as ordained by bahá'u'lláh in kitab-i-aqdas. the rise and establishment of this...

The Structure of the Bahá’í Administrative Order

As ordained by Bahá'u'lláh in Kitab-i-Aqdas

“The rise and establishment of this Administrative Order... constitutes the hall-mark of this second and formative age of the Bahá’í era....

Let no one, while this System is still in its infancy, misconceive its character.... The bedrock on which this Administrative Order is founded is God’s immutable Purpose for mankind in this day.”

- Shoghi Effendi

International Teaching Centre

Continental Board of Counsellors

Regional Bahá'í Councils

Training Institute Board

Area Teaching Committee

The Universal House of Justice

National Spiritual Assembly

Local Spiritual Assembly

Cluster Institute Coordinators

Regional Coordinators

Assistants to the AB Members

The Auxiliary Boards

Universal House of Justice

1. Residence: Haifa, Israel

2. Established: 21 April 1963 by 56 NSAs

3. Serving Members: Nine members serve for five years

4. Communication Line: N/A

5. Duties: The supreme administrative international governing body

6. Elected/Appointed: Elected

7. Selection Process: By secret ballot, worldwide NSA members elect the members from among the international adult male Bahá'ís. The election takes place at the International Bahá'í Convention. At the time of the 10th International Convention 2008, there were 167 elected National Assemblies worldwide.

8. Selection Date: During Ridván, every five years

International Teaching Centre (ITC)

1. Residence: Haifa, Israel

2. Established: June 1973 by the UHJ

3. Serving Members: Nine members, addressed as International Counsellors, serve for five years

4. Communication Line: The Universal House of Justice

5. Duties: Coordinate, guide and direct the work of the Continental Board of Counsellors and make recommendations to the UHJ regarding the direction of the teaching work worldwide

6. Elected/Appointed: Appointed

7. Selection Process: By the UHJ from all the world adult believers

8. Selection Date: Every five years, each term starting 23 May (Declaration of the Báb), immediately following the International Bahá'í Convention

Continental Board of Counsellors (CBC)

1. Residence: Based in home countries throughout five continents

2. Established: 1968 by the UHJ

3. Serving Members: Five Boards (Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australasia and Europe) serve for five years, of which there are 81 Counsellors worldwide. In Europe, for example, there are 13 Counsellors.

4. Communication Line: Mainly ITC, but the Counsellors also enjoy a relationship with the UHJ

5. Duties: To extend the work of the Hands of the Cause to protect & propagate. To direct the work of the Auxiliary Boards, consulting and collaborating with NSAs and keeping the UHJ and ITC informed of the condition of the Faith in their countries


7. Selection Process: By the UHJ who decide the precise boundaries of the region and the number on Counsellors

8. Selection Date: 26 November (Day of the Covenant) every five years

The Auxiliary Boards (AB)

1. Residence: Every country has Auxiliary Boards

2. Established: 1954 by Shoghi Effendi to assist the Hands of the Cause

3. Serving Members: Different numbers in different countries serve for five years. Numbers set by the UHJ. In the UK, for instance, there are 14 AB members, with each focusing on particular regions

4. Communication Line: The Continental Board of Counsellors

5. Duties: Each area zone has two Boards: the Protection Boards protect the Faith from attacks & promote unity; the Propagation Boards promote teaching work and the Training Institute process. To act as deputies, assistants and advisers to the CBC; to consult with the other agencies at the cluster level; and to assess the needs of the cluster in terms of both training and teaching. The ABs do not make administrative decisions


7. Selection Process: By the CBC from among the believers of each continent. Individuals should be 21 years of age or older. Number of the AB members may vary from country to country. The AB members are not eligible for service on a Regional Bahá'í Council

8. Selection Date: 26 November every five years; the year following the appointment of the CBC

Assistants to the Auxiliary Board Members

1. Residence: The AB members in every country have assistance

2. Established: 1973 authorised by the UHJ

3. Serving Members: No fixed number of assistants per AB members, all of whom serve for one year or more

4. Communication Line: The Auxiliary Board members

5. Duties: To help the AB members with their various duties and with active involvement help in promoting community life


7. Selection Process: By the AB members who may name some assistants for definite terms, others not. Appointments may be made for a limited period, such as a year or two, with the possibility of reappointment.

8. Selection Date: 26 November every year

National Spiritual Assembly (NSA)

1. Residence: One per country in almost every country worldwide. As at 2009, there are 167 NSAs worldwide

2. Established: Three established during 1923 in British Isles, in Germany-Austria, and in Egypt-Sudan

3. Serving Members: Nine members serve for one year

4. Communication Line: The Universal House of Justice

5. Duties: To oversee the administration, teaching work and activities of a national Bahá'í community


7. Selection Process: NSA members are elected at the annual National Convention through a two step process. First, each of 95 electoral Units in the UK elect one delegate at the annual Unit Convention. Then, second, the 95 elected delegates go to the National Convention to elect the NSA members. Every adult Bahá'í in a country is eligible for election to the NSA. Counsellors cannot be voted for.

8. Selection Date: During Ridván. When the International Convention is held, the National Convention is held around the time of the Declaration of the Báb (23 May)

Regional Bahá’í Councils (RBC)

1. Residence: The UHJ decides which countries have RBCs all depending on various factors, and requirements. In UK, there is one for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

2. Established: Formally established 30 May 1997. In the UK elected for the first time in 2000. India had the first State Bahá'í Councils in 1985, a precursor to the RBC

3. Serving Members: Nine members or less as decided by the UHJ, serve for one year

4. Communication Line: The NSA is the parent body, yet the RBC members enjoy a direct relationship with the CBC plus information sharing with the AB members

5. Duties: To govern the affairs of the Bahá'ís of a region. To provide level of autonomous decision-making on both teaching and administrative matters

6. Elected/Appointed: Two modes of formation: election and appointment. It is the UHJ that determines the mode of formation of RBCs in each country

7. Selection Process: By members of the LSA in the area of its jurisdiction. If elected, then there are nine members. If appointed, there are nine or less members. All Bahá'ís living in area covered by a RBC qualify to be elected or appointed. Usually, NSA members cannot serve on the RBC

8. Selection Date: 26 November every year

Area Teaching Committee (ATC)

1. Residence: In each country, divided by cluster boundaries

2. Established: First appointed during 2001-2006 five year plan by UHJ

3. Serving Members: In the UK there are 15 ATC boundaries whose members serve for one year. In UK, each ATC currently has three members

4. Communication Line: The Regional Bahá'í Councils and in consultation with Cluster Coordinators and the Auxiliary Boards

5. Duties: To coordinate the cluster expansion and consolidation within the Intensive Programmes of Growth; to organise the quarterly reflection meetings; to coordinate teaching activities; and to assist in the mobilisation of the individuals and teaching teams who have arisen to serve


7. Selection Process: Appointed process by the RBCs

8. Selection Date: No specific date, it varies. Selections take place annually

Training Institute Board (TIB)

1. Residence: One Training Institute Board per country

2. Established: 1990s by the UHJ. Prior to 2007, there were TI Boards serving different parts of the UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales). At Naw-Rúz 2007, the TI Board for the UK was created

3. Serving Members: In the UK five members serve for one year

4. Communication Line: The National Spiritual Assembly

5. Duties: To endow ever-growing contingents of believers with the spiritual insights, the knowledge, and the skills needed to carry out the many tasks of accelerated expansion and consolidation. The agency appointed to develop the human resources in each community. The supervision of the Regional Coordinators and Cluster Coordinators


7. Selection Process: Appointment process by the NSA, in consultation with the CBC

8. Selection Date: Every Naw-Rúz (21 March)

Regional Coordinators (RC)

1. Residence: In each country. In UK divided into England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales

2. Established: During 2001-2006 five year plan by the UHJ

3. Serving Members: Three members each of whom is responsible for: 1) study circles, 2) junior youth groups, and 3) children's classes. They serve for two-year terms

4. Communication Line: The Training Institute Board

5. Duties: To coordinate the development of study circles, junior youth groups, and children's classes in the four parts of the UK. They guide and assist the Cluster Coordinators, as well as gather regional data and learning for the TIB to analyse for its consultation


7. Selection Process: By the TIB

8. Selection Date: No specific date, it varies. Service commences on 26 November

Cluster (/Area) Coordinators (CC)

1. Residence: In each country, divided by cluster boundaries

2. Established: During 2001-2006 five year plan by the UHJ. Also addressed as Area Coordinators

3. Serving Members: Three members each of whom is responsible for: 1) study circles, 2) junior youth groups, and 3) children's classes. They serve for one year

4. Communication Line: The Regional Coordinator

5. Duties: To endow ever-growing contingents of believers with the spiritual insights, the knowledge, and the skills needed to carry out the many tasks of accelerated expansion and consolidation.


7. Selection Process: Appointment process by the TIB. Serve one-year terms commencing on the Day of the Covenant (26 November)

8. Selection Date: No specific date, it varies. Selections take place annually

Local Spiritual Assembly (LSA)

1. Residence: In every country town or city where there are nine or more adult Bahá'ís. Circa 127 LSAs in UK.

2. Established: The first LSA was established in Tehran (1897/8)

3. Serving Members: Nine members serve for one year

4. Communication Line: The National Spiritual Assembly

5. Duties: To oversee the teaching and other work of the Bahá'í community; to arrange the Nineteen Day Feasts and commemorations of holy days; to conduct marriages and funerals; to provide Bahá'í education of children and provide advice, guidance and assistance for those in difficulty. All its decisions are taken after consultation


7. Selection Process: Secret ballot by all local community adult believers. Individuals must be over the age of 21 years.

8. Selection Date: First Day of Ridván every year (21 April)

References Deepest appreciation and gratitude to Kishan Manocha for his time,

contribution and advice.*

The Universal House of Justice, (1972) The Constitution of the Universal House of Justice

The Universal House of Justice, (2001) The Institution of the Counsellors

The Universal House of Justice, (1997) Regional Bahá’í Councils

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom (2007-2008), Annual Report (2007-2008)

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom (Summer 2007), “Who’s Who in the Cluster”, The UK Bahá’í Journal, pp7

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom (Winter 2004/5), “The A-Z of the Five Year Plan”, The UK Bahá’í Journal, pp19-28

* This presentation is not endorsed by National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom

as ordained by bahá'u'lláh in kitab-i-aqdas. the rise and establishment of this...

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international convention

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