteers, staff, and the public through phone, mail and electronic correspondence; prepares newsletters, fliers, bulk mailings and reports; maintains financial records; coordinates Institute purchasing; other duties. Must be able to maintain confidentiality of sensitive records and materials.

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

INTERNATIONAL

China: Numerous openings for English teachers and professionals willing to travel for service in this rapidly developing country. For information contact Susan Senchuk (phone 847-733-3505, fax 847-733-3509, e-mail).

PIONEERING / OVERSEAS

The Office of Pioneering is eager to assist the friends preparing for international service. For information regarding jobs and study abroad, or international traveling teaching opportunities and other events, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3508, e-mail). [Page 27]

HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY’S OFFICE OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, WASHINGTON, DC

The National Spiritual Assembly is pleased to announce an exciting job opportunity in its Washington, DC office, the Office of External Affairs.

The staff of the Office of External Affairs represents the National Spiritual Assembly in its relations with the federal and state governments, and in its activities with national and international non-governmental organizations, leaders of thought and the national media. The office also coordinates the interactions of and provides policy guidance to the U.S. Bahá’í community regarding its contact with government officials, leaders of thought and national and international non-governmental organizations.

The director is the head of staff and coordinator for the National Assembly’s four external affairs offices that include the Washington office, the U.S. United Nations Office and the Office of Public Information in New York, and the Bahá’í Refugee Office in Evanston, Illinois.

Principal Responsibilities

The human rights officer will work on various activities at the National Assembly’s Washington offices including:

• Collaboration with the director of the office in the defense of the Iranian Bahá’ís and Bahá’ís in other Muslim countries. The work includes diplomatic relations with U.S. government executive and congressional officials and contact with the national media on defense matters.
• Collaboration with nongovernmental organizations and agencies of the U.S. government on human rights, religious freedom, race issues, the U.N. World Conference Against Racism, the formation of the International Criminal Court, ratification and implementation of U.N. human rights treaties, and other relevant issues.
• Researching and drafting materials to support human rights and other related projects of the National Spiritual Assembly such as the promotion of human rights, religious freedom, and race unity.
• Assisting with communication and guidance to the U.S. Bahá’í community about the decisions and policies of the National Assembly in external affairs.
• Collaboration with the Bahá’í International Community and other National Spiritual Assemblies on external affairs issues.
• Collaboration with the three other external affairs offices as well as other offices, agencies, and committees of the National Assembly.

Qualifications

The individual who applies for the position should have demonstrated interest and experience in the application of Bahá’í principles to the current problems of society. A college degree is required. An advanced degree, such as law, political science, international relations or related field is highly desirable. At least five years’ related work experience is preferred. The individual must write and speak excellent English. Because much of the work involves attending meetings with government officials and other national organizations, researching and drafting of letters, and telephone conversations, the individual must have highly developed communication and consultation skills.

Please send your cover letter and résumés to: Office of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (fax 847-733-3430, e-mail ).

We regret that no inquiries (by phone, fax or e-mail) or visits to the Washington office can be accepted.

BAHÁ’Í SUBSCRIBER SERVICE • 800-999-9019

World Order

Your window to teaching, deepening and external affairs

Available in November: Summer 2000 issue: 150th anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Báb

• Editorial: The Báb (1817-50) • Muhammad Afnan on “The Bayán”
• Stephen Lambden offers a provisional translation of one of the writings of the Báb
• Howard Garey translates a passage from Gobineau about the beginnings of the Bábí Faith
• Karamat Momtazi showcases photographs of places associated with the ministry of the Báb.

Also available: Spring 2000 issue—Reflections on the Century of Light

• How do we reconcile the fact that the 20th century was arguably the bloodiest ever recorded with the fact that Bahá’ís see it as the century of light? Five authors weigh in with points of light in what is commonly perceived to be a dark century: Stephen Friberg on science and religion, Geoffrey Marks on Chaim Potok, Gary Morrison on the ages of transition, Jim Stokes on humanity’s family album, Milan Voykovic on the transmission and consumption of culture and ideas

Subscriptions: U.S.—$19 / year, $36 / 2 years Outside U.S. surface mail—$19 / year, $36 / 2 years Outside U.S. air mail—$24 / year, $46 / 2 years Single copy: $5 + 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 19

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, e-mail ___________ Single copy: $8 + shipping/handling

PIONEERING / HOMEFRONT

A change in homefront pioneering appeals

The four Regional Bahá’í Councils have taken on responsibility for coordinating U.S. homefront pioneering. Because of this, The American Bahá’í has changed the way it presents appeals for homefront pioneers. We will regularly print contacts and/or top-priority localities in each region for homefront pioneers, as reported to us by each Council. Please see page 9 in this issue.

“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.

ARCHIVES

The National Bahá’í Archives is seeking original letters written on behalf of the Guardian to the following: Mary J. Elmore, Della and Ralph Emery, Tillie Endelman, Gladys Endress, Sophia Engelhorn, Ruth Engler, Joanne Engman and Albert and Alice Entzminger. 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 60201-1611 (phone 847-853-2359).

The National Bahá’í Archives has prepared a series of biographical sketches of prominent African-American, Native American, Hispanic and Asian Bahá’ís for the use of local communities in Black History Month, Race Unity Day and other special events observances. There is also a partial chronology of U.S. race unity activities. Any community or individual wishing a set of these sketches is asked to send a request with a mailing address to the National Bahá’í Archives, 1233 Central Street, Evanston IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-869-9039).

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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 [Page 28]

Sundays are different after Bahá’í classes are rethought

“Desperation,” he answered. “That’s why our Local Assembly is trying a new approach to our Bahá’í Sunday school classes.”

That was the answer of one member of an Illinois Local Spiritual Assembly when asked why they were experimenting with a new format for classes in his community. Apathy and low attendance compelled the local Education Committee to rethink methods and goals in hopes of revitalizing this important activity for the community’s young believers.

Under the new structure, each young student gets to choose a project to carry out with the aid of an adult “mentor” and with as many partners as they wish. Students are encouraged to create projects that combine service, artistic expression, a “presentation” component to cultivate speaking skills, and a field trip or outreach element.

Independent, guided study of the teachings and the Faith’s history are the first step in project design, while the only limit is the creativity of the friends. Parents are encouraged to get actively involved, either in service to their own children or as mentors for others.

The committee and the Assembly brainstormed together on project ideas and offered them to the young believers as examples, while leaving the actual choices open to consultation between students and mentors.

EXPERIMENTS IN COMMUNITY BUILDING

Some of the new ideas included:

• Learning about and visiting the House of Worship, and volunteering to serve there.
• Creating methods and materials to introduce the Faith to a comparative religion class or a fireside, including dramatic dialogues or artistic displays.
• Making a “TV spot” on the Faith using a computer and video equipment lent to the Assembly by a community member.
• Creating a Web site.
• Painting the local Bahá’í center.

The new approach began with a team-building exercise in which adults and youth participated, followed by a guided session to start the first projects and link students with their partners and mentors. Early reports are promising, and with the community united behind the initiative, the friends expect encouraging results. Let’s stay tuned! ◆

If you have an innovative approach to building community where you live, share it with the National Spiritual Assembly’s Development Task Force, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (e-mail ).

Kitáb-i-Aqdas placed in Library of Congress

William Collins (left) and S.M. Waris Hamadani (second from right) display the illuminated first pages of the Arabic and Urdu editions of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas during a presentation ceremony with officials of the Library of Congress.

The Library of Congress now possesses 13 editions of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas in various languages, and will be receiving more as the Most Holy Book is translated into other tongues.

William Collins, a Bahá’í employed by the Library, and S.M. Waris Hamadani, a translator, made the presentation Aug. 17 to several key Library officials at the Thomas Jefferson Building in Washington, DC.

Hamadani had originally offered his Urdu translation to the Library. The institution’s recommending officer for religion replied that the Library should have all translations of this central work of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation in its collections.

So Collins—with the generous help of the Bahá’í World Center and working in cooperation with the National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of External Affairs—collected most of the available translations for the presentation.

They include Arabic with Arabic notes, Arabic with Persian notes, English first edition published by the Bahá’í World Center, Danish, Dutch, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai and Urdu.

Collins gave the assemblage background information on Bahá’u’lláh and the Faith. He also reviewed the circumstances of the revelation of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the subjects it addresses, its importance to the Bahá’í community, and its value to human civilization.

As an example of the reverence in which Bahá’ís hold the book, Collins related the practice of believers in Papua New Guinea who receive the Kitáb-i-Aqdas into a village with great ceremony, carry it to the local Bahá’í center, and place it respectfully in a prominent spot.

Hamadani also spoke briefly, describing the 18-month process of his Urdu translation leading to its publication in 1997.

Several of the Library of Congress officials present noted they have had fruitful contacts with Bahá’ís in Asia and the Middle East.

Two representatives of the Spiritual Assembly of Washington were among guests at the presentation. ◆

Mental health professionals group gains momentum

An organization dedicated to supporting Bahá’ís in mental health fields and helping them apply the principles of our Faith to their work is to hold its second annual conference, only months after being designated a membership-based agency of the National Spiritual Assembly.

This year’s conference of the Association of Bahá’í Mental Health Professionals (ABMHP) will be held Nov. 16–19 at Louhelen Bahá’í School, on the theme “Caring for the Light of the Spirit.”

With an array of lectures, workshops, case presentations and artistic presentations, the conference will focus on application of research and treatment techniques regarding a variety of trauma-related conditions. Confirmed presenters and their subjects include:

• Dr. V.L. Nair, an international authority on psychopharmacology and meditation, on the uses of the meditative faculty in therapeutic settings.
• Dr. John Woodall, a Harvard psychiatrist, on the treatment of war-related trauma following his pioneering work with children in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
• Dr. Patricia Romano, an expert in treatment of dissociative disorders, speaking on treatment of trauma-related pathologies.

Nominees for service on the ABMHP board will be considered during the annual business meeting at the conference.

Conceived at a Louhelen gathering in 1998, the nonprofit ABMHP is designed to assist mental health practitioners, educators, researchers and theoreticians who wish to apply insights from the Bahá’í writings to their professions—always in the light of the highest scientific and professional knowledge.

Those interested in attending the conference should register through Louhelen Bahá’í School (phone 810-753-5033). To join the ABMHP or learn more about it, visit the Web site (www.abmhp.org) or contact Adrienne Stengel (phone , e-mail ). ♦

Justice Society aims to develop variety of training

A goal of developing and presenting training modules was the focus of strategic planning at the 14th annual conference of the Bahá’í Justice Society (BJS), June 9–11 at Bosch Bahá’í School.

The modules BJS is developing and will encourage members to present include “Planned Giving,” to assist the National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of the Treasurer; “Law and LSAs,” to assist Local Assemblies; and “School Violence,” to assist American schools.

Other topics were suggested, such as alternative dispute resolution, consultation, college students and expanded legal referral services.

BJS also plans to sponsor a workshop, “Conflict Resolution Techniques in Bahá’í Administration,” at the upcoming Rabbani Trust social and economic development conference in Orlando, Florida.

The workshop will put to use BJS’ experience with mediation centers around the United States in addressing such issues as consultation and mediation, use of the Writings to facilitate creative thinking, and values-based decision-making.

Subjects of presentations at the conference included mediation and conflict resolution, the implications of justice for the individual in the context of unity, a Bahá’í lawyers association in Southern California, and the new institution of Regional Bahá’í Councils.

BJS, founded in 1986, operates under the auspices of the National Assembly. It is open to all people “desiring to work for the ideals of justice,” Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís alike. Members include musicians, students, educators, lawyers and others.

For more information about BJS activities, becoming a member or otherwise supporting the society, contact the Bahá’í Justice Society, P.O. Box 79684, Houston, TX 77279 (Web site www.bahaijustice.org). For referrals to an attorney, contact Stephen Connor (phone 713-625-2882). ♦ [Page 29]

THEATRE,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

quotations the children have memorized. Some are from The Promise of World Peace, The Vision of Race Unity, The Promulgation of Universal Peace or the Bible. Others are from voices as distinguished as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Albert Einstein, and Anne Frank—or as offbeat as Miss Piggy of Muppets fame.

More than impressive So proud are the children of their newfound knowledge, say parents, that they recite quotations every chance they get—to the astonishment of teachers and others.

Movafegh and Mansuri are not in the least surprised by that. They recall as “little Persian girls” memorizing quotations from the Writings. That unshakeable foundation has anchored everything they since have learned.

Through the stories and quotations are illuminated such principles as racial harmony, unity in diversity, oneness of God, interfaith understanding, the value of education and conflict resolution.

Providing fuel are themes based on United Nations days or celebrated by the world’s religions. The youngest children learn virtues. (All students, in fact, sign a virtues “contract” governing their commitment and behavior.) The middle children focus on the themes themselves, using materials provided by the Bahá’í International Community staff. The eldest tackle heavy social issues related to the themes.

“It’s a wonderful way to introduce the Bahá’í Faith without being intrusive,” Mansuri said.

“It’s a very indirect teaching,” Movafegh agreed, noting that just by being at the Center, parents and children learn about the Faith. “But they directly memorize the Writings,” Mansuri noted. Movafegh added: “Those are the quotations they take to school.”

Not only to school, but to churches and synagogues, where the children also have performed by invitation.

Children’s Theatre Company staffers have included (top row, left to right) Leda Duif, Roya Movafegh, Mehr Mansuri, Kamal Sinclair, (bottom row, left to right) Tommy Diaz, Karida Griffith, Dora Carlyn, Lakresha Gray, Anna Ruhe, Jeanine Gallina, and Nancy Ewing. Not pictured: Niki Abrishamian, Keith Godbout, Lory Lazarus, Ramin Talaie and Clyde Herring. Photo by Mike Relph

Offstage roles for parents Children are charged a fee for participating in CTC, but parents who can’t afford it can serve in a variety of ways: perhaps providing refreshments and transportation or helping with cleanup.

All parents are invited to engage in discussions while their children rehearse.

Centering on social issues, the discussions are facilitated by a Bahá’í employing the rules of consultation.

The project’s modest income allows the teachers to be paid. The compensation might not amount to much more than cab fare, but Movafegh and Mansuri say it’s a matter of principle.

The same professionalism extends to everything the company attempts: Costumes, sets, props, scripts, choreography, exhibits etc. are executed at a level of which any troupe would be proud.

CTC might be cash-poor, but it is rich in human resources and ingenuity.

That begs the question: Can the Children’s Theatre Company concept be replicated elsewhere?

The project directors are convinced it can be, though maybe not on the same scale. Few cities (or Bahá’í communities) have such a pool of talent to tap.

For that matter, can CTC itself be sustained over the long term?

Again, Mansuri and Movafegh say yes—and without soliciting funds from believers, which they will not do. The answer, they say, lies in grants, which the project’s public acclaim should help them obtain.

But don’t expect the company’s dynamic duo to rest on their laurels.

“We are keeping our egos in check,” Mansuri said. “Just as we sit back and enjoy the lovely encouragement, some kid loses his socks and we find ourselves invariably looking for them under some table.

“Then we realize that our ‘15 minutes’ is really a fragile moment or two, and we had better be enjoying the actual work.” The results speak for themselves. ♦

Feedback from parents about CTC

“In our current community, my children don’t get the chance to rub elbows with such a diverse group of career-oriented children and parents. The staff at the Children’s Theatre Company has brought this hands-on approach of life enhancement, self-awareness, and the opportunity to practice honest fundamentals that are needed to raise our siblings to become fun-loving, responsible adults.”

•

“[T]he entire staff was truly kind, caring, considerate and most of all patient. The outpouring of love and sincere thanks was well received.”

•

“Dear God, thank you for extending our family to include Children’s Theatre and the Bahá’í family. As I said before, you answered our prayers. Thank you, Father.”

•

“On May 8, 2000, Samara came to her teacher to tell her that she knew a quote that she would like to share with her. She recited: ‘No nation can achieve success unless education is accorded to all its citizens’ [The Promise of World Peace]. After the first sentence her teacher’s mouth opened. ... Samara continued and finished her quote. The teacher asked if Samara could print, decorate and submit it for her to put up.”

•

“My favorite memory is when I see people from all background and faith unite to do good for all people.”

•

“I believe my daughter grew tremendously in all areas in terms of her acting and socializing.”

•

“The Children’s Theatre Company is absolutely a wonderful experience for my children. ... I would like to thank all the people involved in this program. I would also like ‎thank to thank‎ them for caring enough about inner-city children and their positive development.”

ENRICHMENT,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

around their heads.

Math, science, literature, art, music, poetry and other studies are similarly intertwined with lessons in conscience and positive action.

Another level of understanding is introduced through dialogue, object lessons and role-playing. The latter is guided on occasion by acting professionals.

In one special summer project the children expanded their idea of “diversity” by learning the facts of blindness, not just through books and films, but with a variety of activities including ‎a field trips field trips‎ to a park with a Braille trail and an entire class period spent blindfolded.

With these steps taken in preparation, the children attended a party with children at the Braille Institute for the Blind—bringing textured artwork they had made as gifts, and performing songs and poetry they had written.

The result: The children struck up friendships, without teasing or condescension.

Then there are the learning-by-doing projects: baking goodies and delivering them to a homeless shelter; helping with a beach cleanup; going to a store to learn money ‎mangement management‎.

“The field trip to the shelter made them very aware of other people and their needs,” one parent wrote in the annual evaluation. “They wanted to make sure they contributed to the food baskets.”

“I have noticed very much improvement in my child’s critical thinking skills,” another wrote, while a third stated: “My children now seem to take time to make suggestions for resolving conflict.”

Parents, in fact, are playing a greater role in the process this year than before. A parents’ advisory board has not only consulted on advice to give the program staff, it also helps raise funds and facilitates volunteer service.

In addition to the Los Angeles Spiritual Assembly and several anonymous donors, the CEP’s benefactors this year include the California Wellness Foundation, Pacific Bell and the Taslimi Foundation, which have provided grant money. Starline Tours and the city of Los Angeles also contributed free transportation for field trips. ♦

CEP students get in a little outdoor recreation during a break in their summer program. Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Bahá’í Journal [Page 30]

Bahiyyih Ford Winckler

Aug. 3, 1907–Sept. 9, 2000

The following message from the Universal House of Justice was transmitted to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of South Africa on Sept. 11, 2000:

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

We grieve at the passing of Bahiyyih Ford Winckler, a radiant supporter of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, so dearly cherished and profoundly appreciated for her devoted services in her native United States and for her subsequent pioneer work of more than four decades in southern Africa. Her childhood associations with the beloved Master and her pilgrimage to the Holy Land at the age of twelve left an indelible influence on her warm personality that shone throughout her life and distinguished her activities as a Continental Counselor for Africa and, earlier, as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of South and West Africa.

We extend our loving sympathy to the members of her family and all others who mourn her loss, and assure them of our heartfelt prayers at the Holy Threshold for the progress of her noble soul in the Abhá Kingdom.

In honor of so outstanding a life, we advise your National Assembly to hold memorial gatherings throughout South Africa. The National Assembly of Uganda is also being advised to hold a memorial service in the Mother Temple of Africa.

The Universal House of Justice

A detailed obituary article will appear in a future issue of The American Bahá’í. ♦

IN MEMORIAM

William Abel Port Townsend, WA April 11, 2000	Delcia Lopez Lincoln, NE August 7, 2000	Julia Reyna Uvalde, TX June 27, 2000
Nancy Bowens Durham, NC 1997	Donald Kaiser Monticello, IA July 24, 1999	Betty J. Rivas King County, WA August 30, 2000
Carol E. Chappell Paso Robles, CA March 19, 2000	Forough Maghzi Los Angeles, CA August 9, 2000	Davoud Saniee Fairfax County, VA August 20, 2000
Rachel N. Curry Temple, NH August 10, 1999	Sara S. McClellan Cochise County, AZ July 16, 2000	Annie R. Thompson Cochise County, AZ December 1999
Parvin Ghazanfari Irvine, CA July 5, 2000	Hazel Parkhurst Glendale, CA July 2000	Helen Wheeler Greenfield, MA June 19, 2000
Blanche G. Graf Milton-Freewater, OR July 16, 2000	Austin H. Quist Olympia, WA August 14, 2000	Luther Willis Beaufort, SC August 11, 2000

Edna Caverly spent 30 years at pioneering post in Trinidad and Tobago

Message of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Trinidad and Tobago:

The Universal House of Justice was saddened to learn from your email of 21 January 2000 of the passing of long-time pioneer Mrs. Edna Ruth Caverly. The example she set in the teaching field will, no doubt, be an inspiration to those who follow her footsteps in service to the Cause in Trinidad and Tobago. You may rest assured of the prayers of the House of Justice at the Sacred Threshold for the progress of her soul throughout the worlds of God, and for the comfort and support of her husband, Joel, and her many friends.

Department of the Secretariat

Edna Ruth Caverly, Bahá’í pioneer to Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies, passed to the Abhá Kingdom on Jan. 19, 2000, after three decades at her pioneering post.

She was enrolled as a Bahá’í by Richard Morgan of Savannah, Georgia. Edna and her husband, Joel, were married in the first Bahá’í wedding ceremony in Trinidad and Tobago in August 1970, and were together at their post in the Port of Spain area into their 30th year.

From Trinidad Edna made two pilgrimages to the Holy Land, traveled to teach the Faith in the Caribbean and in Kenya, and was very active in local teaching activities.

She also was a foundation member of the Non-Governmental Organization for the Advancement of Women in Trinidad, always the main thrust of Edna’s NGO work. Attending the Bahá’í World Congress during 1992 in New York was Edna’s last occasion to leave the island. ♦

DAWNING, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

the power of effective consultation.

We could consult. For hours.

I was taken completely aback by the prayer before a consultation—an hour of prayer and songs, often without a single prayer book—followed by honesty, an attempt at understanding other points of view, and constant recollection that unity was our ultimate goal, both in the group and in the world.

Then there was the teaching. We performed for unity marches, parades, conferences. Our song of unity soared as we brought our message to schools, churches, parks, boys and girls clubs, boot camps, multicultural fests, even a juvenile detention center.

Early in the trip we befriended a young restaurant server who, to our delight, showed up at a performance. We prayed with her backstage, and after we performed she shared that she had been moved to the depths of her soul—she had been struggling personally, we showed her the power to want to heal. The local Bahá’ís, the project and I will never lose contact with her.

We held firesides in several communities: one with two Mormon elders, another with a man in Lexington, Kentucky, who was passing by, and one in Mississippi for a man who saw us performing at the mall and had been to Bahá’í firesides before. He was moved to declare his belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

One beautiful soul from Ohio, who had actually spent the first day with the group working on dances, traveled with us for two weeks and then returned with her brother the last three days. One man wanted to be with the youth so badly that he left all his affairs in Little Rock, Arkansas, to continue with us the rest of the way.

Our performances found us in all kinds of situations. We once threw a performance together in five minutes after a parade, at a stage where the featured band was taking a break. That day we, a group of 12 teen-agers, performed across the street from shops flying the Confederate flag and from a newsstand displaying an article that spoke of re-establishing slavery.

Another quickly arranged performance came in a buffet restaurant. When we told the staff who we were, they said they wanted to see us in action. We moved some tables out of the way and got busy.

At one point the Regional Council for the Southern States arranged for an extra chaperon when it appeared arrangements might fall apart. We all accepted and befriended Greg, and of course we kept moving.

Time and again, we heard one thing from adults who saw this group: They wanted to tell others to get out of the way of the youth and let them move the world, to support them rather than try to direct them, for they all felt we were doing the unimaginable.

Who says the youth of this age are not properly motivated? ♦

TUCSON, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

Every morning thereafter, the youth were steeped in methods of getting their peers “involved in correcting the degeneration of society” by upholding high moral standards that include service to the community, according to a report from co-organizers in Tucson.

Immediately after each morning’s training, youths were organized into teams to carry out:

• Teaching through performance, facilitated by Bahá’í youth workshops.
• Service projects, under the banner of “Bahá’í Youth Corps.”

The youth workshops focused on spreading the message of Bahá’u’lláh through the arts: mini-performances and artistic firesides at the university campus, malls, parks, libraries and a children’s shelter.

Selected performers spent their non-study time creating a powerful dramatic program for the large proclamation at the Civic Center.

Service projects were carried out at such Tucson locales as Boys and Girls Clubs, a juvenile detention center, the local AIDS Foundation and old age homes. Activities included neighborhood cleanups, house repairs and assistance in soup kitchens.

Turning their service to local Bahá’í communities, the youth prepared devotions for Feasts in several localities as well as speaking at numerous firesides.

“A spirit of pride was generated,” the Tucson friends reported, “immense pride in the whole project, as group after group in the city of Tucson was the beneficiary of their care and devotion to service.” ♦ [Page 31]

EDUCATION

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

classes for children and youth. More than two-thirds of these communities collaborate with other localities to provide this instruction.

In all, at least three-fourths of Bahá’í children and youth live in communities that sponsor Bahá’í classes for children.

The nationwide survey was conducted earlier this year by the National Teaching Committee in collaboration with the Office of Education and Schools.

The goal was to gather information about the state of children and education programs in the U.S. Bahá’í community, helping clarify areas where additional program development and coordination could be best focused.

The next step will be a survey of parents. Following will be a survey of teachers and, eventually, of students themselves.

Key points of the survey

This online survey was administered to 1,180 Local Spiritual Assemblies; 457 completed surveys were received.

Important findings

Bahá’í education for children and youth is a collaborative activity. Most communities band together to provide instruction for children. Only 15 percent of all communities (and 26 percent of those that sponsor education classes) say they provide education independently.

At least three-fourths of Bahá’í children and youth live in communities that sponsor Bahá’í classes for children. Fifty-eight percent of Assemblies sponsor children’s education. About 25 percent of Bahá’í children live in communities that do not sponsor Bahá’í education for children (42 percent of Assemblies do not sponsor Bahá’í education).

Communities with children tend to have higher participation rates by the members in its community life. More than two-thirds of communities with members under 18 (69 percent) have adult participation rates greater than 50 percent. Only about half of adults (over 15 years of age) live in communities with more than 50 percent participation.

Smaller communities report higher rates of adult participation than larger communities. Three-fourths of communities with fewer than 50 members report participation rates greater than 50 percent. Only one-third of those with more than 50 members report such participation rates.

The majority of Bahá’í children (60 percent) live in communities with fewer than 50 members. Approximately half of adults live in communities with fewer than 50 members. About 60 percent of children under 15 attend classes regularly in communities that sponsor classes. Average attendance in communities with fewer than 50 members is 68 percent; in communities with greater than 50 members, it is 52 percent.

Average annual per capita educational expenditure for children under 18 by Assemblies that sponsor classes is $35. The average per capita expenditure by communities with fewer than 50 members is $43; the average by communities with greater than 50 members is $27.

About 57 percent of Assemblies sponsor Bahá’í education classes for children and youth.

A variety of curriculum formats are used for the ‎instruction instruction of‎ children and youth. The Core Curriculum is the most prevalent format in use among localities.

For a copy of the full report, please send a self-addressed and stamped envelope to the Education and Schools Office, U.S. Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201.

Children boost overall activity

Results from the Assembly survey suggest that communities with children tend to have a larger proportion of active adults.

This was borne out in randomly sought comments from several friends who have served in the education of Bahá’í children.

Cindy Pacileo of Vilas, North Carolina, said it seems to her that families with children form the core of active Bahá’ís.

“I tend to think that it is generally the families with children who are most active and work to fill the needs of all members—young and old. They often come to meetings and make sure that there is less interference, less to keep them from participating,” Pacileo said. “Of course, there’s always exceptions.”

Juli Redson Smith of Westminster, Colorado, said she thinks people are looking to provide moral education for their children.

“If it’s good for the children, it’s good for all of us,” she said. Material that keeps children in mind, she added, often remains fresh and accessible to adults as well.

Sheila Banani of Santa Monica, California, said, “Years ago in our own community we were the only family with young children and we helped set up a school here. Our community just kept growing then.”

She added, “If you have a community with just older people, there is a tendency to do the minimum—with exceptions, of course. Families with children tend to increase the level of activity for the children, and other adults as well.”

Staying active in community life and learning about the Faith, she added, are “so critical for the young adults who are in the process of establishing and confirming their Bahá’í identity.”

Family connection

A related survey sampling showed that children raised in Bahá’í families remain in the Faith at a higher rate than young people who chose the Faith on their own.

For example, more than four out of five children registered by parents since 1986 are currently active members. This may suggest that retention in the Faith is more likely when parents take a high interest in their children becoming well-grounded in the Faith and establishing an identity as a Bahá’í.

Such results make dedication to the education of Bahá’í children even more important.

“I’ve only worked with a couple of kids who came into the Faith without their families,” Redson Smith said. “I have found that if the family then becomes involved, they all become active. If the family doesn’t, it’s hard for the children to remain active. Again, only time will tell.”

The survey indicated a wide variety of curriculum formats are in use for instruction of children and youth. Three-quarters of communities that sponsor education say they use Core Curriculum materials.

About a fifth of the schools have appointed an education coordinator. Classes are most commonly held Sundays during the school year, with about a fourth of schools also providing summer classes.

Other key results: Most classes are open to non-Bahá’ís; most Bahá’í children (60 percent) live in communities with fewer than 50 members; about 60 percent of children under 15 attend classes regularly in communities that sponsor classes; and Assemblies sponsoring classes spend an average of $35 per year for each student under the age of 18.

“I think that a child of Bahá’í parents who is not brought to a Bahá’í school is not as likely to be involved in other aspects of the Faith as well,” Banani said. “They don’t go to Feast, and just don’t see themselves as Bahá’ís.”

She described an integral part of Santa Monica’s active community development process: “We register the children, take them to classes, and they are automatically sent their Bahá’í ID card when they are 15. They attend years of classes, attend high school Bahá’í clubs, and help form college clubs, and so on,” she said.

“Bahá’í school is simply the first step,” she continued. “Most of these young people I’ve known have grown up and become teachers themselves in Bahá’í school, and, as they grow up and move away ... have begun to even serve on Assemblies.”

Lasting effects

“Just a few of the kids I’ve worked with are now becoming adults,” Redson Smith said. Most of those she knows are now part of the local youth workshop.

“I found that if the kids don’t connect in the form of activities by the time they are 13 and 14, they’ll just drift away,” she said. “The youth will find some other place to make friends. And what this age needs is the opportunity to develop friendships with other Bahá’ís.

“These relationships become the glue that helps keep the kids in the community. They then become connected as ‘one of the few.’ If they don’t, they drift away for a while. I don’t know if they will come back later,” Redson Smith said.

What seems apparent from the survey and the responses of educators is that a strong, solid effort has been sustained for years in the education of the young children, and that activities through groups such as Bahá’í youth workshops are helping to keep pre-youth and youth connected to the lifeline of the Faith.

One very large need—apparently often-unmet—is consistent weekly classes for young people ages 11–14. Those who have been successful in this effort are asked to share their information with the Education and Schools Office (phone 847-733-3492, e-mail schools@usbnc.org).

Child-development-centered communities: How does that concept help the whole of the Cause?

Education of children in Bahá’í families is demanding and challenging. And Bahá’í communities that focus sustained energy toward that need often reap benefits in other areas of community life, the education and youth survey found.

Many communities appear to have adopted the goal of becoming a child-development-centered community. Several educators were asked what this means to them.

Juli Redson Smith of Westminster, Colorado, said, “I found that the reality is that the concept of a child development-centered community is much bigger than just for children, but it instead applies to the child in all of us.

“And it’s been my experience that people, even adults, really like it. ‘If it’s good for the children, it’s good for all of us.’ That’s a good meter for the community.

“I think that a child-development-centered community is something where the community is focused on the virtues, based in scripture, for everyone. It’s been that whole moral and spiritual focus for all of us—all the adults, not just the parents,” Redson Smith said.

Sheila Banani of Santa Monica, California, noted, “A child-development-centered community works beautifully. It is a wonderful emphasis, a concept given to us in years past.

“Our children and youth [in Santa Monica] participate in the Feast in several ways: reading, hosting, presenting. The children are part of our community. We haven’t had room to put them somewhere else, so they simply have had to attend Feast with us.

“We provide educational, psychological and financial support to our children and youth. We have a 19-day newsletter, and we celebrate the successes of our children as much as we can in the Feast. We pay a lot of attention to our children. We bring them to Feast. We give scholarships to support their trips.

“Yes, we thoroughly understand that children are not adults and can’t be expected to think and act like adults. But they can act with consideration and are certainly able to follow up on things they devise. They need to be part of the intergenerational life of the community,” Banani said.

“I believe a child-development-centered community is one where children are participants in all aspects of the life of the community: in deepenings, prayers, Feasts, decisions, service projects, etc.,” said Cindy Pacileo of Vilas, North Carolina, who currently serves as coordinator of the Bahá’í youth workshop in her community. [Page 32]

2000 BAHÁ’Í CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE AMERICAS

December 14–17, 2000 • Rosen Plaza Hotel • Orlando, Florida

THEME: ADVANCING THE PROCESS OF TRANSFORMING THE WORLD

TOPICS

• The organic nature of social and economic development. What is SED all about?
• A new vision for the arts in building Bahá’u’lláh’s new order.
• SED and Indian Peoples in the Americas.
• Agriculture and Environment: Bound by the Covenant.
• Use of music as a metaphor for racial harmony.
• Youth leadership for community service.
• Getting to the nitty gritty: identifying community realities as a first step in development planning for the individual and community planning.
• Living the life of SED.
• Conflict resolution techniques in Bahá’í administration.
• Moral Leadership program ... and much, much more.

MUSIC AND DRAMA Inspirational learning through the arts, Leslie Asplund, director; featuring the talents of Laura Lee, Farzad Khozein, Eric Dozier, Gina and Russ Garcia, Bill and Bridget George, Narges, Dan and Andi Seals, Anne and Tim Perry, the Quinn Family (Martin, Wendy and Caitlyn), Christina and Richard Quinn, Kathryn Tahiri, Shahram Shahriary, Mansoor Sobhani, Ludwig Tuman, Anne Tomas, Susan Lewis Wright, Phil Lucas, Mark Ochu, Joyce Olinga, and more.

This year’s conference theme is “Advancing the Process of Transforming the World,” which was inspired by the draft compilation prepared by the Office of Social and Economic Development: “Seminar on Social and Economic Development—July 1999.” Virtually all the topics of the keynote addresses have been drawn from this valued and profoundly enriching document. Key elements of the program plan include a mixture of full plenary and smaller concurrent sessions featuring presentations on SED principles, concepts and core processes and in-depth case studies, with a number of repeat sessions to assist the friends in being able to attend sessions of interest.

Featured speakers: Peter Adriance (U.S.), Douglas Allen (U.S.), Dwight Allen (U.S.), Eloy Anello (Bolivia), William Davis (U.S.), Danielle Locke (U.S.), Patricia Locke (U.S.), Gordon Naylor (Canada), Susanne and Andras Tamas (Canada), Ludwig Tuman (U.S.), Mark Wedge (Canada), Donald Witzel (Venezuela), Johanna Merritt Wu (U.S.)

Registration & Fees

Register online at our Web site: www.rabbanitrust.org For general information, call 407-740-5415

Adults $120 • Youth (15–20 years) $80 • Children and Junior Youth (3–14 years) $60 • Add $19 contribution if possible for scholarships Add $20 per person after Nov. 10 • No refunds for “no-shows” • All cancellations subject to a $20 cancellation fee

TO REGISTER BY MAIL: Use the Multipurpose Form on this page • SEPARATE COPY FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL REGISTERING Mail check (in U.S. dollars) to Rabbani Charitable Trust • 2693 W. Fairbanks Ave. Suite A • Winter Park, Florida 32789

OR: To pay by credit card (Visa, MC, Amex, DC, CB), under “Special Information” write card number, exp. date, amount paid, cardholder’s signature

HOTEL/AIRLINE/RENTAL CAR INFORMATION

Hotel rooms at the Rosen (formerly Clarion) Plaza Hotel in Orlando: $50 per night (up to 4 people per room) Limited availability—call promptly 800-627-8258; mention Bahá’í Families

Delta Airlines discounts through American Travel Consultants 800-393-5050 File #164074A Avis Car Rental discounts 800-331-1600 • Avis Worldwide Discount Group #D131183

INFORMATION ON YOUR INTERNATIONAL TEACHING TRIP

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

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

Use the Multipurpose Form below to respond by mail. 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?

Southern Regional Conference

A CELEBRATION OF THE SOUTH

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 2000 REGIONAL BAHÁ’Í COUNCIL OF THE SOUTHERN STATES

November 23–26 Renaissance Nashville Hotel

Make your plans now to mark the midpoint of the Twelve Month Plan in Nashville this Thanksgiving.

More than 2,000 Bahá’ís are expected to attend this historic gathering that will aid us in advancing the process of entry by troops in the South!

Pre-registration deadline is Nov. 10. If you have not yet registered, please choose one of the following options: Web: www.conferencemanagement.net/bahai_regional.htm E-mail: Request an electronic copy of the registration form by sending an e-mail message to and include your e-mail address in the Subject line. Fax: Send the completed form to 831-646-3373 (form available on the Web site) Mail: CMS, PO Box 2506, Monterey, CA 93943

Please DO NOT send registration forms to the conference office. For registration questions, please call 831-646-3375.

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): ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________

IN HONOR OR IN MEMORY

Honor those you love on their special days or remember them after they’ve passed on with a gift to the National Bahá’í Fund.

Forms available:

• On the Web (www.usbnc.org)
• By mail from the Office of the Treasurer, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201

[Page 33]

Students cycle across country to help children with HIV

Stephen Sobhani, a Bahá’í student at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, was helping out at a holiday party for children infected with HIV late in 1998. He was aghast when he found that half of all people infected with the AIDS virus worldwide are younger than 15.

“We all walked away thinking there’s a lot more we can do for those kids,” he was quoted as saying in a university news release.

So he and several other students did something about it: they established It’s For the Kids, a nonprofit foundation to raise awareness, attention and funds for the medical needs of children born with HIV in the Washington, DC, area.

Volunteer services include companionship for HIV-positive children, a pen-pal program and public education activities, according to the organization’s Web site (www.itsforthekids.org).

The group drew media attention with its summer fund-raising drive: a 3,298-mile bicycle ride from San Francisco to Washington, accomplished May 25–July 6 by 10 students. The ride took the organization more than halfway toward its fund-raising goal of $100,000.

Sobhani, chair of the fund-raising committee, contacted many corporations and individuals throughout the country. “The response from the contributors was most positive and praiseworthy,” wrote his parents, Morris and Gloria Sobhani of Santa Barbara, California.

When the riders arrived in Washington, the city provided a full police escort, and the feat was celebrated with a reception organized by the university and Georgetown Hospital.

Dignitaries at the event included Virginia Hayes Williams, mother of the mayor; the Rev. Leo O’Donovan, university president; and several other top university officials, as well as many of the children who benefited, their parents and grandparents.

Persian Culture event examines 20th century

The opportunity to look back at the 20th century through the filter of Bahá’í teachings drew more than 1,200 people to the 10th annual conference of the Friends of Persian Culture Association.

The number of attendees was by far the highest ever. They came from all around the United States as well as from Canada, Europe and Australia. A number of non-Bahá’í Iranian friends of the Faith also attended as guests of the Association.

Music and the arts, as always, were an integral part of this year’s conference of the Friends of Persian Culture Association.

The Aug. 31–Sept. 3 conference at the Chicago O’Hare Marriott Hotel had as its theme “Twentieth Century: The Century of Light.”

Both the Persian- and the English-language sessions focused on characteristics of the century and the beginnings of society’s evolution toward a global civilization. Major trends in Iran during the past 100 years also were examined.

On Friday morning, Robert C. Henderson, secretary-general of the National Spiritual Assembly, greeted the audience on behalf of the National Assembly.

He reminded attendees of the important role the Iranian members of the U.S. Bahá’í community have in the development of local communities in the United States and in the completion of the Kingdom Project.

Sessions were accented with high-caliber artistic expression lent by performers from North America and Europe.

Held concurrently were programs for children ages 3–6 and 7–11, a youth session, an arts exhibit and a bookshop.

Daily shuttles took many participants to the Bahá’í House of Worship and on tours of Bahá’í historical sites in Chicago.

Refugee Office issues reminder on ‘green cards’

The U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office wishes to notify the friends who have an expiring or expired permanent residency card (“green card”) that although they do not lose their legal status as permanent residents in the United States if they do not renew their green card, they may nevertheless want to renew it to maintain evidence of their permanent residency status and avoid possible difficulties in obtaining employment, benefits, and re-entry into the United States after traveling abroad.

The renewal fee is $110. Effective June 20, the procedure to renew permanent residency cards is as follows:

1. Ask to receive Form I-90 in the mail by calling the INS Forms Line (800-870-3676) or the National Customer Service Center (800-375-5283); or download Form I-90 from the INS Web site (www.ins.usdoj.gov).

2. Go to the nearest INS Application Support Center (ASC). For the location and hours of the nearest ASC, call the National Customer Service Center (phone number above). You must bring all of the following:

• Completed form I-90.
• $110 money order.
• Your expiring/expired green card.
• Photocopies of both sides of the green card (we recommend making another copy for your records).
• Two identical color photos.
• Personal identification (e.g., ‎drivers driver’s‎ license, state ID, passport).

If your name has changed, you must also bring documentation of the change (e.g., marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order). If you were under age 14 when you received your first green card and are 14 or older at time of renewal, you must be fingerprinted and bring a $25 money order to pay for fingerprinting.

3. If everything is in order, INS will issue a black sticker extending the validity of the green card. The new card will arrive in the mail later.

For more information, please contact the INS National Customer Service Center toll-free (phone 800-375-5283).

MEDIA, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

had the effect of empowering Bahá’ís.

The media exposure has also led thousands of people to approach Bahá’ís who have been living the life by excellent example before their friends and acquaintances.

Many, many more who have had their first exposure to the Bahá’í Faith through media efforts have completely bypassed calling 1-800-22-UNITE, a local phone number, or the Web site. Instead, they have gone straight to local Bahá’í centers or called local Bahá’í telephone numbers. This phenomenon has been reported more in California and in the Central States.

Over and over the signs are clear. In localities where the friends are united in their purpose, a vibrant Bahá’í community exists, and the urgency to act is translated into loving, nurturing and systematic action, seekers are showing up on our doorstep and wanting to become part of the transformation of humanity. It is also clear that while many Bahá’ís are ready, the seekers themselves are engaged in advancing the process of entry by troops.

Striking a chord in Albuquerque

In late summer, the National Teaching Committee asked the Albuquerque, New Mexico, community to market-test the new video, La Fe Bahá’í—Latinos in the Bahá’í Faith, which includes three Spanish-language commercials. A Bahá’í who works at the local Spanish-language television station approached the station about airing the program. The station’s management was so enthusiastic about the message, it is airing the commercials free.

Then a local media consultant, a friend of the Faith, took on the task of placing the video programs on the other television stations in the market: ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox and PAX.

In September, New Mexico Bahá’ís had received 19 inquiries through the media campaign seeker response system, but in just the first 12 days of October, 90 seekers asked for local contact information in Albuquerque and other communities in the television coverage area. The program was only slated to run for three weeks, and the friends were eagerly finding ways to sustain the momentum generated by the Message.

CONWAY, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

Bahá’í Faith,” the acquaintance said. “I saw a commercial over the weekend and it was so compelling I decided I owe it to myself to investigate this for myself.” The seeker was sent literature and referred to the public Web site (www.us.bahai.org). He attended a Holy Day event and then brought his family to the devotional gatherings.

A Conway city councilman, who also is a Lay Methodist minister, was developing a cultural diversity center for his church. An admirer of the Bahá’í racial unity record, the lay minister borrowed a number of Bahá’í materials—both secular (Study Circles Resource Center) and more outwardly linked with the Bahá’í message (“Toward Oneness,” The Vision of Race Unity and The Bahá’ís magazine). The contact reported that “he’d not been able to sleep the night before, and had read and reread some passages from ‘Toward Oneness.’ ” He asked to keep the material and said he hadn’t understood the depth of the Faith before. [Page 34]مبارکش در زادگاهش حمله‌ای وارد شود، شعله‌اش از قعر دریاها برخواهد کرد. دیدیم چگونه دو مشرق‌الاذکار یکی در ساموآ و دیگری در هندوستان سر از زمین بلند کرد. دیدیم که مقر بیت‌العدل اعظم بنا شد؛ راه جمهوری‌های شرق در شوروی سابق و همچنین در سایر کشورها برای ورود امر مبارک هموار شد. اما در عین حال دیدیم که عدۀ زیادی از احبای ایرانی وارد جامعۀ بهائی ایالات متحده شدند و اکنون به صورت قلب جامعۀ بهائی این کشور درآمده‌اند. اغراق نیست، هر چند احبای ایرانی فقط ۱۰ درصد جامعۀ بهائی آمریکا را تشکیل می‌دهند، اما وقتی به مجهودات و خدماتی که می‌کنند نگاه می‌کنیم، می‌بینیم که نسبت آن بسیار بیشتر از آن ۱۰ درصدی است که جامعۀ بهائی را تشکیل می‌دهد.

به عنوان مثال این مطلب را عرض می‌کنم: در طی نقشۀ چهار ساله یکی از اهداف جامعۀ بهائی آمریکا این بود که ۶۵۰۰ مهاجر و مبلغ سیار به نقاط مختلف جهان بفرستیم. بیت‌العدل اعظم به محفل ملی نوشتند که این هدف ممکن است خارق‌العاده و زیاده از حد بزرگ باشد و پیشنهاد فرمودند که شاید بهتر باشد آن را اندکی تقلیل بدهیم. به هر حال احباء پشتکار نشان دادند و در آن چهار سال بیش از ۶۵۰۰ نفر به عنوان مهاجر و مبلغ سیار به نقاط گوناگون جهان رفتند که بیش از ۶۰۰ نفر آنها را بهائیان سیاه‌پوست تشکیل می‌دادند که به آفریقا سفر کردند. احبای ایرانی ۳۸ درصد این مهاجران و مبلغان را تشکیل می‌دادند که به سراسر جهان رفتند.

وقتی به برگزاری ضیافات نوزده‌روزه و یا برنامه‌ریزی و گرفتن جلسات ایام متبرکه نگاه می‌کنیم، وقتی به میزان شرکت در انتخابات بهائی و تأسیس و تشکیل محافل روحانی محلی و شوراهای ناحیه‌ای و محفل روحانی ملی نگاه می‌کنیم، می‌بینیم که احبای ایرانی حدود ۴۰ درصد را تشکیل می‌دهند.

وقتی در کل جامعۀ بهائی ایالات متحده به جوامعی برمی‌خوریم که در حال رشد و پررونق‌اند، می‌بینیم که احبای ایرانی در آن جوامع حس حرکت ایجاد کرده‌اند و روح و روحانیتی به آنها داده‌اند که باعث شده که آن جوامع شکوفا شوند و پر از شور و تحرک باشند و به خدماتشان ادامه دهند.

محفل روحانی ملی از بنده خواسته‌اند که به شما عزیزان این مسأله را ابلاغ کنم که ما، در حال حاضر، از لحاظ رشد و توسعۀ جامعۀ بهائی ایالات متحده در یک موقف بسیار حساسی قرار داریم؛ محفل ملی چشم انتظارشان به احبای ایرانی است که سهمی ایفا کنند و مسؤولیتی بر عهده بگیرند؛ سهمی و مسؤولیتی که متناسب با مواهب و میراث روحانیی باشد که خدا به آنها اعطاء کرده است.

چند سال پیش از این، بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی به همۀ بهائیان فرمودند که زمان آن رسیده است که روش منظمی برای شناسائی کردن افراد محب ترتیب بدهیم. این بود که جامعۀ بهائی ایالات متحده در صدد برآمد که به دنبال شناسائی کسانی برود که عطش روحانی دارند و در پی یافتن یک حیات روحانی‌اند. کاشف به عمل آمد که حدود ۳۰ میلیون آمریکایی در جستجوی تأمین حیات روحانی و دین جدیدی هستند. البته استحضار دارید که برنامه‌های ویدیوئی خاصی تهیه شده و در سراسر کشور از طریق تلویزیون پخش شده و می‌شود. هدف از تهیۀ این برنامه‌ها این بوده است که به آنهائی که به دنبال حقیقت و دینی جدیدند گفته شود که خدا آمده و حضرت بهاءالله ظهور کرده و پاسخ عطش روحانی آنها را آورده است. شاید بدانید که در چند برنامه‌ای که پخش شده از آمریکائی‌ها [غیر بهائی] دعوت شده است که با یک شماره (۸۰۰) تماس بگیرند و اسم و شمارۀ تلفن و نشانی خودشان را بگذارند تا ما بتوانیم با آنها از طریق مکاتبه یا تلفن یا ملاقات تماس بگیریم.

در همین چند ماهی که برنامه‌های تلویزیونی پخش شده ۷۵ هزار آمریکائی با ما تماس گرفته‌اند، ۷۵ هزار نفر! اما مهم‌تر از این تعداد چشمگیر، مطالبی است که این افراد به ما گفته‌اند. توجه داشته باشید که این افراد مطالب خود را به یک دستگاه پیام‌گیر ضبط صوت یا از طریق شبکۀ اینترنت به ما گفته‌اند.

چیزی که گفته‌اند مطالبی است از این قبیل: "در همۀ عمرم دنبال چنین عقایدی می‌گشته‌ام. خواهش می‌کنم هر چه زودتر با من تماس بگیرید." یا "خیلی خوشحالم که دینی پیدا کنم که همۀ ادیان را در بر می‌گیرد، چون معتقدم که خدا یکی است." یا "من و فرزندانم سخت در انتظار چنین دینی هستیم. خواهش می‌کنم به ما بگوئید جامعۀ بهائی کجاست و بهائی‌ها کی هستند که بتوانیم با آنها تماس بگیریم." دختر خانمی تلفن کرد و گفت: "ما در خانه تلفن نداریم و من از یک تلفن عمومی در یک بازار تلفن می‌زنم. من همین‌جا پهلوی تلفن می‌نشینم تا شما به من زنگ بزنید!"

تا کنون ۷۵ هزار نفر با ما تماس گرفته‌اند و این همه "از نتائج سحر است" چون ما تازه اول کاریم و فقط دو برنامۀ ویدیوئی پخش کرده‌ایم. اما برنامۀ ویدیوئی دیگری هم داریم که دربارۀ شخص و مقام حضرت بهاءالله بنفسه المقدس است. ویدیوی دیگری داریم دربارۀ زن در نظرگاه بهائی و یک ویدیو راجع به مسیحیت و امر بهائی. همچنین یک برنامۀ ویدیوئی برای افراد اسپانیائی‌زبان تهیه کرده‌ایم که محتوی این است که چگونه امر بهائی به مردم آمریکای لاتین کمک خواهد کرد. پخش این برنامه‌های ویدیوئی تکرر و افزایش خواهد یافت و بدین ترتیب کسانی که در این کشور حقیقت امر حضرت بهاءالله را تحری می‌کنند، امکان دستیابی به آن را خواهند داشت. در این صورت تعداد کسانی که می‌خواهند دربارۀ امر بهائی تحری کنند بیش از تعداد کنونی پیروان آن در جامعۀ امری آمریکا خواهد شد.

در خاتمۀ عرایضم مایلم این مطلب را با شما در میان بگذارم: وقتی که این افراد، این ارباب رجوع، با پیام حضرت بهاءالله آشنا می‌شوند، در جستجوی روحی خواهند بود که از سرزمین شما برخاسته است؛ در جستجوی آن انضباط روحانی و حس حرمت و فداکاری و استقامتی خواهند بود که همواره خصلت ویژۀ احبای ایرانی بوده است. در آن موقع ما نیازمند همان خدمات و مجهودات خاصی خواهیم بود که شما عزیزان در طی سال‌ها و دهه‌های متمادی با فداکاری و تحمل بلا از خود نشان داده‌اید. در آن موقع به طاقت و قوتی که شما به جوامع بهائی در سراسر جهان آورده‌اید و به سبب آن، آنها را تحکیم و تقویت کرده‌اید، احتیاج خواهیم داشت. برای پاسخگوئی به احتیاجات ده‌ها هزار افرادی که با ما تماس می‌گیرند و خواهند گرفت به شما نیاز خواهیم داشت.

باید درد دل آنها را بشنویم و در قلب‌هایمان را برای همدلی با دل‌مشغولی‌های آنها باز کنیم. باید در زندگی آنها روحی از قوای روحانی و استقامت بدمیم، همان قوای روحانی و استقامتی که شما عزیزان را در تمامی این سال‌ها قوت و تحمل بخشیده و همۀ ما را نیز از لحاظ روحانی تقویت کرده است.

این همان رسالت ویژه‌ای است که خدا برای شما و ما مقرر داشته است. خدمات شما اصیل و یکتاست و برای توفیق در مرحلۀ بعدی گسترش جامعۀ ما لزوم دارد. در قلوب شما عزیزان یک میراث روحانی هست که مختص سرزمین زادگاه شما و خاص مسیر ایمانی است که تا کنون پیموده‌اید.

ما از شما برای کمک‌ها و خدمت‌هائی که برای تحکیم اساس جامعۀ بهائی آمریکا کرده‌اید بی‌نهایت سپاسگزاریم و در انتظاریم که به عنوان برادران و خواهران روحانی و اعضای جامعۀ بهائی آمریکا دست به دست هم بدهیم و از هزاران و ده‌ها هزاران و صدها هزاران و میلیون‌ها افرادی که به امر مبارک اقبال خواهند کرد و به جامعۀ بهائی خواهند پیوست، استقبال کنیم و به آنها خوشامد بگوئیم. در آن وقت، پاداش فداکاری‌های کسانی که جان باختند و جانفشانی‌های کسانی که زنده ماندند و خدمت کردند، داده خواهد شد.

باز هم از شما سپاسگزارم و به شما اظهار محبت و ارادت می‌کنم. یا بهاءالابهی!

عرفان و امر بهائی

’IRFAN COLLOQUIUM

موضوع محوری مباحثی که در مجمع عرفان در سال ۲۰۰۰ مطرح ‎میگردد می‌گردد‎ "عرفان و امر بهائی" است. بعلاوه در جلسات مجمع عرفان در سال جاری آثار قلم اعلی و نیز اصول الهیات بهائی مورد بحث قرار می‌گیرد. در ماه اکتبر بیست و نهمین و سی‌امین دوره‌های مجمع عرفان به زبانهای فارسی و انگلیسی در مدرسۀ بهائی لولن در میشیگان برگزار گردید.

هر یک از شرکت‌کنندگان مجموعه‌ای شامل دفتر سوم سفینۀ عرفان شامل مقالات تحقیقی که در مجمع عرفان مطرح شده است و راهنمای مطالعه آثار قلم اعلی و خلاصۀ سخنرانی‌هائی که در این جلسات ایراد می‌گردید را دریافت کردند.

مجمع عرفان با مساعدت صندوق یاد بود حاج مهدی ارجمند و کمک صندوق پژوهشیاری نادیا سعادت و با همکاری دفتر احبای ایرانی-آمریکایی و مؤسسۀ مطالعات بهائی تشکیل می‌گردد. دورۀ بعدی مجمع عرفان در مدرسۀ بهائی بوش در کالیفرنیا از ۲۳ تا ۲۶ نوامبر تشکیل خواهد شد و به مطالعۀ آثار قلم اعلی که در اسلامبول و ادرنه نازل شده اختصاص خواهد داشت. [Page 35]

• امری ندارند.
• در جوامعی که در آن کودکان حضور دارند، میزان شرکت احباء، در حیات جامعه بالاتر است. در بیش از دو سوم جوامعی که اعضای زیر ۱۸ ساله دارند، میزان شرکت بزرگسالان بیش از ۵۰ درصد است. تنها نیمی از احبای بزرگسال (بالای ۱۵ سال) در جوامعی زندگی می‌کنند که میزان شرکت در فعالیت‌های امری بیش از ۵۰ درصد است.
• به طور کلی در جوامع کوچک‌تر میزان فعالیت در حیات جامعه بیشتر از جوامع بزرگ است. میزان فعالیت احباء، در سه چهارم جوامعی که تعداد اعضایشان کمتر از ۵۰ نفر است، بیش از ۵۰ درصد است. تنها در یک سوم جوامعی که تعداد اعضایشان بیش از ۵۰ نفر است، ۵۰ درصد از اعضاء در فعالیت‌های امری شرکت دارند.
• اکثر (یعنی ۶۰ درصد) کودکان بهائی در جوامعی زندگی می‌کنند که تعداد اعضایشان کمتر از ۵۰ نفر است. تقریباً نیمی از بزرگسالان در جوامعی زندگی می‌کنند که تعداد اعضایشان کمتر از ۵۰ نفر است.
• حدود ۶۰ درصد کودکان زیر ۱۵ سال به طور مرتب در کلاس‌هائی که جوامع امریشان ترتیب می‌دهند شرکت می‌کنند.
• میانگین شرکت در جوامعی که تعداد اعضایش کمتر از ۵۰ نفر باشد، ۶۸ درصد است. در جوامعی که تعداد اعضایشان بیش از ۵۰ نفر است این میانگین ۵۲ درصد است.
• محافلی که برنامه‌های تربیت امری تهیه می‌کنند میانگین مخارجشان جهت تربیت امری برای افراد زیر ۱۸ سال سالانه ۳۵ دلار برای هر نفر است. در جوامعی که تعداد اعضایشان کمتر از ۵۰ نفر باشد این مبلغ ۴۳ دلار است. در جوامعی که تعداد اعضایشان بیش از ۵۰ نفر است، هزینه تربیت امری برای هر فردی سالانه ۲۷ دلار است.
• بیش از نیمی از محافل برای کودکان و نوجوانان برنامه‌های تربیت امری ترتیب می‌دهند. ۵۷ درصد محافل برای کودکان و نوجوانان کلاس و جلسه امری تشکیل می‌دهند.
• از مواد درسی گوناگونی به اشکال مختلف برای تربیت امری کودکان استفاده می‌شود. در بیشتر جوامع از The Core Curriculum استفاده می‌شود.
• حدود یک پنجم محافل به تشکیل لجنات تربیت امری یا انتخاب مربیان و مسؤولان تربیت امری جهت مساعدت در تدریس کودکان اقدام کرده‌اند.

برای دریافت گزارش کامل این بررسی دوستان می‌توانند با دفتر تربیت امری و مدارس بهائی در دفتر محفل ملی تماس حاصل نمایند. شماره تلفن: ۳۹۹۲-۷۳۳-۸۴۷

کودکان و جوانان نمونه

EXCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS

آقای برایان فیروز بهائی ساکن لاولند Loveland در ایالت کلورادو اخیراً به دریافت بورسی به نام Tia Beirewaltes Memorial Scholarship موفق یافته است. آقای فیروز با نوشتن مقاله‌ای به همراه نوار ویدیوئی و سلاید که حاکی از تجربیات او با کارگاه جوانان بهائی بود، موفق به دریافت این جایزه شد.

آقای آرش لطفی‌جو ساکن ساوت بیچ South Beach در ایالت فلوریدا با درجه ممتاز موفق به دریافت فوق لیسانس در رشته مدیریت بازرگانی شد. ایشان مدرک فوق لیسانس خود را با معدل ۴ دریافت کرد و در دوره تحصیل رئیس کلاس بود.

آقای طنین صادقی کودک ۷ ساله بهائی از ادموند Edmond در ایالت اوکلاهوما در مسابقات المپیک اطفال در ورزش tae kwan do به دریافت مدال طلا توفیق یافت.

توفیق روزافزون این عزیزان را از درگاه الهی مسألت می‌نمائیم.

اعلام طرد روحانی

COVENANT BREAKER NOTICE

بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی تأیید فرموده‌اند که آقای مایکل زارگارو Michael Zargaro نقض عهد کرده است و مطرود روحانی شده است. آقای زارگارو بارها اذعان کرده که عضو فعال گروهی شده که آن را آقای جول مارانجلا Joel Marangella تشکیل داده و آن را Orthodox Bahá’í Faith نامیده است. آقای مارانجلا ناقض فعالی است و یکی از چند پیرو چارلز میسن ریمی بوده است.

هر چند آقای زارگارو خارج از کشور زندگی می‌کند، در هیوستن تکزاس اقامت داشته است و هر گاهی به ایالات متحده باز می‌گردد.

محفل روحانی ملی احباء را متذکر می‌دارد که از ایجاد ارتباط و تماس با ناقضان عهد و پیمان اجتناب کلی کنند. در صورتی که آقای زارگارو با احباء تماس حاصل کند، یاران باید مراتب را به اطلاع عضو هیئت معاونت محل خود برسانند.

ترجمه سخنان دکتر رابرت هندرسن در دهمین کنفرانس سالانه انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی

DR. ROBERT HENDERSON’S REMARKS AT THE TENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF FRIENDS OF PERSIAN CULTURE ASSOCIATION

همانگونه که در شماره قبل گزارش داده شد، دهمین کنفرانس سالانه انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی از ۳۱ آگست تا ۳ سپتامبر سال جاری در شیکاگو برگزار گردید.

صبح روز جمعه اول سپتامبر، دکتر رابرت هندرسن، منشی محفل روحانی ملی، به نمایندگی از جانب آن محفل مقدس سخنانی خطاب به حاضران در کنفرانس ایراد نمود. از آنجا که سخنان دکتر هندرسن حاوی مطالب جالب و سودمند و مهمی بود، ترجمه متن آن به زبان فارسی در زیر درج می‌گردد:

صبح بخیر دوستان عزیز، بسیار ممنونم، متشکرم.

در جلسه اخیر محفل روحانی ملی که چند روز پیش خاتمه یافت از بنده خواستند که درود گرم و پر مهر محفل را به شما عزیزان ابلاغ کنم.

محفل روحانی ملی چند ماه پیش با هیئت ملی امور احبای ایرانی-آمریکائی دیدار کرد و از جمله کنفرانس سالانه انجمن مورد مذاکره قرار گرفت. یکی از نکاتی که از طرف هیئت مذکور مطرح شد این بود که کنفرانس سالانه شامل برنامه‌ای برای جوانان و برنامه‌ای به زبان انگلیسی نیز در بر خواهد داشت تا جامعه بهائی آمریکا نیز از کیفیت و زیبائی یکتای ایرانی بهره‌ای ببرد و این بهره‌گیری در نسل‌های آینده تداوم پیدا کند. محفل روحانی ملی از این نظر با گرمی استقبال کرد.

قبل از مطالب دیگر بگذارید عرض کنم که واقعاً در ایفای وظیفه‌ام کوتاهی کرده‌ام اگر از جانب محفل روحانی ملی به مهندس فریبرز صهبا که اینجا تشریف دارند به گرمی خوشامد نگویم و ذکری از ایشان نکنم. جناب صهبا، لطفاً بایستید که احباء شما را ببینند!

استحضار دارید که در سال ۱۹۸۷ بیت‌العدل اعظم به احبای جهان فرمودند که حدود صد سال پیش از آن حضرت بهاء‌الله در کوه کرمل مشی فرمودند و معین کردند که ملکوت الهی به صورت یک قوس در موطی اقدام جمال قدم ساخته بشود. دوستان عزیز، ما در طول عمرمان این بختیاری را داشته‌ایم که تحقق اراده الهی را به چشم ببینیم. و البته تحقق این وعده تا حد زیادی مدیون کوشش‌های مدیر اجرائی مشروعات کوه کرمل یعنی جناب مهندس صهبا، بوده است. حضور ایشان در میان ما واقعاً مغتنم است.

دوستان عزیز، مایلم چند مطلب به استحضارتان برسانم و بعد از حضورتان مرخص شوم. متصاعد الی‌الله جناب ادیب طاهرزاده در یکی از مجلدات کتابشان با عنوان The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh (این کتاب به تازگی تحت عنوان نفحات ظهور حضرت بهاء‌الله به فارسی ترجمه شده است)، می‌نویسند که در طول هفتاد و هفت سال عصر رسولی که شامل دوره اعلی و دوره ابهی و دوره میثاق است، خدا مخلص‌ترین و مقدس‌ترین افراد را در میان ایرانیان مبعوث فرمود که به حضرت باب و حضرت بهاء‌الله اقبال کنند. ایشان با نقل مطلبی از حضرت بهاء‌الله این طور ادامه می‌دهند که به فرموده مبارک اگر ذره‌ای از جوهری زیر کوهی از سنگ یا در قعر هفت دریا وجود داشته باشد، دست قدرت الهی آن را برای اعزاز و خدمت به امر الهی برخواهد انگیخت و به خدمت خواهد گرفت.

جناب طاهرزاده احبای ایرانیئی را که حضرت بهاء‌الله برای اقبال و خدمت به امر مبارکش انتخاب فرمود، به این ترتیب توصیف می‌کند: احبائی که خونشان را در راه امر الهی فدا کردند و به صورت بنیان و پایه‌ای درآمدند که جامعه بهائی بر آن استوار بود. ما اکنون هم می‌بینیم که در سراسر تاریخ توسعه امر نازنین الهی، خدمات و فداکاری‌ها و جانفشانی‌های احبای ایرانی بنیان و پایه جامعه بهائی در سراسر جهان است.

به محض اینکه تضییقات احباء در ایران آغاز شد، تحقق وعده حضرت بهاء‌الله را دیدیم که اگر به امر [Page 36]سیاست ضدبهائی آنان را جامعه جهانی زیر نظر دارد.

از بیانات دانا کریستین سن از ویرجین آیلندز

دیانت بهائی جدیدترین دیانت جهانی است. مؤسس آن یکی از اشراف ایران بود که رسالتش را در سال ۱۸۹۳ اعلان کرد و اظهار داشت که موعود همهٔ ادیان است و عصر جدیدی برای ایجاد صلح در عالم انسانی آغاز کرده است. تعالیم اساسی بهاءالله عبارتند از: وحدت خدا و وحدت اساس ادیان و وحدت عالم انسانی....

امر بهائی در سال ۱۹۵۴ در ویرجین آیلندز با استقرار مهاجران در سنت تامس St. Thomas تأسیس شد و اولین محفل روحانی محلی بهائی در سال ۱۹۶۵ در سنت تامس به ثبت رسید. بهائیان ویرجین آیلندز در زمینه‌های آموزشی و تهیهٔ برنامه‌های کودکان و بزرگسالان فعالیت داشته‌اند و دارند....

از بیانات آقای جان پورتر نماینده ایلینوی

روزانه هزاران بار حقوق بشر در سراسر دنیا نقض می‌شود. رسانه‌های خبری ایالات متحده بدون توجه به این موارد تقریباً از همهٔ آن‌ها می‌گذرند....

دکتر کاظم‌زاده در سال ۱۹۵۰ از ایران به ایالات متحده آمد و استاد تاریخ دانشگاه ییل Yale شد. او مقدار زیادی از وقت و همت خود را وقف ایجاد بهبود در وضع همکیشانش در ایران کرده و بدون سر و صدا مبارز بسیار مؤثری در میدان کمک به بهائیان بوده و بدون شک باعث نجات جان و خلاصی از ابتلائات بسیاری از بهائیان شده است. بنده مایلم که از دکتر کاظم‌زاده برای سال‌ها خدمت برای بهائیان قدردانی کنم.

بهائیان از زمان پیدایش دین‌شان مورد ایذاء قرار گرفته‌اند اما اوضاع بعد از انقلاب اسلامی در سال ۱۹۷۹ به شدت وخیم‌تر شد. بسیاری از رهبران جامعهٔ بهائی به زندان افتادند و بسیاری فقط به علت عقاید دینی‌شان اعدام شدند. اینکه جامعهٔ بهائی توانسته در ۲۰ سال گذشته دوام پیدا کند، گواهی صادق بر اعتقاد راسخ بهائیان به دیانت‌شان است.

دولت ایران می‌تواند وضع وخیم جامعهٔ بهائی را هر وقت اراده کند تغییر دهد.... عدم مدارا و نبودن تسامح در امور دینی رنج و ابتلای بسیاری برای مردم جهان به بار آورده است و حضورش را می‌توان در سراسر دنیا حس کرد. اما این امر در ایران به صورت رسمی درآمده و در قوانین نیز مشروعیت یافته است....

از بیانات آقای تام لنتوس نماینده کالیفرنیا

در ۲۰ سال گذشته این افتخار را داشته‌ام که با جان پورتر به طور نزدیک در زمینهٔ حقوق بشر کار کنم.... یکی از این اموری که جان پورتر از زمان انتخابش در کنگره از آن حمایت کرده وضع بهائیان ایران است.

جامعهٔ بهائی از زمان انقلاب ایران در سال ۱۹۷۹ مورد آزار بسیار واقع شده است. قانون اساسی‌ای که آیت‌الله‌ها وضع کرده‌اند، اسلام را دین رسمی کشور اعلام کرده است و در آن مسیحیان و یهودیان و زردشتیان نیز که ادیان‌شان در ایران قبل از اسلام شکوفا شده بود، رسمیت دارند و این رسمیت به آن‌ها حقوق قانونی می‌دهد. اما ۳۵۰ هزار نفر بهائی ایران از حمایت قانون برخوردار نیستند و در واقع هیچ حقی ندارند.

کنفرانس رهبران ادیان

WORLD PEACE SUMMIT

از ۲۸ تا ۳۱ آگوست سال جاری کنفرانسی برای صلح جهانی متشکل از رهبران دینی جهان در سازمان ملل متحد تشکیل گردید.

بیش از ۱۰۰۰ نفر از رهبران ادیان گوناگون جهان از جمله مسیحیت و اسلام و یهود و امر بهائی و دیانت بودائی و زردشتی و هندو و جز آن‌ها در کنفرانس مذکور شرکت کردند. رهبران مذکور برای بررسی به پیشنهاداتی جهت ایجاد مدارای دینی و اشاعهٔ صلح و تشویق به ایجاد روابط دوستانه در میان همهٔ ادیان جهان گرد هم آمده بودند.

شرکت‌کنندگان همچنین دربارهٔ پیشنهادی مبنی بر تشکیل یک شورای مرکب از رهبران دینی و روحانی که دربارهٔ دین با سازمان ملل رایزنی کند، به مذاکره و بررسی پرداختند.

کوفی عنان دبیر کل سازمان ملل متحد در طی خطابی به حاضران در کنفرانس گفت: "این دیدار رهبران دینی و روحانی بی تردید الهام‌بخش‌ترین گردهم‌آئی است که تا کنون صورت گرفته. سابقه و رسالت و تفاوت‌های شما با یکدیگر هر چه باشد، حضور شما در سازمان ملل متحد نمودار تعهد شما به ایجاد مدارای دینی و گسترش صلح است."

آقای آلبرت لینکن Albert Lincoln دبیر کل "جامعهٔ بین‌المللی بهائی" Bahá’í International Community پیشنهاد کرد که رهبران دینی جهان بکوشند و ارزش‌های بنیادی مشترک در میان ادیان را شناسائی کنند. ایشان گفت: "جهان پریشان ما شدیداً محتاج یک میزان اخلاقی است که ورای ارزش‌های باب روز و مصون از مادیت رایج در عصر جدید باشد. تشکیل این کنفرانس حاکی از این است که مردم جهان از توان و استعداد نهفته در ادیان جهان آگاهی یافته‌اند."

رهبران دینی و روحانی جهان در طی بیانیه‌ای تعهد کردند که به ایجاد و اشاعهٔ شرایطی بپردازند که به برقراری صلح و حل اختلافات از طریقی عاری از خشونت بیانجامد.

آقای جفری هافینز Huffines نمایندهٔ محفل روحانی ملی ایالات متحده در سازمان ملل متحد و خانم یائل ورمفلد Yael Wurmfeld نمایندهٔ محفل در "پارلمان ادیان جهانی" و خانم زینا سهرابجی عضو هیئت مشاورین از هندوستان و نیز احبائی از اندونزی و تانزانیا و کانادا نیز در کنفرانس مذکور شرکت داشتند.

هفتهٔ بعد از اتمام این کنفرانس رویداد تاریخی دیگری اتفاق افتاد. آقای تکسته عهدرم Techeste Ahderom نمایندهٔ اصلی جامعهٔ بین‌المللی بهائی در سازمان ملل متحد بیاناتی خطاب به "کنفرانس هزارۀ سران دول" Millennium Summit ایراد کرد. ۱۴۹ نفر از سران کشورهای جهان در کنفرانس مذکور شرکت داشتند. آقای عهدرم از رهبران جهان درخواست کرد که برای ایجاد جهانی بر مبنای صلح و سعادت کوشش کنند. ایشان گفت: "این دوره جدید مستلزم اعمال است نه اقوال. ما اعضای جامعهٔ مدنی حاضریم که با شما و دولت‌هایتان همکاری کنیم و جهانی تازه بسازیم. در عین حال این جامعهٔ مدنی ناظر خواهد بود که شما تعهدات‌تان را فراموش نکنید و در مرحلهٔ قول نگه ندارید."

مواد مطالعه برای سال ۲۰۰۱	2001 STUDY THEMES
محفل روحانی ملی رسالهٔ "ابن ذئب" و رسالهٔ "مدنیه" را برای مطالعهٔ احبای ایالات متحده در سال ۲۰۰۱ معین نموده‌اند. مواد لازم برای مطالعهٔ دقیق به زودی در دسترس دوستان قرار خواهد گرفت. اطلاعات بیشتری در این باب در شماره‌های آینده این نشریه درج خواهد شد.

بررسی وضع تربیت امری نوجوانان

NATIONAL SURVEY OF EDUCATION AND YOUTH

روش و اهداف

لجنهٔ ملی نشر نفحات National Teaching Committee با همکاری دفتر تربیت امری و مدارس بهائی Office of Education and Schools جهت کسب اطلاع دربارهٔ موقعیت کنونی کودکان بهائی و برنامه‌های تربیت امری در جامعهٔ بهائی به بررسی پرداخته است. این بررسی بخشی از ارزیابی برنامه‌های تربیت امری است که در دسترس کودکان و نوجوانان بهائی قرار دارد.

نتیجهٔ این بررسی کمک خواهد کرد که موارد تمرکز معین شود و برنامه‌های مورد نیاز طرح گردد و اساسی برای بررسی‌های آینده پی‌ریزی شود.

اهداف اصلی این بررسی به قرار زیر است:

• تعیین و توصیف جمعیت شناختی کودکان و نوجوانان بهائی در هر نقطه
• ارزیابی اقدامات و برنامه‌های تربیت امری محافل روحانی محلی برای کودکان و نوجوانان
• بررسی و توزیع منابع برای اقدامات فوق‌الذکر
• برآورد شرکت اعضای جامعهٔ محلی در برنامه‌های تربیت امری

جهت نیل به اهدافی که در بالا نقل شد با ۱۱۸۰ محفل تماس گرفته شد که از میان آن‌ها ۴۵۷ محفل به درخواست همکاری در این بررسی پاسخ دادند.

نتایج مهم

نتایج مهمی که از بررسی مذکور گرفته شد بدین قرار است:

• موضوع تربیت امری کودکان اقدامی است که به همکاری نیاز دارد. بیشتر جوامع برای تعلیم و تربیت کودکان دست به دست هم می‌دهند و متفقاً عمل می‌کنند. تنها ۱۵ درصد جوامع به طور مستقل برای اعضایشان برنامه طرح می‌ریزند.
• حداقل سه چهارم کودکان و نوجوانان بهائی در جوامعی زندگی می‌کنند که در آن‌ها کلاس‌هائی برای اطفال تشکیل می‌شود.
• ۵۸ درصد محافل روحانی کلاس درس اخلاق برای کودکان تشکیل می‌دهند. حدود ۲۵ درصد کودکان بهائی در جوامعی زندگی می‌کنند که برنامهٔ تربیت

[Page 37]جناب ادرم داده شد زیرا بعنوان رئیس مشترک کنفرانس هزارة جدید ادارهٔ جلسات مزبور را بعهده داشت. پس از آنکه همهٔ رهبران جهان سخنان خود را ایراد کردند و قبل از آنکه اجلاسیه هزارة سران دول اعلامیهٔ نهائی را تصویب و صادر نماید در روز ۸ سپتامبر جناب ادرم نطقی ایراد کردند و گزارش کنفرانس هزارة جدید را به اطلاع این اجتماع بی سابقه و نظیر رساندند. متن نطق ایشان ضمیمه است.

هر ناظری که با مقصد امر بهائی در بارهٔ ایجاد صلح و جریاناتی ضروری که منجر به آن خواهد شد آشنا باشد از تأمل دربارهٔ محتوی و اهمیت این رویداد های اخیر و بعلاوه کنفرانس‌های جهانی قبلی که در دههٔ گذشته با مشارکت رهبران ملل تشکیل شد احساس رضایت خاطر خواهد نمود. و همچنین باعث سرور و شعف مضاعف است وقتی ملاحظه میشود که در مراحل اولیهٔ دور بهائی نمایندگان جامعهٔ جهانی ما با شخصیتی چنان بارز در این وقایع مشارکت داشته‌اند، وقایعی که مراحل مهم در طریق تحقق وعود مصرحه در آثار قلم اعلی در بارهٔ استقرار نظم بدیع جهان آرا محسوب میگردد.

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اطلاعیه مؤسسه معارف بهائی آیات بینات مجموعه الواح مبارکه حضرت بهاء‌الله و حضرت عبدالبهاء، به افتخار خاندان سمندر و نبیل ابن نبیل حاوی بیش از ۱۸۰ لوح نازل شده از قلم علی و ۲۰۵ لوح از قلم مرکز میثاق و ۲ اثر به خط نزولی تذهیب شده به اهتمام روح الله سمندری تهیه و توسط مؤسسه معارف بهائی با جلد زرکوب در نهایت زیبائی و نفاست چاپ و منتشر شده است.

فهرست کامل الواح مبارکه شامل اسامی مخاطبان این الواح، مطلع هر لوح، محل و تاریخ نزول و اسامی کاتبان الواح و همچنین شرح مختصر احوال و شجره نامه‌های جناب سمندر و جناب نبیل ابن نبیل در ضمائم این مجموعه درج شده است.

مآخذ اشعار در آثار بهائی، جلد سوم (مآخذ اشعار فارسی، حرف ج -ز)، تألیف دکتر وحید رأفتی.

از سال ۱۹۹۰ جناب دکتر وحید رأفتی دست به کار گرد آوری مآخذ اشعار و ضرب المثلهای عربی و فارسی در آثار نزولی دیانت بهائی گردیدند. مایهٔ خوشوقتی ست که اکنون جلد سوم این مجموعه در ۴۲۷ صفحه مشتمل بر فهرست‌ها و کتاب‌شناسی با حروفچینی مرغوب و تجلید نفیس چاپ شده و در دسترس علاقه مندان به تحقیق در معارف وسیع دیانت بهائی قرار گرفته است.

یاران الهی می‌توانند این دو کتاب نفیس را از کتاب فروشی‌های بهائی خریداری نمایند یا مستقیماً به مؤسسه معارف بهائی سفارش دهند و دریافت دارند. شماره تلفن: ۳۰۴۰-۶۲۸ (۹۰۵)

قطعنامهٔ کنگره ایالات متحده درباره تضییقات بهائیان ایران

CONGRESS PASSES RESOLUTION ON PERSECUTION OF BAHA’IS IN ‎INAN IRAN‎

اعضای کنگره ایالات متحده امریکا با صدور قطعنامه‌ای بار دیگر موضع دولت امریکا را در مورد بهائیان ایران تأکید کرده و خواستار آزادی کامل آنان مطابق مفاد قراردادهای حقوق بشر شده‌اند.

در سال ۱۹۸۲ نخستین قطعنامهٔ کنگره ایالات متحده در حمایت از حقوق بهائیان ایران و محکوم کردن دولت ایران برای تضییقات و ابتلائات آن ستمدیدگان به تصویب رسید. قطعنامه اخیر که هشتمین قطعنامه کنگره ایالات متحده است روز ۱۹ جولای سال جاری به تصویب مجلس سنا و روز ۱۹ سپتامبر به تصویب مجلس نمایندگان رسید.

دفتر امور خارجی محفل روحانی ملی از کلیهٔ احبائی که با سناتورها و نمایندگان حوزهٔ انتخاباتی خود تماس گرفتند و تقاضای کمک کردند، سپاسگزاری می‌نماید. عکس العملی که دفاتر اعضای کنگره نشان داده‌اند، حاکی از این است که تماس احباء با آنان تأثیر به سزائی در اقدامات اعضای کنگره داشته است.

محفل روحانی ملی با منتخبی از محافل روحانی محلی تماس خواهد گرفت و از آنان درخواست خواهد کرد که مراتب امتنان خود را به نمایندگانی که در طرح و تصویب قطعنامه سهیم بوده‌اند، اظهار نمایند.

دفتر امور خارجی محفل روحانی ملی با ‎تیاران دستیاران‎ آقای جان پورتر، نماینده ایلینوی، که حامی ملی این قطعنامه بود و نیز دستیاران آقای بن گیلمن کاری نزدیک داشتند. دیگر نمایندگانی که در طرح تصویب این قطعنامه سهم اساسی داشتند عبارتند از: ایان تام لنتوس Tom Lantos از کالیفرنیا و کریس پیت Chris Smith از نیوجرزی و شتنی هویر Steny Hoyer از مریلند. بیانات نمایندگان در حمایت از ‎ویب تصویب‎ قطعنامه شامل نکات زیر بود:

ارائه آخرین اطلاعات راجع به اوضاع بهائیان ایران برشمردن تعالیم اساسی امر مبارک دادن نمونه‌هایی از خدمات بهائی ذکر ویژه‌ای از دکتر فیروز کاظم‌زاده منشی پیشین ‎ور خارجی امور خارجی‎ محفل روحانی ملی و یکی از مشاوران ملی محفل ملی در حال حاضر. فعالیت‌های دکتر ‎ظم‌زاده کاظم‌زاده‎ در طی دو دهه، در دفاع از بهائیان ایران مورد ستایش قرار گرفت.

آقای بن گیلمن گفت: "به‌رغم اینکه بهائیان ‎قید مقید‎ به عدم خشونت و مدارا با همهٔ مردم و وفاداری به حکومت دارند، همچنان از عناصر متعصب در جامعه ‎ان ایران‎ - از ملاهای محل و پیروان کم‌سواد آنان گرفته تا مقامات بلندپایه دولت - محرومیت می‌کشند و آزار می‌بینند."

متن کامل قطعنامه کنگره امریکا را می‌توان از طریق شبکهٔ اینترنت یافت. نخست باید به نشانی http://thomas.loc.gov رجوع کرد و پس از آن در محلی نوشته شده By Bill Number تایپ کرد H.con.res.257

نمونه‌ای از مشاورات نمایندگان مجلس درباره قطعنامه

در زیر بخشی از مشاورات نمایندگان مجلس درباره قطعنامه کنگره درج می‌شود. این بیانات در حمایت از احبای ایران ایراد شده است. دفتر امور خارجی محفل روحانی ملی بر این عقیده است که یکی از دلائل اصلی حمایت نمایندگان از بهائیان همت افراد و جوامع بهائی در تماس با اعضای کنگره بوده است.

از بیانات آقای بنجامین گیلمن نماینده ایالت نیویورک:

دولت ایران اجتماعات و تشکیلات اداری بهائیان را در سال ۱۹۸۳ تحریم نمود. یک مدرک دولتی به تاریخ سال ۱۹۹۱ فرمان می‌دهد که از گسترش اقتصادی و اجتماعی جامعهٔ بهائی همچنان ممانعت به عمل بیاید.... بهائیان همچنان از استخدام در دولت محرومند، از استخدام در دانشگاه‌ها محرومند، از دریافت حقوق بازنشستگی محرومند، از ورود به دانشگاه‌ها محرومند، از دستیابی به نظام قضائی محرومند، از یافتن جا برای دفن امواتشان محرومند، و به همین ترتیب از بسیاری از آزادی‌های مدنی که ما در کشورمان آنها را بدیهی می‌دانیم، محرومند....

البته کمی بهبود در رفتار با افراد بهائی دیده شده است. در دو سال گذشته به تعداد بیشتری از بهائیان گذرنامه داده شده که بتوانند به خارج سفر کنند. بعضی‌ها هم پروانه اشتغال به کار گرفته‌اند.... تغییراتی که در بعضی از مقررات مربوط به ازدواج صورت گرفته این امکان را برای بهائیان فراهم آورده است که بتوانند ازدواجشان را به طور رسمی به ثبت برسانند و به این ترتیب فرزندانشان مشروع به حساب بیایند.

اینها اقدامات مثبتی است که صورت گرفته و باید به‌عنوان نشانه‌ای از آزادی نهائی بهائیان مورد اذعان قرار بگیرد. اما این اقدامات در سکوت صورت گرفته است و با اعطای رسمیت به بهائیان در قانون اساسی ایران فاصلهٔ بسیاری دارد.

بیانات آقای ارل هیلیارد نماینده آلاباما

این قطعنامه بیان می‌دارد که کنگره همچنان دولت ایران را مسؤول رعایت حقوق همهٔ اتباعش از جمله اعضای جامعهٔ بهائی می‌داند. قطعنامه همچنین اقدامات و رویه‌های ضدبهائی دولت ایران را محکوم می‌کند. این رویه‌ها شامل محرومیت جامعهٔ بهائی از حقوق خود و ممانعت از تشکیلات و انتخابات و محرومیت جوانان از تحصیلات است.

لایحه پیشنهادی آقای پورتر از دولت ایران می‌خواهد که اجازه دهد دانشجویان بهائی در دانشگاه‌های آن کشور تحصیل کنند و دانشگاه آزاد بهائی باز شود.

این قطعنامه از رئیس جمهوری، آقای کلینتون، می‌خواهد که چگونگی رفتار دولت ایران را با جامعهٔ بهائی عامل مهمی برای تغییر روابط با ایران تلقی کند و تأکید کند که لازم است نمایندهٔ ویژهٔ سازمان ملل اجازه داشته باشد وارد ایران شود و از دولت ایران بخواهد که استخلاص جامعهٔ بهائی را موجب گردد و از دولت‌های دیگر درخواست کند که از ایران بخواهند حقوق بهائیان را مراعات نماید.

بهائیان ایران مدت بسیار زیادی است که مورد ایذاء قرار داشته‌ اند.... رهبران ایران باید بدانند که [Page 38]

ترجمه متحدالمال دارالانشاء بیت‌العدل اعظم خطاب به عموم محافل روحانی ملی مورخ ۲۴ سپتامبر ۲۰۰۰

Persian Translation of the Message Dated September 24, 2000 of the Department of the Secretariat of the Universal House of Justice to All National Spiritual Assemblies

یاران عزیز الهی

بیت‌العدل اعظم در پیام رضوان سال ۲۰۰۰ با اشتیاقی شدید به این مطلب اشاره نموده بودند که به مناسبت آغاز هزاره جدید چنین مقرر شده است که سه اجلاسیه بین‌المللی برای مذاکره در مسائل و مشکلات عمومی جهان که نیازمند راه‌حل‌های عاجل است و نیز رویه‌ای که سازمان ملل برای رفع مشکلات مزبور اتخاذ خواهد کرد تشکیل گردد. در نخستین هفته ماه جاری اجلاس هزاره سران کشورهای عضو سازمان ملل متحد در مقر سازمان مزبور در نیویورک منعقد گردید که در بین اجلاسیه‌های سه‌گانه‌ای که سازمان ملل به مناسبت آغاز هزاره جدید ترتیب داده آخرین و پراهمیت‌ترین اجلاس محسوب می‌گردد و بزرگترین تعداد از سران دول و حکومت جهان که تا بحال گرد هم جمع آمده‌اند در این اجلاسیه مشارکت نمودند. نظر به اهمیت تاریخی این اجلاسیه و دو اجلاسیه دیگر و نیز نظر به مشارکت بارز و شاخص نمایندگان جامعه بین‌المللی بهائی در هر سه موقعیت، بیت‌العدل اعظم مقرر فرموده‌اند مراتب ذیل را به استحضارتان برسانیم.

دبیر کل سازمان ملل در دعوتی که برای گردهم آمدن رهبران جهان در اجلاسیه مجمع عمومی در سال ۲۰۰۰ ارسال داشته بود پیشنهاد کرده بود که شایسته بنظر میرسد از سازمان‌های جامعه مدنی نیز دعوت شود نظرات و توصیه‌های خود را ارائه دهند و در نتیجه فکر تشکیل "کنفرانس هزاره جدید" Millennium Forum به وجود آمد. فکر دیگری که دبیر کل سازمان ملل با علاقه‌مندی از آن پشتیبانی کرد این بود که تشکیل اجلاسی از پیشوایان روحانی و مذهبی برای برقراری صلح می‌تواند سبب پیش‌برد اقدامات سازمان ملل شود.

بدین ترتیب "کنفرانس هزاره جدید" که نخستین مجمع از سه اجلاسیه عمدۀ مذکور بود با حضور افزون از یکهزار تن نمایندگان سازمان‌های غیر دولتی از متجاوز از یکصد کشور از ۲۲ تا ۲۶ ماه می برای مشورت در باره "نقش و وظیفه سازمان ملل در مقابله با مشکلات عمومی جهان که جامعه بشری در قرن بیستم با آنها رو برو است" منعقد گردید. مشاورات این گرد هم‌آئی متمرکز در مسائل ذیل بود: ۱) صلح و امنیت و خلع سلاح؛ ۲) برطرف ساختن فقر که متضمن نادیده گرفتن دیون ممالک و توسعه و عمران اجتماعی است؛ ۳) حقوق بشر؛ ۴) عمران و توسعۀ پایدار Sustainable development؛ ۵) مقابله با مشکلات جهانی شدن امور: تأمین تساوی عدالت و انصاف و حفظ تنوع diversity در جهان؛ ۶) تقویت و دمکراتیک کردن سازمان ملل و سایر سازمان‌های بین‌المللی.

"کنفرانس هزاره جدید" در اثر مشاورات مذکور اعلامیه‌ای تهیه کرد که در اجلاس هزارۀ سران که بعداً منعقد گردید ارائه شد. در این اعلامیه آرمان‌ها و توصیه‌های سازمان‌های غیردولتی برای تقویت و احیاء سازمان ملل ذکر شده است. در این اعلامیه نمایندگان جامعۀ مدنی اعلام میدارند که "از دیدگاه ما همگی یک خانواده انسانی را تشکیل میدهیم که با وجود تفاوت‌ها و تنوعی که داریم در یک وطن مشترک زندگانی می‌کنیم. باید در دنیائی شریک یکدیگر باشیم که متضمن عدالت، صلح و آسایشی پایدار است و اصول عمومی دموکراسی، تساوی حقوق، در بر گرفتن همه افراد، همکاری و خدمات داوطلبانه، عدم تبعیض، و مشارکت عموم افراد آنرا هدایت می‌کند... همانگونه که در اصول منشور سازمان ملل پیش‌بینی شده است دنیائی است که در آن صلح و صفا و امنیت برای جامعۀ انسانی جایگزین تسلیحات، منازعات خشونت‌آمیز و جنگ‌ها می‌گردد. دنیائی است که هر فرد در محیطی پاکیزه و سالم زندگی می‌کند و از سهم عادلانه‌ای از منابع طبیعی کرۀ ارض بهره‌مند است. آرمان و دیدگاه ما متضمن نقشی خاص برای شور و تحرک افراد جوان و تجربه‌های افراد سالمند است و تعمیم حقوق انسانی را به جمیع افراد بشر و غیر قابل تجزیه و تقسیم بودن آن حقوق و نیز ارتباط متقابل آنها را (اعم از حقوق مدنی و سیاسی و اقتصادی و اجتماعی و فرهنگی) تثبیت می‌کند."

اجلاس هزاره پیشوایان روحانی و مذهبی برای برقراری صلح که از ۲۸ تا ۳۱ ماه اوت منعقد گردید و افزون از یکهزار تن در آن شرکت داشتند دومین اجلاسیۀ هزاره را تشکیل میداد. "هدف کاملاً مخصوص" این اجتماع پیشوایان دینی چنانکه در مقدمۀ برنامه جلسات ذکر شده "پیش‌بردن چشم‌داشت به صلح میان مردم و ملل جهان و آرامش در وجود هر فرد" بود. حاصل این گردهم‌آئی هزارۀ صلح، تهیه و امضاء اعلامیه‌ای بود که شرکت‌کنندگان را متعهد به برقراری صلح در سراسر جهان می‌ساخت. این اعلامیه با توجه به "علاقه‌مندی مشترک سازمان ملل و ادیان عالم به حفظ حیثیت انسان و عدالت و صلح با یکدیگر" و پذیرفتن این اصل که "زنان و مردان در همۀ جنبه‌های حیات بتساوی شریکند و کودکان امید آینده هستند" و اذعان به اینکه ادیان اگر چه به صلح در جهان مساعدت کرده‌اند اما برای ایجاد تفرقه و افروختن آتش عناد و ‎عدالت عداوت‎ نیز بکار گرفته شده‌اند" با این تصمیم خاتمه می‌یابد که "در پی‌گیری جمیع جهات صلح با سازمان ملل و عموم مردان و زنان نیکخواه در سطوح محلی و منطقه‌ای و جهانی همکاری نماید."

همانطور که در نامۀ ۱۵ اوت سال ۲۰۰۰ ذکر کردیم جناب البرت لینکلن دبیر کل جامعۀ بین‌المللی بهائی نمایندۀ امر بهائی در این کنفرانس بود. نام ایشان در فهرست اسامی "پیشوایان سرشناس دینی و روحانی جهان" که در مجمع مزبور حضور داشتند نوشته شده بود و این فرصت به ایشان داده شد که هم در مراسم گشایش این اجلاس یکی از مناجات‌های بهائی را تلاوت کند و هم در سومین جلسه عمومی اجلاسیه که در روز دوم در تالار سازمان ملل برگزار گردید نطقی ایراد نماید. سخنان شفاهی جناب لینکلن خلاصه‌ای از بیانیه‌ای بود که متن کامل آن در بین شرکت‌کنندگان این اجلاسیه توزیع شده و نسخه‌ای از آن ضمیمه است.

اجلاس هزاره سران کشورهای عضو سازمان ملل متحد که سومین و آخرین اجلاسیه بود به منظور اجرای قراری بود که مجمع عمومی سازمان ملل صادر کرده و در آن این عقیده راسخ اظهار شده بود که "سال ۲۰۰۰ فرصتی است بی‌نظیر و حاکی از موقعیتی که ما را وادار میسازد تا آرمان حیات‌بخش سازمان ملل در عصری جدید با قاطعیت اظهار و تصریح و اثبات شود." در روز آخر رهبران متجاوز از یکصد و پنجاه ملت به اتفاق آراء اعلامیه‌ای را تصویب و صادر کردند که با این بیان قاطع و صریح آغاز می‌شود: "ما، رؤسای دول و حکومتات، در مقر مرکزی سازمان ملل در نیویورک از ۶ تا ۸ سپتامبر سال ۲۰۰۰ در بامداد هزاره‌ای جدید گرد هم آمده‌ایم تا ایمان خود را به این سازمان و منشور آن بعنوان پایه‌های ضروری برای برخورداری دنیا از صلح و رفاه و عدالت بیشتر اثبات و ابراز کنیم."

رهبران جهان با جلب توجه به "ارزش‌های اساسی" از قبیل آزادی، تساوی، وحدت، مدارا، احترام به طبیعت، و مسؤولیت مشترک قرار گذاشتند که برای تحقق مقاصد و اهدافی کوشش نمایند که شامل صلح، امنیت و خلع سلاح، آبادانی و برطرف ساختن فقر، حفظ محیط زیست، حقوق بشر، دموکراسی و حکومت مطلوب، محافظت از ضعفا، برآوردن نیازمندی‌های خاص افریقا، و تقویت و تحکیم سازمان ملل باشد. رهبران مزبور برای تأمین و حفظ صلح و نظم جهانی قاطعانه متعهد شدند و اعلامیه خود را با این عبارت واضح و رسا خاتمه دادند: "ما در این فرصت تاریخی رسماً تأکید و تثبیت می‌کنیم که سازمان ملل خانه ضروری و مشترک همۀ خانوادۀ بشری است و بواسطۀ آن خواهیم کوشید آرمان‌های خود را برای صلح و همکاری و رفاهی که همۀ مردم جهان را در بر می‌گیرد تحقق بخشیم. بنابر این حمایت بی‌قید و شرط خود را از این اهداف مشترک، و عزم خود را برای تحقق آنها، تعهد می‌کنیم"

بسیار قابل توجه است که دبیر کل سازمان ملل متحد از جناب تکسته ادروم Techeste Ahderom نمایندۀ ارشد جامعۀ بهائی در سازمان ملل دعوت کرد تا بعنوان سخنگوی جامعۀ مدنی خطاب به این اجتماع تاریخی سخنانی ایراد کند، این افتخار و امتیاز به [Page 39]

Brushing up on hygiene

A dental professional uses a plaster model of teeth to demonstrate the proper way to brush teeth, in an oral hygiene education project in Kandal province, Cambodia, during July. Bahá’í International News Service photos

Bahá’í professor talks at House of Lords

An international gathering at Britain’s House of Lords in London provided an opportunity for Suheil Bushrui, the professor holding the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, to urge leaders to develop a “new politics founded on principles rather than interests, a politics that is soul-centered rather than self-centered.”

The underpinnings of a just and unified world society, Bushrui said, must include a common respect for the condition of the whole person—spiritual as well as material—and training from childhood toward the view that “if we rise we all rise together, and if we fall we all fall together.”

The brief talk at a reception June 15 was warmly received by the gathering, which included ambassadors and diplomats, members of both houses of Parliament, representatives of several cultural organizations, scholars, poets, university professors and a large group of Arab dignitaries and media personalities.

The reception was organized by the Earl of Caithness in tribute to the Bahá’í Chair and its initiatives related to the United Nations International Year of the Culture of Peace.

Afterward, Bushrui said he was gratified at the response from his fellow Arabs at the gathering, including Zahar Hadid Amin, the wife of Iraq’s ambassador in London; Jihad al-Khazen editor-in-chief of al-Sharq al-Awsat, the leading international Arabic daily paper; and Antione Raad, chairman of the internationally influential Arab Cultural Club.

The talk urged a “renaissance in politics” to effectively reconcile the conflicts between “the contending forces of unity and disunity, of construction and deconstruction, which confront our civilization.”

“Leaders in a global society should be models of unity. To date, politics have served class, group and national interests; now we must strive for a new politics that serves humanity at large,” the professor told the gathering. “In the 21st century, the new politics must involve recognition of the spiritual nature of man’s reality.”

Key to establishing a global mindset of unity, Bushrui said, is a new approach to education to give all the world’s children “an education of the heart” as well as of the mind, so they have the spiritual grounding, skills and discipline to aim for great achievements.

“Passion and reason must be reconciled into a style of thought and action in the service of justice, unity and peace,” he said.

Without this balance, materialism and “the relentless and empty values of the marketplace” will keep our civilization “in danger of leaving the spirit behind as we race ahead at breakneck speed in the pursuit of material achievements and self-aggrandizement.”

He concluded: “Within the dominion of an ‘ethical democracy’—an ethical democracy whose lineaments are now perceptible—the kinder tendencies of humanity will flourish. For in the heart of humanity rests the seed of the Divine.”

In introductory remarks, the Earl of Caithness outlined Bushrui’s academic career, which has included posts at Oxford University in England and the American University of Beirut in Lebanon; his scholarship in English, Irish and Arabic literature; and his cultural reconciliation activities in Lebanon. ♦

YOUTH

• El Salvador: More than 360 young believers from all over the Western Hemisphere, as well as Australia and Europe, flocked to the first International Bahá’í Youth Conference held in Central America in a generation.

Beside beautiful Lake Coatepeque, the conference ‎deletgates delegates‎ meeting July 12–16 composed a statement declaring their willingness “to embark upon non-stop action—to commit our time, our energy and our resources to contribute to curing the wounds that have afflicted our people. We will do through acts of service that will be a source of attraction and inspiration for our fellow youth, and will help Latin America reach its sublime destiny.”

The declaration expressed confidence that this ‎generatio nof generation of‎ youth can “emerge victorious from [the] labyrinth which confounds and paralyzes the possibility and the desire for transformation of humanity. ... We invite those who have sufficient courage ... to begin a spiritual revival that will transform the world.”

• Hawaii: Táhirih, the foremost heroine of the Bábí Faith, was chosen as one of five “Profiles in Courage” at the State Student Leadership Workshop, Aug. 26–29. Others chosen for the honor were Nelson Mandela, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt and Rosa Parks.

After hearing a series of talks portraying the historic figures—including a portrayal of Táhirih by Carla Gorisch, a Bahá’í from Kaunakakai—the 250 members of the audience voted that she had helped the world most and was the most courageous of the five nominees. Many asked afterward for more ‎informfation information‎ about Táhirih and the Bahá’í Faith.

TEACHING

• Congo Republic: The first-ever visit by a pioneer to the remote region around Ouesso resulted in the enrollment of 73 souls ‎inthe in the‎ Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, with study circles established right away to confirm the new believers.

“It was so much fun—but not easy,” reported Behin Newport, a pioneer who lives in Brazzaville. “The people are wonderful. They really love the Faith. Many good and educated people” accepted the Cause, she wrote.

Newport undertook the trip after teaching the Faith to an Ouesso resident, a retired schoolteacher whom she knows as “Papa François.” The two traveled to Ouesso and they carried out the teaching there and in two nearby villages.

• Slovakia: Considerable media attention surrounded a visit by Russ Garcia, a longtime Hollywood movie composer, and his wife, Gina, late in summer. Of a number of interviews that publicized their planned talks about the Faith, the most widely seen was on an hourlong program on the national television station LUNA. The couple explained basic principles of the Faith and discussed a recently written opera by Garcia, The Unquenchable Flame, based on the life of Táhirih. “All of the journalists were extremely friendly and positive towards the Faith,” a report stated.

Interfaith history

Paulus Church in Oslo, Norway, was the scene for a historic interfaith service as part of Jubilee 2000 in June. It was the first time members of varied faiths were invited to read from their scriptures in a consecrated hall in Norway. The choir sang a Bahá’í prayer in French, “Mon Dieu, mon Adoré,” set to music by Bahá’í composer Lasse Thoresen.

DEVELOPMENT

• Canada: Representatives of nine native nations, traveling from as far as Bryan, Texas, attended the Aboriginal Gathering 2000 in July at Wyevale, Ontario. A Bahá’í drum group, Sonhela Wiji, was a central presence at the event. The group, whose name means “Nine Together” in Cherokee-Abenaki, is dedicated to sharing the healing Message by placing Bahá’u’lláh at the center of all that is sacred in traditional native culture.

Later, one participant said such gatherings are needed for the friends “to develop a sense of themselves as teachers of the Faith. ... We must be ever mindful of our responsibility to bring the healing Teachings of the Blessed Beauty to the world.”

• India: It was a summer for women’s voices to be raised, as Bahá’í agencies in two states held major ‎gatheriings gatherings‎ focused on the power of women to effect change. In Andhra Pradesh, the state Bahá’í Women’s Committee organized a seminar attended by about 150 on “Global Peace and the Role of Women,” with all presenters stressing the need for education of women before universal peace is possible. In Madhya Pradesh, a workshop by the Bahá’í Vocational Institute for Rural Women brought 50 women together to study how to prevent the proliferation of water-borne diseases caused by pollution and deforestation. ♦ [Page 40]

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY REACHES OUT

To encourage the American Bahá’í community in our “unspeakably glorious” mission, the National Spiritual Assembly—along with Counselors and Auxiliary Board members—is undertaking an unprecedented series of meetings with the friends across the country, begun in October and continuing in 18 localities December 2–3. Please see page 3 to find out about the meeting nearest you.

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.

NOVEMBER

10–12: Two programs at Green Acre: “Reaching Christian Hearts with Bahá’u’lláh’s Good News”; “Get Real and Stay ‘Dry in the Sea’ ” for ages 12–15.

10–12: Family session at Bosch: The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, letters 1 and 2.

10–12: “Prayer: Food of the Spirit” at Louhelen.

10–12: Louisiana Bahá’í School, Covington, LA; with Counselor Tod Ewing, Jeanette Hedayati, Farah Guchani-Rosenberg. Registrar: Marilyn Jennison, (phone 504-892-2395, e-mail jennison@neosoft.com).

12: Milwaukee, WI, community centennial dinner. Contact Patricia Hanson (phone 414-242-4217) or Gloria Oatis (e-mail Goatis3761@aol.com).

16–19: “Caring for the Light of the Spirit” at Louhelen. Details, page 28.

17–19: Spiritual Empowerment Institute for Junior Youth at Louhelen.

17–19: Two sessions at Bosch: The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, letters 3 and 4; “Parenting in the Bahá’í Faith.”

17–19: “Bahá’í-Centered Management” at Green Acre.

23–26: ‘Irfán Colloquium at Bosch.

23–26: Southern regional conference, Nashville, Tennessee; sponsored by the Regional Bahá’í Council for the Southern States. Details, page 32.

23–26: Desert Rose Bahá’í School, Casa Grande, AZ. Information available (phone 520-466-7361 or 520-466-7767, e-mail desertrose@usbnc.org).

23–26: Florida Bahá’í School, Orlando, FL; with Jack McCants, Kerry McCord, Leota Lookman, Jeff Huffines, Rachel Huffines. Registrar: Denise Godsey, (phone 941-627-1014, e-mail denisegodsey@juno.com); pre-register by Nov. 9.

24–26: “Functional Families and Caring Communities” at Green Acre.

24–26: Sixth annual Divine Art of Living Conference, San Diego, CA; theme: “Living the Life.” With Counselor Wilma Ellis, Suheil Bushrui, Steven Gonzales. Sponsored by Spiritual Assembly of San Diego; for information call 619-697-2636 or 619-469-7907. For lodging at “Bahá’í Conference” rate, contact the Hilton (phone 619-276-4010).

DECEMBER

1–3: Assembly Development Module, “Builders of Communities,” at Bosch.

1–3: Two programs at Green Acre: SED training part 2; Establishing Training Institutes: “Teaching the Cause.”

7–10: Family session at Bosch: The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.

8–10: Seekers Weekend at Bosch.

8–10: “Expressing Creativity Through the Writer’s Art” at Louhelen.

12–14: “Applying Bahá’í Teachings to the Environmental Challenges Facing the World,” Conference of the Intl. Environment Forum, Orlando, FL. All welcome. Web site www.bcca.org/ief (or e-mail ief@bcca.org).

15–17: “Challenges of Single Parenthood” at Bosch.

22–24: Grand Canyon Bahá’í Conference and Youth Conference: “Prescription for Living,” Phoenix, AZ. General sessions in English and Persian; children’s program for age 4 and up. Contact: Grand Canyon Bahá’í Conference, P.O. Box 9961, Phoenix, AZ 85068 (e-mail gcbc@usbnc.org). For lodging at conference rate, contact Hyatt Regency (phone 800-233-1234 or 602-252-1234).

22–26: South Carolina Winter School, Myrtle Beach, SC. Registrar: Doug Phillips, (phone 843-236-4702, e-mail phillips@infoave.net).

26–31: Winter School at Green Acre: Relationships, Marriage and Family Life.

26–31: Winter School at Bosch: “Comparative Religions” plus “Mediation and Conflict Resolution.”

26–31: Pioneer Training Program in New York City. Contact Office of Pioneering (phone 847-733-3508).

27–Jan. 1: Winter School at Louhelen: “Prayer, Teaching and Global Transformation.”

27–Jan. 1: Mid-Winter Bahá’í Youth Conference, Cleveland, OH, for ages 12 and up. Sponsored by Spiritual Assembly of Westchester, OH. Registrar: Jim Hagan, (phone 513-755-2425, e-mail midwinter@usbnc.org).

29–Jan. 1: Texas Winter School at Greene Family Camp, Bruceville, TX. Contact Registrar (phone 214-348-1815, e-mail txwinterschool@usbnc.org).

Neda Lalezhari (from left), Cassidy Holland, May Lalezhari and Pegah Nabili gather around a book during a recent fireside in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. Photo by Vladimir Shilov

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NOVEMBER 4–DECEMBER 11, 2000 QUDRAT/QAWL • B.E. 157

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

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