Human Resource Considerations

Considerations from the National Spiritual Assembly 2022 Nov. 15 Letter to Councils (-link)

We hope you find the considerations offered helpful toward consultation about qualities that are most desirable for responders.

Considerations for choosing seeker response coordinators:

• Enthusiasm to teach, Friendliness, Personality.

• Gender, age, race/ethnicity.

• Technical willingness and ability to go through training and attend to the IMS (database) records.

• Will check role email daily, take action on records as soon as possible, and will continue to follow up over time until the seeker is being nurtured locally, or find someone to nurture the seeker in remote areas.

• Willing to do this for a term of service (suggest 3-5 years).

Additional Considerations at all levels of seeker response appointments: 

• Does not hesitate to check- in with seekers themselves, or local contacts to see how follow-up with the seeker is going.

• Proactively follow-up with the seeker, registrant, or local Baha'i resource as necessary.

• Be comfortable making initial contact via text, email, calls, and home visits.

• Be able to prioritize this role and balance the service with schedules of employment, school, family, and other Baha'i activities.

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Seeker Response Teaching Teams and Resource Volunteers 

Many Regional Councils are seeking to expand their network of seeker response by identifying Baha'i members who will contact local seekers and develop warm and supportive teaching relationships with them and connect them to the community and institute process.  

 Teaching Team/Resource Volunteer: 

• Listens to the needs of the seekers with heightened spiritual awareness 

• Strives to connect with the seeker in a warm, friendly and respectful manner 

• Is enkindled and able to engage in conversations that generate interest 

• Is willing and able to connect the seeker to local believers and activities, especially core activities 

• Is committed to responding to seeker inquiries at the soonest possible time (12-48 hours)

• Is comfortable with home visits, texting and telephone contact, and emails as necessary 

 Some desirable qualities of Teaching Team/Resource Volunteer to consider: 

• Are capable of inviting people into core activities, tutoring Ruhi courses and accompanying others into service 

• Have completed books 1-7 in the Ruhi sequence of courses (at least 1, 2, 4 and 6) 

• Are willing to accompany fellow Baha'is as they accompany seekers 

• Are willing and able to intercede in a loving, firm, respectful and supportive way, when follow-up is not taking place promptly or in an appropriate way.   

• Will place the needs of seekers uppermost in their relationships with seekers 

 The goal of the teaching team/resource volunteer is to engage seekers in conversation, develop a relationship, determine the seekers' interests and needs, and nurture them or connect them with other local Baha’is who are committed to meeting their spiritual needs .  The resource volunteer will then accompany the local Baha’i as they accompany the seeker on his/her spiritual journey.

(-Note: the above section Seeker Response Teaching Teams and Resource Volunteers was based upon suggestions from the Midwest region.)