Those documents are of national importance as the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada, under the order of the sans-Guardian Universal House of Justice, expelled one of its members for electronical communications on the guardianship, an institution created by the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá.
The illicitly formed Universal House of Justice decided to expell a Canadian Baha'i from its community simply for his personal belief in the continuation of the Guardianship, an institution created in the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha. Mr. Ross Campbell is now the first Canadian Covenant-Breaker officially declared by the headless Universal House of Justice.
I include 3 letters which might be of interest about this excommunication. The email of Ross Campbell is rosscampbell@shaw.ca
On the Orthodox Bahá'í Faith:
http://www.rt66.com/~obfusa/council.htm
Also, please read the official withdrawal of membership from the illegitimate and bogus Universal House of Justice.
Sincerely,
Martin
*****
February 27, 2001
Dearest friends,
I am enclosing copies of two letters (below) which the National Assembly has written regarding the activities of Mr. Ross Campbell, a man who lives in British Columbia and became an active supporter of a group of Covenant-breakers. Most of you are already aware of the guidance, and I have spoken to many of you about this situation. However, as Mr. Campbell's activities have intensified in the past couple of months, I wanted to be sure that each of you had a copy of the guidance as written by the National Assembly in case any of you had any questions or if you should need to share it with any of the friends.
I do not want you to make copies of this to give to people but am sending them for your own information and files to refer to if needed. As you probably know, Mr. Campbell has been sending, via the Internet, communications to individuals, including many of you. These individuals include isolated believers and believers in groups, as well as people in the larger communities in British Columbia. Messages from him have also been received in other parts of the world. The heartening news is that many people, even before receiving the guidance from the National Assembly, returned or deleted Mr. Campbell's message and informed the institutions.
The National Spiritual Assembly and the Regional Council have made extensive efforts to inform and warn the communities, groups, and registered isolated believers about these activities. However, there are no doubt individuals who are not aware and who may yet inadvertantly become engaged in communication with him. It is imperative that the believers be warned and those who may have come in contact be informed of the guidance regarding this kind of association. Where needed, of course, it may be required to deepen with the believer about the Covenant in general.
Please be vigilant in your community and prepared to answer any questions that arise. I have also included a copy of a letter that the National Assembly sent last May to selected communties when it was learned that Mr. Campbell had showed up at at least one Baha'i activity in a Baha'i Centre and had made appearances at another. As well, for a while he persisted in trying to get information about Baha'i activities. It is very unlikely that those of you living outside of the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley would have to contend with this, but, again, I wanted you to be privvy to the guidance provided by the National Assembly should such an occasion arise.
Again, please to not make copies or circulate either of these letters among the friends. The institutions do have copies and they will make decisions about how the information is to be shared with the believers.
If you have any questions or concerns about these issues, please let me know.
The Covenant-breaking group that Mr. Campbell now so actively and enthusiastically supports is that of Mr. Joel Marangella, one of those who followed Mason Remey. They continue to claim Mr. Marangella is the third Guardian and their propaganda focuses on the issue of the legitimacy of the Universal House of Justice without a Guardian.
As a start, all of you should be thoroughly familiar with the small compilation on the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice. Most of you will already have a copy, as several years ago, you'll recall, we distributed and studied it at one of our trainings. However, some of you were not assistants and may not have a copy, which may be obtained through Nine Pines, I believe, or local Baha'i bookstores.
I suggest that everyone re-study that compilation. It contains the three letters that the House of Justice wrote explaining the reasons why there can not be another Guardian. You will also want to make sure you are entirely clear on the conditions for the appointment of the Guardian set down in the Will and Testament of Abdu'l-Baha.
We will be consulting about these issues at our forthcoming assistant training meetings and about what kinds of educational programs you will need to initiate in your areas of service. In the meantime, I have every confidence that you will continue to assist the friends when questions arise, deepen their knowledge of the Covenant, and cheer their hearts with the confidence and assurance set down in our Writings that through the operations of the Covenant and our obedience to it, there is nothing to fear.
Much love and appreciation to you all,
Kathy Roesch
Copy of Letter from THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ'ÍS OF CANADA
17 January 2001 / 18 Honour 157
To all Local Spiritual Assemblies and all Regional Bahá'í
Councils
----------------------- Internet Header --------------------------------
January 17, 2001
Re: Mr. Ross Campbell
Dear Friends,
The National Spiritual Assembly and the Counsellors have now found it necessary to share with all of you guidance from the Universal House of Justice regarding Mr. Ross Campbell, a resident of British Columbia, whose recent email communications have apparently been sent to believers in various parts of the country. In a letter of 14 April 2000 addressed to the National Spiritual Assembly, the Universal House of Justice stated:
"...we write to advise you of the conclusion of the Universal House of Justice that Mr. Campbell has become an avowed supporter of the pretensions of Joel B. Marangella. As your Assembly is aware, Mr. Marangella is an active Covenant-breaker, one of the several former followers of Charles Mason Remey who have laid claims of their own to the Guardianship.
"...The friends should be advised to avoid any contact with him, both for their own spiritual protection and the protection of the Cause. In the poignant words of His last Tablet to the believers in America, the Master cautions: 'O friends of God! Be awake, be awake; be vigilant, be vigilant!', and He reiterates the command of Baha'u'llah: 'If anyone comes to you with the book of the wicked, put him behind you.'"
Anyone who receives a communication from Mr. Campbell should be advised to inform the National Spiritual Assembly immediately, to delete it unopened, and make no response.
The National Spiritual Assembly will offer ardent and continuing prayers for the preservation of the spiritual health of the Canadian Baha'i community and its utter loyalty to Bahá'u'lláh's mighty Covenant.
With loving Bahá'í greetings,
Judy L. Filson, Secretary
cc: Counsellors A. M. Ghadirian and D. Smith
National Spiritual Assembly (8)
All Auxiliary Board members (17)
International Pioneer Committee
National External Affairs Committee
National Teaching Committee
25 May 2000 / 9 Grandeur 157
To the Spiritual Assemblies of Abbotsford, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta,
Greater Vancouver A, Langley, Langley District, Lions Bay, Maple Ridge,
Mission, New Westminster, North Vancouver, North Vancouver District, Pitt
Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, West
Vancouver, and White Rock
Dear Friends,
The National Spiritual Assembly understands that some of the believers and perhaps some representatives of your institutions, have received telephone inquiries from Mr. Ross Campbell. We are writing to reassure you of action that should be taken in response to such unwelcome contact.
In the National Spiritual Assembly's 14 April 2000 letter concerning Mr. Campbell, the Universal House of Justice's instructions were conveyed, as follows:
"The friends should be advised to avoid any contact with him, both for their own spiritual protection and the protection of the Cause. In the poignant words of His last Tablet to the believers in America, the Master cautions: 'O friends of God! Be awake, be awake; be vigilant, be vigilant!', and He reiterates the command of Baha'u'llah: 'If anyone comes to you with the book of the wicked, put him behind you.'"
In view of this clear guidance to avoid any contact with Mr. Campbell, your institutions, in concert with the Auxiliary Board for protection, should be alert to the need to educate any among the friends who may receive telephone calls from Mr. Campbell and who may not know how to handle his requests. They may state that as Bahá'ís do not associate with supporters of the Covenant-breakers, Mr. Campbell therefore is not welcome at Bahá'í events. They should then politely but firmly conclude the call.
We will rely on your institutions to be vigilant and wise in protecting
the Cause of God and His loved ones, and to keep the National Spiritual
Assembly informed of any questions or concerns that may arise.
With loving Bahá'í greetings,
Judy L. Filson, secretary