Monday, January 19, 2009

Interests of my House of Justice: Something I might have missed

Earlier I posted the modest proposal of the US National Spiritual Assembly in its 2007 Annual Report. Before I discuss the response from the House of Justice, I want to discuss the concerns raised in the report, leading to the recommendations.

"Yet, there is a pervasive feeling of confusion and dislocation among many Local Spiritual Assemblies, including those in 'A' clusters."

"We are concerned that feelings of disempowerment and mixed signals regarding roles and responsibilities are robbing the current Plan of the spiritual benefits that flow from the wholehearted participation of these divine institutions, and the many significant contributions these highly capable Assemblies could make to the progress of the teaching work in a number of areas of the country."

"In many areas, exclusive focus on the two essential movements has led to misunderstandings as to the kinds of activities that are permissible for the friends to be engaged in and that are consistent with the Plan. The result is a narrowly defined model of growth that permits a small range of initiative, allows little creativity, and accepts few real innovations."

"The problem we face is that proclamation is widely considered to be inconsistent with the framework for action in the Five Year Plan, making it difficult to engage the friends in serious discussion of the uses of media to generate seekers in advanced clusters."

"We are concerned that - notwithstanding the persistent emphasis the House of Justice has placed on the importance of having an outward-looking orientation - hardly a word is spoken about who seekers are, what they want, or how they experienced their contact with the Baha'i community."

"Another limiting factor is that our discourse about teaching does not sufficiently take into consideration issues of broad social concern."

"However, throughout the country the visionary messages of the past and present are seldom mentioned or employed in the service of teaching, although they remain relevant to broad social concerns."

"Today, this sense of mission is often challenged by a narrow understanding of Five Year Plan strategies and tactics and an all-too-often inflexible system of implementation."

"We feel a particular need for flexibility and innovation in reaching out to young people-Baha'is and others—as well as to populations that have shown historic receptivity to growth."

What I'm considering here is possible counterarguments to my idea that discouraging people from promoting their own ideas and pursuing their own initiatives, is contrary to the stated interests of the House of Justice. One possible counterargument is the response of the House of Justice to this Annual Report.

The report mentions:
- Misunderstandings as to the kinds of activities that are permissible for the friends to be engaged in and that are consistent with the Plan.
- A narrowly defined model of growth that permits a small range of initiative, allows little creativity, and accepts few real innovations.
- A narrow understanding of Five Year Plan strategies and tactics and an all-too-often inflexible system of implementation.
- A need for flexibility and innovation.

It recommends:
- Giving the friends a freer hand to act.
- Supporting the full expression of unity, self-organization, initiative and innovation.
- Supporting a wider range of initiatives with the core activities at the hub.
- Encouraging cluster initiative.

Now I'll look at the response from House of Justice.

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