Jamál, 11 Kamál (Perfection), 182 B.E.
Social Action: The Nature of Bahá’í Social and Economic Development
Quotes for Reflection:
As you are aware, often in a rural cluster made up of villages and perhaps one or two towns, while the pattern of action associated with an intensive programme of growth is being established, the efforts of the friends are confined to a few localities. Once in place, however, the pattern can be extended quickly to village after village, as explained in our Riḍván message this year. Early on in each locality, the Local Spiritual Assembly comes into existence, and its steady development follows a trajectory parallel with, and intimately tied to, the fledgling process of growth unfolding in the village. And not unlike the evolution of other facets of this process, the development of the Local Assembly can best be understood in terms of capacity building.
What needs to occur in the first instance is relatively straightforward: Individual awareness of the process of growth gathering momentum in the village, born of each member’s personal involvement in the core activities, must coalesce into a collective consciousness that recognizes both the nature of the transformation under way and the obligation of the Assembly to foster it. Without doubt, some attention will have to be given to certain basic administrative functions—for example, meeting with a degree of regularity, conducting the Nineteen Day Feast and planning Holy Day observances, establishing a local fund, and holding annual elections in accordance with Bahá’í principle. However, it should not prove difficult for the Local Assembly to begin, concomitant with such efforts and with encouragement from an assistant to an Auxiliary Board member, to consult as a body on one or two specific issues with immediate relevance to the life of the community: how the devotional character of the village is being enhanced through the efforts of individuals who have completed the first institute course; how the spiritual education of the children is being addressed by teachers raised up by the institute; how the potential of junior youth is being realized by the programme for their spiritual empowerment; how the spiritual and social fabric of the community is being strengthened as the friends visit one another in their homes. As the Assembly consults on such tangible matters and learns to nurture the process of growth lovingly and patiently, its relationship with the Area Teaching Committee and the training institute gradually becomes cemented in a common purpose. But, of still greater importance, it will begin to lay the foundations on which can be built that uniquely affectionate and genuinely supportive relationship, described by the beloved Guardian in many of his messages, which Local Spiritual Assemblies should establish with the individual believer.
Clearly, learning to consult on specific issues related to the global Plan, no matter how crucial, represents but one dimension of the capacity-building process in which the Local Spiritual Assembly must engage. Its continued development implies adherence to the injunction laid down by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that “discussions must all be confined to spiritual matters that pertain to the training of souls, the instruction of children, the relief of the poor, the help of the feeble throughout all classes in the world, kindness to all peoples, the diffusion of the fragrances of God and the exaltation of His Holy Word.” Its steady advancement requires an unbending commitment to promote the best interests of the community and a vigilance in guarding the process of growth against the forces of moral decay that threaten to arrest it. Its ongoing progress calls for a sense of responsibility that extends beyond the circle of friends and families engaged in the core activities to encompass the entire population of the village. And sustaining its gradual maturation is unshakable faith in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s assurance that He will enfold every Spiritual Assembly within the embrace of His care and protection.
Associated with this rise in collective consciousness is the Assembly’s growing ability to properly assess and utilize resources, financial and otherwise, both in support of community activities and in discharging its administrative functions, which may in time include the judicious appointment of committees and the maintenance of modest physical facilities for its operations. No less vital is its ability to nurture an environment conducive to the participation of large numbers in unified action and to ensure that their energies and talents contribute towards progress. In all these respects, the spiritual well-being of the community remains uppermost in the Assembly’s mind. And when inevitable problems arise, whether in relation to some activity or among individuals, they will be addressed by a Local Spiritual Assembly which has so completely gained the confidence of the members of the community that all naturally turn to it for assistance. This implies that the Assembly has learned through experience how to help the believers put aside the divisive ways of a partisan mindset, how to find the seeds of unity in even the most perplexing and thorny situations and how to nurture them slowly and lovingly, upholding at all times the standard of justice.
As the community grows in size and in capacity to maintain vitality, the friends will, we have indicated in the past, be drawn further into the life of society and be challenged to take advantage of the approaches they have developed to respond to a widening range of issues that face their village. The question of coherence, so essential to the growth achieved thus far, and so fundamental to the Plan’s evolving framework for action, now assumes new dimensions. Much will fall on the Local Assembly, not as an executor of projects but as the voice of moral authority, to make certain that, as the friends strive to apply the teachings of the Faith to improve conditions through a process of action, reflection and consultation, the integrity of their endeavours is not compromised.
Our Riḍván message described a few of the characteristics of social action at the grassroots, and the conditions it must meet. Efforts in a village will generally begin on a small scale, perhaps with the emergence of groups of friends, each concerned with a specific social or economic need it has identified and each pursuing a simple set of appropriate actions. Consultation at the Nineteen Day Feast creates a space for the growing social consciousness of the community to find constructive expression. Whatever the nature of activities undertaken, the Local Assembly must be attentive to potential pitfalls and help the friends, if necessary, to steer past them—the allurements of overly ambitious projects that would consume energies and ultimately prove untenable, the temptation of financial grants that would necessitate a departure from Bahá’í principle, the promises of technologies deceptively packaged that would strip the village of its cultural heritage and lead to fragmentation and dissonance. Eventually the strength of the institute process in the village, and the enhanced capabilities it has fostered in individuals, may enable the friends to take advantage of methods and programmes of proven effectiveness, which have been developed by one or another Bahá’í-inspired organization and which have been introduced into the cluster at the suggestion of, and with support from, our Office of Social and Economic Development. Moreover, the Assembly must learn to interact with social and political structures in the locality, gradually raising consciousness of the presence of the Faith and the influence it is exerting on the progress of the village.
What is outlined in the foregoing paragraphs represents only a few of the attributes which Local Spiritual Assemblies in the many villages of the world will gradually develop in serving the needs of communities that embrace larger and larger numbers. As they increasingly manifest their latent capacities and powers, their members will come to be seen by the inhabitants of each village as “the trusted ones of the Merciful among men”. Thus will these Assemblies become “shining lamps and heavenly gardens, from which the fragrances of holiness are diffused over all regions, and the lights of knowledge are shed abroad over all created things. From them the spirit of life streameth in every direction.” — Universal House of Justice 1 2
Question for Consideration
What are some of the “attributes which Local Spiritual Assemblies in the many villages of the world will gradually develop in serving the needs of communities that embrace larger and larger numbers”?
Perplexity Pro Response 3
Local Spiritual Assemblies (LSAs) in villages across the world, as they serve ever-larger communities, manifest a range of attributes that reflect both spiritual and practical maturation. These qualities emerge organically as the Assembly and the community grow in capacity, experience, and collective consciousness. Key attributes include:
Rising Collective Consciousness
The Assembly develops a deep, shared awareness of the spiritual transformation unfolding in the village, enabling members to collectively recognize needs and opportunities for action rather than operate in isolation. [1]
Consultative Capacity
LSAs steadily master the art of Bahá’í consultation, learning to address spiritual, social, and developmental issues relevant to the village—such as devotional life, children’s education, junior youth empowerment, and the strengthening of spiritual and social ties. [1]
Nurturing Trust and Unity
They become a source of confidence and unity for the community, helping believers to overcome divisive tendencies and build seeds of unity in challenging circumstances. The Assembly’s impartiality and justice become well-recognized, inviting the community to seek guidance and assistance. [2] [1]
Administrative Competence
The LSA establishes regular patterns in basic functions: meetings, Feasts, Holy Day observance, fund management, annual elections, and the possible formation of committees and maintenance of modest facilities as needed. [3] [1]
Resource Mobilization and Management
It learns to assess and use financial and other resources wisely, supporting both its administrative needs and community-centric activities. [1]
Facilitating Widespread Participation
The Assembly cultivates an environment where large numbers engage in unified, purposeful action, ensuring diverse energies and talents contribute to the village’s progress. [3] [1]
Guardianship of Moral and Social Well-Being
It upholds the highest moral standards, promotes a devotional attitude, and actively guards the community’s progress from negative societal forces. [2] [1]
The Assembly acts as a moral voice, guiding coherent collective action and influencing community-wide discourse with wisdom and spiritual principles. [1]
Sustained Capacity Building
The Assembly’s progress is intimately tied to ongoing capacity building—in consultation, in organizing community activities, in nurturing spiritual education, and in responding to social and economic needs. [1]
Adaptation and Organic Growth
Attributes such as flexibility, patience, and vigilance enable the Assembly to steer the community past pitfalls (e.g., unsustainable projects, external funding dependencies, or cultural fragmentation). [1]
It encourages efforts to begin small—modest, grassroots initiatives—that grow organically with the community’s human resources. [1]
Widening Influence
As the Assembly introduces effective Bahá’í-inspired methods and builds relationships with social and political structures in the village, it raises public consciousness of the Faith and becomes a source of guidance even for non-Bahá’ís. [1]
Spiritual and Social Transformation
The LSA’s influence extends beyond its immediate community, offering “fragrances of holiness,” “lights of knowledge,” and serving as a “shining lamp and heavenly garden”—increasingly seen as “the trusted ones of the Merciful among men”. [1]
Promotion of Justice and Equity
It exemplifies selfless service, impartiality, and a commitment to the welfare of all, progressively addressing issues of prejudice, poverty alleviation, and social well-being in the entire population of the village. [3] [1]
These attributes develop progressively, paralleling the expansion and strengthening of Bahá’í educational activities, social action, and the unity of the community. Ultimately, the LSA ceases to be simply an administrative body and emerges as a transformative force for both the spiritual and material advancement of the village, fostering collaborative, just, and unified patterns of community life. [2] [3] [1]
Citations
[3] Local Spiritual Assembly – Bahaipedia
[5] The Local Spiritual Assembly (published in Bahá’í World) – Bahá’í Library Online
[6] Baha’i Lessons for Twenty-First-Century Farming Communities – BahaiTeachings.org
Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity
- How do Local Spiritual Assemblies foster unity and consultation in villages?
- What challenges do Assemblies face in balancing social action and Bahá’í principles?
- How do Assemblies coordinate with national institutions and other Bahá’í bodies?
- What role do Assemblies play in nurturing spiritual education for youth?
- How can Assemblies support sustainable development respecting cultural heritage?
- Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/602584888. ↩
- Universal House of Justice. “28 December 2010 – To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors.” Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed August 9, 2025. https://www.bahai.org/r/492046563. ↩
- Perplexity Pro. “Gradually Unfolding Attributes of Local Spiritual Assemblies in Growing Villages.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. August 9, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/as-you-are-aware-often-in-a-ru-FzXA_gvbSnGQSOPXmgH_bw. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 