NAMC’s mobedyars

At their 17th annual general meeting in Chicago last year, the North American Mobed Council (NAMC) focused on two aspects of the "mobedyar program” which seeks to train committed male members of the laity in the performance of common priestly duties which do not necessarily require an ordained priest. To qualify for the induction, the boy/man should be born of two Zarathushti parents whose navjote has been performed by an ordained mobed, according to a resolution adopted by the NAMC five years ago. The two as­pects, brought up by the chairperson of the mobedyar program Ervad Behram Panthaky, concerned the training of a new mobedyar whose spouse is not a Zarathushti and the consequence of an ordained mobed­yar marrying a non-Zoroastrian spouse, notes a report filed by NAMC president Ervad (Dr) Jehan Bagli in the FEZANA Journal (Summer 2004).

The members present unanimously held that the faith of the spouse has no direct relationship to the mobedyar training. It was also agreed that if a mobedyar chooses to marry a non-Zarathushti spouse, it would not impinge on his ability to serve the community’s spiritual requirements.

The Council members present also concurred on the concept of the congregation participating in the recital of certain parts of the jashan prayers if the meaning of such passages is made avai­lable to them. NAMC undertook to recommend the project to the various associations in North America and to formulate a small booklet for such use.