NATIONAL CONVENTION

Attracting the Kingdom’s blessings at 79th National Convention by Sebastian Lopez-Claros

The skies were serene, the air was clean and the gentle sun that warmed us was like a metaphor for what the convention, what any Bahá’í conference, truly is, a time when we attract the Kingdom’s blessings by doing our purpose here on earth. The 79th National Convention took place in the Welsh seaside town of Llandudno. 

A calm and pregnant excitement seemed to permeate the air as the spectators took their places in rows at the back of the very spacious hall; the delegates sat in a square formation that, as one delegate stated, “left enough space for a cabaret.”  In an improvement in efficiency over previous conventions, the delegates had access to individual microphones. A laptop computer controlled by one of the Convention’s officers allowed the display of the delegate’s name upon a widely visible screen when permission had been received to speak. With the delegates still becoming acquainted with the new format the proceedings got underway and what ensued over the following sessions was a steady stream of inspired exhortations and lucid statements concerning the state of affairs in our community, calling to mind our need to act urgently in certain directions for our beloved Faith. The Convention’s deliberations were inspired in no small measure by the Ridván message, which was read and expounded upon by Counsellor O’Mara.

Developing our communities

Several of the resolutions adopted by delegates revolved around the need to make the Faith friendlier and more nourishing to all in the community. What was called for was a fine-tuning of the way community life was run with attention to certain perhaps neglected areas. For instance, the need to make Feasts more child and people friendly, transforming them into the more joyous occasion they are intended to be. Also, it was said we should be ever mindful of fellow Bahá’ís for whom English was a second language.

 

The Bahá’í Subscription Service stand.

The concern was raised that the community needed to appeal to a wider strata of society; it was thought that through our activities we were directing ourselves too narrowly to the middle class and to professionals and the media. In this spirit, the possibility was raised of getting non-Bahá’ís involved in the setting up of tranquillity zones and other such functions, in a cooperative spirit that tried to build bridges with the local community at large. Perhaps, it was stated, the focus should be expanded to include other socio-economic groups, including youth clubs and schools. One of the delegates called upon us to change our attitude and teach the Faith to a wider strata of society, quoting biblical and Qur’ánic prophecies about the meek inheriting the earth. In an example of how a little bit of the right kind of effort could attract a large number of people, reference was made to a recent experience in Harringey where several dozen contacts came to a Naw Rúz celebration. Other delegates emphasized the importance of responding to the emotional and spiritual needs of the given geographic areas, substantiating such statements with examples of entry by troops in Bolivia and Uganda in decades past.

 

Outside the North Wales Conference Centre.

It was suggested that in our presentations of the Faith we combine fundamental ideas and principles with issues specific to the background of the people concerned. This would involve modifying the language Bahá’ís used and tailoring the pamphlets and literature to the concerns and questions of the locality, presenting the Faith in a culturally suitable manner. One delegate humorously emphasized how the Faith, which comes from a background of “tea-drinking philosophically minded Islamic men,” needs to adapt to its newfound environments. A resolution was passed to investigate the possibility of making a video about the Bahá’í Faith in simple, universal terms.

The under-utilisation of people’s capacities in the community and the need to explore ways to tap them was emphasized more than once. Local Spiritual Assemblies could consult with friends and find out what skills they have or in what ways they would be willing to participate. Involving friends in the plans that are before us was referred to as a “seed planting process”, part of a wider system of human resource training getting underway. The dire need for this further development spurred on by the institutions was captured in one delegate’s complaint that “we are seeing the same faces providing the same services to the Cause.” And the need to strengthen the ties between the institutions and the community was again underscored when in the same breath it was said that: “we don’t often see the National Spiritual Assembly more than once a year.” A plea was then made to disseminate more information at the grassroots level.

Children and youth

The substantial passages in the Ridván message calling upon us to turn our attention to the plight of children left to drift in a cruel, decaying world order gave this theme a prominent place in the discussions. A number of the resolutions passed seemed to flow from a loving desire to shine attention upon our children in preparing them from an early age to the enormous and glorious task of being Bahá’í. At a practical level, concern for the well being and maturation of our children needed to be translated into making them feel like an active part of the community. It was agreed that the voice of the youth and junior youth should be included in the formulation of plans for them. The possible formation of local youth committees run by and for the youth, the inclusion of a regular page in the Bahá’í Journal devoted to children and youth as well as the launching of a junior youth and youth website to be set up by and for them were all seen as initiatives that could be useful in this respect.

 

Children sang and said prayers in the Hall on Sunday morning.

Importance was also given to evaluating our methods so we truly meet the needs of the children and junior youth and do not, in a worst case scenario, estrange them from the cause. One delegate cited children growing up with negative attitudes towards the institutions and other Bahá’ís. Another mentioned the case of young adolescent junior youth that are academically disinclined and do not find a place within the community. A resolution was passed on addressing what might be some of the junior youths’ more immediate concerns, such as drugs and other forms of peer pressure; it was suggested that other youth might be most effective in engaging them. Many felt the need to further discuss issues of youth and children and called for a new forum to be held as a weekend event. Also a chatline was suggested for adults and children to share concerns and ideas.

It became clear as the consultations progressed that children and youth were an integral part of community development. We would need to give children our best resources, best teachers and best time. This might include encouraging and training the believers in the art of teaching children and to firmly incorporate children’s classes and related activities as part of the responsibilities of the institutes. The responsibility for the development of the children is, of course, as much the parents’ as it is the communities’. But if parenting were to be held up to a Bahá’í standard, it would require attention from the community. One delegate indicated that parents do not currently get much support. Such measures were asked to be considered in an open forum for bringing older and younger parents  together; an National Spiritual Assembly led initiative in progressive parenting was also called for.

A very hopeful vision was described of what it could and should mean for a young person to grow up a Bahá’í: continuous immersion in a loving home environment and community that allows for the opportunity to experience diversity, reinforced by youth-friendly Feasts and exciting children’s classes.  An important addition made to these imperatives was that children must learn and memorize the Word of God.

The teaching work

A member of the outgoing National Spiritual Assembly stressed the importance of the role of systematization in the Bahá’í Faith and called for greater planning, highlighting the role and the example given to us by Shoghi Effendi in his approach to managing the affairs of the Cause. In this regard, the possibility of extending the influence of the institutes as tools to train the community in its efforts at systematization was raised. The long-term ineffectiveness of one-off events was acknowledged and the need for more practical teaching campaigns and projects.

Counsellor Patrick O’Mara gave a purposeful vision of where the Bahá’í movement in the UK was now. He spoke encouragingly and passionately of our recent achievements; saying that more friends have come across the creative word and are walking paths of spiritual transformation thanks to participation in the nascent but functioning training and regional councils. But he stressed the need for them to train and bring together the community in common activities; he gave a prominent place to the consideration and fostering of group action-teaching projects. He mentioned reviewing of the quality of the 19 Day Feast and increasing devotional gatherings. He alluded to a number of aspects that characterise the new territory we are moving into. The first of these was a systematic approach to the development of human resources through the training institutes. This new phase will involve greater integration as communities move from consultation to collaboration. It is characterised by a “portentous convergence” and as a “ bridge between times”, from which we will never return. The gains of the past century set our path firm, with the tasks clearly laid out before us.

 

Members of the newly elected National Spiritual Assembly, (right to left) - Barney Leith, Wendi Momen, Peter Hulme, Rita Bartlett, Iain Palin, Kishan Manocha, John Parris, Shirin Tahzib, Trevor Finch.

With the Arc a few months away from completion, the pinnacle of the Administrative Order of Bahá’u’lláh would be set. Now was the time to learn how to use more fully our local and national institutions. During the ensuing twelve month plan we would be “working on both sides of the bridge,” consolidating our forces and planning as we readied ourselves for the five year plan. Counsellor O’Mara reminded us that we would need to pay close attention to the guidance pouring forth from the Universal House of Justice; citing the strength of our position he stated that the UK community had potential resources and capacities beyond those of any other community. Our wings need to unfold so we can fly away and lift the world with us.

Looking at growth

Facing up to the reality of a very low rate of growth in the UK community an agitated stirring seemed to take hold of the delegates as they struggled to pinpoint factors accounting for this worrying trend. One delegate dismissed the explanation for slow growth that Europeans are reserved by stating that so are European Bahá’ís. Another said that we had not yet developed “an authentic teaching culture” in the UK. The National Assembly’s Annual Report contained a useful table showing the evolution in the number of registered Bahá’ís over the period 1992-2000, from which it was evident that the annual growth rate during this 8-year period had averaged about 1.2%. Were this rate to remain constant it would take a full 392 years before the community crossed the “1% of the UK population” threshold! One of the delegates noted that the small size of our community probably was preventing the powerful influence of the message of Bahá’u’lláh from influencing more effectively the patterns of development in the society at large. The Bahá’í community was like the “yeast” of the future kingdom of God on earth but for its effect to be fully felt it needed to reach a critical level. As Bahá’ís we knew that at some point in the future the generality of mankind would have accepted the message of Bahá’u’lláh; indeed the Guardian had said that this would be one of the distinguishing features of the Most Great Peace, the golden age of His world order.

The inescapable conclusion from this was that at some point in the future our community would experience fast growth and the challenge that we faced was how to hasten the arrival of such a day. Counsellor O’Mara spoke about the need to create a growth milieu and echoed the encouraging words of the Universal House of Justice about the necessity for all of us to be more systematic in our approaches to the teaching work and to develop strategies aimed at enhancing our effectiveness as teachers of the Faith. Indeed, he said that Bahá’ís expressed the vitality of their Faith through teaching the Cause. Some delegates expressed support for the notion that it might be useful to incorporate specific growth objectives into our medium-term teaching plans.

As the scramble for answers among the delegates began, mention was again made about the need to look into what motivated entry by troops in Uganda and Bolivia in the 1940s and 50s. In this respect mention was made of the need to look more outwardly and to teach by example, infusing the larger community with the Bahá’í spirit. Still another person suggested that we immerse ourselves in civic activities and proclamation. Adding a refreshing perspective one delegate claimed that the Bahá’í Faith had an undue image of a “nice religion” espoused by “nice people” who do “nice things” and wondered whether we might not be selling ourselves short. It seemed so obvious we could also boldly describe the Bahá’í Faith as “the new religion,” as “global” and “radical”. Someone else observed how important “creating the right image” is in the professional world. Supporting the point another delegate complained that a large strata of the UK population do not find the Faith attractive. A gentleman near to me whispered: “that’s because they don’t know about it!”

It was good to see at the conference the gentle, nurturing, and essential feminine voice manifested in good abundance. Noting that women had often spearheaded the movement of the Faith in the UK it was suggested that women should become more intimate with other women through support conferences and the like. Other resolutions called upon us to be more loving and to consider in our plans those suffering from personal problems, including those centered on the family.

Social and Economic Development

In his remarks during the session on social and economic development Counsellor O’Mara referred to the guidance received from the House of Justice about the aims of development as seen from a Bahá’í perspective. We sought the application of the principles of the Faith to processes aimed at improving the conditions of human life. While  the ultimate aim was nothing less than the spiritual, social, and economic transformation of society, we favoured strategies which relied, as noted by the House of Justice, on “natural stirrings at the grass roots level” rather than on schemes imposed from above.

The external world

A salient strength of the Bahá’í UK scene that was highlighted was its formal, well-known status in the eyes of the public, recognised by the government as one of the nine major religions.   Also, as recounted by Barney Leith, hosts of non-profit organisations are increasingly asking for Bahá’í support as the Bahá’í perspective on issues is seen often to go further than their own. One aspect that could always use more effort was the purely spiritual; the life of our souls and our community; the personal and interpersonal dimension. As Bahá’ís, we can by polishing the mirrors of our souls, be really truly beautiful to everyone we meet. ‘Abdu’l Bahá said the friends need to be “the embodiments of amity and sincerity,” which means coming up to the expectations of Bahá’u’lláh and not of ourselves.

In making communities that others want to join, we would be wise to follow Shoghi Effendi’s remark that love first of all would attract the hearts. One person emphasised putting events together that “enamour people”; finding a cohesion that will get people running to a convention or 19 Day Feast; even as Shoghi Effendi had once said that in building the World Centre, we were building nothing less than paradise.

 As the lofty and momentous Convention began drawing to a close, one marvelled at the fortitude of the delegates who, in one case, had sat through a three hour long session, and still manifested such resilience of spirit. Due respect was paid to the National Spiritual Assembly for working so hard, even as its individual members held full time jobs and had private lives. Three of the friends together drafted letters from Convention to the Hands of the Cause of God, the Universal House of Justice, the Continental Board of Counsellors and the friends in Iran. They dedicated the 12 month plan to ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, with our loving prayers.

 

Friends enjoying each other’s company over lunch.

 

Youth, junior youth and children

The youth and junior youth scene seemed a world apart, although its sessions took place in an adjacent conference room. This was partially because, in contrast to the convention-bound delegates, they were freer to move about the place. Creche and children’s classes were run by a resourceful team who provided something of interest and value to all attending.  Painting, badge making, singing, stringing prayer beads and playing computer games were some of  activities on offer in a friendly club-like atmosphere. The glorious weather gave an opportunity for children to  walk down to the pebbly shores of the sea.

 Trevor Finch, addressing the youth conference, painted a realistic picture of the identities society provides us with and of our lack of a substantial and authentic identity. He also did a couple of solid comedy sketches; one was “Crocodile Dundee Meets a Travel Teacher” and the other involved an orthodox Rabbi being taught the Faith. Dion Azordegan of the European Bahá’í Youth Council gave an eloquent testimony to the glory of being a Bahá’í in this day as in the past and even invoked the image of the young martyr, Muná, kissing the noose in her marriage with eternity. In this last session, truly more of a gathering, Bahá’í Youth Council for England members encouraged the junior youth to form groups and study the important works of Shoghi Effendi, stressing the importance of his message for the Bahá’í Youth.

 

Children on the beach.

Mr Adib Taherzadeh remembered

On Sunday morning the friends gathered in the theatre hall for a most touching memorial for Mr Adib Taherzadeh, House of Justice member, who passed away in January this year. Beautiful flowers and soulful violin music helped to create an atmosphere of peace in which to meditate upon the life of this wonderful Bahá’í. Counsellor O’Mara gave a eulogy, speaking of Adib’s humour, warmth and knowledge which he shared in his service as a pioneer in Ireland and on the National Spiritual Assembly. Shamin Taherzadeh offered a prayer on his grandfather’s behalf and the occasion ended with a recording of Adib’s voice, giving guidance to the friends.

 Response from the Hands of the Cause

We have received the following wonderful message from the Hands of the Cause in response to the message sent to them by National Convention.

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom

Dearly Loved Friends,

We were deeply moved by your email of 3 May 2000 in regard to the decision of the beloved delegates and friends gathered at the National Convention to respond wholeheartedly to the call of our beloved Universal House of Justice. The readiness of the friends to step forth into a new arena of service in the next Twelve Month Plan preceding the global Five Year Plan aimed at the rapid expansion of our beloved Faith throughout the world is very encouraging and uplifting. The shining example of the service of our beloved Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum will undoubtedly guide and usher us into this new field of service.

In the vicinity of the Holy Shrines we offer ardent prayers for your marvellous undertakings, supplicating that the Blessed Beauty may protect, sustain and guide you in your devoted endeavours.

With loving Bahá’í greetings, A Furútan,  AM Varqá