Spiritual Elections – A new concept over 120 years old

Imagine an election where every adult in good standing is considered a candidate. Imagine an election without yard signs, heated debates, negative rhetoric or commercials. Just when the election season is heating up, and while many politicians are contributing to the nation’s polarization, members of the Baha’i Faith quietly participate in a unique election process where they choose leaders for their administrative bodies who are dedicated to fostering unity.

At the heart of every Bahá’í community is a nine-member institution known as a Spiritual Assembly. This institution is elected without nominations, campaigning, or electioneering. Members at large write down the names of the nine adults they consider most dedicated and capable, and the ballots are counted. All Bahá’í elections are by anonymous ballot and conducted in an atmosphere of prayerful consideration.

This election process, which has existed for over 120 years, coincides with the annual festival of Ridván, which means “paradise.” For twelve days - April 21 to May 2 - Bahá’ís celebrate the time in 1863 when the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, Bahá’u’lláh, resided in a Baghdad garden before being exiled and proclaimed his mission as God’s messenger for this age. Spiritual Assemblies are elected on the first day of the festival.

Bahá’ís follow a system of administration established by Bahá’u’lláh, Whose name translates to the “Glory of God.” The sacred writings specifically prohibit political parties, factions, machinations or alliances of any kind.

“There are no campaign signs posted in front of the polling place. No one has developed strategies to win or expressed a desire to be elected to the Assembly,” said Al Viller. “We don’t think in those terms. We get to know the members of our community well before any election, then we base our decision on knowing a person’s capabilities and character.” Each voter, after prayerful consideration, selects the nine people believed to be best qualified to serve together for the benefit of the community.

On the evening of April 21, after the ballots had all been counted around metropolitan Atlanta and 36 Local Spiritual Assemblies had been elected, there were no post-election parties. There wasn’t anyone giving acceptance speeches or offers of condolences to the losers. There were no questions about the validity of the election. There were simply communities gathered together in unity to celebrate those who they believed would best represent them with integrity.

“Those who are elected do not aspire to serve on an Assembly,” said Nazanin Khadem, a member of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Peachtree Corners. “They’re usually humbled by the experience, which is in stark contrast to those who participate in today’s traditional political process.”

She explained that Assembly members are chosen for their intellect, character and service. “When you have an entire group of adults with a common commitment to the advancement of the whole, you’ll get better decisions,” she said. “There’s agreement that we’ll discuss a topic until we understand it fully and, with a reliance on prayer and guidance from our Writings, work to reach a unified decision. Members believe that they must search out the truth on every issue and encourage the voicing of all opinions. Discord, Bahá’ís say, keeps truth hidden.”

By design, the members must listen to one another. A Spiritual Assembly makes decisions through a process of frank and respectful consultation. The purpose of the consultation is to find the truth of any matter and, whenever possible, to achieve consensus. This requires that individuals not hold fast to personal opinions simply to have their views prevail. Instead, they must approach matters with a genuine desire to determine the best course of action.

“We’re taught in this country to get your idea out there, advocate, fight for it and claim it as your own,” said Al Viller. “That’s the American way, but it’s not the Bahá’í way. While each person may have an opinion -- perhaps even a strong one -- we must detach from it once it’s offered to the group. We approach issues with an open heart. Ultimately, we arrive at better decisions as a result.” If a unified decision cannot be reached, consensus prevails through a majority vote of a quorum, and the decision is valid and binding.

Using instructions set forth by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’u’lláh’s eldest son and the interpreter of his father’s writings, the group is instructed to conduct meetings in love and harmony, elect officers and set bylaws and ensure that a majority of voices prevail. Additionally, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States, which is elected using a delegate system in a similar spirit as the local institutions, publishes a weighty publication titled “Developing Distinctive Baha’i Communities” that provides specific guidelines on a variety of subjects.

Matters for consideration by the Spiritual Assemblies cover the entire range of community life, including overseeing educational programs, the budget, and long-term planning. The key to Bahá’í community life is cooperation and unity. This principle is at work at every level of the Bahá’í way of life, from the actions and choices of the individual to the non-partisan, participatory manner in which the Bahá’í administrative system operates.

All Assemblies begin and end each meeting with prayers, some specifically revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for this institution, such as: “We have gathered in this Spiritual Assembly, united in our views and thoughts, with our purposes harmonized to exalt Thy Word amidst mankind…” Freida Walker recited the full prayer at a recent Assembly meeting where the group discussed ways of building greater unity in Peachtree Corners.

“We’re using the Writings of the Bahá’í Faith to guide the administrative affairs of the community and work for the betterment of the world. Lofty goals, yes, but we take small actions to contribute to that goal.” For example, one family hosts a monthly interfaith reflections and devotional space that focuses on virtues, where all are welcome.

The Bahá’í Faith, an inclusive, unifying vision

We live in a time of rapid, often unsettling change, inspiring mixed feelings of dread, anxiety, anticipation and hope. Amid this turbulence, the Bahá’í Faith can be a haven. The optimistic teachings of the Bahá’í Faith answer essential questions about the human condition and the relationships that bind us together.

Bahá’ís view the world’s major religions as part of a single, progressive process through which God reveals His will to humanity. Bahá’í teachings offer hope to a troubled world. They include spiritual principles on which humanity may, with divine assistance, establish lasting peace. Tenets include one creator, the oneness of humanity and the eradication of all forms of prejudice, equality of women and men, universal education and the harmony of science and religion.

To learn more about the Bahá’í Faith in America, check www.bahai.us.