CommuNIqué - Newsletter of the Bahá'í Community in Northern Ireland
Issue 92 - 12 Bahá 161 BE - 1 April 2004 CE

 

FROM THE BAHÁ’Í COUNCIL

 

BAHÁ'Í MARRIAGE RECOGNISED IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Dear Friends,

On 1st January 2004 new legislation came into effect in Northern Ireland, totally over-hauling the arrangements for marriage. The new legislation provided a level playing field for all religious bodies in Northern Ireland, regardless of their size, meaning that, for the first time, Bahá'í marriages could be recognised by the State as fulfilling the requirements of the law, thereby avoiding the need for an additional civil marriage.

In applying the new legislation the General Register Office has:

  • Officially recognised the Bahá'í Faith as an independent religion
  • Recognised the authority of the Bahá'í Council for Northern Ireland to oversee arrangements for Bahá'í marriages, and
  • Approved the appointment of Dr Beman Khosravi as a Bahá'í Marriage Officer with the authority to solemnise marriages (and it is expected that two additional Bahá'í Marriage Officers will be approved shortly.)

A statement on behalf of the Guardian described the Bahá'í marriage ceremony in the following way:

There is no ritual, according to the Aqdas, the Guardian is very anxious that none should be introduced at present and no general form accepted. He believes the ceremony should be as simple as possible, the parties using the words ordained by Bahá'u'lláh and excerpts from the writings and prayers being read, if desired.
Written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, The Bahá'í Community, pp. 43-44

The new legislation means that this instruction of the Guardian can be observed in full. The only legal requirement in relation to the ceremony is that there is a vow (additional to the Bahá'í marriage vow) to be said by each of the parties in the presence of the Bahá'í Marriage Officer:

“I, (name), do take thee (name), to be my lawful wedded wife (or husband).”

For those intending to get married there is a series of steps that are necessary to ensure that all the arrangements are in order:

  • The intending couple must consult with the responsible local Spiritual Assembly and with the Bahá'í Marriage Officer at an early stage in relation to the arrangements for the marriage, and agree a suitable date and time for the marriage ceremony
  • The local Spiritual Assembly must provide the Marriage Officer with certification to the effect that the prerequisites for the Bahá'í marriage ceremony have been met.
  • The intending couple must submit a “Notice of Marriage” to their local District Registrar’s office.
  • The District Registrar will issue a “Marriage Schedule” to the intending couple, specifying the time and place of the marriage ceremony.
  • The Marriage Schedule must be passed to the Bahá'í Marriage Officer in advance of the marriage ceremony.
  • Immediately after the marriage ceremony the Marriage Schedule is completed by the Bahá'í Marriage Officer and signed by two witnesses who have been approved by the local Spiritual Assembly. They also complete Bahá'í Marriage Certificates at the same time.
  • The Bride and Groom submit the completed Marriage Schedule to the District Registrar’s Office, and,
  • The District Registrar registers the marriage.

Additional detailed guidance on the procedure for Bahá'í marriages is available from the Bahá'í Council for Northern Ireland, contact details at the end of this and each issue of CommuNIqué.


CONSIDER DEPUTIZATION

Sometimes friends can find, for a variety of reasons, that they are unable to travel teach for the Faith. At such times, however, it is appropriate to consider deputization. Although an International Deputization Fund was established by the House of Justice back in the 1960s it was Bahá’u’lláh Himself who encouraged us. His injunction went like this:

“Centre your energies in the propagation of the Faith of God. Whoso is worthy of so high a calling, let him arise and promote it. Whoso is unable, it is his duty to appoint him who will, in his stead, proclaim this Revelation, Whose power hath caused the foundation of the mightiest structures to quake, every mountain to be crushed into dust, and every soul to be dumbfounded.”
(The Universal House of Justice, Wellspring of Guidance, Messages 1963-1968, p. 61)

More recently the Universal House of Justice has written:

“Indeed, deputization funds have been established at all levels, local, national and international. The International Deputization Fund is administered by the International Teaching Centre. However, locally it is the Auxiliary Board members and their assistants who are in an ‘ideal position to motivate the believers to respond to the call for deputization and to provide detailed information about current needs.”
(Document on the Institution of the Counsellors by the House of Justice)

You may therefore consult your Assistant or your Auxiliary Board member about immediate needs. Don’t forget that a youth, who, by definition has more energy and less money, can often open a new area or, if over 21, can save a local Assembly such as Newtownabbey or Newtownards.

With warmest Bahá'í greetings,
Bahá'í Council for Northern Ireland.

 

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