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51-681: The Institution of the Counsellors was created in 1968 by the Universal House of Justice to perpetuate the work done previously by the Hands of the Cause . The functions of the institution are generally "protection" from schism and "propagation", or spreading, of the religion at an international level. Members of the institution have no legislative or executive power, and do not fill the role of clergy, but they are tasked with "stimulating, counseling, and assisting"

102-523: A delegate to the national convention, or to the national spiritual assembly , they must choose between that role or being a board member. If elected to the Universal House of Justice, they must join the House of Justice and cease to be members of the board. Initially in 1957 there were 72 Auxiliary Board members appointed. 50 years later, there were about 1,000. Due to the rapid growth of the religion around

153-546: A group of nine elected from among the Hands of the Cause to stay at the Baha'i World Centre was referred to in the Will and Testament of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá , one of the defining documents of Baháʼí administration. This body of nine was given the duty to validate any appointments made as Guardian: In 1957 after the unexpected death of Shoghi Effendi while he was travelling to Britain, the living Hands of

204-491: A role in responding to systemic persecution of Baháʼís in Iran by garnering worldwide media attention. The books and documents published by the Universal House of Justice are considered authoritative and its decisions are considered infallible by Baháʼís. Although it is empowered to legislate on matters that are not addressed in the Baha'i holy writings, the Universal House of Justice has rarely exercised this function. The Seat of

255-598: A series of multi-year plans, as well as through annual messages delivered during the Ridván festival. The messages have focused on increasing the number of Local Spiritual Assemblies , translating Baháʼí literature, establishing Baháʼí Centres, completing Baháʼí Houses of Worship , holding international conferences, and developing educational systems to enhance literacy, the role of women, spirituality for children and youth, family life, social and economic development, and communal worship. The Universal House of Justice has also played

306-471: Is elected through secret ballot and plurality vote in a three-stage election by adult Baháʼís throughout the world. The House of Justice is elected without nominations or campaigning and all adult male members of the Baháʼí Faith are eligible for election to the House. The body is elected every five years during a convention of the members of the various National or Regional Spiritual Assemblies (NSAs) across

357-561: The Baháʼí World Centre , and, as of 1983, have collected over 60,000 letters of Baháʼu'lláh, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi. These collected works have been used as a base in the deliberations of the Universal House of Justice. All of the current members of the Universal House of Justice previously served as members of the International Teaching Centre . They are: The initial election in 1963 drew five members from

408-447: The Baháʼí World Centre . The most complete list of the Hands available is from The Baháʼí World: Vol XIV . The Universal House of Justice has said that this list may not be complete, and that a study of the letters and archives may reveal others named to this position. ‘Abdu’l-Baha in his will and testament asks the Hands of the Cause of God to be "ever watchful" and "so soon as they find anyone beginning to oppose and protest against

459-518: The Institution of the Counsellors in 1968 and the appointed Continental Counsellors over time took on the role that the Hands of the Cause were filling. The announcement in 1968 also changed the role of the Hand of the Cause, changing them from continental appointments to worldwide, and nine Counsellors working at the International Teaching Centre took on the role of the nine Hands of the Cause who worked in

510-654: The International Baháʼí Council , two from the National Spiritual Assembly (NSA) of the United States, one from the NSA of Britain, and one from the NSA of India. Members are entered in the table under the year when they were first elected. Starting with the first election in 1963, regular elections of the entire membership have occurred every five years, and there have been five by-elections, noted in

561-755: The 'appointed branch' of the religion, or the 'Institution of the Learned', to contrast it with the elected Spiritual Assemblies . All members of the institution, from the International Teaching Centre to Auxiliary Board members serve 5-year terms that begins on the Day of the Covenant , which falls on either November 25 or 26, except for local Assistants, whose duration of service is "left to each Continental Board to decide for itself". There are no formal qualifications, pre-requisites, or training needed to be appointed to

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612-433: The 50th anniversary of the first election of the Universal House of Justice in 1963. The most recent full election was on 29 April 2023. The Universal House of Justice today guides the growth and development of the global Baháʼí community. The general functions of the Universal House of Justice, as stated by Baháʼu'lláh, include to promulgate the cause of God, to preserve the law, to administer social affairs, to educate

663-533: The Americas, and Asia, and one each for Australia and Europe. In 1980 that arrangement was changed to five boards: one each in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe. The term of Continental Counsellors is 5 years, though the term length may be changed at the discretion of the Universal House of Justice. If a Continental Counsellor is appointed to the International Teaching Centre, they must relinquish their role on

714-519: The Baháʼí Faith for its protection; and maintaining close contact with the rest of the Hands, who would henceforth devote their time to the successful completion of the goals of the Ten Year Crusade . The Hands of the Cause maintained the number of Custodians, replacing those who died or were unable, for health or personal reasons, to remain at the Baháʼí World Center permanently. The idea of

765-520: The Baháʼí administrative structure, both elected and appointed, share the goal to serve for two primary functions: Protection and Propagation. In this context, Protection refers to defending the organization against threats to its integrity, like schism ; while Propagation involves organized efforts to draw new members to the Baháʼí Faith, such as through missionary activities. Aligned with these two aims, two distinct yet complementary Auxiliary Boards exist, as it

816-447: The Baháʼí sacred texts. While the Universal House of Justice is authorized to change or repeal its own legislation as conditions change, it cannot dissolve or change any of the laws which are explicitly written in the sacred texts. While being empowered to legislate on matters, the Universal House of Justice has, since its inception in 1963, limited its exercise of this function. Instead, it has provided general guidance to Baháʼís around

867-403: The Baháʼí writings, providing flexibility for the Baháʼí Faith to adapt to changing conditions. It was first elected in 1963, and subsequently every five years, by delegates consisting of the members of Baháʼí National Spiritual Assemblies throughout the world. The Universal House of Justice, as the head of the religion, has provided direction to the worldwide Baháʼí community primarily through

918-481: The Cause gathered in Haifa and elected nine members that would retain the leadership of the religion until the Universal House of Justice was elected in 1963. All eligible appointees as Guardian had been excommunicated and no appointment had been made by Shoghi Effendi, so they left the situation to be decided by the Universal House of Justice, which had the scriptural authority to legislate on matters that were unaddressed in

969-621: The Faith', discreetly 'investigate' their activities, warn intelligently the friends of the opposition inevitably to come, explain how each crisis in God's Faith has always proved to be a blessing in disguise, prepare them for the 'dire contests' which are 'destined to range the Army of Light against the forces of darkness', and, when the influence of the enemies spreads and reaches their fold, the members of these Auxiliary Boards should be alert to their schemes to 'dampen

1020-462: The Guardian of the Cause of God, cast him out from the congregation of the people of Baha and in no wise accept any excuse from him." The Hands of the Cause are also referred to by Shoghi Effendi as the "Chief Stewards of Baháʼu'lláh's embryonic World Commonwealth". Four Hands were named by Baháʼu'lláh , four by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá and forty-two by Shoghi Effendi (including ten posthumously). During

1071-418: The House of Justice; provide reports and recommendations to the Universal House of Justice and advice to the Counsellors; be alert to opportunities for growth of the religion; and "determine and anticipate" needs for teaching and propose teaching plans. All Hands of the Cause were initially members of the board, as well as three Counsellors. Over time, as Hands of the Cause grew older and could not be replaced,

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1122-718: The Institution of the Counsellors. The International Teaching Centre is a board of nine Counsellors that was created in June 1973 to extend the role of the Hands of the Cause resident at the Baháʼí World Centre. It operates from a building on the Baháʼí arc next to the Universal House of Justice. The announcement of its creation outlined its duties: "co-ordinate, stimulate and direct" the Continental Counsellors and act as liaison to

1173-455: The Universal House of Justice and its members reside in Haifa, Israel , on the slope of Mount Carmel . The most recent election was 29 April 2023. Although all other elected and appointed roles in the Baháʼí Faith are open to men and women, membership on the Universal House of Justice is male-only; the Baháʼí writings indicate that the reason for this will become clear in the future. Baháʼu'lláh,

1224-426: The Universal House of Justice would be under Baháʼu'lláh's protection, that it would be freed of error, and that obedience to it would be obligatory. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá first used the term "Universal House of Justice" to distinguish the supreme body from those local 'Houses of Justice' to be established in each community, and the secondary 'Houses of Justice' (current Baháʼí national spiritual assemblies ). He also stated that

1275-538: The affairs of the religion and announced that the election of the Universal House of Justice would occur in 1963 at the end of the Ten Year Crusade , an international teaching plan instituted by Shoghi Effendi. In 1961 the International Baháʼí Council was changed to an elected body, with members of all National Spiritual Assemblies voting for its members. Then in April 1963, the first Universal House of Justice

1326-478: The board transitioned to four Counsellors in 1979, seven in 1983, and to the present nine in 1988. The Counsellors of the International Teaching Centre also serve 5-year terms. The International Teaching Centre is responsible with overseeing the security and ensuring the protection of the Baha'i faith. It must investigate all cases of Covenant-breaking with the help of the Continental Counsellors and their auxiliaries, evaluate their reports and decide whether to expel

1377-513: The continental board, and if they are elected to the Universal House of Justice, they cease to be a Counselor. Some of the duties assigned to the Counsellors include directing the Auxiliary Boards in their area, advising National Spiritual Assemblies, keeping the Universal House of Justice informed of conditions in their area, and "stimulating, counseling and assisting" individuals and local and national Spiritual Assemblies. In addition, advising

1428-410: The elected institutions and Baháʼí communities generally. They fill a largely advisory and inspirational role. The continental and international Counsellors are appointed by the Universal House of Justice, the supreme institution of the religion. Continental Counsellors appoint Auxiliary Boards, who in turn appoint assistants. When including the Hands of the Cause, the whole structure is sometimes called

1479-410: The election of the Universal House of Justice, by establishing a strong administrative structure at the local and national levels. In 1951 when there were 9 National Spiritual Assemblies, Shoghi Effendi appointed members to the International Baháʼí Council , and described it as an embryonic international House of Justice. After Shoghi Effendi's unexpected death in 1957, the Hands of the Cause directed

1530-700: The first day of Ridván (which may be on April 20 or 21 depending on the dating of Naw-Rúz ), the Universal House of Justice addresses a message to the worldwide Baháʼí community, known as Ridván messages. The institution has also collected and published extracts from the writings of the Báb , Baháʼu'lláh and ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. In 1992 they published the Kitáb-i-Aqdas , Baháʼu'lláh's book of laws in English , and further translations have since been published. During these endeavours, they established departments of research and archives at

1581-462: The founder of the Baháʼí Faith, in his book the Kitáb-i-Aqdas first ordains the institution of the House of Justice and defines its functions. The institution's responsibilities are also expanded on and referred to in several other of Baháʼu'lláh's writings including in his Tablets of Baháʼu'lláh . In those writings Baháʼu'lláh writes that the Universal House of Justice would assume authority over

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1632-479: The future (see Baháʼí Faith and gender equality ). While both ʻAbdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi , heads of the religion after Baháʼu'lláh, considered establishing the Universal House of Justice, they both declined to do so. Shoghi Effendi's reason was due to his belief in the weakness of the existing Baháʼí institutions — there were a very limited number of national spiritual assemblies and local spiritual assemblies. Thus during his lifetime, Shoghi Effendi prepared for

1683-412: The general welfare of humankind, to promote a permanent peace among the nations of the world, ensure the "training of peoples, the up building of nations, the protection of man and the safeguarding of his honour". The Universal House of Justice is also given the responsibility of adapting the Baháʼí Faith as society progresses, and is thus given the power to legislate on matters not explicitly covered in

1734-410: The institution's decisions could be by majority vote, but that unanimous decisions were preferred, and that it would be elected by the members of the secondary Houses of Justice. He also confirmed Baháʼu'lláh's statements that although women and men are spiritually equal, membership on the Universal House of Justice would be confined to men, and that the wisdom behind this decision would become apparent in

1785-659: The job of 'protection', that is, maintaining unity and responding to attacks by enemies of the Baháʼís. The boards were transitioned in 1968 to the jurisdiction of the Continental Counsellors, appointed to a geographic area. Unlike the Counsellors, Auxiliary Board Members are designated as either "protection" or "propagation". Those dedicated to protection focus on responding to or preventing opposition, while those dedicated to propagation focus on encouraging Baháʼí communities in their teaching work. They are generally not permitted to be members of any elected institution. If they are elected as

1836-419: The offender from the Baha'i faith, they submit their decisions to the Universal House of Justice for its final words. The Continental Boards of Counsellors are responsible for protecting and propagating the Baháʼí Faith at a continental level, as well as informing the Baháʼí World Centre of developments in their area. As individuals they are known as 'Continental Counsellors'. They were created to perpetuate

1887-415: The people's souls , to guarantee the education of children, to make the entire world prosperous (eliminate extremes of wealth and poverty), and to care for the elderly and the ill who are in poverty. According to the constitution of the Universal House of Justice, some of its powers and duties include: Furthermore, the Universal House of Justice is instructed by Baháʼu'lláh to exert a positive influence on

1938-580: The period between the death of Shoghi Effendi and the election of the Universal House of Justice the Hands of the Cause held a convocation from which they constituted a body of nine from among their number to serve in the Holy Land and to act as Custodians of the Baháʼí Faith, a body which functioned without officers and with a quorum of five, whose duties included taking care of Baháʼí World Center properties and other assets; corresponding with and advising National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies; acting on behalf of

1989-478: The regional Baháʼí councils became part of their duties when they were created in 1997. The Auxiliary Boards were created in April 1954 by Shoghi Effendi to assist the Hands of the Cause . The first group of Auxiliary Board members were organized on a continental basis, similar to the Hands themselves. The first boards continued focusing on teaching work and a second set of boards were created in October 1957 to focus on

2040-446: The religion's founders. Of the fifty individuals given the title, the last living was ʻAlí-Muhammad Varqá who died in 2007. Hands of the Cause played a significant role in propagating the religion, and protecting it from schism. With the death of Shoghi Effendi in 1957, the twenty-seven living Hands of the Cause at the time would be the last appointed. The Universal House of Justice , the governing body first elected in 1963, created

2091-410: The religion's texts. In a statement released by the complete body of the Hands of the Cause they wrote: In 1959 Mason Remey and Hasan Balyuzi found that they could no longer serve in a permanent capacity as Custodian of the Faith at the Baháʼí World Centre , and thus John Ferraby and Horace Holley were selected to replace them as Custodians. Then in 1960 after the death of Horace Holley, William Sears

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2142-420: The religion, and would consider matters that had not been covered by himself; he stated that the members of the institution would be assured of divine inspiration, and have the regard for all peoples and safe-guard their honour. Later, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá , Baháʼu'lláh's son and successor, in his Will and Testament , elaborated on its functioning, its composition and outlined the method for its election. He wrote that

2193-406: The responsibility of directing the work of the Auxiliary Boards, appointees working closer with local communities, and one Counsellor from each board was appointed as the trustee of funds. At first the Hands resident in Haifa directed the boards of Counsellors, until the International Teaching Centre was created in 1973. Upon their creation in 1968 there were 11 distinct boards: three each in Africa,

2244-479: The role of the Hands of the Cause, who could no longer be appointed after 1957. They outrank the National Spiritual Assemblies, though only in an advisory role since they have no administrative authority, but they are regarded as lower than the Hands. The announcement of their creation on 21 June 1968 also changed the Hands of the Cause from continental to worldwide appointments. The Counsellors took on

2295-521: The table with italics , in 1982, 1987, 2000, 2005 and 2010. All members have continued to serve after re-election in subsequent conventions. Amoz Gibson , Charles Wolcott , and Adib Taherzadeh died while in office while the other former members were allowed to retire. Hands of the Cause Hand of the Cause was a title given to prominent early members of the Baháʼí Faith , appointed for life by

2346-453: The world, and not specific laws; this guidance has generally been through the form of letters and messages, much like Shoghi Effendi's communications. Many of these letters have been published in compilations and are regarded as divinely empowered and authoritative; its decisions are considered infallible to Baháʼís. The letters cover a range of subjects including teaching, prayer , family life, education and Baháʼí administration. Each year on

2397-496: The world, the Universal House of Justice in 1973 allowed Auxiliary Board members to appoint their own assistants to maintain adequate contact with assemblies and individuals in their areas. In 2008 there were about twelve thousand such assistants worldwide. Unlike other members of the Institution of the Counsellors, assistants to the Auxiliary Board may serve on Spiritual Assemblies, and are sometimes youth. The institutions within

2448-455: The world. Each member of the various NSAs, who were themselves elected by the Baháʼís of their country, votes for nine adult male Baháʼís. Absentee ballots are mailed or carried by delegates. The nine people who have the most votes are elected onto the Universal House of Justice. In 2013, in addition to those present in Haifa, approximately 400 absentee ballots were cast, taking the total number of ballots cast to over 1500. This election marked

2499-439: The zeal and sap the loyalty' of the believers and, by adopting 'wise and effective measures', counteract these schemes and arrest the spread of their influence... Universal House of Justice The Universal House of Justice is the nine-member supreme ruling body of the Baháʼí Faith . It was envisioned by Baháʼu'lláh , the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, as an institution that could legislate on issues not already addressed in

2550-650: Was elected, six years after the passing of Shoghi Effendi, by 56 National Spiritual Assemblies. The date of the election coincided with the completion of the Ten Year Crusade and also with the first centenary anniversary of the public declaration of Baháʼu'lláh in the Garden of Ridván in April 1863. Since then the Universal House of Justice has acted as the head of the religion – individual members have no authority, only as an assembly do they have authority. In 1972 it published its constitution. The Universal House of Justice

2601-453: Was instructed by Shoghi Effendi in the 1950s. Shoghi Effendi charged the Auxiliary Boards for Protection with "the specific duty of watching over the security of the Faith". In a letter from the Universal House of Justice to the International Teaching Centre, dated 10 October 1976, it is mentioned: the Auxiliary Boards for Protection should keep 'constantly' a 'watchful eye' on those 'who are known to be enemies or to have been put out of

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