NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

of the

BAHÁ'ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES

536 SHERIDAN ROAD, WILMETTE, ILLINOIS 60091-2849 • (847) 733-3537• EMAIL: secretariat@usbnc.org

December 16, 2008

To all Local Spiritual Assemblies

Dearly loved Friends,

New guidance from the Universal House of Justice has recently been
received that we hasten to share with you, mindful of its significant
implications for the Nineteen Day Feasts you conduct in accordance
with your sacred responsibilities. The guidance concerns the presence of
non-Bahá'ís at Feasts. As both the beloved Guardian and the House of
Justice have numerous times pointed out, the Feast is for Bahá'ís only,
and non-Bahá'ís should not be invited to attend any portion of it. Our
understanding has for some time been that if a non-Bahá'í should appear
at the Feast, however, he or she was to be welcomed and invited to
participate in its spiritual and social portions, while the administrative
portion was to be suspended. The new guidance we have received from
the House of Justice makes it clear that the administrative portion can
now be modified to accommodate the attendance of non-Bahá'ís rather
than being postponed. The House of Justice has further specified that:

The sharing of local and national news and information about

social events, as well as consultation on topics of general interest,
such as expansion and the multiplication of core activities, service
projects, the fund, and so on, can continue as usual, while
discussion of sensitive or problematic issues can be set aside for
another occasion when the friends can express themselves freely
without being inhibited by the presence of guests.

The definition of what constitutes “sensitive or problematic issues,”

beyond the general exceptions specified above, is left to the local
Assembly.

The House of Justice has also stated that a similar approach can be taken
when a family with some members who are not Bahá'ís hosts a Feast in
their home. The local Assembly is encouraged to consult with these
families to “find a satisfactory way to resolve each situation that arises”
and “apply the requisites of hospitality and love, on the one hand, and
those of confidentiality and unfettered discussion on important topics,
on the other.”
 NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY of the BAHÁ'ÍS OF THE UNITED
STATES
536 SHERIDAN ROAD, WILMETTE, ILLINOIS 60091-2849

December 16, 2008 Page 2

We invite you to share this important guidance with your community

as a means of deepening the friends’ understanding of the institution of
the Nineteen Day Feast, in the words of the House of Justice that “link
that connects the local community in a dynamic relationship with the
entire structure of the Administrative Order,” that “new stage in this
enlightened age to which the basic expression of community life has
evolved.”

May your celebrations of the remaining Feasts in this Bahá'í year be

joyous and satisfying on every level, and may they be gradually
enriched by this significant new guidance from the Supreme Institution
of the Bahá'í world.

With loving Bahá'í greetings,

Kenneth E. Bowers,
Secretary-General

cc: Continental Counselors serving the United States

Regional Bahá'í Councils