“Let the beauty we love be what we do.”
~Rumi
June 14, 2023
Dear Friends of the Abode,
We are delighted to announce a new chapter for the Abode of the Message! On Tuesday, June 13th, New York State approved the transfer of sole membership of The Abode of the Message, Inc. from the Inayatiyya to Friends of South Family, Inc.
This will mean that Friends of South Family, Inc. shall have the power to appoint the board members of the Abode of the Message, Inc. and that the Abode of the Message, Inc., founded in 1975 by Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, Taj Inayat, and dedicated murids, shall continue in operation without the sale of any of its land or buildings. The Inayatiyya shall have no further involvement with governance or operation of the Abode of the Message, Inc.
Friends of South Family, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation formed by a dedicated group with the mission to preserve and honor the Abode’s legacy, has appointed a new Abode Board which shall re-open and re-organize the Abode so that it may flourish for years to come.
This transfer allows the Inayatiyya to focus on its mission to spread far and wide throughout the world the experience of the divinity of the soul and the interrelatedness of all beings.
As we move forward, inquiries about the Abode may go to director@theabode.org. Any inquiries about the Inayatiyya may go to trustees@inayatiyya.org.
We would like to extend special appreciation to the Abode staff who have been patient and steadfast in their care for the buildings and land, as well as the local community for their unwavering support of the Abode.
The three organizations pray for shared success as we move forward along our respective paths.
Toward the One!
The Sufi Order/Inayatiyya Board of Trustees: Pir Zia Inayat Khan, President, Yaqin Aubert, Vice President, Noor Amina Peterson, Chair, Sohrob Nabatian, Vice Chair, Khatidja Rodriguez-Ruiz, Secretary & Treasurer, Basir Yasi, Rashid Gilbane, and Shams al Haqq Farzad Attar Jaffari
The Friends of South Family Board of Directors: Whitney L. Scott, President, Kimberly Taj Martel, Vice President, Albert Bellenchia, Secretary, Christopher Steadman, Treasurer, Blair Mahbub Davis, and Aimée Brodeur Johnson
The Abode of the Message Board of Directors: Blair Mahbub Davis, President, Albert Bellenchia, Secretary, Christopher Steadman, Treasurer, Aimée Brodeur Johnson
Our mailing address is:
The Abode of the Message
5 Abode Road
New Lebanon, New York 12125
January 24, 2023
Dear Ones,
Since May of 2022, Friends of South Family has been in discussions with the new Abode Board about transferring sole membership to FSF, and relieving the Inayatiyya of financial and management obligations. FSF has the funds, plans and support to bring the Abode forward into the future, and to carry through on the values and vision of the founders and all who have loved, worshiped and cared for this sacred place. Though we are still in a holding pattern around a transfer for the Abode property, and no one could have foreseen how long this process would take, FSF is looking forward to a time when the Abode can be open for its extended family once again. We continue to hold space for what we hope is this eventuality, and while doing so we are deeply grateful for the Abode Community.
Signed,
Al Bellenchia Blair Davis Aimée Brodeur Johnson Kimberly Martel Whitney Scott Christopher Steadman
The Friends of South Family Board of Directors
December 2023
2022 has been a journey down the path of love for Friends of South Family. We have dedicated countless hours as Abode lovers to the values and vision of it’s founders and all who have loved this sacred place through the generations. We offer our deepest gratitude to those who have joined us as we envision the re-birth of this sanctuary.
~The Friends of South Family Board of Directors
October 16, 2022
Dear Friends,
We have been receiving many requests for updates and information on the status of our activities.
Since May, FSF has been in discussions with the new Abode Board about transferring sole membership to FSF, and relieving the Inayatiyya of financial and management obligations. FSF has the funds, plans and support to bring the Abode forward into the future, and to carry through on the values and vision of the founders and all who have loved, worshiped and cared for this sacred place through the generations.
We are hopeful that our discussions will be fruitful, but we are also realistic. We have been negotiating under an exclusive agreement, and out of respect for the request that we keep the discussions confidential, we will not provide further details until those negotiations are complete.
We know others have expressed interest in acquiring the Abode lands. We do not know the details of the groups or offers, but we do know this: under NY State law, the Abode cannot simply be sold to another party. As a not-for-profit religious institution, a sale is not permissible without approval of the NY State Attorney General’s office and others. Preference will be given to those entities continuing on the purpose of the institution, which FSF is committed to doing.
We have made several offers to the Inayatiyya that are fair, generous, and respectful. We hope they will be successful. We are also prepared to vigorously defend the rights of the Abode, our far-flung spiritual community, and to ensure that the future is one consistent with Pir Vilayat’s vision of this blessed sanctuary.
We appreciate all of the support we have been given, and expect to remain silent until discussions conclude.
~The Friends of South Family Board of Directors
August 2022
Dear Ones,
Please know that the Abode and Friends of South Family, Inc. are planning to meet the week of August, 22, 2022. Whitney Akbar Scott, FSF chair, and Sohrob Nabatian, Chair of the Abode Board, will begin a dialogue with Rabia Povich, Vice President of the Inayatiyya’s Kinship Activity, providing facilitation support.
Signed,
Al Bellenchia Blair Davis Aimée Brodeur Johnson Kimberly Martel Whitney Scott Christopher Steadman
The Friends of South Family Board of Directors
June 27
Dear Ones,
As you have heard the Inayatiyya Order has decided to sell the Abode. They have dismissed the prior Abode board and replaced it with a new board consisting of two current Order board members and the Order executive director. The new board has been given the mandate to sell the Abode. The Inayatiyya have acted as if the Abode is an asset of the Order even though there is no basis for believing that to be the case.
The Abode is a religious corporation. For that reason a sale of any part of the real estate must be approved by the Attorney General’s office; and because the Abode is a religious corporation it is likely that the Supreme Court of Columbia County would also have to approve of any sale. The AG’s office and the Court look at why something is being sold and require that provisions be made to house the congregation; the AG and the Court also look at the best means of fulfilling the corporation’s purposes. A significant fact is that the Inayatiyya has no desire to see the Abode’s purposes fulfilled and has been unwilling to enter into a dialogue with those who are interested in fulfilling the ideals which the Abode embodies.
Since announcement of the sale there has been a large outpouring of support for the Abode and for it to continue in its mission and purpose. The desire is there and it is very much alive.
The Abode has been held out to be one of our pilgrimage sites, one of our sacred sites; it has been home to countless persons over the years; for us in this country it is similar to Fazl Manzil. Thousands of people over the years have contributed thousands of hours and dollars in support of the Abode. All of us who have contributed to the Abode over the years, in whatever fashion, are in essence owners of the Abode. The Abode is not only a sacred trust, under N.Y. state law it is considered a public trust which is the reason the Attorney General and the courts closely supervise the sale of its assets..
In response to what can only be considered as an attempt to “profit” from selling the Abode and transfer the proceeds of the sale to the Inayatiyya, all together or in pieces, a new Not-for-Profit Corp has been formed: Friends of South Family, Inc. We have a board, a website, an ever expanding group of supporters, and sound legal opinion for our position.
The Order has said it no longer wants the burden of the Abode. That it wants to be rid of any financial or legal responsibility. The Order has indicated they are going in a different direction, this need not be done at the expense of our sacred home for almost 50 years. A home so many have helped build. The Abode is but one instrument in our symphony and it should not be silenced. The difficulties caused by covid have made it difficult for the Abode and it is not going to be easy to get operations up and running again. However, the Friends of South Family, Inc. has financing which has been promised which will allow the Abode to be rejuvenated. A lot of hard work and dedication will be required to make things work. The task should not be underestimated. We do know that many obstacles have been overcome over the years at the Abode and feel in our hearts that the will to prevail will triumph. We know that help is on the way.
There is a simple solution. We have asked the Order to sign over membership of the corporation. The Abode of the Message, Inc, has a single member: the Sufi Order, Inc, d/b/a the Inayati Order. It is that simple, they sign over membership to Friends of South Family and walk away with a clear conscience, secure in the knowledge that the Abode will continue on in safe hands. Thus far they have not responded to what we ask. Silence.They have an appraisal value of 4.8 million dollars and appear to cling to the misguided belief that they can sell the Abode and keep the money. But, it is not really theirs to sell. It belongs to all of us. It is a legal and sacred trust not an asset.
The Order has not contributed any funds to the Abode since it left for Richmond; the first expenditure has been to obtain an appraisal for the sale. Any energy that is being contributed to the Abode at this time by the Order is designed to facilitate a sale.
Signing over membership from one organization that does not want the liability to one that does is the right thing to do. If you want to help please contact the Order and tell them to do the right thing.
Signed,
Al Bellenchia Blair Davis Aimée Brodeur Johnson Kimberly Martel Whitney Scott Christopher Steadman
The Friends of South Family Board of Directors