How to Elect Bah' Institutions

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How to Elect Bahá'í Institutions

• The Responsibilities of
• Individual Bahá'ís

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Introductions

• Who am I?
• Pooneh Rassekh
• Why am I here?
• Fascination with the Bahá'í Administrative System
• Why are you here?

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Annual Bahá'í Elections

• Local Spiritual Assembly (9 people)
• National Convention Delegate (1 person)
• Regional Bahá'í Council (9 people by LSA
  members)
• National Spiritual Assembly (9 people by
  Delegates)
• Total of up to 28 positions to elect!

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Our Workshop Game-plan

• Study Bahá'í Writings for guidance on Bahá'í
  elections
• Share Tools and Tips to help us apply what weve
  learned

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Study Approach

• Read the quote
• Find concrete examples of qualities or attitudes
  presented
• Concrete examples are
• Find historical example of the quality under
  discussion

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Instructions from Guardian

• Letter June 3, 1925 to US National Convention
• Citation Bahá'í Administration, Pages 86-89
• Letter written to German Believer regarding
  elections
• The Light of Divine Guidance First of Two
  Volumes Page -- 68

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Electors are enjoined to consider without the
least trace of passion and prejudice, and
irrespective of any material consideration, the
names of only those who can best combine the
necessary qualities of unquestioned loyalty, of
selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of
recognized ability and mature experience.-Shogh
i Effendi, Baháí Administration, P.88
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Breaking down the quote

• Two clear sets instructions
• 1- How we should approach the balloting process
• Electors are enjoined, to consider without the
  least trace of passion and prejudice, and
  irrespective of any material consideration,
• 2- The qualities of the people we should look for
• ...the names of only those who can best combine
  the necessary qualities
• of unquestioned loyalty, of selfless devotion,
  of a well-trained mind, of
• recognized ability and mature experience.

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Breaking down the quote

• 1- How we should approach the balloting process -
  concrete examples
• a. No trace of passion
• b. No trace of prejudice
• c. No consideration of material issues
• Electors are enjoined, to consider without the
  least
• trace of passion and prejudice, and irrespective
  of
• any material consideration

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Breaking down the quote

• 2- The qualities of the people we should look for
  - concrete examples
• a. Unquestioned loyalty c. Well-trained mind
• b. Self-less devotion d. Recognized ability
• e. Mature experience
• the names of only those who can best combine
  the necessary qualities of unquestioned loyalty,
  of
• selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of
• recognized ability and mature experience.

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Historical Examples

• Self-less Devotion
• Khatun Jan - Qazvin
• Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, Vol. 2 Page 171
• Well-trained Mind
• Shaykh Salman - Messenger of the Merciful
• Revelation of Bahaullah, Vol. 1, Pages110-116

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Historical Examples

• Recognized Ability
• Fatimih Bagum - Sister of Aqa Muhammad-Ali
• Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, Vol. 2 Page 105
• Mature Experience
• Letters of the Living
• Dawn Breakers, Nabil Azam

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• Bahá'í electoral procedures and methods have,
  indeed, for one of their essential purposes the
  development in every believer of the spirit of
  responsibility. By emphasizing the necessity of
  maintaining his full freedom in the elections,
  they make it incumbent upon him to become an
  active and well-informed member of the Bahá'í
  community in which he lives. To be able to make a
  wise choice at the election time, it is necessary
  for him to be in close and continued contact with
  all local activities, be they teaching,
  administrative or otherwise
• -The Light of Divine Guidance First of Two
  Volumes Page -- 68

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• and to fully and whole-heartedly participate in
  the affairs of the local as well as national
  committees and assemblies in his country. It is
  only in this way that a believer can develop a
  true social consciousness and acquire a true
  sense of responsibility in matters affecting the
  interests of the Cause. Bahá'í community life
  thus makes it a duty for every loyal and faithful
  believer to become an intelligent, well-informed
  and responsible elector, and also gives him the
  opportunity of raising himself to such a
  station.
• -The Light of Divine Guidance First of Two
  Volumes Page -- 68

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Breaking down the quote

• 1- To make a wise choice at the election time, be
  in close and continued contact with all local
  activities
• 2- Be fully and whole-heartedly involved in local
  as well as national committees and assemblies
• 3- Bahá'í community life requires intelligent,
  well-informed and responsible elector
• 4- Gives us all the opportunity of becoming an
  intelligent, well-informed and responsible
  elector

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Annual Bahá'í Elections

• Local Spiritual Assembly (9 people)
• National Convention Delegate (1 person)
• Regional Bahá'í Council (9 people by LSA
  members)
• National Spiritual Assembly (9 people by
  Delegates)
• Total of up to 28 positions to elect!

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Tools

• What tools do you use to be an effective Elector?

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Tools

• Bahá'í Community Life
• Study Circles
• 4 Index Cards
• Local Spiritual Assembly
• Delegate
• Regional Council
• National Spiritual Assembly

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Tools

• 4 Index Cards
• Write down names and the quality you have found
  in that person
• Create ballot 4 times a year
• How often do you have new names to add to your
  cards?
• How diverse are the backgrounds or viewpoints of
  those listed?

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Questions?Comments?Consultation Topics?