Processes affected by ‘lockdown’ rules
For ideas on community-building in the current situation, see the article “Suffering must propel us to redouble our efforts”.
Some of the usual procedures and processes performed by Bahá’í institutions obviously have to be altered to accommodate current physical distancing restrictions. The matters affected include provisions for Ridván, annual reports, enrolments, weddings, and funerals. Looking at these in turn, the adjustments that have had to be made are as follows.
Ridván elections, Annual Meetings and annual reports
As previously announced, Ridván elections for Local Spiritual Assemblies have been cancelled this year, which has been permitted by the Universal House of Justice if conditions require it. With the cancellation of the elections, Annual General Meetings are also cancelled, as there can be no such thing without an election. Local Spiritual Assemblies have been advised that online meetings may be held for community consultation on or about the first day of Ridván, but the status of such consultations would be informal.
Local Spiritual Assemblies have been asked to prepare annual reports as usual, and to release them to their communities electronically on the first day of Ridván, so that the friends can have a sense of ground covered in the past year and for the historical record. The same applies with financial reports, except that it is not appropriate for detailed financial reports to be circulated online, so summaries will be circulated to the local community.
Enrolments
Local Spiritual Assemblies will continue accepting applications for enrolment under all pandemic alert levels, but obviously it will be necessary to use creative means for enrolling new believers.
Weddings
Unfortunately, during the Level 4 lockdown period, couples who wish to get married will have to put their plans on hold. This is because the Department of Internal Affairs has confirmed in response to an enquiry this week, that a wedding cannot be held without the physical presence in one place of the bride, groom, marriage officiator and witnesses. This is currently impossible without these people unlawfully breaking their “bubbles”. Hence, the necessity to delay weddings is one of those limitations that is going to call for special patience until the relevant restrictions are lifted.
Funerals
With New Zealand making a great effort to reduce the impact of the pandemic, it is not yet clear as to how many people will die as a result of COVID-19, and we must hope the number will be small. In any case, there are always deaths from natural causes and accidents. Any deaths during high alert level periods will have to be mourned in a manner much different from what we are used to, so Local Assemblies have been asked to be ready to support the friends as needed.
To stem the spread of COVID-19, the New Zealand Ministry of Health has placed a number of restrictions on funerals and tangihanga. Gathering together for public funerals and tangihanga is not permitted while New Zealand is at Alert Level 4. Currently a restricted number of family members within the same “bubble” of the deceased are allowed to visit their loved one’s mortal remains in the funeral home, and family and whānau who have been in the same isolation bubble as the deceased may go to the cemetery for the burial. As approaches to this matter are subject to change, to read the latest regulations, see:
While it is heart-breaking that people may not be able to meet together to grieve for their deceased loved ones and friends during this time, if believers should pass on to the Abhá Kingdom, the National Assembly encourages everyone to adapt to the situation with faith and fortitude. A great source of comfort for Bahá’ís will be for the Prayer for the Dead to be recited, and we expect this will always be possible to do somehow, because of the flexibility and simplicity of the requirements for its recital. According to the guidance of the Supreme Body:
The Bahá’í funeral service is marked by its dignity, simplicity and flexibility. The only requirement is that the Prayer for the Dead be read before burial. Other prayers and passages from the Writings may, of course, be included. The friends are encouraged to avoid adopting a uniform procedure lest it become a ritual.
(From a response dated 3 March 2012 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice)
A detailed letter on the application of Bahá’í burial law has gone to Local Spiritual Assemblies, enabling them to provide appropriate advice to families of the deceased. The letter includes relevant quotations from authoritative guidance. Summarised, the main points of this letter are:
The Prayer for the Dead, which is the essential element of a Bahá’í funeral, does not have to be recited at the graveside. It may, however, be recited at the graveside if this is feasible, or in a public venue such as a funeral home, or in a private setting. It must be recited by one believer while all others present stand. The occasion may be streamed online, and we understand most funeral directors have facilities to do this.
As mentioned, a formal Bahá’í funeral with the Prayer for the Dead must be held before interment and interment must be carried out as soon as possible, according to Bahá’í law. We understand that government regulations at this time also require prompt interment. Therefore, formal funerals should not be delayed to a later date. However, should a family wish to host a memorial service after restrictions on gatherings are lifted, provided wisdom and safety are observed, this would be entirely appropriate.
We understand that the government is not requiring cremation at this time, so Bahá’ís should continue to abide by Bahá’í law which stipulates burial rather than cremation. Should circumstances change, civil law would need to be obeyed.
The Universal House of Justice states: “When a Bahá’í in a community has passed away, for whatever cause, the Local Spiritual Assembly, or the National Spiritual Assembly, as the case may be, does have a responsibility to provide for a proper burial which cannot otherwise be provided for either by the family or by insurance.” (From a letter dated 17 August 1969 written by the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly)
Bahá’í laws regarding shrouds and burial rings are not yet binding in the West, so if it proves impossible to observe these laws, the situation should be accepted without distress. More generally, believers will want to do their very best for their loved ones who pass away, but should not burden themselves with regret over any inability to fully abide by our burial laws due to reasons beyond their control.
The listed points on burial law are a condensed version of the guidance sent to Local Spiritual Assemblies, so if you need clarification on any points not covered here, please ask your Local Assembly.
