The National Spiritual Assembly has published detailed but necessary guidelines for the protection of children and young people (up to age 18) that have to be followed for events held under Bahá'í auspices. If anyone is planning to hold children's classes or other Bahá'í events could they please notify the child protection officer for Northern Ireland. This is to safeguard all concerned - children, young and/or vulnerable people, teachers and anyone with substantial access to children at . Thank you for your co-operation.
Child Protection Officer contact: Mr Afnan Hashemi-Zadeh afnaninho@hotmail.com
This year has seen five Bahá'í marriages in Northern Ireland, more than in any previous year. This coincides with the introduction of new procedures that enable a Bahá'í marriage ceremony to be legally recognised. Of the five Bahá'í marriages this year, two opted to have to have the Bahá'í ceremony conducted in accordance with the new legislation. The others were accompanied by a different religious or civil ceremony that was legally recognised.
The Council has appointed three Bahá'í marriage officers: Beman Khosravi, Hazel Holmlund and Pat Irvine. The marriage officers have legal authority to solemnise weddings in any part of Northern Ireland. The Council has also appointed Beman as the chief marriage officer with the role of advising intending couples and local Spiritual Assemblies on the arrangements that they have to make for marriages. The Council has also prepared detailed notes for guidance for Assemblies and for intending couples. For copies of these guidelines, or any queries about marriage arrangements, contact Beman Khosravi.
The development of new marriage arrangements this year has been a very exciting development and the Council extends its best wishes to all the newly married Bahá'ís in the community.
Edinburgh Bahá'í Community is opening its doors and welcoming you to enjoy a weekend, celebrating ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to the city in 1913. Edinburgh is, of course, the focus of a special national goal to purchase a new and prestigious Bahá'í Centre, and we welcome the support of everyone.
We invite you throughout the weekend of 8—9 January 2005, to join guided tours of places ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited. Experience the journey that He took around the historic city of Edinburgh, participate in artistic workshops, enjoy some Scottish traditions, and help in the fundraising activities and more. Booking details will be released nearer the date. We encourage everyone to participate in this truly magnificent opportunity for Bahá'ís.
KJ
Cypher, Northern Ireland’s very own youth dance workshop, has been having a busy time. Some of our recent performances have been The Fiddlers Green Festival held in Rostrevor which Gerry Anderson and the BBC attended. They filmed a dance and hopefully you will see it in the near future. We also performed at a multi-cultural event held in Slemish College, Ballymena. We have another performance coming up on 5 December in the Kings Hall conference centre for a Mencap concert. We will see some of you there.
CG
An interesting website with lots of helpful ideas and resources to help you make the most of your Ruhi courses can be found at: www.ruhiresources.org - tutors and others might like to take a look.
This is only one of an increasing number of sites on the World Wide Web making resources available to Bahá'ís to support their activities. So if you find a good one why not let CommuNIqué know so that the good news can be shared?
ISP
Harry Coyle to Omagh, Shirin Jamshidi further afield—undertaking a Year of Service at the House of Worship in Australia.
Ali Al-Moghrabi to Franke Schroder, in Coleraine on 22 October.
CommuNIque is saddened to announce the passing on 14 November of Mildred Boswell, who will be sadly missed not just in her community of Castlereagh and her previous community of Belfast, but wider afield.
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