Bahá'í Administrative Order

daniel · 04-21-2009, 02:42 AM

Bahá'í administration
Bahá'u'lláh's Kitáb-i-Aqdas and The Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá are foundational documents of the Bahá'í administrative order. Bahá'u'lláh established the elected Universal House of Justice, and `Abdu'l-Bahá established the appointed hereditary Guardianship and clarified the relationship between the two institutions. In his Will, `Abdu'l-Bahá appointed his eldest grandson, Shoghi Effendi, as the first Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith.

Shoghi Effendi throughout his lifetime translated Bahá'í texts; developed global plans for the expansion of the Bahá'í community; developed the Bahá'í World Centre; carried on a voluminous correspondence with communities and individuals around the world; and built the administrative structure of the religion, preparing the community for the election of the Universal House of Justice. He died in 1957 under conditions that did not allow for a successor to be appointed.

At local, regional, and national levels, Bahá'ís elect members to nine-person Spiritual Assemblies, which run the affairs of the religion. There are also appointed individuals working at various levels, including locally and internationally, which perform the function of propagating the teachings and protecting the community. The latter do not serve as clergy, which the Bahá'í Faith does not have. The Universal House of Justice, first elected in 1963, remains the successor and supreme governing body of the Bahá'í Faith, and its 9 members are elected every five years by the members of all National Spiritual Assemblies. Any male Bahá'í, 21 years or older, is eligible to be elected to the Universal House of Justice; all other positions are open to male and female Bahá'ís.

arthra · 02-12-2011, 04:58 AM

The importance of Baha'i Administration may be one of the most under estimated jewels of Baha'i life from the local to the national and international level.. Here like the sinews and structure of the Baha'i community is the essence of Baha'u'llah's covenant.

Lately I've come to appreciate that in my own community we've had some thirty eight years of local Baha'i community in the form of a Local Spiritual Assembly.. My wife has served the duration in this body and it is indeed an honor and precious service that goes largely unappreciated..

We abbreviate a lot and have these initials like LSA, NSA and UHJ.. these simple short cut references do not do justice to the Institutions of our Faith.

Without a Spiritual Assembly a community can still function as a group (less than nine adult Baha'is) but it cannot by itself function or serve as well the interests of its members.. A group by itself cannot for instance offer Baha'i marriage or deal with the sometimes challenging issues of it's members which involve sensitive issues like administrative rights and so on. Yes these can be challenging and stressful to consult on but at times they are necessary.

Finally Baha'i community life revolves around these Institutions and the Institutions support each other.. Without local administration the National community is limited and hindered from expression on the local level.. Without National Spiritual Assemblies the Universal House of Justice lacks the foundations for a truly international community.. It was only until enough National Spiritual Assemblies were formed that the Universal House could be inaugurated..

and who do we Baha'is owe to these things enumerated above but to the Guardian Shoghi Effendi who tirelessly and personally laboured in the vineyard of His Cause? Just as he personally selected and supervised the buildings of the Arc of His Covenant on Mount Carmel and the Holiest Shrine the Haram-i-Aqdas so he labored on the precious structure of the administration of our Faith.

04-21-2009, 02:42 AM	#1
daniel Senior Member Joined: Mar 2006 From: Seattle, WA Posts: 118	Bahá'í Administrative Order Bahá'í administration Bahá'u'lláh's Kitáb-i-Aqdas and The Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá are foundational documents of the Bahá'í administrative order. Bahá'u'lláh established the elected Universal House of Justice, and `Abdu'l-Bahá established the appointed hereditary Guardianship and clarified the relationship between the two institutions. In his Will, `Abdu'l-Bahá appointed his eldest grandson, Shoghi Effendi, as the first Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith. Shoghi Effendi throughout his lifetime translated Bahá'í texts; developed global plans for the expansion of the Bahá'í community; developed the Bahá'í World Centre; carried on a voluminous correspondence with communities and individuals around the world; and built the administrative structure of the religion, preparing the community for the election of the Universal House of Justice. He died in 1957 under conditions that did not allow for a successor to be appointed. At local, regional, and national levels, Bahá'ís elect members to nine-person Spiritual Assemblies, which run the affairs of the religion. There are also appointed individuals working at various levels, including locally and internationally, which perform the function of propagating the teachings and protecting the community. The latter do not serve as clergy, which the Bahá'í Faith does not have. The Universal House of Justice, first elected in 1963, remains the successor and supreme governing body of the Bahá'í Faith, and its 9 members are elected every five years by the members of all National Spiritual Assemblies. Any male Bahá'í, 21 years or older, is eligible to be elected to the Universal House of Justice; all other positions are open to male and female Bahá'ís.

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02-12-2011, 04:58 AM	#2
arthra Senior Member Joined: Jun 2006 From: California Posts: 2,805	The importance of Baha'i Administration may be one of the most under estimated jewels of Baha'i life from the local to the national and international level.. Here like the sinews and structure of the Baha'i community is the essence of Baha'u'llah's covenant. Lately I've come to appreciate that in my own community we've had some thirty eight years of local Baha'i community in the form of a Local Spiritual Assembly.. My wife has served the duration in this body and it is indeed an honor and precious service that goes largely unappreciated.. We abbreviate a lot and have these initials like LSA, NSA and UHJ.. these simple short cut references do not do justice to the Institutions of our Faith. Without a Spiritual Assembly a community can still function as a group (less than nine adult Baha'is) but it cannot by itself function or serve as well the interests of its members.. A group by itself cannot for instance offer Baha'i marriage or deal with the sometimes challenging issues of it's members which involve sensitive issues like administrative rights and so on. Yes these can be challenging and stressful to consult on but at times they are necessary. Finally Baha'i community life revolves around these Institutions and the Institutions support each other.. Without local administration the National community is limited and hindered from expression on the local level.. Without National Spiritual Assemblies the Universal House of Justice lacks the foundations for a truly international community.. It was only until enough National Spiritual Assemblies were formed that the Universal House could be inaugurated.. and who do we Baha'is owe to these things enumerated above but to the Guardian Shoghi Effendi who tirelessly and personally laboured in the vineyard of His Cause? Just as he personally selected and supervised the buildings of the Arc of His Covenant on Mount Carmel and the Holiest Shrine the Haram-i-Aqdas so he labored on the precious structure of the administration of our Faith.