May 26, 2003

DEARLY LOVED FRIENDS

Eighty-five delegates and over 330 friends attended National Convention in Llandudno on May 24-26.

The wide-ranging consultations were marked by a high degree of unity, clarity and maturity and addressed the themes at the heart of the Five Year Plan, providing valuable insights to the incoming National Spiritual Assembly about what now needs to be done to accelerate the momentum that has been steadily increasing in the first two years of the Plan.

There was a palpable sense of confidence and excitement at Convention about the direction that the Faith is moving in these islands. It was a confidence born of a keener, deeper understanding of the dynamics of the growth process upon which the Bahá’í world is currently and collectively embarked – a process so movingly and powerfully portrayed in “Building Momentum”, a video specially prepared for the Ninth International Convention and which was screened on the first evening of Convention. This video, copies of which will soon be made available to the friends and which the delegates have been asked to show at their feedback meetings, tells the story of seven clusters in various parts of the world, all of which are working in the forefront of Bahá’í activity. The seven stories gave a vivid picture of the coherence achieved by the lines of action called for in the Five Year Plan and greatly informed the deliberations of the delegates.

Convention was blessed by the inspirational presence of Counsellor Shahriar Razavi, whose brilliant presentations captivated the hearts and minds of all those in attendance. In the wake of his imminent departure to the Holy Land to serve as a Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre, Convention bade Counsellor Razavi a loving and tearful farewell following a presentation by the National Spiritual Assembly which recalled the many aspects of his distinguished and outstanding services to the Cause of God in the United Kingdom. His dear wife Tiffani’s services were also recognised in this special tribute as she and little Ariana joined him on the stage to wave after wave of sustained applause.

The high point of the weekend was the election of the National Spiritual Assembly, conducted in a spirit of prayerful reverence, to which the following believers were elected in descending order of votes received:

Mr Robert Weinberg Mr Barney Leith Dr Shirin Tahzib Dr Wendi Momen Dr Kishan Manocha Mrs Rita Bartlett Dr John Parris Mr Peter Hulme Dr Iain Palin

76 73 66 63 62 54 49 45 45

The newly-elected National Assembly held its first meeting at Convention and the following were returned as the Assembly’s officers for the Bahá’í administrative year 2003-2004:

Chairman: Vice-Chairman: Secretary: Assistant Secretary: Treasurer:

Shirin Tahzib Robert Weinberg Barney Leith Kishan Manocha Wendi Momen

Convention sent messages to the Universal House of Justice, the Hands of the Cause of God, the Continental Board of Counsellors for Europe, the friends in the Cradle of the Faith, and the National Spiritual Assembly of Cyprus.

The National Spiritual Assembly’s first full meeting of the year will be held at the National Hazíratu’l-Quds over the weekend of 6-8 June.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,
National Spiritual Assembly
Kishan Manocha, Assistant Secretary

March 20, 2003

The National Spiritual Assembly is aware that some Local Spiritual Assemblies are being contacted by an increasing number of refugees and asylum seekers from Iran and other countries. As you are aware, special conditions apply to the teaching and enrolment of Iranian Muslims in the Faith. However, the National Assembly has recently received a letter dated March 19, 2003 from the Department of the Secretariat at the Bahá’í World Centre clarifying that the particular guidance about teaching and enrolling Iranian Muslims does not apply to refugees from countries other than Iran.

This letter is available to Local Spiritual Assemblies on request from the National Office, by emailing: resources@bahai.org.uk, by telephoning 020-7584 2566 or by writing to Resources, 27 Rutland Gate, London SW7 1PD.

May 12, 2003

The National Spiritual Assembly is pleased to announce the availability, in electronic and hard copy forms, of a document entitled “Building Momentum: A Coherent Approach to Growth”, prepared by the International Teaching Centre at the request of the Universal House of Justice for distribution at the Ninth International Bahá’í Convention.

“Building Momentum” is the latest in a series of documents issued by the House of Justice which summarises the experience of the Bahá’í world in advancing the process of entry by troops, and is the result of the Teaching Centre’s careful analysis of both the guidance of the House of Justice and the methods and approaches employed by the friends in every part of the globe in meeting the requirements of the Plan. The National Spiritual Assembly therefore warmly commends this important document to the study of the friends.

“Building Momentum” is available in electronic form by sending an email to resources@bahai.org.uk, and in hard copy form upon contacting the National Office. email: oea@bahai.org.uk).

Beloved Friends,
We write to you at the close of the National Convention in the United Kingdom, 24-26 May 2003, more confident and excited that ever before about the direction that the Faith is moving in these islands. It is a confidence born of a keener, deeper understanding of the dynamics of the growth process upon which the Bahá’í world is currently embarked – a process so movingly and powerfully portrayed in the “Building Momentum” video which was screened on the first evening of Convention, and so beautifully and brilliantly explained to us in the masterly presentations of Counsellor Shahriar Razavi.

The consultations at Convention have been marked by a high degree of unity, clarity and maturity and have addressed the themes at the heart of the Five Year Plan, providing valuable insights to the incoming National Spiritual Assembly about what now needs to be done to accelerate the momentum that has been steadily increasing in the first two years of the Plan.

Youth representatives, Soha Graham and Michael Jay

Convention also wishes to acknowledge the welcome proclamation accorded the Faith as a result of the publication in today’s edition of two leading daily newspapers of an obituary of David Hofman, former member of the Universal House of Justice.

Ever conscious of, and grateful to, the Supreme Body for its unfailing, unerring guidance and for the range of resources, in particular the “Building Momentum” video, that it has placed at the disposal of the Bahá’í world in order to facilitate the transition of our community to the new state of thought and action befitting the Fifth Epoch of the Formative Age, we pledge ourselves to “realise, to the fullest, the extraordinary opportunities of these precious days.”

With warmest love,
The friends gathered at National Convention in the United Kingdom

28th May, 2003

AS MANY of you know, Mrs Tiffani Razavi will shortly be leaving England to reside at the Bahá’í World Centre and has therefore had to relinquish her membership of the Bahá’í Council for England. The National Spiritual Assembly wishes to pay tribute to Tiffani’s outstanding contribution to the work of the Council and its precursor, the Regional Teaching and Administrative Committee for England, since 1996. Her high sense of devotion and self-sacrificing spirit are among the many outstanding qualities that she has brought to bear on the work of this vibrant institution.

Ms Fidelma Meehan now fills the vacancy on the Council thus created by Tiffani’s departure and the National Assembly wishes Fidelma well in her new position of service.