Archive for the 'Administrative Order' Category

US NSA Loses Court Case Against Orthodox Baha’is

Published
by
Baquia
on April 28, 2008
in Administrative Order
. 75 Comments

This is about Covenant-Breakers so if you are sensitive, please go and look at some bunny pictures or play with a kitten or something. The rest of you can soldier on.

Since most have no clue what this is all about, here are the Cliff Notes:

Way back in 1966, when normal people were busy growing as much body hair as possible and experimenting with a cocktail of mind bending drugs while listening to music that in all honesty sounds like a pack of cats being strangled, the break away Baha’i group under Mason Remey in New Mexico, US was busy with a totally different undertaking.

They decided it would be a good idea to sue the US NSA in a court of law in order to have the US justice system turn over the Wilmette temple and property over to the “NSA Under the Hereditary Guardianship”.
Continue reading ‘US NSA Loses Court Case Against Orthodox Baha’is’

Several Baha’i Documents & Speeches

Published
by
Baquia
on March 26, 2008
in Administrative Order and Ruhi
. 11 Comments

One of the readers of this blog, Farhan Yazdani, was kind enough to share these after another person requested them in a discussion.

I took the liberty of putting them in this format since it offers more flexibility. You can read it as is, send it to a friend, embed it into your site or blog, or download it.
Continue reading ‘Several Baha’i Documents & Speeches’

Confirmation: Maxwell International To Close

Published
by
Baquia
on January 28, 2008
in Administrative Order and Fund
. 7 Comments

About three months ago I was the first to break the sad story that the Maxwell Baha’i school in Canada would be closing after 20 years of operation.

Almost immediately, a group of students, faculty, alumni, student families and well-wishers joined together to come up with ideas to save the school. They wrote a proposal that would result in the continuation of the school and sent it to the national administrative body in charge.

Unfortunately, their proposal was rejected and the decision to close Maxwell Baha’i School was reiterated and finalized by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Canada.

In their letter (see below), the NSA refers to the lack of funds as one of the primary reasons for the decision. As I mentioned in my first story, the fund is really the heart of the matter here.

The Canadian Baha’i community, as well as the US counterpart are undergoing a severe cash crunch. Donations have fallen dramatically over the years and the NSAs have been reluctant or unable to cut back. But as with the decision to close Maxwell, difficult options are being forced on them.

While this specific cutback is a tragic setback for the Baha’i community in Canada (and the world, since Maxwell had international students)… the bigger picture beckons.

Why is the fund persistently low? Are the resources of the Faith being managed as best as they can be? What, if any, is the silent message that the Baha’i community as a group may be sending the administration by reducing their donations?

maxwell-school-closes.png

[Note: bolded text is my own emphasis]

24 January 2008 / 6 Sovereignty 164

Dear Friends,

The National Spiritual Assembly warmly appreciated the proposal and supporting documents forwarded for consideration at our January 18-20 meeting. You have made extraordinary efforts to meet the National Assembly’s request for additional information related to your December 2007 proposal to continue the Maxwell International School as a Baha’i-inspired project, and have gained substantial support for the school’s continuation.

The National Assembly gave careful and detailed attention to your proposal, including financial resources available to you, recruitment strategies, governance structure and management expertise. We have concluded with regret that your submission is not sufficiently viable to allow the school to succeed in what you describe as a highly competitive international market and ensure the security of the sacrificial investment of the friends in the project. In addition, it still calls for substantial investment on the National Assembly’s part over a number of years, in the form of lost revenues. The funds of the Faith cannot be used to undertake the commitments you would require, nor could the National Assembly accept the implied moral responsibility for the success of the project.

The Assembly is not asking you to revise and resubmit the proposal, as it is not in the best interests of the school or the Faith to prolong this process. Nonetheless, our representatives would be happy to meet with you in due course to answer any questions you may have. In the meantime, should you wish to offer explanation of the National Assembly’s decision to other Maxwell supporters, we would appreciate your using this letter, in order to avoid misunderstanding and promote unity.

With warmest regards,
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA’IS OF CANADA
Karen McKye, Secretary

cc: National Spiritual Assembly (9)
Board of Directors - Maxwell International School

Maxwell Baha’i School Closes

Published
by
Baquia
on November 19, 2007
in Administrative Order and Fund
. 51 Comments

BREAKING NEWS

14 November 2007

Students, Staff, Parents and Supporters of Maxwell International School

Dear Friends,
Following extensive consultation and after sharing its concerns with the Universal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assembly has taken the very difficult decision to close the Maxwell International School at the end of the current academic year.

When Maxwell opened 19 years ago, it was with the clear expectation that the school would quickly become self-sustaining and would not draw on the general funds of the Baha’i Faith. Sadly, this has not been the case, in spite of dedicated efforts by so many, and current projections indicate that the financial challenge facing the school will worsen. It was in light of these financial realities that the National Assembly made the decision, with heavy heart, to close the school.

In recognition of the sadness the school’s closing will bring to the family of students, parents and staff at Maxwell, the Assembly has asked two of its members to meet with the Maxwell school community to answer questions and to discuss the decision.

The National Spiritual Assembly deeply appreciates the sacrifice, commitment and vision that have built an excellent school whose achievements will be remembered for generations to come. May this assurance sustain all of Maxwell’s steadfast supporters and allow this year, with its high and united spirit, to fulfill its brilliant promise.

With loving greetings,
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA’IS OF CANADA
Karen McKye,
Secretary

cc: National Spiritual Assembly (9)

*********
16 November 2007 / 13 Power 164

Dear Baha’i Friends,
Three members of the National Spiritual Assembly have just met with staff, students and supporters of Maxwell International School to convey the attached message which we now hasten to share with you.

As the letter states, the National Assembly has made this decision about Maxwell’s future with heavy heart and asks that you remember Maxwell’s wonderful school community in your prayers.

With loving Baha’i greetings,
Karen McKye, Secretary

Enclosure
cc:
Board of Trustees of Huququ’llah in Canada
Counsellors S. Birkland, A. Boyles, D. Scott
National Spiritual Assembly (9)
All Regional Baha’i Councils
All Auxiliary Board members
All National Committees and Agencies

Document:
Letter From National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Canada conveying news of closure of Maxwell International Baha’i School (PDF)

*********

maxwell-bahai-school

Sigh.

It was only 3 years ago (almost to the day) that I heard the news that Landegg Academy in Switzerland was being closed. For obvious reasons it has no functioning website now. You may view their site in a limited fashion through Archive.org’s cache. Many Baha’is had high hopes for it to grow and develop into a prestigious Baha’i University.

In the end, the foundation which held all the assets of the Academy went into bankruptcy, all the real estate and its collateral were confiscated by the holder of the mortgage (Union Bank of Switzerland) and auctioned off. The foundation which provided the legal structure for Landegg Academy was liquidated and wound up sometime in the spring of 2005.

The reason? It could not create a self-sustaining organization. The same fate is destined for Maxwell International Baha’i School.

The school was started about 20 years ago and named after the parents of May Maxwell, otherwise known as Rúhíyyih Khánum (wife of Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith). Just recently, the school decided to drop the “Baha’i” from its name and become simply Maxwell International School. The NSA didn’t outlined exactly when the school would be closed but it is safe to assume that this is the last scholastic year.

I can’t help but think that this is exacerbated by the deepening crisis in the Canadian Baha’i funds. Maxwell has had ample time to get on its feet. That they haven’t fully is the real reason why they will be closing. Yet I can’t help but think that if the NSA could afford it, they would continue to subsidize it as they had since its inception. That they simply can’t afford to, even though now we have a much larger Baha’i community in Canada than 20 years ago is telling.

Of course, we shouldn’t pick on Canada. The Baha’is of the United States have their own problems in this area. According to the US NSA, the budgetary shortfall was 50% (last time I checked).

This is yet another wake up call. The dwindling amount of funds is a HUGE blinking red light. It is the most indirect, yet unmistakable way of measuring the health of a Baha’i community. Don’t get me wrong. Life is not about money. And the Baha’i Faith isn’t about money, nor should it be. It is simply that when people feel engaged, inspired, moved, transformed, their whole life… including the financial portion is touched. And they naturally, happily choose to support their community through all methods (including cash).

The fast ebbing flow of funds is yet another symptom that the community is not going in the right path. Instead of blaming the members of the community and flagellating them to eke out more money, this should be taken for what it is: a non-verbal and collective message.

dry-river

What do you think? Is this a message? or are people just not “spiritual” enough to donate sacrificially? or can we blame the economy perhaps?