Past & Future

Past & Future

Dear Friends of the Trust,

Early in 2013 the Rabbani Charitable Trust announced its decision that it was timely to bring to a close the annual event known as the Rabbani Trust Bahá’í Conference in Orlando and that the 20th such Conference held in December 2012 would be the final one of the series.

That communication went on to say that the Trust and the National Spiritual Assembly were embarking on a process of active consultation, pursuant to the guidance of the Universal House of Justice, concerning the evolution and continuing development of the Trust’s services to the Faith. And further that “our goal is unity of vision, purpose and action – and as these consultations bear fruit over the coming months, we will be pleased to report on the results.”

A subsequent update made mention of the Trust’s continuing active exploration of other options of service and continuing consultation with the National Spiritual Assembly.

After exploring a number of possibilities for the future direction of the work of the Trust, the Trustees concluded that the guidance from the Universal House of Justice to “...more directly support the progress of the Faith” could best be achieved by seeking a way to support the work of the Five Year Plan in a direct and coherent manner. In consultation with Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly Kenneth Bowers, we jointly concluded that the fundamental questions for our focus were: How can the Trust (and/or others outside the administrative order) complement the work of the Institutions? (and) If this is feasible, by what process could we determine the contribution to be made? It was agreed that the approach to be used to try to discover the answers to these questions would include participation in one of the Bahá’í Social Action Seminars, followed by a visit to one of the learning sites, followed by another consultation with Mr. Bowers.

Having participated in one of the National Spiritual Assembly sponsored Social Action Seminars, which involved intensive study of and consultation concerning OSED’s 2012 Statement on Social Action, and having completed an extensive visit to the East Valley learning site in the vicinity of Phoenix, Arizona, followed by another consultation with Mr. Bowers, we have emerged with some significant insights. These include a much greater understanding of the vision of the Universal House of Justice (and consequently the NSA) regarding Social Action.

It has been a long road of discovery and prayerful reflection, and through this process we have gradually gained clarity regarding the fundamental questions before us. We have come to recognize that a great deal of good can be accomplished by entities operating outside the administrative order, and that such efforts represent a valuable resource in the life of the community. At the same time, it has become increasingly evident that the highly dynamic process of growth and learning unfolding across the Bahá’í world—guided by the Institutions and characterized by continual refinement—does not lend itself to solitary decision‑making by an entity such as the Trust. Rather, it calls for ongoing consultation, coherence, and alignment with the evolving needs and priorities of the Institutions we seek to complement.

Guided by this spirit of reflection and alignment, the Trust now directs its efforts toward supporting organizations engaged in meaningful social action and the discourses of society. Through its scholarship initiatives, the Trust collaborates with nonprofit groups that are working to uplift communities, expand access to education, and contribute thoughtfully to conversations that strengthen unity, justice, and collective well‑being. These efforts highlight the Trust’s steadfast commitment to enhancing capacity, nurturing meaningful engagement, and supporting organizations dedicated to advancing the well‑being of humanity.

With loving greetings,
The Rabbani Charitable Trust