Bahai Library Online

While these documents may have appeared in print, they are less formal or widely-distributed than the Published Documents from National Spiritual Assemblies.

Letters from National Spiritual Assemblies

  1. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. 1995 U.S. National Bahá'í Convention (1995-07-30). Letter to an individual concerning some suggestions about the structure, function, and budget of the US NSA.
  2. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Allowance of non-Bahá'ís at Feast (2008-12-16). A directive from the UHJ via the NSA of the US confirming that, if a non-Bahá'í attends a Feast, the "administrative portion" may be held and just modified if need be, rather than postponed.
  3. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Attacks on the Faith (1997-04-08). Response to two recent "attacks": dissidence and graffiti.
  4. Universal House of Justice. Avoidance of Politics and Controversial Matters (2003-01-12). A short explanation that the aim of Bahá'ís is to reconcile viewpoints and heal divisions, but not become involved with disputes of the many conflicting elements of society around them. Includes introductory letter from the US NSA, and a compilation.
  5. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Bahá'ís and Military Service (1965-06). Brief discussion on how Bahá'ís may or may not serve in the armed forces.
  6. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Iran. Banning of Bahá'í Religious Institutions in Iran, The: An Open Letter (1983-09-03). An open letter from the NSA of Iran, translated from the Persian and sent to the American Bahá'ís by the US NSA, in response to the 1983 banning of the Bahá'í Faith in the country.
  7. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Basis of the Bahá'í Community, The: A Statement Concerning the New History Society (1941-11). A statement on Ahmad Sohrab's activities and its trademark infringement case.
  8. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Ecuador. Carmen Olimpia Ballesteros Sosa y Vicente Quiñonez de Esmeraldas: Epitafios (2020/2021). Messages from the NSA of Ecuador honoring the lives of Carmen Olimpia Ballesteros Sosa (-2020) and Vicente Quiñonez de Esmeraldas (-2021).
  9. United States Bahá'í Publishing Trust. Copyright Status of Bahá'í Texts (1996-11). Questions regarding copyright and posting of Sacred Writings on the Internet.
  10. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Covid-19 Vaccination Guidance (2021-04-27). Bahá'ís should follow the counsel of medical and other scientific experts, and consider their social responsibilities and the common good. In large gatherings, responsible institutions should require full vaccination of all attendees.
  11. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Dates in Baha'u'llah and the New Era: A response to Francis Beckwith (1992-09-24). Response to certain allegations Beckwith makes in his booklet Bahá'í.
  12. Universal House of Justice, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Deaths of Two Iranian Bahá'ís, 1997 (1997-08-18). Reports from the Universal House of Justice and the NSA of the United States on the deaths of Masha'llah Enayati and Shahram Reza'i.
  13. Universal House of Justice, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Dissimulation by Iranian Emigrants (1985-07-03). Letters from the House and the US NSA concerning Bahá'ís who were able to escape Iran in 1997 by denying their Faith.
  14. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Five Year Plan, 2001-2006 (2001). Includes both HTML and PDF versions.
  15. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Guidance on the Use of Talks at Feast (2009-11-03). Whether it is appropriate to read talks by Universal House of Justice members and others at the Nineteen Day Feast, and whether such talks have been, and should be, authenticated.
  16. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Iraq. House of Baha'u'llah in Baghdad: Case before the League of Nations (1928-11-11).
  17. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Human Rights are God-Given Rights (1968-04). A short "Bahá'í Statement on Human Rights," written by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States for the International Year for Human Rights, 1968.
  18. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Information for Bahá'ís called to fill out the Questionnaire on military duty under the Draft Act 1940 (1940-09-17). Summary of grounds for seeking exemption from combatant duty.
  19. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Introduction to a Statement on Race Unity (1997-12-17). An informal letter on the "most challenging issue confronting America."
  20. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Investing and Finance (1996-05-22). Letter from the US BNC's Finance Coordinator describing some investment principles followed by the NSA, and offering limited guidance for individuals.
  21. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Jews and the Crucifixion (1980-11-21).
  22. Kalimat Press and Distribution by Bahá'í Agencies (1999, 2005, 2006, 2008). While Bahá'ís are free to purchase and own books by Kalimat Press, the Bahá'í distribution services stopped carrying titles by this publisher.
  23. Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Haifa. Letter to the Friends, Throughout the East and the West, through the Spiritual Assemblies (1938-02). 3-page report by Z. N. Zeine on questions directed at a Dr. 'Abdu'llah Jawid in Khorasan "as a result of recording himself as a Bahá'í on his military identity card" and his subsequent demotion after declining to stop promoting the Faith.
  24. David Piff, comp. Letters to and from US Presidential Archives (1984). A collection of correspondence circa 1984 from and to archivist David Piff concerning Bahá'í-related holdings. Also included is some correspondence between offices of the presidents and the US National Spiritual Assembly and the BIC.
  25. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada. Mackenzie and Franklin Islands in the Tablets of the Divine Plan (2006-02-21). Question to, and response from, the Archives of the NSA of Canada about why 'Abdu'l-Bahá addressed these then-sparsely-populated regions of Canada.
  26. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Membership in the National Organization for Women (1998-06-22). A statement on behalf of the NSA about which criteria Bahá'ís should consider when deciding what organizations to participate in, and whether they are politically active.
  27. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Nine Year Plan and the Destiny of America, The (2024-09-30). On this time of great historical consequence and a gathering storm: America to be the standard-bearer; a still more superb mission; advancing within an evolving framework; a profound alteration of thought; the youth must soar; through living sacrifice.
  28. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Obedience to Civil Authority (1970-08). A statement on the problem of whom one should obey when there is apparent conflict between the immediate civil authority under which one resides and a superior authority, such as a state or the Federal Government.
  29. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Pledge of Allegiance (2002). A short letter from the US Bahá'í National Center's Office of Public Information re a June 2002 ruling that the phrase "under God" violates the separation of church and state.
  30. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States, comp. Questions and Answers on War and Related Issues (2003-03-19). Compilation of passages and commentary on the military, political activism, disarmament, pacifism, and collective security.
  31. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Results of the First Regional Bahá'í Council Election (1997-11-23). Results of the first US Regional Bahá'í Councils election, posted here because it was a "historic event."
  32. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Ridvan Message from the US National Spiritual Assembly (2007-04). An annual report/summary of activities, with discussion of low enrollments.
  33. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Ruhe, David S. (1914-2005) (2005-09-06). A letter from the NSA, followed by a biography from Bahá'í World News Service.
  34. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of New Zealand. Special Report on Baha'i Burial vs. Maori Custom (1989-10-06). Special report about reconciling Bahá'í burial laws with local maori customs where they conflict; includes guidance from the Universal House of Justice.
  35. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States, comp. Spiritual Institutions: The Foundation for Oneness (2000). Annotated compilation on the structure and functioning of the Bahá'í administrative order.
  36. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Ireland, Adib Taherzadeh. Spiritualization of the Bahá'í Community: A Plan for Teaching (1982). A three-part collection consisting of a letter from the NSA of Ireland, a letter from Taherzadeh to the Bahá'ís of Ireland regarding the spiritualization of the Bahá'í community, and the preamble for a plan of action for teaching.
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