The American Bahá’í - August/September/October 2020 • V51N04

Universal House of Justice on the final year of the Five Year Plan / page 3
The
A FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION
American Bahá’í
Volume 51, Number 4 www.bahai.us/stories August / September / October 2020
Volunteers at the Bahá’í Center of Minneapolis, only a block from memorials that sprang up amid protests
sparked by the killing of George Floyd, have been learning steadily about contributing to neighborhood
needs. They have been accompanied by Eliza Wesley (above photo, right)—an area resident serving as a liaison,
adviser and encourager—as well as organizations that called on the Bahá’ís to coordinate volunteers and set
up an orderly food bank (right photo). See page 8.
New roads ahead
… And no ‘normal’ to fall back on … pages 26–34
A resolute response to the pandemic … pages 35–38
Delegate elections
With Unit Conventions
suspended, 2020 balloting
will be online or by mail
page 7
Intersection of hope
Bahá’ís find themselves in
process of becoming one
with Minneapolis neighbors
page 8
Universal participation
A concept more relevant
than ever in today’s
challenging circumstances
page 15
Online drama with a point
Production helps get
students, teachers in Maine
talking about race, justice
page 18

Hearken ye, O Rulers of America and
the Presidents of the Republics therein.
… Give ear unto that which hath
been raised from the Dayspring of
Grandeur: “Verily, there is none other
God but Me, the Lord of Utterance,
the All-Knowing.” Bind ye the broken
with the hands of justice, and crush
the oppressor who flourisheth with
the rod of the commandments of
your Lord, the Ordainer, the All-Wise.
—Bahá’u’lláh, from the Kitáb-i-Aqdas

Contents
Race unity action resources web pages
Updated with materials, stories, perspectives and more:
www.bahai.us/race-unity-action/
Forging a path to racial justice
Text of message on page 5
On the web: www.bahai.us/path-to-racial-justice/
8
20
26
On the cover: Service centering on the Bahá’í
Center of Minneapolis has evolved through closer
relationships with neighbors since the killing of
George Floyd raised calls for justice; article, page 8.
Photos courtesy of Andy Hartin, Everett Ayoubzadeh
MESSAGES
From the Universal House of Justice
On the final year of the Five Year Plan .............................. page 3
FEATURED
New roads ahead
Forging forward with no ‘normal’ to fall back on ...............pages 26–34
A resolute response to the pandemic
Adapting our community-building processes . .................pages 35–38
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Public discourse
Illumine America: conversations on constructive solutions . .........page 10
Human rights
Escalation in persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran .........................page 11
Building community
Local support plentiful for brothers with genetic condition .........page 20
Building a new order ............................................. page 7
Social action . ..................................................pages 8–9
Ḥuqúqu’lláh: the Right of God ............................. pages 12–13
National Bahá’í Fund ........................................pages 15–17
Use of the arts ...................................................page 18
Brilliant Star Treasure Box .......................................page 39
Fundamentals for believers ..................................... page 40
Español . .................................................. páginas 41–46
صفحات ۴۷–۵۵ (47–55) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Persian) بخش فارسی
Classified / In memoriam / Calendar . ....................... pages 56–59
In the life of society ............................................. page 60
The American Bahá’í (ISSN 1062-1113) is published once every 2 months for a total of 6 issues per year by the National Spiritual Assembly of the
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2 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

MESSAGES
On the final year of the
Five Year Plan
Letter from the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual
Assemblies, dated May 9, 2020
Dearly loved Friends,
As will by now be all too apparent, the
Five Year Plan’s final year has brought challenges
different to those of the preceding
four. The world is caught in the grip of a
fast-spreading virus that has claimed many
thousands of lives and severely disrupted
a large share of humanity’s social and economic
activity. Yet the Bahá’í community
has remained composed and has acted
swiftly to meet the immediate demands that
confronted it. It has found ways to ensure
the continuity of community life, while
also striving to play its part in meeting
spiritual and material needs in society more
widely—a fitting response to an emergency
situation. We commend all the action that
has been taken so far. Now, however, we
wish to explore more fully what the coming
year might entail. Your efforts to stimulate
the advancement of the Plan in its final
months will inevitably be shaped by your
pressing responsibility to guide the friends
in their response to an evolving global crisis.
These unique circumstances require that
we address you directly; you may share this
letter with your communities, in whole or
in part, as you deem appropriate.
When we expressed our desire to see five
thousand intensive programmes of growth
established by the end of this Five Year Plan,
we were keenly aware of the magnitude of
the undertaking this implied, but the condition
of the world demanded it. We called for
the work of strengthening programmes of
growth to accelerate everywhere. We were
gratified to see how the supporters of the
Cause were galvanized into action, exerting
unprecedented levels of effort. In the space
of four years the Bahá’í community doubled
both the number of core activities occurring
worldwide and the number of their
participants. To have brought hundreds of
thousands of individuals into the embrace
of the community’s activities in such a short
period is an advance in capacity that has no
parallel in any of the previous Plans in the
present series.
Much, then, has been accomplished, and
this is a clear indicator of the strength and
confidence of the Bahá’í community. But, as
you already appreciate, the current crisis
has altered the context in which the Plan is
being pursued. We have been impressed by
how many communities have taken great
strides in adapting to this new reality. Far
from viewing the present period as simply
a hiatus to be endured with patience, they
have recognized that the state of the world
has made the need to render meaningful
service to humanity more urgent. Naturally,
the activities undertaken must suit the
prevailing conditions, but there should be
no doubt that this is a time for noble aims,
high resolve, and intense endeavour. As is
well known, the activities of the Plan are
intended to cultivate a thriving community
spirit, through which resilience to mighty
challenges is also strengthened. Educational
efforts aim to raise up a growing number
of souls who can contribute to the spiritual
and material well-being of a community;
devotional meetings nurture the spirit of
service as it blossoms, rooting it in a culture
of collective worship. In short, the promotion
of the Plan implies building capacity to
walk the path of service in every time and
season—which must surely include moments
of acute peril in the life of humanity,
such as now. It is essential, then, that the
steps being taken to learn how to apply the
Plan’s framework for action to the current
circumstances of the world continue in
earnest; in all likelihood, the global health
crisis will have a direct impact on Bahá’í
activities, to a greater or lesser degree, for
months or even years, and the task of adapting
to the situation cannot be postponed.
In this regard, the Continental Counsellors
and their auxiliaries, ably guided by the
International Teaching Centre, have shown
impressive determination in their efforts to
spur on the friends and orient them in their
approach to the work at hand; they will
doubtless do the same over the coming four
cycles and beyond.
We appreciate, of course, that some
activities have had to be suspended, and
particular strategies or methods that are
unsuited to current conditions have had
to be set aside for a time. However, while
certain possibilities have been temporarily
closed, others have opened up, and new
means have emerged for strengthening
existing patterns of activity. Flexibility has
proven to be an asset, but so has vigilance in
ensuring that the primarily local character
of community activities is not diluted;
efforts to nurture flourishing communities
within neighbourhoods and villages and
across clusters must continue. In some cases,
present conditions have created unexpected
opportunities for widening community
participation in devotional meetings and
study circles, conducted with safety in
mind. Many parents whose families have
been confined to home surroundings have
welcomed support that has helped them
to move from the position of observer to
protagonist in the spiritual education of
their children. Junior youth and groups of
youth have discovered the power of simple
acts of compassionate service carried out
with wisdom. Nevertheless, it would be
understandable if you determine, in some
instances, that plans that require the movement
of pioneers, mobile tutors, or visiting
teachers will have to be postponed, and this
should not give you cause for concern; you
can re-evaluate the situation in the months
ahead. The coming One Year Plan could
afford an opportunity to fulfil any goals or
objectives that may in the end remain out of
reach during the present Plan.
We recognize that continuing to function
in the course of this crisis will, in many
cases, put you under financial strain, and
the economic hardship being experienced
by many in the community may limit the
resources upon which you can draw. Be
assured that we stand ready to support you.
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 3

MESSAGES
Let there be no doubt or equivocation in
this regard: it is essential that the institutions
of the Faith maintain their operations
throughout this period and not be obstructed
by lack of resources in the discharge of
their core duties. Unquestionably, the whole
company of the faithful in each country will
rally around you, and in particular, we are
confident that believers with means will
come forward to aid you.
As you are aware, there is considerable
unevenness in the ways that different
societies are coping with the difficulties
arising from this crisis; consequently, the
challenges that confront different National
Assemblies are not the same. And these
challenges will change over time. This will
call for tremendous agility as local, regional,
and national institutions seek to read their
reality and stay alert to new developments.
We wish to impress upon you that your
collaboration with the Counsellors will
be of paramount importance: it should
be committed and sustained, an almost
constant exchange of information and
insight, to ensure that you are responding
swiftly to the needs of your community,
anticipating problems before they emerge,
seizing opportunities that open up, and
supporting promising initiatives. Exactly
what measures should be taken by Bahá’í
institutions will naturally depend on the
relevant circumstances. But in every place,
the friends will need clear and timely
guidance; special attention must be given to
those who are most at risk from the virus
itself, or from the economic impact of its
spread; and creative approaches will be required
to sustain the collective spirit of the
community during difficult times. Networks
of various kinds comprising families, neighbouring
households, or other groupings
are offering valuable support to many; you
should be confident in the resourcefulness
of your communities, and seek to draw on
their talents and energies to the fullest. As
grave as conditions have already become in
some places, National Assemblies in countries
that have so far been spared the more
severe consequences of the pandemic must
keep in mind that there is the potential for
worse to occur, and any preparations that
can be made now for that eventuality, before
the introduction of further restrictions
hampers such efforts, should commence
at once—without alarm, but without delay.
Local Spiritual Assemblies in particular
should consider what means might be
within their power to prevent, relieve, or
mitigate suffering in the wider society of
which they are an integral part.
When society is in such difficulty and
distress, the responsibility of the Bahá’ís to
make a constructive contribution to human
affairs becomes more pronounced. This is
a moment when distinct but interrelated
lines of action converge upon a single
point, when the call to service rings aloud.
The individual, the community, and the
institutions of the Faith—inseparable
protagonists in the advancement of civilization—are
in a position to demonstrate
the distinctive features of the Bahá’í way of
life, characterized by increased maturity in
the discharge of their responsibilities and
in their relationships with each other. They
are summoned to a fuller expression of the
Faith’s society-building powers. Agencies
and projects dedicated to social action may
have to adapt their approaches in order to
meet expanded needs; efforts to do this
are sure to infuse ongoing programmes
with deeper meaning and purpose. Further,
Bahá’í contributions to discourses newly
prevalent in society are generating heightened
interest, and there is a responsibility
to be discharged here too. At a time when
the urgency of attaining higher levels of
unity, founded on the incontestable truth of
humanity’s oneness, is becoming apparent
to larger and larger numbers, society stands
in need of clear voices that can articulate
the spiritual principles that underlie such an
aspiration.
You are of course ever conscious that
your responsibilities reach beyond those of
administering the affairs of the community
and channelling its energies towards the
fulfilment of noble goals: you seek to raise
awareness of those spiritual forces that are
available to every confirmed believer and
which must be marshalled at the hour of
need. It is these forces which endow the
community with resilience, ensure its
integrity, and keep it focused on its divine
mission to serve humanity and elevate its
vision of the future.
It is not possible to foresee the extent
to which this pandemic will influence the
movement towards unity among the nations.
But there is no doubt whatsoever that, for
the endeavours of the Bahá’í community,
the months ahead will be consequential.
Indeed, it could hardly be otherwise. This
final year, of the final Plan, in a series
spanning the final quarter of the opening
century of the Formative Age, will seal the
foundation upon which will rest the next
series of global undertakings. It is the concluding
act in a captivating drama whose
end is yet unwritten.
Not a moment passes when you are not
in our thoughts. All our trust and confidence
in your capacity to face this challenge
comes from our knowledge that your
ultimate supporter and helper is the Abhá
Beauty Himself. In our entreaties at the
Sacred Threshold, we implore Him to make
you pure channels for the flow of His grace
to humankind.
The Universal House of Justice
ON THE WEB
Recent guidance messages
Messages in English and Spanish may
be downloaded at www.bahai.us/
community/guidance — sign in with
your Bahá’í ID number
Persian translations—as well as letters
to the Bahá’ís of Iran, with English
translations—are available at
www.payamha-iran.org
Feast of ‘Aẓamat (May 15, 2020):
Guidance compilation on the Five Year
Plan and race unity
Riḍván 2020: To the Bahá’ís of the
World
April 8, 2020: On application of Bahá’í
burial law in light of the coronavirus
health crisis
March 12, 2020: Temporary
suspension of pilgrimage and visits
due to the impact of COVID-19
Jan. 31, 2020: Guidance compilation
on teaching and enrollments
Dec. 1, 2019: On social media and
non-involvement in politics
4 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

MESSAGES
Forging a path to
racial justice
A message from the Bahá’ís of
the United States
June 19, 2020
The Bahá’ís of the United States join our fellow-citizens in
heartfelt grief at the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor,
Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others whose lives were suddenly
taken by appalling acts of violence. These heartbreaking violations
against fellow human beings, due only to the color of their
skin, have deepened the dismay caused by a pandemic whose
consequences to the health and livelihoods of people of color have
been disproportionately severe. This has come to pass against a
backdrop of longstanding racial injustice in virtually every aspect
of American life. It is clear that racial prejudice is the most vital
and challenging issue we face as a country.
Yet, amidst these tragedies, there are also signs of hope.
Countless citizens have arisen to proclaim the truth that we are one
nation, and to demand specific actions to address the pervasive
inequities that for too long have shaped our society. We have
remembered who we aspire to be as a people, and are determined
to make a change for the better. This moment beckons us to a
renewed commitment to realize the ideal of E Pluribus Unum—out
of many, one—the very ideal upon which America was founded.
To create a just society begins with recognition of the
fundamental truth that humanity is one. But it is not enough
simply to believe this in our hearts. It creates the moral imperative
to act, and to view all aspects of our personal, social, and
institutional lives through the lens of justice. It implies a reordering
of our society more profound than anything we have yet achieved.
And it requires the participation of Americans of every race and
background, for it is only through such inclusive participation that
new moral and social directions can emerge.
Whatever immediate results might come from the current
demonstrations, the elimination of racism will require a sustained
and concerted effort. It is one thing to protest against particular
forms of injustice. It is a far more profound challenge to create
a new framework for justice. Our efforts can only succeed when
we learn to build relationships with each other based on sincere
friendship, regard, and trust, which, in turn, become pillars for the
activities of our institutions and communities.
It is essential for us to join hands in a process of learning how
to create models of what we want to see in every dimension of
American life, as we learn to apply the principle of oneness through
practical engagement and experience. To this end,we offer the
following thoughts.
An essential element of the process will be honest and
truthful discourse about current conditions and their causes, and
understanding, in particular, the deeply entrenched notions of
anti-Blackness that pervade our society. We must build the capacity
to truly hear and acknowledge the voices of those who have
directly suffered from the effects of racism. This capacity should
manifest itself in our schools, the media, and other civic arenas, as
well as in our work and personal relations. This should not end
with words, but lead to meaningful, constructive action.
There are already significant efforts underway to learn how
to create models of unity in neighborhoods and communities
throughout the nation. Bahá’ís have been persistently engaged in
such efforts for many years. The aim is not unity in sameness—it
is unity in diversity. It is the recognition that everyone in this land
has a part to play in contributing to the betterment of society, and
that true prosperity, material and spiritual, will be available to us all
to the degree that we live up to this standard. We should earnestly
discover what is being done, what truly helps to make a difference,
and why. We should share this knowledge throughout the country
as a means of inspiring and assisting the work of others. If we do
this, we could soon find ourselves in the midst of a mass transition
toward racial justice.
Religion, an enduring source of insight concerning human
purpose and action, has a key role to play in this process. All faith
communities recognize that we are essentially spiritual beings. All
proclaim some version of the “Golden Rule”—to love others as we
do ourselves. Take, for example, the following passage from the
Bahá’í Scriptures in which God addresses humankind:
Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no
one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your
hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one
same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to
walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the
same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions,
the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made
manifest.
To understand and firmly believe that we are all children of God
provides us with access to vast spiritual resources, motivating us to
see beyond ourselves and to work steadily and sacrificially in the
face of all obstacles. It helps to ensure that the process is consistent
Josie Desmarais/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 5

MESSAGES
Dvougao/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty images
with the goal to create communities
characterized by justice. It gives us the
faith, strength, and creativity to transform
our own hearts, as we also work for the
transformation of society.
We believe that the tribulations now
encompassing much of the world are
the symptoms of humanity’s failure to
understand and embrace our essential
oneness. The interrelated threats of climate
change, gender discrimination, extreme
wealth and poverty, unfair distribution of
resources, and the like, all stem from this
deficiency and can never be resolved if we
do not awaken to our dependence upon
each other. The world has contracted to
a neighborhood, and it is important to
appreciate that what we do in America
impacts not only our own country, but the
entire planet.
We should also never forget that the
richness of our diversity, and our founding
ideals of liberty and justice, attract the eyes
of the world to us. They will be influenced
by what we achieve, or fail to achieve, in
this regard. It is not an exaggeration to say
that the cause of world peace is linked to
our success in resolving the issue
of racial injustice.
The oneness of humanity is
the foundation of our future. Its
realization is the inevitable next
stage in our life on this planet.
We will replace a world society
based upon competition and
conflict, and driven by rampant
materialism, with one founded
upon our higher potential
for collaboration and reciprocity. This
achievement will mark the universal
coming of age of the human race. How
soon we achieve this, and how easily,
will depend upon the commitment we
demonstrate to this cardinal principle.
We have come to a moment of great
public awareness and rejection of
injustice. Let us not lose this opportunity.
Will we commit to the process of
forming “a more perfect union”? Will
we be guided by “the better angels of our
nature” to choose the course of wisdom,
of courage, and of unity? Will we choose
to truly become that “city upon a hill”
to serve as inspiration to all humanity?
Let us then join hands with each other
in commitment to the path of justice.
Together we can surely achieve this.
Bahá’u’lláh said: “So powerful is the light
of unity that it can illuminate the whole
earth.” May that light grow brighter with
every passing day.
National Spiritual Assembly of the
Bahá’ís of the United States
RESOURCES FOR ACTION
Race unity action resources web pages are being
updated with materials, stories, perspectives and
more: www.bahai.us/race-unity-action/
Public presentation of this National Spiritual
Assembly statement in the national Bahá’í
website: www.bahai.us/path-to-racial-justice/
Results of National
Spiritual Assembly’s
election of officers
Letter from the National Spiritual
Assembly to the United States Bahá’í
community, dated May 15, 2020
Beloved Friends,
In a letter dated April 25, we shared
with you the results of this year’s
election of the National Spiritual
Assembly and informed you that we
would carry out the election of our
officers at a later time.
We are pleased to share that the
Assembly has now chosen its officers
for the year, who are as follows:
Chair: David F. Young
Vice Chair: Jacqueline Left Hand Bull
Secretary: Kenneth E. Bowers
Treasurer: Juana C. Conrad
Even as we call on divine confirmations
to attend the Assembly’s
endeavors on behalf of the American
Bahá’í community, we pray fervently
for all of your tireless efforts to fulfill
the lofty and urgent goals of the Five
Year Plan, now in its final months.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Kenneth E. Bowers
Secretary
Regional Bahá’í
Council balloting
Local Spiritual
Assemblies across
the national Bahá’í
Created
community are to receive from instructions
the
by Noun Creative Project
Mania
directly about participating in balloting
this fall for the Regional Bahá’í Councils
serving their respective regions.
Information will be additionally shared
through the Bahá’í member services
website: sign in to http://www.bahai.us/
community/
6 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

BUILDING A NEW ORDER
2020 delegate
election is solely
by absentee
ballot
Bahá’ís nationwide
have online and
paper options
Unit Convention Desk, Office of the Secretary
Owing to the effects of the global health
crisis on our country, the National Spiritual
Assembly decided that this year’s delegate
elections, scheduled for the first weekend in
October, will take place solely by absentee
ballot, and that there will be no gatherings
for Unit Convention.
In an effort to further its ability “to facilitate
the participation of the greatest number
in the election of the delegates,” and “to
ensure that all the adult believers residing
in a unit are provided ample opportunity to
cast their ballots for electing their delegate,”
as encouraged by the Universal House of
Justice, the National Assembly has enabled
the friends to make use of an online platform
for balloting if they wish.
The Online Balloting System (OBS),
administered through the Bahá’í National
Center, is a mechanism for both casting
ballots and tallying all votes. Every eligible
voter with a current email address on
file at the National Center will have the
opportunity to vote through OBS using
a smartphone or a computer. The email
invitation to do so will be sent from the
National Center in early September.
In this light, each believer is strongly
encouraged to update their email address in
the Bahá’í membership database if they wish
to have the option of using OBS to vote. You
may update your email address by signing
in to www.bahai.us/community/myprofile
(Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge
are preferred browsers).
In the case a voter prefers to use a paper
ballot instead, the National Assembly will
also mail paper ballots to all eligible voters
at the end of August. As usual, paper ballots
must be returned by mail directly to the
Local Spiritual Assembly responsible for
organizing the delegate election in the electoral
unit in order to be counted.
Participating in the delegate
election
The delegate election is the first step in
a sacred process undertaken each year
that leads to the election of the National
Spiritual Assembly and every five years
culminates in the election of the Universal
House of Justice. The accompanying graphic
illustrates the relationship between a single
vote for a delegate and the subsequent
elections of the National Assembly and the
House of Justice. Clearly, then, as the House
of Justice reiterates, voters’ participation in
Bahá’í elections is “not only … a right they
exercise, but … a spiritual obligation which,
when discharged in the proper Bahá’í spirit,
contributes to the health and growth of the
Bahá’í community.”
Thus, regardless of whether votes are cast
online or using paper ballots, the responsibility
remains with each voter to maintain
the sacred nature of the election. Believers,
as always, will be able to make their choice
of delegate in what the House of Justice
called in a Dec. 29, 1988, letter “a private
attitude that invites communion with the
Holy Spirit.” This is essential because every
individual vote cast in a Bahá’í election
contributes to the Administrative Order—
the construction of which, Shoghi Effendi
asserted in a World Order letter, “constitutes
the one hope of a stricken society … actuated
by the generating influence of God’s
changeless Purpose.”
Efforts to increase participation
Ongoing education of the believers on the
Bahá’í electoral process is a continuing
responsibility for every Local Spiritual
Continued on page 14
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 7

SOCIAL ACTION
Intersection
of hope
South Minneapolis
Bahá’ís becoming
one with neighbors
By Kari Carlson
An intersection of hope. This is how
residents of South Minneapolis now
lovingly refer to the site where George
Floyd was killed by police at the corner of
East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue. The
site is familiar to news audiences, as the
heart of what mobilized people around the
globe to express their desire for justice in
May and June 2020.
The news cameras have left. But more
than a month after his death, this intersection
of hope served as a vibrant gathering
point for thousands of people of different
racial backgrounds and belief systems
who came to grieve, protest, create art and
heal. Among them were American Indians,
African Americans, Somalis, West Africans,
Latinx, Whites and Amish.
At moments it could also be a flashpoint.
Many from Minneapolis’ American Indian population join in
demonstrations and observances, as well as helping provide services,
at the “Intersection of hope.” Photo by Andy Hartin
Tensions and conflicts are no stranger to
this spot, and sometimes the more violent
symptoms of a community’s poverty and
long oppression will erupt.
Still, visitors to this corner glimpsed the
power of community—of what a multiracial,
A newly installed sculpture rises at East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in
Minneapolis, the “Intersection of hope” that sprang up in the days after the killing
of George Floyd near the Bahá’í Center. Photo by Everett Ayoubzadeh
multicultural collective can create when
given the space to take ownership of its own
community.
In the center of the intersection
stands a newly erected sculpture of a
Black fist raised in the air, encircled by
bouquets of flowers, messages painted
directly on the asphalt, and a growing
number of murals on the walls of businesses.
A stage stood on one edge of the
intersection, where various people could
speak or perform music and dance.
Since thousands of
people were entering a
community of color during
a pandemic that has disproportionately
affected
people of color, Black and
American Indian leaders
set up tents at all entrances
to the intersection, where
they pass out masks and
hand sanitizer. They also
hand out brochures meant
to orient White visitors to a
culturally significant space.
Prepared by the Central
Area Neighborhood
Development Organization
(CANDO) and the
American Friends Service
Committee, the brochure explains: “... this
corner has become a place of mourning
for many Black and Brown people. It will
go down in history as a reminder of the
systemic racism that has gone unchecked
for so long.”
It goes on to
say: “Out of trauma,
you will see
an abundance of
beauty. … Now is
the time for you to
respect the space
as you would any
space dedicated to
mourning and remembrance.
Think
Vietnam Veteran’s
Memorial or visiting
Auschwitz.”
Three weeks
after George Floyd’s
death, Rebecca
Molloy, a Twin
Cities-area Bahá’í, said she has experienced
the intersection as “probably the most
peaceful and unified place on earth. The
artwork spontaneously shows up. Neighbors
cook free food for everyone. There are multiple
food drives. Everyone wants to give
something to their city and neighbors.”
Nadia Ayoubzadeh, a Bahá’í in
Minneapolis, grew up just blocks away
from 38th and Chicago. She arrived at the
intersection of hope with her husband and
children on the Saturday following George
Floyd’s death. This was after several nearly
sleepless nights, when fires overtook an
entire commercial district where many
people of color own businesses. Families
were on guard against unwanted visitors
intent on doing harm and military helicopters
hovered overhead.
“Before I visited the intersection,” says
Ayoubzadeh, “I felt sorrow and pain and
a heaviness in my heart. As I approached
the memorial, those feelings washed away
and I felt a sense of peace. People praying,
bringing flowers. It was like the moment
in an action movie when everything goes
silent. Sorrow and joy merged together—
the earthly sadness of injustice and a yet
spiritual power.”
Ayoubzadeh’s husband, Everett, says,
“African Americans on that block haven’t
had time to grieve because the whole world
has flooded to them. They’re up 20 hours a
day, trying to unify people around the space
while maintaining protection and dignity.
They all recognize the value of the space as a
global symbol of racial healing.”
8 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

SOCIAL ACTION
Organic growth: One small act
blossoms
The Minneapolis Bahá’í Center is exactly
one block away from the intersection of
hope. The Bahá’ís purchased the building
20 years ago. Until recently, they struggled
with how to be a part of the neighborhood
in a meaningful way. That started to change
as hundreds of people walked
past the Center each day and
as Bahá’ís ventured into the
memorial area and began
building strong connections
with their neighbors.
Amir Missaghi, a Bahá’í
who lives in a nearby suburb,
felt called to the area while
watching news coverage of
George Floyd’s death and the
resulting protests. On TV, he
could see the now-famous
Cup Foods sign, something
he’d glimpsed from the Bahá’í
Center lawn numerous times.
“I felt an internal struggle,”
Missaghi says. “My wife and
kids and I had been shelteredin-place
for six weeks and
weren’t sure if we should leave the house. But
I kept re-reading a letter from the Universal
House of Justice that came out a week before,
and it said, ‘Be ready to be of service to your
community.’
“I knew that the protesters were at that
intersection fighting for justice, which is
something I could get behind,” he continues.
“My mind also kept going back to ‘Abdu’l-
Bahá. He brought food to the British during
World War I. I thought, if He did that, I can
bring water to the protesters.”
Missaghi started by passing out granola
bars and bottles of water. Then he called on
other Bahá’ís to set up a table on the lawn of
the Center for those simple offerings, plus
face masks. Soon, people they didn’t know
brought bags full of groceries to the table.
At first, the Bahá’ís graciously turned them
away, saying, “The food drives are a block
down.”
But the strangers kept coming, all with
bags and boxes full of groceries and basic
necessities, so the Bahá’ís decided to accept
them. Within days, the donations grew to
require several tables on the lawn, set up like
a free open-air market. Several more tables
inside the Center hold stock. At no point
was this spontaneous food drive advertised.
There’s a practical explanation. Missaghi’s
wife, Tajalli, explains, “The road is blocked
to vehicle traffic at the edge of the Bahá’í
Center parking lot. The Bahá’í Center is the
closest they can get to the memorial by car.
You can either turn into the Bahá’í Center or
turn around.”
A memorial in South Minneapolis recognizes the names of many
people killed by police across the country in recent years.
Photo by Everett Ayoubzadeh
Adapting to neighborhood vision
and reality
Not everyone who shows up at the Center
has a car full of supplies. Some just
have a desire to serve. The Bahá’ís make
sure each person has a role to play. The
inclusion of any and all willing volunteers
caught the attention of the community
and neighborhood organizers keeping
watch over George Floyd’s memorial
site. The community soon asked the
Bahá’ís to coordinate volunteers for all of
the sanitization stations and White ally
orientation tents.
Minneapolis Bahá’í Andy Hartin says
welcoming people into the area reminds
him of a previous period of service in his
life: “It feels like I’m back in India guiding at
the Bahá’í House of Worship. I’m welcoming
people into a peaceful, reverent space that is
intended for people of all backgrounds.”
New friendships are emerging as
Bahá’ís serve alongside area residents, and
as a result the Bahá’ís have shifted their
approach to service. After two weeks,
neighborhood leaders expressed concern
about the food drive.
They’d seen people from other
neighborhoods loading up vans to take the
food and other supplies out of the area. They
asked the Bahá’ís to ensure these necessities
made their way to residents within a twoor-three
block radius.
But when the Bahá’ís paused the food
drive to reorganize, neighbors still knocked
on the doors several times a day. So, in
consultation with other nonprofits, the
Bahá’ís set up a food pantry inside the
Center that complies with health and safety
standards.
Neighbors becoming one, together
This desire to stay in alignment with
neighbors established bonds of trust
between the Bahá’ís, other organizations
and residents. This has proved essential
as Bahá’ís become aware of the everyday
realities there.
A day after the story of the intersection
of hope was published on the bahai.us
website, two people were killed near the
Bahá’í Center. Momentarily, the Bahá’ís felt
despondent at the stark contrast between
the peacefulness at the intersection of hope
and what felt to them like a sudden flash of
violence. But, Everett Ayoubzadeh explains,
“We weren’t aware of the nighttime reality,”
which is sometimes violent.
Rather than close the doors of the Center
and retreat into relative comfort, they made
a powerful decision to remain present.
Hartin, Ayoubzadeh, fellow volunteer
Natahlia Woods and a half dozen others
now spend up to 12 hours a day in the
neighborhood.
They run the food pantry, help with
cookouts and sanitization stations, and also
text neighborhood protectors when they see
problems arising. They also attend meetings
hosted by other neighborhood leaders every
morning and evening, joining them in
re-envisioning community together.
Ayoubzadeh, who is an Auxiliary Board
member, says he is motivated by words he
heard as he was training for that role.
“I remember the [International Teaching
Center] member [Antonella] Demonte
reiterating over and over again: ‘We need to
be with the people. We need to be with the
people. We need to be with the people,’” he
recalls.
Continued on page 14
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 9

PUBLIC DISCOURSE
Illumine America: conversations
on constructive solutions
Plenty of Americans are working on
constructive solutions to pressing social
issues. The Illumine America podcast has
been launched online to provide a platform
for their contributions to a thoughtful,
forward-looking discourse.
Produced by the national Bahá’í Office
of Public Affairs (OPA) in Washington, DC,
the podcast shares conversations of about 20
minutes with people who work for peace and
justice through avenues in harmony with the
Bahá’í teachings.
Each installment of the podcast is
available on Soundcloud as well as through
the iTunes Podcast app for Apple devices.
They can also be found on the web
(https://medium.com/@usbahaiopa).
Conversation topics coincide with the areas
of learning OPA is exploring in its work
and relationships with other organizations:
racial justice and unity, the environment,
gender equality and the advancement of
women, economic inequality, human rights,
and the role of media in society.
While the vision of a peaceful and just
global society is at the core of the Bahá’í
teachings, “we know that we won’t be
the only ones to help contribute to world
peace—it will have to be a process involving
universal participation,” says Anthony Vance,
director of OPA.
“The podcast is an opportunity for our
office to be in conversation with some of
the people and organizations with whom
we find some commonality. If each of us is
holding some small piece of the puzzle with
respect to solving issues like economic inequality,
racism, or climate change, it seems
timely that we all be in dialogue with each
other, learning from what each of us can
bring to the table.”
Guests for the first few installments of the
podcast series have included:
• Sharona Shuster and Russell Krumnow
of Convergence, an organization that
helps people with differing views work
together on such matters as education,
health reform, re-entry of the incarcerated,
government budgeting, and more.
Notes Shuster, “We don’t start with a
solution or frame in mind; we build that
frame through our conversations with
experts and then we test and refine it over
time. When we tackle a problem, we try
to define it in a way that will promote
collaboration and cooperation.”
• Jenna Nicholas of Impact Experience,
which builds relationships between investors,
foundations, entrepreneurs, artists
and local leaders to develop solutions to
economic exclusion and inequality.
“[W]hether it’s in southern West Virginia,
where there’s a history of deep extraction
from the coal industry, or in Puerto Rico
post the hurricanes, where there’s a deep
history of trauma caused by colonialism,
there is a need to recalibrate how we engage
in these communities and the role of
local voices in the conversation,” she says.
• Kate Schmidgall, founder of Bittersweet
ON THE WEB
Canadian podcast series explores
essential principles in wake of
pandemic
The Bahá’í community of Canada has
launched a new podcast, beginning
with a mini-series titled “Resilience
in the face of adversity.” Episodes
in the series explore how insights
from religion can shed new light on
contemporary challenges amid the
current public health crisis.
For complete details, go to
news.bahai.org/story/1429/
Monthly, a magazine that showcases
people and organizations working to
solve critical social issues. “I think that
we live in a time when disconnection and
isolation seem to be rising … in parallel
with a self-centered worldview,” she says.
“But I wonder if it’s not more beautiful
and life-giving when we actually focus on
understanding and listening to the stories
of others, the stories of people who are
not us.”
As a whole, OPA notes, Illumine
America can be seen as a venture into a
long-standing conversation with listeners,
as well as interview subjects, about ideas
that might help to propel social progress. •
Podcast guests from organizations
Convergence: convergencepolicy.org Impact Experience: www.impact-experience.com Bittersweet Monthly: bittersweetmonthly.com
10 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

HUMAN RIGHTS
Escalation in
persecution of
Bahá’ís in Iran
Tried in court and
imprisoned for
their beliefs
Bahá’í World News Service; posted June 11, 2020,
on news.bahai.org
BIC New York: The Iranian authorities
have escalated their persecution of the
Bahá’ís, targeting at least 77 individuals
across the country in recent weeks despite
the present health crisis afflicting the
country.
Bahá’ís in the provinces of Fars, South
Khorasan, Mazandaran, Isfahan, Alborz,
Kerman, Kermanshah, and Yazd have
been arrested, summoned to court, tried,
sentenced to jail, or imprisoned, all under
baseless accusations and for no reason other
than a deep-seated antagonism to the Bahá’í
Faith and its teachings which emphasize
truthfulness, equality of men and women,
safeguarding the rights of all people, and
the harmony of science and religion.
In addition, Iran’s state-affiliated media
have stepped up the public defamation
of the Bahá’ís through an increasingly
coordinated spread of disinformation about
their beliefs by using television channels,
newspapers, radio stations, websites, and
social media to denigrate and to ostracize
the Bahá’ís. The Bahá’ís, meanwhile, are not
permitted to respond publicly, denying their
fellow citizens the opportunity to investigate
the truth themselves.
In one instance, a court in South
Khorasan Province has sentenced nine
Bahá’ís from three to six years of imprisonment.
These include an elderly man, whose
advanced age puts his health at great risk
if he is imprisoned. In Fars Province 12
Bahá’ís were sentenced from one to 13 years
of imprisonment under spurious charges. In
recent days, six Bahá’ís in South Khorasan
Province were summoned and have had
to present themselves for imprisonment;
four more were arrested in Kerman and
Yazd provinces; another Bahá’í in Alborz
Province was sentenced to one year of imprisonment
and two years of internal exile;
and yet another Bahá’í in Isfahan Province
was summoned to serve a prison sentence.
After being arrested and released on large
ON THE WEB
For more information on the situation
of Bahá’ís in Iran, visit the website of
the Bahá’í International Community
(bic.org), which includes archives of
Bahá’í persecution in Iran.
bails, these individuals have faced months,
and sometimes years, of waiting between
their arrest, trial, appeal court, and the beginning
of a jail term, adding an enormous
additional burden psychologically. Such
cruel tactics have been employed repeatedly
by the authorities in recent years, as part of
their systematic persecution of the entire
Bahá’í community.
“The recent incidents have placed great
pressures on so many families,” said Ms.
Bani Dugal, the Principal Representative
of the Bahá’í International Community.
“Subjecting them to the constant threat of
imprisonment under these circumstances
and emotional anguish associated with it is
yet another attempt to place greater strain
on the community. And to do all this during
a health crisis, at an alarmingly escalated
rate without any justification whatsoever, is
extremely cruel and outrageous.” •
New!
Pause & Reflect: Meditations for Families
There is perhaps no more significant bridge between our individual
lives and the life of our communities than the theme of this book:
families. Meditations for Families is the second title in the new Pause
& Reflect series. The passages collected here explore the unique bond
between wife and husband, the raising and education of children,
and the vitality of the family as a whole. These writings orient us
toward love and unity, equality and cooperation, and spiritual
growth. Available in both print and eBook formats.
Softcover $14.95 (PRMF)
ePub (PRMFEP) $5.99
mobi/Kindle (PRMFMB) $5.99
For more information visit us at bahaibookstore.com or call 1-800-999-9019

H. uqúqu’lláh
The Right of God
“Say: O people, the first duty is to
recognize the one true God—magnified
be His glory—the second is to show
forth constancy in His Cause and, after
these, one’s duty is to purify one’s riches
and earthly possessions according to
that which is prescribed by God. ...”
— Bahá’u’lláh
Making payment
Payment to Ḥuqúqu’lláh should be made
to “Bahá’í Ḥuqúqu’lláh Trust.”
Mail to:
Bahá’í Ḥuqúqu’lláh Trust
P.O. Box 697
Wilmette, IL 60091
Please include:
• Your Bahá’í identification
number written on your check;
if a joint payment, please
include both spouses’ Bahá’í ID numbers.
• Your current address where a receipt should
be mailed.
To make a payment online:
Sign in to ushuquq.org with your Bahá’í
Online Services account (to create one, go
to www.bahai.us/community/ and
click “Sign in”).
Phone: 847-733-3478
“It is not permissible for a believer
to earmark for any purpose a
payment he makes to Ḥuqúqu’lláh, nor may he
make such payment in honour of anyone.”
—March 22, 1989, memorandum from
the Universal House of Justice
H. uqúqu’lláh and
divine protection
Written for the Board of Trustees of Ḥuqúqu’lláh in the United States
Bahá’u’lláh has instructed us in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas that “the precepts
laid down by God constitute the highest means for the maintenance of
order in the world and the security of its peoples,” and in the Tablet of
Tajallíyát that “His ordinances constitute the mightiest stronghold for the
protection of the world and the safeguarding of its peoples.”
In October 1999, the Hand of the Cause of God and Chief Trustee
of Ḥuqúqu’lláh ‘Alí-Muḥammad Varqá gave a talk reminding us that
Ḥuqúqu’lláh, the Right of God, is at the apex of Bahá’u’lláh’s Teachings.
He further explained, “With the multifaceted features and mysterious
effects that arise from its issuance in this most recent Revelation of God,
it has the potential to solve the complex problems of humanity and
the ability to transform our self-oriented human community into one
based on unity.”
A Tablet of Bahá’u’lláh characterizes the observance of the Right
of God as “conducive to prosperity, to blessing, and to honour and
divine protection.” These blessings and bounties are not only for those
who fulfill their spiritual obligation to Ḥuqúqu’lláh, but also for their
children and the entire region in which they live, as indicated in other
Tablets of the Blessed Beauty.
Let us then observe these laws, which Bahá’u’lláh has characterized
as “the breath of life unto all created things,” and let this be our ardent
prayer in these challenging times:
“Make steadfast Thou, O my God, Thy servant who hath believed in
Thee to help Thy Cause, and keep him safe from all dangers in the
stronghold of Thy care and Thy protection, both in this life and in the
life which is to come. Thou, verily, rulest as Thou pleasest. No God is
there save Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous.”
Most of the quotations from Bahá’u’lláh in this article can be found in the
compilation “Ḥuqúqu’lláh: the Right of God.” See page 13 for information on
downloading this compilation. •
12 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

A ‘very practical and visual approach
to understanding’
This first-person story was shared with
the Board of Trustees of Ḥuqúqu’lláh in
the United States.
When I was a young boy, my mother
would movingly tell us her memories
of her father regarding the payment of
Ḥuqúqu’lláh. She said that at the end of
each month, her father would call her
to his side, show her a pile of money
gathered on the table, and say, “Here,
my daughter, is all the money I saved
last month.” Next, he would divide
the money into five parts, and would
continue saying, “From this money that
I was able to save, there is a portion
which doesn’t belong to me. Among
these five parts you see, there is one
which belongs to God. I don’t have
the right to touch and use it. On the
other hand, the four other parts which
belong to me will become purified and
blessed when I offer God’s part.” And in
a convinced state, he would say, “With
the purified and blessed money, I can
use it as I wish. With the blessing of
Bahá’u’lláh, our money will be a source
of prosperity and protection.” This way,
I learned that the money belonging
to God is called the “Right of God.”
This event had a profound impact on
my mother, and during her whole life she
was very attached to paying Ḥuqúqu’lláh
and we were thus educated since childhood
to observe this important law. With
this very practical and visual approach to
understanding the law, without complex
explanations about calculations, my
grandfather succeeded in touching the
heart of his 8-year-old daughter. •
Resources
All questions, concerns and comments should be
directed to the members of the Board of Trustees.
Dennis Andrews (Fairfield, CT)
203-339-1227
dennis.andrews@gmail.com
Danita Brown (Atlanta, GA)
678-858-3529
dmbrown98@aol.com
Shannon Javid (Bellevue, WA)
206-708-5100
shannon.javid@gmail.com
Behrad Majidi (Chesterfield, MO)
636-728-1903
majidis@charter.net
Robert Malouf (Brookfield, WI)
262-794-2348
secretariat@ushuquq.org
Mashiyyat Rahmani (Los Angeles, CA)
310-360-5199
mrahmani@mmchr.com
Catherine E. “Kitty” Schmitz
(Albuquerque, NM)
310-427-4092
kittyschmitz@yahoo.com
➢A group of Bahá’ís in and around Cary, North Carolina, had expressed the wish for an
intensive deepening on the Right of God, so a full-weekend study was arranged early this
year that examined all 12 lessons in a program available through Ḥuqúqu’lláh representatives.
Participants were aware from the start that the law of the Right of God is foundational to
Bahá’í life, and they enjoyed a comfortable atmosphere for discussion of perspectives and
questions. Group members at the end discussed possibilities for encouraging others to take
the course. Photo courtesy of Maye Lopez
ON THE WEB
www.bahai.us/community/huququllah/
Sign in with your Bahá’í ID number to find a
Ḥuqúqu’lláh representative serving your state
or area (under Deepening and Education >
For adults) as well as a variety of guidance,
educational resources for all ages and
information on the history of the institution:
• Compilation: “Ḥuqúqu’lláh: The Right of God”
• Codification of the Law of Ḥuqúqu’lláh
• Link to download a special issue of
The American Bahá’í on Ḥuqúqu’lláh
• Contact information for members of
the Board of Trustees as well as for
representatives serving every state
• Links for making payments
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 13

Elections Continued from page 7
Assembly, expected not only in
preparation for Riḍván elections
but throughout the year. Ruhi Book
8.2, in sections 12–14, provides an
opportunity to give concentrated
thought to the nature of Bahá’í
elections. Believers are encouraged
to reach out to institute coordinators
and Auxiliary Board members
for assistance with the material.
As an aid to Local Assemblies in
facilitating education, each electoral
unit’s host Assembly will receive
a chart to share with the friends
showing prior participation rates
for that unit. Out of the United
States’ 151 electoral units, most
have participation rates between 15
and 25 percent. This year’s use of
OBS for the 2020 delegate election
has the potential to increase participation
broadly.
2020 recommendations
to the National Spiritual
Assembly
Alongside the delegate election, a
key feature of Unit Convention is
the opportunity for the friends in
attendance to consult together and
make collective recommendations
regarding the advancement of the
Cause.
This year, in the absence of
Unit Convention gatherings,
recommendations to the National
Spiritual Assembly may still arise
from the many opportunities
for consultation available to the
community—Nineteen Day Feasts,
cluster reflection gatherings, or
other occasions. Collective recommendations
from such consultative
spaces should be forwarded to the
National Assembly through Local
Spiritual Assemblies or registered
groups.
Bahá’í administration, of course,
also allows for individuals to offer
thoughtful suggestions directly
to the institutions at all levels.
Moreover, as the pattern of community
life advances and Bahá’ís
learn how to consult together on
issues pertinent to community
well-being in a variety of settings,
the believers need not wait until
the delegate election to convey
insights gained throughout the
year. •
Intersection of Hope Continued from page 9
“If this is the reality of the people, why should
we shelter ourselves? In reality the beauty (of this
transformative process) outweighs the risk. There can
be real danger, real violence and real trauma attached
to what we may witness. But, if we’re to be shoulder-to-shoulder
why would we shelter ourselves?”
Early in June, volunteers staff a table offering services
outside the Minneapolis Bahá’í Center before the
organization of its food bank evolved. Photo by Tom Kubala
Out of their daily meetings, the Bahá’ís decided to
host weekly community dinners to provide youth a
safe venue to socialize and perhaps work on becoming
animators in the junior youth program. The other
neighborhood associations welcome these efforts.
“A month in,” Ayoubzadeh explains, “that foundation
of just showing up, listening, trying to be helpful
wherever we can and being present on a daily basis
has built so much trust that when we started sharing
with other organizers what it is that the global Bahá’í
community is trying to learn about, there was so
much warmth and reception to it. They said, ‘Oh,
yeah, that makes perfect sense for the Bahá’ís to be
doing that.’”
In fact, the community created a bulletin board at
the intersection of hope and told the Bahá’ís to post
flyers about the youth nights.
Hartin says the willingness to change approaches is
about oneness. “It’s not everyone becoming one with
the Bahá’ís,” he explains. “It’s us becoming one with
our neighbors. It’s all of us becoming one together.”
The events that have unfolded since the death of
George Floyd, he goes on, have “lifted a veil between
the Bahá’í community and the community around us.
All these veils lifted right along with his soul.” •
Design unveiled for first Bahá’í Temple in the DRC
After much anticipation, the design for the national Bahá’í House of Worship to be
built in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was unveiled through an online
announcement by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the country. For
complete details, a video and more images, go to news.bahai.org/story/1438/
Bahá’í World News Service photo
14 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020
RESOURCES FOR ACTION
Race unity action resources web pages are being
updated with materials, stories, perspectives and
more: www.bahai.us/race-unity-action/
Public presentation of the National Spiritual
Assembly’s June 19 statement on the Bahá’í
website: www.bahai.us/path-to-racial-justice/

National Bahá’í Fund
The promise of universal
participation
Never was the concept of universal participation more relevant to our work
for the Faith in this country than during today’s challenging circumstances.
Tunart/E+ via Getty Images
In its May 9, 2020, letter to
the world’s National Spiritual
Assemblies, the Universal House of
Justice exhorts, “It is not possible
to foresee the extent to which this
pandemic will influence the movement
towards unity among the nations. But
there is no doubt whatsoever that, for
the endeavours of the Bahá’í community,
the months ahead will be consequential.
Indeed, it could hardly be otherwise. This
final year, of the final Plan, in a series
spanning the final quarter of the opening
century of the Formative Age, will seal
the foundation upon which will rest the
next series of global undertakings. It is
the concluding act in a captivating drama
whose end is yet unwritten.”
How might we share together the
sacrifice required to “seal the foundation
upon which will rest the next series of
global undertakings”? What does this
mean for our work to maintain, even in
such challenging conditions, the material
means for His Cause? How can we best
ensure we acknowledge the reality that
“He who is the Eternal Truth—exalted be
His glory—hath made the fulfilment of
every undertaking on earth dependent
on material means”?
Can there be any greater earthly
undertaking than the building of His
Kingdom in this world?
One answer to these questions comes
through universal participation. When
each of us sacrifices, no matter how small
the amount, we add to the collective
that amasses to support overwhelming
victories.
As guidance from our beloved
Universal House of Justice in a letter
from 1970 reminds us, “The backbone
of the Fund must be the regular contributions
of every believer. Even though
such contributions may be small because
of the poverty of the donors, large
numbers of small sums combine into a
mighty river that can carry the work of
the Cause. Moreover, the unity of the
friends in sacrifice draws upon them the
confirmations of the Blessed Beauty. The
universal participation of the believers
in every aspect of the Faith … will
endow the Bahá’í community with such
strength that it can overcome the forces
of spiritual disintegration which are now
engulfing the non-Bahá’í world, and become
an ocean of oneness that will cover
the face of the planet.”
While we add our drops to this
mighty river, the House of Justice also
compassionately provides for the very
real possibility of hardship and reminds
us of its support in carrying forward the
work of our institutions. That is the goal
of universal participation by the friends
and it will be maintained by our individual
and collective sacrifices.
“We recognize that continuing to function
in the course of this crisis will, in many
cases, put you under financial strain, and
the economic hardship being experienced
by many in the community may limit the
resources upon which you can draw. Be
assured that we stand ready to support
you. Let there be no doubt or equivocation
in this regard: it is essential that the
institutions of the Faith maintain their
operations throughout this period and not
be obstructed by lack of resources in the
discharge of their core duties.”
—Universal House of Justice, May 9, 2020
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 15

NATIONAL FUND
PLANNED GIVING
A loving
outpouring
of planned giving
“O friends! It behoveth you to refresh and revive
your souls through the gracious favors which,
in this Divine, this soul-stirring Springtime, are
being showered upon you. The Day Star of
His great glory hath shed its radiance upon
you, and the clouds of His limitless grace have
overshadowed you. How high the reward of
him that hath not deprived himself of so great a
bounty, nor failed to recognize the beauty of his
Best-Beloved in this, His new attire.”
—Bahá’u’lláh
The Office of the Treasurer would like to
express its gratitude to Bahá’u’lláh for the
overwhelming outpouring of support for the
lifeblood of the Cause. Through the continuous
and heartfelt generosity of the Bahá’í
community this past year, more than ever
was given to our National Spiritual Assembly
through the Planned Giving Program.
Approximately $9 million was contributed to
the National Fund through various planned
giving options, including:
• estate bequests;
• beneficiary designations of financial assets
such as life insurance, 401(k), IRA, etc.;
• appreciated securities;
• IRA charitable rollovers; and
• donor-advised funds.
In addition, approximately $1.3 million
was received through the Charitable Gift
Annuity Program.
It is encouraging to know these thoughtful
gifts represent a combined overall increase
of 41 percent from the previous year.
Another important increase was seen in the
number of believers requesting information
on the spiritual obligation of writing a will.
Planned Giving stands humbly ready to
assist any of the friends in fulfilling their
spiritual obligation of writing a will and who
seek to leave a material legacy to the Funds
of the Faith. Your legacy will advance the
Cause, and we are assured such an act of
giving advances the spiritual growth of the
donor in all the worlds of God.
For additional planned giving information
please sign in to bahai.us/community/
resources/planned-giving or email
plannedgiving@usbnc.org or call
Amin Vargha (847-733-3569).
Photo by Eric van Zanten
16 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

NATIONAL FUND
UPDATES
National Fund goal: $40 million (for year ending April 2021)
Contributions as of June 30, 2020: $3.9 million
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
Continental Fund goal: $600,000 (for year ending April 2021)
Contributions as of June 30, 2020: $84,000
50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 300,000 350,000 400,000 450,000 500,000 550,000 600,000
Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Fund (since inauguration of this Fund)
Cumulative U.S. contributions as of June 30, 2020: $6.5 million
National Archives Fund (since inauguration of this Fund)
Cumulative contributions as of June 30, 2020: $138,000
Want to stay up to date on the status of the Funds?
Receive inspiring quotes on your phone two to three
times a month?
Sign up for the National Fund Texting Initiative!
Text bahaifund to this number: 313131.
Join us for a lunchtime webinar with
the Office of the Treasurer!
Topics range from planned giving, the spiritual
nature of giving, to an Online Town Hall.
Register at: bit.do/fundwebinars
Mail contributions to:
National Bahá’í Fund
PO Box 541
Wilmette, IL 60091-0541
Phone: 847-733-3472
Finance@usbnc.org
www.bahai.us/fund
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 17

USE OF THE ARTS
Online drama
with a point
Production helps get
students and teachers
in Maine talking
about race and justice
Despite difficulties, a dramatic production
this spring helped get students and teachers
in Maine talking thoughtfully about race and
justice, just as Green Acre Bahá’í School staff
hoped it would.
Unsurprisingly, it was the COVID-19
pandemic that created the difficulties. The
presentation of The Bus Stop, written and
directed by Najee A. Brown, was reduced
from the entire play to one key scene. Instead
of a full theatrical stage, it had to be adapted
to the limits of an internet videoconference.
Cast members, Berwick Academy faculty and
staff, and facilitators for Green Acre focus on a
scene from The Bus Stop during an April 30 online
workshop. Image courtesy of Green Acre Bahá’í
School
Still, the performance stimulated “honest
and genuine conversation,” according to one
high school’s feedback.
And some of the creative thought generated
in adapting the play is being carried
forward as Green Acre continues to present
artistic efforts on the theme “Pupil of the Eye.”
Green Acre, a Bahá’í center of learning
in Eliot, Maine, had a lot of initiatives in the
works when the pandemic disrupted operations
in March. Plans were proceeding at
full steam for spring and summer programs
for education, training in service, and community
discourse. A new website was in the
works to serve the center’s developing role as
a space for learning, consultation,
action and reflection.
Then there was the artistic
outreach. For over a year,
Green Acre has hosted artistic
events to engage the general
community and elevate
discourse around themes of
justice, nobility and the oneness
of humanity. The “Pupil
of the Eye” theme honors
Bahá’í teachings that liken
the spiritual station of Black
people to the dark center of
the eye, through which “the
light of the spirit shineth forth.”
Many of these events center
on visual arts, with music and
poetry also offered at each art
show’s premiere.
The Bus Stop was set for an April premiere
at Green Acre. Outreaches to area colleges
and high schools were planned for May to
engage students in meaningful conversation
on the themes of the play. Brown, the author,
was invited to serve as artist-in-residence.
The play focuses on the lives and relationships
of five African-American women
waiting at a bus stop to visit their incarcerated
loved ones. Casting was complete and
rehearsals had begun when the pandemic
forced Green Acre to close temporarily for
public activities.
So even as the Green Acre team moved
quickly to adapt all its educational and devotional
programs to be offered via the website,
Zoom and social media, The Bus Stop underwent
a similar transition.
With in-person performances canceled,
the playwright rewrote a single scene and
worked with the actors to perform over
Zoom for a focus group. In parallel, the
Green Acre team developed a dialogue space
about the play’s themes—including the
power of words, forgiveness, resilience, and
generation gaps.
Performance of the scene and testimonials
from the actors were incorporated into the
online dialogue space. These were combined
into late April and early May workshops for
two schools in Maine:
• Faculty as well as eighth-grade and
10th-grade classes at Berwick Academy
in South Berwick. “The scene that the
Sandi Kaddy, Denise Gordon and Joanna Kelley take part in a
read-through rehearsal of The Bus Stop earlier this year, directed by
Najee A. Brown at Green Acre Bahá’í School. Photo by Glen Egli
actors did over Zoom was very powerful,”
a 10th-grader said. Another shared that
after experiencing the scene and the dialogue,
“I want to have more conversations
about the complexity of race in America.”
• The student Civil Rights Team and the
district Inclusion Advisory Group at
York High School. An advisory group
member said, “It was the most honest and
genuine conversation that I have engaged
in since moving to Maine.” The faculty
adviser for the Civil Rights Team wrote,
“[T]hank you for being, hands down, the
BEST adults that have worked with our
students this year. I was truly blown
away by the way you all empowered and
inspired all of us.”
Robert Sapiro, administrator for Green
Acre, reflects, “Because of the love, unity and
capacity of this team, we weren’t able just to
survive the challenges of the pandemic, we
were able to create new opportunities that
propelled us further to our larger goal of
connecting with and empowering youth in
our area.”
In a similar vein, continuing plans for
the “Pupil of the Eye” art series have evolved.
Artwork, videos and conversation spaces
are being offered through Green Acre’s new
website (greenacre.news). •
SCHOOL SESSIONS
Information on summer and fall school
sessions at the permanent and seasonal
Bahá’í schools can be found on page 59.
18 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

BAHÁ’Í SUBSCRIBER SERVICE
Your Source for Magazines and Periodicals
1.800.999.9019 or subscription@usbnc.org
Bahá’í Subscriber Service distributes the magazines
and periodicals published by the National Spiritual
Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States
Subscribe to Brilliant Star—Share the light!
• Give as a gift to family, friends, and neighbors
• Provide for teachers and students in Bahá’í children’s
classes—it’s full of hands-on educational activities
• Donate to libraries, schools, community centers, and
health professionals with waiting rooms
• Use stories, games, and activities to enrich your
Nineteen Day Feasts, study circles, devotional
meetings, and Holy Day celebrations
Praise for Brilliant Star
“Brilliant Star is a tremendous help!!! From the stories to the
activities, I have been able to use the magazine [with kids] from
ages 3–12. It is such a valuable resource, and beautifully done.
I am genuinely grateful for how creative and engaging Brilliant
Star is for children! . . . Thank you again for being such a great
resource for parents, kids and teachers!!!”
—Jennifer Hampton, children’s class teacher and coordinator,
Tennessee Bahá’í School
“Brilliant Star is the finest children’s
publication in the world and well
deserves the many awards it has
received. Its delightful stories,
beautiful illustrations . . . and . . .
activities inspire children to serve
others, celebrate diversity, think
creatively, and recognize their
spiritual nature.”
— The Honorable Dorothy W. Nelson,
Senior Judge, United States Court
of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
“I get really excited when it comes
in the mail. I’m glad there is a
Brilliant Star magazine because
I’m really the only Bahá’í my age in
my community and sometimes it is
hard expressing that.”
—Aava D., age 11
“It makes me feel positive and loved.
Knowing that the National Spiritual
Assembly loves all the children and
takes the time to make the magazine
and send it to us as a gift.”
—Bayan B., age 11
“It makes me feel happy inside to read
about the Bahá’í Faith and things we can do to make
the world a better place.”
—Marisa K., age 12
Award-Winning
Content for Kids
Brilliant Star’s 2019 issues
(Volume 50, Numbers 1-4)
won the prestigious Mom’s
Choice Gold Award, which
is globally recognized
for establishing the
benchmark of excellence in
family-friendly materials.
The program evaluates
thousands of entries from
over 55 countries.
Brilliant Star also won
two 2020 awards from the
Religion Communicators
Council (RCC) for the “Light of
Faith” issue and cover art.
Check out the Brilliant Star
Treasure Box on page 39!
The National Spiritual Assembly
provides complimentary
subscriptions for registered Bahá’í
children (ages 7–12) in the U.S.
Subscription rates (in U.S.
dollars) for 6 issues per year:
• Standard U.S.
$18 (1 year) / $32 (2 years)
• Canada and Mexico
$28 (1 year) / $48 (2 years)
• Other countries
$38 (1 year) / $68 (2 years)
Subscribe at www.brilliantstarmagazine.org — $18 for 6 issues
Subscription rates are effective through October 31, 2020,
and are subject to change.
Subscription Rates (in U.S. dollars) 6 issues per year.
Available by subscription to Bahá’ís outside the contiguous U.S.:
$32 (1 year) / $60 (2 years)
Back issues: $3 + shipping/handling (available in the U.S.
or internationally)
Back issues of publications are available from the
Bahá’í Distribution Service:
401 Greenleaf Avenue • Wilmette, IL, 60091 U.S.
1.800.999.9019

BUILDING COMMUNITY
Family perseveres through pandemic
Brothers with genetic condition benefit from
family and community support
Like many Americans, brothers Alex and Ben Brode of Durham, North Carolina,
went into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-March. Their jobs
were interrupted, and so were their opportunities for choral singing, sports, and
other favorite activities.
Still, Alex, 39, and Ben, 33, “seem to be in
good spirits,” says their mother, Pam Brode.
The brothers, both Bahá’ís, have Fragile
X Syndrome, a genetic condition that causes
developmental impairments.
The pandemic disrupted more than two
decades’ progress in their ability to thrive in
the Bahá’í community and in society. But it
didn’t come close to wiping that progress out.
Pam Brode says she and the brothers’ dad,
Roger Brode, “talk to them every day on
the phone, pray with them [and] Zoom or
FaceTime with them,” she relates. “We are
grateful they are in good group homes with
competent and caring staff.”
Earlier in their lives, any setback would
have had grave consequences.
Great concern, great potential
At age 2, Alex was diagnosed with Fragile X.
A physician informed the Brodes that their
son would be severely to moderately intellectually
impaired, with autistic behaviors.
The news was devastating.
They were assured, however, that Alex
“showed much potential, and with early
intervention and the right support and
services he could live a full, productive and
happy life,” says Pam Brode.
Unfortunately, such support and services
weren’t always available to the family.
Alex was placed in a “superb preschool”
where they lived in Montgomery County,
Maryland. “We received tremendous support
from Alex’s special education team, and
we saw our precious son advance in ways
that we hadn’t thought possible,” she says.
In fact, says Brode, at age 3 Alex “shocked
his speech therapist” by reciting from memory
a Bahá’í prayer, and the next year he
“sang the prayer to a little tune he made up.”
The Bahá’í community was likewise
supportive.
Then Roger Brode, an atmospheric meteorologist,
took a position in North Carolina
Brothers Ben (left) and Alex Brode. Photo courtesy
of Pam Brode
with the Environmental Protection Agency.
Soon, Alex was regressing. His preschool
classes in their new town were overcrowded
and unsanitary; trained teachers and therapists
were rare. What stung just as much, the
small Bahá’í community there was unsure
how to approach the child.
“Alex often came home from his children’s
Bahá’í class in tears,” Pam Brode recalls. “He
would repeatedly ask, ‘What is wrong with
me?’
“It hurt him that none of the other children
talked to him, and he was often the
only child in class to not be invited to the
other children’s birthday parties.”
Gaining knowledge and capacity
Change was in the wind, though. Six months
after Ben was born with the same genetic
condition, Pam Brode attended a national
Fragile X conference in Colorado.
It was a “life-changer,” she says. “A mountain
of information was offered” and she
came home “newly energized and focused.”
Soon, she earned certification as an advocate
for children with disabilities and was
hired to work at the Duke Hospital’s Child
Development Unit.
Tremendous challenges remained, Brode
acknowledges, but quotes from the Bahá’í
writings encouraged her to stay the course.
Two of them were:
• From ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: “Every child is potentially
the light of the world—and at the
same time its darkness; wherefore must the
question of education be accounted as of
primary importance.”
• From Shoghi Effendi: “Every individual,
no matter how handicapped and limited
he may be, is under the obligation of
engaging in some work or profession. …
[I]t draws us nearer to God, and enables
us to better grasp His purpose for us in
this world.”
The Brodes’ 1991 pilgrimage to holy sites
of the Bahá’í Faith in Israel also left them
feeling “blessed and regenerated,” she says.
As did a letter written on behalf of the
Universal House of Justice that assured them
of “fervent prayers for your fortitude, for the
children’s special education to realize their
potentials, and for the discovery of specific
information which may ameliorate their
conditions.”
And a letter from the Hand of the Cause
of God Amatu’l-Bahá Ruḥíyyih Khánum,
who noted that “one can appreciate the
virtues of the little ones, however simple
they may seem intellectually, whose hearts
and souls are pure.”
Gradual improvements
In part because of Pam Brode’s efforts,
special education in Durham improved
exponentially in the 1990s. “It was a
wondrous thing to witness the evolution of
public schools in Durham through the years,”
she reflects.
“We also saw the development of some
good early intervention programs and there
were some excellent programs that had
popped up in place for children, teens and
adults with special needs.”
She also witnessed changes in the local
Bahá’í community. The Spiritual Assembly
“began showing greater support to our
family, and even appointed me as adviser …
concerning issues pertaining to persons with
developmental disabilities.”
And the community responded positively
to the suggestions that resulted.
“Many [community] members went out of
their way to show the utmost love, kindness
and acceptance to Alex and Ben,” she says,
adding that the brothers began looking
forward to community gatherings.
Something just as heartwarming happened
soon afterward.
20 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

BUILDING COMMUNITY
In July 2000, Durham hosted a two-week
Bahá’í youth gathering. As part of the program,
youths from several states offered six
days of service at a summer camp for young
people with developmental disabilities. Alex
and Ben were among those at the camp.
The youth volunteers “embraced a new
awareness of the importance of inclusion
of persons with disabilities in the Bahá’í
community,” says Brode.
One of the Bahá’í youths remarked, “I
had never worked with children and youth
with mental and physical impairments and
wasn’t sure at first what to expect.
“But as soon as I walked through the door
of the camp clubhouse I met so many loving
people. Their impairments didn’t matter.
Everyone was having a good time.”
Another reflected, “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.”
Says Brode, “The Bahá’í youth loved
the campers, the campers loved the Bahá’í
youth, and Alex and Ben were thrilled to
have new Bahá’í friends at their camp.”
Sharing in a wider arena
The following year, the U.S. National
Spiritual Assembly asked Brode to conduct
a workshop on “The Inclusion of Children
with Developmental Disabilities in the
Bahá’í Community” at a conference in
Milwaukee.
Brode heard many stories of frustration
and despair from parents who felt their
children’s learning needs were not being
addressed and their behaviors misunderstood
as unruly.
Wondrous things kept happening back in
Durham, though.
“More and more Bahá’ís in my community
were coming out to support activities
for Alex and Ben, which played a major
role in helping to improve their self-esteem
and confidence when they attended Bahá’í
gatherings,” she recalls.
“It also helped Bahá’ís discover that people
with developmental disabilities are very
sweet, loving, pure souls with potentials to
learn and achieve.”
In 2013, Ben participated in a Bahá’í
youth conference
in Durham—one
of more than 100
held around the
world.
“I was surprised
because
Ben tends to be
shy and often
withdraws and
clams up when he
is out in public,
especially in an
unfamiliar and
crowded environment,”
says Brode.
“But he was adamant to go.”
The conference was intended to be
youth-only, but Brode got permission to
accompany Ben. “Everywhere we went, Ben
was showered with love and affection from
the youth attendees and facilitators,” she
recalls.
His participation in art projects at the
conference “made him feel that he was a
contributing participant. It was a very special
experience for him.”
Strides toward independence
Alex and Ben Brode and their mother, Pam, sing in a Reality Gospel Choir talent
show. Photo courtesy of Pam Brode
In the wider society, progress remained
uneven. Alex was able to go live in a group
home and get a job in a candle factory. But
by the time Ben left high school, funding
had been severely cut and the Brodes had to
pay dearly for services and programs.
When the Affordable Care Act went
into effect, though, “Ben began receiving
funding for vocational training, supportive
employment, counseling and many other
invaluable services to meet his special
needs.”
Because of the program, she says, “he
also now resides in an excellent group home
and he continues to blossom. Most importantly,
he is very happy.”
The young men’s group homes are only
a few miles apart, so until the pandemic hit
they saw each other regularly.
And they were heavily involved in their
music and sports activities: singing in the
Reality Gospel Choir; playing the djembe in
a drum circle at the Durham Bahá’í Center;
and earning county and state Special
Olympics medals in soccer, basketball and
track.
Every step of the way, the Brodes and
many Bahá’ís from around the Triangle
cluster of communities cheered them on.
Until the COVID-19 pandemic.
Suddenly, Alex and Ben’s spring choral
concert and their state sports competition
were canceled.
“Persons with developmental disabilities
are a high-risk population, and it is
unknown when and if those programs will
return,” says Brode.
But in the midst of that uncertainty,
Ben’s employers at a temporarily shuttered
restaurant sent him “a lovely text that made
him very happy.”
It said: ‘“… remember, we value you and
when we get through this, there will be a
spot for you in our restaurant.’”
Sums up mom, “I can’t deny that the
journey to advocate for Alex and Ben has
been challenging. However, the successes
and rewards are truly immeasurable and far
outweigh the difficulties.” •
New believers
Enrollments, adult/youth (age 15+)
671 Previous administrative year:
May 2019–April 2020
36 May 2020
32 June 2020
Registrations, child/junior youth
446 Previous administrative year:
May 2019–April 2020
44 May 2020
32 June 2020
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 21

BUILDING COMMUNITY
Sign language
devotional draws
participants from
coast to coast
On May 5, a devotional gathering was
conducted entirely in American Sign
Language via a Zoom video call—perhaps
the first initiative of its kind in the Bahá’í
community.
Austin Vaday, a deaf Bahá’í in California,
and Akil Raspberry, a deaf friend of the
Bahá’í Faith in Florida, had each expressed
interest in having a devotional. They didn’t
know one another at the time, says Naledi
Raspberry, convener of the Bahá’í Task
Force for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Jason Schwartz, a sign language interpreter
and member of the task force, knew
Austin. Naledi Raspberry is Akil’s mom.
“We all got to know each other on a
joint text call that Jason set up,” recalls
Naledi Raspberry. “Austin agreed to host
the devotional and Jason set up the Zoom
call,” which was held in two parts because
of the time limitation Zoom places on free
accounts.
In the first part, the six participants
introduced each other. Akil Raspberry’s
daughter Jaden and Tavoria Kellam-
Lawrence, a member of the task force,
joined Akil and Naledi Raspberry, Vaday
and Schwartz on the call.
“
Each was eager to invite friends.
Children of deaf parents usually
learn to sign before they learn to
talk, and they can also be invited.
”
The second portion was devoted to
sharing prayers. Vaday had posted the text
of prayers to the chat feature of Zoom so
others could sign them.
“We experimented with ways to clearly
see the hands of the person signing
on-screen, and Gallery View seemed best,”
recalls Naledi Raspberry.
Afterward, the two deaf participants
arranged to contact each other to schedule
future ASL devotionals, says Raspberry.
“Each was eager to invite friends. Children
of deaf parents usually learn to sign before
they learn to talk, and they can also be
invited.”
The milestone event elicited praise from
the National Spiritual Assembly, which in
a May 13 letter encouraged that this effort
“continue from strength to strength.”
The letter went on to express the
National Assembly’s “wish to commend
all those involved for your creativity
and perseverance, especially during
these challenging times when spiritual
connection is so important.”
The Assembly noted that the staff of
the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette,
Illinois, has been hosting daily virtual
devotional meetings “and would welcome
occasional participation by someone
reciting a prayer in Sign Language.” •
Programs of growth 41 Milestone 3 clusters | 256 Milestone 2 clusters | 329 Milestone 1 clusters | 626 Total # of programs of growth
22 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020
Milestone 1 has been passed – cluster
has a program of growth
Milestone 2 has been passed – cluster
has an intensive program of growth
Milestone 3 has been passed – the
pattern of activity embraces large
numbers
(Source: Unity Web, July 2020)

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THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 23

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THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 25

New roads ahead
… and no ‘normal’ to fall back on
Written and compiled by Thomas Mennillo
back” and “normal” are
two notions Bahá’ís and friends
will be letting go, thank you very
much, when America cautiously
emerges from the restrictions of the
“Going
COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead, they’ll be moving—dare we say zooming—forward
resolutely and confidently.
Doing so in new ways, blending practices they adopted
in the near term with what was learned in previous years of
building community.
Making them more than ready to progress in three areas
spotlighted in the National Spiritual Assembly’s Riḍván 2020
message:
• Embrace multitudes, nurture them and
walk alongside them in service,
• Speak with assurance about the Central Figures
and Their teachings,
• And translate the teachings into a living reality.
So vital at a time in which Americans are searching for a
path toward justice for all.
This spring saw Bahá’ís nationwide participate online in
teaching conferences and smaller-group sessions.
They studied materials designed to impart a vision of how
expanding the nuclei of engaged souls will propel community-building
efforts and, in parallel, their clusters.
And with that enhanced understanding, they made plans
for action this summer and beyond.
Within a scheme of coordination the elected institutions
and appointed agencies of the Faith have honed for just this
moment.
Recognizing that, especially through devotional gatherings,
which the National Assembly has called each household
to host, so many neighbors can and will be engaged in meaningful
conversations.
Paving the way for these new friends and families to participate
in other core activities and, ultimately, actively collaborate
in their expansion.
As stories on the pages that follow demonstrate.
26 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

Spirit of quest for justice
moves Bahá’í to bring
neighbors together
When Americans arose this
spring to demand racial
justice, Laura Hampton
knew she “couldn’t wait
any longer” to bring people in her neighborhood
together.
Hampton, a Bahá’í in the Hixson section
of Chattanooga, Tennessee, “put on my mask
and started walking around my neighborhood
knocking on doors and hand delivering
invitations to a devotional gathering in my
front yard on Thursday, June 4.”
It’s something Hampton had longed to
do since moving into her home in December
2018. She did meet some neighbors early
on and shared a dinner with four of those
families.
And this spring the National Spiritual
Assembly urged every Bahá’í household to
host a regular devotional gathering for sharing
of prayers.
But she was unsure how to widen her
efforts. Life’s everyday demands, she says,
“kept my attention sidetracked from …
building these relationships.”
The COVID-19 pandemic complicated
things further. She works in health care with
a “very vulnerable population, and I must be
very careful in consideration of the risks.”
Then outrage arose over the deaths of
African Americans including Ahmaud Arbery
and George Floyd. “I knew I couldn’t wait any
longer,” says Hampton.
She enjoys being outside and isn’t a fan
of online conferences. So a devotional on a
level patch of her yard, with safe distancing,
seemed natural.
After printing invitations on bright yellow
paper, Hampton hit the bricks and knocked
on over 100 doors, leaving an invitation when
nobody answered.
She did meet around 40 “mostly receptive”
neighbors and “had numerous wonderful
conversations with some really nice people.”
Standing six feet away and wearing a mask,
she introduced herself as a neighbor. She
explained her concern for the world “and that
I want to try to do something to make it better,
Above: Joan McGovern shares a thought during a devotional at her daughter Laura Hampton’s home
in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Opposite page: Beau and Jesse Gilbert, up from Atlanta for the occasion, survey the yard where
Jesse’s mother, Laura Hampton, would be hosting a devotional that evening. Photos by Chris Hampton
starting here in my own neighborhood.”
She noted in those conversations that
“COVID-19 is scary enough, but the disease
of racism is just as terrible and destructive to
our nation and has kept us isolated for far too
long.”
The day of the devotional gathering,
Hampton set up chairs in a large oval in her
front yard with the help of family, including
her daughter—39 weeks pregnant—and son-inlaw
who drove up from Atlanta to participate.
“
They believed that knowing
and loving our neighbors is a
good, practical way to start
to be part of the solution, and
coming together in prayer with
others felt more effective than
praying on their own at home.
”
All told, 17 neighbors of varied races took
part in the gathering of 25, with some carrying
their own chairs. They included three of the
families Hampton had visited earlier.
The devotional started with a sing-along
led by her daughter, Jesse Nance Gilbert, “then
everyone introduced themselves and said
something about why they decided to come.”
Says Hampton, “Several people talked
about how upset they were about the recent
news and how they really needed something
positive. They wanted to do something and
set an example for their children.
“They believed that knowing and loving
our neighbors is a good, practical way to
start to be part of the solution, and coming
together in prayer with others felt more
effective than praying on their own at home.”
After several people offered prayers,
there was more music; a “very brief”
introduction of the Bahá’í teachings on the
oneness of God, religion and humankind;
and the singing of “Lift Every Voice and
Sing,” known as the Black national anthem.
Discussion continued on positive things
neighbors are seeing “in the midst of all
the pain and protests occurring around the
country and even the world speaking out
against racial injustice,” says Hampton.
When she suggested holding the
devotional regularly, “everyone seemed
supportive,” and a neighbor suggested a
monthly gathering.
Before that happens, Hampton intends to
visit many of the 100 homes she hadn’t yet
gotten to and make return visits to neighbors
with whom she had “particularly positive
conversations” the first time around.
“I feel very excited and relieved to be
given the answer to my confusion about
how to host a regular devotional gathering
… in the midst of global pandemic,” says
Hampton.
“I can’t wait for the next one!”
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 27

Nurturing the devotional climate in Raleigh
Neighbors find solace amid stress of pandemic
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC LENT NEW URGENCY TO SHARON
KARNIK’S EFFORTS TO START A REGULAR DEVOTIONAL
GATHERING IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD.
Four years ago Karnik found herself
with “no one who depended on me.”
All she “really wanted to do was serve
the Bahá’í Faith,” she recalls.
After a lot of prayer she moved into a
300-unit apartment complex in Raleigh,
North Carolina.
For some time, though, none of her efforts
to invite her neighbors met with success.
“I knocked on doors. I baked cookies for
people that moved in after me. I even tried
to get a drumming
group going in the
“I’m endeavoring to be mindful
of responses, reactions and
feedback from my neighbors in
order to assess opportunities
[for meaningful conversation],
and we are all becoming
increasingly familiar with
each other. I look forward to
seeing how this develops. ”
complex,” she says.
Then early this
year came the
pandemic, bringing
“anxiety and stress”
as it forced people to
shelter in place.
About the same
time, every Bahá’í
household across the
country was urged to
host a regular gathering
for the sharing
of prayers.
“After prayer, I was inspired to invite the
neighbors in my building to come together
in the open breezeway, keeping distance, so
that we could check in with each other,” says
Karnik.
“I put handwritten notes on attractive
stationery on each neighbor’s door and set
the early evening date to meet up. I told them
that I would wait in the breezeway and hoped
to meet everyone.”
Two families came, she says. “One family
is a young couple—late 20s with an infant—
who lives two floors down from me, and the
other family lives across the hall from me—a
couple with two college-age children.”
When the gathering ended, “Both families
expressed thanks that I had reached out to
them,” says Karnik. The following week they
met again, and they set up a texting group to
communicate between gatherings.
At the third session, says Karnik, “We
prayed together, each person—including the
youth—offering a prayer from their faith.”
One neighbor suggested the group
meet weekly, and Karnik suggested they
say prayers together
each time. All
readily agreed.
“This is what we’ve
been doing for 10
weeks,” she says, “and
each week I’ve been
introducing a topic of
social importance to
elevate our conversations.”
The heightened
awareness this spring
of racial inequalities
opened the door wider,
so Karnik in early June
gave each family a copy of The Vision of Race
Unity: America’s Most Challenging Issue, a 1991
statement from the national Bahá’í governing
council.
The unfoldment of this gathering “is definitely
a learning experience” for Karnik.
“I’m endeavoring to be mindful of responses,
reactions and feedback from my
neighbors in order to assess opportunities
[for meaningful conversation], and we are
all becoming increasingly familiar with
each other. I look forward to seeing how this
develops.”
Community gardeners
grow closer over
prayers, service
Its name is long: the Camden
Street Learning Garden Prayer
Group. Its reason for being
is simple: bring together in
prayer and fellowship people who
care about their urban gardening
initiative.
The Learning Garden is a community
space in a historically Black
neighborhood close to downtown
Raleigh, North Carolina.
It is a part of a larger hunger
relief organization, Interfaith Food
Shuttle, that started about 35 years
ago, says Nancy Hendershot, a
Bahá’í in Raleigh who “has been using
the garden and getting to know
others who work and serve there.”
Some 25 individuals and families
have raised beds in the garden,
says Hendershot.
“Others come here to volunteer
and learn about growing organic
food, growing and using herbs,
composting and collaborating with
others to learn and contribute to
improved food supply in the area.”
In July 2019, Hendershot visited
the home of a fellow gardener
“to inquire if she might like to
28 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

Residents of a Raleigh, North Carolina,
neighborhood enjoy this devotional
gathering in summer 2019. Photo by
Nancy Hendershot
pray together for the garden and
surrounding community.”
She had thought about doing
that on earlier occasions, but felt
it wasn’t the right time. That day,
though, “something happened
to suggest that this person cared
deeply about the neighborhood,” she
recalls.
Though Hendershot’s friend
was thankful for the suggestion
to pray together, no specific plans
were made. Soon after, however, “a
number of ladies were in the garden
discussing a problem of vandalism
in the area, specifically children
were stealing tools from the shed
and causing problems,” says Hendershot.
Perhaps, she suggested, praying
together would help the group find
an answer.
“There was immediate agreement
amongst the four women present
and the garden manager,” she says.
“The group agreed to meet … in the
outside kitchen, a large covered
space with about 12 picnic tables.”
Hendershot sent out invitations
to all the gardeners, and the
gatherings began with
an average of 10 to 12
participants.
“The friends prayed
from their hearts, sang
or played well-known
hymns, shared lovely
poetry often with
nature and garden
themes, and I shared
Bahá’í prayers and
themes about children,
oneness, the beauty of
nature and diversity,”
she recalls.
After a few meetings,
the group decided
to start an informal
class for children with
gardening tips, craft
activities and food
from the garden.
When cold weather set in, concerns
about homelessness led the
group to help a family as well as visit
the Raleigh Rescue Mission.
Devotionals continued with difficulty
when the COVID-19 pandemic
forced them onto online platforms.
But by the end of May the meetings
were back in the garden, with
participants sitting at a distance and
wearing masks.
Hendershot maintains a relationship
with the homeless woman,
sharing food from the garden and
food shuttle, as well as reading stories
to the woman’s son over Skype.
A remarkable devotional gathering
was held the Monday after protests
against racial injustice broke
out over the death of George Floyd in
Minneapolis.
“The relationships formed during
this year of praying and serving together
led to deep discussions about
working with children to prevent
these types of prejudice and hurtful
relationships,” says Hendershot.
“It is unclear what will come of
this group, but it is clear that friendships
around prayer and service are
important to these gardeners and
their friends.”
Atlantic States devotional campaign
focuses on family
As in all regions of the country, Bahá’ís in the Atlantic
States are being encouraged to meet the National Spiritual
Assembly’s call at Riḍván 2020 for every household to host a
regular devotional gathering.
The Regional Bahá’í Council of the Atlantic States
applauded believers for having tripled the number of
regular devotional gatherings since fall 2018 in the region
encompassing Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland,
North Carolina and Virginia.
Through reflection with other institutions and agencies of
the Faith “we can easily perceive the readiness of our region
to carry its devotional campaign to a further stage,” the
Council wrote.
“So, in complete harmony with the wishes of our National
Assembly, let us now concentrate the energies of our region
like never before.
“Let us raise our collective voices from the heart of every
home and contribute our share to what we will now call the
‘Every Family’ devotional campaign.”
Why family? The Council noted that it’s often said “the
strength of society is built on the strength of every family.”
“By this, we know that whatever elevates the family bond,
enhances its unity, and fosters its reliance on God is sure to
effect change in society at large,” it wrote.
“What can better elevate our families at this time—and
deepen the spirit of faith—than regular prayer and
reflection on that which is most sacred?”
Many kinds of devotional gatherings occur and all are
essential to our progress, the Council explained.
“But with most of our movements being limited at this time,
praying regularly with others in our home takes on a special
significance.
“Here, the term ‘family’ is being used in the broadest
sense—those whom we live or interact with regularly, be it
our children, spouses, siblings, parents, ‘extended’ family, or
our ‘spiritual’ family.
“But no matter how our family is presently shaped, the goal
and intention is to have universal participation in collective
worship at the most fundamental level of community life.”
The Council called on believers to “remember that the
spiritual reality of each devotional that we establish” is as a
nascent local Mashriqu’l-Adhkár.
“This is a time to truly focus our minds on ‘the needs of the
communities’ to which we belong—and to also connect
our hearts more closely to the Universal House of Justice,
delving deeply into its guidance.
“And in our quiet moments, ‘when no course of action other
than prayer seems possible,’ may the waves of devotion
emanating from our families come to relieve the ‘waves of
suffering and sorrow’ being caused by this crisis.”
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 29

Family is glue for community-building efforts in
Texas neighborhood
FOR DEBBIE VILLAGOMEZ, EFFORTS TO BUILD COMMUNITY
UNITY CLICKED INTO PLACE WHEN SHE REALIZED WHAT A
POTENT FORCE HER FAMILY OF FIVE WAS BECOMING.
Villagomez, her husband, Badi, and three
children—ages 11, 9 and 5—live in Pennsylvania
Gardens, a section of Arlington, Texas, that she
describes as “a very suburban neighborhood
but fairly diverse.”
Their efforts gained energy after another
Bahá’í, Rosaline Sharifi, moved close by in late
2018 and a children’s devotional called PJs and
Prayers was launched.
Debbie Villagomez and her son Jacob, 11, take
copies of Breezes of Confirmation around the
neighborhood to explain the junior youth program.
“The five children between our two families,
as well as three other Bahá’í children who
live within a few miles of us, began this amazing
children’s devotional activity,” Villagomez
recalls.
“Each month the eight children planned the
program, picked a theme, pulled Bahá’í writings
on the theme and picked a few YouTube
videos.
“Parents were in charge only of breakfast
and printing flyers to advertise,” she says. “The
kids passed out flyers, invited neighbors and
made posters for the front door.”
The monthly activity became “such a highlight”
for the community—“Who can say no to
an invite from sweet children?” says Villagomez—that
it helped start conversations with
many neighbors.
Not to mention getting the Villagomez children
involved in community building.
A change in mindset
“For so long, I was waiting to get started with
more activities because I didn’t think I was capable
of achieving much on my own,” she says.
“But my mindset shifted when I realized
that the core of our
teaching team was
my family of five. My
husband and our three
young children are
amazing assets and core
members of our group.”
As a family, the
Villagomezes gather
nightly to recite prayers
“for our neighborhood
and receptive hearts,”
she says.
“Our kids have
become vital members
of our teaching team, so
we always share with
them the importance of
praying for our efforts.”
Even the 5-year-old has memorized a
lengthy prayer for the Southern States found in
the Bahá’í writings, “because of how often she
hears it and says it, as well as the rest of us,”
says Villagomez.
A network of coordinated effort
Others also are helping to move activities
forward in Pennsylvania Gardens.
To make “all of my grandiose ideas come
to fruition,” says Villagomez, she and Sharifi
have worked closely with Bahá’ís appointed to
coordinate community-building activities in
the area.
Together they identified people ready and
willing to serve when a children’s class was
formed for elementary students and a junior
youth group for middle-schoolers.
“I had heard from many, many friends that
if we could just get a junior youth group going,
how this one core activity would just blossom,”
she says. “I didn’t believe it at first, but time
soon proved me wrong.”
The neighborhood team launched a junior
youth group in March 2020, and it met in the
Villagomez home until the COVID-19 pandemic
brought in-person gatherings to a halt.
“The following week, we started a children’s
devotional on Zoom, every day at 5 p.m. just to
have some social time and prayers,” she says.
“After three weeks of prayers every day, we
switched over to weekly.”
Spreading joy in the neighborhood
Also during the months of sheltering in, the
family noticed how “everyone was getting out
for walks and bike rides,” she recalls. “So we
had an idea to spread joy in these tough times:
a unity project.
Children in Arlington, Texas, enjoy a PJs and Prayers devotional gathering. Photos
courtesy of Debbie Villagomez
“For six weeks, each household could put a
themed item in their windows or doorway for
others to find on their many walks, bike rides
outside since we were all home all of the time.
“One week was rainbows, another was flowers,
then silly faces, etc.,” says Villagomez. “It
was a huge hit! Overall, we had over 30 houses
participate and say how great it was.”
Junior youth group meetings resumed in
May on Zoom, and the children’s devotional
was turned into a children’s class.
Also, the Villagomez family’s long-standing
regular devotional gathering for neighbors
is blossoming. One gathering in early June
addressed racial justice, “given the current
events in society.”
30 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

For years the response to this devotional
gathering had felt like “a very slow drip,”
but no longer. “Our neighborhood now
feels like the dam has been broken and
literally daily we are flooded with more
confirmations,” says Villagomez.
“We have families or members of a
family that attend one core activity, love it
and ask what else they can do. They come
to a devotional and then want their kids in
a children’s class,” she says.
“I had heard from many, many
friends that if we could just get
a junior youth group going, how
this one core activity would just
blossom. I didn’t believe it at first,
but time soon proved me wrong.”
“They have one in the junior youth program
and then ask what we have for their
younger siblings. The coherence [among
various activities] is amazing.
“My husband and I take walks in the
evenings and they always end up taking
twice as long as we plan for because we
have so many meaningful conversations
with neighbors along the way.”
A role in offering services
The Bahá’ís have collaborated as well
with the neighborhood homeowners’
association “to build relationships and
offer services to the neighborhood,” says
Villagomez.
She and Sharifi “were actually asked
to help run our neighborhood’s National
Night Out event in October.” Also, with the
blessing of the HOA, she started a Facebook
page for Pennsylvania Gardens.
And through a spreadsheet Badi Villagomez
developed, “All of a sudden, we were
getting a very clear picture of more of our
neighbors.”
So much of sharing Bahá’í teachings
for humanity, says Debbie Villagomez, “is
being outside in the field, cultivating relationships
and having all of these elevated
conversations with neighbors.”
“That’s what my family members
have been assisting with all along. I’m so
grateful.”
Snapshots of movement in a Texas grouping of clusters
The increasing impact of communitybuilding
work in such communities as
Arlington, Texas, doesn’t happen in a
vacuum. Individuals, communities and the
institutions and agencies of the Faith are
acting in concert to study guidance, make
plans, take action, and reflect on and refine
their efforts.
Lupita Ahangarzadeh is the regional
growth facilitator for a grouping of clusters
in Tarrant County, Texas. She sees how all
these forces are aiding the movement of
the grouping’s nine clusters—five toward
the second milestone of development and
four toward the third. Here she provides
some snapshots of progress in early 2020.
A welcome opportunity. Four teaching
conferences for the grouping, facilitated
via Zoom, were a welcome opportunity
to come together during this challenging
time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clarity of vision was enhanced, especially
on the next steps to take in the path
of service. The concept of the expanding
nucleus provided the lens in which growth
can be viewed. One can visualize how their
neighbors, friends, family, co-workers or,
in the focus neighborhoods, a population
can move closer to Bahá’u’lláh.
With loving help and guidance from
our Auxiliary Board member, we continue
to learn and apply that learning.
Spaces open for mutual support. At
a regional institutional meeting Feb.
29–March 1, the subregional team for our
cluster grouping outlined the next steps to
take with each cluster.
When shelter-in-place orders took
effect, meetings moved to Zoom, but we
continued to work as a team and appreciate
the support we demonstrate for each
other in service to advance our grouping.
We take joy in our unity and love for each
other. No one feels alone in their service.
Also, our Regional Council secretary
provides a monthly space for study, reflection
and sharing with all the regional
growth facilitators that serve our region.
An extended family devotional. The
National Spiritual Assembly’s call for every
household to host a regular devotional
gathering has energized Bahá’ís.
Despite the pandemic, in one cluster
the number of devotional gatherings
has increased to 62. Some were held
within families. In one, the Area Teaching
Committee secretary, Lisa Carter, invited
her Catholic brother and sisters to join her
in a devotional to further cultivate family
unity. Her siblings joined in and loved it!
Recently, the siblings gave Lisa
permission to invite all her 18 nieces
and nephews, and several attended. The
devotional’s theme of race unity was so
appreciated.
Connecting by old and new means. The
use of videoconference technology has become
a normal way of life for many of us.
It makes it more convenient to host devotionals
and to invite friends. It is used also
to make home visits, as is another tool: the
three-way call feature on cell phones. The
feature ensures that the person making the
call always has accompaniment.
A few Bahá’ís have been able to return
physically to neighborhoods they
serve—mindful of needed precautions. It
is heartwarming to see the expressions on
the faces of neighborhood friends. They
are always so happy to see us and we to
see them! It is a heavenly feeling when we
inhale the spiritual oxygen generated when
we hold elevated conversations!
Caring for others takes many forms.
At a recent reflection gathering, an Area
Teaching Committee engaged attendees
in a scavenger hunt to put together care
packages for people in neighborhoods.
They were surprised to discover how many
small things around their houses could be
included: for example, goodies for children
and even the ingredients for a chili lunch.
In Fort Worth, a Bahá’í sought to do
something special for a group of women
who cook and deliver meals twice a week
for seniors in an apartment complex. She
began making meals for those volunteers,
and one week included Golden Rule cards.
Another Bahá’í in Fort Worth was
inspired at the teaching conference to
touch the hearts of other mothers in her
neighborhood by delivering a flower to
each with an invitation to a devotional on
Mother’s Day.
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 31

Glimpses into four teaching conferences
This spring, a series of teaching conferences—nearly
all conducted by videoconference because of the
COVID-19 pandemic—gave Bahá’ís an opportunity
to enhance their understanding of the communitybuilding
process and make local plans for accelerated activity
during the remaining months of this Five Year Plan. Particular
focus was trained on the National Spiritual Assembly’s call for
every Bahá’í household to host a regular devotional gathering.
Large-group sessions typically studied materials developed
by the Counselors serving North America. In smaller-group
breakouts, participants assessed their individual and collective
efforts to bring contacts into the circle of participants and
perhaps into the circle of those collaborating to build community.
A central concept was how an expanding nucleus of people
in a neighborhood or locality can help populations move
toward the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.
Here are glimpses from a few conferences from different
parts of the country:
Northern Ohio conference lends vision for local planning sessions
Outcomes: “This series of meetings has
done much to bring the subregion closer
to a unified vision of the future of Bahá’í
activities in northeast Ohio,” says Ron
Frazer, Area Teaching Committee member
for the Cleveland area. “There seems to
be a new spirit and a stronger sense of
community.”
Youth are the focus of some of the follow-up
action, with plans to use Zoom to facilitate
devotional meetings and virtual parties.
Participants: 63 from northern Ohio and
parts of Michigan and Indiana.
Method: During a May 2 videoconference,
participants studied the first section of
the “grassroots materials” document.
Throughout May, a series of neighborhoodlevel
conferences studied the rest of the
materials, then formulated specific plans.
Congolese friends living throughout
the subregion held a separate teaching
conference during May in Swahili. Three
Congolese families are planning daily family
devotions, which can be expanded once
neighbors can be invited safely.
Highlights:
• Every group applauded the materials as
a tool for focusing the friends on a unified
vision. Some groups said the material
increased their understanding of the
importance of the institute process.
• Every group mentioned a goal of
increasing devotional meetings, and
many saw them as portals for firesides
and study circles.
Videoconference screenshot courtesy of Ron Frazer
• Some groups are developing teaching
teams in rural areas where Bahá’ís are
widely separated and isolated. Those
friends were excited about the potential
of Zoom because physical travel was
difficult even before the virus crisis.
• All groups faced some challenges
because of age, illness and limited
expertise with computers and
smartphones.
• Members of one group set a goal of
improving their knowledge of their local
communities so they could set more
focused goals and plan accordingly.
• Two groups mentioned reaching out to
schoolteachers with notes of appreciation
with Bahá’í quotations about the station
of teachers in society.
• Several groups mentioned looking
for volunteer opportunities during the
pandemic, such as delivering meals,
making face masks that can be given to
neighbors with Bahá’í prayer cards, etc.
• One group mentioned reconnecting
with neighbors and old friends, either
through Zoom, email or snail mail,
looking for opportunities to have elevated
conversations including quotations from
the Bahá’í writings.
32 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

Central and southern Ohio Bahá’ís inspired to expand efforts
Outcomes: “ATC members and facilitators received plans
from participants and are accompanying friends in different
ways to carry them out. Follow-up reflection meetings with
the facilitators of the study groups are being carried out on a
monthly basis,” says Karen Beck of Columbus, Area Teaching
Committee member for Franklin County.
“The teaching conference was a shot in the arm for the National
Spiritual Assembly’s call for each household to host a regular
devotional gathering.”
During preparations, she adds, “New relationships were
formed and old relationships were strengthened. … [T]he four
Area Teaching Committees serving the subregion began to
collaborate and meet regularly. This has led to a new spirit of
collaboration and closeness.”
Participants: 150 Bahá’ís from 14 central and southern Ohio
clusters—10 of which are striving to pass the second milestone
of growth.
Method: Four two-hour videoconference sessions were held the
weekend of April 18–19. Forty facilitators, all trained in advance,
guided consultation in 17 breakout groups.
Highlights:
• “Friends reported that the time went by quickly, as the
materials contained inspiring case studies and guidance.
Plus it was so fun to be with friends during this time of social
distancing. … [F]riends called out loving greetings to those
they hadn’t seen for weeks or years.”
• “Many participants said that being introduced to the
concepts of concentric circles [representing varied levels
of engagement] and an expanding nucleus helped them
understand their relationships with their neighborhood,
friends and community in a new way. It guided them as well
in making plans for next steps to increase core activities and
build relationships.”
• “The conference also provided an opportunity for
many friends to reflect on their capacity to serve. The
visualization of a simple act of service growing into a fullfledged
community-building activity inspired many of the
participants.
• “It raised consciousness about new ways of using
technology to support community activities and to teach the
Faith. This helped us to realize that we could also use Zoom
and technologies like it to participate in or host devotionals
and study groups.
“A funny story was how one of our facilitators learned some
of the ins and outs of Zoom and it enabled her to show her
granddaughter how to play Pictionary on a call by sharing
the screen. She was so proud of this because normally it is the
young people trying to assist their parents and grandparents
to understand new technologies. In this case the tables were
turned!”
New Mexico conference gives momentum
to cluster-level action
Outcomes: Bahá’ís are enthusiastic about continuing to study
and take action in their communities, as well as sharing the
conference materials with those who could not attend, says
Amalia Giebitz of Albuquerque, a regional development
facilitator.
“Clarity of understanding” emerged regarding “1) the context of
our role as Bahá’ís in North America, 2) the nature of a nucleus
of friends and the process of thinking systematically, 3) the
practical examples of mutual support and assistance, and 4) the
continually insight-inspiring nature of the reflection questions
that follow the materials. Many friends see those questions as
essential to consultations at Feast, reflection gatherings, team
meetings, etc.”
Participants: Thanks to videoconferencing, people across the
state took part in a conference originally planned for a few
clusters surrounding Albuquerque.
Method: Zoom conferences were held April 12 with morning
and afternoon sessions. Follow-up statewide reflection spaces
were arranged the week afterward, each with a focus on a
particular core activity.
Highlights:
• One Local Assembly arose “to explicitly commit the
community to advance the goals of the Plan,” and has taken
“specific practical steps … to collaborate and coordinate with
cluster agencies to educate the generality of the believers.”
• “The most significant impression was that we can support
each other even when we live quite distant from each other.
Clusters that previously felt remote from their reservoir
cluster are now regularly connecting with the reservoir,
and learning is being exchanged. Efforts from all areas are
validated and recognized, which is kindling the flame of
enthusiasm.
“For example, even where only one friend may be able to
arise in her locality, which typically takes anywhere from
three to six hours to reach “nearby” Bahá’í communities,
she now regularly connects with friends. She can consult
about her personal progress and think about her local
friends using the ‘concentric circles’ exercise included in the
conference materials [that depicts varied levels of individual
engagement].”
• Reflection spaces following group study were organized
to help participants make concrete plans based on their
chosen path. “[T]he animators decided to plan a junior youth
camp and meet the following weeks, and the children’s class
teachers felt the need to set up a regular reflection space,
perhaps monthly, to share resources on how to sustain and
expand children’s classes in the COVID-19 circumstances.”
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 33

Southern Arizona Bahá’ís meet over 9 days
Videoconference screenshot courtesy of Winona Smith
Outcomes: The Area Teaching
Committee for greater Tucson gained
strength in organizing an inspirational
space for friends in a far larger area than
they were used to. When the pandemic
hit, they took “a deep breath” and worked
through the unexpected need to carry
the conference out through Zoom,
relates Winona Smith of Tucson, an ATC
member.
“We struggled with how many Zoom
accounts do we need? How do we decide
what is a nuclear [cluster] grouping?
How many groupings do we have? Who
will be our facilitators? What are the
responsibilities of the ATC members,
facilitators and coordinators?”
But they drew on experience in making
their own cluster reflection meetings
“exciting, fun and open to the whole
community.”
In the aftermath, several communities
have made detailed plans of action,
the number of devotional gatherings
in southern Arizona has substantially
increased, and some of the small groups
continued studying together.
Participants: People from across
southern Arizona took part in the
plenary conferences. Smith saw up to “55
screens with multiple people on many.
… Elders and people with problems
of transportation, difficult schedules,
etc., were there. … Some groups had
only Bahá’ís but some had friends of the
Faith.”
Method: Originally planned for May 9,
the conference was expanded to nine
days. The full group participated together
on two consecutive weekends, and in
between 12 smaller groups each had
time to study the materials together.
Highlights:
• The flexibility of the small-group
meeting times helped people with
various schedules, allowing for broader
participation.
• “The first and last days were full of
families with kids that shared in the
prayers,” says Smith. “The children were
smiling and so happy to be a part of the
process.”
• “Some groups enjoyed the use of the
arts, and each individual used whatever
art form they enjoyed to express their
experiences in their study group.”
• “Several small groups created amazing
artistic expressions of their learning and
reflections, including poems, paintings,
and a children’s flip book,” says Shawn
Hedayati of the Pinal County Central
community, who serves as ATC secretary.
34 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

A RESOLUTE RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC
A lens into the future
Is this how school was always supposed to be?
Ronald Lapitan, a Bahá’í in Fairfax, Virginia,
offers a personal perspective on working
with Bahá’í-initiated junior youth groups
during the pandemic and the value of the
nascent Bahá’í system of spiritual education.
By Ronald Lapitan
One way to think of the Bahá’í community
is as a never-ending education system, with
the goal of raising up minds to build the
culture we dream about.
Children go through children’s classes
centered on building a sense of virtue and
principle. At middle-school age they go
through junior youth groups, which center
on building self-confidence as agents of
positive change. As youth and adults, people
continue their education through study
circles, with training designed to disseminate
the best of the Bahá’í world’s collective
experience in culture building.
One study-circle course trains you to
become the children’s class teacher, another
trains you to become the junior youth
animator. Still another trains you to build
spaces of prayer that can become a neighborhood’s
social hubs, and another trains
you to use one’s material means for social
transformation. All of it is facilitated at the
grassroots level (the Bahá’í Faith has no clergy),
united by a world administration with
an eye on the panorama of our experience.
If the Bahá’í community is one large
education system, you might say every participant
in it is faculty. Ideally, it gets better
with participation, equally for Bahá’ís and
friends of the Faith.
Perhaps one day the systems we’re creating
will be a part of the formal education
system of every community. In certain
countries where the “formal” systems of
education are underdeveloped, or where the
formal educational institutions have recognized
a value in the Bahá’í systems, you can
already see that happening.
“And now, in this strange moment when
the schools are closed, and our children’s
classes and junior youth groups have been
the only thing running, it almost feels like
we’re in a test round for when that happens,”
I commented to a co-animator of a junior
youth group.
A junior youth group member’s brother plays
ukulele during a group meeting in Fairfax,
Virginia. Photo by Ronald Lapitan
***
A virtual meeting with junior youth
group No. 1: We spent part of it writing a
“community story,” where one person writes
a line in our virtual room’s group chat, and
the next person lets their imagination
run wild and writes the next sentence.
“One day, a boy got lost on the
beach,” one of our girls started.
One of our boys: “And saw a shark!”
Me: “The shark looked at him
and said, ‘Hop on my back and
I’ll take you to treasure.’”
The boy’s brother: “They took
him to a sketchy part of the ocean
where there were other sharks!”
The story continued from there.
We ended by giving them the details
for a virtual devotional tomorrow for
them and their parents, which our team
is implementing partly to fill a gap
left when local churches closed for the
quarantine without virtual alternatives.
***
First virtual meeting with junior youth
group No. 2 since the start of the quarantine:
This call started as soon as the last one
ended. We began with some questions to
check on each junior youth and their family;
how they are adjusting to being at home
all day, which parents are out of work and
how they are coping, and if they feel ready
for virtual school, which starts April 14.
One of our girls: “We won’t have classes
every day, only Tuesday and Thursday.
You’re supposed to spend 40 minutes in
class and 40 minutes on your own doing
work. The work won’t be graded, so in a
way it doesn’t matter if you do it. All they
are focusing on is that you learn the material.
Also, all the final tests are canceled.”
“Yay, no standardized tests!”
one of our boys added.
Me, with widened eyes: “You mean to
say that the focus is no longer on grades,
and now it is only on actual learning?
In other words, the education system
became what it was always supposed
to be?” We laughed, probably more for
the truth of it than the actual humor.
One of the most important skills you can
cultivate in a young person is the capacity
to articulate their own reality. The rest of
the session focused on questions to get
them to more deeply consider how this
moment we’re in is influencing the culture.
Me: “When the stay-at-home
order ends, what will you miss
most about this experience?”
One of our boys: “School being decent.”
Wow. You know what makes a young
person’s power of expression particularly
powerful? They say exactly what they mean.
They have no agendas to say anything
other than what they know to be true.
Our girl echoed the sentiment like
this: “It was nice not being stressed.”
If their point wasn’t clear enough, check
out how our girl answered the last question.
Me: “What is a feel-good, inspirational
story that you’ve heard
in your town or on the news?”
Our girl: “That they closed school
for the rest of the year. No tests, no
waking up early and being tired. You
can just focus on learning.”
***
It literally took a plague to get the
system to resemble, for a short time,
what young people like them thought
school was always supposed to be.
“Education must be accorded the greatest
importance; for just as diseases are highly communicable
in the world of bodies, so is character
highly communicable in the realm of hearts and
spirits. The differences caused by education are
enormous and exert a major influence.”
—’Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions •
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 35

A RESOLUTE RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC
A lens into the present
The value of involving
elders as teachers
Cora Hays, a Bahá’í in Roseville, Minnesota, offers a
personal perspective on a valuable resource “just waiting
to be tapped” to teach children’s classes in a time of
global pandemic.
It’s time to color during
an online children’s
class in Roseville,
Minnesota. Photos
courtesy of Cora Hays
By Cora Hays
Wesley Hays builds with Legos as children’s class participants in Roseville, Minnesota, add virtues to a
foundation of truthfulness.
Online children’s classes have many
challenges. Perhaps you can relate. But
I recently found that they also have some
unexpected perks!
Our most recent class was an immense
success—thanks to the grandparent of one
of our children. We have been on lockdown
for over a month now, and the opportunity
for the children to interact with someone
outside their immediate household was
both novel and attractive.
The grandmother who served as our
teacher led four wonderful activities. They
included a story, two games and an exercise
for memorization of a quotation. The quote
was taken from Teaching Children’s Classes,
Grade 1, Book 3 in the Ruhi curriculum.
We began with prayers, of course. Each
of the children has been working on memorizing
prayers and quotes with their parents.
They are almost always excited to share
these with one another at children’s class.
This wonderful grandmother praised
them as only a loving elder can. Then she
shared a story with them. Her storytelling
included the children in the process by
asking questions about what they thought
would happen next or how the characters in
36 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

A RESOLUTE RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC
the story would react.
The memorization
exercise was set up so
that the children were
actually memorizing a
quotation from Ruhi
Book 1, Reflections on
the Life of the Spirit,
with their teacher.
The children were
invited to come in
close to the camera
and memorize the
quote so that later they
would be able to ask their parents if they
had also memorized this quote, which is
one that anyone who has been through the
first book of the Ruhi courses would know:
“Truthfulness is the foundation of all human
virtues.”
Of course the parents could hear what
was going on, but the rapport built with the
children and their teacher was cemented by
this intimate connection.
The parents of these children have all
studied Ruhi Book 1. And had that not been
the case, the way that this lovely teacher
introduced the idea would have been
inviting to others who had not yet studied
it. I’m eager to try this approach with
future children’s classes composed
of neighbors who are just beginning
to become familiar with the training
institute process.
The quote set the stage for a game
of “Building Foundations.” In this
game the children
begin with a block
or Lego brick
with “truthfulness”
written on it. On
that foundation
they add other
blocks with other
virtues until a tall
tower of spiritual
qualities has been
constructed.
For our class,
each family built
their own while
our loving teacher
asked each of the
children for qualities
to add to her
tower. The children had many ideas including
helpfulness, love, kindness, obedience,
respect and creativity, and by the time we
finished she had a very tall stack of virtues
built on her foundation of truthfulness. The
children were very proud to be able to tell
their teacher about the other virtues they
knew how to practice.
The game included opportunities to
reflect and talk about the meaning of the
quote with some questions about how
truthfulness makes us feel when we use it.
The children were tired at this point, but
still understood the goal of the game and
wanted to do well for their teacher.
Guest teacher Myra Couts interacts with parents
and children in Roseville, Minnesota, during an
online children’s class.
This wonderful grandmother praised
them as only a loving elder can. Then
she shared a story with them. Her
storytelling included the children
in the process by asking questions
about what they thought would
happen next or how the characters in
the story would react.
For a final game, the children
set the quote to music individually
and then shared their results. This
kind of creative composition
would not actually be possible in
a face-to-face children’s class that
shared the same physical space.
Zoom made it possible by
providing a mute function. Who
knew it could be so useful to mute
half the class? The children in each
household produced beautiful
songs—on keyboard, drums,
ukulele and castanet.
As we’ve had to hold virtual
children’s classes in our community, we
have passed the role of teaching around
from household to household. This was the
first time we had an elder who is not usually
part of our class—she lives in another
state—serve as the teacher. The result was
one of the best classes we’ve had since all
this began.
So here’s my takeaway: Call on the elders
in your life. This is the time to do it. These
isolated friends, often with years of experience
in teaching children’s classes, are an
incredible resource just waiting to be tapped.
Wishing you all health, prosperity and
the very best children’s classes! •
Wesley Hays and guest teacher Myra Couts get
close to their screens while memorizing a Bahá’í
quotation during a children’s class in Roseville,
Minnesota.
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 37

A RESOLUTE RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC
The talent shows must go on!
Detailed articles about efforts mentioned on this page can be found in an
often-updated collection of stories online:
www.bahai.us/collection/a-resolute-response-to-crisis/
Illinois: Junior youth group’s talent
show fills void after school event is
canceled
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the
cancellation of a school talent show, it
turned out that a Bahá’í-initiated junior
youth group north of Chicago was in a
position to step in and help. Its May 23
show ended up enlisting young people
who would have performed in the school
show, plus others in the area.
Earlier in the spring, the junior youth
group had decided on its own that an
online talent show was a good idea, says
Nicole Zamir, a Bahá’í in Northbrook. It
gave young people a chance to bring
themselves and others joy by showcasing
their talents, while raising money for
charities that aid people affected by the
pandemic.
Florida: Virtual talent showcase lifts the spirits of the pandemic-isolated
A May 30 virtual talent showcase staged “to boost morale and lift the spirits” of Bahá’ís
and friends in the Gainesville, Florida, area during the COVID-19 pandemic was slated to
last a half-hour.
Ninety minutes in, it was still going strong.
(clockwise from above left) Instrumental music,
aerial dance, martial arts and a dance in a glowin-the-dark
costume were among the offerings
in a virtual school talent show in Northbrook,
Illinois. Photos courtesy of Nicole Zamir
Through the internet, people of various ages enjoyed singing, guitar, piano, storytelling
and comedy performances. People shared works in the media of painting, kaleidoscope,
graphic art/mixed media, woodworking and mosaic tiling, says Kamyar Frank Samandari,
a Bahá’í in Alachua County.
Thinking past the pandemic:
What’s the balance?
Julie Iraninejad suspects the
COVID-19 pandemic is going to last
a while, so she’s “adjusting to this
new normal.”
Instead of seeing this period as
a holding pattern, the Bahá’í in
San Diego is “really trying to see
what opportunities … have been
created to advance” the vision for
humanity brought by Bahá’u’lláh.
And she is thinking ahead to how
she’ll be balancing online and
in-person activities to share that
vision, once both options are
available.
Before the pandemic, Iraninejad
was among Bahá’ís and friends in
the Del Sur neighborhood who
were hosting core communitybuilding
activities in homes,
serving several dozen people.
They carried on to the extent
possible after in-person
restrictions were put in place in
March. Meanwhile, another whole
vista opened up as Iraninejad took
such activities as study circles,
children’s classes and women’s
devotionals to a wider audience
via Zoom. “Our children’s class has
grown from 10 to 80-plus children,
connecting from all over the
world,” she recounts. •
For the virtual talent showcase staged
by Bahá’ís in the Gainesville, Florida,
area, Michael Bannister showed off this
“lazy Susan” he made from different
wood pieces.
Mojdeh Bahji Bannister
crafted this mosaic tile that
was featured in a virtual
talent showcase staged by
Bahá’ís in the Gainesville,
Florida, area.
One of the art pieces featured
in a virtual talent showcase
staged by Bahá’ís in the
Gainesville, Florida, area was
this acrylic painting by Gary
Hankins.
This kaleidoscope made by Mary
Jane Volkmann was featured in a
virtual talent showcase staged by
Bahá’ís in the Gainesville, Florida,
area. Photos courtesy of KF Samandari
38 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

BUILD SINCERE FRIENDSHIPS
“Our efforts can only succeed when we learn to build relationships with each other based on
sincere friendship, regard, and trust . . .” —National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the U.S.
Imagine a world with no injustice or disunity. All people act as one
human family. Doesn’t that sound wonderful? How do we create it?
An important step is to cure the disease of racism. In a letter to
the U.S. in 1938, Shoghi Effendi called racial prejudice “the most
vital and challenging issue” and said its “urgency and importance . . .
cannot be overestimated.” This is still our reality today.
We can help by building bonds of true friendship with diverse people.
Invite friends and neighbors to come together for prayers, conversation,
and games. If it’s not safe to meet in person because of the coronavirus
pandemic, plan a virtual gathering and have fun with these activities.
Snapshot Stories
Tour Guide
During a video chat, each
person gives a tour of a space
that they would like to share,
like their room, bookshelf,
or backyard. A virtual visit is
a great way to get to know
each other and feel more
connected.
Creative Devotions
Glue corners of four craft
sticks together to create a
square frame. Decorate with
materials such as paint,
markers, beads, and yarn.
Glue paper with a prayer or
quote to back of frame, so text
is at center. Take turns sharing
prayers for artistic devotions.
Mystery Words
Everyone brings a photo of a
joyful memory. Each person
has two minutes to share
their photo and the story
behind it.
When time is up, group
members talk about virtues
or insights from the story, or
they ask questions to get to
know the storyteller better.
Writing and research by Darcy Greenwood
and Katie Bishop • Art by C. Aaron Kreader
Give each person a different list of 10 words (if playing virtually,
email them). The youngest person starts by describing the first
word on their list to everyone, without saying the actual word.
For example, if the word is “friend,” you could say, “A person you
have fun with.” When someone guesses correctly, that player is
“it” and takes a turn describing a word on their list.
Continue until a player runs out of words. The winner is the
first person to exhaust their list.
Check out The Life of Bahá’u’lláh: A Treasury of Stories from Brilliant Star at www.bahaibookstore.com

FUNDAMENTALS FOR BELIEVERS
Abiding in
God’s law
The injunction to read
and study the Holy
Writings
Q: When does Bahá’u’lláh call upon us to
read the Holy Writings and how important
is this practice? How should these verses be
read?
A: “Recite ye the verses of God every morn
and eventide. Whoso faileth to recite them
hath not been faithful to the Covenant of God
and His Testament, and whoso turneth away
from these holy verses in this Day is of those
who throughout eternity have turned away
from God. Fear ye God, O My servants, one
and all. Pride not yourselves on much reading
of the verses or on a multitude of pious acts by
night and day; for were a man to read a single
verse with joy and radiance it would be better
for him than to read with lassitude all the
Holy Books of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-
Subsisting. Read ye the sacred verses in such
measure that ye be not overcome by languor
and despondency. Lay not upon your souls
that which will weary them and weigh them
down, but rather what will lighten and uplift
them, so that they may soar on the wings of
the Divine verses towards the Dawning-place
of His manifest signs; this will draw you nearer
to God, did ye but comprehend.”
—Bahá’u’lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, para. 149
“Peruse ye every day the verses revealed by
God. Blessed is the man who reciteth them and
reflecteth upon them. He truly is of them with
whom it shall be well.”
—Bahá’u’lláh, from a Tablet excerpted in The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, no. 363
Q: Why have we been enjoined to read
scriptures and holy books?
A: “… in every age, the reading of the
scriptures and holy books is for no other
purpose except to enable the reader to
apprehend their meaning and unravel
their innermost mysteries. Otherwise
reading, without understanding, is
of no abiding profit unto man.”
—Bahá’u’lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán, para. 185 (p. 172 of
second edition)
“Peruse My verses with joy and
radiance. Verily they will attract you
unto God and will enable you to detach
yourselves from aught else save Him. Thus
have ye been admonished in God’s Holy
Writ and in this resplendent Tablet.”
—Bahá’u’lláh, from a Tablet excerpted in The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, no. 365
“Peruse ye every day the verses revealed
by God. Blessed is the man who reciteth
them and reflecteth upon them.
He truly is of them with whom it shall
be well.”
—Bahá’u’lláh
Q: How should we study the verses of God?
Are study courses sufficient?
A: “Definite courses should be given along
the different phases of the Bahá’í Faith and in
a manner that will stimulate the students to
proceed in their studies privately once they
return home, for the period of a few days is
not sufficient to learn everything. They have
to be taught the habit of studying the Cause
constantly, for the more we read the Words
the more will the truth they contain be
revealed to us.”
—from a Nov. 24, 1932, letter written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi, excerpted in The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, no. 86
“To deepen in the Cause means to read
the writings of Bahá’u’lláh and the Master so
thoroughly as to be able to give it to others
in its pure form. There are many who have
some superficial idea of what the Cause
stands for. They, therefore, present it together
with all sorts of ideas that are their own. As
the Cause is still in its early days we must
be most careful lest we fall under this error
and injure the Movement we so much adore.
There is no limit to the study of the Cause.
The more we read the writings the more
truths we can find in them and the more
we will see that our previous notions were
erroneous.”
—from an Aug. 25, 1926, letter written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi, excerpted in The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, no. 451
“To read the writings of the Faith
and to strive to obtain a more adequate
understanding of the significance of
Bahá’u’lláh’s stupendous Revelation are
obligations laid on every one of His followers.
All are enjoined to delve into the ocean of
His Revelation and to partake, in keeping
with their capacities and inclinations, of the
pearls of wisdom that lie therein. In this light,
local deepening classes, winter and summer
schools, and specially arranged gatherings in
which individual believers knowledgeable in
the writings were able to share with others
insights into specific subjects emerged
naturally as prominent features of Bahá’í
life. Just as the habit of daily reading will
remain an integral part of Bahá’í identity, so
will these forms of study continue to hold a
place in the collective life of the community.
But understanding the implications of the
Revelation, both in terms of individual
growth and social progress, increases
manifold when study and service are joined
and carried out concurrently. There, in
the field of service, knowledge is tested,
questions arise out of practice, and new levels
of understanding are achieved. In the system
of distance education that has now been
established in country after country—the
principal elements of which include the
study circle, the tutor and the curriculum
of the Ruhi Institute—the worldwide Bahá’í
community has acquired the capacity to
enable thousands, nay millions, to study the
writings in small groups with the explicit
purpose of translating the Bahá’í teachings
into reality, carrying the work of the Faith
forward into its next stage: sustained largescale
expansion and consolidation.”
— Universal House of Justice, from the Riḍván
2010 message •
40 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

PÁGINAS EN ESPAÑOL
Sobre este último
año del Plan de
Cinco Años
Carta de la Casa Universal de
Justicia a todas las Asambleas
Espirituales Nacionales, fechada el
9 de mayo de 2020
Muy queridos amigos:
Como ya resulta evidente, el último año
del Plan de Cinco Años ha traído desafíos
distintos a los de los cuatro años precedentes.
El mundo está preso de un virus
de rápida propagación, que se ha cobrado
muchos miles de vidas y ha trastornado
gravemente una gran parte de la actividad
social y económica de la humanidad. Aun
así, la comunidad bahá’í ha permanecido
serena y ha actuado con celeridad para
atender las exigencias inmediatas que le han
hecho frente. Ha encontrado maneras de
asegurar la continuidad de la vida comunitaria,
al tiempo que se esfuerza igualmente
por desempeñar su papel de satisfacer las
necesidades espirituales y materiales de
la sociedad de modo más amplio: una
respuesta digna de una situación de emergencia.
Encomiamos todas las acciones que
se han llevado a cabo hasta el momento.
Ahora, no obstante, deseamos explorar
más a fondo lo que el próximo año podría
traer consigo. Sus esfuerzos por estimular
el avance del Plan en sus últimos meses
estarán inevitablemente marcados por la
apremiante responsabilidad de guiar a los
amigos en su respuesta a una crisis mundial
en evolución. Estas circunstancias excepcionales
requieren que nos dirijamos a ustedes
directamente; pueden compartir esta carta
con sus comunidades, en su totalidad o en
parte, como consideren oportuno.
Cuando expresamos nuestro deseo de ver
establecidos cinco mil programas intensivos
de crecimiento para finales de este Plan de
Cinco Años, teníamos plena conciencia de
la magnitud de la tarea que ello suponía,
pero la condición del mundo así lo exigía.
Hicimos un llamamiento a que la labor de
fortalecer los programas de crecimiento se
acelerara en todas partes. Nos satisfizo ver
cómo los promotores de la Causa se sintieron
motivados a la acción y llevaron a cabo
esfuerzos a un nivel sin precedentes. En el
espacio de cuatro años, la comunidad bahá’í
duplicó el número de actividades básicas
que se llevaban a cabo alrededor del mundo,
así como el número de sus participantes.
Haber traído a cientos de miles de personas
al regazo de las actividades de la comunidad
en un período tan breve es un avance en la
capacidad que no tiene paralelo en ninguno
de los Planes anteriores de la presente serie.
Mucho se ha logrado, pues, y ello es un
indicador claro de la fortaleza y la confianza
de la comunidad bahá’í. Pero, como pueden
apreciar, la crisis actual ha alterado el
contexto en el que se está llevando a cabo
el Plan. Nos ha impresionado el número de
comunidades que han dado grandes pasos
para adaptarse a esta nueva realidad. Lejos
de considerar el período actual como un
simple paréntesis que ha de soportarse con
paciencia, han reconocido que la situación
del mundo ha hecho más urgente la necesidad
de prestar un servicio significativo a la
humanidad. Naturalmente, las actividades
emprendidas deben ser acordes a las condiciones
imperantes, pero no debe haber
duda de que este es un momento de nobles
objetivos, gran resolución e intenso esfuerzo.
Como es bien sabido, el propósito de las
actividades del Plan es cultivar un espíritu
de comunidad pujante, mediante el cual se
refuerza también la resistencia frente a los
grandes desafíos. Los esfuerzos educativos
tienen como meta levantar un número cada
vez mayor de almas que puedan contribuir
al bienestar espiritual y material de una
comunidad; las reuniones devocionales
cultivan el espíritu de servicio a medida
que florece, y lo arraigan en una cultura de
adoración colectiva. En breve, la promoción
del Plan implica el desarrollo de capacidad
para caminar por el sendero del servicio
en cada época y estación, lo cual incluye,
sin duda, momentos de grave peligro en la
vida de la humanidad, como el presente. Es
esencial, pues, que continúen con fuerza
los pasos que se están dando para aprender
a aplicar el marco de acción del Plan a
las circunstancias actuales del mundo;
con toda probabilidad, la crisis sanitaria
mundial tendrá, en mayor o menor grado,
un impacto directo sobre las actividades
bahá’ís a lo largo de meses o incluso años, y
la tarea de adaptarse a la situación no puede
posponerse. A este respecto, los Consejeros
Continentales y sus auxiliares, hábilmente
guiados por el Centro Internacional de
Enseñanza, han mostrado una impresionante
determinación en sus esfuerzos por
estimular a los amigos y orientarlos en su
enfoque de la labor que tienen ante sí. No
hay duda de que continuarán haciendo lo
mismo durante los próximos cuatro ciclos, y
más allá.
Por supuesto, comprendemos que
se hayan tenido que suspender algunas
actividades, y se hayan tenido que dejar de
lado durante un tiempo ciertas estrategias
o métodos que no se acomodan a las condiciones
actuales. Sin embargo, si bien se han
cerrado temporalmente algunas posibilidades,
otras se han abierto, y han aparecido
nuevos medios para reforzar los modelos
de actividad existentes. La flexibilidad ha
demostrado ser un recurso, pero también
lo ha sido la vigilancia para garantizar que
no se diluya el carácter primordialmente
local de las actividades comunitarias; deben
continuar los esfuerzos por fomentar comunidades
dinámicas en barrios y aldeas, y
entre unas agrupaciones y otras. En algunos
casos, las condiciones actuales han creado
oportunidades inesperadas de ampliar la
participación de la comunidad en reuniones
devocionales y círculos de estudio, llevados
a cabo sin olvidar la seguridad. Muchos padres
de familias que han estado confinadas
al entorno del hogar han acogido con agrado
el apoyo que les ha posibilitado pasar de
la posición de observadores a la de protagonistas
de la educación espiritual de sus hijos.
Los prejóvenes y grupos de jóvenes han
descubierto el poder de sencillos actos de
servicio compasivo realizados con sabiduría.
Sin embargo, sería comprensible si, en algunos
casos, determinaran que los planes que
requieren el desplazamiento de pioneros,
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 41

PÁGINAS EN ESPAÑOL
tutores móviles o maestros visitantes deban
posponerse, y ello no debería ser motivo
de preocupación; podrán volver a evaluar
la situación en los meses venideros. El
próximo Plan de un Año podría brindar la
oportunidad de cumplir cualquier meta u
objetivo que finalmente resultara inalcanzable
durante el presente Plan.
Reconocemos que, en muchos casos,
seguir funcionando durante esta crisis los
someterá a presiones financieras, y puede
que las dificultades económicas que muchos
están experimentando en la comunidad
limite los recursos a su disposición. Tengan
la certeza de que estamos prestos a apoyarlos.
Que no haya ninguna duda o equívoco
a este respecto: es esencial que las instituciones
de la Fe mantengan su funcionamiento
a lo largo de este período y no se vean
obstaculizadas por la falta de recursos en
el cumplimiento de sus deberes principales.
Sin duda, toda la compañía de los fieles de
cada país se movilizará alrededor de ustedes
y, en especial, tenemos la confianza de que
los creyentes con medios se aprestarán a
ayudarlos.
Como saben, hay una gran disparidad en
la forma en que distintas sociedades están
sobrellevando las dificultades derivadas de
esta crisis; en consecuencia, los desafíos
que afrontan las diferentes Asambleas
Nacionales no son los mismos. Y estos desafíos
cambiarán con el tiempo. Ello requerirá
una extraordinaria agilidad conforme las
instituciones locales, regionales y nacionales
procuran leer su realidad y se mantienen
alerta a nuevos cambios. Deseamos
recalcarles que su colaboración con los
Consejeros será de suma importancia:
debe ser comprometida y sostenida —un
intercambio casi constante de información y
perspectivas— para asegurar que están respondiendo
con prontitud a las necesidades
de su comunidad, anticipándose a los problemas
antes de que surjan, aprovechando
las oportunidades que se abren y apoyando
las iniciativas prometedoras. Las medidas
exactas que las instituciones bahá’ís deberán
adoptar dependerán, naturalmente, de las
circunstancias pertinentes. Pero, en cada
lugar, los amigos necesitarán orientación
clara y oportuna; deberá prestarse especial
atención a quienes corran mayor riesgo por
el propio virus, o por las repercusiones económicas
de su propagación; y se requerirán
enfoques creativos para mantener el espíritu
colectivo de la comunidad en momentos
difíciles. Las redes de diversos tipos que
abarcan familias, hogares vecinos u otros
grupos están proporcionando un apoyo
valioso para muchos; deben tener confianza
en la creatividad de sus comunidades e
intentar aprovechar al máximo sus talentos
y energías. Por graves que ya sean las condiciones
en algunos lugares, las Asambleas
Nacionales de países que hasta ahora se han
librado de las consecuencias más severas de
la pandemia deben tener presente que existe
la posibilidad de que suceda algo peor, y
todos los preparativos que puedan hacerse
ahora para esa eventualidad, antes de que la
introducción de mayores restricciones obstaculice
esos esfuerzos, deben comenzar de
inmediato; sin alarma, pero sin demora. Las
Asambleas Espirituales Locales, en especial,
deben considerar qué medios podrían tener
a su alcance para prevenir, aliviar o atenuar
el sufrimiento del conjunto de la sociedad
de la que son parte integral.
Cuando la sociedad se encuentra en
semejante dificultad y padecimiento, la
responsabilidad de los bahá’ís de hacer
una aportación constructiva a los asuntos
humanos se hace más acuciante. Este es
un momento en el que líneas de acción
distintas pero interrelacionadas convergen
en un solo punto, cuando el llamamiento
al servicio se oye en voz alta. El individuo,
la comunidad y las instituciones de la
Fe —protagonistas inseparables del avance
de la civilización— están en condiciones de
demostrar los rasgos distintivos del modelo
de vida bahá’í, caracterizado por una mayor
madurez en el cumplimiento de sus responsabilidades
y en sus relaciones mutuas. Se
los llama a poner de manifiesto de manera
más plena la capacidad que tiene la Fe
para construir la sociedad. Es posible que
agencias y proyectos dedicados a la acción
social tengan que adaptar sus enfoques a fin
de satisfacer el aumento de las necesidades;
es seguro que los esfuerzos por hacerlo
infundirán un significado y propósito más
profundos a los programas en curso. Por
otro lado, las contribuciones bahá’ís a los
discursos que recientemente predominan
en la sociedad están generando un interés
creciente, y aquí hay una responsabilidad
con la que debe cumplirse también. En un
momento en que la urgencia de alcanzar
niveles más elevados de unidad —fundamentada
en la indiscutible verdad de la
unicidad de la humanidad— está resultando
obvia a un número cada vez mayor de personas,
la sociedad necesita voces claras que
puedan articular los principios espirituales
que fundamentan esa aspiración.
Por supuesto, ustedes son en todo
momento conscientes de que sus responsabilidades
van más allá de administrar los
asuntos de la comunidad y canalizar sus
energías hacia el cumplimiento de nobles
objetivos: buscan elevar la conciencia
sobre esas fuerzas espirituales que están a
disposición de cada creyente confirmado
y que deben alinearse en los momentos de
necesidad. Esas fuerzas son las que dotan
a la comunidad de resistencia, aseguran su
integridad y la mantienen centrada en su
misión divina de servir a la humanidad y
elevar su visión del futuro.
No es posible prever la medida en que
esta pandemia influirá en el movimiento
hacia la unidad entre las naciones. Pero
no cabe ninguna duda de que, para los
esfuerzos de la comunidad bahá’í, los meses
venideros serán determinantes. De hecho,
difícilmente podría ser de otro modo. Este
último año, del último Plan, de una serie
que abarca el último cuarto del primer siglo
de la Edad Formativa, sellará los cimientos
sobre los que descansará la siguiente serie
de empresas mundiales. Es el último acto
de un drama fascinante cuyo final no se ha
escrito todavía.
No pasa un momento en el que no estén
en nuestros pensamientos. Toda nuestra
confianza y seguridad en su capacidad para
enfrentar este desafío proviene de nuestro
conocimiento de que su defensor y ayudante
supremo es la Belleza de Abhá misma. En
nuestras súplicas ante el Umbral Sagrado,
Le imploramos que los convierta en canales
puros para el flujo de Su gracia hacia la
humanidad.
La Casa Universal de Justicia
42 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

PÁGINAS EN ESPAÑOL
Un mensaje de
los Bahá’ís de los
Estados Unidos
Fechado el 19 de junio de 2020
Los Bahá’ís de los Estados Unidos nos
unimos a nuestros conciudadanos en un
profundo dolor por la muerte de George
Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery
y tantos otros cuyas vidas fueron repentinamente
tomadas por terribles actos de
violencia. Estas violaciones desgarradoras
contra otros seres humanos, debido solo al
color de su piel, han profundizado la consternación
causada por una pandemia cuyas
consecuencias para la salud y el sustento
de las personas de color han sido desproporcionadamente
severas. Esto ha sucedido
en un contexto de injusticia racial de larga
data en prácticamente todos los aspectos de
la vida en los Estados Unidos. Queda claro
que el prejuicio racial es el problema más
vital y desafiante que enfrentamos como
país.
Sin embargo, en medio de estas tragedias,
también hay signos de esperanza.
Innumerables ciudadanos se han levantado
para proclamar la verdad de que somos una
nación y para exigir acciones específicas
para abordar las desigualdades generalizadas
que durante demasiado tiempo han
moldeado nuestra sociedad. Nos acordamos
de quienes aspiramos ser como personas,
y estamos decididos a hacer un cambio
para mejor. Este momento nos invita a un
renovado cometido para realizar el ideal de
E Pluribus Unum —de muchos, uno— el
ideal sobre el cual se fundaron los Estados
Unidos.
La creación de una sociedad justa comienza
con el reconocimiento de la verdad
fundamental de que la humanidad es una.
Pero no es suficiente simplemente creer esto
en nuestros corazones. Crea el imperativo
moral de tomar acción y mirar todos los
aspectos de nuestra vida personal, social e
institucional a través del lente de la justicia.
Implica un reordenamiento de nuestra
sociedad más profundo que cualquier cosa
que hayamos logrado hasta ahora. Y requiere
la participación de los ciudadanos en este
país de todas las razas y orígenes, ya que
solo a través de tal participación inclusiva
pueden surgir nuevas direcciones morales y
sociales.
Cualquiera que sea el resultado inmediato
de las manifestaciones actuales, la
eliminación del racismo requerirá un
esfuerzo sostenido y concertado. Una cosa
es protestar contra formas particulares de
injusticia. Es un desafío mucho más profundo
crear un nuevo marco para la justicia.
Nuestros esfuerzos solo pueden tener éxito
cuando aprendemos a construir relaciones
unos con otros basados en la amistad sincera,
el respeto y la confianza que, a su vez, se
convierten en los pilares de las actividades
de nuestras instituciones y comunidades.
Es esencial para nosotros unir las manos
en un proceso de aprendizaje para crear
modelos de lo que queremos ver en cada
dimensión de la vida en los Estados Unidos,
a medida que aprendemos a aplicar el
principio de la unidad a través de la participación
práctica y la experiencia. Hacia este
fin, ofrecemos los siguientes pensamientos.
Un elemento esencial del proceso
será el discurso honesto y veraz sobre
las condiciones actuales y sus causas, y la
comprensión, en particular, de las nociones
profundamente arraigadas contra los negros
que impregnan nuestra sociedad. Debemos
desarrollar la capacidad de escuchar y reconocer
verdaderamente las voces de quienes
han sufrido directamente los efectos del
racismo. Esta capacidad debe manifestarse
en nuestras escuelas, los medios de comunicación
y otros ámbitos cívicos, así como en
nuestro trabajo y relaciones personales. Esto
no debe terminar en palabras, sino conducir
a una acción significativa y constructiva.
Ya se están realizando esfuerzos significativos
para aprender a crear modelos
de unidad en vecindarios y comunidades
en todo el país. Los Bahá’ís han estado
involucrados persistentemente en tales
esfuerzos por muchos años. El objetivo no
es la unidad en la similitud —es la unidad
en la diversidad. Es el reconocimiento de
que todos en esta nación tienen un papel
que desempeñar para contribuir al mejoramiento
de la sociedad, y que la verdadera
prosperidad, material y espiritual, estará
disponible a todos en la medida en que
cumplamos con este principio. Debemos
descubrir seriamente qué es lo que se está
haciendo, qué realmente ayuda a marcar la
diferencia y por qué. Deberíamos compartir
este conocimiento en todo el país como un
medio para inspirar y ayudar al trabajo de
otros. Si hacemos esto, pronto podríamos
encontrarnos en medio de una transición
masiva hacia la justicia racial.
La religión, una fuente perdurable de
perspicacia sobre el propósito y la acción
del ser humano, tiene un papel clave que
desempeñar en este proceso. Todas las
comunidades de fe reconocen que somos
esencialmente seres espirituales. Todos
proclaman alguna versión de la «Regla de
Oro» —amar a los demás como a nosotros
mismos. Tomemos, por ejemplo, el siguiente
pasaje de los Escritos Bahá’ís en las que
Dios se dirige a la humanidad:
¿Acaso no sabéis por qué os hemos creado a
todos del mismo polvo? Para que ninguno se
enaltezca a sí mismo por encima de otro. En
todo momento ponderad en vuestro corazón
cómo habéis sido creados. Puesto que os
hemos creado a todos de una misma substancia
os incumbe ser como una sola alma,
caminar con los mismos pies, comer con la
misma boca y habitar en la misma tierra
para que mediante vuestros hechos y acciones
se manifiesten los signos de la unicidad y la
esencia del desprendimiento desde vuestro
más íntimo ser.
Comprender y creer firmemente que
todos somos hijos de Dios nos proporciona
acceso a inmensos recursos espirituales,
motivándonos a ver más allá de nosotros
mismos y a trabajar de manera constante
y sacrificada frente a todos los obstáculos.
Nos ayuda a garantizar que el proceso sea
consistente con el objetivo de crear comunidades
caracterizadas por la justicia. Nos
da la fe, la fuerza y la creatividad para transformar
nuestros propios corazones, ya que
también trabajamos para la transformación
de la sociedad.
Nosotros creemos que las tribulaciones
que ahora abarcan gran parte del
mundo son los síntomas de la falta de la
humanidad de comprender e interiorizar
nuestra unidad esencial. Las amenazas
interrelacionadas del cambio climático, la
discriminación de género, los extremos
de la riqueza y la pobreza, la distribución
injusta de los recursos, y similares, todos se
derivan de esta deficiencia y nunca puede
resolverse si no nos concientizamos de
nuestra dependencia mutua. El mundo se
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 43

PÁGINAS EN ESPAÑOL
ha contraído como un vecindario, y
es importante apreciar que lo que
hacemos en los Estados Unidos impacta
no solo a nuestro propio país,
sino a todo el planeta.
Tampoco debemos olvidar que
la riqueza de nuestra diversidad
y nuestros ideales fundacionales
de la libertad y la justicia atraen a
los ojos del mundo sobre nosotros.
Ellos serán influenciados por lo que
logremos, o no logremos, en este
respecto. No es una exageración decir
que la causa de la paz mundial está
vinculada a nuestro éxito en resolver
el problema de la injusticia racial.
La unidad de la humanidad es la
base de nuestro futuro. Su realización
es la siguiente etapa inevitable
en nuestra vida en este planeta.
Reemplazaremos una sociedad mundial
basada en la competencia y
el conflicto, e impulsada por el
materialismo desenfrenado, con una
fundada en nuestro mayor potencial
de colaboración y reciprocidad.
Este logro marcará la llegada de la
madurez universal de la raza humana.
Cuan pronto lo logremos y con qué
facilidad dependerán del cometido
que demostremos con este principio
fundamental.
Hemos llegado a un momento de
gran conciencia pública y rechazo de
la injusticia. No perdamos esta oportunidad.
¿Nos comprometeremos con
el proceso de formar «una unión más
perfecta»? ¿Seremos guiados por «los
más angelical de nuestra naturaleza»
para elegir el sendero de la sabiduría,
el coraje y la unidad? ¿Elegiremos
convertirnos realmente en aquella
«ciudad en el monte» para servir de
inspiración a toda la humanidad?
Unamos entonces las manos en dedicarnos
al camino de la justicia. Juntos
seguramente lo podemos lograr.
Bahá’u’lláh dijo: «Tan potente es la
luz de la unidad que puede iluminar
el mundo entero.» Que dicha luz se
vuelva más brillante con cada día que
pase.
Asamblea Espiritual Nacional
de los Bahá’ís de los Estados
Unidos
La elección de los
delegados del 2020
será únicamente por
voto ausente
Mesa de trabajo de las Convenciones de las Unidades
Electorales, Oficina de Secretaria
Debido a los efectos de la crisis sanitaria
mundial en nuestro país, la Asamblea Espiritual
Nacional decidió que las elecciones de delegados
de este año, previstas para el primer fin de
semana de octubre, se llevarán a cabo únicamente
por votación en ausencia, y que no habrá
reuniones para la Convención de la Unidad.
En un esfuerzo por promover su capacidad
de “facilitar la participación del mayor número
en la elección de los delegados”, y “para asegurar
que todos los creyentes adultos que residen en
una unidad tengan una amplia oportunidad
de emitir su voto para elegir a su delegado”,
como lo alienta la Casa Universal de Justicia, la
Asamblea Nacional ha permitido a los amigos
hacer uso de una plataforma en línea para la
votación si así lo desean.
El Sistema de Votación en Línea (OBS, según
sus siglas en inglés), administrado a través del
Centro Nacional Bahá’í, es un mecanismo tanto
para emitir papeletas como para contar todos
los votos. Cada votante elegible con una dirección,
de correo electrónico actual, registrada
en el Centro Nacional tendrá la oportunidad
de votar a través de OBS usando un teléfono
inteligente o una computadora. La invitación
por correo electrónico para hacerlo será enviada
a principios de septiembre.
Por consiguiente, se recomienda encarecidamente
a cada creyente que actualice su
dirección de correo electrónico en la base de
datos de miembros bahá’ís si desea tener la opción
de utilizar el Sistema de Votación en Línea
(OBS) para votar. Puede actualizar su dirección
de correo electrónico iniciando sesión en
www.bahai.us/community/myprofile
(Chrome, Firefox, Safari o Microsoft Edge los
cuales son navegadores preferidos).
En el caso de que un elector prefiera usar una
balota de papel, la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional
también enviará papeletas a todos los electores
elegibles a finales de agosto. Como de costumbre,
las papeletas deben ser devueltas por correo
directamente a la Asamblea Espiritual Local
responsable de organizar la elección de delegado
en la unidad electoral para ser escrutada.
La elección de delegados es el primer paso en
un proceso sagrado emprendido cada año que
conduce a la elección de la Asamblea Espiritual
Nacional y cada cinco años culmina en la
elección de la Casa Universal de Justicia. Por lo
tanto, independientemente de las circunstancias,
cada elector tiene la responsabilidad de preservar
la naturaleza sagrada de la elección.
Dado que todos los votos se emitirán a través
de papeletas en ausencia este año, los creyentes,
más que nunca, podrán elegir a su delegado.
“Deben ejercer la mayor vigilancia para que las
elecciones sean realizadas libre y universalmente,
y por balota secreta. Debe impedirse, y está
prohibido, cualquier forma de intriga, engaño,
colusión y compulsión.” (De una carta escrita en
nombre de Shoghi Effendi)
Junto con la elección del delegado(s), una característica
clave de la Convención de la Unidad
es la oportunidad de que los amigos presentes se
reúnan y realicen recomendaciones colectivas
para el avance de la Causa.
Este año, en ausencia de reuniones de la
Convención de la Unidad, las recomendaciones
a la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional todavía
pueden surgir de las muchas oportunidades
de consulta disponibles para la comunidad:
Fiestas de cada Diecinueve días, reuniones de
reflexión de las agrupaciones u otras ocasiones.
Cualquier recomendación se comunica mejor a
la Asamblea Nacional a través de las Asambleas
Espirituales Locales o los grupos registrados.
La administración bahá’í, por supuesto,
también permite que las personas ofrezcan
sugerencias reflexivas directamente a las instituciones
a todos los niveles. Además, a medida
que avanza el modelo de la vida comunitaria
y los bahá’ís aprenden a consultar juntos
sobre cuestiones pertinentes al bienestar de
la comunidad en una variedad de entornos,
los creyentes no tienen que esperar hasta la
elección de delegados para transmitir los conocimientos
obtenidos a lo largo del año. •
Elección de los oficiales de la
Asamblea Nacional
En una carta fechada el 18 de mayo de
2020, la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional de
los Bahá’ís de los Estados Unidos informó a
la comunidad bahá’í de la elección de sus
oficales para el año 2020–2021:
David F. Young, coordinador
Jacqueline Left Hand Bull, vice coordinadora
Kenneth E. Bowers, secretario
Juana C. Conrad, tesorera
44 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

PÁGINAS EN ESPAÑOL
Familia en Texas
se ha convertido
en un imán para
la construcción
de la comunidad
Para Debbie Villagómez, los esfuerzos
para construir la unidad de la comunidad
produjeron resultados cuando se dio cuenta
de la fuerza poderosa en qué se estaba
convirtiendo su familia de cinco.
Debbie, su esposo, Badi, y sus tres hijos,
de 11, 9 y 5 años, viven en Pennsylvania
Gardens, una sección de Arlington, Texas,
que ella describe como “un vecindario muy
suburbano pero bastante diverso”.
Sus esfuerzos ganaron energía después
de que otra bahá’í, Rosaline Sharifi, se
mudó cerca a fines de 2018 e iniciaron una
reunión devocional para niños llamada
“Piyamas y Oraciones”.
“Los cinco niños entre nuestras dos
familias, así como otros tres niños bahá’ís
que viven a pocos kilómetros de nosotros,
comenzaron esta increíble actividad devocional
para niños”, recuerda Debbie.
“Los padres solo estaban a cargo del
desayuno y de la impresión de volantes para
anunciar la reunión devocional”, dice ella.
“Los niños repartían los volantes, invitaban
a los vecinos y hacían carteles para ponerlos
en la puerta principal”.
La actividad mensual se convirtió en
“un punto culminante” para la comunidad
—“¿Quién puede rechazar una invitación de
niños dulces?” dice Debbie— que ayudó a
iniciar conversaciones con muchos vecinos.
Un cambio de mentalidad
“Durante mucho tiempo estuve esperando
comenzar con más actividades porque
no creía que fuera capaz de lograr mucho
por mi cuenta”, dice. “Pero mi mentalidad
cambió cuando me di cuenta de que el
núcleo de nuestro equipo de enseñanza era
mi familia de cinco. Mi esposo y nuestros
tres hijos pequeños son recursos increíbles y
miembros centrales de nuestro grupo”.
La familia Villagómez se reúne todas las
noches para decir oraciones “por nuestro
vecindario y por corazones receptivos”, dice
ella. “Nuestros hijos se han convertido en
(desde la izquierda) Noah, Debbie, Jacob, Badi y Hannah
Villagómez tienen carteles que hicieron para una caminata
de Unidad a principios de junio en su vecindario de Arlington,
Texas. Foto cortesía de Debbie Villagómez.
miembros vitales de nuestro equipo de
enseñanza, por lo que siempre compartimos
con ellos la importancia de orar por nuestros
esfuerzos”.
Incluso la niña de 5 años ha memorizado
una larga oración por los Estados del Sur de
los escritos bahá’ís, “debido a la frecuencia
con que la escucha y dice, así como al resto
de nosotros”, dice Debbie.
Una red de esfuerzo coordinado
Para que “todas mis grandiosas ideas se
hagan realidad”, dice Debbie, ella y Sharifi
han trabajado en estrecha colaboración con
los bahá’ís designados para coordinar las
actividades de construcción de la comunidad
en el área. Juntas identificaron personas
listas y dispuestas a servir cuando se formó
una clase para niños y un grupo pre-juvenil.
“Había escuchado de muchos amigos que
si pudiéramos hacer que un grupo pre-juvenil
se pusiera en marcha, esta actividad
básica simplemente florecerá”, dice ella. “No
lo creí al principio, pero el tiempo pronto
demostró que estaba equivocada”.
El equipo del barrio puso en marcha un
grupo de pre-jóvenes en marzo del 2020 y
se reunió en la casa de los Villagómez, hasta
que la pandemia del COVID-19 produjo la
suspensión de reuniones presenciales.
“La semana siguiente, comenzamos un
devocional para niños en Zoom, todos los
días a las 5 de la tarde solo para tener algo
de tiempo social y oraciones”, dice ella.
“Después de tres semanas de oraciones todos
los días, cambiamos a reuniones semanales”.
Difundiendo alegría en el barrio
También durante los meses de refugio en su
hogar, la familia notó cómo “todos salían” a
caminar y andar en bicicleta”, recuerda. “Así
que tuvimos la idea de difundir
alegría en estos tiempos difíciles:
un proyecto de unidad.
“Durante seis semanas, cada
hogar podría poner un elemento
temático en sus ventanas o puertas
para que otros los encontraran
en sus paseos en el vecindario a
pie o en bicicleta, ya que todos
estábamos en casa todo el tiempo.
“Una semana era el arcoíris,
otra eran flores, luego caras tontas,
etc.”, dice Debbie. “¡Fue un gran
éxito! En general, tuvimos más
de 30 hogares que participaron y
dijeron lo bueno que fue”.
Las reuniones del grupo juvenil se
reanudaron en mayo en Zoom, y la reunión
devocional de los niños se convirtió en una
clase para niños.
Además, la duradera reunión devocional
regular de la familia Villagómez para los
vecinos está floreciendo. Una reunión a
principios de junio abordó la justicia racial,
“dados los eventos actuales en la sociedad”.
“Tenemos familias o miembros de una
familia que asisten a una actividad central,
la aman y preguntan qué más pueden
hacer. Vienen a una reunión devocional y
luego quieren a sus hijos en una clase de
niños”, dice. “Tienen un hijo en el programa
pre-juvenil y luego preguntan qué tenemos
para sus hermanos menores. La coherencia
[entre las varias actividades] es asombrosa”.
Un papel en la oferta de servicios
Los bahá’ís también han colaborado con
la asociación de propietarios de viviendas
del vecindario “para construir relaciones
y ofrecer servicios al vecindario”, dice
Debbie. A ella y a Sharifi “en realidad se les
pidió que ayudaran a organizar el evento
‘National Night Out’ de nuestro vecindario
en octubre”.
Y a través de una hoja de cálculo que
Badi Villagomez desarrolló: “De repente,
teníamos una imagen muy clara de nuestros
vecinos”.
Debbie Villagómez dice que compartir
las enseñanzas bahá’ís para la humanidad es
“estar afuera en el campo, cultivando relaciones
y teniendo todas estas conversaciones
elevadas con los vecinos”.
“Eso es con lo que los miembros de mi
familia han estado ayudando todo el tiempo.
Estoy muy agradecida”. •
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 45

PÁGINAS EN ESPAÑOL
Acatando
la ley de
Dios
El mandato de leer y
estudiar los Escritos
Sagrados
Pregunta: ¿Cuándo nos indica que debemos
leer los Escritos Sagrados y qué tan importante
es esta práctica? ¿Cómo debemos leer estos
versos?
Respuesta: “Recitad los versículos de Dios
cada mañana y atardecer. Quien no los recite
no ha sido fiel al Convenio de Dios y a Su
Testamento, y quien en este Día se aparte de
estos santos versículos es de los que por toda la
eternidad se han apartado de Dios. Temed a
Dios, oh Mis siervos, todos y cada uno. No os
envanezcáis de leer mucho los versículos, o de
efectuar día y noche una multitud de actos piadosos;
pues si alguien leyese un solo versículo
con júbilo y alegría, ello sería mejor para él que
leer con desgana todos los Libros Sagrados de
Dios, Quien ayuda en el Peligro, Quien subsiste
por Sí mismo. Leed los versículos sagrados en
tal medida que no os embarguen ni el desánimo
ni la fatiga. No carguéis vuestras almas con
lo que las canse o las abrume, sino más bien
con lo que las aligere y eleve, para que puedan
remontarse en alas de los versículos divinos
hasta el Punto de amanecer de Sus signos
manifiestos; esto os acercará más a Dios, ojalá
lo comprendierais.”
—Bahá’u’lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas
P: ¿Por qué se nos ha prescrito la lectura de
los Libros Sagrados?
R: “… en toda época, la lectura de las escrituras
y libros sagrados no ha tenido otro
propósito que el de permitir al lector comprender
su significado y desentrañar sus íntimos
misterios. Por el contrario, leer sin entender no
es de provecho duradero para el hombre.”
—Bahá’u’lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán
“Persevera en el uso de la oración obligatoria
y las súplicas matutinas para que día
a día crezca tu consciencia, y con el poder
del conocimiento de Dios puedas disipar los
velos de error de los que dudan y conducirlos
a Su guía infalible. En toda reunión, al
igual que una vela, debieras emitir la luz del
Conocimiento divino.”
—‘Abdu’l-Bahá, de “La Importancia de la
Oración Obligatoria y el Ayuno”
P: ¿Cómo deben ser enseñados los versos de
Dios? ¿Bastan los cursos?
46 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020
R: “Deben dictarse cursos definidos sobre
los diversos aspectos de la Fe, y de una manera
que estimule a los estudiantes a proseguir
con sus estudios privadamente una vez que
retornen a su casa, pues un período de unos
pocos días no es suficiente para aprender
todo. Es necesario que adquieran el hábito de
estudiar la Causa constantemente, pues cuanto
más leamos las Palabras, más nos serán
reveladas las verdades contenidas en ellas.”
—De una carta escrita en nombre de
Shoghi Effendi a un creyente, 24 de noviembre
de 1932
“Profundizar en la Causa significa leer los
escritos de Bahá’u’lláh y del Maestro tan cuidadosamente
como para que seamos capaces
de transmitirlos a los demás en su forma más
pura. Existen muchas personas que tienen
alguna idea superficial de lo que la Causa
significa. Ellos, por lo tanto, la presentan con
toda clase de ideas propias. Como la Causa
aún se encuentra en sus comienzos debemos
ser muy cuidadosos, no sea que cometamos
este error dañando así al Movimiento que
tanto amamos. No existen límites para el
estudio de la Causa. Cuanto más leamos los
escritos, más verdades podremos encontrar
en ellos, y más notaremos que nuestras nociones
previas eran erróneas.”
—De una carta escrita en nombre de
Shoghi Effendi a un creyente, 25 de agosto
de 1926
“Leer los escritos de la Fe y esforzarse por
lograr una comprensión más adecuada del
significado de la estupenda Revelación de
Bahá’u’lláh son obligaciones impuestas a
cada uno de Sus seguidores. A todos se les
ha ordenado sumergirse en el océano de
Su Revelación y participar, acorde con sus
capacidades e inclinaciones, de las perlas
de sabiduría que se hallan en él. A la luz de
estas ideas, surgieron de forma natural, como
rasgos prominentes de la vida bahá’í, las clases
locales de profundización, las escuelas de
EL RITMO DE LA VIDA BAHÁ’Í
Fechas en el calendario
Año 177 Era Bahá’í
Día sagrado: Aniversario del nacimiento
del Báb, 4 de ‘Ilm (18 de octubre).
Debe suspenderse el trabajo.
Día sagrado: Aniversario del nacimiento
de Báhá’u’lláh, 5 de ‘Ilm (19 de
octubre). Debe suspenderse el trabajo.
Próximo:
Día de la Alianza, 4 de Qawl (25 de
noviembre)
Ascensión de ‘Abdu’l-Báhá, 6 de Qawl (27
de noviembre)
Primer día de los meses bahá’ís
El día en el calendario bahá’í comienza al
atardecer en la primera fecha mencionada
en cada caso:
Kamál (Perfección), 30/31 de julio
Asmá’ (Nombres), 18/19 de agosto
‘Izzat (Fuerza), 6/7 de septiembre
Mashíyyat (Voluntad), 25/26 de
septiembre
‘Ilm (Conocimiento), 14/15 de octubre
Qudrat (Poder), 2/3 de noviembre
invierno y de verano y las reuniones organizadas
expresamente para que aquellos creyentes
versados en los escritos compartieran con
otros su conocimiento sobre temas específicos.
Así como el hábito de la lectura diaria
continuará siendo parte integral de la identidad
bahá’í, estas formas de estudio también
seguirán ocupando un lugar en la vida colectiva
de la comunidad. Pero la comprensión de
las implicaciones de la Revelación, tanto en
términos del crecimiento personal como del
progreso social, se incrementa sobremanera
cuando el estudio y el servicio se unen y se
llevan a cabo entrelazadamente. Es ahí, en el
campo del servicio, donde se prueba el saber,
donde de la práctica surgen preguntas y se
alcanzan nuevos niveles de comprensión. En
el sistema de educación a distancia que se ha
establecido ahora en un país tras otro—entre
cuyos elementos principales figuran el círculo
de estudio, el tutor y el currículo del Instituto
Ruhí—la comunidad mundial bahá’í ha adquirido
la capacidad para permitir que miles,
más aún, millones de personas, estudien los
escritos en pequeños grupos con el propósito
explícito de llevar las enseñanzas bahá’ís a
la realidad, haciendo avanzar el trabajo de
la Fe hacia su siguiente etapa: la expansión y
consolidación sostenidas a gran escala.”
—Casa Universal de Justicia, Riḍván 2010 •

صفحه فارسی PERSIAN PAGES
از دفتر امین صندوق
که ماههای آینده برای مجهودات جامعٔه بهائی پیامدهای حائز اهمّ‏ یّتی در
بر خواهد داشت.‏ براستی جز این نمیتواند باشد.‏ این آخرین سالِ‏ آخرین
نقشه از مجموعه نقشههای آخرین ربع قرن اوّل از عصر تکوین،‏ بنای
شالودهای را به اتمام خواهد رساند که مجموعٔه مشروعات جهانیِ‏ آینده بر
روی آن قرار خواهد گرفت.‏ این است صحنٔه نهایی داستانی شورانگیز که
پایانش هنوز رقم نخورده است.«‏
چگونه میتوانیم متّفقاً‏ فدا کاریِ‏ الزم برای ‏»اتمامِ«‏ ‏»بنای شالودهای
را«‏ ‏»که مجموعٔه مشروعات جهانیِ‏ آینده بر روی آن قرار خواهد گرفت«‏
از خود نشان دهیم؟ چنین فدا کاری در شرایطِ‏ فعلی مستلزمِ‏ چیست؟
حضرت بهاءاللّه میفرمایند:‏ ‏»اموراتِ‏ ارض را حقّ‏ جلّ‏ جالله به اسباب
معلّق فرموده.«‏ چگونه باید این اسباب را فراهم ساخت و وجوهِ‏ الزم برای
این اسباب چگونه جمعآوری خواهد شد؟
آیا در این جهان مسئولیتی بزرگتر از استقرارِ‏ ملکوت الهی بر صفحٔه
زمین هست؟ یکی از پاسخهایی که میتوان به این پرسشها داد همانا
مشارکتِ‏ همگانی در تبرّعات است.‏ وقتی احبّاء فدا کاری میکنند و از
خواستِ‏ خود میگذرند و به صندوق امری تبرّع میکنند،‏ حتّی ا گر وجهی
که تبرّع میکنند به ظاهر کم و ناچیز باشد،‏ به جمعی میپیوندند که برای
کمک به پیروزی امر الهی گرد هم آمده است.‏
در یکی از دستخطهای بیتالعدل اعظم که در سال 1970 صادر شده
است،‏ بیانی به این مضمون آمده شده است:‏
‏»مهمترین اساس صندوق امری باید تبرّعات منظّ‏ م و بقاعدۀ فرد فرد
احبّاء باشد.‏ حتّی ا گر مبلغ تبرّعات به علّتِ‏ فقرِ‏ فردِ‏ تبرّعکننده اندک
باشد،‏ تبرّعاتِ‏ افزونتر به آن میپیوندد و به صورت رود عظیمی در
میآید که امر مبارک را به پیش میراند.‏ عالوه بر این،‏ وحدتی که احبّاء
با مشارکت عمومی نشان میدهند سبب تأییدات جمال قدم میشود.‏
مشارکت همگانیِ‏ احبّاء در تمامیِ‏ مواردِ‏ امر مبارک،‏ جامعٔه بهائی را
قوّتی میبخشد که بر نیروهای فروپاشی و اضمحاللِ‏ روحانی ‏‐که جوامع
غیربهائی را فراگرفته است‐‏ فائق آید و به صورتِ‏ دریای یگانگی ظاهر
شود و سراسر جهان را فرا گیرد.«‏
در عین حال که ما احبّاء قطره قطره به حجم این رودخانه میافزاییم،‏
بیتالعدل اعظم با نهایتِ‏ شفقت اظهار میدارد که به رغمِ‏ امکان
دشواریهایی که در پیش است،‏ ما را از حمایت خود برخوردار خواهد
ساخت تا کار و فعّالیّتِ‏ مؤسّ‏ سات را همچنان به پیش بریم.‏ معهد اعلی در
پیام مورخ 9 ماه مه سال 2020 چنین نوید دادهاند:‏
‏»این جمع واقف است که ادامٔه انجام عمل در طول این بحران،‏
در بسیاری موارد شما را تحت فشار مالی قرار خواهد داد و مشکالت
اقتصادی که بسیاری از اعضای جامعه با آن مواجه شدهاند ممکن است
منابعی را که به آن متّکی هستید محدود سازد.‏ اطمینان داشته باشید که
آمادۀ کمک به شما هستیم.‏ نباید هیچ شک و ابهامی وجود داشته باشد
که ادامٔه عملکرد مؤسّ‏ سات امری در طیّ‏ این دوران ضروری است و فقدان
منابع نباید مانعی برای انجام وظایف اساسی آنها گردد.«‏
NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í FUND ARTICLE — A LOVING
OUTPOURING OF PLANNED GIVING
حضرت بهاءاللّه میفرمایند:‏
‏»ای دوستان سزاوار آنکه در اين بهار جانفَزا از بارانِ‏ نيسان يزدانی
تازه و خرّم شويد.‏ خورشيدِ‏ بزرگی پرتو افکنده و ابرِ‏ بخشش سايه گسترده.‏
بابهره کسی که خود را بیبهره نساخت و دوست را در اين جامه بشناخت.«‏
دائرۀ ‏»تبرّعاتِ‏ برنامهریزی شده«‏ Department( )Planned Giving
که بخشی از دفتر امین صندوق Treasurer( )Office of the است،‏ جمالِ‏
قدم را شکر میگوید که احبّاء با گشادهدستیِ‏ آشکار،‏ با تبرّعات خود
‏»مایٔه حیاتی«‏ امر مبارک را فراهم آوردهاند.‏ ‏»مایٔه حیاتی«‏ )lifeblood(
عبارتی است که حضرت ولی امراللّه دربارۀ وجوه تبرّعات به کار بردهاند.‏
سخاوتِ‏ همیشگیِ‏ جامعٔه بهائی در سال گذشته سبب شده است که آنچه از
طریق تبرّعاتِ‏ برنامهریزی شده تقدیم محفل روحانی ملّی گردیده،‏ بیش
از سالهای پیش بوده است.‏
حدود 9 میلیون دالر از طریق مذکور به اَنحاء گونا گون به صندوق ملّی
تبرّع شده است،‏ از جمله:‏
‏•ارث
‏•بیمٔه عمر
‏•پرداخت مستمری )annuities(
‏•واگذاری اوراق بهادار
همچنین بسیاری درخواستِ‏ کسبِ‏ اطّ‏ العات برای ایفای وظیفٔه
روحانیِ‏ خود در مورد نوشتن وصیتنامه کرده و محفل روحانی ملّی را
بهعنوان یکی از ورثه نام بردهاند.‏
دائرۀ تبرّعات برنامهریزی شده آماده است که احبّای گرامی را در
اجرای وظائف روحانی خود مانند تهیٔه وصیتنامه مدد رسانَد.‏
عالقهمندان میتوانند برای کسب اطّ‏ العات بیشتر با آقای امین ورقا
تماس حاصل نمایند.‏
شمارۀ تلفن:‏ 733-3569 )847(
ایمیل:‏plannedgiving@usbnc.org
امید به مشارکت همگانی
THE PROMISE OF UNIVERSAL PARTICIPATION
در حالِ‏ حاضر و وضعِ‏ کنونی،‏ موضوعِ‏ مشارکتِ‏ همگانی در تقدیم
تبرّعات بیش از هر زمان دیگری اهمّ‏ یت یافته است.‏
بیتالعدل اعظم در پیام مورخ 9 ماه مه سالِ‏ 2020 خطاب به محافل
روحانیِ‏ ملّی در سراسر جهان میفرمایند:‏
‏»امکانِ‏ این پیشبینی نیست که بیماری عالمگیر فعلی تا چه حدّ‏ حرکت
ملل عالم را در مسیر اتّحاد تحت تأثیر قرار خواهد داد.‏ امّا شکّ‏ ی نیست
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 47

PERSIAN PAGES
فارسی صفحه اصلیِ‏
صورت به و زوائد بدون را آن بتوانیم که نحوی به عبدالبهاء حضرت از
سطحی دانشی و العات اطّ‏ افراد از بسیاری کنیم.‏ عرضه دیگران به آن آمیخته
میکنند اظهار مبارک امر دربارۀ آنچه بنابراین،‏ و دارند،‏ مبارک امر در
هنوز الهی امر که آنجا از است.‏ آنان خودِ‏ شخصی آرای و نظرها با از
خطایی چنین که بود گاه آ کامالً‏ باید است،‏ خود رشد نخستین مراحل بستهایم،‏
دل بدان حد این تا که مبارکی امر این به لطمهای و نزند،‏ سر ما مبارکه
آثار بیشتر چه هر ندارد.‏ وجود ی حدّ‏ الهی امر مطالعٔه برای نزنیم.‏ که
درمییابیم بیشتر و میشود،‏ روشن ما بر بیشتری حقایق کنیم،‏ مطالعه را است.«‏
نبوده صحیح ما قبلیِ‏ برداشتهای این
در میالدی(‏ )2010 بدیع 167 رضوان پیام در اعظم بیتالعدل میفرمایند:‏
مورد حضرت
شکوهمند ظهور بهتر درک برای کوشش و امری آثار ‏»مطالعٔه گذاشته
حضرت آن پیروان از یک هر عهدۀ بر که است تکلیفی بهاءاللّه ار
زخّ‏ بحر در خود،‏ تمایل و توان حسب بر که فند موظّ‏ همه است.‏ شده گذاشته
ودیعه به آن در که حکمت آللی از و نمایند کاوش اعظمش ظهور مدارس
معلومات،‏ تزیید محلّی کالسهای ترتیب بدین برند.‏ بهره شده آثار
در ر متبحّ‏ احبّای آن در که مخصوصی جلسات و زمستانه،‏ و تابستانه رد دیگران با مختلف مواضیع‏ بارۀ در را بینشخود میتوانستند بهائی همان
گردید.‏ بهائی حیات برجستٔه ویژگیهای از طبیعتاً‏ بگذارند میان هویّت
از ضروری جزئی الهی آیات روزانٔه تالوت به عادت که گونه جمعی
حیات از جزئی نیز مطالعات نوع این ماند،‏ خواهد باقی بهائی همزمان
و گردد توأم هم با خدمت و مطالعه وقتی امّا بود.‏ خواهد جامعه برای
هم و فردی رشد برای هم الهی آیات مقتضیات درک گیرد،‏ صورت دانش
خدمت،‏ میدان در مییابد.‏ افزایش برابر چندین اجتماعی پیشرفت مدارج
و میآید پیش عمل حین در سؤاالتی میگیرد،‏ قرار آزمایش مورد راه
از آموزشِ‏ سیستم مدد به میشود.‏ حاصل ادراک و فهم از جدیدی و
گردیده تأسیس دیگری از پس یکی مختلف کشورهای در کنون ا که دور آموزشی
سٔه مؤسّ‏ درسی موادّ‏ و راهنما مطالعه،‏ حلقٔه شامل آن اصلی عناصر هزاران
که نموده کسب را توانمندی این بهائی جهانی جامعٔه است،‏ روحی هدفِ‏
با کوچک گروههای در را الهی آثار که قادرسازد را نفر میلیونها بل به
امری فعّالیّتهای پیشبرد و بهائی تعالیم به بخشیدن تحقّق ص مشخّ‏ مطالعه
وسیع،‏ مقیاسی در مستمرّ‏ تحکیم و ترویج یعنی بعدی مرحلٔه نمایند.«‏
ملّی
آثار محفظۀ اعالمیۀ ARCHIVES SEEKS PICTURES OF LOCAL INSTITUTIONS,
COMMUNITIES
عکس
که است کرده درخواست الهی احبّای از ملّی آثار محفظٔه بهویژه
خود،‏ محلّیِ‏ فعّالیّتهای و محلّی جوامعِ‏ و محلّی روحانی محافل بهتر
امکان صورت در دارند.‏ ارسال سه مؤسّ‏ آن به را،‏ قدیمی عکسهای عکسهایی
میتوانند دوستان شود.‏ قید افراد نام و محلّ‏ و تاریخ که است فرمایند.‏
ارسال زیر نشانی به دارند،‏ اختیار در که را National Bahá’í Archives
1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611.
برای
از قِسم همين است،‏ الزم اجساد برای از غذا که ‏»همچنان نیز:‏ و عنايتِ‏
سماءِ‏ از که است ريّه طَ‏ لطيفٔه منيعٔه مائدۀ روح غذای واجب.‏ ارواح ١٧
‏)ص شود.«‏ ضعيف البتّه نرسد آن به روح غذای گر ا شده.‏ نازل الهی بديع(‏
١٢١ ط آسمانی مائده ٨ ج را
آسمانی کتابهای و مبارک نصوص که شده امر چرا پرسش:‏ بخوانیم؟
میفرمایند:‏
ایقان کتاب در بهاءاللّه حضرت پاسخ:‏ ادراکِ‏
عصری،‏ هر در ف حُ‏ صُ‏ قرائتِ‏ و کتب تالوتِ‏ از ‏»مقصود البتّه
را بیمعرفت تالوت الّا و بوده آن اسرارِ‏ معارجِ‏ به بلوغ و آن معانی نباشد.«‏
کلّی فائدۀ میفرمایند:‏
لوحی در همچنین تجعلکم
و اللّه الی تجذبکم انّها الرّیحان.‏ و بالرّوح آیاتی ‏»اقرئوا المبین«‏
اللّوح هذا و االلواح فی به وعظتم ما هذا سواه.‏ ا عمّ‏ منقطعین 161(
ص 1، ج اعلی،‏ قلم ‏)آثار راحت
با را الهی آیات است:‏ چنین فارسی به مبارک بیان مضمون جز
آنچه از و میکند خداوند جذبِ‏ را شما آیات آن بخوانید.‏ رحمت و بدان
آشکار لوح این در و الواح در را شما آنچه است این میگسلد.‏ اوست دادیم.‏
اندرز میفرمایند:‏
عبدالبهاء حضرت شود.‏
خوانده مناجات و الواح است واجب و فرض صبح و روز ‏»هر میافتد.«‏
کار از آن بدون و میشود قوی روح است؛ روح غذای آيات 150(
ص احکام،‏ و حدود ‏)گنجينٔه است:‏
حضرت همان از نیز و کلمات
و تجلّيات و اشراقات نمائيد،‏ مراجعت سه مقدّ‏ الواح ‏»به تعاليم
اين که مینمائيد مالحظه اقدس.‏ کتاب و طرازات و بشارات و امکانی،‏
جسدِ‏ زخمِ‏ مرهم و است انسانی عالَم درد درمان اليوم الهيّه در
نافذه قوّۀ و ابديّه عزّت مغناطيس و نجات سفينٔه و است حيات روح 252(
ص 3، ج عبدالبهاء،‏ حضرت ‏)مکاتيب انسانيّه.«‏ حقيقت آیات
مطالعٔه کالسهای آیا خواند؟ باید چگونه را الهی آیات پرسش:‏ میکند؟
کفایت سال
نوامبر 24 تاریخ به که مرقومهای در امراللّه ولی حضرت پاسخ:‏ مضمون
که میفرمایند بیانی است،‏ یافته نگارش ایشان جانب از 1932 است:‏
چنین فارسی به آن امر
گسترش گونِ‏ گونا مراحل طیِ‏ در صی مشخّ‏ درسیِ‏ دورههای باید بازگشت
از بعد که برانگیزد را دانشجویان که نحوی به شود،‏ عرضه بهائی دهند،‏
ادامه را خود مطالعات منازلشان،‏ به بهائی[‏ تابستانٔه مدارسِ‏ ‏]از مقصود
به وافی و کافی گیرد،‏ صورت روز چند در تنها که مطالعاتی زیرا آموخت،‏
بدانان را مبارکه آثارِ‏ مداومِ‏ مطالعٔه عادتِ‏ باید بود.‏ نخواهد ما
بر بیشتر آن در نهفته حقایق بخوانیم،‏ را الهی کالم بیشتر چه هر زیرا میشود.‏
مکشوف حضرت
جانب از 1926 سال اوت 25 تاریخ به که دیگری مرقومٔه در فارسی
به آن مضمون که میفرمایند بیانی است،‏ یافته نگارش امراللّه ولی است:‏
چنین و
بهاءاللّه حضرت آثار عمیقِ‏ مطالعٔه یعنی امری معلومات ‏»تزیید 48 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

صفحه فارسی PERSIAN PAGES
نصوصی که در مقالۀ باال بدان استناد شده همه از ‏»مجموعهای از نصوص مبارکه
و دستخطهای بیتالعدل اعظم الهی دربارۀ حقوقاللّه«‏ نقل شده است.‏
حقوقاللّه
ḤUQÚQU’LLÁH
A ‘VERY PRACTICAL AND VISUAL APPROACH TO
UNDERSTANDING’
راه و روش عینی و عملی برای فهمیدن
آنچه در زیر میخوانید حکایتِ‏ کوتاهی است از یکی از احبّاء که به
هیئت امنای حقوقاللّه در ایاالت متّحده فرستاده شده است.‏
وقتی پسر کوچکی بودم،‏ مادرم داستانهای جالبی از پدرش دربارۀ
حقوقاللّه به ما میگفت.‏ به گفتٔه مادرم ‏»در آخر هر ماه،‏ مرا صدا میکرد
که پهلویش بنشینم و مقداری پول که روی میز گذاشته بود به من نشان
میداد و میگفت:‏ ‏"دخترم،‏ این پولی است که در ماه گذشته پسانداز
کردم."‏ بعد آن را به پنج بخش تقسیم میکرد و میگفت:‏ ‏"یک بخش
از این پولی که پسانداز کردهام،‏ مال من نیست.‏ یکی از این پنج بخش
متعلق به خداست و من حق ندارم از آن استفاده کنم؛ مال خداست.‏ امّا
آن چهار بخش دیگر که مال من است،‏ وقتی بخش خدا را تقدیم میکنم،‏
طاهر و مبارک میشود."‏ و آن وقت با اطمینان کامل میگفت:‏ ‏"با پول
طاهر و مبارک میتوانم هر چه میخواهم بکنم.‏ با برکتی که حضرت
بهاءاللّه عنایت کرده،‏ پول ما مایٔه حفظ و رونق و رفاه میشود."‏ این طور
بود که یاد گرفتم که پولی که متعلّق به خداست اسمش ‏"حقوقاللّه"‏ است.«‏
این کاری که پدر بزرگم میکرد،‏ تأثیر عمیقی بر مادرم گذاشته بود،‏ و
در همٔه عمر تعلق شدیدی به ادای حقوق داشت؛ ما هم به این ترتیب از
همان کودکی تربیت شدیم که این حکم را اجرا کنیم.‏ پدربزرگ از همین
راه ساده و با نشان دادن و بدون محاسبات پیچیده موفّق شد که قلب دختر
هشت سالهاش را باز و با این حکم الهی آشنا کند.‏
اجرای احکام الهی
ABIDING IN GOD’S LAW
تالوت آیات الهی
THE INJUNCTION TO READ AND STUDY THE HOLY
WRITINGS
عدّ‏ های از احبّای شهر ‏»کَری«‏ (Cary) و اطراف آن در کارولینای شمالی با اشتیاق به
تشکیل برنامۀ فشردۀ مطالعاتی برای حکم ‏»حقوقاللّه«‏ اقدام نمودند.‏ از این رو یک
تعطیالت آخر هفته در اوایل امسال را ویژۀ این آموزش قرار دادند.‏ ایشان در این دو
روز تعطیل همۀ 12 درسی را که نمایندۀ « حقوقاللّه«‏ در اختیار داشت بررسی کردند.‏
شرکتکنندگان از آغاز آ گاه بودند که حکم « حقوقاللّه«‏ جایگاهی اساسی در حیات
بهائی دارد،‏ و در فضایی آرام به مذاکره و پرسش و پاسخ پرداختند.‏ در پایان مذاکرات،‏
شرکتکنندگان در بارۀ امکان تشویق دیگران به شرکت در این مطالعه گفتگو کردند.‏
‏)عکس از مایه لوپز(‏
خوانندگان گرامی توجّ‏ ه داشتهاند که محفل روحانی ملّی بر آن بوده
است که تقریباً‏ در هر یک از شماره های این نشریه،‏ یکی از احکام و
تعالیمِ‏ امر بهائی و نکاتِ‏ مربوط به آن با نقل نصوصِ‏ بهائی بررسی
شود.‏ در شمارۀ فعلی،‏ مطالبی دربارۀ ‏»لزوم تالوت آیات الهی«‏ از نظر
خوانندگان میگذرد.‏
پرسش:‏ حضرت بهاءاللّه در چه اوقاتی از بهائیان میخواهند که آیات
الهی را تالوت کنند،‏ و اهمّ‏ یت این حکم چیست؟ این آیات را چگونه
باید خواند؟
پاسخ:‏ حضرت بهاءاللّه در فقرۀ 149 کتاب اقدس میفرمایند:‏
‏»اُتلُوا آياتِ‏ اللّه فِي ِ کلّ‏ صَ‏ بَاحٍ‏ وَ‏ مَسَ‏ اء.‏ اِنَّ‏ الّذِ‏ ي لَمْ‏ يَتْلُ‏ لَمْ‏ يُوْفَ‏ بِ‏ عَهدِ‏
اللّه وَ‏ ميثاقِهِ‏ وَ‏ الّذي اَعْ‏ رَضَ‏ عَ‏ نْهَا الْيَومَ‏ اِنَّهُ‏ مِمّ‏ نْ‏ اَعْ‏ رَضَ‏ عَ‏ نِ‏ اللّه فِيْ‏ اَزَلِ‏
اآلزالِ‏ . اتّقُنَّ‏ اللّه يَا عِ‏ بَادي کُلُّکُ‏ مْ‏ اَجْ‏ مَ‏ عُ‏ ونَ‏ . ال تَغُ‏ رَّنّکُ‏ مْ‏ کَثرَةُ‏ القِرَائَةِ‏ وَ‏
الْاَعْ‏ مَ‏ الِ‏ فِي اللّيلِ‏ وَ‏ الْنَّهَارِ‏ . لَوْ‏ يَقْرَءُ‏ اَحَ‏ دٌ‏ آيَةً‏ مِنَ‏ اآلياتِ‏ بِ‏ الرَّوحِ‏ وَ‏ الرَّيحانِ‏
خَ‏ يْرٌ‏ لَهُ‏ مِنْ‏ اَنْ‏ يَتْلُوْا بالکِ‏ سالَةِ‏ صُ‏ حُ‏ فَ‏ اللّه الْمُ‏ هَيْمِ‏ نِ‏ القَيُّومِ.‏ اُتلُوا آياتِ‏ اللّه
عَ‏ لی قَدرٍ‏ الَ‏ تَأخُ‏ ذُ‏ کُمُ‏ الکِ‏ سالَةُ‏ وَ‏ االَحْ‏ زانُ‏ . لَا تَحْ‏ مِ‏ لوْا عَ‏ لی الْاَرْوَاحِ‏ مَا
يُکْ‏ سِ‏ لُهَا وَ‏ يُثْقِلُهَا بَلْ‏ مَا يُخفّهَا لِتَطِ‏ يْرَ‏ بِ‏ اَجْ‏ نِحَ‏ ةِ‏ اآلياتِ‏ اِلَی مَطْ‏ لَعِ‏ البَيّناتِ‏ هَ‏ ذَ‏ ا
اَقرَبُ‏ اِلی اللّه لَوْ‏ اَنْتُمْ‏ تَعقِلُوْنَ‏ .«
مضمون بیان مبارک به فارسی چنین است:‏ هر بامداد و شامگاه،‏ آیات
الهی را بخوانید.‏ آن که آیات را نخوانَد،‏ به پیمان و میثاق پروردگار وفا
نکرده است،‏ و آن که از تالوتِ‏ آیات روی برگردانَد،‏ از جمله کسانی است
که از آغازِ‏ زمان از خدا روی برگردانده است.‏ ای بندگان من،‏ از خدا
با ک بدارید.‏ هان!‏ مباد که زیاده خوانیِ‏ آیات و زیادهرَوی در عبادات،‏
در شبان و روزان،‏ بادِ‏ غرور در سرتان بیندازد.‏ ا گر کسی آیهای از آیات
الهی را با راحت و رحمت بخوانَد بهتر از آن است که همٔه کتابهای
الهی را با سستی و رخوت بخواند.‏ آیات الهی را چندان تالوت نمایید
که به خستگی و دلسردی دچار نگردید.‏ بر روح خود باری مگذارید که
خسته و سنگینش سازد،‏ بلکه آن کنید که سَ‏ بُک گردانَدَ‏ ش تا با بال آیات به
پرواز آید و آهنگِ‏ خاستگاهِ‏ نشانههای آشکارِ‏ خدا نماید.‏ ا گر خِ‏ رَد به کار
گُمارید،‏ این است آنچه به خدا نزدیکتان میسازد.‏
همچنین در لوحی میفرمایند:‏ ‏»نيکوست حال کسی که در ليالی و ايّام
به آياتش اُنس گيرد و قرائت نمايد.‏ اوست مُ‏ حيیِ‏ وجود و مربّیِ‏ غيب و
شهود.«‏ ‏)ص ١٠٠ ج ٥ آثار قلم اعلی(‏
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 49

PERSIAN PAGES
فارسی صفحه به
مربوط مسائلِ‏ دربارۀ چگونه که میآموزند بیشتر احبّاء که هنگامی و تا
که نباشد الزم شاید نمایند،‏ مشورت متنوّع محیطهای در جامعه رفاهِ‏ تجربهای
و بصیرت و بینش کردن بازگو برای شور انجمن نمایندۀ انتخاب بمانند.‏
منتظر آموختهاند،‏ و اندوخته سال طی در و آورده دست به که ایران
در بهائیان اذیّت و آزار افزایش ESCALATION IN PERSECUTION OF BAHÁ’ÍS IN IRAN
دینی
اعتقادات دلیل به شدن زندانی و کمه محا )۲۰۲۰
ژوئن ۱۱( ۱۳۹۹ ‎۲۲‎خرداد بر
ایرانی مقامات اخیر،‏ هفتههای در نیویورک-‏ بهائی،‏ جهانی جامعٔه ایران
سرتاسر در نفر ۷۷ اقل حدّ‏ و افزودهاند بهائیان اذیّت و آزار ت شدّ‏ بحران
با چنان هم ایران که است حالی در این گرفتهاند.‏ قرار هدف مورد میکند.‏
مقابله کرونا اصفهان،‏
مازندران،‏ جنوبی،‏ خراسان فارس،‏ استانهای در بهائیان مورد
شدهاند،‏ احضار دادگاه به یا بازداشت یزد،‏ و کرمانشاه کرمان،‏ البرز،‏ شدهاند.‏
زندانی یا کردهاند دریافت زندان حکم گرفتهاند،‏ قرار کمه محا خصومت
دلیل به تنها و بیاساس اتّهامات پایٔه بر اقدامات این تمامی صداقت،‏
بر که آموزههایی است؛ بوده آن آموزههای و بهائی آئین با دیرینه دین
و علم هماهنگی و مردم همٔه حقوق تضمین مردان،‏ و زنان برابری دارد.‏
کید تأ کانالهای
از استفاده با حکومت به وابسته رسانههای عالوه،‏ به شبکههای
و وبسایتها رادیویی،‏ ایستگاههای روزنامهها،‏ تلویزیونی،‏ به
و داده افزایش بهائیان مورد در را عمومی تهمتپراکنی اجتماعی مورد
در نادرست العات اطّ‏ نشر با هماهنگشده پیش از بیش شیوهای این
دارند.‏ اجتماع از را آنها طرد و کردن بدنام‏ قصد بهائیان اعتقادات از
آنان هموطنان و نیستند،‏ پاسخگویی به مجاز بهائیان که است حالی در شدهاند.‏
محروم حقیقت مورد در تحقیق فرصت تا
سه به را بهائی ۹ جنوبی خراسان استان در دادگاهی مورد،‏ یک در مرد
محکومین این از یکی جمله از است.‏ کرده محکوم زندان سال شش بسیار
سالمتیاش برای زندان سن،‏ کهولت دلیل به که است سالخوردهای به
دروغین اتّهامات به بهائی ۱۲ فارس،‏ استان در بود.‏ خواهد ک خطرنا بهائی
شش اخیر،‏ روزهای در شدهاند.‏ محکوم زندان سال سیزده تا یک شدهاند،‏
فراخوانده زندان به حکم اجرای برای جنوبی خراسان استان در در
بهائی یک شدهاند،‏ بازداشت یزد و کرمان استانهای در نفر چهار از
یکی و شده محکوم تبعید سال دو و زندان سال یک به البرز استان است.‏
شده احضار زندان سال یک حکم اجرای برای اصفهان بهائیان گاهی
و ماهها با سنگین،‏ وثیقههای با آزادی و بازداشت از پس بهائیان حکم
شروع و تجدیدنظر دادگاه کمه،‏ محا دستگیری،‏ میان وقفه سالها روشهای
این دارد.‏ همراه به شدیدی روانیِ‏ بارِ‏ که هستند مواجه زندان بهائی
جامعٔه کلّ‏ سیستماتیک سرکوبهای از بخشی عنوان به بیرحمانه گرفته
قرار استفاده مورد مسئولین توسط اخیر سالهای در تناوب به ایران،‏ است.‏
‏»وقایع
میگوید:‏ بهائی جهانی جامعٔه ارشد نمایندۀ دوگال،‏ بانی خانم دادن
قرار است.‏ کرده وارد خانوادهها از بسیاری به زیادی فشار اخیر و
درد و دارد،‏ وجود شدن زندانی خطر مدام که وضعیتی چنان در آنها بر
دیگر فشاری خود است،‏ موقعیتی چنین از ناشی که عاطفیای رنج و نگرانکننده تی شدّ‏ با فشارها این اعمال میشود.‏ محسوب جامعه این ظالمانه
بسیار سالمت،‏ بحران زمان در هم آن توجیهی،‏ و علّت هیچ بدون است.«‏
حقوقاللّه
HUQÚQU’LLÁH
HUQÚQU’LLÁH AND THE BAHÁ’Í FUNDS
متّحده(‏
ایاالت در اللّه حقوق امنای هیئت دفتر ‏)از عالَم
و امم حفظِ‏ سببِ‏ میفرمایند:‏
اقدس کتاب در بهاءاللّه حضرت مِ‏
لِنَظْ‏ مَ‏ ظَ‏ الْاَعْ‏ بَبَ‏ السَّ‏ اللّه وْدَ‏ دُ‏ حُ‏ يَرَوْنَ‏ اللّه مِنَ‏ ائِرَ‏ بَصَ‏ اُوْتُوْا يْنَ‏ الّذِ‏ ‏»اِنَّ‏ است:‏
چنین فارسی زبان به مبارک بیان مضمون مَمِ....«‏ الْاُ‏ فْظِ‏ حِ‏ وَ‏ الْعَالَمِ‏ بزرگترین
را الهی احکام است،‏ داشته ارزانی بینش بدانان خدا که کسانی میدانند.‏
مردمان حفظ و جهان نظم برای سبب میفرمایند:‏
تجلیات لوح در قدم جمال همچنین ناظر
الهی نَواهیِ‏ و اوامر به حين کلِ‏ در بايد بيان بحرِ‏ سينِ‏ نغَمِ‏ ‏»مُ‏ امم.«‏
صيانتِ‏ و عالم حفظِ‏ برای از است اعظم حصنِ‏ اوامرش باشند.‏ جناب
حقوقاللّه،‏ امین و امراللّه ایادی 1999، سال کتبر ا ماه در ساخت
خاطرنشان حقوقاللّه به راجع خود سخنرانیِ‏ در ورقا علیمحمد گفتٔه
به دارد.‏ قرار بهاءاللّه حضرت تعالیم اوج در الهی حکم این که حکم،‏
این نزول از که اسرارآمیزی تأثیرات و متنوّع ‏»ویژگیهای ایشان:‏ دارد
را آن قابلیت میشود حاصل الهی،‏ ادیان سلسله از اخیر دورِ‏ این در را
انسانی جامعٔه و سازد برطرف را بشری جهانِ‏ پیچیدۀ مشکالت که سازد.«‏
مستقر یگانگی مدارِ‏ بر و کند دیگرگون بسی
‏»این که ساختهاند خاطرنشان الواح از یکی در بهاءاللّه حضرت عزت
و برکت و نعمت سبب الهی حقوقِ‏ ادای که است واضح و معلوم نمیشود
کسانی شامل تنها برکات این بود.«‏ خواهد و بوده حفظ و فرمودهاند
بهاءاللّه حضرت که چنان بلکه میکنند،‏ ادا را حقوقاللّه که میگیرد.‏
بر در گزیدهاند،‏ سکونت آن در که را ناحیهای تمامیِ‏ و فرزندان روح
مانند است،‏ شده نازل اعلی قلم از آنچه که فرمودهاند بهاءاللّه حضرت این
در ما حالِ‏ زبانِ‏ امکانند.‏ عالَمِ‏ در که است کسانی همٔه برای زندگانی باشد:‏
مناجات این باید چالشانگیز برهٔه بينا
چشم کردی هشيار و نمودی بيدار که ترا شکر مهربان،‏ خدای ‏»ای سبيل
به و کردی داللت خويش ملکوت به نمودی احسان شنوا گوش دادی آوردی.‏
در نجات سفينٔه در و بنمودی راست راه فرمودی هدايت خود محفوظ
شديده امتحانات از کن راسخ و ثابت و بدار مستقيم مرا خدايا توانا
توئی فرما.‏ مأمون و مصون ميثاقت و عهد صينِ‏ حَ‏ صنِ‏ حِ‏ در و بدار شنوا.«‏
توئی و بينا توئی و 50 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

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از شور انجمن نمایندگان انتخابات غیابی
رأی 2020 DELEGATE ELECTION IS SOLELY
BY ABSENTEE BALLOT
روحانیِ‏
محفل کشور،‏ در کرونا همهگیر بیماریِ‏ از ناشی بحرانِ‏ علّت به برگزار
)Unit Convention( روحانی شور انجمنهای که نموده مقرّر ملّی در
است قرار ‏–که جاری سال در شور انجمن نمایندگانِ‏ انتخابِ‏ و نشود،‏ به
غیابی رأیِ‏ با تنها گیرد—‏ صورت کتبر ا ماه آخرهفتٔه تعطیالتِ‏ اوّلین پیوندد.‏
وقوع مشارکتِ‏
‏»تسهیلِ‏ برای اعظم،‏ بیتالعدل تأییدِ‏ با ملّی،‏ روحانیِ‏ محفل اینکه
تأمینِ‏ جهتِ‏ به و نمایندگان،‏ انتخابِ‏ در احبّاء بیشترِ‏ چه هر شمارِ‏ داشته
رأی اِبدای فرصتِ‏ انتخابی واحد هر کنِ‏ سا ذیرأیِ‏ احبّای همٔه افرادی
برای را )online ‏)آنالین برخط طریق از دادن رأی امکانِ‏ باشند«‏ است.‏
ساخته فراهم باشند آن از استفاده به مایل که یا
)Online Balloting System( برخط«‏ دادن ‏»رأی که امکان این کاری
و ساز و میشود اداره ملّی محفل دفتر طریق از دارد نام OBS که
شرایط واجدِ‏ فردِ‏ هر آن.‏ شمارشِ‏ برای هم و آرا اخذِ‏ برای هم است تلفن
با طریق این از میتواند باشد داشته محفل دفتر در ایمیل نشانیِ‏ طریقِ‏
از دادن رأی برای احبّاء از دعوت بدهد.‏ رأی کامپیوتر با یا همراه ایمیل
با ملّی محفل دفتر طرف از سپتامبر ماه اوایلِ‏ از )online( برخط ‏–در
که میشود درخواست احبّاء همٔه از اساس،‏ این بر شد.‏ خواهد ارسال در
را خود ایمیل باشند—‏ برخط طریق از دادن رأی به مایل که صورتی باید
زیر نشانی به ایمیل کردن بهروز برای کنند.‏ بهروز امری سجالت دفتر کرد:‏
مراجعه www.bahai.us/community/myprofile
باشد،‏
پُست طریق از دادن رأی به مایل دهنده رأی که صورتی در افرادِ‏
همٔه به اوت ماه آخر تا را انتخاباتی اوراقِ‏ ملّی روحانی محفل برای
باید را رأی ورقٔه معمول،‏ مطابقِ‏ داشت.‏ خواهد ارسال ذیرأی امورِ‏
ادارۀ مسئولیتِ‏ که محلّی روحانیِ‏ محفل به مستقیماً‏ آرا،‏ شمارشِ‏ فرستاد.‏
دارد،‏ عهده بر انتخاباتی واحد در را نمایندگان انتخابِ‏ به مربوط نمایندگان
انتخاب در مشارکت که
است سی مقدّ‏ وظیفٔه ایفای در گام اوّلین شور انجمن نمایندۀ انتخاب انتخابِ‏
به سال پنج هر و ملّی،‏ روحانی محفل اعضای انتخابِ‏ به سال هر دیک تأ اعظم بیتالعدل که همانگونه میانجامد.‏ اعظم بیتالعدل اعضای که
نیست حقّی بهمنزلٔه تنها بهائی انتخاباتِ‏ در بهائیان مشارکتِ‏ فرمودهاند روحِ‏
با که هنگامی که است روحانی وظیفهای بلکه مینمایند،‏ ادا را آن میگذارد.‏
تأثیر بهائی جامعٔه رشدِ‏ و سالمت بر گردد،‏ ایفا بهائی صورت
پُست با یا برخط طریقِ‏ به آرا اِبدایِ‏ اینکه از جدا بنابراین،‏ فرد
عهدۀ بر آن قِداستِ‏ حفظِ‏ و انتخابات در مشارکت مسئولیتِ‏ گیرد،‏ را
خود نمایندۀ توانست خواهند همیشه مانند احبّاء است.‏ بهائیان فردِ‏ کر
ذ 1988 سال دسامبر 29 مورّخ اعظم بیتالعدل نامٔه در که نحوی به آرام...‏
فضایی آوردنِ‏ وجود به انتخابات،‏ روالِ‏ ‏»در نمایند:‏ انتخاب شده بهائی
فردِ‏ و است«‏ برخوردار بسیاری یت اهمّ‏ از دعا...‏ و ر تفکّ‏ با همراه س
روحُالقُدُ‏ با ارتباط در و خود وجدانِ‏ هدایتِ‏ به فقط و آزادی ‏»با باید بهائی
انتخابات در مشارکت ترتیب،‏ بدین دهد.«‏ صورت را انتخاب عمل اثر
مبارک امر بدیع نظمِ‏ بر میشود داده که رأیی هر زیرا است،‏ ضروری مجموعٔه
در امراللّه ولی حضرت میکند.‏ آن رشدِ‏ به کمک و میگذارد مبارک
امر اداریِ‏ نظمِ‏ )World Order of Baha’ullah( بهائی«‏ جهانیِ‏ ‏»نظم نظمی
خواندهاند،‏ کنونی«‏ محنتزدۀ جامعٔه در امیدی...‏ روزنٔه ‏»یگانه را است.‏
یافته نشئت الهی«‏ تغییرناپذیرِ‏ مشیّتِ‏ ‏»از که انتخابات
در مشارکت افزایش برای کوشش انتخابات
فرایندِ‏ با را خود جوامعِ‏ اعضای باید محلّی روحانیِ‏ محافل انتخاب
و رضوان ایّام در تنها نباید مسئولیت این سازند.‏ آشنا بهائی آن
اجرای به باید سال طولِ‏ در بلکه باشد،‏ نظر موردِ‏ محلّی محافلِ‏ 14
تا 12 بخش 2، واحد روحی،‏ سٔه مؤسّ‏ 8 کتابِ‏ در گماشت.‏ ت همّ‏ الهی
احبّای از است.‏ شده درج سودمندی مطالبِ‏ بهائی انتخاباتِ‏ دربارۀ سٔه
مؤسّ‏ هماهنگکنندگانِ‏ با العات اطّ‏ کسب برای میشود درخواست حاصل
تماس معاونت هیئت اعضای و )institute coordinators( آموزشی نمایند.‏
و
چند آموزشِ‏ تسهیل برای محلّی روحانیِ‏ محافلِ‏ به کمک منظورِ‏ به ارسال
)chart( نموداری میزبان،‏ محافلِ‏ از یک هر به انتخابات،‏ چون واحدِ‏
آن قبلیِ‏ انتخابات در را احبّاء مشارکتِ‏ میزانِ‏ آن در که شد خواهد وجود
انتخاباتی واحد 151 متّحده،‏ ایاالت در میدهد.‏ نشان انتخاباتی است.‏
درصد 25 تا 15 از واحدها آن اکثر در احبّاء مشارکتِ‏ و دارد،‏ میزانِ‏
)online ‏)آنالین برخط دادن رأی امکانِ‏ با امسال میرود انتظار یابد.‏
افزایش الهی یارانِ‏ مشارکتِ‏ ملّی
روحانی محفل به احبّاء پیشنهادهای فرستادن واحد
شورِ‏ انجمنِ‏ ویژگیهای از یکی نمایندگان،‏ انتخابِ‏ بر عالوه تا
میشود فراهم شور انجمنِ‏ در حاضران برای که است فرصتی انتخاباتی پیشرفتِ‏
دربارۀ را خود جمعیِ‏ پیشنهادهای و بپردازند مشورت به هم با دارند.‏
ارسال ملّی روحانی محفل به مبارک امرِ‏ است
ممکن نمیشود،‏ تشکیل شور انجمنِ‏ جلساتِ‏ که این با امسال یا
نوزدهروزه ضیافات در که مشاوراتی نتیجٔه در باشند،‏ مایل دوستان میدهند،‏
یا دادهاند صورت جلسات سایر یا تأمّل،‏ و بررسی جلساتِ‏ بهتر
موارد گونه این در دارند.‏ ارسال ملّی روحانی محفلِ‏ به پیشنهادهایی بهائی
جمعیتهای و محلّی محافل طریقِ‏ از دوستان پیشنهادهای است شود.‏
فرستاده ختارند
مُ‏ و جاز مُ‏ کامالً‏ افراد بهائی،‏ نظامات مطابقِ‏ که نمانَد گفته نا ملّی
و محلّی عرصٔه در بهائی سات مؤسّ‏ به مستقیماً‏ را خود پیشنهادهای جامعه،‏
حیاتِ‏ الگوهای پیشرفتِ‏ با این،‏ بر عالوه بفرستند.‏ بینالمللی و Created by Creative Mania
from the Noun Project
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 51

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رفتارِ‏ به باید بلکه بمانَد،‏ گفتار و حرف محدودۀ در نباید همه این بیانجامد.‏
هدفمند و الگوهای
و نمونه که میآید عمل به ی مهمّ‏ کوششهای حاضر،‏ حالِ‏ در شود.‏
ایجاد کشور سراسرِ‏ در گون گونا جوامعِ‏ و محلّهها در وحدت کردهاند.‏
پایداری و جسته مشارکت ت همّ‏ این در بهائیان که سالهاست ظهور
به کثرت در که است وحدتی بلکه نیست مردمان یکسانیِ‏ هدفْ‏ فردی
هر سرزمین این در که این به اذعان از است عبارت آن و میرسد،‏ مادّی
خواه واقعی،‏ رفاهِ‏ و رونق دارد؛ عهده بر جامعه بهبودِ‏ برای سهمی قرار
همگان دسترسِ‏ در معیار این با مطابقت تناسبِ‏ به روحانی،‏ خواه چه
که فهمید و بُرد پی جدیّت و نیّت خلوصِ‏ با باید گرفت.‏ خواهد آن
چراییِ‏ و میآورد بار به دیگرگونی و تغییر امری چه و میگیرد صورت رد همگان تشویق بهعنوانِ‏ را خود یافتههای و دانستهها باید چیست.‏ در گر
ا رسانیم.‏ کمک نیز دیگران فعّالیتهای به و دهیم انتشار کشور سراسرِ‏ حصول
برای عظیم تحوّلی میان در را خود که نمیگذرد دیری کنیم،‏ چنین یافت.‏
خواهیم نژادی عدالت به رفتار
و آدمی هدف خصوص در بصیرت دیرپای سرچشمٔه که دین همٔه
میکند.‏ ایفا فرایند این در راهگشا و اساسی سهمی است،‏ بوده او نوعی
به همگی و میانگارند روحانی موجودی را انسان دینی،‏ جوامعِ‏ بداریم.‏
دوست خود مانند را دیگران که دارند اعتقاد طالیی«‏ ‏»قاعدۀ از آثارِ‏
از یکی در بهائی،‏ آئین بنیانگذار بهاءاللّه،‏ حضرت مثال،‏ بهعنوانِ‏ گفته:‏
چنین خود شد
بلند یگانگی سراپردهٴ دوستان ‏»ای همه
مبینید را یکدیگر بیگانگان بچشم شاخسار.«‏
یک برگ و دارید یک بار نوشته:‏
چنین سخن،‏ این توضیح در عبدالبهاء،‏ حضرت او،‏ جانشین و کوشید
یکدیگر با اتّفاق و اتّحاد بر توانید ‏»تا و
شجر یک اوراق و بحرید یک قطرات کلّ‏ زیرا ریاض
یک ریاحین و گل و صدف یک لئالی بیکدیگر
ادیان سائر قلوب تألیف در آن از پس انسانی
افراد از فردی هر با و نمائید جانفشانی و
نخوانید بیگانه را نفسی کنید مهربانی نهایت که
نمائید رفتار چنان مشمرید بدخواه را شخصی ارجمند.«‏
و آشنا و پیوندند و خویش خلق جمیع فرزندانِ‏
و آسمانی پدرِ‏ فرزندانِ‏ همگی ما،‏ که این به راسخ اعتقادِ‏ و فهم قرار
ما دسترسِ‏ در بیشماری روحانیِ‏ امکاناتِ‏ و چاره خداییم یک افکنیم
نظری نیز خود فراسوی به که برمیانگیزد را ما که بهنحوی میدهد،‏ تأمین
اعتقادی چنین گردیم.‏ مواجه موانع با کاری،‏ فدا با و بیوقفه و هماهنگ
عدالتمدار،‏ جوامعی ایجادِ‏ هدفِ‏ و فرایند و وسیله که مینماید و
ایمان موجبِ‏ راسخ اعتقادِ‏ و فهم این همچنین باشد.‏ سازگار هم با و برای
تالش عینِ‏ در بتوانیم،‏ آن میانجیِ‏ به که میشود خالقیتی و توانایی سازیم.‏
دیگرگون و کنیم تقلیب نیز را خود دلهای جامعه،‏ دیگرگونسازیِ‏ نقاطِ‏
از بسیاری حاضر حال در که مصیبتهایی و رنجها معتقدیم عدمِ‏
نشانِ‏ و آدمیان وحدتِ‏ درکِ‏ عدمِ‏ عالئمِ‏ از گرفته،‏ بر در را جهان جهان
که بههمپیوستهای مشکالتِ‏ است.‏ انسان نوعِ‏ افرادِ‏ یگانگیِ‏ پذیرش ثروتِ‏
و فقر جنسی،‏ تبعیضاتِ‏ وّی،‏ جَ‏ تغییراتِ‏ جمله از میکند،‏ تهدید را همین
از ناشی همه دیگر،‏ مشکالتِ‏ و منابع غیرمنصفانٔه توزیعِ‏ فرَط،‏ مُ‏ آن
برای حلّی راهِ‏ هرگز البتّه و است،‏ آدمیان ذاتیِ‏ وحدتِ‏ به اذعان عدمِ‏ یکدیگر‏
به وابستگی و همبستگی به نسبت که این مگر یافت نخواهیم آنچه
است.‏ درآمده محلّهای صورت به و شده کوچک جهان یابیم.‏ گاهی آ امریکا
مردمِ‏ ما آنچه که است واقعیت این درکِ‏ دارد یت اهمّ‏ میان این در همٔه
بلکه نمیمانَد،‏ محدود سرزمین این حدودِ‏ به تأثیرش میدهیم صورت برمیگیرد.‏
در را جهان و
سامان،‏ این خوشالوانِ‏ تنوّعِ‏ که کرد فراموش نباید هرگز همچنین ما
سوی به را جهانیان نگاهِ‏ عدالت،‏ و آزادی مانند آن گرانقدرِ‏ آرمانهای هب نتوانستهایم آنچه و آوردهایم،‏ دست به مورد این در آنچه میکند.‏ جلب که
نیست گفته این در اغراقی هیچ مینهد.‏ اثر جهانیان بر بیاوریم،‏ دست است.‏
خورده پیوند نژادی مشکلِ‏ حلّ‏ ِ در ما موفّقیتِ‏ با جهانی صلحِ‏ بعدیِ‏
مرحلٔه آن،‏ تحقّقِ‏ است.‏ استوار آدمیان یگانگیِ‏ پایٔه بر ما آیندۀ رقابت
و ستیز پایٔه بر کنون ا که را جهانی جامعٔه است.‏ جهان این در زندگی تبدیل
میرانَد،‏ پیش به را آن لگامگسیخته مادّیاتِ‏ و است،‏ شده استوار همکاری
برای خود واالترِ‏ قوای و استعداد اساسِ‏ بر میکنیم جامعهای به خواهد
انسان نوعِ‏ بلوغِ‏ نمودارِ‏ موفّقیت این به دستیابی متقابل.‏ روابطِ‏ و تعهّدی
به بسته آن،‏ به دستیابی سهولتِ‏ و هدف این به رسیدن زمانِ‏ بود.‏ گیریم.‏
عهده بر متعالی اصلِ‏ این تحقّق برای که است و شده حاصل عمومی و عام گاهیِ‏ آ آن در که نهادهایم عرصهای به پا فرصت
که نگذاریم است.‏ گردیده مطرود و مردود بیعدالتی و نابرابری آماده
کاملتر«‏ ‏»اتّحادی ایجاد فرایندِ‏ برای را خود آیا برود.‏ دست از و
فرزانگی اختیارِ‏ برای خود«‏ بیدارِ‏ ‏»وجدانِ‏ ندای به آیا ساختهایم؟ امیدی
‏»نورِ‏ که کوشید خواهیم آیا داد؟ فراخواهیم گوش یگانگی و دلیری به
دست بیایید دهیم؟ امید نوید را بشری جهانِ‏ و باشیم جهانیان«‏ برای با
که نیست ی شکّ‏ شویم.‏ عدالت و برابری راه رهسپارِ‏ و دهیم هم دست رسید.‏
خواهیم عالی هدفِ‏ این به همکاری و اتّحاد آفتابِ‏
به ‏»قسم است:‏ گفته چنین آثارش از یکی در بهاءاللّه،‏ حضرت نور
آن تابشِ‏ امیدواریم سازد.«‏ منوّر و روشن را آفاق اتّفاق نورِ‏ حقیقت،‏ یابد.‏
افزونی روز هر گذشتِ‏ با متّحده
ایاالتِ‏ بهائیانِ‏ ملّیِ‏ روحانیِ‏ محفلِ‏ 52 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

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به میباید احتیاج لحظات در و دارد دسترسی آن به ثابتقدم اصالتش
میبخشد،‏ استقامت جامعه به که قوایی است این شود.‏ طلبیده بشریّت
به خدمت در الهیاش مأموریّت بر را هش توجّ‏ و میکند تضمین را میدارد.‏
نگه متمرکز آینده به نسبت عالمیان بینش ارتقای در و حرکت
حدّ‏ چه تا فعلی عالمگیر بیماری که نیست پیشبینی این امکان نیست
ی شکّ‏ امّا داد.‏ خواهد قرار تأثیر تحت اتّحاد مسیر در را عالم ملل در
یّتی اهمّ‏ حائز پیامدهای بهائی جامعٔه مجهودات برای آینده ماههای که آخرین
سالِ‏ آخرین این باشد.‏ نمیتواند این جز براستی داشت.‏ خواهد بر بنای
تکوین،‏ عصر از اوّل قرن ربع آخرین نقشههای مجموعه از نقشه بر
آینده جهانیِ‏ مشروعات مجموعٔه که رساند خواهد اتمام به را شالودهای که
شورانگیز داستانی نهایی صحنٔه است این گرفت.‏ خواهد قرار آن روی است.‏
نخورده رقم هنوز پایانش و اعتماد تمامی باشیم.‏ غافل شما فکر از که نمیگذرد لحظهای ما
گاهی آ از ناشی چالش،‏ این با رویارویی در شما قابلیّت به ما اطمینان ابهی
اقدس جمال نفس نهایتاً‏ شما معین و ظهیر که است حقیقت این از را
شما که میطلبیم او از علیا سٔه مقدّ‏ اعتاب در خود ادعیٔه در است.‏ نماید.‏
انسانی عالم به فضلش نزول برای خالصی مجاری اعظم[‏
العدل بیت ‏]امضا:‏ بینالمللی
دارالتّبلیغ رونوشت:‏ قارّهای
مشاورین هیئتهای ارجمند
مشاورین متّحده
ایاالت بهائیان بیانیۀ A MESSAGE FROM THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES
فلوید
جورج درگذشتِ‏ سببِ‏ به اندوه انبوهی با متّحده ایاالتِ‏ بهائیانِ‏ Ahmaud( آربری احمد و )Breonna Taylor( تیلر بریانا و )George Floyd(
را
جانشان و شده خشونتبار رفتارِ‏ قربانیِ‏ که دیگر بسیاری و )Arbery هب همدردی دستِ‏ و میپیوندند هموطنانشان سایرِ‏ به دادهاند،‏ دست از علّتِ‏
به تنها انسان،‏ افرادِ‏ به تجاوز جانگدازِ‏ مواردِ‏ این مییازند.‏ سویشان ‏—که
را فعلی همهگیرِ‏ بیماریِ‏ از حاصل نگرانیِ‏ و بیم آنان،‏ پوستِ‏ رنگِ‏ دیگران
از دشوارتر غیرسفیدپوست افرادِ‏ معیشتِ‏ و سالمت بر آن عواقبِ‏ تِ‏
درازمدّ‏ پیشینٔه سببِ‏ به داده،‏ روی آنچه است.‏ کرده بوده—تشدید آشکارا،‏
است.‏ بوده امریکا در زندگی جوانبِ‏ تمامیِ‏ در نژادی نابرابریِ‏ کنانِ‏
سا ما که است مشکلی چالشانگیزترین و مهمترین نژادی باتِ‏ تعصّ‏ شدهایم.‏
رو در رو آن با سامان این امید
از نشانههایی مصیبتبار،‏ گوارِ‏ نا پیشامدهای این بحبوحٔه در امّا این
و خاسته پا به شهروندان از بسیاری شمارِ‏ است.‏ شده پدیدار نیز صاً‏
مشخّ‏ شهروندان این واحدیم؛ ملّتی ما که کردهاند اعالم را حقیقت ‏—که
گسترده نابرابریِ‏ بیشمارِ‏ مواردِ‏ که نمودهاند مطالبه را اقداماتی قرار
ه توجّ‏ موردِ‏ و شود است—بررسی بوده ما جامعٔه گریبانگیرِ‏ دیریست مردمانی
چگونه میخواهیم که آوردهایم یاد به را خود آرمانِ‏ و آرزو گیرد.‏ دهیم.‏
صورت تغییراتی اوضاع بهسازیِ‏ برای که گشتهایم مصمم و باشیم،‏ استقرار
آن پایٔه بر امریکا که خود آرمان با که فرامیخواند را ما حال زمان وحدتی«‏
کثرت ‏»از یا یکی«‏ بسیاران ‏»از کنیم:‏ عهد تجدید است یافته .)E Pluribus Unum(
وحدتِ‏
اصلِ‏ به نخست باید داد،‏ و برابری پایٔه بر جامعهای ایجادِ‏ برای آدمی
ذهن و دل در تنها نباید اعتقاد این امّا داشت،‏ اذعان انسان نوعِ‏ آن
پیِ‏ در عملی که میکند ایجاب اخالقاً‏ اعتقادی چنین بلکه گیرد،‏ جای عدالت
چشمِ‏ با سازمانی و اجتماعی و فردی زندگیِ‏ جوانبِ‏ همٔه و باشد،‏ به
جامعه نظمِ‏ ترتیب که است این متضمنِ‏ اعتقادی چنین شود.‏ نگریسته امّا
گیرد.‏ صورت است آمده حاصل کنون تا آنچه از عمیقتر بس نحوی است،‏
پیشینه و نژاد هر از امریکاییان مشارکتِ‏ مقتضیِ‏ اعتقادی چنین و اخالقی جدیدِ‏ راههای و گرایشها همگانی فراگیرِ‏ مشارکتِ‏ با تنها زیرا میرسد.‏
ظهور به اجتماعی است
این واقعیت باشد،‏ چه فعلی تظاهراتِ‏ آنیِ‏ نتایجِ‏ که این از جدا کوششهای
و هماهنگ و پیگیر تالشِ‏ مستلزم نژادپرستی بردنِ‏ میان از که چالشِ‏
امّا دارد،‏ محملی نابرابری انواعِ‏ به اعتراض است.‏ مشترک و مداوم است.‏
آن از اساسیتر و مهمتر بسی عدالت برای جدیدی چارچوبِ‏ ایجادِ‏ هک میشود همراه توفیق با گاه آن تنها میدهیم صورت که کوششهایی با
اعتماد،‏ و احترام پایٔه بر بیشائبه،‏ و صمیمانه دوستی اساسِ‏ بر بیاموزیم فعّالیتِ‏
برای اساسی صورتِ‏ به خود امر این که کنیم،‏ ایجاد رابطه یکدیگر میآید.‏
در جوامع و نهادها یگانگیِ‏
اصلِ‏ کاربردِ‏ عملی،‏ تجربٔه و مشارکت طریقِ‏ از که هنگامی برای
فرایندی در که است این دارد تام یتِ‏ اهمّ‏ آنچه میآموزیم،‏ را مردمان امریکا،‏
جامعٔه در زندگی ابعادِ‏ همٔه در مطلوبی نمونههای ایجادِ‏ فراگیریِ‏ را
زیر مطالبِ‏ منظور بدین کنیم.‏ همکاری و دهیم هم دست به دست میداریم.‏
عرضه دربارۀ
صادقانه و صمیمی گفتگوی فرایند این اصلیِ‏ عناصر از یکی حس
درکِ‏ و فهم ص،‏ مشخّ‏ بهطورِ‏ و آنها،‏ عللِ‏ و فعلی شرایطِ‏ و اوضاع در
که است سیاهپوستان ضدِ‏ عمیقِ‏ سخت و دیرپا گرایشهای و حال و راستینِ‏
کردنِ‏ اذعان و شنیدن برای باید است.‏ دوانده ریشه ما جامعٔه قابلیتِ‏
بودهاند،‏ آن پیآیندهای و نژادپرستی قربانیانِ‏ که کسانی صدای و
رسانهها و مدارس در باید ظرفیت و قابلیت این کنیم.‏ ایجاد را الزم و
یابد؛ ظهور ما شخصیِ‏ روابطِ‏ و کار در نیز و اجتماعی،‏ عرصههای دیگر THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 53

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فارسی صفحه و
قارّهای مشاورین راستا،‏ این در افتد.‏ تعویق به نباید اوضاع این با امور مساعی
در بینالمللی دارالتّبلیغ مدبّرانٔه هدایت ظلّ‏ در معاونت هیئتهای به
نسبت آنان رویکرد به دادن جهت و احبّا ترغیب و تشویق برای خود در
شک بدون و دادهاند نشان خود از راسخ عزمی اجرا دست در کارهای داد.‏
خواهند ادامه بدینسان نیز آن از بعد و آینده دور چهار طیّ‏ گردد
متوقّف باید فعّالیّتها از بعضی که است گاه آ البتّه جمع این برای
باید نیست کنونی شرایط مناسب که ی خاصّ‏ روشهای و تدابیر و بین
از موقّتاً‏ امکانات از بعضی که حالی‏ در امّا شود.‏ گذاشته کنار تی مدّ‏ تقویت
برای جدیدی تمهیدات و آمده وجود به دیگری امکانات رفته انعطافپذیری
ارزش است.‏ گشته ظاهر موجود فعّالیّتهای الگوی در
مراقبت یّت اهمّ‏ امّا است رسیده اثبات به گرانبها سرمایهای چون است؛
شده روشن نیز جامعه فعّالیّتهای بودنِ‏ محلّی خصیصهء حفظ سراسر
در و روستاها و محلّهها در شکوفا جوامع پرورش برای مساعی کنونی
شرایط موارد بعضی در یابد.‏ ادامه باید جغرافیایی محدودههای دعا
جلسات در جامعه مشارکت گسترش برای منتظرهای غیر فرصتهای کرده
ایجاد ایمنی اصول رعایت با آن برگزاری و مطالعه حلقههای و از
محصورند،‏ خانه محیط در خانوادههایشان که والدین از بسیاری است.‏ جای
به فرزندانشان روحانی تربیت در تا نموده کمک آنان به که حمایتی نوجوانان
نمودهاند.‏ استقبال باشند،‏ داشته مشارکتکننده نقش بودن ناظر مشفقانه
خدمت از سادهای اعمال اثر و قدرت به جوانان از گروههایی و خواهد
درک قابل حال،‏ این با بردهاند.‏ پی میشود انجام حکمت با که مهاجرین،‏
حرکت مستلزم که نقشههایی که بگیرید تصمیم شما گر ا بود این
افتد.‏ تعویق به موارد بعضی در میباشد سیّار مبلّغین و راهنمایان شرایط
میتوانید آتی ماههای در گردد؛ شما نگرانی موجب نباید مسئله برای
فرصتی میتواند بعدی یکسالٔه نقشٔه نمایید.‏ ارزیابی داً‏ مجدّ‏ را حصول
قابل کنونی نقشٔه پایان تا احتماالً‏ که آورد فراهم اهدافی تحقّق بود.‏
نخواهد در
بحران،‏ این طول در عمل انجام ادامٔه که است واقف جمع این مشکالت
و داد خواهد قرار مالی فشار تحت را شما موارد بسیاری است
ممکن شدهاند مواجه آن با جامعه اعضای از بسیاری که اقتصادی که
باشید داشته اطمینان سازد.‏ محدود هستید متّکی آن به که را منابعی باشد
داشته وجود ابهامی و شک هیچ نباید هستیم.‏ شما به کمک آمادۀ فقدان
و است ضروری دوران این طیّ‏ در امری سات مؤسّ‏ عملکرد ادامٔه که جمع
تردید بدون گردد.‏ آنها اساسی وظایف انجام برای مانعی نباید منابع اطمینان
خصوص به و خاست برخواهند شما یاری به کشور هر در مؤمنین شد.‏
خواهند پیشقدم شما به کمک برای ن متمکّ‏ احبّای که داریم مشکالت
با مقابله طرق مختلف جوامع در گاهید،‏ آ که همانطور نتیجه
در و است متفاوت مالحظهای قابل نحو به بحران این از ناشی این
نیست.‏ یکسان نیز مواجهند آن با مختلف ملّی محافل که چالشهایی هشیاری
و عمل سرعت نکته این و کرد خواهد تغییر زمان مرور به چالشها ات میکوشند که میطلبد ملّی و منطقهای محلّی،‏ سات مؤسّ‏ از فوقالعادهای امکانات
و تحوّالت با مواجهه برای کرده قرائت را خود محیط واقعیّت با
شما همکاری که سازیم خاطرنشان شما به مایلیم باشند.‏ آماده جدید و
تعهّد با باید همکاری این بود:‏ خواهد یّت اهمّ‏ حائز بسیار مشاورین باشد
بینشها و العات اطّ‏ از مستمرّی تقریباً‏ تبادل شامل بوده،‏ همراه تداوم باشید،‏
پاسخگو خود جامعٔه نیازهای به سرعت با شما که شود سبب تا مغتنمشمرید،‏
میآید پیش که را فرصتهایی پیشبینیکنید،‏ را مشکالت ط
توسّ‏ باید که صی مشخّ‏ تدابیر حمایتنمایید.‏ نویدبخش ابتکارات از و داشت.‏
خواهد مربوطه شرایط به بستگی طبعاً‏ گردد اتّخاذ بهائی سات مؤسّ‏ داشت.‏
خواهند بموقع و روشن هدایات به احتیاج جا همه در احبّا امّا به
ابتال خطر در همه از بیشتر که گردد کسانی به معطوف باید خاصّ‏ ه توجّ‏ و
خلّاق رویکردهای و هستند آن از ناشی اقتصادی اثرات یا و ویروس مشقّت
و سختی دوران در را جامعه جمعی روحیّٔه که است الزم سازندهای گروههای
یا همسایگان،‏ خانوادهها،‏ از مختلفی شبکههای نماید.‏ حفظ باید
شما میدهند؛ ارائه افراد از بسیاری به ارزشمندی کمکهای دیگر و
استعدادها از تا بکوشید بوده مطمئن خود جوامع تدبیر و کاردانی از نقاط
بعضی در شرایط چقدر هر نمایید.‏ استفاده کامالً‏ آنان نیروهای عواقب
از کنون تا که کشورهایی در ملّی محافل است شده وخیم بسیار باشند
داشته نظر در باید بودهاند امان در عالمگیر بیماری این شدیدتر کنون
ا که تدارکاتی گونه هر و دارد وجود اوضاع شدن وخیمتر امکان که منظور
بیشتر محدودیّتهای اِعمالِ‏ از قبل و آن حدوث از پیش میتوان گردد.‏
آغاز — تأخیر بدون ولی هراس بدون — فوراً‏ میبایست نمود،‏ منابع
چه احتماالً‏ که نمایند ه توجّ‏ باید خصوص به محلّی روحانی محافل اجتماع
در الم و رنج از بتواند که دارد قرار اختیارشان در وسایلی و را
آن یا و نماید جلوگیری هستند آن از ی الینفکّ‏ جزء خود که وسیعتری دهد.‏
تخفیف و تسکین بهائیان
مسئولیّت میشود مشقّاتی و سختیها چنین گرفتار اجتماع وقتی تسا لحظهای این میگردد.‏ صتر مشخّ‏ بشری امور به سازنده‏ کمک برای میپیوندد،‏
هم به واحد نقطٔه یک در مرتبط ولی متمایز عملِ‏ خطوط که فرد،‏
میشود.‏ بلند پیش از بیش خدمت به دعوت ندای طنین که هنگامی پیشبرد
در جداییناپذیر شرکتکنندۀ سه یعنی امری،‏ سات مؤسّ‏ و جامعه،‏ نشان
را بهائی حیات ممتاز ویژگیهای که هستند موقعیّتی در ن،‏ تمدّ‏ روابطشان
در و مسئولیّتها انجام در بیشتر بلوغ در که ویژگیهایی دهند،‏ قدرت
بیشتر چه هر ساختن متجلّی به آنها است.‏ منعکس یکدیگر با و نهادها که باشد الزم شاید میشوند.‏ فراخوانده اللّه امر اجتماعسازی با
خود رویکردهای تطبیق به مشغولند اجتماعی اقدام به که پروژههایی و
مفهوم مطمئنّاً‏ منظور این به تالش بپردازند؛ کنونی گستردۀ نیازهای کمکهای
بعالوه بخشید.‏ خواهد آنها برنامههای به عمیقتر مقصدی ه
توجّ‏ است متداول اجتماع در که جدیدی گفتمانهای به بهائی جامعٔه به
باید که آمده وجود به وظیفهای نیز اینجا و نموده جلب خود به زیادی بر
اتّحاد،‏ از باالتری سطوح به نیل فوریّت که زمانی در داشت.‏ ه توجّ‏ آن روزافزونی
تعداد برای انسان،‏ نوع وحدت انکار قابل غیر حقیقت اساس واضحی
و رسا صداهای نیازمند اجتماع میگردد آشکار جهان مردم از به
است آرمانی چنین زیربنای که را روحانی اصول آن بتوانند که است نمایند.‏
بیان روشنی ادارۀ
از فراتر شما مسئولیّتهای و وظایف که واقفید همواره البتّه شما است:‏
متعالی اهداف تحقّق جهت در نیروهایش هدایت و جامعه امور مؤمن
هر که هستید روحانی قوای آن به نسبت گاهی آ افزایش طالب شما 54 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

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»... آنچه باید گفت گفتیم و حبّهای حکمت را در افئده و قلوب کِشتیم از حقّ‏ میطلبیم جمیع را از نیسان مرحمت خود برویانَد تا کلّ‏
مستفیض شوند و بثمرۀ هستی فائز گردند ای دوستان جهد نمائید تا از دریای بخشش الهی قسمت برید و از خرمنهای فضل نامتناهی
نصیب بردارید روزِ‏ کار است و وقتِ‏ کردار خود را محروم ننمائید هنگام آزادیست از سالسل نفس و هوىٰ خود را فارغ نمائید الحمد
للّه آفتاب حقیقت از مشرق عنایت مُ‏ شرق و الئحست طوبی لمن توجَّ‏ ه و فازَ‏ و ویلٌ‏ للغافلین.«‏
‏)»حدیقٔه عرفان«،‏ نشر مجلّٔه عندلیب،‏ کانادا،‏ 1994، صفحٔه 38(
ترجمهای ازپیام بیت ‏العدل اعظم خطاب به محافل روحانی ملّی
‏)هیئت بینالمللی ترجمه به زبان فارسی(‏
TRANSLATION OF THE LETTER OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
DATED 9 MAY 2020 TO ALL NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES
۹ مه ۲۰۲۰
همانطور که تا کنون به خوبی معلوم شده،‏ سال آخر نقشٔه پنجساله
چالشهایی کامالً‏ متفاوت با چهار سال قبل در بردارد.‏ جهان در چنگ
ویروس سریع االنتشاری گرفتار است که جان هزاران نفر را گرفته و بخش
بزرگی از فعّالیّتهای اجتماعی و اقتصادی جامعٔه بشری را به شدّ‏ ت
مختل نموده است.‏ با این حال جامعٔه بهائی آرامش خود را حفظ کرده و
برای رفع نیازهای فوری که با آن مواجه است سریعاً‏ اقدام کرده،‏ راههای
استمرار حیات جامعه را یافته و در عین حال میکوشد تا نقش خود را
در برآوردن احتیاجات مادّی و معنوی در اجتماع به طور وسیعتری ایفا
نماید که پاسخی است مناسب به وضعیّتی اضطراری.‏ همٔه اقداماتی که
تا کنون صورت گرفته مورد تمجید این جمع است.‏ امّا ا کنون میخواهیم
که مقتضیات سال آینده را به نحوی کاملتر بررسی نماییم.‏ مساعی شما
برای پیشبرد نقشه در ماههای آخر آن،‏ نا گزیر از طریق مسئولیّت مبرمی
که برای هدایت احبّا در نحوۀ برخوردشان با بحرانی جهانی و در حال
گسترش بر عهده دارید شکل خواهد گرفت.‏ این شرایط استثنایی ایجاب
میکند که مستقیماً‏ شما را مخاطب قرار دهیم.‏ میتوانید این پیام را کلّاً‏
یا جزءً‏ به نحوی که مقتضی میدانید با جامعٔه خود در میان بگذارید.‏
هنگامی که تمایل خود را مبنی بر تأسیس پنجهزار برنامٔه فشردۀ رشد
تا پایان نقشٔه کنونی ابراز داشتیم،‏ کامالً‏ از وسعت و سنگینی اقداماتی که
الزمٔه نیل به آن هدف بود آ گاه بودیم ولی شرایط جهان چنین ایجاب
مینمود.‏ در آن زمان دعوت نمودیم که تقویت برنامههای رشد در همه
جا تسریع گردد.‏ مشاهدۀ اینکه چگونه حامیان امر مبارک قیام به عمل
نموده مساعی بیسابقهای مبذول داشتند موجب خشنودی این جمع
گردید.‏ جامعٔه بهائی طیّ‏ چهار سال،‏ هم تعداد فعّالیّتهای اساسی نقشه
و هم تعداد شرکتکنندگان آن را در سراسر جهان به دو برابر افزایش داد.‏
تسهیل ورود صدها هزار نفر به آغوش فعّالیّتهای جامعه در ظرف مدّ‏ تی
چنین کوتاه،‏ افزایشی در قابلیّت است که در هیچ‏ یک از نقشههای قبلی
در مجموعٔه فعلی نظیر نداشته است.‏
بنا بر این،‏ توفیقات بسیاری حاصل شده و این نشانٔه واضحی است از
توانایی و اطمینان جامعٔه بهائی.‏ امّا همانطور که به خوبی میدانید بحران
کنونی،‏ شرایط پیگیری نقشه را تغییر داده است.‏ مشاهدۀ تعداد جوامعی
که برای تطبیق با این واقعیّت جدید گامهای مؤثّری برداشتهاند موجب
خرسندی این جمع شده است.‏ این جوامع دوران فعلی را وقفهای که باید
صبورانه تحمّ‏ ل شود ندانسته‏ بلکه دریافتهاند که اوضاع جهان نیاز به ارائٔه
خدمات سودمند به بشریّت را فوریّت بیشتری بخشیده است.‏ فعّالیّتها
طبعاً‏ باید متناسب با شرایط موجود باشد لذا شکّ‏ ی هم نباید داشت که
ا کنون وقت اهداف واال،‏ همّ‏ ت بلند و جهد بلیغ است.‏ بدیهی است که
منظور از فعّالیّتهای نقشه پرورش روحیّٔه جامعهای شکوفا است که از
طریق آن استقامت در مقابل چالشهای شدید نیز تقویت میگردد.‏ هدفِ‏
تالشهای آموزشی ازدیاد تعداد نفوسی است که بتوانند به رفاه مادّی و
معنوی جامعه کمک کنند.‏ جلسات دعا به رشد و شکوفایی روح خدمت
کمک میکند و آن را در فرهنگی منبعث از عبادت جمعی تثبیت مینماید.‏
به طور خالصه،‏ پیشبرد نقشه به معنی ایجاد قابلیّت برای حرکت در مسیر
خدمت در هر وقت و هر زمان است که مسلّماً‏ باید لحظاتی را که حامل
خطرات شدید در حیات بشری است نیز مانند این زمان شامل گردد.‏ بنا بر
این الزم است گامهایی که به‏ منظور یادگیری نحوهء به کار بستن چارچوب
عملِ‏ نقشه در موقعیّت کنونی جهان برداشته میشود،‏ با جدّ‏ یّت ادامه یابد.‏
این بحران عالمگیر بهداشتی به احتمال قوی برای ماهها یا حتّی سالها،‏
کم و بیش تأثیرات مستقیم بر فعّالیّتهای امری خواهد داشت و تطبیق
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 55

CLASSIFIED
Bahá’í World Center staffing needs
As the vital work of the Cause unfolds
in every part of the world, the effective
functioning of the Bahá’í World Center
takes on added significance. The World
Center of the Faith—described by Shoghi
Effendi as the “pivot of the agencies of the
New World Order”—is supported by a flow
of believers from a diversity of countries
and occupations who arise selflessly to
offer a period of service, of varying length,
in the Holy Land.
The staffing needs at the World Center
are continually changing in light of
the evolving demands and available
resources. At any given time, there are
roles to be filled which require particular
competencies or specialized training, and
others that simply require a readiness to
learn about one’s specific assignment.
Due to the nature of service at the World
Center, the essential requirements
include an ability to offer 12 months or
more and a basic proficiency in English.
Anyone interested in learning more about
the possibility of offering a period of
service at the World Center is encouraged
to contact the Office of Personnel (serve@
bwc.org). Offers of service can also be
submitted directly on the web
(https://bahai.bwc.org/service/).
PAID SERVICE POSITIONS OPEN
at the Bahá’í National Offices
The Office of Human Resources, as warranted,
posts open positions, most of which are full
time with competitive benefits and based
in the Evanston/Wilmette area and other
locations.
To apply for open positions, please email a
cover letter and resume to
jobs@usbnc.org
Office of Human Resources
Bahá’í National Center
1233 Central St.
Evanston, IL 60201
phone 847-733-3400 • fax 847-733-3430
Dear Friends,
The Bahá’í National Offices remain closed
temporarily to ensure the safety and
protection of our staff as we work through
this unprecedented situation.
The hiring processes are on hold. We will
send an email update once this process
resumes. To receive the email notification,
please ensure your email address is up to
date:
• Sign in to www.bahai.us/community/
myprofile with your Bahá’í ID number.
• Click or tap on Update Your Information.
• Update your email address and any
other pertinent information.
• Click Save.
When the hiring process resumes, we
will update the Service Opportunities
page at www.bahai.us/community/. To
check this page, log in with your Bahá’í ID
number and navigate to Resources > Service
Opportunities.
Be assured of our prayers and best wishes for
you and your family during the days ahead.
Warmest regards,
Office of Human Resources
International
Opportunities for service may be subject
to change or delay as responses to the
worldwide COVID-19 pandemic evolve
fro place to place. Please check with the
responsible institution for updates.
The School of the Nations, a Bahá’í-inspired
pre-K-through-12 school in Brasilia, Brazil,
seeks an executive director to start July 2021.
Details appear on www.iss.edu/services/
administrative-recruitment/job-postings
Townshend International School, a Bahá’íinspired
school in the Czech Republic,
seeks math and drama teachers, a media/
communications officer, dorm supervisors,
volunteers. Details: contact@townshend.cz
Ongoing needs at El Alba Bilingual
School in Honduras, a K-12 bilingual
school. For current opportunities contact
academiccoordinatorelalba@gmail.com
or cornell_honduras@yahoo.com
The National Spiritual Assembly of Portugal
seeks individual or a couple as caretakers at
the Bahá’í National Center in Lisbon. Should
speak/write Portuguese. For application
info, please sign in to www.bahai.us/
community/resources/international
City Montessori School (CMS) in Lucknow,
India, seeks youth ages 18–25 to support
integration of the junior youth spiritual
empowerment program into its moral
education curriculum for Grades 6–8. Details:
youthempowerment@cmseducation.org
The National Spiritual Assembly of Spain
seeks a Spanish-speaking Bahá’í to serve
as the custodian/caretaker of the Bahá’í
National Center in Madrid. For application
info, please sign in to www.bahai.us/
community/resources/international
Perennial service opportunities at Bahá’í
Houses of Worship in:
Chile: secretaria@bahai.cl
Australia: secretariat@bnc.bahai.org.au
India: bhowindiavolunteersdesk@ibnc.in
Samoa: secretariat@bahaisamoa.ws
Updates on service opportunities: sign in
with your Bahá’í ID number to www.bahai.
us/community/ and navigate to Resources >
Service Opportunities > International.
Archives
The National Bahá’í Archives is seeking, at
the request of the Universal House of Justice,
original letters written on behalf of the
Guardian to the following: H. Lawrence
White, Jerome White, Joseph White, Renee
White, Zohreh White and Catherine M.
Whitmore. 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 (archives@usbnc.org or 847-
869-9039).
The National Bahá’í Archives is seeking
photographs of Local Spiritual Assemblies,
local communities and local activities,
especially early pictures. Please identify the
photographs if possible with name of locality
and date. Anyone having photographs they
could donate is asked to send them to the
National Bahá’í Archives, 1233 Central St.,
Evanston, IL 60201-1611.
56 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

Dale Allen was
at center of
development work
in Eswatini
Dale R. Allen dedicated
60 years to furthering
the development of the
Bahá’í and larger communities in Eswatini
(formerly Swaziland) and other African
nations. He served for decades on the Swazi
National Spiritual Assembly, operated
businesses that employed hundreds, and
helped steer educational and development
initiatives. Dale passed away at age 85 in
Mbabane, Eswatini, on May 18, 2020.
In a letter of condolence to his wife
of more than six decades, Irma Acosta
Allen, the National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahá’ís of the United States wrote:
“Following in the footsteps of his parents,
John and Valera Allen, who earned
immortal distinction as Knights of
Bahá’u’lláh, you and he settled in Swaziland
in 1960. … Dale spent the rest of his days
rendering distinguished and untiring
service together with you in his adopted
homeland.”
Born and raised in the San Francisco
area, Dale served on national Bahá’í
committees as a youth. Starting in 1960 he
and Irma made their home in Swaziland/
Eswatini, except for a few years in
Zimbabwe and Kenya. With his sons he
founded a steel manufacturer that became
one of the country’s largest businesses.
His farms locally supplied many fruit and
vegetable crops.
Dale carried out many development tasks
for a Bahá’í-operated primary/secondary
school. “He loved to take his truck all over
Swaziland to teach the Faith in remote
villages. Many of the children in the villages
attended classes and advanced through the
sequence of [institute] courses,” notes his
TRIBUTES IN BRIEF
brother J. Kenton Allen. “His love for the
Swazis and all mankind was the passion of
his life.”
Dale Allen’s survivors include his wife,
Irma; three sons, Roger, Wayne and Keith;
and two brothers, Kenton and Dwight.
Marjorie Kellberg, Knight of
Bahá’u’lláh in Netherlands Antilles
Marjorie Kellberg, descendant of an early
U.S. Bahá’í family, made an indelible mark
by settling in Curaçao in 1954 and helping
establish the Bahá’í community in the
Netherlands Antilles (Dutch West Indies).
Marjorie passed away at 92 in Neenah,
Wisconsin, on January 30, 2020.
A letter from the U.S. National Spiritual
Assembly praises “Marjorie’s life of devotion
to Bahá’u’lláh” and notes her “attainment of
that rare title, Knight of Bahá’u’lláh.”
Born and brought up in Chicago, she
was the daughter of Clarence and Margarite
Ullrich, distinguished in their own right
as international Bahá’í pioneers; and a
granddaughter of Charles and Maria Ioas,
stalwarts of the Faith from 1898.
One of a handful who established the
Bahá’í community in the Caribbean island
of Curaçao, for 10 years she taught the Faith
among European and island populations.
After her return to the United States,
Marjorie began a long career as an educator,
spending many years in Michigan and
Florida before moving to Wisconsin in later
years. Her survivors include three children,
Paul Kellberg, Roy Kellberg and Karen
Clark; and four grandchildren.
Shokat ‘Alá’í-Nahví, Knight of
Bahá’u’lláh in Puducherry, India
Shokat ‘Alá’í-Nahvi and her husband, Sa’id,
moved from Iran in 1953 to establish the
Bahá’í Faith in Puducherry (Pondicherry),
India. Shokat, sister of the late Hand of the
IN MEMORIAM
Cause Shu’á’u’lláh ‘Alá’í, passed away April
20, 2020, in Huntington Beach, California.
Her husband preceded her to the next
realm.
An April 22 message on behalf of the
Universal House of Justice states that this
act of pioneering “won them both the
immortal distinction of being designated
by the beloved Guardian as Knights of
Bahá’u’lláh. Her many years of service to the
Faith are recalled with admiration.” Their
efforts contributed to the later establishment
of a Spiritual Assembly in that city. Also
during the Ten Year Crusade, the couple
moved to the pioneering goal city of Kandy,
Sri Lanka, before returning to Iran, then
relocating to California.
Arline J. Bogie, 93, Salisbury, Maryland;
April 17, 2020. A Bahá’í pioneer to Greece
for 14 years, she served on that country’s
National Spiritual Assembly for several
years from its founding in 1977.
Pellom McDaniels III, 52,
Decatur, Georgia; April 19,
2020. By turns a football
professional, scholar, and
author of works on sports,
history and Black culture,
he curated the African
American Collections
in the Stuart A. Rose Library at Emory
University; he also mentored many children
through the Arts for Smarts after-school
program.
ON THE WEB
Online posting of full-length obituaries
for Bahá’ís who have been outstanding in
service is currently under reorganization.
Parvis Abrarpour
Plano, TX
March 14, 2020
John G. Allen
Bloomfield, NY
April 20, 2020
Andalib Babaeian
Plano, TX
June 5, 2020
Kali Bradford
Clallam County, WA
April 22, 2020
Stella M. Brocius
Gloria Glens Park, OH
May 8, 2020
Roohollah Agahzadeh
Fontana, CA
December 22, 2019
Phyllis Anderson
Florence, SC
September 14, 2018
Barney Baiz-Ruiz
Phoenix, AZ
April 28, 2018
Dorothea A. Bradley
Pasadena, CA
4/21/2020
Margaret E. Burke
Wake County, NC
February 17, 2020
Rouhieh Ahmadi
Houston, TX
March 31, 2018
Negar Ashchi
Jacksonville, FL
June 4, 2020
Sharon A. Beck
Tucson, AZ
May 20, 2020
Robert L. Bratcher
Coeur d’Alene, ID
April 10, 2020
Samuel Carraway Jr.
Florence, SC
March 8, 2020
Roshan Akhtarkhavari
Newport Beach, CA
May 27, 2020
Towfigh Ashchi
Jacksonville, FL
June 4, 2020
Jamal Behroozi
Anaheim, CA
September 15, 2019
Alex A. Briber
Hollister, CA
March 3, 2020
Zinat H. Chehrenegar
Santa Monica, CA
May 28, 2020
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 57

IN MEMORIAM
Elizabeth E. Church
Cross Plains, WI
May 12, 2020
Jeanette Corea
Pittsford Town, NY
May 22, 2020
Robert O. Cronin
Temple, TX
April 2, 2020
Saadatollah Darab
Najafabadi
Bothell, WA
April 13, 2020
Jerome A. Darnall
Kitsap County, WA
January 14, 2020
Larry Deason
Alexandria, MN
December 17, 2018
Amanda Deem
Sanford, FL
December 17, 2019
Matthew H. Dreyer
Norwalk, CA
November 24, 2019
Ruth N. Dunbar
Spring Valley, CA
March 8, 2020
Kirk Durand
Yamhill County, OR
October 26, 2019
Brent S. DuVall
Seattle, WA
January 19, 2019
Rezvan M.S. Edalati
Leawood, KS
January 7, 2020
Setareh Eghterafi
Everett, WA
April 7, 2020
Anastasia Enake
Joliet, IL
May 1, 2020
Aziz Eshraghi
Scottsdale, AZ
March 30, 2020
Barbara J. Eshraghi
Kansas City, MO
April 23, 2020
Azizollah Eshraghian
Santa Monica, CA
June 1, 2020
Joel W. Estes
Laguna Hills, CA
May 27, 2020
Isileli Fifita
Antioch, CA
March 11, 2020
Ria V. Foster
Anacortes, WA
March 14, 2019
Ronald L. Fredock
De Soto, MO
October 7, 2019
Kenneth Gelband
Woodbridge, CT
April 30, 2020
Diana I. Gifford
Chesapeake, VA
April 16, 2020
Dorothy L. Goodwin
Wells, ME
May 20, 2020
Teena B. Gordon
Lincoln, NE
November 1, 2017
James E. Hagerty
San Bernardino County,
CA
February 28, 2020
Thomas J. Hamik
Mesa, AZ
May 4, 2020
Farokh L. Hashemi-
Yazdani
Washington County, OR
April 26, 2019
Robert Haynie
Gainesville, FL
August 25, 2019
Jan Hendricks
New Braunfels, TX
January 8, 2020
Dionicio Hernandez
El Paso, TX
November 29, 2019
Masoud Hosseini
Sachse, TX
May 27, 2020
Joanne M. Hunter
Bremerton, WA
April 6, 2020
Wayne R. Johnson
Prince George’s County,
MD
May 26, 2020
Adelbert Jones
New Orleans, LA
January 6, 2019
Ursula Jones
New Orleans, LA
October 1, 2019
Ivory Joseph
Florence, SC
July 31, 2019
Parviz Kambin
Easttown Twp., PA
March 29, 2020
Betty Kaskus
Callaway County, MO
March 24, 2020
Akintunde J. Kenyatta
Virginia Beach, VA
February 17, 2018
Rezvaneh Khadem
Missagh
Charleston, WV
January 13, 2019
Peyvand Khademi
Santa Monica, CA
March 30, 2020
Nasser Khadivar
Dallas, TX
February 12, 2018
Gholam Khosravan
Arlington, TX
April 20, 2020
Sue S. Killham
Wichita, KS
January 18, 2020
Ellsworth Knowles Jr.
Plantation, FL
March 31, 2020
John L. Larsen
Hillsborough County, FL
November 15, 2019
Shahid Latif
Greenburgh Town, NY
October 9, 2019
Pat J. Longo
Lodi, NJ
March 26, 2020
Janet E. Lott
League City, TX
April 21, 2020
Joseph A. Magaditsch
Banning, CA
March 1, 2020
Kirk V. Maurer
Cheyenne, WY
December 31, 2019
Lillian B. McKinney
Philadelphia, PA
July 23, 2019
Kenneth R. McLeroy
College Station, TX
May 27, 2020
Lynda L. Metzler
Pacific Grove, CA
April 15, 2020
Mehri Molin
Charlotte, NC
April 23, 2020
Mehrbanoo Monsef
Santa Clarita, CA
April 8, 2020
Shapur Naimi
Hingham, MA
April 16, 2020
Mahin Najafi Hashemi
Tredyffrin Twp., PA
April 8, 2020
Parvin Najmi
Scottsdale, AZ
April 4, 2020
Ferdossieh Nickbin
San Marcos, CA
May 29, 2020
Kristella H. Parks
Las Cruces, NM
May 16, 2020
Eronif I. Peterson
Arlington, TX
May 31, 2020
Dariush Pezeshki
West Bloomfield Twp., MI
April 16, 2020
Tarazullah Rafiee
Parkland, FL
November 10, 2019
Vadieh Rahmani
Douglas County, CO
April 2, 2020
Shiren Rohani
Las Vegas, NV
March 30, 2020
Thomas Rosario
Orlando, FL
May 8, 2020
Wayne A. Rosenberry
Anaheim, CA
July 15, 2018
Rezvanieh Rouholfedah
Seminole County, FL
February 21, 2019
Gregory Rowley
West Point, VA
April 21, 2020
Manouchehr Rowshan
Loudoun County, VA
April 20, 2020
Ellen C. Rozario
Enterprise, NV
June 4, 2020
Ramona A. Rudulph
San Rafael, CA
April 22, 2020
Douglas E. Rutherford
Baltimore County, MD
May 19, 2020
Roshan S. Sabour
Dallas, TX
April 19, 2020
Houshang Safaipour
Montgomery County, MD
September 5, 2019
Aziz Sahand
Laguna Niguel, CA
May 23, 2020
Claire Segue
Penfield, NY
May 28, 2020
Lula D. Shannon
Gwinnett County, GA
May 6, 2018
Desmond E. Smith
Greenville, SC
May 15, 2019
Jahanbakhsh Sobhani
Gaithersburg, MD
May 27, 2020
Shahla Sobhani
Brentwood, CA
June 3, 2020
Soraya Solhjou Fahimian
Anaheim, CA
April 26, 2020
Michele C. Spain
Grand Rapids, MI
April 21, 2020
William T. Spell
Lakewood, WA
March 31, 2020
Heidi A. Turcotte
Corvallis, OR
May 15, 2020
Janice E. Wildman
Orbisonia, PA
May 28, 2020
Laura V. Williams
Phoenix, AZ
April 27, 2018
Charles A. Wilson
Washington, IL
April 25, 2020
Stanford Yazzie
Phoenix, AZ
April 23, 2020
To ensure that a departed
Bahá’í is listed in the In
Memoriam box:
A Spiritual Assembly,
registered group or family
member may inform
the Membership Office
(Membership@usbnc.org
or 847-869-9039), 1233
Central St., Evanston, IL
60201. Please include all of
the following information
on the deceased, if
available: Full name, Bahá’í
ID number, date of passing
and last known address.
58 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

Calendar
EFFECT OF THE PANDEMIC
While organizers anticipate holding the gatherings listed on this page as scheduled, safety measures surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic may continue
to cause cancellations, postponements, or other changes. Please check for updates online or through a listed contact person.
BOSCH BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL
500 Comstock Lane • Santa Cruz, CA 95060
phone 831-423-3387 • fax 866-935-4994
bosch@usbnc.org • www.bosch.org
GREEN ACRE BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL
61 Green Acre Dr. • Eliot, ME 03903
phone 207-439-7200 • fax 888-519-4384
greenacre@usbnc.org • greenacre.news
LOUHELEN BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL
3208 S. State Rd. • Davison, MI 48423
phone 810-653-5033 • fax 810-653-7181
louhelen@usbnc.org • www.louhelen.org
AUGUST (dates TBA): Friends and Family on
Zoom: “Walking Together on a Path Towards
Race Unity and Oneness.” Check Louhelen
website for schedule.
Study groups: Louhelen has organized a pool
of trained facilitators for study groups wishing
to take “Walking Together on a Path Towards
Race Unity and Oneness,” Part 1 or Part 2. To
schedule a facilitator, please contact Cam
Herth, administrator (810-653-5033, x7242).
All permanent centers of learning are
planning online programs; please check the
website for each location.
SEASONAL SCHOOLS
For more up-to-date information, go to
the website listed for the particular school
Most summer/seasonal schools have had to
cancel their in-person events. The schools
committees, in collaboration with the national
Office of Education and Schools, the Regional
Councils, and the task force that developed the
program ”Walking Together on a Path Towards
Race Unity and Oneness (part 2),” are working
on ways to provide at least some elements of
summer school experience, primarily online.
For latest information: Please contact the
school committee, check its website or Facebook
page, or contact the appropriate Regional
Council (contact information on page 2).
AUGUST 12–16: Western Washington Bahá’í
School: to be held online
westernwabahaischool.org
Registrar: washingtonwest-reg@nbs.usbnc.org
Aug. 4–6: Carmel Bahá’í School (Oregon), for
ages 12–18: to be held online
www.oregonbahaischools.us/carmel/
Registrar: carmel-reg@nbs.usbnc.org
Aug. 15–16: Badasht Bahá’í School (Oregon):
to be held online
www.oregonbahaischools.us/badasht
facebook.com/BadashtBahaiSchool
Registrar: badasht-reg@nbs.usbnc.org
Aug. 28–30: Green Lake Bahá’í School (Wisconsin);
in-person session canceled. Online session
being planned; greenlakebahaischool.org
Secretary: 5foot9@gmail.com
SEPTEMBER 4–7: Colorado East Bahá’í
School, La Foret Conference Center, Colorado
Springs, CO; www.coloradobahaischool.org
Registrar: coloradoeast-reg@nbs.usbnc.org
Sept. 4–7: Tennessee Bahá’í School; in-person
session canceled. Online session being
planned; www.tennesseebahaischool.org
Registrar: tennessee-reg@nbs.usbnc.org
DATES TBA:
Rio Grande Bahá’í School (New Mexico); to be
held online; facebook.com/riograndebahai/
Registrar: riograndebahai@gmail.com
Kentucky and West Virginia Bahá’í School; format
TBA; facebook.com/kywvbahaischool/
Registrar: kentucky-reg@nbs.usbnc.org
Southern Flame Bahá’í School (Florida)
www.southernflamebahaischool.org
Secretary: southernflame@nbs.usbnc.org
Oklahoma Bahá’í School;
oklahomabahaischool.com
Secretary: oklahoma@nbs.usbnc.org
William Sears Bahá’í School (Minnesota)
www.bahaisummerschoolmn.com
Secretary: wmsears@nbs.usbnc.org
Texas Bahá’í School;
www.texasbahaischool.org
Registrar: texas-reg@nbs.usbnc.org
Mississippi Bahá’í School
msbahaischool.org
Registrar: mississippi-reg@nbs.usbnc.org
ELSEWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES
Check with individual event organizers
for the most up-to-date details
Annual Bahá’í Choral Festival is canceled;
www.bahaichoir.org
Through AUGUST 8: Online Conference
of the Association for Bahá’í Studies–North
America. Videoconference sessions daily;
theme: “Beyond Critique to Constructive
Engagement.” Registration is to stay open
each day: register.bahai-studies.ca
SEPTEMBER 4–7: Annual Conference of the
Association of the Friends of Persian Culture
will be livestreamed. Daily programs can be
viewed free of charge via Facebook, YouTube,
and Instagram. See www.fopca.com or the
Association’s Facebook page.
WILMETTE INSTITUTE
Online learning
1233 Central St. • Evanston, IL 60201
Phone/fax: 877-WILMETTE (toll-free)
wi@usbnc.org • wilmetteinstitute.org
NEW: Free webinars, web talks, community
videos: wilmetteinstitute.org/wi-live-free/
Community learning: wilmetteinstitute.org/
community-learning-courses/
Check the website for each course’s tuition,
group or other discounts, and college credit
prospects. A few courses are available on
demand; others have specific schedules.
AUGUST 20–Oct. 14: “Science, Religion, and
the Bahá’í Faith”
Aug. 20–Oct. 18: “Bringing Consultation to the
Workplace”
Continued on next page
THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 • 59

Wilmette Institute Continued
Aug. 31–Oct. 11: “Embracing
Spiritual Motherhood”
SEPTEMBER 14–Oct. 25:
“Consulting in Marriage and
Family”
Sept. 17–Nov. 11: “The
Leaves of the Twin Divine
Trees”
Sept. 17–Dec. 7: “Introduction
to Shi’i Islam”
Sept. 24–Nov. 4: “Writing
About the Writings: The Art
and Craft of the Personal
Reflection Piece”
Sept. 28–Nov. 15: “Foundations
for Relationships—Ages
18–30”
OCTOBER 8–Nov. 25:
“Exploring the Hebrew Bible/
Old Testament”
Oct. 8–Dec. 9: “Social
Change: Bahá’í Approaches”
Oct. 15–Dec. 2: “Building a
New System of Global Governance”
Oct. 15–Dec. 2: “Bahá’u’lláh’s
Summons to Two Ottoman
Prime Ministers: A Study of
Súriy-i-Ra’ís, Lawḥ-i-Ra’ís, and
Lawḥ-i-Fu’ád”
Oct. 19–Nov. 22: “Navigating
Media and Screen Time”
Oct. 22–Dec. 9: “Exploring
Bahá’u’lláh’s Last Major Work:
Epistle to the Son of the Wolf”
Oct. 29–Dec. 23: “Economic
Justice in a World of Injustices”
NOVEMBER 12–Jan. 6:
“The Seven Valleys and the
Arts of Transformation”
Nov. 12–Jan. 31: “Writing
Biographies and Histories:
Recording Stories of People
and Places”
Nov. 19–Feb. 6: “The Secret of
Divine Civilization and Ottoman
Reform”
Nov. 23–Jan. 3: “Empower
Your Marriage & Family to
Thrive”
IN THE LIFE OF SOCIETY
Pandemic highlights
need to address
moral dimensions
of climate change,
scholars warn
Bahá’í World News Service
Posted May 26, 2020, on news.bahai.org
College Park, Maryland: The current global
health crisis and its consequences have prompted
renewed warnings about environmental challenges
ahead. A recent online conference held by the
Bahá’í Chair for World Peace at the University of
Maryland provided participants with a forum to
examine these challenges at a time of heightened
consciousness about humanity’s oneness and its
relationship with nature.
“The current global health crisis … shows
how individuals, communities, institutions, and
governments must come together to address
a common concern,” said Hoda Mahmoudi,
holder of the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace, in
her opening remarks at the conference. “[This]
crisis calls for non-partisan, united action based
on scientific evidence and ethical considerations.
It demands moral courage. The same is true for
climate change.”
Richard Houghton, Senior Scientist at the
Woods Hole Research Center in Massachusetts,
spoke about the decrease in global emissions,
acknowledging the tragic nature of the
circumstances.
“People are becoming, by necessity, more ingenious
and more conservative of their resources.
This should provide lessons about what works. …
I’m hoping we can use this educational period as a
time to take climate change more seriously. What
we’re doing in response to the virus may carry over
to what needs to be done for the climate.”
Planned as a virtual meeting months ago in
order to avoid emissions produced by air travel,
the conference was able to proceed in spite of the
health crisis and brought together researchers
from Australia, Cambodia, Hawaii, and the United
States. Contributors provided perspectives from a
range of academic disciplines.
Kyle Whyte, Professor of Philosophy and
Timnick Chair at Michigan State University, emphasized
that policies around the introduction of
new energy technologies must carefully consider
questions concerning justice and equity, especially
those relating to indigenous people and vulnerable
60 • THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020
groups. He cautioned that “an energy transition
which so many people believe is just an inherently
good thing” could be looked at 50 years from
now as having led to the displacement of entire
populations.
He and Melissa Nursey-Bray, Interim Head
of Social Sciences at the University of Adelaide,
Australia, both expressed that local communities
must be involved in decision-making processes
that affect them. Dr. Nursey-Bray said that in
“moving towards the future and a global solution,
we actually need to look at local place-based
responses.”
Speakers at the conference, including Maxine Burkett,
Professor of Law at the University of Hawaii, explored the
need to build partnerships, trust, and shared purpose
in facing environmental challenges across the world,
while ensuring that the focus remains on the most
vulnerable. Bahá’í World News Service photo
Dr. Mahmoudi, reflecting on the conference,
describes how assumptions about the economy,
consumerism, health, and wellbeing—all of which
have enormous social and environmental implications—are
now being challenged:
“The foundation of the environmental, economic,
and social crises that all peoples face today is
really a spiritual crisis. These significant problems
cannot be solved without some agreement among
the peoples of the world about who we are as
human beings: What is our moral responsibility
to one another and as trustees of the planet? What
principles can we unite around? So when we speak
of the oneness of humankind, it is not just about
fellowship and kindness, but a call to construct
a different world with a totally new approach to
resolving problems that, as this virus has shown,
are intricately interconnected. After this crisis,
we may have an opportunity to take steps in this
direction.” •
ON THE WEB
All presentations made at the conference may
be viewed at the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace
YouTube channel.

CHANGE OF
ADDRESS FORM
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RHYTHM OF BAHÁ’Í LIFE
177 B.E.
Holy Day and Feast observance dates change from year to year, in accordance with the Universal House of Justice’s letter of July 10, 2014
Festival of the Twin Birthdays: 4–5 ‘Ilm
Holy Day:
Anniversary of the Birth of the Báb
4 ‘Ilm (sunset October 17 through sunset
October 18). Work is to be suspended.
In The Dawn-Breakers, Nabíl-i-A‘ẓám
related about the birth of the Báb:
“The Báb, whose name was ‘Alí-Muḥammad,
was born in Shíráz [in Persia, in 1819]. He was the
descendant of a house renowned for its nobility,
which traced its origin to Muḥammad Himself. …
The date of His birth confirmed the truth of the
prophecy traditionally attributed to the Imam
‘Alí: ‘I am two years younger than my Lord.’”
(Note: The Báb was born two years after Bahá’u’lláh.)
Holy Day:
Anniversary of the Birth of
Bahá’u’lláh
5 ‘Ilm (sunset October 18 through sunset
October 19). Work is to be suspended.
“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. …” —Shoghi Effendi
Upcoming Holy Days:
Day of the Covenant, 4 Qawl (November 25)
Anniversary of the Ascension of
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 6 Qawl (November 27)
First days of Bahá’í months
August/September/October 2020
The day in the Bahá’í calendar begins at
sunset of the earlier-listed date in each
case.
Kamál (Perfection), July 30/31
Asmá’ (Names), Aug. 18/19
‘Izzat (Might), Sept. 6/7
Mashíyyat (Will), Sept. 25/26
‘Ilm (Knowledge), Oct. 14/15
Qudrat (Power), Nov. 2/3

Change of address?
Find instructions on the inside back
cover to make sure you keep receiving
The American Bahá’í
تغییر نشانی پُستی
لطفاً‏ برای هر گونه تغییر نشانی پستی،‏ یا برای
دریافت کردن مکاتبات به تعداد معیّن،‏ با دفتر
احصائیّه Office) (Membership در دفتر محفل
روحانی ملّی به نشانی زیر تماس بگیرید:‏
Bahá’í National Center • 1233 Central
Street • Evanston, IL 60201
(email Membership@usbnc.org)
از این پس نیازی به تماس مستقیم با سردبیر مجلّه
نیست.‏ برای تغییر نشانی،‏ فُرم مخصوص که در
صفحٔه ما قبل آخر مجلّه در اختیار شما گذاشته شده
را تکمیل فرمایید و به نشانی باال ارسال کنید.‏
New!
A World Without War
‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Discourse for Global
Peace
By Hoda Mahmoudi and Janet A. Khan
June 2020 marks 100 years since two historic
Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá were delivered to the
Central Organization for a Durable Peace
at The Hague. In this volume, the historical
circumstances that shaped 19th-century peace
movements and the catastrophic impact of
the First World War are examined. This book
illustrates ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s engagement with
intellectuals and leaders of thought on the
subject of the implementation of peace. His
example has continuing relevance for the state
of the world and the discourse on peace in the
21st century.
Softcover $22.00 (WWWT)
1.800.999.9019 | www.BahaiBookstore.com facebook.com/BahaiBookstore @ BahaiBookstore BahaiBookstore