As the Bahá'í communities in Southern Africa
increase in number, strength and diversity it is becoming evident that an organized
approach to Bahá'í studies would be a fruitful, and timely development. This
document therefore, sets out the constitution of an association of interested
persons to pursue such studies.
The interpretation of the articles of this
constitution rests with the Association of the Bahá'í Studies in Southern
Africa.
The Name of the Association shall be “The
Association for Bahá'í Studies in Southern Africa”, hereinafter referred to as
the Association.
One of the main teachings of the Bahá'í Faith
is independent and unfettered search after truth. Extolling the virtue of
Justice as a faculty of human soul, Baha’u’llah states that it is “the best
beloved of all things” in His sight, and that “by its aid thou shalt see with
thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own
knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor”.
One of the principal features of the Cause of
Baha’u’llah, the prophet founder of the Bahá'í Faith, is the absence of any
form of clergy. All Bahá'ís are enjoined to pray, read the Baha’i sacred
Writings everyday, to meditate upon them and to seek to apply the new teachings
of God to the everyday problems of the society. “As the new millenium approaches,
the crucial need facing the human race is to find a unifying vision of the
nature of man and society. Such a vision unfolds in the Writings of
Baha’u’llah”.
The formation of the Association for Bahá'í
Studies in Southern Africa is a step in the implementation of these ideals.
The association will pursue the following objectives, goals and
purposes:
(i)
Study of the Bahá'í Faith: To promote the study of the Bahá'í
Faith, its history, teachings, beliefs and practices.
(ii)
Scholarship: To promote research and scholarship in subject
areas of interest and relevance to the Bahá'í community.
(iii)
Teaching: To promote teaching of the Bahá'í Faith, its
principles and practices, to leaders of thought, prominent people, people of
capacity, and more generally the public.
(iv)
Collaboration: To cooperate and collaborate with other
like-minded groups and societies in the promotion of world unity.
Membership of the Association shall be open
to all registered Bahá'ís and any other interested persons.
(v)
All members shall be free to engage in the activities of the
Association.
(vi)
All members shall be eligible to vote at the Annual General
Meetings of the Association.
(vii)
All members shall be eligible to be appointed to serve on the
membership of the Executive Committee.
(i)
The Association shall be established and shall operate in
accordance with Bahá'í principles and in accordance to Bahá'í laws.
(ii)
The Association shall be controlled by and under the guidance
of an Executive Committee.
(iii)
The Executive Committee shall consist of at least three and no
more than seven persons, to be appointed from among the members of the
Association.
(iv)
All decisions of the Executive Committee shall be taken by
simple majority vote.
The Executive Committee shall elect the following officers from
its membership:
a)
Chairman
b)
Secretary
c)
Treasurer
a) Chairman
- The chairman shall preside over the meetings of the executive committee.
b) Secretary
- The secretary shall convene meetings of the executive committee, and shall
also take such measures as are required by the Committee for carrying into
effect the decisions of the Committee.
c) Treasurer
- The treasurer shall keep the accounts of the Association, and shall report to
the Executive Committee on the financial state of the Association. The
treasurer shall also take such measures as are required by the Committee for
carrying into effect the decisions of the Committee. The treasurer shall
preside over meetings of the Executive Committee if the chairman is unable to
attend.
A meeting of the Executive Committee shall have
quorum if a simple majority of the members are present.
The secretary of the Executive Committee shall give reasonable
notice to all members of the Committee that a meeting of the Executive is to be
held.
The Executive Committee may set up from the
general membership of the Association such sub-committees as may be necessary
to conduct the activities of the Association. Any such sub-committees shall be
directly responsible to the Executive Committee.
(i)
The members of the Executive Committee shall be appointed by
the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of South Africa.
(ii)
The term of service of each member shall be for one calendar
year starting and ending on 21st April each year.
(iii)
The outgoing members of the Committee may make recommendations
to the National Spiritual Assembly, but the decision for membership rests with
the National Spiritual Assembly.
(iv)
There are no limits on the number of consecutive terms that
each member may serve.
If any member of the Executive should resign,
or otherwise be unable to serve, a replacement may be appointed by the National
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of South Africa.
The Executive Committee shall co-opt an
Advisory Board from among suitable persons interested in the work of the
Association. The role of the Advisory Board is to provide helpful suggestions
to promote the objectives of the Association.
(i)
The Annual General Meeting shall be held once a year at a time
and place to be announced by the secretary.
(ii)
Notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be given by the
secretary informing all members at least 14 days before the date of the
meeting.
(iii)
The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be:
a)
To receive the report of the achievements and activities of
the Association during the year from the secretary of the Executive Committee,
b)
To receive the annual financial report of the Association from
the treasurer of the Executive Committee,
c)
To consult on all matters of interest to the Association, and
d)
Any other business.
(iv)
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting shall be recorded by the
secretary and shall be kept with the minutes of the Executive Committee
meetings.
The decisions of the Executive Committee and
the activities of the Association shall be subject to the over-riding approval
of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of South Africa.
The Executive Committee shall arrange for
such activities by the members of the Association as to further the objectives
of the Association. In paticular
(i)
One or more courses will be offered in a formal and systematic
manner to promote the study of the Bahá'í Faith, its history, teachings,
beliefs and practices.
(ii)
An annual conference will be held during which members of the
Association and other interested persons will have an opportunity to read
scholarly and research papers in subject areas of interest and relevance to the
Bahá'í community.
(iii)
A newsletter will be published in paper or electronic format
to keep the members of the Association informed of the events and activities of
the Association.
(iv)
A selection of written articles, either from the proceedings
of the annual conference or submitted separately will be published by the
Association.
(v)
Opportunities will be explored to publicly or privately
comment on appropriate current affairs, and matters of concern to the general
public with a view to present the spiritual principles enshrined in the Bahá'í
Writings, to a wide spectrum of people including leaders of thought, prominent
people, people of capacity, intellectuals, other like-minded and
non-governmental organizations, and more generally the public.
(vi)
The Association will establish a research library that will be
a clearing house of materials of relevance to the study of development,
environment, gender, and other topics of particular interest.
(i)
The Association will endeavor to be financially
self-sufficient at all times. Notwithstanding this principle however, the
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of South Africa may wish, at its
sole discretion, to subsidize some of the activities of the Association.
(ii)
All monies required for the administration of the society
shall be drawn from the members by way of fees.
(iii)
A membership fee is payable by all members of the Association
on an annual basis. The amount of this fee is determined from year to year by
the Executive Committee.
(iv)
The accounts of the Association shall be kept by the treasurer
and shall be available to the Executive Committee as well as to the National
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of South Africa at all times.
(v)
In the event of the Association ceasing to function or to
exist, such monies in hand shall be returned to the National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahá'ís of South Africa.
At initial formation of the Association a
working committee will be co-opted to lay the groundwork for the Association.
The membership of this working committee will comprise Dr. Robert Sarracino and
Dr. Farzin Aghdasi. The formation of the Association will be announced at the
National Convention of South Africa in April 1999. Membership drive will begin
at that time with a R40 membership fee, and a goal of 50 members in the first
year. The first course on “A Tribute to Baha’u’llah” will be given during 1999.
The first full Annual General Meeting and Annual Conference will be held in
December 1999 in conjunction with any large summer school in the region.
(i)
Amendments to the constitution must be consulted upon at the
Annual General Meeting.
(ii)
Amendments to the constitution shall require a two-thirds
majority of those present to be carried and approved.
(iii)
Amendments to the constitution shall be subject to the
over-riding jurisdiction of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of
South Africa.