Insert to The American BahB'I published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States National for BahA9konly. ~aha~Review February 1979 Bahl'T Year 135 No. 108 Door-to-Door Teaching Clarified Several years ago the National Spiritual Assembly of method, the National Assembly wishes to point out that it . , Canada published a statement in the Canadian Bahd'i should be done only at the discretion of the assembly or News on door-to-door teaching after it had consulted with organized group on Its own responsibility, and with due the Universal House of Justice about the matter. In recent consideration for the dignity of the Faith. months many of the friends have asked about the ad- "This statement is not to be interpreted as permitting visability of door-to-door teaching, and the National every and any individual to undertake such activities on his Spiritual Assembly feels it is timely to reprint the state- own initiative without consultation with the local assembly ment made by the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada or group." for the guidance of the friends: The Local Spiritual Assembly or District Teaching Com- "The National Spiritual Assembly has now had an op- mittee sponsoring the teaching project should satisfy itself portunity to consult with the Universal House of Justice on that the approach would not create a bad impression of the the subject of door-to-door presentation of the Baha'l Faith in the community. If a negative response is received, Faith. In the view of the Universal House of Justice, the the sponsoring institution must be prepared to deal with it principle which should govern our approach to this entire in an appropriate manner. questionxissummed up in a sentence of BahA'u'llAh: 'The wise are they that speak not unless they obtain a hearing.' ' They point out, therefore, that it is essential that 'no teaching activity should be an encroachment on people's privacy, nor should it force the teachings upon unwilling Friends Are Advised To listeners.' "Some communities have proposed the conducting of Contact Local Officials surveys to determine the interest of non-Baha'l citizens in such subjects as religion in the schools, racial integration, etc. The purpose of these surveys would be to gather some When Teaching clear indication about public attitudes to matters con- sidered important by BahB'ls. Such surveys or question- Civil law permits Baha'is to teach the Faith publicly, naires must not contain any reference, implicit or explicit, but there may be local regulations to follow in order to do to the Baha'i Faith. On this question the Universal House so. For example, some communities require that a permit of Justice has stated: 'If people are to be asked a question, or a badge be issued for each teaching campaign. it should be for the reason that it is necessary for the spon- Public officials, such as police, the city manager or the sor to know the answers. Baha'ls should not use such a mayor in small communities, should be visited by the method as a subterfuge to press the message upon peo- _ sponsoring group in* advance of each public teaching proj- pie.' ect and informed of plans for teaching as well as the aims "Regarding the distribution of Baha'l literature from and purposes of the Faith. The friends will find that check- door-to-door, the Guardian's statement (Oct. 20, 1956) ing first with police and complying with local regulations quite clearly prohibits such a practice: 'He feels that to will protect them should local citizens complain. distribute Baha'l pamphlets from door-to-door . is un- The Public Officials information Kit from the BahA'l dignified and might create a bad impression of the Faith. Publishing Trust (6-67-03) can be helpful in this visit. No doubt, it is the eagerness and devotion of the friends Police officials should be given a copy of any invitations that led them to make this proposal, but he does not think being handed out by the BahA'ls so that they will know that the best interests of the Cause are served by such a about the activity in case they get telephone calls. method ....'" When a new teaching team enters a town after another The importance of discretion and honesty is stressed in team has been there, it, too, should check with the local of- using the door-to-door teaching approach. indiscriminate ficial the previous team had seen. This means that the distribution of BahA'I literature must be avoided and no name of the official should be recorded and given to the subterfuge is permissible. Announcements of teaching project coordinator and the District Teaching Committee so events fall within the scope of acceptable practice, as do that when the town is revisited, the teachers can introduce certain committee- or assembly-planned programs. In 1963 themselves to an official already acquainted with the Faith. the National Spiritual Assembly provided general guidance in this matter: In contacting local officials, the intent is to inform them of your plans, acquaint them with the Faith, and introduce "While this'type of teaching may be undertaken, par- yourselves, rather than to seek their permission to teach. It ticularly in neighborhoods where there is a concentration is possible that local ordinances may prohibit certain of illiterate people who cannot be reached by any other teaching activities. National Baha~Review 15 or More Are Needed to Incorporate With the Five Year Plan drawing to a close, many Local nual report. The penalty for failure to file is usually involun- Spiritual Assemblies are preparing to take the steps tary dissolution of the corporation. necessary to achieve the goal of 400 incorporated The following areextracts from the writings of the belov- Assemblies. ed Guardian on the subject of incorporation: This is admirable, and the National Spiritual Assembly "It is surely very important to give the Local Spiritual hopes that as many Assemblies as possible will in- Assemblies some legal standing, for as the Cause pro- corporate. However, experience has shown that before at- gresses and its adherents increase, they will be confronted tempting to fulfill this goal, a community should be suffi- with duties they cannot even imagine at present. Not only ciently stable. Consequently, the National Spiritual will they have to make contracts for acquiring halls for their Assembly will be encouraging only communities with 15 meeting place, but also they will be obliged to create new believers or more to do so. Assemblies considering in- institutions to care for their sick, poor, and aged people. corporation should write for guidance to the National We hope that before long the BahB'ls will even afford to Spiritual Assembly before consulting an attorney. have schools that would provide the children in the intel lec- Regarding the maintenance of an Assembly's in- tual and spiritual education as prescribed in the writings of corporated status, most states require their non-profit cor- BahA'u'llAh and the Master. porations to file an annuarreport and to pay a nominal year- "For such duties that will naturally devolve upon the ly filing fee. All incorporated Local Spiritual Assemblies Local Spiritual Assemblies there will be an increasing need should determine if their state has such a requirement and, for a legal standing. They will have to be considered as a if so, comply with its details. In most cases the department legal person with the power of making binding contracts. of your state that requires the annual report will send you a "In small centers where the friends arestill few, the tak- form to fill out. However, the statute is usually written to ing of such steps is rather premature and may add to the make it the responsibility of the corporation to file the an- complexity of BahA'l administration." Membership of Mental Patients and Prisoners Every religious community must accept some respon- sibly. Again, every support and assistance possible within sibility for those less fortunate members who require the resources of the community is to be made available to hospitalization for mental difficulties or who have been im- the person, though this effort must not consume all of the prisoned for infractions of civil law. The BahB'I communi- friends' time and energies. ty should be aware of its responsibilities and needs to If an individual's rights of membership have been revok- , , know how to cope with these problems. ed by the National Spiritual Assembly, then his rights are The mentally imbalanced require special care in addition not automatically restored upon his release. The individual to the loving-kindness and understanding that the Bahd'l may petition the National Spiritual Assembly for restora- community strives to extend to all its members. Profes- tion of his rights either through his Local Spiritual sional assistance is required, and Local Spiritual Assembly or by writing directly if there is no Assembly in Assemblies and concerned individuals should urge his area. BahA'ls who are having severe psychological problems to When Bahd'l communities grow in numbers, strength seek the services of competent professionals. and human resources, it is to be expected that greater If the person is disrupting the tranquillity of the Bahd'l preventive and therapeutic assistance will be extended to community, then some kind of administrative action may needy fellow citizens of the BahVl society. be necessary, involving either the imposition of limited sanctions by the Local Spiritual Assembly or the depriva- New Policy for tion of membership rights by the National Spiritual Assembly at the Local Assembly's recommendation.