BAHA’I COUNCILS & TRAINING INSTITUTES

The act of teaching is surrounded by many myths. Some of them we invent ourselves, and some we just pick up. At the same time, teaching activities can fall into patterns of rigidity or sameness. There’s a lot of work going on, but unfortunately not all of it is attracting those receptive souls we know to be out there.

The training institute course "Make me a teacher in Thy Cause" is about dispelling a lot of those myths about why teaching "can’t" work, and showing us how it definitely can. This does not mean instructing everyone rigidly on the right formula, the perfect thing to say - far from it. Rather, we are encouraged to change our attitude towards teaching, and examine our own approach.

If this sounds rather vague, then consider this. You are in conversation with someone on the bus, or train, or wherever. On the one hand, you could be telling them about a socially responsible group you ‘do some work with’ now and again, who have some interesting ideas about world peace that come in a neat spiritual package, and while sounding a little oriental is historically similar to other spiritual movements.

On the other hand you could be opening someone’s heart - a sacred place - to a new Revelation. You could be speaking purely out of love for Bahá’u’lláh, not fearing rejection, but warmly embracing an interested response.

My experience of trying to teach the second way suggests to me that an entirely different attitude is involved, and an entirely different response is evoked. The training institute seeks to explain this, and much, much more.

Barry Thorne

Over one hundred Bahá’ís from various parts of the British Isles and beyond enjoyed a rich experience of Bahá’í community life at the Northern Ireland Summer School from 23rd-29th August. At the opening session the friends were greeted by the Secretary of the Bahá’í Council, Mrs Viny Robinson and she read a message of greeting from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Republic of Ireland.

During the week, participants were stimulated and inspired by talks given by Dr Agahi, Dr Ayman, Hasan and Betty Sabri as well as an introduction to "Mind Mapping" by Marie Schmidt. Children and youth participated in a programme which was both stimulating and challenging and fostered rich artistic expression. Our ex-patriot, Fidelma Meehan, returned to Northern Ireland to set up a "Tranquillity Zone" during the school. The Tranquillity Zone sessions were attended by School participants and college staff as well as the Mayor of Coleraine District.

The highlights of the school were the rich bonds of friendship that were re-established and strengthened between Bahá’ís who came together from all across Ireland and beyond. Also, the singing of the junior youth and many inspirational sessions by Mr Hasan Sabri and evening sessions with Dr Keith Munro, who shared fascinating stories taken from the early days of the Faith.

Participants will remember the energising atmosphere of the Northern Ireland Bahá’í Summer School that was stimulated by the chairman, Mr Kamal Ma’ani, as he kept the busy programme running on schedule with his unique combination of English words and Persian grammar.

The Council has had a very heavy agenda and a great deal of groundwork has been laid which will ensure a solid foundation for the future. A fruitful meeting was held with the Scottish Training Institute Board and a clearer understanding of each Institution’s work has been forged. Bonds have been strengthened bringing ever closer that "galvanic coherence of the processes of expansion and consolidation". The Council will be meeting with Counsellor Paddy O’Mara this month.

Children’s Task Force

A new Children’s Task Force has been appointed and its members are Arabella Velasco, Debbie Rafat, Sholeh Forsyth, Sandi Humphrey and Sarah Stevens. The splendid work with children on the Islands has recently seen a successful camp in Uist, (see item opposite). Meanwhile Bahá’í Summer schools have been held in Orkney and Aberdeen, both creating a warm Bahá’í atmosphere, uniting, confirming and promoting the study of the Cause. Future residential schools will be under the auspices of the Council. The new "Guidance notes for residential events" is available for any community (in Scotland) organising this kind of activity.

The launch of the Scottish Interfaith Council on 10th October at the Museum of Religion, Glasgow, is an occasion that will see the fruits of past interfaith activities by the friends in Scotland and open a new chapter in this involvement. The Faith has a representative on the Scottish Interfaith Council in the person of Alex Reid. This body is very influential in advising the Scottish Parliament and recently debated the question of prayers being used by the Parliament.

On the subject of communication a wide ranging review is taking place and a comprehensive policy will be set out by the Council covering all aspects of communication. A news list called Scottish Announce for all news, announcements and requests which benefit the expansion or consolidation work of the Cause in Scotland is being set up. Details on how to subscribe will be forthcoming. The Council would encourage Scottish communities to use the 0800 038 1844 number in their publicity in order that the maximum benefit is achieved from it.

The Council would like to remind the friends that their target of raising £15,000 in Scotland this year does not include funds sent directly to the National Spiritual Assembly. Only funds allocated for the Bahá’í Council for Scotland or donated through its treasurer, will be counted towards this goal. At present £2,000 has been raised towards this target.

The Council is pleased to see the friends contributing towards the target in Scotland. It must also be pointed out that to be on target (£1,250 per month) we should have raised £7,000 by now. Deputisation funds are available for long term teaching projects in the islands by believer(s) native to the United Kingdom. Please contact the Council for details.

The Council is in the process of appointing a new secretary as our previous secretary is unable to continue in that role. Meanwhile all communication to the Council should be directed to the assistant secretary.

The second project was a month-long youth dance workshop tour. Nine Scottish youth were joined by youth from the Czech Republic, Guam and France to form the group "Traces". They rehearsed for one week and then toured SW Scotland, Aberdeenshire and Orkney. The Council was very impressed by the dedication and hard work of the youngsters, who were a wonderful example of Faith in action. Their activities included public performances, street dancing and workshops for local youth groups. In addition, they received excellent coverage in the local press and radio. This was the first time that the Council had organised anything of this kind, and we learnt a great deal which will help us make improvements for the future.

This book will be an historic record of the Faith in the region and on display at all major events. Photographs and stories will be appreciated, especially of the early believers. If you know any Bahá’í who was born in Scotland or the Islands and pioneered elsewhere - or Bahá’ís who pioneered to Scotland or anyone else you feel should be included in the book, please let me know.

Mrs Elma Donald, 2 Leslie Crescent, Alford AB33 8TN Tel: 019755 63524.

The season of summer is now officially over. With the shortening hours of daylight, often we feel that those warm (and wet!) days occurred long ago. Many of us enjoyed meeting each other at summer school, or had the privilege of a travel teaching trip abroad.

The Council and its members have also been busy. Some of our members had the bounty of being in the Holy Land, and prayers for the success of the teaching work and the Make Your Mark 157 campaign and the progress of the Cause in England were said at the Holy Threshold.

Council representatives had a chance to meet with the friends at summer school - both at Sidcot, and at the highly successful Ampleforth in its first, but almost certainly not its last, year. There, they spoke of the Council’s role in Bahá’í administration, and more specifically in trying to win the goals of the Four Year Plan as set out by the National Spiritual Assembly. As a result, most will remember the launch of the first ever all England Teaching Campaign - Make Your Mark 157 - just three months ago in Nottingham. The Council was much heartened by the many positive comments that it has received in response to this campaign.

I personally feel a real connection to the rest of this wonderful Bahá’í community in England composed of so many different nationalities when I say the campaign prayer every evening. I carry my card with the prayer on it in my diary, so I have no excuse not to say it even when not at home!

In order to strengthen its own connection with the community, the Council has launched its quarterly newsletter - The English Bahá’í. We would really like to hear from all the different corners of England with your news of how the campaign, and how life in general is going. You will have also received the Council’s "Letter to the Nineteen Day Feast". We really hope that it acts as a stimulus for some great consultation at the monthly gathering. As well as the four key steps of the campaign, Make Your Mark 157 has several additional avenues of service.

The Council is very excited to hear that several of these have taken off over the summer months. Teaching projects were held in the South-West, the North and London areas amongst others; most of these have developed into "on-going" teaching projects; and there are plans for more in London, the Midlands, the South and the North in the coming months. Study circles have been started in London and the Midlands with plans to rapidly increase the numbers in this innovative training process. There have been several offers of home front pioneering, including even one possibly to the Scilly Isles!

Less than six months are left of the Four Year Plan. Many goals are left to be won. So when we say good-bye to the summer, let’s greet the autumn of this twilight hour with re-doubled efforts. The Council prays that it may be of service to this happy community, and sends you all its most loving greetings.

Babak Javid on behalf of the Council for England