In reply to your letter of July 14th asking guidance as to
what is a functioning Local Spiritual Assembly, we offer you the following
comments:
Local Spiritual Assemblies are at the present newly-born
institutions, struggling for the most part to establish themselves both in the
Bahá'í community and in the world. They are as yet only embryos of the majestic
institutions ordained by Bahá'u'lláh in His Writings This is also true of
National Spiritual Assemblies. In the following passage written by the
Secretary of the Guardian on his behalf this point is elucidated:
“The Bahá'í Administration is only the first shaping of what in future will come to be the social life and laws of community living. As yet the believers are only just beginning to grasp and practise it properly. So we must have patience if at times it seems a little self-conscious and rigid in its workings. It is because we are learning something very difficult but very wonderful -- how to live together as a community of Bahá'ís, according to the glorious teachings."
What we find expounded in the writings of our faith is the
lofty station Local Spiritual Assemblies must attain in their gradual and at
times painful development. In encouraging these assemblies to attain this aim,
there is no harm in the National Spiritual Assembly mentioning certain minimum
requirements from time to time, provided it is clear that non-attainment of
such standards, which by their very nature must be continuously revised with
changing conditions, do not justify the withdrawal of recognition from any weak
Assemblies. It would not be profitable therefore for the Universal House of
Justice to lay down universal minimum standards for properly-functioning Local
Spiritual Assemblies, as these must necessarily differ from country to country,
and even from district to district within the same country in the process of
the evolution of these Assemblies into House of justice, as envisaged by
Bahá'u'lláh.
Among the more salient objectives to be attained by the
local Spiritual Assembly in its process of development to full maturity are to
act as a loving shepherd to the Bahá'í flock, promote unity and concord among
the friends, direct the teaching work, protect the Cause of God, arrange for
Feasts, Anniversaries and regular meetings of the community, familiarize the
Bahá'ís with its plans, invite the community to offer its recommendations,
promote the welfare of youth and children, and participate, as circumstances
permit, in humanitarian activities. In its relationship to the individual
believer, the Assembly should continuously invite and encourage him to study
the Faith, to deliver its glorious message, to live in accordance with its
teachings, to contribute freely and regularly to the Fund, to participate in
community activities, and to seek refuge in the Assembly for advice and help,
when needed.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated July 30, 1972 to the National
Spiritual Assembly of Bolivia, July 30, 1972; compilation: 'Lights of Guidance')