Who are the Baha'is of Coquitlam?
In neighbourhoods across Coquitlam, Bahá’ís and their friends are striving to build a community that weaves together both the material and spiritual necessities of life. Their efforts are inspired by Bahá’u’lláh, the most recent in the series of Divine Messengers sent by God to bring humanity to the next stage of its development.
Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings assert that, regardless of race, gender, class or creed, all humans are noble beings and have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.
The Local Spiritual Assembly of Coquitlam
The Local Spiritual Assembly or (LSA) is the administrative body of the affairs of the local Bahá’í community here in Coquitlam. Chosen by an annual election the LSA consists of nine members who serve the community and function as a body and makes decisions through consultation.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá has written that the discussions of a Local Spiritual Assembly “must all be confined to spiritual matters that pertain to the training of souls, the instruction of children, the relief of the poor, the help of the feeble throughout all classes in the world, kindness to all peoples, the diffusion of the fragrances of God and the exaltation of His Holy Word.” - The official Bahá’í website: bahai.org
The responsibilities of the Local Spiritual Assembly include promoting the spiritual education of children and young people, strengthening the spiritual and social fabric of Bahá’í community life, assessing and utilizing the community’s resources, and ensuring that the energies and talents of community members contribute towards progress. It is also responsible for organizing the Nineteen Day Feast, which is the cornerstone of the Bahá’í community life. During the Nineteen Day Feast the friends living in a particular locality gather to pray and consult together, give suggestions to the Local Spiritual Assembly, and receive information from it.