'Spiritual elections' not an oxymoron for Baha'is
From April 26 to April 29, 171 Baha'i delegates in this country will gather at the Baha'i House of Worship for the North American Continent in Wilmette, Ill., to elect members to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.

For U.S. Baha'i Convention delegates, voting with conscience takes on a deeper dimension
Ajit Giani has been a delegate to the U.S. Baha'i National Convention at least 15 times and will be at this year's convention as one of 171 delegates from throughout the country who will meet to elect a new National Spiritual Assembly April 26-29 at the Baha'i House of Worship for the North American Continent in Wilmette, Ill.

The little Assembly that could
Priscilla Banks wasn't planning to move. Her apartment in Paradise, Nev., suited her fine; her rent wasn't about to go up. In December, however, she relocated three blocks northeast to the adjacent town of Winchester to help fellow members of her faith form a Local Spiritual Assembly , the administrative body that serves Baha'is in their communities.

Michigan Baha'is make clean sweep of pharmaceutical waste on Earth Day
For the third year in a row, Baha'is in northern Michigan collect hazardous waste on Earth Day, Saturday, April 21.

For Tuskegee Airman, the Baha'i Faith healed the wounds of racism
Myron Wilson joined the Air Force to fight the Good War. He joined the Baha'i Faith to fight, and heal from, the racism he experienced as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first group of African-American fighter pilots in the United States and the only group of African-American fighter pilots in World War II.

Prayer
Create in me a pure heart, O my God, and renew a tranquil conscience within me, O my Hope! Through the spirit of power confirm Thou me in Thy Cause, O my Best-Beloved, and by the light of Thy glory reveal unto me Thy path, O Thou the Goal of my desire!...

What does the Baha'i Faith teach regarding participation in political affairs?
The Baha'i Faith encourages its members to take their civic responsibilities seriously and are required to uphold the authority of established governments through loyalty and obedience to the laws of their country. They are permitted to vote in government elections, but must abstain from partisanship or joining political parties. Baha'is may serve their government in administrative posts, but do not accept appointments to political or partisan positions. Baha'is may run as an unaffiliated independent in elections for posts where no political party affiliation and no campaigning is required. This approach reflects the practice within the Baha'i community, which holds elections for its administrative councils that are entirely without nominations or campaigning.