Baha'i and tithing?

[arthra]

Welcome Bishbarmak to the Forum!

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- Art

[Popeyesays]

"In cases where a non-Baha'i has accidently donated (say to a fund box), or insisted on giving something (which often happens) -- we are careful to earmark those funds as best we can "for general charitable work only.""

Primarily this is concerned with anonymous cash gifts that sometimes turn up in a center's fund box. Anonymous cash cannot be determined to be the contribution of a Baha`i and a Baha`i treasurer is instructed to keep those amounts of money seperate in the fund so it will not be spent on the promotion of Baha`i activities.

Having been a treasurer it happens that anonymous cash turns up in a fund box after public events (Fund boxes are often hung on walls at a Baha`i Center. They are there for Baha`i's to drop contributions in in privacy. We never pass a 'hat' because dropping money or envelopes in a passing plate is public and contributions to the Baha`i Faith are strictly confidential.) Those moneys were kept til the end of the year and donated to a charity like United Way or Red Cross or programs for assisting the poor.

A Baha`i Treasurer is never allowed to approach any individual about contributions, any appeal for funds must be to ALL members of the community at once, such as a mailing to every household or an appeal at Baha`i Feast or other Baha`i only events (District Convention and Local elections).

The Treasurer is the only one who ever sees names attached to contributions (checks, etc.) and any disclosure of contributions is strictly forbidden.

The Baha`i Faith in San Fransisco has a 501 C program to provide telephone messaging and e-mail services for the homeless to facilitate job searches and contact with their families. It is established entirely by Baha`i Funds though administered in cooperation with city and county government. It does draw funds from charitable contributions, the state, federal and local federal governments to continue in operation. No Baha`i teaching goes on at all in the program, though the signs announce the involvement of the faith.

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The Life-Blood.
The privilege of contributing to the Bahá'í Fund, "the life-blood" of the Administrative Order, can only be won by open declaration of Faith. Bahá'u'lláh says, in effect, that He will receive the things of this world only from those who recognize Him as the "Possessor of all things", the "Giver", the "Independent". His Cause will be built by faith only, and the condition of the Fund, "the bedrock on which all other institutions must necessarily rest and be established", is the measure of this faith. It is this faith which built the Temple in America, which maintains a flow of money to all the varied activities of the Cause.
Strictly Voluntary.
Following this same spiritual principle, there are no collections at meetings, and there can be no compulsion whatever to contribute to the Fund. The Guardian writes on this point: "I feel urged to remind you of the necessity of ever bearing in mind the cardinal principle that all contributions to the Fund are to be purely and strictly voluntary in character. It should be made clear and evident to everyone that any form of compulsion, however slight and indirect, strikes at the very root of the principle underlying the formation of the Fund ever since its inception. While appeals of a general character carefully worded and moving and dignified in tone are welcome under all circumstances it should be left entirely to the discretion of every conscientious believer to decide upon the nature, the amount, and purpose of his or her own contribution for the propagation of the Cause."
(Compilations, Principles of Bahai Administration, p. 91)
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Regards,
Scott