Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: David Langness, Report from the 1995 National Convention, bahai-library.com.
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Report from the 1995 National Convention

David Langness

1995-04

Day One -- US National Bahá'í Convention -- April 27, 1995

The convention opened Thursday evening, April 27th, 1995, in the baroque
Bismarck Theatre in downtown Chicago. Judge James Nelson, chairman of
the outgoing National Spiritual Assembly, gaveled the meeting to order
with a call for "joy, vigor and victory." Continental Counselors
Stephen Birkland, William Roberts and Wilma Ellis gave short remarks,
and the permanent convention officers elections made Judge Dorothy Nelson
the chairwoman and William Davis the secretary. (Ballot totals,
respectively: Chair -- 148 cast, 11 invalid; Sec'y -- 152 cast, 15
invalid)

Secretary General Robert C. Henderson presented a summary of the NSA's
annual report, explaining that its different format, much more detailed
this year than in past years, came from the Universal House of Justice's
exhortation to the NSA in their letter of May 19, 1994 [see uhj_nsa-us_1994-05-19], urging the NSA
to "banish every vestige of secrecy" from their communications with the
believers. Henderson also cited the May 19th letter as "the most
revolutionary communication from the World Center since the Peace
Statement, and before that the Advent of Divine Justice."

The annual report outlines the hopes, cares and plans of the NSA in a
dense, 14-page format, presenting much specific financial, numerical
and statistical data. Their hopes for individual spiritual growth of
the American Bahá'ís, for eliminating backbiting and gossip, for the
maturation of the institutions led the report. Collaboration of the
appointed and elected institutions, more individual initiative, and
the empowerment of Bahá'í youth and children completed the section on
hopes.

Henderson listed the NSA's cares as primarily beginning with a lack of
passion for teaching among many friends, asserting that our progress
is slow as a result. He then listed national fund deficits, lack of
rigorous attention to Bahá'u'lláh's standard for racial unity, and
insufficient teaching work among American Indians as the NSA's other
cares.

In the "plans" section of his talk, the Secretary General spoke about
Vision in Action (the NSA's version for the US of the UHJ's Three-
Year Plan); about a plan for decentralization which calls upon the
local communities to take on more responsibility and the NSA to focus
more exclusively on matters of national policy and strategy, but which
has been currently shelved for lack of funds for implementation; about
an electronic network designed to link the Counselors, ABMs and LSAs
with the NSA; and about the establishment of an Office of Spiritual
Assembly Development at the National Center.

He also addressed the financial disparities left over from the World
Congress, saying that to date all but $240,000 of the amount due by
the friends has been collected, and that all monies received from
airlines and attendees "are forwarded to the World Center."

In conclusion, Henderson spoke at length about the NSA's response to
the UHJ's May 19th letter, which he said "had a profound effect on
the thinking of the NSA," and called "the most revolutionary
communication from the World Center since the Peace Statement and
before that the Advent of Divine Justice." In response to the letter,
he said the NSA had conducted a series of meetings with the
Counselors, dissolved its internal Executive Committee, whose
"existence was divisive," restructured its agenda to focus on issues
of national policy and strategy, moved to change the format of the
annual report and the Convention, and held deepenings for National
Center staff on the issues raised by the letter.

Secretary for External Affairs Firuz Khazemzadeh then reported on
the work of the External Affairs office, beginning by saying that the
Bahá'í community in the US is "committed to human rights," and by
detailing the many ways the EA office pursues "deeper involvement in
the pressing issues facing humanity." He reported on an exhibit to
be mounted by the NSA's EA office in the Cannon House Rotunda in
Washington, DC, beginning on May 3rd. The unusual exhibit, requested
by Mrs. Tom Lantos, the wife of one of the strongest supporters of the
Iranian Bahá'ís in the US House of Representatives, will focus around
the theme of "The Defense of Religious Liberty." (also its title)
Recently cleared by Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich's office, the
exhibit will feature photographs of martyred Bahá'ís, of Bahá'í groups
and communities in areas other than Iran, of Thomas Jefferson and of
Gingrich himself with two local Georgia Bahá'ís. Jefferson's words,
from the First Amendment to the US Constitution and other documents,
will also be included.

Finally in the evening, NSA Treasurer William Davis spoke about the
National Fund, describing record levels of contributions, projected to
be seven percent (7%) higher than last year in all fund categories.
However, he said that actual National Fund totals declined in the face
of an increasing percentage dedicated to the Arc. Davis cited several
troubling factors facing the fund, including extreme seasonal
fluctuations, a debt of $9.6 million, and a cash and contribution flow
shortfall pattern which he said "cannot hold the center, with our
continued cohesion a major problem."

The annual report also contains other vital statistics, including the
enrollment and withdrawal figures for the year and the progress to date
on the numerical goals of the Three Year Plan. Enrollments totalled
1,383 adults and 417 youth, and 402 people withdrew from membership,
with 41 being reinstated after withdrawing. 238 Bahá'ís left the US
for international pioneering posts. One numerical goal -- raising
3,000 travel teachers and 500 homefront pioneers -- has already been
met, but the goal of 142 new LSAs in communities of more than
50,000 people has only reached a total of five new LSAs.

The opening session drew to a close at 10:30 pm, with no time left for
consultation. More gospel music filled the air as all attendees rose
to sing together.

Day Two -- US National Bahá'í Convention -- April 28, 1995

Chicago--The second day of the 86th US National Bahá'í Convention
opened with a reading of the Ridvan Message from the Universal House
of Justice. (previously posted on Talisman, so not repeated here)
Immediately following the reading, NSA Treasurer William Davis and
Secretary-General Robert C. Henderson made a presentation on "The
National Fund Challenge: Preserving the Lifeblood." Davis and
Henderson stated that the National Bahá'í Fund stands in jeopardy in
the coming nine months, because of decreasing National Fund
contributions in the face of increasing Arc contributions, slumping
patterns of giving in the summer months, and the inability of the
NSA to borrow more funds because of their more than $9 million debt.
Davis made a frank and forthright appeal to the American Bahá'í
Community to change their patterns of giving to provide the NSA with
a regular and consistent stream of contributions throughout the year.

Consultation followed. Many suggestions from the delegates came
forward, most on ways the NSA might consider fund-raising or saving
on expenses. One delegate then asked about the income of NSA members
and other employees of the Faith, inquiring as to whether some
families earned large incomes from the Fund, and asking whether or
not the Universal House of Justice could be consulted about what the
delegate perceived as a widespread national concern over executive
compensation. William Davis then replied, saying that the NSA reviews
the financial needs of full-time executive employees annually, and
that the UHJ is then apprised of the arrangements. Davis then
expounded on the differences between the checks and balances in the
"old world" US system, saying that lack of trust is endemic to it. He
then questioned the faith in the Covenant of those who would mistrust
the NSA, while saying that the question itself was a legitimate one.

Many delegates then spoke in defense of the NSA's salary practices,
many implying that those who work for the Faith are drastically
undercompensated.

Henderson also commented, saying that the National Center operates
with a skeletal staff, who have had no raises in 8 years. "We have
to get off the critical list of financial insolvency," he said.

Another delegate then described the almost one quarter of American
Local Assemblies who do not contribute to the national fund as a
"problem of firmness in the Covenant of LSAs." This led to much
consultation, some of it emotional, on whether the NSA should take
actions or even sanction such LSAs. One delegate said "Consultation
should not be used to intimidate," referring to the repeated remarks
from delegates condemning those who would question policies of the
elected institutions.

Counsellor William Roberts then added that consultation on the fund
could be productive, but short-term fixes should not take the place
of long-term thinking on the issue.

As the afternoon session began, Counsellor Stephen Birkland commented
on the openness and frankness of the morning's consultation, and
cited such communication as evidence of increasing maturation of the
believers and of the consultation process. He urged those with
questions of policy to readily and honestly ask them, saying that
the national convention was the proper forum for such inquiries.

Then Native American delegate Ferris Paisano made a special presentation,
reading in a slow cadence the names of the first all-Indian LSA, first
established in 1948, and then a list of names of the first believers
from many different Indian nations. He cited the first Native American
believer -- Marion Steffes, from the Oneida Nation, and moved the
audience by saying "We must remember the people whose shoulders we
rode in on -- especially the pioneers whose bodies are buried on our
land."

The National Teaching Committee then presented a slide program,
narrated by Ken Bowers, designed to show the progress of the teaching
goals of the 3-Year Plan. Bowers said that several goals had been met,
but that that very slow growth patterns of growth over the past 15 years
hampered the forward progress of the Faith in the US. He did note a
small increase in the number of Local Assemblies this past year,
reversing a six-year slide in total numbers. He urged Bahá'ís to
remember that we have "an active Bahá'í community," but also said that
"We're concerned that we see a much too conservative approach to
teaching ethnic minorities on the part of many LSAs." He cited one
unnamed Assembly, who deigned to teach minorities, instead saying that
they planned to focus on teaching "people of capacity," and garnered
much applause when he stated that "People of capacity are not just
white people, you know."

Consultation on teaching then ensued. Many anecdotal teaching stories
came forth from the delegates, but some new proposals also emerged:
a suggestion for a "Habitat for Humanity"-style Bahá'í project for
building local Bahá'í Centers, which generated much comment and
support; a recommendation for a statement from the NSA on the subject
of "America's Mission and Role in World History," which passed
overwhelmingly; a suggestion for a more intensified focus on Indian
teaching; and suggestions to hold "spiritual meetings" designed to
provide a spiritual atmosphere for seekers as an alternative to
discussion-heavy meetings and firesides.

Friday night's program kicked off with more music and a short Ninth
Day of Ridvan program, followed by more consultation. Some of the
delegates persisted in urging those assembled to be more faithful,
more spiritual and more active, but others wanted to discuss matters
with a larger national policy scope. Delegates raised the
question of the May 19th, 1994 letter from the UHJ to the US NSA, but
were told that directed consultation on that matter and the NSA's
response to its challenges had been scheduled for Saturday morning,
during the closed session after the actual balloting. While some
delegates wanted to discuss the matter with the audience present,
the Chair strongly requested delegates to hold their comments until
Saturday morning, and they did so.

The evening session closed with a report from a task force that
recently uncovered, with the help of a local historical society,
records of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's visit to the home of American political
figure William Jennings Bryan and of a prayer 'Abdu'l-Bahá
revealed for Bryan and his wife and family. The short prayer closed the
session at 10:15 pm.

As the session closed, 165 of 171 delegates were in attendance, the
highest figure in several years. However, attendance, expected to
reach 1500-1800, was approximately 800 delegates and visitors.

Day Three -- US National Bahá'í Convention -- April 29, 1995

Chicago--Balloting for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís
of the United States occurred here today, with the same National
Spiritual Assembly re-elected. The tally:

Dorothy Nelson 127 votes

William E. Davis 124

Robert C. Henderson 114

Firuz Khazemzadeh 93

Patricia Locke 83

James Nelson 77

Juana Conrad 70

Jack McCants 65

Alberta Deas 54

Delegates present and voting: 166

Delegates voting by mail: 3

Total delegate vote count: 169

Total number of delegates: 171

Invalid Ballots: 1

Total number of persons

voted for (spread): 259

Saturday morning of the National Convention, traditionally reserved for
voting and closed consultation among delegates, was held back this year
for discussion of the May 19th, 1994 letter of the Universal House of
Justice and its implications. Consultation began when a delegate asked
what the UHJ was referring to in their letter when they commented on
the appearance of disunity within the Assembly. James Nelson answered,
saying that the House's comment produced "something between acute concern
and high anxiety" for the NSA, but that the members of the NSA did not
know what the House meant. He added that the UHJ letter answered many
unspoken questions, however.

Counsellor Wilma Ellis then pointed out that the May 19th letter referred
only to the "appearance" of disunity and ownership, not the actual
condition. Juana Conrad then bluntly asked the assembled delegates
about what the Bahá'í rank and file had been telling Counsellors and
the Universal House of Justice that might lead them to this conclusion.

Robert Henderson then made an impassioned speech, saying that responding
to the UHJ letter was not an easy thing to do. He cited the difficulties
of battling the community's "perceptions" of the NSA; said that having to
lay off more than 200 Bahá'ís in the past eight years was intensely
unsettling; and commented that "nobody ran for this office, and there is
no university of Bahá'í administration -- we are all practicing."

The delegates then offered the NSA members their expressions of love and
support. Several delegates later characterized the morning's discussion
as very cordial and candid. Other delegates expressed a variety of
opinions:

"They (the NSA) seemed so beleaguered, but the meeting was very candid,
very good."

"On a scale of good, better, best -- better. People have been really
encouraged to speak out, praised for it instead of crushed, all the
detailed financial documents are available upstairs. They've never
done that before. We'll see how it comes out in a few weeks, though,
when (Universal House of Justice member) Ali Nakhjavani comes to town."

"It was like throwing rocks at wounded deer, so hardly anyone said a
thing. Not much clash at all, which for some people was good, but for
others was not."

"The NSA looked extremely shell-shocked and unhappy, expecting to be
lambasted. I wonder how my Assembly would feel if they got such a letter."

"The letter from the House was really about the perceptions of the
community, and so was addressed to us all, not just the NSA."

"Chastened and chastised, the NSA acquitted themselves well this
morning. I think we are on our way to increasing trust."

"No one loves this Assembly more than me, but we need to see more
openness and candor than I saw this morning -- what I saw was
defensiveness."

[Note: Comments for this section based on interviews with 12 delegates
who attended the closed session. Quotes unattributed to protect
confidentiality.]

On Saturday afternoon, the first recommendation, citing fear among
delegates about speaking honestly and thus appearing disloyal, suggested
that the NSA consider setting aside more closed session time. Removing
the visitor audience for longer sessions, the delegate suggested, would
have the effect of reducing the need for those delegates who speak "to
appear more fervid than the next, as if playing to a crowd." The
motion, after much discussion, failed.

Then a long period of consultation on the subject of Robert's Rules of
Order (used faithfully at National Convention) ensued. Many delegates
spoke against their use, suggesting that they were the product of a
Eurocentric cultural bias, that they cut off quality consultation when
delegates from more deliberative cultures like Native Americans were
still preparing their contributions, and that they stifled an atmosphere
of spiritual exchange. While the motion to stop using them failed, the
Chair welcomed suggestions from delegates and believers at large for
improving the quality of consultation at the Convention.

Robert Henderson rose to speak and expressed frustration at the level of
the delegate's input on the written reports prepared in advance by the NSA
and on the Ridvan Message, as well. "I'm concerned that there is very
little reference to the issues raised in the NSA reports," he commented.

Delegate Joe Galata then arose and stirred the convention with his story
of being unable to find joy and the mention of God in Bahá'í meetings
any longer, and therefore seeking those things in his Gypsy heritage and
their joyous celebrations and worship. "I had to go back to my culture
to find joy, because I wanted to worship God, not rehabilitate all our
fellow Bahá'ís and go to meetings where God never came up except in the
opening prayer. We need the NSA to inspire us and lift us up." Galata's
plea for increased spirit galvanized many delegates, and the consultation
briefly rallied.

Dorothy Nelson, in response to a question from the floor about the NSA
plan to decentralize the community and turn over more of the responsibility for administration to the Local Assemblies, said that LSAs
may soon be asked to keep their own membership and records files;
retain and file their own records of all types; and decide on such
matters as the removal of administrative rights of individual
believers. This decentralization plan has been prepared with much
thought and input, she said, but was currently on hold because of the
$500,000 required to implement it.

At 1:00 pm, Treasurer Bill Davis reported more than $35,000 in
contributions received during the convention, with an additional
$17,000 in pledges.

The evening session introduced the newly-reelected National Spiritual
Assembly, and then segued into a report on the Huquq'u'llah from
Trustee Dariush Hahgigi, who showed an excerpt of a new film on the
Huquq featuring Hands of the Cause Furutan and Varqa.

The new Bahá'í newsreel was then shown, focusing on the Louis Gregory
Institute and WLGI Radio Bahá'í in South Carolina. Chair Nelson then
called all participants in the newsreel to the stage, and standing
ovations resulted. The session drew to a spirited close with the
Bahá'í Gospel Singers.

Day Four -- US National Bahá'í Convention -- April 30, 1995

Chicago--The 86th US National Bahá'í Convention drew to a close
here today. Characterized by a spirit of loving fellowship among
the attendees, uplifted by gospel music, prayers and special
presentations, and yet marked by tensions over leadership questions
raised by the Universal House of Justice letter of May 19, 1994 to
the US NSA, the convention re-elected all nine incumbent National
Spiritual Assembly members.

The final half-day of consultation attempted to focus on the
subject of "Applying the Guardian's Directives to the issue of Race
Unity." The morning witnessed several new topics of discussion,
closing presentations by all three Continental Counsellors present,
and a rousing gospel finish. Among the topics raised for
consultation by the delegates:

-Much serious discussion ensued on a recommendation that the
NSA consider establishing a self-supporting non-profit corporation
to provide and offer diversity training to companies. The
recommendation carried.

-An African-American delegate made a strong suggestion that we
make it a policy to divorce all "race unity" activities from their
traditional connections to the African-American Bahá'ís. She noted
that race unity could more properly be cast as a predominantly
white concern, and said that racial harmony as the only teaching
approach to African-Americans inevitably insulted them, assuming as
it does that the sole significant concern of the African-American
community is racial in nature.

-One delegate suggested that the Bahá'í community resume race
amity conferences, of the type that were held in the twenties, and
take back the leadership of the race unity issue in the US. Others
added that with the social focus in the country shifting to
concerns like affirmative action and California's Proposition 187,
the time was ripe for significant Bahá'í leadership on the issue.

-Persians should be invited to share more in consultation, one
person strongly suggested, because their cultural barriers and
natural shyness made them refrain from doing so. The Bahá'í
community needs, the speaker said, to encourage both Persians and
Native Americans to contribute more to our deliberations

-Along those same lines, one female delegate stated that the
largest percentage of speakers seemed to be male. While the
delegate spoke, Chair Dorothy Nelson counted the delegate
participants on the list, and announced that:

of 120 male delegates, 68 had spoken

of 51 female delegates, 33 had spoken.

Judge Nelson concluded that a greater percentage of the women
delegates had spoken, but that of course their total number was
certainly smaller.

-One delegate raised the issue of the review of songs, and
Robert C. Henderson replied that the Special Materials Review
Committee had recently been done away with, along with the
requirement of review for anything other than Bahá'í literature.
He pointed out that the American Bahá'í would carry an education
and deepening series on these issues.

-And finally, the last delegate to speak raised the issue of
intermarriage between Persian and African American Bahá'ís, saying
that the community needs an enormous campaign of education in this
area, as some parents were unwilling to give their sons and
daughters consent because of race. The delegate emphasized that
the family should not stand in the way of the youth, who had
obviously learned the principle of the oneness of humanity better
than their parents.

One significant subject occupied the focus of much of the off-the-
floor discussion among both delegates and visitors -- the seeming
alienation of some of the Persian community from the American
Bahá'í mainstream. Saturday night's music presentation of both
gospel music and the Chicago Youth Workshop's rap music and hip-hop
dance routines disturbed some of the more traditional Bahá'ís,
according to many, who find it difficult associating a spirit of
reverence with such styles. Others suggested that deep cultural
divides between non-English speaking Persians and minority American
groups were widening as the American Bahá'í community developed
more programs and presentations specifically influenced and even
driven by American popular culture.

Treasurer William Davis announced that the convention had raised
$127,747 in contributions and $17,000 in pledges for the National
Fund, and $39,325 in contributions and $37,000 in pledges for the
Arc Fund.

In her closing remarks, Chair Nelson indicated that the NSA wanted
as much input as possible from the delegates and the believers at
large, and reading the National Center's telephone number to the
crowd, urged everyone to call or write with suggestions for the
better functioning of the administration and the community. [Bahá'í
National Center: 1-708-869-9039]

In his summary, Counsellor William Roberts emphasized women's
empowerment, saying that Bahá'í men "have a lot to learn from
women." He then compared `Abdu'l-Bahá's wedding, unique for its
sense of unity and spiritual harmony, to the relationship that
should obtain between the believers and the National Spiritual
Assembly.

Counsellor Stephen Birkland summed up by congratulating delegates
on the refinement of their consultation skills and the high level
of the issues the delegates raised. He said it heartened him to
hear the deep interest in these important matters of the Cause from
the floor, and encouraged the Bahá'ís to continue offering
constructive dialogue.

In her summation, Counsellor Wilma Ellis thanked the Institution of
the Learned, especially the Auxiliary Board, for their support of
the NSA during this difficult time. She suggested that it was
important that the Bahá'ís in the US community refrain from
complaining and backbiting to Universal House of Justice Member Ali
Nahkjavani during his upcoming visit, saying that we should not let
him take back all of our concerns to Haifa. Yes, there are
problems, she noted, but we need to unite and try to solve them.

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