Communication

(Example showing positivity of expressing concept in positive rather than negative fashion)

"Regarding your question as to whether the audience should be informed that the cultural ceremonies are not part of the Bahá'í Faith, perhaps it would be possible to have this information presented in a positive manner, such as by explaining Bahá'u'lláh's teaching on unity in diversity, or the respect held by Bahá'ís for diversity of cultural expression."

(16 November 1994, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly, in Cultural Diversity in the Age of Maturity, no. 217)

Concerns about possible extremes on one side of the debate must be addressed without appearing to advocate the other extreme

"Although you do not mention it, you are surely aware that your measured skepticism is largely overshadowed in the public debate by another extreme perspective, promoted by political and vested interests, that goes as far as denying climate change and attempting to dismiss or contend with relevant scientific findings. Specific concerns about possible extremes on one side of the debate, therefore, must be addressed without appearing to advocate the other extreme."

(On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, 29 November 2017)

All are entitled to set forth own opinion with conviction (and it is good to do so) so as to expose ideas sincerely and graphically

"Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. If they do not set it forth with conviction, they are failing in their duty to expose their ideas sincerely and graphically;..."

(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, to an individual believer dated 22 April 1954, in Selected Extracts from Letters on Scholarship)

Communicating with the institutions

The (sometime) need to communicate with the institutions

Refer to God upon differences arising (His Messenger and after Him, His successors)

"Should differences arise amongst you over any matter, refer it to God while the Sun still shineth above the horizon of this Heaven and, when it hath set, refer ye to whatsoever hath been sent down by Him. This, verily, is sufficient unto the peoples of the world."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 53)

See also

• Respect or preference to the Manifestations of God (re: not asking Them unnecessary questions)

Proper channels

Should first consult Bahá'í literature, fellow-believers (particularly those well-versed in the Writings) and local and national institutions before referring to the House

"You also inquire as to the circumstances under which an individual believer may submit questions to the National Assembly or the House of Justice, directly. As you know, Bahá'ís turn to Bahá'í literature, their fellow-believers (particularly those well-versed in the Writings) and the local and national institutions of the Faith for answers to any question they may have. If these avenues are explored to the utmost and further clarification is still needed, the friends are free to refer to the House of Justice for such guidance."

(On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, Letter on Contacting the Universal House of Justice, 1998-01-01, at https://bahai-library.com/uhj_contacting_obligatory_exemptions#letter )

Feasts are to enable believers to make suggestions to the Local Spiritual Assembly which can pass it to the National Spiritual Assembly; when the Convention is is not in session, consultation should be through Local Spiritual Assemblies

"The main purpose of the Nineteen Day Feasts is to enable individual believers to offer any suggestion to the Local Assembly, which in its turn will pass it to the National Spiritual Assembly. The Local Assembly is, therefore, the proper medium through which local Bahá'í communities can communicate with the body of the national representatives. The Convention should be regarded as a temporary gathering, having certain specific functions to perform during a limited period of time. Its status is thus limited in time to the Convention sessions, the function of consultation at all other times being vested in the entire body of the believers through the Local Spiritual Assemblies."

(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 18 November 1933 to a National Spiritual Assembly, in National Convention, no. 16)

Believers may request a delegate put forward a point for him; a delegate may, with consent, speak on behalf of all delegates from his region to save time; concern should be for whole nation and not lead to 'caucusing'

"The House of Justice sees no objection to consultation among the delegates of a region prior to the Convention, if they wish to undertake this. Indeed, one of the important functions of a Regional Convention, at which the delegates are elected, is for the delegates to consult with the believers present so that they may be familiar with their views and interests in preparation for their own participation in the National Convention. As you know, any believer at the National Convention can request a delegate to put forward a point for him, and the delegate is free to do this if he so wishes; likewise, there would be no objection to one delegate's speaking on behalf of all the delegates from his region to save time, if they and he agree. On the other hand, one must remember that the National Convention is a national Bahá'í institution, and that every delegate should have in the forefront of his mind the interests and needs of the Cause throughout the nation, not merely those of the region from which he happens to have been elected. All these details are secondary matters, not covered in the National Bahá'í Constitution, and therefore it is for the National Spiritual Assembly to make decisions where they are called for. In one country the delegates may be mature enough to have prior consultation in regional groups; in another it might indeed lead to 'caucusing' or other undesirable developments. The National Spiritual Assembly must ensure that not merely the letter but also the spirit of Bahá'í elections and consultation is upheld."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, October 26, 1983; in Lights of Guidance, no. 65)

Individual may write directly to the Universal House of Justice except for appeals which should be submitted through the National Spiritual Assembly (unless it fails to forward the appeal in a reasonable time)

"It would seem that your National Assembly has misunderstood the procedure for submitting appeals. Mr. and Mrs. ... were quite correct in sending the appeal to your Assembly and you should have then forwarded it to the Universal House of Justice together with your comments on the case.

"It is true, as you state in your letter of 26th May 1975, that every Bahá'í may write direct to the Universal House of Justice but this does not apply in the case of appeals which should be submitted through the National Spiritual Assembly. Only if the Assembly fails to forward the appeal within a reasonable time should the appellant take the case directly to the Universal House of Justice. This process is explained in Article XVIII of the Constitution of the Universal House of Justice."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany, June 17, 1975; in Lights of Guidance, no. 221; note: as there is no section "XVIII", it appears "VIII.2" is intended)

See also

• Rhetoric
• Communications

To-dos for this page

• Add more representative quotations