The Nineteen Day feast is a community gathering that combines prayer, administration and socializing. It is the only Baha'i activity that is closed to outsiders.
The faith has no clergy and littie ritual and is governed by a nine-member Local Spiritual Assembly elected by residents of that city. Campaigning and nominations for positions on the assembly are forbidden. Local members elect the National Spiritual Assembly, which in turn helps elect representatives to the Universal House of Justice, the nine-member international body based in Haifa, Israel, whose decisions on spiritual matters are considered to be infallible and guided by God.
Fiona Missaghian, a 22-year-old German-born USC master's student, remembers being harassed for her beliefs by other children in her hometown near Celogne, Germany.

In addition. Baha'i scripture stresses the equality and importance of women in the faith, but also prohibits them from serving in the highest Baha'i office, as members of the Universal House of Justice. Baha'i writings explain this by saying only that the reason for it will somedav be clear.
"lt's perplexing," admitted James Nelson. "But there are lots of things in life that are perplexing that we don't have answers to. It frustrates other activities that are in progress to stop and worry about that one thing.... I don't understand it now, but I think I will."
Baha'is are not allowed to participate in partisan politics, criticize their governments or marry without the consent of their parents, if living. Divorce is allowed but discouraged. They are obligated to pray each day, consider their work as worship and fast for 19 designated days each March. They have no regular services, such as Catholic Sunday Mass, although members can atiend "devotionals," or informal prayer meetings in most communities.
Perhaps the most important Baha'i gathering is known as the area feast, held every 19 days at the end of each Baha'i month. (The Baha'i calendar is based on 19 months of 19 days each. The number 19 is significant among Baha'is because in 19th Century Persia, the numerical Abjad system gave each letter a standard value, and the Arabic word for unity, Vahid, has a value of 19.).

openness and investigation of other religions appealed to Lourdes Sanaei, 37. Sanaei spent 14 years in Catholic school and always wondered why, as a young girl, her church taught that sinners—everyone, even children who were not baptized—wouid be doomed to eternal hell.
"I had all these questions and the priests would say 'Oh, don't ask how her Catholic family became alienated from the church after the changes of Vatican II. Now 44, she spent her early 20s investigating other religions and even traveled to Jerusalem in search of answers. Then she discovered che Baha'i community in Los Angeles.
One evening, she gathered her family and friends to announce her decision to convert.
 "When people understand that it's not some irrational cult and it is the fulfillment of religious promise, it's not difficult to accept." said James Nelson, once a junior minister in the Presbyterian Church who now chairs the National Spiritual Assembly.
Other key teachings of Baha'u'llah envision the elimination of economic injustice, a universal faith does have contradictions. Mehdi Bozorgmehr, a UCLA sociologist, co-authored a study of Los Angeles Iranians in the 1980s and discovered that Iranian Baha'is mingled more among their own kind than their faith mandates.
"Be careful how you write that." Bozorgmehr warned. the Baha'i "won't like it."

Mrs. Sears posed with artist Ivan Lloyd and his wife, Lystra

The staff taped artist presentationswith Mr, Lloyd, so that Baha'i school classes and the Baha'i lending library may benefit from his descriptions of the stories and symbols behind each illustration.
Baha'i Booksource carries lithos of the paintings, which will, in time, hold archival significante for their authenticity and rarity. In addition, two paintings are being sold by silent auction, (minimum bid $750), with all proceeds going to the Arc in the name of the Los Angeles Spiritual Assembly. Place all bids at the Center during office hours. The bidding closes October 15.

The story of the Babi Faith has emerged on the walIs of the Baha'i Center's multi-purpose room. A temporary historical art exhibit went on display September 7, and will remain until October 21.
Baha'i artist Ivan Lloyd, from Tucson, spent years completing the series, which will travel to several Baha'i conferences and locations before finding its home at a new Baha'i school under construction in Colorado. Mrs. Sears, who will move to the school after its completion, traveled with Mr. Lloyd and his wife Lystra. All appeared at an artist's reception before Feast on September 7. The paintings were also featured at an Interreligious Council Meeting two days later.