A Bahá’í group exists wherever two or more Bahá’ís reside and where the Bahá’í community has not formed a Local Spiritual Assembly. The main focus of a Bahá’í group should be fellowship, community building, and teaching in order to strengthen the community so that it may eventually form a Local Spiritual Assembly. While it is suggested that Bahá’í groups register with the National Spiritual Assembly, a group is not an administrative institution of the Faith and, therefore, does not have the same duties and responsibilities as a Local Spiritual Assembly. Registered Bahá’í groups have certain privileges that unregistered groups do not, which are referred to in the section titled Group Formation and Officer Election. The following guidance is intended to assist individuals and members of Bahá’í groups in understanding their responsibilities and in knowing what matters should be referred to a nearby Local Spiritual Assembly or to the National Spiritual Assembly.

Development of Bahá’í groups well-grounded in Bahá’í principles and patterns of community life is essential to the establishment of new Local Spiritual Assemblies that are strong and vital, capable of serving the interests and needs of their communities from the outset. Therefore, the energies of Bahá’í groups should be centered in cultivating a spirit of loving fellowship, teaching unceasingly, and becoming trained and adept in the art of Bahá’í consultation, which is the primary skill for Bahá’í community life. Creation of communities that are loving, unified, and diverse will attract and hold the hearts of seekers, as such communities embody the qualities of the divinely promised refuge for which all humanity is seeking.

When the membership of a group includes nine adult believers in good standing, it becomes eligible to form a Local Spiritual Assembly on the date of the following Riḍván. According to the Guardian, the formation of a Local Spiritual Assembly should not be delayed for any reason, as each new Spiritual Assembly becomes a link strengthening the world encircling Administrative Order.

Furthermore, the establishment of a Local Spiritual Assembly draws a share of divine bounty to the entire locality in which it is formed, not merely to the Bahá’í community:

It sometimes happens that a community’s membership list contains the names of believers who are not known to the community or who have, in the past, indicated that they are unwilling to serve on an institution. When a group realizes that it will have an opportunity to form a Local Spiritual Assembly on the coming Riḍván, it should endeavor, well in advance, to clarify any uncertainties concerning the willingness of individual members to participate in the election or joint declaration. When it is confirmed that there will be enough members to form a Local Spiritual Assembly, election notices should be mailed to every member at least fifteen days in advance of the election with instructions for absentee voting. The necessary election forms and instructions can be obtained from the Office of Membership and Records at the Bahá’í National Center. Following the election, if the Local Spiritual Assembly formation is accepted by the National Spiritual Assembly, the Local Spiritual Assembly will be mailed a packet of information to assist it to begin functioning.

Bahá’í groups are established through the believers meeting together and deciding to register as a group in order to receive mailings, develop community life, promote teaching and prepare for the eventuality of Local Spiritual Assembly formation. Larger groups are encouraged to elect officers such as a correspondent, chairman and treasurer in preparation for the time when they will become Local Spiritual Assemblies. Small groups need not hold an election, but may simply designate someone to serve as the contact person to receive the group’s mail.

Every group should submit a “Bahá’í Group Registration Form/Officers Election Report” to the Office of Membership and Records at the Bahá’í National Center on an annual basis. This form can be obtained by contacting the Office of Membership and Records. The group will then be registered and will receive correspondence from the Bahá’í National Center. Registering a group will ensure that it receives periodic mailings, Feast letters and newsreels, and allows it to establish a local Bahá’í Fund.

Although a group may form and elect its officers at any time during the year, it is recommended that, after the first formation, it reform each year on the First Day of Riḍván at an annual meeting. Preferably, all believers should be notified of the meeting at least 15 days in advance.

Should a group disperse and no believers remain in the community who are able to responsibly store whatever archival records may exist for the community, they should be sent to the National Bahá’í Archives. Only actual community records, such as important correspondence, local bulletins, financial records, local publicity material, and other historical information, such as community photographs and scrapbooks should be sent. Do not send any of the community’s library, including back issues of The American Bahá’í and Bahá’í News. Books and other such printed matter may be given to a nearby Local Spiritual Assembly or registered Bahá’í group to use as they wish. Certain types of records having no permanent value, such as routine mailings from the Bahá’í National Center, routine advertisements, etc., from non-Bahá’ís, and so forth, should be disposed of locally. If a dispersing group has a local Bahá’í fund, it may send the remaining balance to any other Bahá’í fund before the group dissolves. An individual believer may not hold funds on behalf of a registered Bahá’í group in the hope that it will reform. If Bahá’í funds remain following the dispersion of a registered Bahá’í group, advice should be sought from the National Treasurer’s Office.

Believers in an area that has lost its Local Spiritual Assembly status should not become discouraged and allow the loss to consume their spiritual energies. They should not feel that they or others have, in some way, failed in their obligations as Bahá’ís, but should realize that, in the natural ebb and flow of events, it is inevitable to experience setbacks. In due course, the community will again achieve Local Spiritual Assembly status and become stronger and more firmly established than it was previously.

When a Local Spiritual Assembly community reverts to group status, it should report immediately to the National Spiritual Assembly. The National Assembly may, at its discretion, appoint a temporary administrative committee for the purpose of maintaining the life and vigor of the community. In addition, there are a number of issues pertaining to the change in status that may need to be considered:

Groups will wish to consult on developing plans for the growth of their Bahá’í community in anticipation of the time when they will function as a Local Spiritual Assembly. A primary concern of the group will be to foster the development of the Faith in its locality by deepening its believers and by attracting new souls, so that when a Local Spiritual Assembly is eventually formed, it will be firmly grounded in the teachings, principles and spirit of the Faith. Since a group is not an administrative institution, consultation within it does not cover the wide range of issues that may be considered by a Local Spiritual Assembly, such as marriage, divorce, personal problems, status of believers, and so forth. Should such concerns arise regarding any of these issues, they should be referred to a nearby Local Spiritual Assembly or to the National Spiritual Assembly. Nonetheless, as the principles of consultation are universal, group members will obtain valuable experience in preparation for becoming Local Spiritual Assembly members by endeavoring wholeheartedly to understand and apply the principles and practices of Bahá’í consultation.

Individuals may also wish to know that the Universal House of Justice has noted that:

Problems of opposition, which originate with people outside the Faith, or of Covenant-breaking, which afflicts only Bahá’ís, should be reported immediately to both the National Spiritual Assembly and to the Auxiliary Board member for protection. As Covenant-breaking is something that occurs only rarely, it is important to understand what it is not. Those who break Bahá’í law, who withdraw from the Faith, or who reject Bahá’u’lláh’s claim to be a Manifestation of God are not Covenant-breakers.

The following passage from the Universal House of Justice explains what Covenant-breaking is:

A Bahá’í who violates the Covenant is declared a Covenant-breaker only after every effort has been made to help that person see the illogicality and error of his actions. Only the Universal House of Justice can declare someone a Covenant-breaker. Since Bahá’u’lláh has stated that Covenant-breaking is a highly contagious spiritual disease, for the protection of the community Covenant-breakers are cut off from all association with the Bahá’í community both in their personal and public lives.

The National Spiritual Assembly is responsible for the reviewing of material intended for nationwide publication. Local Spiritual Assemblies review material intended for publication or distribution within their own communities. Bahá’í groups may not review works for publication. All works produced for public distribution that mention the Faith, its Central Figures, history or teachings must be submitted to the Office of Research and Review. In addition to written materials, videos, music, play scripts, souvenir items, greeting cards, and so forth, that mention the Faith must also be reviewed.

Bahá’í groups may not set up book sales outlets, but may establish community lending libraries and may open accounts with the Bahá’í Distribution Service. Individuals in any locality are free to order Bahá’í books directly from the Bahá’í Distribution Service.

Communities render an important service to the National Assembly by maintaining current membership information. As there are significant costs associated with undeliverable mail, changes in the community’s membership list should be reported as soon as possible. Twice a year, the National Spiritual Assembly, through its Management Information Services department, sends a revised Community Membership List to all Local Spiritual Assemblies and registered Bahá’í groups. Three general categories appear on each list:

Printouts of the community membership mailed to the group’s correspondent are confidential, and obsolete lists should be shredded or burned. Bahá’í mailing lists or directories are to be used for the work of the Faith only and may not be used for promotional or advertising purposes, or for business solicitation. Furthermore, as the names and addresses of individual Bahá’ís are confidential, the lists should not be given to individual Bahá’ís outside the community of their residence without the prior consent of each community member. The National Spiritual Assembly’s policy is that such information is private and confidential and thus should not be made available without the person’s consent, unless it is requested by a Bahá’í institution for official business purposes only. Correspondence and messages should, of course, be forwarded to the person that the inquirer wishes to contact.

Since Bahá’í groups are not administrative institutions, they do not have the responsibility of enrolling new believers, handling requests for withdrawal from the Faith, or issuing Bahá’í credentials. This does not mean, of course, that a group may not accept a Bahá’í declaration card; only that the countersigning of the card should be done by an institution of the Faith. This will usually be the nearest Local Spiritual Assembly, Auxiliary Board member, or Regional Bahá’í Council. All requests for withdrawal and requests for Bahá’í credentials should be referred to the National Spiritual Assembly.

Bahá’í parents may complete a Bahá’í registration card for each child and forward it to the Bahá’í National Center. Registration cards can be obtained from the Office of Information Services. When the child’s card is received at the Bahá’í National Center, the child will be assigned a Bahá’í identification number and the child’s name will be added to the national computer records. After the child’s name has been recorded on the computer, the child will receive an acknowledgement letter in care of the parents. The letter will include the child’s Bahá’í identification number, which the parents should refer to when making address changes for the family. Parents may register their children at birth or any time before they reach the age of fifteen. Bahá’í birth certificates are available from the Office of Information Services for a small fee. On attaining the age of fifteen, registered Bahá’í youth receive a letter of recognition and a Bahá’í membership card from the National Spiritual Assembly. If the youth do not wish to remain registered as Bahá’ís, they may return the card at that time. After reaching the age of 15, any youth who was not registered as a child must complete a Bahá’í Declaration card to have his or her name entered on the membership rolls.

Bahá’ís in possession of their administrative rights may attend Nineteen Day Feasts, vote and be voted for in Bahá’í elections, participate in activities reserved for enrolled members in possession of their administrative rights, contribute to the Bahá’í Funds, go on pilgrimage, receive publications intended for Bahá’ís only, be appointed to service by the institutions of the Faith, be married in the Faith, and enjoy the blessings conferred through obedience to Bahá’í law.

Bahá’ís whose administrative rights have been removed do not share in the above privileges. Nonetheless, since their spiritual commitment is not in question, their continuing Bahá’í life can include loving fellowship and friendship with other believers, worship of God through the prayers of the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and observance of the Fast, of the Bahá’í Holy Days, and of all the personal and family occasions of the Faith. They have access to the literature of the Faith and, unless specified otherwise by the National Spiritual Assembly, may attend any meetings and Bahá’í school sessions that are open to the public. They may subscribe to Brilliant Star and World Order magazines and other general publications, but cannot receive The American Bahá’í. Bahá’ís deprived of their administrative rights cannot attend Nineteen Days Feasts, contribute to the Bahá’í funds, have a Bahá’í marriage, or go on pilgrimage; nor may they receive mailings intended for Bahá’ís only, such as newsletters and bulletins, participate in administrative affairs, vote or be voted for, be appointed to committees, or serve as teachers or speakers in programs sponsored by Bahá’ís. At the discretion of the National Spiritual Assembly, an individual’s rights may be limited rather than removed completely. Bahá’ís who have lost their administrative rights may recover them through working with a Local Spiritual Assembly to correct whatever condition resulted in removal of their rights.

Bahá’ís who are transferring into the United States from another country should complete their Bahá’í transfer through the Office of Membership and Records as soon as possible. If they have current credentials from their previous country they may participate fully in the life of the community, pending transfer of their membership into the United States Bahá’í community. If they do not have current credentials from their previous country, they are not eligible to participate in Bahá’í-only activities until their status has been verified and their transfer completed. They must contact their former National Spiritual Assembly and ask that their credentials be sent to the U. S. National Spiritual Assembly. For some believers, particularly Persians, the transfer process may take many months. Until then, their participation in the community is restricted to activities open only to non-Bahá’ís. Believers in the process of transferring into the country without current credentials are ineligible to vote or to be elected, to contribute to the Bahá’í funds, to attend Feasts, or to have access to any of the other privileges accorded Bahá’ís whose good standing is known to the National Spiritual Assembly.

From time to time it becomes necessary to provide letters of introduction to federal or state authorities, or to other National Spiritual Assemblies, to confirm that an individual is or is not a Bahá’í in good standing. All such requests should be made to the National Spiritual Assembly, which reserves the exclusive right to introduce individuals as Bahá’ís to federal or state government authorities and to other National Spiritual Assemblies.

The main focus of Bahá’í groups should be on developing Bahá’í community life and teaching the Faith in their locality so as to raise their status to that of a Local Spiritual Assembly as soon as possible. In their efforts to achieve their goals, groups are encouraged to develop local teaching plans in cooperation with nearby Local Spiritual Assemblies, if any are available, and to seek assistance from the National Teaching Committee and their Regional Bahá’í Council. Groups may also call upon the services of their Auxiliary Board members or assistants for propagation to assist them with these efforts, whether or not they have been adopted as an extension teaching goal by a Local Spiritual Assembly.

The responsibility for local teaching activities rests with the individual members of the each community. Attendance at local or regional Bahá’í training institutes can assist individual believers increase their understanding and develop skills for teaching and consolidation. Whatever the identity, background, or means of the believers, each soul that has received the bounty of knowing Bahá’u’lláh has their own special part to play in the development and growth of the community.

The work of teaching has three aspects: proclamation, expansion, and consolidation. Proclamation involves raising public awareness of the existence of the Faith and its teachings. Expansion involves attracting individuals to the Faith, expanding their knowledge of it, and eventually enrolling them. Consolidation involves continued deepening in the teachings, increasing firmness in the Covenant, and development of skills needed in Bahá’í community life and administration. Each is important and a balance among them is essential for the healthy development of the community.

Bahá’í groups are encouraged to participate in the National Spiritual Assembly’s national teaching plan, which is currently using the powerful medium of television broadcasting to proclaim and teach the principles of the Faith all over the country. Links to the 1-800-22-UNITE response system, available to Bahá’í communities at no cost, distribute seeker inquiries directly to a local community nearest to them. Media campaign videotapes are also available for communities to use on local cable TV channels. Detailed information is posted on the National Spiritual Assembly’s Administrative Web Site and may also be obtained by calling the National Teaching Committee office.

In areas where there are concentrations of minority populations the believers should strive to make themselves aware not only of the needs and interests of those populations, but to be respectful of their cultural practices and sensitive to the effects of their immersion in the dominant culture. The National American Indian Teaching Committee has prepared a booklet, Protocols for American Indian Teaching, which has been adopted as policy of the National Spiritual Assembly for teaching American Indian people. Questions concerning teaching this and most other minority populations may be directed to the group area’s Regional Bahá’í Council. Requests for assistance and questions concerning Southeast Asian teaching should be directed to the U. S. Bahá’í Refugee Office under the Office of the Secretary for External Affairs.

Believers who wish to fill a homefront pioneering goal should contact the Regional Bahá’í Council for the area in which they are interested. Believers who wish to pioneer internationally, either long or short term, or who wish to contact a Bahá’í community outside the United States should first consult the Office of Pioneering at the Bahá’í National Center.

Bahá’í communities should strive to be characterized by harmony among the believers and by freedom from prejudice, by embodying the principle of unity in diversity, and thereby demonstrating, once and for all, the unity of mankind. Building distinctive Bahá’í communities results in the transformation of collective human life and the attraction of others to the Faith:

Development of spiritual characteristics, improvement of moral character, firmness in the Covenant, and striving to live up to the high ideals of the Faith are among the essential responsibilities of individual believers in developing distinctive Bahá’í communities. Since a community is a group of people with relationships to one another, the achievement of unity depends upon successful relationships among the Bahá’ís. According to the Universal House of Justice:

For spiritual characteristics to create unity among the believers, they must find active expression in equality between women and men and in elimination of all manner of prejudice. The full participation of minorities, whether they are African American, American Indian, Hispanic, Persian, Southeast Asian, or any other minority, can be achieved through sincere and sustained efforts to understand one another, to accept differences in perception and styles of communication, and to extend a degree of hospitality and kindness which may normally be reserved for family and close friends:

Most people of other cultures are accustomed to establishing bonds of friendship and trust within the context of family relationships, and in general, prefer personal contact to maintain their relationships with the Bahá’í community. The social aspects of community life are likely to be most attractive to them and many may enjoy hosting unity Feasts or Holy Day observances in their homes. The customary Western practices of using bulletins and flyers to advise them of community events and of scheduling meetings to sustain their interest in community life may fall short of the desired results.

In reference to hospitality, however, a word of caution is in order. Because it is generally known that Bahá’ís are kind, generous and sympathetic by nature, training, and conviction, it is not uncommon for them to receive appeals for financial and other kinds of emergency help from itinerant Bahá’ís and others who claim to be Bahá’ís or friends of the Faith. While it is left to the discretion of individual believers to respond as they see fit, it should be remembered that the Bahá’í community is not a traveler’s aid or social service agency prepared to assist the needs of itinerants, other than in some selective and discriminating cases. Although Bahá’u’lláh has told us to “be a home for the stranger . . . an answerer of the cry of the needy,” no Bahá’í should presume that the hospitality of his fellow Bahá’ís is his due. Bahá’u’lláh also states, “No man should enter the house of his friend, save at his friend’s pleasure, nor lay hands upon his treasures, nor prefer his own will to his friend’s, and in no wise seek advantage over him.” Thus Bahá’u’lláh makes hospitality the prerogative of the host and not of the guest. Common courtesy demands that an individual should not impose himself upon anyone without prior invitation, and Bahá’ís should be far more courteous than others in this respect. Unfortunately, it sometimes happens that a person will contact a Local Spiritual Assembly or individual believer, claiming to be a Bahá’í but having no Bahá’í credentials or other forms of identification. If you do not know the person asking for hospitality, before offering aid to such a person it is advisable to check with the Office of Community Administration and Development at the Bahá’í National Center to verify that he or she is indeed a member of the Bahá’í Faith.

Group activities characteristic of a distinctive Bahá’í community life may include spiritual gatherings such as dawn prayers, devotional meetings, Nineteen Day Feasts and celebration of Bahá’í Holy Days; a wide range of socialization and fellowship that draws on the cultural diversity of the community; the practice of Bahá’í consultation for solving problems of every sort; deepenings and firesides; fund raising events; the support and promotion of unity in family life; support, encouragement, and education of children and youth; and service projects for the betterment of the community. According to the Universal House of Justice:

For youth in the community, the National Youth Committee can provide assistance with a variety of youth activities, including the Bahá’í Youth Service Corp (Year of Service), Bahá’í Youth Workshops, Bahá’í Campus Associations, and more. In addition, each Regional Bahá’í Council has established youth committees and desks in each region to assist with organizing and coordinating youth activities in each of the regions.

All believers are strongly encouraged to attend their annual Unit Conventions for election of delegates. These annual conventions are an integral part of Bahá’í community life and were stressed by the Guardian as particularly important for Bahá’ís to attend as a means of becoming better acquainted with other believers in the unit area. They are also the means by which every adult Bahá’í in good standing has a voice in the annual election of the National Spiritual Assembly and, periodically, of the Universal House of Justice.

Believers are also encouraged to attend local, regional, national, and international Bahá’í conferences. Such conferences enable the believers to develop broader and more inclusive views of the Faith, as they often include large numbers of participants from a wide variety of backgrounds.

It is preferable that Feast be observed on the first day of each Bahá’í month in the period between sunset of the preceding day and sunset of the first day, although it may be held on a later day, if necessary. The program for each Feast should consist of three parts. First a devotional portion, followed by consultation on matters of importance to the community including the sharing of news and messages, ending with a social portion. Of course, the believers are free to gather before the Feast for fellowship and meals also.

Small groups and isolated believers are encouraged to come together among themselves and with larger communities for increased diversity and fellowship both in observance of the Nineteen Day Feasts and celebration of the Holy days. While larger groups are encouraged to observe the Feasts in their own community, according to the same principles followed by Local Spiritual Assemblies, they may join with neighboring communities for other observances. According to the Universal House of Justice:

Other observances should be held at the times indicated according to standard time. Bahá’í Holy Days are an important aspect of Bahá’í community life, whose observance was repeatedly encouraged by the beloved Guardian:

Letters from the National Spiritual Assembly explaining the importance of Bahá’í Holy Days can be obtained from the Office of the Secretary to use in obtaining recognition from schools for these important religious observances. A copy of this letter may also be printed out from the National Assembly’s administrative web site.

Registered Bahá’í groups may choose to elect a treasurer and to establish and maintain a local Bahá’í Fund, using the procedures outlined in Appendix A, but are not required to do so. If a registered Bahá’í group chooses to establish a Bahá’í fund, its treasurer must be of legal age, usually at least eighteen years of age, in the state in which the group is formed. Groups that are not registered with the National Spiritual Assembly should not undertake the establishment of a local Bahá’í Fund.

Contributions to the Bahá’í funds are sacred and confidential, and must be handled by the local treasurer with the utmost discretion and trustworthiness. Non-Bahá’ís and Bahá’ís who have been deprived of their administrative rights, as well as believers whose international transfers have not been completed, may not contribute to the Bahá’í funds.

Bahá’í funds should never be co-mingled with personal funds. Bahá’í funds for a registered Bahá’í group should be deposited in a separate checking account under the name of the local Bahá’í community. For example, if the name of the community is “Bahá’ís of Union Township”, the group account should be opened under the name of “Union Township Bahá’í Fund.”

Tax exempt status for registered Bahá’í groups may be established by applying for a Federal Tax Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service, as explained in Appendix B. The group’s EIN should be reported to the National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of the Treasurer as soon as it is received from the Internal Revenue Service.

An annual audit of the local Bahá’í fund is recommended, especially for larger groups, as a prudent safeguard and a means of evaluating the uses of the funds. Treasurers of registered Bahá’í groups are encouraged to study Stewardship and Development 2nd Edition, available through Bahá’í Distribution Service, for detailed information pertaining to handling Bahá’í funds.

Contributions to the local Bahá’í Fund are entrusted to the local treasurer. Personal contributions to the National Bahá’í Fund may be entrusted to the local treasurer to be forwarded to the national Office of the Treasurer, or may be sent there directly by the believer offering the contribution. Personal contributions to any of the international funds can be entrusted to the local treasurer, to the national Office of the Treasurer, or sent directly to the Universal House of Justice.

Information regarding the details of the sacred law of Ḥuqúqu’lláh, the Right of God, which pertains only to personal contributions, can be obtained from one of the trustees or representatives of the Board of Trustees of the Office of the Secretariat of the Bahá’í Ḥuqúqu’lláh Trust.

Bahá’ís are encouraged to attend local and regional Bahá’í schools and institutes whenever possible. The various Bahá’í schools, offering on-site facilities, offer a wide range of programs for children, youth, and adults. For distance learning, the Wilmette Institute offers opportunities for mature youth and adults to undertake in-depth study of the Bahá’í Writings at both the introductory and intermediate levels. College level credit is available for some courses. Scholarship funds for various aspects of Bahá’í education may be available through Local Spiritual Assemblies.

Examples of official contact on behalf of the Bahá’í Faith include invitations to Bahá’í community events, presentations of Bahá’í statements, and expressions of Bahá’í support for or positions on particular policies or issues.

The policy does not apply in cases of informal contact with friends or family members who happen to hold public office or who may be publicly well known. The National Assembly would very much appreciate being informed, however, if a Bahá’í has a personal relationship with a prominent person or government official, because such relations may facilitate official contact should such contact be required.

A Bahá’í group may contact officials in their locality and local chapters of organizations under programs approved by the National Spiritual Assembly, using materials and guidance made available through offices or agencies of the National Assembly. In any communication with local officials, the friends should proceed with the utmost moderation, tact, and wisdom, keeping in mind the importance of preserving the dignity and reputation of the Faith.

Individual believers are free to contact government representatives, sign petitions, or participate in nonpartisan campaigns to express their views on non-Bahá’í matters, but they should not identify themselves as Bahá’ís or convey the impression that they are representing the Bahá’í Faith unless encouraged to do so by a Bahá’í institution. They also may associate with local chapters of national organizations whose goals are consistent with Bahá’í teachings, and in this case may share their personal Bahá’í beliefs when appropriate. However, before taking any action or becoming involved in issues or campaigns that may have national or international implications, advice should be sought from the National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of the Secretary for External Affairs in Washington, D.C.

Questions concerning contact with national or regional media should be directed to the National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of Public Information in New York City. Contact with local media is governed by the same principles as contact with local officials, and questions concerning such contact may be directed to the Office of Public Information.

Questions about United Nations related activities or advocacy on United Nations issues should be addressed to the National Spiritual Assembly’s U.S. UN Office in New York City.

Questions dealing with refugees and immigration should be addressed to the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office under the Office of the Secretary for External Affairs.

Every believer is encouraged to obtain a copy of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Bahá’u’lláh’s book of laws, familiarize himself or herself with its passages, and strive to apply its precepts in their life. A detailed list of laws that are not currently binding on Western believers is published in Developing Distinctive Bahá’í Communities: Guidelines for Spiritual Assemblies and may be obtained from any Local Spiritual Assembly.

Believers should be aware of the Bahá’í laws on marriage and divorce and that violation of these laws may result in administrative sanctions. Bahá’í marriage consists of a legally recognized union between a man and a woman with the expectation of chastity on the part of both men and women outside of marital relationships.

Bahá’ís who are sole owners of businesses are obligated to conform their practices and dealings to the laws and teachings of the Faith. For example, a restaurant owned by a Bahá’í should not serve alcohol or feature entertainment that is inconsistent with the teachings. In addition, stores and establishments owned by Bahá’ís should be closed on the nine Holy Days, even though they may have non-Bahá’ís in their employ. According to the same standards, individual Bahá’ís should, if possible, avoid employment that would involve a compromise of their principles, such as serving alcoholic beverages.

Flagrant violations of Bahá’í law that may be damaging to the reputation of the Faith should be referred either to a nearby Local Spiritual Assembly or directly to the National Spiritual Assembly. The National Spiritual Assembly may then assign the matter to a nearby Local Spiritual Assembly to handle.

In preparation for marriage, Bahá’í couples would be well advised to attend workshops together in the practice of Bahá’í consultation, as the following extract from a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice indicates its importance to the success of Bahá’í marriage, which it characterizes as:

It will be helpful for everyone involved if the friends who wish to be married are aware ahead of time of what will be expected of them and what they may expect from a Local Spiritual Assembly. The essential requirements of Bahá’í marriage are as follows:

Two Bahá’ís who wish to marry each other must have a Bahá’í ceremony. A Bahá’í who wishes to marry a non-Bahá’í must have a Bahá’í ceremony and may also have a civil or another religious ceremony to satisfy the needs of the non-Bahá’í party. When more than one ceremony is planned, the Bahá’í ceremony may not be commingled with the other ceremony and the Bahá’í may not make commitments which are not in keeping with the principles and laws of the Bahá’í Faith. If more than one ceremony is to be held, the order in which the ceremonies are held is not important. However, both ceremonies must take place on the same day, that is, a night should not intervene between one ceremony and the next.

All Bahá’ís wishing to marry must first contact a Local Spiritual Assembly. It is not possible to have a Bahá’í marriage ceremony without a Local Spiritual Assembly’s prior authorization. There are many different circumstances that may affect how the Bahá’í marriage law is applied, and the Local Spiritual Assembly will be able to assist the couple in clarifying how it applies to their particular situation.

When a marriage is planned, the Local Spiritual Assembly selected to officiate should be informed far enough in advance that it can review and approve the parental consents and ensure that arrangements for the Bahá’í ceremony are in conformity with Bahá’í principles and the requirements of both Bahá’í and civil law. Failing to give a Local Spiritual Assembly adequate time to fulfill its responsibilities may lead to a delay of the wedding, as it cannot take place until the administrative requirements have been met. If difficulties arise in obtaining consent, the Local Spiritual Assembly should lend whatever help it can. A couple is not considered to be engaged to be married until the consent of all living, natural parents has been obtained by the Bahá’í institutions. Accordingly, a couple should not make marriage plans, and certainly should not set a date for a ceremony, send invitations, and so on, until the consent of the parents is obtained. By delaying their plans until consent has been obtained, the couple will not only show proper respect for Bahá’í law but will also avoid the awkward situation of not having the required consents as the planned marriage date approaches.

Individuals should be aware that breaches of the Bahá’í marriage law may result in removal of administrative rights. As Bahá’u’lláh has placed such emphasis upon the importance of marriage as the foundation of society, it is crucial that believers become informed about the laws pertaining to it. It should not be assumed that all the believers in a community are fully aware of the Bahá’í marriage law. As opportunities arise, whether at the Nineteen Day Feast, at community deepenings, or in local newsletters, the community should make an effort to ensure that all of its members are familiar with the basic requirements of this fundamental Bahá’í law.

A couple experiencing difficulty in their marriage would be wise to seek the guidance and assistance of a Local Spiritual Assembly well before the situation has deteriorated to a point where one of the parties feels compelled to seek a year of waiting. Consultation with an Assembly should be entirely confidential and might help to provide the couple with a more balanced perspective about their concerns, increased clarity about the spiritual principles involved, and one or more possible courses of action to resolve their difficulties.

When a couple or a partner to a marriage approaches a Local Spiritual Assembly with the intention of starting a year of waiting, they should expect the Assembly or its representatives to review the Bahá’í teachings on divorce with them and explain the requirements pertaining to the year of waiting. It may be pointed out that divorce is condemned in the Bahá’í teachings and that a condition of aversion, antipathy or repugnance must exist to justify the extreme measure of dissolving the marriage.

Since the Local Spiritual Assembly has the responsibility to determine whether irreconcilable antipathy exists and the duty to try to reconcile the couple, it is important that it meet with both parties, if possible. If one of the parties is not a Bahá’í, the Local Spiritual Assembly may extend an invitation for the non-Bahá’í spouse to meet with the Assembly or its representatives, but should not pursue the issue if he or she seems to have no desire to meet with the Assembly.

To obtain a Bahá’í divorce, a civil divorce must be granted in addition to the completion of a year of waiting. The date on which a Bahá’í divorce is granted will coincide with either the date of the completion of the year of waiting or the date of the civil divorce, whichever occurs later.

As personal papers are an important source of information for historians and Bahá’í administrators, these may also be included in estate bequests to the Faith. The National Bahá’í Archives is trying to acquire a wide variety of collections to document the diversity of the American Bahá’í community. The Archives is interested in correspondence, photographs, personal recollections and manuscripts. Even a small collection of papers can be a valuable resource for future Bahá’í scholars.

Bahá’í groups are not officially responsible for conducting funeral services or carrying out arrangements for interment but may, nonetheless, find themselves called upon to do so in the absence of a nearby institution. All believers should be familiar with the Bahá’í burial law, as the following requirements are binding on believers in the West:

Although the following additional requirements are not currently binding on the Western believers, they are binding on the Persian believers, and Western believers may observe them, if they choose to do so: