Becoming a Bahá'í
Becoming a Bahá'í
Membership of the Bahá'í faith is open to all those who believe that Bahá'u'lláh is the latest Manifestation of God and who accept the Covenant Bahá'u'lláh made with his followers about his successor and interpreter, Abdu'l-Bahá, and the administrative institutions that govern the Bahá'í community.
Bahá'í symbol
A convert is not required to renounce their previous faith, but merely to recognise that their previous faith was in need of regeneration. However they cannot actually remain a member of their previous faith.
A person becomes a Bahá'í when they accept Bahá'u'lláh. This is something between the person and God and is very much a matter of individual conscience.
An essential part of being a Bahá'í is being part of the Bahá'í community. A person who has, as Bahá'ís say, declared his faith then indicates to the Local Spiritual Assembly - or the National Spiritual Assembly, if there's no Local Assembly - that he/she would like to be part of the Bahá'í community.
The local Spiritual Assembly is the coordinating body for Bahá'í in a particular area. It consists of 9 members of the community elected by community members to hold office for a year.
Detailed procedures differ from country to country - it is left up to National Assemblies to determine how to process these requests.
In the UK, a person can indicate verbally to a Bahá'í friend or in writing or by email that they consider themselves a Bahá'í and wish to be part of the community. Unless there is some very good reason for not doing so, their enrolment in the community is accepted without question.
Enrolled Bahá'ís can serve on the Local Assembly, if elected, or in other Bahá'í administrative roles; they can also attend the Nineteen Day Feast. Almost every other Bahá'í meeting is open to anyone.