Willow Glen Resident
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Photograph by Neal Waters
Jean Quinn (right) and Melica Afnani dance and sing along with Richard Primonts folk songs on Nov. 17 during the 50th Anniversary celebration of the San Jose Bahai Center in Willow Glen.
SJ's Bahai community celebrates 50 years of growth in South Bay
By Linda Taaffe
When Adrian Reeves moved from Southern California to Willow Glen in 1950s, the young mother had no idea how much impact she would have on the community. Reeves was one of the members who helped start the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha´is of San Jose. She moved to the area with her three children with the goal of spreading the Baha´i religion to the area. Her husband, William, remained behind waiting for a transfer with the U.S. Postal Service. At the time, it was just Reeves and two others working to form an assembly, or administrative council. With no formal meeting place, the group met at homes for several years.
Today, 50 years later, the Baha´i Center at 945 Willow Ave. has become the group's spiritual headquarters for the South Bay. Reeves has since moved back to Los Angeles, but her effort has continued to spread. The group now has its own center, including classroom space for its school.
An estimated 200 members from as far as San Francisco gathered at the center to celebrate its anniversary Nov. 17.
The event drew attention from dignitaries including U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren and Santa Clara County Supervisor Peter McHugh, who both awarded proclamations to the group for its civic contributions to Santa Clara County.
"We have a spiritual responsibility for the entire community of San Jose, not just those of the Baha´i Faith," said Marsha Gilpatrick, who served on the church's assembly from 1970 until 1985. That is why civic duty is so important to the group.
The Baha´is have donated time to various community service projects and organizations throughout Santa Clara Valley, including the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Santa Clara Valley and Second Harvest Foodbank, as well as highway litter cleanups. The group annually recognizes outstanding citizens through its Community Service Awards Banquet.
Despite the group's growth and public service, the little church on Willow Street, a few blocks east of Lincoln Avenue, may still be a mystery to many in the community.
Early followers came from Islamic societies, but the Baha´i Faith is a separate religion with its own laws and scriptures, and a following of more than 5 million people worldwide, including more than 400 at the Baha´i Center in Willow Glen.
The fundamental principle of the faith is unity and oneness of humanity. The main elements of its teachings are the belief in one God and one human race, the elimination of extremes between poverty and wealth, full equality of the sexes, elimination of all forms of prejudice, universal education, a balance between science and nature and an acceptance that "all world religions have been stages in the revelation of God's will."
This means members don't have to give up what they have learned as Christians or Jews to become Baha´i because the religion teaches all other religions.
As a result, the Baha´i community has a diverse following. At any gathering, prayers are read in a variety of languages and, unlike most Judeo-Christian religions, the Baha´i Faith has no clergy.
This openness of thinking is what convinced Jean Quinn to declare herself a Baha´i 13 years ago. Quinn was raised Catholic, but says she didn't agree with some of the doctrines and didn't feel spiritually fulfilled.
After "church shopping," Quinn says she converted to the Baha´i faith.
Members said they hope to expand and open more community centers over the next 50 years.
Moryt Milo contributed to this article.
