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Advancing Beyond the Rabbani
Charitable Trust Bahá’í Conference in Orlando
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. A significant number of months now having
passed, we felt it timely to provide another update.
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 Baha'i 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, but we are
now attaining some clarity about the answers to the fundamental questions
mentioned above. We have gained the conviction that it is possible for
much good to be done by entities outside the administrative order and that
such entities are a resource that should not be ignored. And it seems very
clear that the highly dynamic process (characterized by continuous
learning and being guided by the Institutions) of evolution and growth we
have observed continuously unfolding around us does not lend itself to
solitary decision-making by an entity, such as the Trust, seeking to
complement the work of the Institutions.
If an entity such as the Trust wishes to complement the work of the
Institutions in a way that is fully coherent, timely and provides maximum
value, there must be close collaboration and consultation as the basis for
identifying a path of service.
If this collaboration is to work effectively, such an entity must also
find ways to stay close to the learning that is taking place in the
advanced sites, because that’s where the Institutions are focused.
Entities could then, from a position of being well-informed about
developments at the forefront, consult with the NSA on how best to
contribute means or services that are fully coherent with that
institution’s work.
This spirit of consultation with the Institutions to facilitate coherent
collaboration is clearly and beautifully expressed in the words of Shoghi
Effendi, as shared with us in the 2010 guidance we received from the House
of Justice.
“Nothing short of the spirit
of earnest and sustained consultation with those whom we have prayerfully
and of our own accord placed in the forefront of those who are the
custodians of the priceless heritage bequeathed by Bahá’u’lláh; nothing
less than persistent and strenuous warfare against our own instincts and
natural inclinations, and heroic self-sacrifice in subordinating our own
likings to the imperative requirements of the Cause of God, can insure our
undivided loyalty to so sacred a principle—a principle that will for all
time safeguard our beloved Cause from the allurements and the trivialities
of the world without, and of the pitfalls of the self within.”
The Trust, in conjunction with the National Spiritual Assembly, is now
pursuing this approach. As this process of learning and collaboration
proceeds, we welcome your prayers on our behalf and any feedback, comments
or suggestions you may wish to offer. Just email us at email [at]
rabbanitrust.org.
With loving greetings,
The Rabbani Charitable Trust
Support for
the work of the Trust is most welcome! (click here to learn how)
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