NSA 1991 VISION OF RACE UNITY STATEMENT

We have taken a short hiatus from our study of the Double Crusade to catch up on some of the correspondence from our Institutions to our communities. We are aware that some are isolated or do not attend Feast, and therefore do not have the opportunity to consult while others may attend Feast, but have limited or no deep consultation. 

So, today we will read and discuss the feast letter for Kalimat together. 

NSA Message for Feast of Kalimát 'July 11, 2020

To the American Bahá’í community for the Feast of Kalimát

Dearly loved Friends,

(1) Our hearts continue to be uplifted by news we are receiving of the energy, creativity, and resourcefulness you are displaying in your work to further the aims of the current Five Year Plan at this critical moment in our nation’s history. Across the country, friends of the Faith and contacts are showing a greater level of appreciation for Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings and are evincing increased desire to join in our efforts to build a new and all-embracing kind of community life.

(2) In our message at Ridván, we called on the members of every Bahá’í household to hold a regular devotional gathering and we are pleased to report the goal has already met with an enthusiastic response. By exploring two dimensions of these gatherings, their importance to all our services can clearly be seen.

(3) One dimension comes sharply into focus when we think of devotionals as integral to the work of community building and not as unrelated activities. When we come together with our friends in a home or a meeting place imbued with a reverent spirit, sharing the sacred texts and seeking to draw closer to God, a special environment is created that promotes a binding of hearts with deep spiritual ties. Feelings of love and unity are generated, inspired by a common love for the Creator and through recognition of our oneness. Opportunities are opened up for rich conversations inspired by the Word of God. Such conversations can lead to greater understanding of spiritual verities and their application in the world, then to unified practical action born from earnest desire for the betterment of society.

(4) Friends and contacts interested in the spiritual welfare of children, for example, or in the moral education of junior youth can be encouraged to permit their sons and daughters to participate in children’s classes or junior youth groups or to serve as teachers or animators. Others might be inspired to undertake service projects or to engage in discourse founded on insights they have discovered in the Bahá’í teachings. Still others might wish to join a study circle or to further investigate the Faith. Devotional gatherings, then, can and often do serve as a portal of entry to our core activities and other features of the Plan’s framework. They can also strengthen activities that already exist. We thus can think of devotional gatherings as a spur to the development of several capacities, among them the capacity to gather regularly for prayer and study of the Writings; the capacity for elevated conversations on issues of importance; and the capacity to invite others to join with us in meaningful service. Each of these is addressed in the sequence of institute courses, an essential resource as we accompany and encourage each other.

(5) A second dimension has to do with conditions in America at this time―particularly as they continue to heighten awareness of the longstanding racial injustice that afflicts us. Our proper response as Bahá’ís to these conditions has been described in the guidance we have been receiving from the Universal House of Justice in the recent series of Plans, a compilation of which was made available to you on May 15 for the Feast of ‘Azamat. Devotional gatherings can be one of many means of addressing the issue of racial justice if we act on their potential to bring together people of diverse backgrounds to carry on meaningful conversations in safe, loving environments and to engage in service with the aim of creating a more just society. We should also consider the manner in which our devotion to God is expressed. Different cultures draw upon rich musical and artistic

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traditions. Each has great value and meaning. If we truly wish to manifest the oneness of humanity and to express the importance to our community life of people of color, we must be extremely careful not to allow the cultural expression of the majority to dominate others. As in all our activities, the participation of community members of all cultures should be encouraged in our devotions, whether as significant contributors to a diverse program or in programs devoted to a single cultural tradition.  If we wish to attract people of all cultures to join in our community-building efforts, we must ensure they will see themselves represented in the way we worship and be invited to serve both as planners and participants. 

(6) Taking African American friends as an example, hundreds of these stalwart believers participated last year in the Pupil of the Eye Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, and again, in late June, via video conference. Both gatherings fortified their desire to further the progress of the Plan in their home communities. This will no doubt occur in a host of ways, but one will assuredly be through holding devotional gatherings drawing on the richness of their spiritual traditions. It would be a wonderful gesture for Local Spiritual Assemblies to encourage these friends as well as others to take the lead in facilitating community devotionals where both believers and the public are welcome, and to bring that spirit into neighborhoods where large concentrations of African Americans reside. Such devotional gatherings can powerfully express the great truth of the oneness of humanity and our solidarity with people of color 

across the nation and across the globe.  

(7) With these thoughts in mind, we encourage you to think of devotional gatherings as occasions in which, drawing upon powers inherent in the Word of God, we gather with people of different backgrounds with the aim of eliminating racism from our society. 

As we do so, let us ask ourselves: 

Are we building the capacity to invite diverse people to come together, 

to pray and to serve side by side? 

Are we creating safe and loving environments for the sharing of perspectives 

and insights on the issue of race? 

Are we sincerely striving to learn from each other and to take effective action together?‘

(8) Abdu’l-Bahá wrote: “Ye observe to what a degree the world is in continual turmoil and conflict, and to what a pass its nations have now come.. . . It is your duty to be exceedingly kind to every human being, and to wish him well; to work for the upliftment of society; to blow the breath of life into the dead; to act in accordance with the instructions of Bahá'u'lláh and walk His path―until ye change the world of man into the world of God.”

(9) We eagerly look forward to news of the results of your efforts, and hope that you will share your experiences on our national Race Unity Action webpage (accessible here). Be assured of our deepest gratitude and our abiding affection and constant prayers for each and every one of you.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES

Kenneth E. Bowers

Secretary
 

 FRIDAY- July 10, 2020: Facilitator Martine Hubbard- SATURDAY, July 11,  Facilitator, Sandy Simmons 

 Today and tomorrow, we will continue studying the letter from the NSA to the country to prepare ourselves for our consultation with the NSA Secretary, Ken Bowers, on Monday, July 13th. We have been studying this letter for the past two weeks thoroughly for our understanding of its contents and how to use it to teach. We will start by reading the entire letter through paragraph 9 and share any insights we have up to that point. If we have time we will read additional paragraphs and consult further. Don't rush, we still have tomorrow!(CLICK HERE TO ACCESS AUDIO VERSION OF THE LETTER BELOW)
A Message from the Bahá’ís of the United States (1) 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.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) 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.
(6) 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.
PAGE 2(7) 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.
(8) 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:
(9) 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.
(10) 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 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.
(11) 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.
(12) 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.
PAGE 3(13) 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.
(14) 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