The World Congress or Bahá’í World Congress refers to two gatherings of Bahá’ís from around the world. The first was held in 1963 in London, England, attended by some 6,000 people and the second in 1992 in New York City, attended by some 30,000 Bahá’ís.
1963: First Bahá’í World Congress[edit]
The first World Congress was to be held in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1963. However, as the date approached, it was decided that this country would be too dangerous, and a decision was made to switch it to London. Approximately 6,000 Bahá’ís gathered in the Royal Albert Hall in London, England for this occasion. It was called to announce and present the election of the first Universal House of Justice, elected by the members of over 50 National Spiritual Assemblies. The election of the Universal House of Justice had just taken place in Haifa, and at the Congress the attendees were to be made aware of the flowering of this seed of the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh. Participants at the Congress were encouraged to bring and wear traditional national costumes, if they had any such.
1992: Second Bahá’í World Congress[edit]
The Second Bahá’í World Congress, from November 23–26, 1992, took place in order to pay homage to the 100th anniversary of the passing of Bahá’u’lláh. Nearly 30,000 Bahá’ís from all corners of the globe gathered together in the Jacob Javits Center in New York City for four days of commemoration in the form of music, speeches, artistic performances and social gathering.
The Congress participants represented an extraordinary example of human diversity, with Bahá’ís from over 180 different nations. The program appealed to Bahá’ís of varying cultural backgrounds, different levels of literacy and familiarity with the official languages of the Congress, and with different expectations and motivations. It is said that the World Congress Program captured the hearts of all its participants.
According to the World Congress Program Committee, the purpose of this World Congress was to "celebrate the Centenary of the inauguration of the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh and to proclaim its aims and unifying power."
The Congress Program[edit]
The main sessions of the World Congress took place two hours each day at the Jacob Javits Center. The numbers attending meant that the program had to repeated in the afternoon, with every participant attending either morning or afternoon sessions. The sessions represented a spiritual journey for each participant:
- The journey began on Day One with the recognition of Bahá’u’lláh as the Promise of All Ages, and concluded with a tangible demonstration of "the Covenant as the pivotal center of unity for all mankind."
- Day Two celebrated ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the Center of the Covenant. The program highlighted the world-embracing nature of the Covenant, New York as the City of the Covenant, and an intimate and personal appreciation of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
- The Third Day recounted the achievements of the Bahá’í Community assembled beneath the banner of the Covenant.
- Day Four explored humanity's encounter with Bahá’u’lláh as a prelude to the culmination of the Congress, a message from the Universal House of Justice.
See also[edit]
