Administration

Administration

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The Bahá’í summer schools were originated in America to meet the requirements of the friends. They have been adopted by other Bahá’í Communities the world over, but there is no reason why they should be called “summer schools”. There is nothing rigid about the term, it is purely descriptive. The Guardian feels that although you can have the immediate affairs of your summer schools managed by a convenient Local Assembly, they should remain under the direct supervision of the National Spiritual Assembly as they are national in character and not[pg 31] purely local.

From a letter 26 December 1941 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi
to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand

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Regarding the summer schools in general: although there is no objection to their being under the direct management of a special Committee elected for that purpose, they must be generally supervised by the National Spiritual Assembly in respect to policy, etc. In other words they must be considered as a national and not a purely local institution….

From a letter 18 April 1942 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi
to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand

— 16 —

Bahá’í summer schools in the United States originated in the same informal manner as Yerrinbool; they were (and some still are) the property of individual believers who resided on them, but they are administered by Committees appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly and which usually include, out of courtesy and consideration, the owners. The American friends also desired to have many more summer schools, but the Guardian has so far not permitted them to add to the number, as it dissipates the energy and funds of the believers and would at present weaken those already existing.

From a letter 13 May 1945 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to
the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand

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WELCOME EXPANSION SCOPE ANNUAL CONFERENCE THROUGH INAUGURATION SUMMER SCHOOL DESIGNED PROLONG SESSIONS CONFERENCE STIMULATE SPIRIT BAHÁ’Í FELLOWSHIP, DEEPEN UNDERSTANDING FUNDAMENTAL SPIRITUAL ADMINISTRATIVE PRINCIPLES FAITH, FIX PATTERN FUTURE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOLS TEN EUROPEAN GOAL COUNTRIES….

Shoghi Effendi, cable 20 July 1950 to Third Bahá’í
European Teaching Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark,
‘Bahá’í News’ 236, October 1950, p. 1

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As regards the question you asked about a Summer School, there is no reason why a property should either be rented or bought for this purpose. You can arrange to hold a Summer School in any suitable place where the friends can find accommodation, and a hall can be rented for its sessions. This is what they have done in England for many years to great advantage. It is a simple and economical way of holding the School. The[pg 32] primary purpose of the School is to deepen the knowledge of the friends in the Teachings, to enable them to consort, as Bahá’ís, with each other, and to confirm any contacts who may have attended. The School may be held during the winter season or any other time of the year.

From a letter 30 June 1957 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the
National Spiritual Assembly of Alaska and an individual believer