++
Contents

      Travel teaching on the island of Skiathos 
      The Twelfth Irfan Colloquium 
      Voices of Baha European Concert Tour
      Letters to the Editor
      Ayyam-i-Ha - Days outside time
      The Teacher, the Preacher and the Martyr
      Our Centenary - Something to Celebrate
      Homosexuality - Statement by the National Spiritual Assembly
      Aids and HIV 
      National Convention 154BE
      Four Year Plan Focus Conference 

++ 
Travel teaching on the island of Skiathos in Greece 

my ten year-old daughter, Romani who was so determined to re-visit and
introduce me to this island, where she had holidayed a year earlier with a
friend.  The warmth of the sun and the loving natures of the islanders had
won her heart.

I had resisted purchasing air tickets.  My initial reaction had been that 'such
a holiday' seemed too luxurious a way to pass the time, let alone money set
aside for travel teaching. By the time I finally took the decision to go, there
were no plane seats available.  I was resigned to the fact - obviously this was
the Will of God! As days went by, I was having trouble talking a disappointed
Romani into other possible destinations.  Imagine her delight when events
suddenly turned! We received an unexpected phone call from a long-lost travel
agent announcing he had found the perfect seats to Skiathos, at an
unbelievably low price.  The choice was out of my hands!

With no time to book accommodation in advance, I decided to put the
remainder of the trip into Romani's hands: "You got me into this!" I reminded
her. From that moment, she and her company of angels lead the way.
Travelling with a child certainly opens many doors - and hearts!

Two beds were waiting for us in the apartment of her choice!  We began
every morning with prayers for guidance and teaching, and set off to explore
with open hearts, buckets, spades, and searching minds.

Day after day, from the moment we left the apartment, amazing doors opened
- all in miraculous ways and with divine timing.  Every conversation lead to
Baha'u'llah and joy filled our souls as we shared His Message.

We met people holidaying on the island of Skiathos from many European
countries and in such a naturally beautiful environment they were relaxed and
open to spiritual contemplation. I became convinced that much of the success
of our teaching was due to the fact that away from the race and pace of
hectic lifestyles, people are open to questioning the meaning of their existence
- coupled with the fact that the heart is spiritually uplifted when living close
to nature.

We were especially blessed in establishing friendships with the native
islanders.  In particular, through a fishing family who invited us to spend
time with them on their fishing boats.  We have since been corresponding.
When we spoke on the phone, my heart was moved when the first question she
asked was "when are you coming back?" It is not by chance that these
islands are crying out for pioneers and travelling teachers.

One evening we were in a restaurant by the sea, discussing the concept of
pioneering.  Suddenly lightning began streaking through the sky.  The rain
poured down in torrents, forcing us into the local fish market where we
shared a table with a couple from Norway and the Faroe Islands.  Yet again,
the timing was perfect! With all this happening in the middle of a conversation
about pioneering, I was beginning to wonder if God was signalling a message!

On another occasion our plans were re-arranged at the last minute. We were
transferred onto another boat and literally forced to take a trip we had
definitely decided against.  Sitting at the bow, we were soon in conversation
with a woman from Germany.  "God had other plans", I joked with her. "Do
you believe in God?" she asked intently.  To her amazement I mentioned I was
a Baha'i.  As the story unfolded it became apparent she had been
investigating the Faith for years in Cologne.  After a day at sea, tossed about
by mighty waves, she was ready to declare.  I was further reassured when
she phoned us in London, a week later, the hour she arrived home, to thank
us.  She was preparing to contact the Baha'is.

Where, but for Baha'u'llah, go we? About to embark on a study programme of
the Greek language, I pray, if it be the Will of God, that the doors will open
for us to pioneer.   I have committed to support the development of the Faith
by focussing my attention on these wonderful islands, throughout the Four
Year Plan.  I thank Almighty God for having enabled us to become the
recipients of such illuminating outpourings of divine grace and in so doing,
I thank all those wonderful souls we met, with whom we were able to share
the Message of Baha'u'llah.

Michele and Romani Wilburn

++
The Twelfth Irfan Colloquium was held on 6th-8th December in Newcastle-
upon-Tyne. The colloquium was sponsored by the Haj Mehdi Arjmand Memorial
Fund, an institution established in the memory of a Persian Baha'i whose
knowledge of the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic scriptures was legendary. The
colloquium was also sponsored by the Religious Studies Seminar of the
Association for Baha'i Studies for English-Speaking Europe.

The participants enjoyed nine presentations during the weekend.  Friday
evening Dr. Iraj Ayman spoke on "The Mission of Religion: A Baha'i
Perspective," a study of some sixty passages in the Baha'i scriptures that
state different purposes of religion. Saturday morning Nuha
Sabour-Wollmington presented her provisional translation of Baha'u'llah's Surat
al-ism (Sura of the Name), a tablet revealed in 1867. Moojan Momen followed
with "The God of Baha'u'llah," which described Baha'u'llah's concept of God
and its ability to reconcile Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and some Buddhist
notions of the Ultimate.

Saturday afternoon began with Robert Stockman's "Millennialism in the Baha'i
Faith: Progressive and Catastrophic Themes," reviewing different aspects of
the Baha'i vision of the future. Fariba Hedayati then spoke about "Immortality
and the Afterlife: Some Christian, Baha'i, and Modern Western Secular
Perspectives." One part of her paper discussed cryonics (freezing people at
the point of death in the hope that in the future they can be thawed and
revived) and its possible implications for Baha'i theology.  The afternoon
closed with Stephen Lambden's presentation on "Christianity and the Baha'i
Faith: An Historical and Doctrinal Overview."

Sunday morning Stephen Lambden offered a second talk, on Baha'u'llah's
tablet to Pope Pius IX.  The paper offered an excellent overview of the
tablet's context as one of a series of messages penned by Manifestations to
religious and political leaders and surveyed the tablet's contents, including
possible allusions to the First Vatican Council (1869).  Seena Fazel then spoke
on "Understanding Exclusivist Baha'i Texts," noting that there was a series
of approaches to apparently Exclusivist passages in Baha'u'llah's writings that
minimize their tendency to exclude non-Baha'is. The colloquium ended Sunday
afternoon with Ismael Velasco's "In Quest of the Ocean of True Understanding:
The Mystical Paradigm of Baha'u'llah's Book of Certitude." It noted the
importance of earlier tablets by Baha'u'llah in understanding the Kitab-i-Iqan,
that the Iqan's literary paradigm is that of a mystic journey of the seeker,
and that the paradigm shaped Baha'u'llah's replies to the questions that
prompted the revelation of the Iqan.

The Haj Mehdi Arjmand Memorial Fund is collecting the papers delivered at the
colloquium for publication.  Meanwhile, a book of the abstracts is available for
US$3 from the Research Office, Baha'i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.
Cheques should be drawn on a US bank and made out to the "Baha'i Services
Fund."  The Haj Mehdi Arjmand Memorial Fund has scheduled two
English-language conferences for 1997.   The first will be held 4th-6th July,
in Oxford.  The second will be 8th-10th August, in Wilmette, Illinois. The theme
of both will be "The World Religions and the Baha'i Faith." Presentations
should be thirty minutes in length.  If you would like to present send a
500-word abstract and a brief (100-word) bio to the Research Office, Baha'i
National Centre, Wilmette, IL 60091; tel: 847-733-3425, fax: 847-733-3563120
e-mail: research@usbnc.org

++
Voices of Baha European Concert Tour on 25th-26th July 1996 over ninety
Baha'is flew into London from eighteen countries, eager to undertake a musical
teaching trip to sing the praises of Baha'u'llah. On July 28th we visited the
Grave of the beloved Guardian to ask for blessings and confirmations on all
our efforts.

Opportunities for individual teaching occurred at every concert both during
the intermission and at the close, when we mingled with the audience.  Here
are some of the highlights of the tour.

LONDON - was the opening venue and there were standing ovations throughout
the concert! We learned later that the National Spiritual Assembly of the UK
had commented, "The concert here caused tremendous interest.  As a result
we have already had some eight persons declare their belief in Baha'u'llah,
and expect more."

PARIS - For ten days before the concert there were electronic ads all over
the city, and on the night we had a full house - over 800 people and others
had to be turned away. The Secretary General of UNICEF was present, and the
largest TV station in Paris had live coverage.

UTRECH - Holland, the performance was given in the beautiful Domkerk
Cathedral (photo opposite) - 800 people attended of whom more than half were
not Baha'i. The excellent television and press coverage helped Dutch friends
in the launching of their Four Year Plan.  (The tiles for the Shrine of the Bab
were made in the small town of Utrecht, where a special process was used to
fuse pure gold-leaf onto each tile.)

LUXEMBOURG CITY - The posters displayed everywhere read "The Voices of
Baha for One World." Several radio stations and newspapers gave excellent
coverage.  Over 500 people attended the concert and at the end - as became
joyously usual - everyone stood up and clapped with us as we sang, "In this
Day of Baha'u'llah ... talking to the world about justice ..."

FRANKFURT - City Hall filled with over 1500 people who gave an overwhelming
response to the concert.  Their obvious enthusiasm was truly thrilling and
many wanted to know more about the Faith.  HOUSE OF WORSHIP, LANGENHAIN
- It was a perfect day for an outdoor event, and that morning the first
Sommerfest ever held in the grounds was attended by 1500 - 2000 people.  In
the afternoon the Temple's auditorium was filled to overflowing - the Choir
made a circle around the seated guests, seemingly holding them in an embrace
of musical renderings of Baha'u'llah's Words and Prayers.  It was an ethereal
experience, summed up by an 80-year-old lady who described it as the most
wonderful day of her life!

SALZBURG AND VIENNA - On the way to Vienna we stopped in Salzburg to
fulfill a desire we all shared: to sing at Mozart's home his beautiful
composition "Ave Verum", with Baha'u'llah's Words, "All praise be to Thee."

GYULA - Delays on the way made our journey to Hungary a long but not a
dull one, and eventually the 300-year old Medgyesegyhaza Lutheran Church
hosted a concert of around 350 people, of whom over 200 were not Baha'i. 
This was a place where we particularly longed for a universal language,
although our mutual love, appreciation and gratitude were expressed without
words! It was an unforgettable night, and we heard later that the whole town
spoke about it for days...

ROMANIA, CLUJ AND BUCHAREST - The Choir travelled in two buses and
arrived at Cluj in two parts! Because of heavy traffic at the border the first
bus-load arrived an hour late and the second one came in (to everybody's joy
and relief) at intermission time. But the warmth of our reception by over 100
people who had been waiting for us at the Concert Hall, was summed up in the
enthusiastic comments of Professor Volair Gusic, of Ploiest University: "The
music was of high quality and filled with real spirit - I am not saying this to
be nice!" He invited us to stay on campus and present a concert at the
University, but time did not permit.

BUCHAREST - Over 700 attended the concert in the City Concert Hall and the
National Spiritual Assembly reported that "The most famous private TV station
in Romania presented aspects of the event, helping hundreds of thousands of
people hear about the Faith in a dignified manner." Two people declared and
others came to firesides afterwards.  The concert was recorded by National
Radio.

KISHINEV, MOLDOVA - Upon arrival the Choir split into two groups and visited
two different hospitals.  They received our pamphlets in their own language,
and with local Baha'is translating we told them about the Faith.  An informal
concert was given under the trees, with an audience of children, youth,
doctors, nurses, elderly people, staff, and construction workers from nearby. 
All were eager to talk to us.

The evening concert was held in the elegant Philharmonic Hall and around 200
people attended.  There was Television coverage and Tom Price was
interviewed on the radio.  "Flyers" announced that the proceeds of the
concert were being donated to UNICEF.  A local physician who attended
expressed her desire to become a Baha'i.

MOSCOW - was our last stop.  Some 150 people attended the programme in the
Musical Concert Hall, and the paid admission was again donated to UNICEF.
Two high Government officials attended as well as the national
Secretary-General of UNICEF who came to the stage to express his gratitude.
The concert was recorded by TV and radio and permission was sought to do
a programme about the Baha'i Faith itself.  The next day's weather was fine
and the choir sang in Gorky Park.

On the last day, Saturday 17th August, some of the tour members departed for
home, but in the evening others made an enjoyable trip on the river, singing
the Words of Baha'u'llah as they floated along.  A firework display from Gorky
Park filled the night sky and seemed to offer a final festive farewell from the
city of Moscow.

On the way back to the hotel they paused in Red Square, in front of St
Basil's Cathedral, to sing grateful praises to Baha'u'llah for the wonderful and
successful tour, ending as they had begun: singing the Greatest Name!

Report sent by Nahid Lamour

++
Letters to the editor

Nearly all newspapers, whether local, regional, or national, have a letters
section in which their readers can make comments on what concerns them.
These can be an excellent way of making the Faith and its aims known, but
it is one which remains under used. 

The National Spiritual Assembly encourages the Baha'is to make use of this
opportunity being offered them - the teachings of Baha'u'llah make sense of
so many of the issues of the day. A helpsheet on writing letters to the editor
is in the press/ information officers' pack which the Baha'i Information Office
shared with all Local Assemblies, but if this is not to hand then a copy can
be obtained from the Office.

At the same time, we have to take care in what we write and how we write it.
Some of the controversies going on are about things we know to be
side-issues, problems which can only be addressed using the wider vision
Baha'u'llah has given us. It might not be wise to get involved at the sort of
level these debates are being conducted on. Current political issues,
discussions about the Royal Family, and many church debates are the sort of
things we should avoid. On the other hand there are many concerns to do
with the environment and with social breakdown on which the Faith definitely
has something to say.

As a defence for the Faith it is essential that Baha'is don't leap into print
without having their letter checked first, to make sure that it is accurate and
that it will not lead to misunderstandings about the Faith and what it is
about. For the local press this should be through the L.S.A. (which should
have a system established to do this task without causing delays, usually by
telephone). For major papers in the regions of England and in the other parts
of the United Kingdom the four "regional" committees can carry out this task,
or the National Assembly's appointed press reviewers. If writing to a major
national newspaper (or approaching other national media such as radio or
television) it is essential that one of the N.S.A.'s reviewers be contacted and
your letter checked with them. Any one of the three reviewers appointed by
the National Spiritual Assembly can check your letter by telephone, and often
by e-mail. The Assembly knows that time can be very important when writing
to the editor of a daily paper, any delay and the issue is "cold", and the
reviewing process should not cause any significant delay. The reviewers are:
Mr Trevor Finch (tel: 0181-789-5289), Mr Philip Hainsworth (tel: 0173-246-2328,
e-mail: hainsworthp@cix.compulink.co.uk), and Dr Iain Palin (tel: 01504-47357,
e-mail: isp@iol.ie). 

This subject is covered fully in section 17 of the National Assembly's "Notes
for Guidance" issued to all L.S.A.s, and we invite the Friends to study it. The
important points are - do make use of this great means of publicising the
Faith, do so with wisdom, and have your letter checked before sending. 

++
 Ayyam-i-Ha - Days outside time

The Ayyam-i-Ha holiday begins each year on the evening of 25th February
and ends at sunset on 1st March. Of this period Baha'u'llah writes: "It
behoveth the people of Baha, throughout these days, to provide good cheer
for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy, and with
joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and
magnify His Name."

A closer look at the history and background of Ayyam-i-Ha can help us to
value it even more for its unique spirit, resist any temptation to turn it into
a "Christmas equivalent," and discover some of its beautiful and mystical
symbolic meanings.

The Baha'i calendar of 19 months of 19 days needs 4 days (5 in leap years)
to equal a solar year.  By definition such added days are "intercalary" days. 
In revealing this "Badi" calendar, the Bab did not say exactly where to place
the extra days.  Some of the early Babis included them as part of the Fast,
others stopped fasting four or five days before Naw-Ruz (the new calendar
year). Baha'u'llah named these days in the Kitab-i-Aqdas and specified their
place in the year: "Let the days in excess of the months be placed before the
month of fasting. We have ordained that these, amid all nights and days, shall
be the manifestations of the letter Ha, and thus they have not been bounded
by the limits of the year and its months... and when they end - these days
of giving that precede the season of restraint - let them enter upon the Fast. 
 Thus hath it been ordained by Him Who is the Lord of all mankind."

As in His prayer for Ayyam-i-Ha, Baha'u'llah juxtaposes these "days of giving"
with the Fast's "season of restraint."  Ayyam-i- Ha is intended partly as
spiritual preparation for the Fast, a reminder of its approach, and a way of
fostering the detachment from material things so necessary for the Fast.
Ayyam-i-Ha means the "Days of Ha." "Ha" is the Arabic letter corresponding
to the English "H", and one of the three Arabic letters which make up the
word "Baha." Both Baha'u'llah and the Bab followed the Arabic tradition of
assigning numerical values to letters, and of giving spiritual meanings to both. 
The numerical value of "Ha" is five, the sum of the numerical values of the
letters in the "Bab," and the maximum number of intercalary days. "Ha" is also
the first letter of an Arabic pronoun commonly used in Arabic religious
writings to refer to God, or "the Divine Essence." "Ha" by itself is used as
a symbol of "the Essence of God," and was the subject of many an Arabic
essay on its mysteries.   In Baha'u'llah's Tablet of All Food the realm "beyond
which there is no passing," or the realm of the Divine Essence is designated
as "Hahut." In the Bab's interpretation of the letter "Ha" (quoted by
Baha'u'llah in the Kitab-i-Iqan), the Bab speaks of martyrdom in the path of
God and warns "even if all the kings of the earth were to be leagued together
they would be powerless to take from me a single letter..."

Baha'u'llah has designated the intercalary days "amid all the nights and days"
as "manifestations of the letter "Ha" that is, as Days of the Divine Essence.
These extra days stand apart from the ordinary cycle of weeks and months
and the human measure of time.  They are not "bounded by the limits of the
year and its months" - just as the infinite reality of the divine Essence of
God is unbounded and cannot be captured or comprehended within the cycle
of time or any other human measurement.

Thus Ayyam-i-Ha can be thought of as days outside of time, days that
symbolize eternity, infinity, and the mystery and unknowable Essence of God
Himself. Contemplation during these days of the timeless mystery of the
Essence of God provides us the "joy and exultation" with which to "sing His
praise and magnify His Name." - by Karla Jamir (taken from an e-mail posting
from 1995)

++
The Teacher, the Preacher and the Martyr

The word "martyr has its roots in the Greek word for witness.  A martyr is
an individual who through long suffering or loss of life, testifies to the
reality of his or her beliefs and stands as a witness to their truth.  This
process is closely related to the phenomenon of sacrifice, which is an act of
suffering one's life and riches in order to render them sacred and holy.
However, the phenomenon of martyrdom is mysterious, both awe-inspiring and
frightening, full of ecstasy and seemingly full of suffering and pain.

Baha'u'llah states that those friends martyred in the path of God are
recipients of "favour from God which He bestoweth upon whomsoever He
chooses: verily God is the most bountiful!" How are martyrdom and sacrifice
of everything, including our lives, a favour from God? How can such a
profound degree of suffering, deprivation, loss, and anguish be understood,
accepted, and experienced as an indication of the bounties of the Most
Bountiful

The answers to these perplexing questions lie in our concepts of human
reality and the purpose of human existence.  The human being is the link
between the material and the spiritual worlds.  On the one hand, we belong
to the world of the animals and are subject to the dictates of our instinctual
and physical needs and desires, and, on the other hand, we are carriers of
spirit and have access to the realms of the divine.  However, to free ourselves
from the bondage of our animal heritage we need to strengthen our spiritual
dimension.  To do so, our thoughts, views, and actions need to become
spiritual.

Spiritual thoughts are those that bring about unity, creativity, joy, and
enlightenment.  Spiritual views lead to the eradication of prejudice and the
creation of hospitality and friendship.  And spiritual deeds are those actions
guided by spiritual thoughts and views.  Among the most important deeds any
human being can perform is the act of educating and guiding another so that
the recipient's life will become enriched by the new knowledge imparted to him
or her.  This is one reason why teaching the Cause of God is so important. 
Teaching is the act of educating another human being and helping that person
to find a purpose for life, to become joyful and hopeful, to use his or her
capacities to serve humanity and contribute to the advancement of civilization
and peace.

In the process, he or she becomes ever closer to the Creator and thus
becomes the willing recipient of His unbounded mercy and guidance.

To be effective teachers we not only need the knowledge of the subject we
teach (in this case, the Baha'i Faith), but we also need a good model for the
application of these Teachings.  The difference between the teacher and the
preacher is that the teacher demonstrates a complete harmony between what
is said and what is done, while the preacher believes that the imparting of
the glad tidings alone is sufficient.  Then comes in the martyr who, with a
signal act of sacrifice, in a most eloquent and dramatic manner, through total
unity of thought and action, proves the Truth in its most profound dimension. 
The following statement of the martyr Mona Mahmúdnizhad, 17, to her mother
shortly before her martyrdom, is an example of this fact: "Mother, if I knew
that during each year I spend in prison only a few people become Baha'is, I
would wish that I could spend a hundred thousand years in prison."

"And if I knew that because of my execution, all the youth of the world would
arise, join hands in service to humanity, become selfless, teach the world
about Baha'i ideals and share its literature, then I would beg Baha'u'llah to
give me 100,000 lives to sacrifice in His path."

(taken from Baha'i Journal, February 1991; first printed in Baha'i Canada, July
1987)

++
Our Centenary - Something to Celebrate

The end of the Twentieth Century of the Christian era will bring changes to
the world.  Many people are looking forward to the new "millennium" in
expectation of something happening, but only Baha'i's know how great those
developments will be, as the nations of the world come to realise the futility
of war, as the designated arc of buildings on Mount Carmel is completed, and
as our own administrative order reaches its maturity. These will be
developments of universal significance, but before them will come something
very special for the Baha'i community in the United Kingdom - the centenary
of the establishment of the Faith in these islands.

In the closing years of the Nineteenth Century two remarkable women in
England accepted the new Faith, Mrs Mary Thornburgh-Cropper in 1898, and
Miss Ethel Rosenberg, the first native believer in the country, in 1899. With
their courageous and visionary action our community was born. It is only
right that we remember them, and that we befittingly mark what has been
accomplished in the hundred years since.

The exact dates of their declarations has been lost, but the community will be
able to honour them nonetheless, and in a way which they would have most
wanted - one which will carry the Faith forward.

The National Spiritual Assembly has decided that there shall be a "Celebration
of a Hundred Years of the Baha'i Faith in the United Kingdom", a
nineteen-month festival running from Ridvan 1998 to the Day of the Covenant
1999 and taking in the centenaries of both declarations. It will have national,
local and regional elements, and the way it will run over a period of time will
allow our communities to mount events and organise activities.  National events
are being arranged and our four "regional" committees - the Committee for
England, the Northern Ireland Committee, the Scottish Committee, and the
Committee for Wales are being asked to undertake suitable activities for their
parts of the kingdom.

However, local communities are also being asked to play a full part in this
Celebration, using local talent and initiative to do what is best for their area
while drawing on the National Assembly's aid and guidance.

The diversity of what the Baha'i Faith has to offer, the accomplishments of
our community so far, and the time given over to this Celebration, all allow
us to develop several threads of activity. Those provisionally designated by
the National Assembly are "A Hundred Years of Promoting Religious
Understanding", "A Hundred Years of Promoting the Oneness of Humankind",
and "A Hundred Years of Promoting the Equality of Women and Men". Other
themes will be developed, indeed we would welcome suggestions.

++ 
Homosexuality - Statement by the National Spiritual Assembly

This statement was prepared for a London SACRE, whose members were
concerned at the introduction into schools of material which seemed to approve
of, and even promote, homosexuality. That body was devising an approach to
the education authorities which would show the concern of the various faith
communities about such material.

The National Spiritual Assembly feels it should be shared with the Friends.

The subject of homosexuality is complex and is also politically and emotionally
charged, and the statement does not claim to be exhaustive, but it can be
used with wisdom as part of a response to questions.  The National Spiritual
Assembly, as the elected administrative body for the Baha'i Faith in the United
Kingdom, is concerned at some aspects of the sexual education of school
children in this country.  We recognise that the ideal, of chastity before
marriage and fidelity within it, is unfashionable.  However it is taught by the
world's great religions, and is part of the basis of a stable and civilised
society.  Its rejection is in part a cause and in part an effect of the stresses,
strain, and devaluation of people, that is occurring in the present-day world.

The moral and sexual education of children cannot be taken separately, and
must be based upon heterosexuality, fidelity, and the family unit.

Baha'is reject the idea that homosexuality is something to be regarded as
normal and its practice merely a valid lifestyle alternative. While it is wrong
to condemn homosexuals as people, the sexual practice of homosexuality is no
more an acceptable activity than is heterosexual activity outside marriage.

We are concerned that homosexuality is being taught as if it were normal, and
even more so when this is done to children of a vulnerable and
readily-influenced age. We also abhor the introduction of loaded words such
as "homophobia" and "heterosexism" to try to convey the idea that rejection
of homosexuality is as prejudiced and discriminatory as racism, sexism, and
other biases and intolerances which society is so painfully outgrowing. These
words are designed to cow those opposed to the promotion of homosexuality
by generating an atmosphere in which any disagreement is automatically
represented as due to blind prejudice and bigotry.

Baha'is feel that there is so much common ground between the teachings of
the world's faiths on this important subject that there should be no difficulty
about their standing together against the values being promoted by the forces
of secularism in our society.

Baha'is believe that the sexual impulse is a God-given one, and the source of
great joy and fulfilment if expressed in the intended way.  The appropriate
circumstance for this is within marriage, the legally, socially, and spiritually
sanctioned union of two adults of opposite sex. Other expressions are neither
valid nor to be encouraged.   October 1996

++ 
Aids and HIV - Document available 

Because of the ongoing public debate on behaviour and morality, the National
Spiritual Assembly has decided to revise and re-issue its 1994 document
"Baha'i Comment on AIDS and HIV". It is not meant as a heavily-detailed or
exhaustive discussion of this emotive subject, but the Friends should find it
useful in formulating a reply to people or organisations who ask for their
views.

To obtain a copy please write to the National Office (27 Rutland Gate, London
SW7 1PD). Enclosing a stamped addressed envelope would help save the funds.
Those who have Internet access can obtain the document electronically in
either plain text form (size 11k) or as a Word 6 file (size 37k) by sending an
e-mail request to isp@iol.ie

++ 
National Convention 154BE

 The Spa Complex Scarborough,Yorks.  Friday 25th to Sunday 27th April 1997,
Accommodation:

We have arranged a special price of p18/person/night for Baha'is booking in
at the Rivelyn Hotel, tel: 01723 361248. Also at the Southerlands Hotel at the
reduced price of p20/person/night. Both hotels should be phoned direct. They
have not been inspected by us. There are many other hotels and B&Bs at
various prices. Contact Tourist Information Centre, Unit 3, Pavilion House,
Valley Bridge Road, Scarborough. YO11 1UZ. Tel :01723 373333.  In all cases
mention you are attending the Baha'i Convention.

++ 
Four Year Plan Focus Conference Birmingham NEC, November 1996

Around 1,100 Baha'is gathered at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham
on the weekend of 9th-10th November 1996 for the Four Year Plan Focus
conference hosted by the National Spiritual Assembly.  Visions became plans
as the weekend unfurled and the friends drew inspiration from the wonderful
speakers, workshops, information stands and each other.  The warmth and love
of the National Spiritual Assembly for the Community was clearly evident as
they conducted the proceedings and panelled discussions. Their unity and
strength can be a guiding light to all Local Spiritual Assemblies.

I did not attend all the sessions by any means but those I did made a big
impression on me. In recounting some of the contributions that affected me
most, please note they are being refracted through the rather dense Booth
consciousness. They are, therefore, far from being verbatim and to a large
degree I am relating the train of thought or feelings they inspired rather
than what was said.

This is especially true of the session with Counsellor Sezgin. I remember little
of what he said but a lot of the feelings he inspired. When you "experience"
this man (words like "meet", "see", just aren't big enough) you are instantly
aware that this is someone who lives life with a capital L, loves people with
a capital L and laughs with a capital L. At the close of his session he was
prevailed upon to sing for us. Suffice it to say, he sings with a capital S in
a beautiful voice that Pavaroti would enjoy. It was an animated Turkish song
about Teaching and about God. At certain points in the song he would raise
his hands like in the long obligatory prayer. It is no exaggeration to say that
I would feel my heart leap as he did this. It brought to mind the words of
Baha'u'llah:

"Set thine heart towards Him Who is the Kaaba of God, the Help in Peril, the
Self-Subsisting, and raise thou thine hands with such firm conviction as shall
cause the hands of all created things to be lifted up towards the heaven of
the grace of God, the Lord of all worlds ..." (1)

I felt him raise his hands with such conviction, and my heart was glad of it.

Another session featured some Youth who have been active in the teaching
field. Heather said she had no idea what she was going to say. When she is
asked to do something for the Faith she just says "Ok" and then relies on the
Concourse on High. What she then went on to relate charmed many a heart
and caused the Booth supply of Kleenex to be depleted. She said, like most of
us, she is sometimes"cowardly". She used to have a problem relating to
promises of assistance from "the Concourse on high, each bearing aloft a
chalice of pure light". (2) Who were these people?

She then reasoned that amongst this host of holy souls there would be some
of her ancestors. She is African American so many of them would have been
purified by much suffering. In addition to these physical forebears there was
also her spiritual ancestors ie the person who taught her the Faith and the
person who taught them and the person who taught them... all the way back.
She said: "I am their legacy... All these souls will be rooting for me." As she
said this, I realised that I, we, all have such ancestors. Wonderful allies who
long to help us serve the Lord of the Age. Each of us carry the hopes wishes
and desires of a thousand souls each bearing aloft a chalice of pure light to
guide our steps so that they, through us, can serve Him. As I relished this
thought, my heart was empowered.

Another Youth, Bill, had been brought up in a Baha'i family and in his life
had encountered many souls he admired who have done great work for the
Faith. He had decided that there were "them" - those who do great deeds, and
"us" the rest, like himself, whose achievements are modest. Then he said, at
about age 22 he began to read the Writings himself in great depth.  He read
about the power of God waiting to come to the aid of His servants.  And, he
said, as hard as he looked, nowhere did Baha'u'llah say: "Except Bill!" Very
interesting, I thought. And to make sure, when I got home, I checked my
computerised compilation of the Holy Writings and, you know, he's right!
Nowhere does it say "except Bill" or "except Paul" or "Amy" or "Nasan" or
"Tahireh" or "Jo" or....  (1) Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, pages 17-182. (2)
Gleanings p 280

Paul Booth

The North East area teaching team gave two presentations in the crowded main
hall where they shared their success story. Although there have been reports
in the Journal of the 'Burnlaw experience'; the Baha'i retreat farm in the
middle-of-nowhere and advertisements encouraging 'youth' to join summer
teaching projects, I had no idea of the level of activity and commitment that
goes on and on and on.  What's more this small group of friends is thriving;
so close you could feel the buzz of their friendship from the back of the hall,
so united in spirit and purpose that many in the audience found themselves
crying as well as laughing as they heard the tales of their adventures. 

We were relaxed and settled as the members of the team relaxed and settled
themselves on stage with a mock meeting - someone fussing about biscuits,
someone searching out prayer books, someone urging proceedings to proceed.
Gentle music began drifting through the hall and a quiet peace descended as
the words of 'Abdu'l-Baha were read by Dutchie; words that captivated,
winding in and out and around the beautiful music.

These are straightforward people and they leave us no excuses.  They lead
very busy lives and they don't have pots of money.  But they do have focus
and two years into the teaching endeavours show that they have learnt to be
practical.  They spent 6 weeks getting to know each other, fixed a launch
date, have planned reviews every six months or so and work in close
cooperation with the Auxiliary Board Member and the Assistant appointed to
the Team.  They decided to focus on a Gateshead council estate.  They have
a new Baha'i there, Sheila, who is the central point.  She knows all there is
to know about life on a tough estate and sees the desperate need for the
people living there to find the Baha'i Faith.  The Team work closely with the
Residents' Association which Sheila helped to found and trips have been
arranged for local children to have sleep-over weekends at Burnlaw where
they have the time of their lives in the great outdoors.

The team ran a summer youth 'Letters of the Living' project two years
running. Their service has included exhibitions, dance workshops, firesides,
leafleting, an environment project where they cleaned a mucky pond and they
marked the occasion of fifty years since the end of World War II by tidying
the graves of Belgium soldiers in a local cemetery.  Olya visited. 

There have been forty-five enrolments in the North since the team started.
During the summer project there were fifteen and six of these are firmly
rooted in the Faith.

This is only a taste of the session, for more information on the NE Area
teaching team's methods and successes contact Lorna Silverstein, tel: 01434
345391.  In Lorna's words: "The devotions and the music that we share bind
this rabble together.  These are some of my closest friends.  You could trust
your life with them.  We pray at dawn; on the roads leading into towns; in the
villages; under the windows of friends - hoping no one will see us.  We pray
night and day, hoping someone will hear us..."

Facilities for Children and Youth

The activities for children and youth were excellent, safe and continuous,
thanks to dedicated, organised and hard-working teams.  So hard working
that we hardly ever saw them out of class and so professional that a lot of
them had 'real' teaching jobs to go back to on Monday.  This is great for
parents who know there is a high standard of care provided at national
events and great for the children and youth who look forward to seeing the
familiar faces, but would they like more help from the rest of us and perhaps
a chance to attend sessions?

The Creche for the under fives was staffed by professionals and a warm room
with good equipment was provided.  The youth disappeared to a distant part
of the NEC complex where they got to know each other and enjoyed a variety
of activities, returning for periods of eating and drinking looking pleased with
themselves.   

I asked two lively lads for a report on the Children's class and they duly
obliged; thanks to CP and Duncan for this extract:

On one table they have paper and paints. They use this for making pictures.
On the one next to it they are making a banner.  The third table people make
pictures with things like God's world.  In the room next to it there is a game
area where we play football and tennis. The next room there is a table with
drinks and face painting area. Lots of people like the face painting therefore
it is popular.

Anne Maund

Comments on the weekend

It was hard for those without transport (ie: travellers by train) to find
affordable accommodation local to the NEC.

It was really quite something to have a prestigious venue.  Did we make
enough of it? To have the programme in advance would have been an
advantage, and perhaps an explanation of the tricky titles of some of the
sessions. Registration at the conference must have been a nightmare for those
involved.  We arrived at 10 am - starting time, and so did hundreds of others.

The Faith has so much to offer that it is daunting! For example we can appeal
to those concerned with international issues but need to know more about
ongoing projects.  The more we know, the more we can tell.

It was a wonderful event.  The organisers deserve medals.  The inspiration
was certainly there; two Counsellors, Mr David Hofman and the National
Spiritual Assembly as well as information on all sorts of aspects of the Faith. 
Many thanks to all those who put in so much hard work and contributed
towards the success of this splendid conference.

Dr Ilhan Sezgin, member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Europe
spoke of the need for vision and action to bring about the success of the
Four Year Plan. 

On the importance of training institutes he said "One can deepen anywhere on
anything by oneself - training institutes help put deepening into action for
the work of this day." 

He reminded us that we should read the Writings morning and night and be
firm in the Covenant.

Mr Patrick O'Mara, member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Europe
said "there is a great sense of urgency because of the plight of humanity...
we should swiftly make a plan and implement it." 

He spoke also of the growth of the Faith being an organic process and added,
"but we are growing a tree and organic growth takes time."

++ 
End of document