The National Spiritual Assembly would like to repeat its warning to the Friends to exercise great caution should they receive unsolicited messages (by letter or e-mail) from people overseas claiming to be Bahá’ís and seeking invitations to attend Bahá'í events.
We know that in many cases they are not Bahá'ís but are seeking to use us to try to get round UK immigration law. If the Friends are unwise in issuing such invitations they could find themselves held responsible by the authorities for any costs the state incurs with such people. At the very least they will risk causing harm to the good name of the Faith. There are organised gangs operating in several countries that seek out groups they think might be naive or helpful and of whom they might take advantage. Bahá'ís are only one such target.
The Friends are strongly advised not to issue invitations, whether in general or to specific events, to people contacting them from overseas whom they do not know. If they are minded to do so they should contact the National Spiritual Assembly, which will check with the Bahá'í authorities of the country involved.
National Spiritual Assembly
First of the Capital Goals of the 5-Yr Plan fulfilled
This week the National Assembly was able to take the first step towards the realization of a long-held wish -- to replace the National Bahá'í Sub-Office with a permanent site. Some of you will remember that back in the 1980s the Universal House of Justice urged to the National Assembly to relocate some of its offices in a sub-office. At that time we purchased Esslemont House in Uckfield. When we had to sell Esslemont House, we were unable to locate a suitable (and affordable!) building to replace it. Since then we have been in rented accommodation and every couple of years the sub-office has had to move.
Well, last week, out of the blue, the Bridge House, where the sub-office is presently located, was put on the market. We quickly did our sums and realised we could just about afford to put in a bid of 1.5 million pounds. There were 18 other bidders and we were the last -- the 19th -- putting the bid in just before the deadline and hoping against hope. And we got it! Now we are in the process of putting down the deposit of 125,000 pounds. The bank is lending us much of the money for the rest of the bid (against the rental income from other tenants) and we are praying that we can find the rest quickly. In due time, when the other tenants move out, we will move more of our offices to this beautiful location. In the meantime, we have a good income from the rental of the other two floors.
Of course, all this is subject to contract and the usual surveys and all the rest -- but the National Assembly is delighted that the first of its capital goals for the Five Year Plan has already been completed.
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support -- they are working!
Wendi Momen, Treasurer