Embedded Files
A spirit of joy, hope for the future, and optimism pervaded the Bahá’í Days celebration Oct. 18–19 at United Theological in New Brighton, Minnesota, which recently entered into an agreement with the Wilmette Institute allowing the seminary’s students to take Wilmette Institute courses on the Bahá’í Faith for university credit. Photo by Jasmin Kemp
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities was unique in throwing the Bahá’ís a party for the bicentenary. But a spirit of collaboration imbued celebrations across the country on and around the weekend of Oct. 21–22 in which Bahá’ís and like-minded individuals and organizations teamed up to serve humankind in honor of Bahá’u’lláh’s 200th birthday.
Among them: Syracuse, New York, where the small cluster of communities honored three organizations; Plainville, Connecticut, where the Bahá’í community and the public library presented a program titled “Shine Your Light”; and the Eastside communities outside Seattle, Washington, where a panel of leaders discussed issues related to “Unity in Diversity.”
A partnership begins
A spirit of joy, hope for the future, and optimism pervaded the Bahá’í Days celebration at United Theological in New Brighton, Minnesota, Oct. 18–19.
Bahá’í Days was the idea of Pamela Yetunde, a newly hired assistant professor and director of a degree program. When she heard about the agreement United had signed with the Wilmette Institute that allowed the seminary’s students take up to six courses through the Wilmette Institute, she proposed that it be celebrated.
With the bicentenary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh coming up, it was logical to make it part of the bicentenary. Emily Youngdahl Wright, a Bahá’í studying at United, helped with the planning, but Yetunde found speakers for some of the events herself. All students and faculty at the seminary were invited, as were the Bahá’ís in the Twin Cities.
Presentations included:
- Roya Akhavan outlining the parallel processes of construction and destruction that have dominated global life since the 19th century in her talk on “Peace for Our Planet: A New Approach.”
- Layli Maparyan, executive director of the Wellesley Centers for Women and professor of Africana Studies at Wellesley College, speaking about “Racism: The Most Challenging Issue — A Bahá’í Perspective” via web video link.
- A panel discussion on United’s evolving relationship with the Bahá’í Faith featuring Wright; Robert Stockman, executive director of the Wilmette Institute; Sharon Tan, academic dean; and Jessi LeClear Vachta, the seminary’s interreligious admissions counselor.
- Stockman speaking to a class about “Spiritual, Personal, and Social Transformation from a Bahá’í Perspective.” The class was open to the public, including a number of Bahá’ís.
Other activities included a viewing of the film Light to the World, which triggered a lively discussion about the diversity of the Bahá’í community, its worldwide reach, and its future direction; a dinner at which President Lew Zeidner read a Bahá’í Days proclamation; and a “Worship Service in the Bahá’í Tradition” in Bigelow Chapel, which hosts United’s weekly worship service every Thursday.
The result of the events is a much closer relationship between the seminary and the Bahá’í communities of greater Minneapolis-St. Paul and much greater appreciation for Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings and the Bahá’í communities’ efforts to bring them to fruition in the world.
Several faculty members expressed interest in the notion of constructive resilience — a phrase the Universal House of Justice has repeatedly used in describing the response of Bahá’ís in Iran to persecution — and a desire to research and write about its principles. The relationship strengthened by the Bahá’í Days program thus promises to continue to deepen and develop.
In the Syracuse, New York, area, Bahá’í communities invited and raised awareness creatively, and staged a festive gathering where three beneficial organizations were brought forward for honors. Photo by Mauro Tartaglia
Relationships continue to bear fruit
As the dust settled from the Syracuse cluster’s bicentenary celebration, a committee member texted, “We did it. Yes, we did it. We did it because of an amazing sense of unity: unity of purpose, bonds of unity among the friends, the support and encouragement from the Auxiliary Board members, the generosity of the friends in giving time, resources, and energy to make sure we had the best celebration of the bicentennial of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh we could possibly have.”
After all, an “exhausted but happy” committee of five — two Area Teaching Committee members and three believers to which the ATC reached out — in a cluster covering an area the size of Connecticut had just pulled off an event that was enjoyed by a standing-room-only crowd of well over a hundred. And it resulted in relationships that are already bearing fruit.
Back when planning started, though, the committee had no idea how to fill the community room it rented — capacity 125.
One method for raising visibility was to enter a popular annual parade and street fair held a month before the bicentenary. Of course, that meant printing handouts and securing a banner, T-shirts and marchers. To the rescue came an Auxiliary Board member, who reached out to Bahá’ís in the Ithaca and Rochester clusters for the needed materials and wrote to all localities in the Syracuse area for help. In the end, 12 marchers — including someone who had stopped at the Bahá’í table to ask questions — took up the banner and joined the parade.
In another outreach that was integral to the bicentenary celebration, the working committee decided to honor local organizations that reflect the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and their impact on humanity.
Three organizations were chosen: InterFaith Works of Central New York, for its outstanding work in bringing together 35 faith communities; RISE — Refugee and Immigrant Self-Empowerment, which had grown beyond its beginnings as the Somali Bantu Peoples Association; and Girls Inc., which since 1864 has been raising up girls and giving support to girls’ education.
All were very happy to be included. In fact, the executive director of RISE called to say, “I was so excited I showed your letter immediately to our board members and they told me: ‘Go for it!’” Girls Inc. called to say, “We want to book a table for 13.”
And when the Holy Day came, all 18 tables of six people were filled and other attendees lined the walls. Guests included natives of several continents and from many faiths. And the area’s few Bahá’ís came, some driving nearly three hours to get there.
They heard a speaker visiting from The Gambia deliver a beautiful talk based on the bicentenary letter of the Universal House of Justice; dined on a plentiful potluck spread; viewed a 10-minute video; and were treated to an introduction of each honored organization that outlined its mission and vision and highlighted its works.
But the blessings had only begun:
- A guest who heard of the Bahá’í Faith only a month earlier at the fair researched it online, took copious notes at the celebration, and went on to present the Faith in a Toastmasters speech and receive the Best Speaker award.
- Two more organizations requested talks on the Faith. InterFaith Works asked a Bahá’í to take part in its strategic planning session on racism in Syracuse and its efforts to envision what Syracuse could be like in 2022.
- Two Bahá’ís were asked to speak to a group called Church Women United on the topic of the Golden Rule.
- Another two believers were to make a presentation about the Faith to an organization called Rapha after a few of its members came to the bicentenary.
- A Bahá’í was invited to attend the installation of the newly appointed dean of Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse University and meet with the dean to discuss how the Bahá’ís can be involved in on-campus interfaith activities.
- A believer was asked to write three short inspirational pieces for a local newspaper.
- A study circle was to start soon afterward with two interested people from the community.
“We did it,” indeed.
All about the children
As a task force appointed by the Spiritual Assembly of Plainville, Connecticut, started work on three bicentenary events, it knew one had to be child-centered since many of the believers and their friends have kids.
Also, the town is blessed with a wonderful library and an engaged, kind children’s librarian. Over the years, two Bahá’í families have given library staff treats and cards of thanks at Ayyám-i-Há. They also donated a book written by a Bahá’í.
So with the bicentenary approaching, the task force reached out to the children's librarian, told her about the Light of Unity Festival and asked to have a meeting with her. She happily agreed and immediately exclaimed, “Tell me all about the Light of Unity Festival!”
Consultation with the children’s librarian led to the idea of placing decorated luminarias along the path to the library and having a program on the theme “Shine Your Light.”
The library then kicked into gear, creating an amazing flier and generating publicity on its website, Facebook and Instagram and in the library itself. Mention of the Bahá’í Faith as sponsor was included in all publicity.
To decorate, the Assembly purchased some craft supplies but had access as well to the library’s huge craft closet. A staff member, if needed, was available to help the Bahá’í volunteers.
About 40 people attended the program, and the first woman who came to have her son make a luminaria said, “I came because I want to know more about Bahá’í.”
The luminarias also were displayed at a town-wide PumpkinFest that evening. The response was quite good and the Bahá’ís have been told they might have to make it an annual part of the festival.
The children’s librarian commented, “These are the kinds of virtues-based programs I want to run. Let’s figure out our next collaboration.” A meeting was scheduled in November to talk about next offerings.
In Plainville, Connecticut, the public library collaborated with Bahá’ís to hold a virtue-inspired program where craft activities included decorating uplifting door hangers. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Jaczko Robinson
Communities on the east side of Lake Washington near Seattle brought together a panel of leaders to discuss issues related to “Unity in Diversity.” Photo courtesy of Ted Lucas
A high-minded spirit
A task force representing six Bahá’í communities east of Lake Washington in the Seattle, Washington, area began planning in November 2016 for the bicentenary.
Immediately, it conceived — and the five Local Spiritual Assemblies approved — of a topical, outward-facing event in Bellevue featuring executive-level panelists.
The program would have to be characterized by a high-minded spirit and elevated level of discourse on a topic of great public interest and importance. “Unity in Diversity” was the chosen theme and potential panelists were approached to participate.
Throughout the process, the Bahá’ís carefully framed their expectations for the standard of discourse.
For example, the invitation to King County Executive Dow Constantine invited the public official “to share how you and your organization, King County government, foster Unity in Diversity, both in your workplace and in the community at large. This panel discussion is intended to encourage a positive, meaningful conversation about an issue critical to our collective well-being.”
That clarity of purpose carried through to the emcee’s comments at the event. “Unity in diversity is something we talk about, think about every day, whether we know it or not,” Ted Lucas told the audience of about 340 people. “It’s in the news, it’s on our minds. And so many people are looking for answers and a guide towards bringing people together with understanding, appreciation and respect.”
And it imbued how the discussion was conducted by panelists Peter M. Rogoff, chief executive officer of Sound Transit; Jerry Weber, president of Bellevue College; Calvin J. Watts, superintendent of the Kent School District; Mahnaz Javid, president and CEO of the Mona Foundation; and Matias Valenzuela, director of the Office of Equity and Social Justice in the Office of the King County Executive. A question-and-answer period followed.
Afterwards, the most frequent comment among Bahá’ís were “unprecedented,” “inspiring” and “we should do this again.” The many friends of the Faith in attendance were admiring and impressed by the positive message and the quality of the conversation.
To the task force, the event was bold and aimed high. It was infused and sustained by prayer and faith. It created a new baseline.
And when the task force and the Assemblies and Area Teaching Committee met to reflect about what worked well and what didn’t, the consensus was that this approach through public programs to advancing discourse should be embraced and refined as a way to engage and contribute to the community at large.
Toward that end, each community hosted smaller events as well on the same theme during the four weeks preceding the Oct. 21 program. These varied public activities built a sense of continuity and excitement.
Report abuse