Lsa

[Steinninn]

That depends on how you count growth.

Just to let you know a little about Iceland, a very important event happened in 1967. From Wikipedia:
On August 16, 1967, a Bahá'í wedding took place in Árbæjarkirkja, a church belonging to the Lutheran Church of Iceland." ... "When word of the wedding ceremony reached the bishop, he expressed surprise that it had taken place in a Christian church and commented that he would have recommended against such an action.[12] Suffragan bishop Sigurður Pálsson went further and suggested that the church would need to be reconsecrated before Christian ceremonies could resume in it.[13] Bishop Sigurbjörn Einarsson disagreed, stating that the Bahá'í ceremony had been "a mistake, but not sinful action" and that the church had "not been defiled by it".[14]"

The church had given the bahá'í faith so much attention that we had entry by troops. By 1990 there were 378 bahá'ís (with 253.785 citizens).

But now in 2009 there are only 404 (with 319.368 citizens), it's obvious that these numbers came from pre-1990. What was different in 1960-1990 compared to 1990-2010? It could be insidents like this wedding. Well, it's something to think about.

( Hagstofa Íslands - Hagtölur*»* Mannfjöldi*»* Trúfélög )

[BruceDLimber]

Which is the more interesting given the fact that the Baha'is who arranged this were apparently unaware that it's inappropriate for Baha'i functions to occur in the place of worship of another religion!

(If this was a mixed marriage with a Baha'i and a Christian, the Christian ceremony could of course take place there, but the Baha'i ceremony can't.)

Ah, well, that's history now, obviously!

Regards, :-)

Bruce

[Steinninn]

Well, I think it's ok to have the bahá'í ceremony in the church if it's a mixed mixed marriage. At least we had one like that in Iceland last year.

And they defenetly weren't aware how much of an impact they were going to have. Obviously this wasn't the only reason for the entry by troops, but it's one of the more interesting factors

[arthra]

My son was married in a church to a Christian and then we held the Baha'i ceremony outside the church. Similarly in another case a Baha'i friend of mine had the Baha'i ceremony in a park and was later married to his Christian wife in a church.

The Baha'i ceremony is free and the Spiritual Assembly does not charge the couple.. The couple can of course have the marriage in an expensive hall or in a park or home as they wish but it is not held inside a church.

This is an advisory or clarification:

"In response to your mail of 6 February 1986 we have been instructed by the Universal House of Justice to send the following clarifications:

- When two Bahá'ís are marrying, the wedding ceremony should not be held in the place of worship of another, nor should the forms of the marriage of other religions be added to the simple Bahá'í ceremony.

- When a Bahá'í is marrying a non-Bahá'í, and the religious wedding ceremony of the non-Bahá'í partner is to be held in addition to the Bahá'í ceremony, both ceremonies may, if requested, be held in the place of worship of the other religion provided that:

- Equal respect is accorded to both ceremonies. In other words, the Bahá'í ceremony which is basically so simple, should not be regarded as a mere formal adjunct to the ceremony of the other religion.

- The two ceremonies are clearly distinct. In other words, they should not be commingled into one combined ceremony."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, February 26, 1986)

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 388)

Note that there apparently can be two ceremonies in another place of worship but with the qualifications noted above.. It would seem that in practise.. most have the Baha'i ceremony outside the church.

-Art