Myrtle L. King (1918 - 2012)- Obituary

Myrtle L. King

Myrtle L. King, long-time resident of Las Vegas (Manuelitas), recently living in Albuquerque, passed quietly in her sleep into the next life at the age of 93, on Oct. 28, 2012. 

Myrtle was born Nov. 11, 1918, ending the First World War, in Dunkirk, N.Y., where she grew up. 

She received a teaching degree from Buffalo State Teachers College, and married Clifford Hall. They lived in Honeoye Falls, N.Y., and later Avon, N.Y., before deciding in 1949 to move to Alaska with their young sons, to become teachers for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Alaska Native Service. 

Clifford became ill and preceded Myrtle in death in 1951. 

Liking the environment in Alaska, Myrtle continued teaching in Alaska until 1959. She married Rex King in 1958. 

She became a member of the Baha'i Faith and was active in the Tarbiyat Baha'i Community until her death. 

The King family moved to Geyserville, Calif. in 1959, and to Largo, Florida in 1962, where Myrtle continued her teaching. 

In 1963, the family moved to Las Vegas, N.M., where Myrtle taught and was later a Librarian at Memorial Middle School until her retirement. 

Her husband, Rex, preceded her in death in 1977. 

Always adventurous, she took up skiing in her 70's and often went skiing with her grandchildren. 

She was active for many years in the Alta Vista Regional Hospital Auxiliary until her age precluded driving. 

She is survived by her sons: Ted, Gene (Linda), and Tom (Debbie) King; eight grandchildren: Deirdre, Randall, Robin, Mark, Roger, Brendan, Jessica, and Rex; and four great-grandchildren: Alex, Merle, Nathan, and Tristan. Many family and friends wear the products of her prolific knitting skills, and she collected materials to assist teachers in their creative projects. 

Memorials may be made to the NMHU Foundation Scholarship Fund, Box 9000, Las Vegas, NM 87701. 

The Present State of the Tarbiyat Baha’i Community

The Council of Regents assumes ultimate direction of the faith on a world-wide basis, but does not concern itself routinely with day-to-day operations. It sits at the National Center, located in Tarbiyat, San Miguel County, New Mexico. The National Center consists physically of sixty-five acres of ranch land, nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rocky Mountains. It includes a substantial building for administration and worship (constructed mostly by members of the Faith), a ranch house refurbished for use as a guest house, and several residences.

Under the Council of Regents, the governance of the Tarbiyat Baha’i Community operates through Houses of Justice. The National House of Justice of the United States and Canada convenes regularly at the National Center. Local Houses of Justice may exist wherever at least nine believers live in proximity to each other.

The regency considers itself to be a temporary regime, its function being to maintain the integrity of the Cause of Baha’u’llah until such time as the Second Guardian makes himself known and claims his rightful office. In the meantime the believers teach the Faith and support the concept of the institution of the Guardianship. A few words must be said regarding the relations between the Tarbiyat Baha’i Community and the Baha’i World Faith. In the first place, as mentioned at the start of this article, we have no differences in our fundamental beliefs; we are all followers of Baha’u’llah. However, the “Sans-Guardians”, as we call them, do not recognize the existence of the Tarbiyat Community.

In fact, soon after the death of the first Guardian, the Hands assumed the prerogative to declare “covenant-breaking” and to excommunicate believers (a right Shoghi Effendi had always reserved to himself alone). They then commenced to remove from the Faith anyone who questioned their actions, especially the discontinuance of the Guardianship.

Membership figures are not published for either group, but the Wilmette/Haifa organization is much larger than the Tarbiyat Community. Members of the Tarbiyat Community, being apostate in the eyes of Wilmette, are not welcomed there. Nevertheless, we do from time to time visit the Wilmette Temple, and also the Shrine of the Bab in Haifa, but without identifying ourselves as Tarbiyat Baha’is. After all, both of these buildings were constructed and dedicated prior to the death of Shoghi Effendi, and are the property of all Baha’is, whether the present custodians recognize this or not.

In contrast, the Regents have not asserted the right to declare covenant breaking. The Tarbiyat Baha’i Community welcomes Sans-Guardian Baha’is and others to meet with us and investigate our stance on the Guardianship. As the Regents have repeatedly stated, our community exists to uphold the validity of the Covenant, and its principle defender, the Guardianship.

Tarbiyat Baha’is look forward to the day when the second Guardian arises to reestablish the spiritual leadership of the Faith and reunite its followers under one banner: the Cause of God. In that day there will be no more difference between our communities. The Faith will once again move forward with the Covenant of Baha’u’llah made whole and its sacred institutions restored.

That is our goal. We invite you to join with us.

If you would like to reach us for more information, or simply for discussion, we welcome you to contact us in the following ways:

By email: TarbiyatBahai@gmail.com 

By mail:

Tarbiyat Baha’i Community

P.O. Box 1423

Las Vegas, NM 87701

By phone: 505.435.9675

We would be happy to hear from you!

The Station of Rex King

      Rex King was a Baha’i of long standing, having been active in committee work and teaching under the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States prior to the passing of Shoghi Effendi. He had also been a Baha’i pioneer and teacher in Alaska and elsewhere. Rex had had personal correspondence with Shoghi Effendi, and following the Guardian’s death, Rex felt strongly that the Hands were in error in their action terminating the Guardianship as an institution and in their attempts to stamp out independent investigation of truth with respect to Mason Remey and others. Hence Rex was moved to support Mason’s claim to the Guardianship. 

As Mason Remey grew older, however, it became evident to many people, including Rex, that his utterances were becoming incompatible with the office of Guardian. He made several untenable “interpretations” of the sacred writings of Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l-Baha. Such interpretations are the prerogative of the Guardian, but in no event can he contradict a statement from the Holy Writings, as Mason did. Therefore Rex King, accompanied by two other believers, traveled to Florence, Italy, in 1969, to visit Mason Remey. He wanted to ascertain the state of Mr. Remey’s physical health and to discuss the meaning of his apparently conflicting interpretations. 

As a result of that visitation, Rex King concluded that Mason Remey was no longer the Guardian. Mason had created a Second International Baha’i Council, named Joel B. Marengella as its president, and then without warning dissolved that body. This appointment follows essentially the same pattern by which Mason himself had assumed the station of Guardian, hence Rex acknowledged Joel as Third Guardian, as did other members of the Guardianship community at the time. Within the space of a few years history began to repeat itself. Joel Marengella proceeded to make a number of inadmissable “interpretations” of the Writings. 

These events, and other additional factors that need not be recounted here, convinced Rex and others that Joel, too, had ceased to fulfill the requirements of the office of Guardian. As a result of these occurrences, and supported by several dreams that Rex interpreted as constituting mystical contact with the Master, Rex King was led to announce on January 15, 1973 that he was rightfully assuming the station of Regent of the Cause of Baha’u’llah. It is interesting that in his announcement he refers to Mason Remey and to Joel Marengella as the Second and Third Guardians, respectively. 

He claimed the regency with the understanding that he, as Regent, was not endowed with infallibility, as is a Guardian, and that he was not qualified to interpret the Writings. However, he claimed to be given clarity of sight to recognize the next true Guardian, when that individual should make himself known. A considerable number, but not all, of the Baha’is who had formerly acknowledged Joel Marengella as Guardian, expressed their support of Rex King as Regent. Subsequently, after much further though and prayer, Rex became convinced that neither Mason Remey nor Joel Marengella had in truth ever been Guardians. This was largely because of the lack of lineal descendancy from the Holy Family. In the case of Joel, clearly if Mason had not been a Guardian, Joel never could have been. (The same logic applies to the claim of Donald Harvey to the Guardianship.) Furthermore, the International Baha’i Council could be considered to be an interim organization, intended to exist only until the Universal House of Justice should be activated. Hence Mason, as president, was actually fulfilling the function of a regent, not a Guardian. 

As a result of all these factors, Rex King came to the realization that he was in actuality the Second Regent, Mason Remey having been unknowingly the First Regent of the Cause of Baha’u’llah since the death of Shoghi Effendi. Rex King made due provision in his Will for the continuance of the regency. He passed from this life, the victim of an apparent heart attack, April 1, 1977, near Baltimore, Maryland. By the terms of his Will, the office passed to a Council of Regents, consisting of his sons Theodore, Eugene, and Thomas, and his daughter-in-law, Ruth Lopez-King. They are, as of this writing, continuing the governance of the Faith along the lines established by the Second Regent.

Tarbiyat Baha'i Community mourns Passing of Myrtle

  Eugene King with Ted King and 5 others at Prayers are over.

You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Myrtle was an unwavering anchor of faith for the entire Community for many years, and we will all miss her. 

--Rikki

One of our very dear friends passed away on Sunday. She was a member of our Baha'i community who had a great heart and was a contribution to many. She will be missed.

---Marny Whitaker

She was an awesome lady and my aunt, my mom's sister. I loved her with all my heart.I am sad i will not be able to wish her a happy birthday to her on nov. 11th god bless her and her family

----Rita Davis

Eugene King

with Amina Whiteaker, Marny Whiteaker, Linda King, 

Ralph Whiteaker, Wendy K Jay and Ted King at Prayers.

A New Year Greeting by Rex King

The letter below was a Naw Ruz letter from Rex King, dated March 21, 1975.

As we are starting a new calendar year, it seemed an appropriate subject for this Reporter. While January is not the Baha’i new year, it is nonetheless a time of renewal for billions of people world-wide, and a time to acknowledge what has been accomplished, as well as look forward to what will be accomplished. This was Rex’s vision.


Dear and Beloved Friends;

It is the time of the New Year, and I feel impelled to send each of you a special message of love.

Having been ill gives one time to think and to set values as well as to be able to meditate and pray a little oftener, and I would share with you the results of those prayers and meditations.
The next Reporter will carry a page of pictures of the finished interior of the new National Center in the hope that these will cheer your hearts, as being able to see it directly cheers mine. The work has continued slowly over the past weeks - that is to say the tasks needing to be done did not make any outward changes, but suddenly the new chandeliers were in place and working. Then with great leaps of energy the new floor type was in place and some of the new decorative touches were carefully added and the lovely drapes were hung. Now it is Naw Ruz, and the first stage of the Three Year Plan is a success. How my heart sings We have a center which is truly befitting of the Cause of God and I am certain that its beauty will attract more and more
people to it and to the Cause. How blessed we are, how truly blessed.

I would add a thought concerning the actual building of the structure: I am certain that future generations will wonder at our audacity - so few to undertake so much. This has been especially true considering that almost all of the believers had other priorities in the sense that they had exacting jobs or heavy school schedules, or lived at great distances from the Center itself making it almost impossible to make the journey here. Still others found that the best assistance they could offer was either financial or through prayer It now becomes important that I say to you all that no matter how little or how much work any individual has done is of no concern to anyone save God. Each moment of work, each fragrant prayer directed to God on behalf of the Center, each sincere wish to help that was frustrated through no fault of the believer is viewed in the eyes of God as a task accomplished. Each believer has done what he thought best, and it is God who decides these matters and God alone. He who would find in any heart the least trace of lack in these matters would at once negate his own service!

There is still much to be done for the Center and the gardens and other activities, and in time all will have their chances to do the thing they do best. Not everyone lays cinder block well!

Now the first phase is finished and the joy of its beauty is for us all. I thank you from my heart for making this phase of the dream come true. I know in every fiber of my being that Baha’u’llah is pleased with our effort and through these efforts the Cause of God has bee elevated in the eyes of men and it is good.

I send you my loving New Year’s greetings and I shall continue each day to offer my prayers at the Sacred Threshhold [sic] on your behalf.


Your loving brother and co-worker
in the Cause of Baha’u’llah
Reginald King, REGENT

Defeat of Haifan Baha'is

by kps59

Orginally published at :
http://www.iranian.com/main/blog/kps59/bupc-rights-upheld-american-federal-court

25-Nov-2010

http://bupc.org/covenant-in-court/victory-2010.pdf

This is a victory for the Baha'i's Under the Provisions of the Covenant, and a victory for the freedom of speech, the separation of church and state and the core values of the American system as espoused and envisioned by the American founding fathers.

Now at the 390th year anniversary of the Mayflower Compact and the Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock both in 1620; and in precise time for both the Day of the Covenant celebration and the memorial ascension of Abdu'l-Baha commemorating the activation of the sacred Charter of the Kingdom (see World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 144) the Will and Testament (W&T) of Abdu'l-Baha, on the 26th and 28th of November respectively; as well as coinciding with the American Thanksgiving Holiday: once again the Covenant-breakers in Wilmette and Haifa have been thwarted in their attempts to shut down the public teaching effort and close down all the websites and publications of the Baha'i's under the provisions of the Covenant.

In order to get out of the 6-66 injunction Joel Marangella and the other splinter groups fearing that if Abdu'l-Baha's aghsan son, Mason Remey was bound by the 6-66 injunction, this would pass on down to his successors, stood up and publically confessed in the courts of law that in fact they were not the successors toMason Remey at al but his RIVALS!! Thus a legal confession to being a) boldfaced usurpers attacking Mason; and b) to being outside the provisions of the Covenant altogether. Thus, in order to save their own butts, so to speak, they admit they are not the successors to Baha'u'llah, Abdu'l-Baha,Shoghi Effendi and Mason Remey the son of Abdu'l-Baha!!!

In the case of the BUPC, we were able to testify in open court, 1) that Dr. Jensen who left the NSA in New Mexico in 1964 was never bound by the 6-66 injunction at all. We further pointed out that the Publishers and the IBC/UHJ established by him are not the sucessorship to Mason Remey, but are the lineal sucessorship to Baha'u'llah, Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi, and then comes the UHJ set up on January 9, 1951 by Shoghi Effendi as that first IBC that the Hands demolished and which was then re-established on January 9, 1991 by Dr. Leland Jensen. As such, none of the entities, Dr. Jensen, the Publishers or the IBC/UHJ (www.UHJ.net) were in legal succession to Mason Remey, therefore none of them are bound by the 6-66 injunction.

Judge: Baha'i believers can call themselves Baha'i

November 23, 2010 9:11 PM
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/11/judge-bahai-believers-can-call-themselves-bahai.html

A federal court in Chicago has ruled a group of self-proclaimed orthodox Baha'i believers can keep calling themselves Baha'i despite a 1966 court decision that stopped an offshoot organization from using the Baha'I name.

Today, the federal 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the 1966 decision does not apply to a different offshoot known as the Orthodox Baha'i Faith.

Though the judges criticized the ruling from more than four decades ago as wrongfully trying to resolve a question of religious authority, they determined it was amoot point since the original defendants led a denomination that no longer exists.

Tuesday's ruling sidestepped any questions about whether a religious organization can trademark its name or icons.

North American Baha'is have been based in Chicago ever since believers came to the U.S. about 90 years ago.

Adherents of the Orthodox Baha'i Faith--about 50 strong in the U.S.--believe the mainstream Baha'i faith -- about 5 million strong in the world -- has strayed from the religion's original teachings.

-- Manya A. Brachear

RESEARCH SURVEY FOR RELIGIOUS BOOK

I am writing a book on the search for eternal life and which religions lead to it. As part of my research, I'm seeking to learn firsthand from the faithful in each religion. My inquiry is focused on the proof of your faith, how do we know whether it's teachings inform us correctly.Your answers only need to be a few sentences long for each question, although more detail is welcome. I do request that you give your faith's standard position, reflecting the majority opinion. Many heartfelt thanks for taking the time to answer these questions on such an important topic.

Lawrence BerknerRoseville,
MinnesotaLawrenceBerkner@Gmail.com

Answer as if each question begins with: "According to the standard teachings of your faith, . . ."

What is the name of your religion?

The Baha'i Faith Is there one supreme being or God, and can you give a brief description? There is one God. God is the ultimate cause of all things existing and that everything reflects His power, man particularly reflecting His attributes. To the Baha’is, God is Himself, unknowable, and can only be known through his manifestations: Adam, Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Krishna, The Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Bab, and Baha’u’llah.

How does God communicate with mankind, and how do we know for sure if it is God speaking?

God sends a Manifestation (teacher) approximately every thousand years. The Manifestation comes to renew the spiritual teachings which are the same in all religions (i.e. the Golden Rule) and to bring new social teachings appropriate for mankind in that day.

Is eternal life offered, and what is it like? T

The worlds of God are infinite. The first world is the womb world, then the physical world into which we are born. The spirit, after the death of the body, progresses through all the worlds of God. The spirit is immortal.

Is there reward and punishment after death, and on what is it based?

God is the most merciful. The spirit can be born into the next life with no more spirituality than that of a stone--having ignored the spiritual teachings and lived a material life.


Are there sacred writings (scriptures) defining your faith, and roughly how long are they?

There are numerous sacred writings by the key figures in the Baha'i Faith. These writings are held in the Baha'i International Archives Building, erected in 1957, on Mount Carmel in Haifa Israel. The Archives building is a museum which holds the original writings of the Bab, Baha 'u' llah and Abdu' l Baha.

When were these scriptures written down and by whom?

The Bab is the Forerunner of the Baha'i Faith with many of his writings accomplished during his ministry during the 1880's. Baha 'u' llah is the prophet founder of the Baha'i Faith and the Manifestation of God for this day. He wrote volumes of teachings and letters during His ministry which extended from the 1860's through to His passing in 1892. Abdu' l Baha is Baha 'u' llah's eldest son and His designated successor. He, too, wrote many documents, letters, and prayers during his travels through the Middle East and America. Writings by Shoghi Effendi, first Guardian of the Baha'i Faith and only infallible interpreter of the sacred writings, are also stored here in the Baha'i International Archives Building.

How much of these scriptures contain historical accounts with real people, places and events?

Many of the writings of the key figures of the Baha'i Faith were in response to events taking place during their time on earth. Many documents have been written by those close to the key figures of the Baha'i Faith. One such example is a book referred to as, The Dawn-Breakers: Nabíl’s Narrative of the Early Days of the Bahá’í Revelation. The complete work carries the history of the Baha'i movement up to the death of Bahá’u’lláh in 1892.

Does your faith make a deliberate effort to translate these writings into many languages and distribute them?

Many of the writings of the Bab, Baha'u'llah, Abdu'l Baha, and Shoghi Effendi, as well as authors of texts describing the Baha'i Faith, have been translated into more than 20 languages.
One such source for the writings of the key figures of the Baha'i Faith and many other of the world's religions is the “Interfaith Explorer” ( http://bahairesearch.com/ ) which is free software offering over 5000 books in 20 languages.

Is there the concept of sin, and can it be forgiven?

There is no concept of sin in the Baha'i Faith. What is the main benefit of your faith, that is, what would motivate someone to convert to it? Baha'is believe in progressive revelation in that God sends to mankind teachers to impart new social teachings as the material/intellectual advancements of mankind develop and to renew the spiritual teachings which are one and the same in all major religions. Baha'is are responsible for their own spiritual development--there is no clergy in the Baha'i Faith. Independent investigation of the truth is a hallmark of the Baha'i Faith. What is the final destiny of this world, will it go on forever or experience an abrupt end?

Speaking of such things as wars which have plagued mankind for centuries and continue to do so to this very day, Baha'u'llah promises that, "These fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come." This is what Baha'is believe to be the final destiny of this world.

What is the primary proof that your faith informs us correctly on what it teaches?

Baha’i teachings are taken directly from the writings of the key figures of the Baha'i Faith. If there is uncertainty over what is meant by any of these writings, Baha'is believe that the Guardian is divinely guided in his interpretation of these writings.

Did the founders of your faith do miracles, and can you give examples?

Though Baha'u'llah did perform miracles, these are not used as proofs of his prophet-hood. A miracle is a miracle only to him who witnesses it.

Did the founders of your faith make predictions that came true, and can you give examples?

Baha'u'llah wrote tablets to the kings and sovereigns of the time in which he lived and predicted what are now historical facts about the downfall of their governments. Napoleon is one such sovereign.

Does your faith have stories of troubled, addicted or immoral people whose lives have been dramatically improved through converting to your faith?

Such stories are always of a personal nature, but many who have accepted the teachings of the Baha'i Faith are more than happy to explain how their conversions have improved their lives.

How has the authenticity of your faith been challenged by skeptics, and what are the standard answers to those challenges?

All religions have been and will continue to be challenged by skeptics. We believe that when people challenge the beliefs of each other, both parties are wrong. Baha'is share their beliefs with those who seek answers and then leave them to God. One key Baha'i principle is the independent search for truth.

Will other religions lead someone to the same results as yours?

If someone fully understands his own religion and investigates the teachings of the Baha'i Faith with an open mind, it is very possible that he will be lead to the same results.

Are faithful practitioners of your religion supposed to persuade people to convert to your faith?

We teach our faith, but we are forbidden to proselytize. If you would like to comment on a topic not covered by the questions, please do so.

OUR FRIEND LARRY AND HIS WIFE

MAIN HOUSE OF TARBIYAT COMMUNITY

This is called the "main house" which is close to the National Center. It is presently being rented to a group of outdoorsmen

INSIDE OF CENTER

The inside of the National Center is sometimes used for concerts and meetings. This particular event was a piano concert presented by Linda King and a talented friend of hers. Gene and Linda King live here on the National Center property.

OUR BAHAI FRIENDS

These are some of the Baha'is and friends who attended one of our annual conventions. I'll just give the first names of these fine people. Beginning in the back, left to right: Larry (me), Jim, Tom, and Gene. The middle row: Patricia, An, Ted, Ralph, Cathy. Front row: Linda, Jess, Myrtle, and Marny.

CENTER OF TARBIYAT BAHAI COMMUNITY

This is the National Center for the Tarbiyat Baha'i Community just north of Las Vegas, New Mexico. Annual Conventions and other Baha'i activities are held here.

BEAUTIFUL SAYINGS

“Justice and equity are twin Guardians that watch over men.”
(Bahá’u’lláh: Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, page 12)
“The purpose of justice is the appearance of unity among men.”
(Bahá’u’lláh: Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, page 67)

DISPUTES IN HETERODOX BAHAI FAITH

Besides leadership disputes, there have been a number of episodes of opposition to the Bahá'í administration. In Germany, Hermann Zimmer resurrected the claims of Ruth White in a small book published in 1971 (English translation in 1973), A Fraudulent Testament devalues the Bahá'í Religion into Political Shogism. Zimmer had been planning to form an Association of Free Bahá'ís (or the World Union of Universal Religion and Universal Peace), but this apparently never come into being. Charles Seeburger set up a similar group in Philadelphia in about 1967, but this is apparently defunct. In Switzerland, Francesco Ficicchia wrote a comprehensive pseudo-academic attack, Der Baha'ismus – Weltreligion der Zunkunft? (Evangelische Zentralstelle für Weltanschauungsfragen, Quell Verlag, Stuttgart, 1981). His work was financed and distributed by the Protestant Church in Germany. A book by Bahá'í scholar Udo Schaefer, et. al., originally titled Desinformation als Methode (English title: Making the Crooked Straight (2000)), was written to answer Ficicchia's accusations.Bahá'í Studies Review, Volume 8, (1998) [12] Since the publication of Schaefer's refutation, the German Protestant Church has repudiated both Ficicchia and its own earlier anti-Bahá'í attacks, and indeed has held cordial meetings with Schaefer and other Bahá'ís

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF INJUSTICE

Expulsions
Several individuals have resigned or removed themselves from the rolls as a result of these conflicts, while others were removed by Bahá'í institutions. However, some have retained their Bahá'í identity as "unenrolled Bahá'ís", outside of formal membership. The Universal House of Justice does not recognize them as being either Bahá'ís or covenant-breakers, regarding them simply as non-Bahá'ís. As such they are not subject to shunning.
As one example, in 2000 Alison Marshall was expelled from the New Zealand Bahá'í community. She wrote about the situation relating to her expulsion on her webpage.

EXPULSION FROM BAHAI FAITH-A REPORT

On 29 March 2000, Alison received the following notification from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of New Zealand. The letter informed her that the assembly had been instructed by the Universal House of Justice to remove her name from the membership rolls of the New Zealand Baha'i community.
Dear Mrs Marshall,
The Universal House of Justice has advised us of its conclusion that, on the basis of an established pattern of statements by you and behaviour and attitude on your part over the past two or three years, you cannot properly be considered as meeting the requirements of membership in the Baha'i community. Accordingly, we have removed your name from our membership rolls and have informed the Baha'i institutions concerned.
Sincerely
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLYOF THE BAHA'IS OF NEW ZEALAND
Alison had no idea this was coming. She had never been contacted by a Baha'i institution about concerns over her statements, attitude or behaviour.
She therefore wrote to the National Spiritual Assemby and asked it to explain why this decision was made. She also asked it to supply her with all the personal information it held on her. Under New Zealand's Privacy Act 1993, an individual is entitled to ask any body that holds personal information on that individual to supply copies of it and to ask that body to correct information that is incorrect or misleading.
In response, the National Spiritual Assembly provided several documents, dating back to 1998, which indicated that the assembly's interest in her went back several years.
The National Spiritual Assembly's letter did not contain an explanation for the disenrollment. Rather, it said that the decision was taken by the Universal House of Justice, and she was referred there for an explanation.
The House of Justice later sent an e-mail dated 19 April 2000 to the National Spiritual Assembly giving its reasons for the disenrollment. Alison discovered the existence of this letter when believers on the Internet wrote to the House of Justice about her case. They were given copies of the letter. However, the letter was never sent to Alison by any Baha'i authority.
The documents supplied by the National Spiritual Assembly included one dated 28 March 2000, in which the assembly wrote to six local spiritual assemblies informing them of the disenrollment. The letter contained the following statement: "Efforts have been made to clear up her misunderstandings, but these have been unsuccessful, hence the Supreme Body's decision." Alison wrote to the assembly and, exercising her rights under the Privacy Act 1993, asked them to correct it and inform the six local spiritual assemblies concerned. The National Spiritual Assembly refused to correct the statement. Alison pointed out that the minutes of the National Spiritual Assembly meeting, held to decide how Alison would be informed of her disenrollment, record an apparent acknowledgement that Alison had not been counselled: "A question was raised about the fact that the National Spiritual Assembly had not yet implemented the instruction of the House of Justice to visit the Marshalls, and that the House of Justice must have received information from other sources." The National Spiritual Assembly argued that the word "efforts", "does not indicate that all such efforts necessarily involved direct approaches to you by representatives of the institutions on the specific matters in question." The assembly offered to distribute a statement by Alison to the local assemblies, as it was required to do by law.
Alison made an official complaint, dated 4 October 2000, to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. The Privacy Commissioner is empowered under the Act to investigate complaints and is charged with trying to settle them through negotiation. The Office decided to investigate the matter in April 2002. In early April of that year, the Commissioner sent his conclusions that, in a situation where the agency is unwilling to change the disputed information, the law allows for the individual to attach a statement to all the copies of the information. The purpose of this is to allow the view of both parties to be held on the record. Given that the National Assembly was willing to attach a statement provided by Alison, it was therefore not in breach of the privacy law. He also argued that the issue of whether or not Alison was counselled was a subjective one and difficult for him to analyse. He therefore did not see it as part of his role to look into the matter.
Alison therefore sent a statement to the National Spiritual Assembly to distribute to the six local assemblies for their files.
Alison initiated proceedings in the New Zealand High Court for judicial review of the decision to disenrol her. On 10 March 2002, the National Spiritual Assembly was successful in having the case struck out. In essence, Alison was trying to get the court to "review" the decision of the National Spiritual Assembly, to determine whether it was legal under New Zealand law. Before a court can do that, it has to determine whether the decision is one the court can review. The court decided that it could not review the decision because it was made by the Universal House of Justice not the National Spiritual Assembly - and, of course, the House of Justice isn't a party to the case because it is in Israel. The judge's interpretation of the constitutions was that the National Spiritual Assembly must do as it's told by the House of Justice.
The consequence of this is that if a decision is made by the National Spiritual Assembly, it would be reviewable by the court. The assembly tried to argue that all its decisions are spiritual in nature and therefore not reviewable. The judge did not accept this. He held that if an assembly decision affects a person's rights - for example, relating to money, property or voting (such as in this case) - then the decision is reviewable. But he did accept that decisions about purely ecclesiastical matters would not be reviewable. The judge also rejected the National Spiritual Assembly's argument that, because membership in the community is voluntary, assembly decisions would not be reviewable. In other words, although Baha'i community membership is voluntary, the National Spiritual Assembly still has a recognised legal duty to act in accordance with members' rights.
The judge also rejected Alison's request to have the decision reviewed because he thought Alison should have asked the National Spiritual Assembly or House of Justice to reconsider the decision first, before bringing the matter before the court. The judge argued that the constitution gave her the right to have the decision reviewed/appealed. Alison argued that the constitution only envisages the review/appeal of decisions of the National Spiritual Assembly, and such reconsiderations are made by the House of Justice. There is no stated remedy if the House of Justice itself makes the original decision.
The judge noted that he gave Alison the opportunity to have the National Spiritual Assembly/House of Justice reconsider the decision. However, she did not take him up on that because she was not seeking reinstatement. She wanted to prove that she was never counselled and that the National Spiritual Assembly had grossly misled the New Zealand Baha'i community in asserting that she had.
A chronology of events outlines in detail the events that led to Alison's expulsion from the New Zealand Baha'i community. It is 20 pages long and includes documentary evidence of what happened. Most of the evidence comes from personal correspondence between Alison, or her husband Steve Marshall, on the one hand, and various administrative bodies on the other. Evidence also comes from National Spiritual Assembly minutes and National Spiritual Assembly correspondence with the House of Justice. At relevant points, the chronology indicates where the National Spiritual Assembly relies on an event as constituting part of Alison's 'counselling'. Some of these events took place years before Alison's membership status was ever an issue.
The chronology reveals that the National Spiritual Assembly minutes began including 'Alison and Steve reports' as far back as December 1998. Alison and Steve never knew that the assembly was keeping an eye on them and recording their activities. In September 1999, the National Spiritual Assembly became very concerned after a local community meeting where some local Baha'is expressed concern about a House of Justice letter, dated April 7 1999. After this, the National Spiritual Assembly met to discuss the 'Alison and Steve problem' and sent a report to the House of Justice about them. This included four pages detailing things they'd done since 1996. The National Spiritual Assembly was particularly concerned about Steve, who was much more outspoken locally than Alison was. The minutes give an indication of how the National Spiritual Assembly viewed them and their activities. The House of Justice responded by asking the National Spiritual Assembly to do two things: hold another community meeting, and have a National Spiritual Assembly member meet with the Marshalls. The community meeting was held, but the National Spiritual Assembly had not arranged to meet with the Marshalls before the House of Justice instructed the National Spiritual Assembly to disenrol Alison.
In its submission to the court, the National Spiritual Assembly outlined what it argues is acceptable procedure when disenrolling a member:
9.3 In terms of decision-making required when Baha'i membership is at issue or when infringements of Baha'i law are of concern to the institutions, decisions are made based on Baha'i principles. The Baha'i administration is non-adversarial in nature and works in subtle ways. There can be no comparison with the terminology used in legal proceedings in the community at large. For example, Baha'i institutions do not lay any 'charge' against an individual believer, and there is no necessity for giving 'direct notice' to the individual. Similarly, the concept of a 'case to be heard' is foreign to the Baha'i administration. It is at the discretion of the Baha'i administrative body to act as it sees fit in full accordance with the Baha'i principles. ... 9.4 Attempts by a National Spiritual Assembly to correct misunderstandings about the Faith by individual believers can be achieved in a variety of ways. The NSA does not employ the practice of formally approaching an individual before making a decision in every instance. There are many occasions when the deficiencies in understanding of individuals are addressed in a general, all-embracing way with the whole community (for instance, the presentation of community classes dealing with particular issues) rather than singling out individuals for specific attention.
This makes it clear that the Baha'i administration reserves the right to treat people exactly as it pleases and refuses to allow any checks on its powers.
In 2004, Alison wrote to the National Spiritual Assembly suggesting that she and the assembly agree to disagree and make peace. She also wrote to the House of Justice explaining that she is a Baha'i and suggesting it consider reviewing the decision to disenrol her. The National Spiritual Assembly responded that it "noted your comments". The House of Justice asked the National Spiritual Assembly to convey to Alison its receipt of her letter.
All documents relating to Alison's expulsion, privacy complaint and court action are available for loan from the Hocken Library.
From: Juan Cole To: TalismanDate: Mon Apr 15, 2002 5:09 am Subject: Re: [talisman9] court case announcement
I doubt any of us really understands the full horror of Alison's situation and the enormous courage and dedication it takes for her to address it in this way. It is a 21st century Kafka novel unfolding before our eyes. Imagine giving selflessly to the Faith you love for a quarter of a century--sacrificing, making your friends mainly in its shadow, having it be part of your marriage, founding a magazine to help it.
And then email comes along, and the mere expression of your opinion in public becomes suddenly punishable. Shall we all cower in our homes with our modems disconnected, lest the High Dragon Peter Khan take offense to some opinion we voice in email discussions with our *friends*?
And then imagine waking up one day to find that your leaders have summarily declared you not a member of your own religion! Imagine that they never contacted you, never gave you any indication that they were going to do this to you. Imagine that you then requested and received your NSA's deliberations about you and discovered that they had been investigating you for some time, considered you a heretic, and that people you thought of as your friends had backbitten you and jumped to conclusions about you. And this had been going on for a couple of years while they were nice to your face and smiled at you and said, Allah'u'Abha.
Then imagine that they sent out a letter to all the members of your national community announcing that you were no longer a Baha'i (because they didn't like your email traffic) and bald-facedly lying that you had been "extensively" "counseled" before this decision had been taken!!
Of course, the majority your "friends" in the community now peel away, leaving you isolated. Few believe your protestations that you are, too, a Baha'i, or that you never so much as had a telephone call from any Baha'i official about their "concerns." A member of the Universal House of Justice comes to your country and condemns it for having produced a problem like you, whom he equates with the Calamity the fundamentalist Baha'is had been expecting by 2000, which otherwise never came.
In this situation to seek legal redress takes enormous fortitude. I was put through something similar, and I can tell you that after something like that, what you most want is to be left alone. After I was threatened by the authorities in 1996 and went through hell on realizing my religion was being run by cultists, I told one cyberfriend "If I never hear the word "Baha'i" again, it will be too soon." It makes your soul raw, and you just want to melt away. (This is what most people mauled by the Baha'i fundamentalists do, which is why the situation never gets any better.)
But Alison worked her way through the wounds and the rawness and the hurt, sustained by her shining faith in Baha'u'llah, her divine beloved, and managed to launch two important legal challenges to the arbitrary and tyrannical actions of tin-pot despots who masquerade as trustees of Baha'u'llah.
Bless her. Whether the legal challenges succeed or not, they are path-breaking. Their very existence shows all those who are harmed by the hardliners who have perverted our tolerant and pure faith that there is recourse. There are things you can do. The very launching of the challenges demonstrates that Alison is free in her pure faith, unconstrained any longer by the silly Mickey Mouse rules that the patriarchs have devised to extend their power unlawfully and against all scripture.
Yaaay, Alison!
cheers Juan

Tarbiyat Bahá'í Community

The Orthodox Bahá'í Faith Under the Regency was founded by Reginald King, who was a very successful Bahá'í teacher who had converted hundreds to the Faith. When Remey declared himself the Second Guardian in 1960, King accepted him, and was elected to become the first Secretary of the National Assembly set up by Remey in 1963.
After conflicts with several of Remey's followers, including Marangella, King decided that "neither Mason Remey nor Joel Marangella had in truth ever been guardians... because of the lack of lineal descendancy". What Remey had actually been, King said, was "a regent", and King came to the realization that he himself "was in actuality the Second Regent...." King's argument was that Remey was senile in old age and didn't know what he was doing. Following his death in 1977, King left leadership of the community to a Council of Regents, who reorganized as the Tarbiyat Bahá'í Community.
The Council of Regents, which consists of King's family, tries to "maintain the integrity of the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh until such time as the Second Guardian makes himself known and claims his rightful office."Position Paper of the Tarbiyat Bahá'í Community They also still maintain that "the Faith will never be permanently split into factions or denominations as has happened in all previous religions", with an emphasis on permanently.

A BEAUTIFUL AND INFORMATIVE BLOG FOR OUR BAHAI FRIENDS

Dear Bahai friends,
please visit this blog
http://samandal.wordpress.com

TARBIYAT BAHAIS - AN INTRODUCTION

Name
Tarbiyat Baha'i Community
Belief
National House of Justice of the Orthodox Baha'is of the United States and Canada. Includes a position paper aimed at "Sans Guardian Baha'is", which explains the origins of the organisation and events associated with their current isolation from the Universal House of Justice.
Rex King then formed his own group called "Baha'i: Orthodox Community"in Las Vegas, New Mexico. They said that Remey was not "Guardian" but rather merely a "Regent", and that the IBC was a "Council of Regents"to rule the Faith until a true descendant of Baha'u'llah would comeforward and become Guardian (the Regents would declare him such). King appointed himself the next Regent, and his own family members fellow"Regents". This group later named themselves "Baha'i: Tarbiyat Community".
We are an organized community of Baha'is who accept the Teachings of Baha'u'llah, Founder of the Baha'i Faith, and uphold the validity of the continuing Guardianship of the Cause of God. The institution of the Guardianship was established to provide spiritual guidance to the Baha'i World. The Faith has been without that necessary leadership since the death of the first Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, in 1957. they believe a lineal descendant of Baha'u'llah will arise to take up the mantle of the Guardianship in the future. In the meantime, this community of believers is led by a Council of "Regents" who serve no other purpose than to unite Baha'is in anticipation of that day when the second Guardian arises to restore spiritual guidance to the Faith and reunify the Baha'i World. To learn more about our specific community, please take a look at our Position Paper.
Websites:
http://www.obcnhj.org/redirect.html
http://www.tarbiyatcenter.org/index.html
http://tarbiyatbahai.blogspot.com/