| The moneys contributed by the Bahá'ís to the different institutions of the Faith. ‘And as the progress and execution of spiritual activities is dependent and conditioned upon material means, it is of absolute necessity that immediately after the establishment of local as well as National Spiritual Assemblies, a Bahá'í Fund be established, to be placed under the exclusive control of the Spiritual Assembly. All donations and contributions should be offered to the Treasurer of the Assembly, for the express purpose of promoting the interests of the Cause throughout that locality or country. It is the sacred obligation of every conscientious and faithful servant of Bahá'u'lláh who desires to see His Cause advance, to contribute freely and generously for the increase of that Fund . . .‘16 |
| The amount given to the Funds is not important: ‘Contributing to the Fund is a service every believer can render, be he poor or wealthy; for this is a spiritual responsibility in which the amount given is not important. It is the degree of the sacrifice of the giver, and the love with which he makes his gift, and unity of all the friends in this service which brings spiritual confirmations . . .'17 |
| Contributions to the Bahá'í funds are not accepted from non-Bahá'ís. ‘One of the distinguishing features of the Cause of God is its principle of non-acceptance of financial contributions for its own purposes from non-Bahá'ís: support of the Bahá'í Fund is a bounty reserved by Bahá'u'lláh to his declared followers.'18 |
| There are several Bahá'í Funds. Each local spiritual assembly will establish its own Fund which is used to support local teaching, proclamation and consolidation activities; similarly, each national spiritual assembly will administer a National Fund which supports activities on a national level. The Continental Fund supports the work of the Hands of the Cause, the Continental Boards of Counsellors and the Auxiliary Board Members, while the International Fund, administered by the Universal House of Justice, supports Bahá'í work on an international level. There are also funds for various projects, such as the building of a House of Worship and the building of the Arc on Mount Carmel, for deputizing travel teachers or pioneers to undertake these activities in one's stead, and for assisting those believers who have suffered from persecution in Iran. |
| [BD 85] |
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