# Report from the 1995 National Convention

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-19 — 1 clipping.*

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> 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.
> ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
> 
> 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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> — *Report from the 1995 National Convention (Used by permission of the curator)*