I have been to a few bahai services<sundays>, I findthem pleasant but I have always noticed that the meetings are run by mideast chaps, they do a good job, but was wondering if all the community meetings are run by certain leaders or do they vary..
revpo

Hi Revpo,

nice to meet you.

i'm thinking you are referring to devotional programs, is that correct?

the Baha'i Faith has no clergy. So each community where 9 adult Baha'i's reside will elect a Local Spiritual Assembly who oversees community activities.

It really varies from community to community. Some are very diverse, and some aren't, just depends on the resources available. We're learning as we go.

Most activities i attend are quite diverse in that different individuals volunteer to host different events, which lends to unique expression of ideas. I've even been to devotionals that were hosted by children.

there are no hard fast rules, and individual initiative is encouraged. Every community is different is how they organize these events. Travel to a different place and your experience may be very different.

Have a nice day!

-Amy

Most of the mid-eastern "chaps" are Persian, and most are here because their home is not safe for them. Some communities may have a large concentration of Persians - usually these are university towns in my experience.

Devotionals are informal gatherings and they may or may not be hosted by assembly members (those elected by secret ballot to be the nine members of a local spiritual assembly). Usually individuals volunteer to host devotionals and they may be held at various locations - Baha`i centers, colleges, public meeting places, individual homes.

The actual required "sabbath" in the Baha`i Faith is the nineteen day feast. These meetings are generally confined to members of the community since the business of the Baha`i community is discussed at these meetings. Business includes Baha`i fund contributions, expenditures, etc. and no one who is not a registered Baha`i can give to the Baha`i funds anyway.
A feast also has a devotional portion which is much like the devotionals held on "Sundays" in your community.

Regards,
Scott

The Sunday meetings are often devotionals and it depends who takes responsibility for them ...there's no hard and fast rule.

Also anyone can open their home and host a devotional meeting or fireside.

Near my home is a Baha'i Center and that community has sort of a Sunday School for children and a general public meeting for inquirers.

As mentioned above Persian Baha'is are often found in our communities in the US because many had to flee Iran after the Islamic Revolution and find refuge from persecution. Historically the Faith began in the Middle East.

But I think you will find most Baha'i communities are as a whole very diverse racially and culturally and from many religious backgrounds from Christianity to Islam to Judaism to Zoroastrianism.

The Local Spiritual Assembly elected annually is responsible for conducting the Nineteen Day Feasts and Holy Days.

- Art

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