Bahá’í National Convention & Riḍván Holy Days
This past weekend, April 25-27th, Bermuda’s Bahá’í community celebrated its 45th Annual National Convention, marking the establishment of its first National Spiritual Assembly in 1981.
A spokesperson said, “With humble, prayerful hearts the 19 elected delegates fulfilled their sacred obligation of electing the incoming National Spiritual Assembly. The expectation is that this institution will continue to strive to learn how to “dispense justice, dispel oppression, and foster enduring unity” within the Bermuda Bahá’í Community and among our fellow inhabitants of this island. These words from the governing body of the worldwide Bahá’í community, the Universal House of Justice, encapsulate the overall aim of the Bahá’í Faith which is to bring about an enduring peace, based on unity and justice.
Front row- Nwandi Lawson, Shyama Ezekiel-Fagundo, Arlene Brock, Cheryl Peek-Ball Back row- Matthew Cotton, Read Currelly, Georgia Symonds, Oswald Hinds, Blythe Walker and Anthony Ball
“The three days included an afternoon of prayer and study, followed by consultation among the 19 delegates on Saturday. This culminated in the election, through secret ballots, without nominations or electioneering, of nine individuals who will serve for a period of one year. The National Spiritual Assembly is the spiritual and administrative governing body for the Bahá’í Faith in a country. The weekend convention consultation focused on ways to continue promoting the spiritual development of children and youth and supporting the wellbeing of families in Bermuda.
“The nine elected members of Bermuda’s Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly are pictured with the representative of the Continental Board of Counsellors, Ms. Nwandi Lawson who was on island from the Atlanta area in the USA to guide and support the learning necessary for this hallowed annual undertaking.
“Across the globe, Bahá’í communities likewise elect National Spiritual Assemblies as well as Local Spiritual Assemblies. These elections occur during the 12 days of Riḍván, April 20th to May 1st, the holiest and most joyful period on the Bahá’í calendar. This period commemorates the 12 days in 1863 that Baháʼu’lláh, the founder of the Faith, spent on an island in the Tigris River in Baghdad and declared His sacred mission as God’s Messenger for this age. He revealed to his family, and ultimately to the world, the spiritual principles of the Faith. It is now the duty of every believer of these teachings to share and bring them to life in their daily lives such that the society-building power of the Faith is released throughout the world.
“The central principles of the Bahá’í Faith are the oneness of God, the oneness of religion, and the oneness of humankind. The application of these principles and teachings mean that as members of one human family, we must learn to strive peacefully alongside each other for the betterment of the world. This includes striving to eliminate all forms of prejudice, to promote the equality of men and women, to assure the education of all children, to promote justice, equity and unity in order to eliminate exploitation that leads to extremes of wealth and poverty. For more information, visit www.bermudabahai.org.”
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