About the community
A spiritual community.
Open to everyone.
For over 140 years, we have tried to distinguish ourselves through love for every human being, unity across every difference, and service to the neighborhoods we live in.
Boston
Community gathering
Cambridge
Ayyam-i-Ha celebration
Jamaica Plain
Feast of Qawl
Boston
Roxbury Children's Class
Boston
Community gathering
Boston
Community life
Boston
Community Gathering
Boston
Community Gathering
Boston
Community gathering
Cambridge
Ayyam-i-Ha celebration
Jamaica Plain
Feast of Qawl
Boston
Roxbury Children's Class
Boston
Community gathering
Boston
Community life
Boston
Community Gathering
Boston
Community Gathering
Our roots
In Boston since 1884.
In 1884, a 21-year-old woman named Kate Cowan Ives became the first Baha'i in Boston. She spent the next decades introducing people to a religion most had never heard of. By the early 1900s, a small community had taken shape.
In 1912, Abdu'l-Baha, the son of Baha'u'llah, visited Boston and spoke publicly on race unity, the equality of women and men, and the need for world peace. Over a century later, the community he encouraged is active across Greater Boston.
The story is longer than two paragraphs can hold.
Read the full story
Who we are
A worldwide community of learning and action.
The Baha'i community is a worldwide community of people who follow the teachings of Baha'u'llah. Around the world, the teachings of the Baha'i Faith inspire individuals and communities as they work to improve their own lives and contribute to those around them. In Greater Boston, groups of friends and family freely offer their time to run programs for children, teens, and adults in homes, parks, and neighborhood spaces. Some participants are Baha'i. Many are not. All are welcome.
Baha'is hail from all walks of life. The community to which they belong is one of learning and action, free from any sense of superiority or claim to exclusive understanding of truth. It is a community that strives to cultivate hope for the future of humanity, to foster purposeful effort, and to celebrate the endeavors of all those who work to promote unity and alleviate suffering.
Every community is governed by an elected council of nine people, called a Local Spiritual Assembly. Elections happen once a year by secret ballot. There is no campaigning, electioneering, political parties, outside money, or nomination of candidates, and there is no clergy at any level of the Faith. Only Baha'is can contribute to the community finances, and contributions are entirely voluntary and private.
How it works
A community of people trying to build a better world.
The deepest friendships here come from working together to make the world a better place.
Teaching a neighbor's child. Hosting a gathering in your living room. Checking in on a friend you haven't heard from in a bit. As we work to help others, our inner lives are also transformed. And as we work to better ourselves, we grow in our capacity to serve others.
There is no clergy in the Baha'i Faith. Every teacher, host, and organizer is a community member from the neighborhood who freely gives their time to help others.
Behind every program is a web of friendships, home visits, and acts of service that never make it to a website.
See our programs
We believe building a better world starts in your own neighborhood.
Common questions
Questions people actually ask
How long has the Baha'i community been in Boston?
Since 1884. The first Baha'i in Boston was Kate Cowan Ives, a 21-year-old from Newfoundland. In 1912, Abdu'l-Baha visited the city and spoke publicly on race unity and world peace. The community has been active continuously for over 140 years.
Where in Greater Boston is the community active?
From Cambridge and Somerville to Quincy and Braintree. The most activity happens in Boston, Cambridge, and Chelsea. Programs happen in homes, parks, and neighborhood spaces across the region.
What does the community look like in terms of age?
Every age group is represented. University students, young professionals in their twenties and thirties, parents with young kids, and older adults. Programs are designed for specific ages, so the people you meet in a discussion group or prayer gathering will often be at a similar stage of life.
What does the Baha'i Faith actually teach?
The core teaching is the oneness of humanity. From that follow principles like the equality of women and men, the harmony of science and religion, the elimination of prejudice, and universal education. Baha'is believe that all major religions come from the same source and that Baha'u'llah is the most recent in a line of messengers that includes Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, and Buddha.
How is the community funded?
Entirely by voluntary contributions from Baha'is. The community does not accept donations from anyone who is not an enrolled Baha'i, does not fundraise publicly, and does not charge for any program or event. Every activity on this site is free.
Who is in charge of the community?
Each city has an elected body of nine people called a Local Spiritual Assembly. They are elected annually by secret ballot, with no campaigning and no nominations. Every adult Baha'i in that city is eligible to be elected, and every adult Baha'i votes. There is no clergy in the Baha'i Faith. The community is governed collectively.
Do I have to be Baha'i to participate?
No. Most people who attend community programs and gatherings are not Baha'i. All are welcome, and there is no expectation of belief or commitment.
Will I feel welcomed as someone who is not a Baha'i, or will I stand out?
You will not stand out. Most people who attend community programs are not Baha'is. The gatherings are for everyone, and the conversation does not assume you know anything about the Baha'i Faith. You will not be singled out, asked to explain yourself, or made to feel like an outsider. Come once and see if it feels right.
What's the racial makeup of the Baha'i community in this area?
The Boston Baha'i community is genuinely diverse. You will find families, college students, young professionals, retirees, immigrants, and people born and raised here. The community includes people of various racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. One of the central teachings of the Baha'i Faith is the oneness of humanity, and the community takes that seriously in practice, working to foster unity across different groups of people.
Am I able to become a Baha'i? If I declare, what am I committing to?
Anyone can become a Baha'i. There is no formal conversion process, no class you have to complete, and no test. Declaring simply means you recognize Baha'u'llah as a Messenger of God and accept the core teachings of the Faith. You fill out a short form on bahai.us and that is it. To be a Baha'i is in its essence a personal desire to continuously work to apply the teachings of Baha'u'llah to your life. The role of the community and elected administrations in the Baha'i Faith is to support and accompany one another in the path of service to God and humanity that we are all trying to walk, at our paces.
Come to something.
Honestly, showing up is the best way to get a sense of the community. Find a gathering near you, or write us if you'd rather meet one-on-one for coffee first.