The origins of this system—known as the Bahá'í Administrative Order—are found in the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh Himself RBC is an element of Baha'i administration between the local and national levels. [citation needed]. The members of this Institution encourage action, foster individual initiative, and promote learning within the Bahá’í community as a whole, in addition to offering advice to Spiritual Assemblies. The Bahá’í Faith unfolds an Administrative Order that is in the revealed Writings of its Founder, Bahá’u’lláh. defined some of the conditions for the future development of the Baháʼí administration. administrative order for firesides using the various art activities from classes. These members act as delegates in a manner similar to National Baháʼí elections. All decisions by these bodies must be made, and are considered valid if, and only if the body is duly constituted, and meeting as a body with a quorum of members present. The Baháʼí writings affirm that its decisions are "the source of all good and freed from all error". This page was last edited on 17 January 2021, at 11:28. The Universal House of Justice is seen as morally infallible, though this belief has subtleties, in that the Universal House of Justice can both make new Baháʼí law and repeal its own laws. The appointed members act as individuals. Sometimes referred to by Baháʼu'lláh as "the Rulers", Baháʼís elect members to councils which are vested with the authority of the community. At the local (city, town, county) level of administration, the nine-member Local Spiritual Assembly is elected by adult Baháʼís in that particular locality once a year during their Annual General Meeting on the First Day of the Ridvan Festival (the 13th day of the month of Glory, about 20 or 21 April). The origins of this system—known as the Bahá’í Administrative Order—are found in the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh Himself. Bahá'í Faith. This plan opened up whole new geographic regions to the Baháʼís, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá encouraging Baháʼís to connect with the peoples of all races and cultures. Firstly, as a Bahá’í who has given many decades of outstanding service in your community, you understand that the Bahá’í Administrative Order is an integral part of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh; it is a divinely conceived system which, as the Guardian explained in The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh, “incorporates within its structure certain elements which are to be found in each of the three … Drawing upon the Bahá'í Writings, and nutritional knowledge, this booklet offers insights and assurances for those looking to fast for the first time, those who have fasted before but would like to be more prepared this year, and those who would like some passages and discussion questions for deepening their knowledge of the Fast. [5], These statements praise the principles of kingship and consultation with the people as principles for civil government. A Local Spiritual Assembly (LSA) represents a town, city, or county, and are elected annually by direct election. It was ʻAbdu'l-Bahá who clarified the differing roles of Supreme/Universal (global) vs. the local Houses of Justice. Through a series of plans, the Universal House of Justice refocused the Baháʼí community on community development, and systematization of best-practices, hoping to reduce the "boom and bust" cycles of community growth encountered in the previous century. A Vision of Peace Stories from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Though Baháʼu'lláh intimated, earlier, many of the policies that would form the basis of the Baháʼí administrative system, his Kitáb-i-Aqdas provides the most solid initial glimpse of this system: This House of Justice is described as being in concert with Baha'u'llah and the Aghsán, his descendants, but with the responsibility for creating and abrogating laws not explicitly revealed in the sacred scripture. Bahá’í Administrative Order. . Seen as embryonic institutions, national and local Houses of Justice are currently given the temporary appellation of "Spiritual Assemblies"[11] and are expected, over time, to mature into fully functional Houses of Justice. In the United States, Canada, and India, Regional Councils are elected by members of these Local Spiritual Assemblies in an election often conducted by mail. The Source from which it derives its inspiration is no one less than Bahá’u’lláh Himself.” –Shoghi Effendi. They often act in an informational capacity, communicating the direction and discussions at the World Centre to national communities. One of his greatest legacies to the development of the Baháʼí administrative system, however, was his will and testament, wherein he describes several new institutions. (God Passes By) These two institutions are described in ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's Will and Testament as having divine authority: The same Will appoints Shoghi Effendi as the Guardian, and gives further details about the structure of the administration, including election and appointment processes. Just as the Administrative Order cannot rightly function without the believers trusting in its self-correcting nature, so history has shown that scholarship cannot flourish unless it is pursued in an atmosphere of freedom from intimidation and These decisions are made through a specific process of consultation. The Baha’i Faith is a global faith community, established in virtually every country in the world. The Baháʼí administration or Baháʼí administrative order is the administrative system of the Baháʼí Faith. The Baháʼí administration or Baháʼí administrative order is the administrative system of the Baháʼí Faith. BIA is supervised by the International Teaching Centre. https://bahaiteachings.org › bahai-administrative-order-explained Within it, the Bahá’í International Community states, encouragement of diversity of opinion has important implications in the realms of both belief and action. The learned have a similar geographic hierarchy. . Alaska). The Bahá’í institutions, principles and processes of this Order are conceived not only as a means of administering the internal aspects of Bahá’í community life. The Bahá’í Administrative Order concerns the system of administration within the Bahá’í Faith rather than civil government. The nine Baháʼís with the most votes are elected. The functions of this branch were originally carried out by the Hands of the Cause of God appointed by Baháʼu'lláh, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi. The essentiality of the Administrative Order is upheld by Bahá’í law as borne out in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, in which Bahá’u’lláh calls attention to "this wondrous System—the like of which mortal eyes have never witnessed. The Local House of Justice is elected by the believers in the local community. The International Counsellors are nine individuals appointed to the International Teaching Centre, which is a body that directly assists the Universal House of Justice at the Baháʼí World Centre. It is also intended, more importantly, to channel the spirit of the Faith, operationalize the kind of relationships … Administrative Order, Suggestions about changes in , by Universal House of Justice (1995).Ways in which Baha'is may make suggestions for change within the Baha'i administration, and the nature of internet discussions. If after discussion, a decision be carried unanimously, well and good; but if the Lord forbid, differences of opinion should arise, a majority of voices must prevail."[8][9]. The Baha’is of the United States operate three year-round conference and retreat centers that offer a wide range of programming for adults, youth and children. The Bahá'í Administrative Order is the administrative system of the Bahá'í Faith. The traditional functions of community leadership and moral leadership are not vested in individuals, but in an institutional framework with two main branches. Our Inner Life; Dawn of a Brighter Day; Letter of November 24th, 1924. The members of these councils, themselves, have no individual authority. In cases of tie votes for the ninth-least-populous vote (for example), a run-off election is held (unless one of the tied candidates is a member of a minority in the community and is deemed elected). During ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's life, he oversaw and encouraged the establishment of many elected local councils, calling them "Spiritual Assemblies". Baháʼí World News Service (2005/05/18). The Bahá’í administrative order has been described by the Guardian "not only as the nucleus but the very pattern of the New World Order." The Baha'i Administrative Order. An institution of appointed individuals of proven capacity—the institution of the Counsellors—also functions under the guidance of the Universal House of Justice and exerts influence on the life of the Bahá’í community, from the grassroots to the international level. The members at the local level are free to vote for any adult Bahaʼi(s) in the district or unit in good standing, keeping in mind the guidance from Shoghi Effendi that the individuals should, "combine the necessary qualities of unquestioned loyalty, of selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature experience..." The delegates elected at the local level have two principal duties to carry out at the national convention – to elect the National Spiritual Assembly and to make recommendations to that body on issues relevant to it. Abizadeh, Arash (2005). Under Shoghi Effendi, the Baháʼí Faith underwent its most dramatic shift in shape and process. defined a new scope of elected institution he called the "Secondary House of Justice", the first of which were elected under the administration of Shoghi Effendi. These individuals inspire, encourage, enjoin, and make the community aware of relevant scripture and guidance from the central institutions. In general, adult Baháʼís in good standing resident in the jurisdiction are both the electorate (either directly or through delegation) as well as the pool of potential members to serve on the body being elected. The affairs of the Bahá’í community are administered through a system of institutions, each with its defined sphere of action. Shoghi Effendi sternly deprecated partisan politics and certain other practices current in western democracies, such as campaigning and nomination. Baháʼí elections do not include any sort of constituency for members – all members are considered to be at-large. Baháʼí marriages became recognized in their own right in several regions and the Baháʼí Faith was recognized as an independent religion by many nations and religious courts, including Islamic religious courts in Egypt. The nation is divided into voting districts or units. [11] Baháʼu'lláh envisioned a Supreme House of Justice, with local Houses of Justice in every community where nine or more adult Baháʼís reside. Creating a constitution for itself that incorporated obedience to the body of Shoghi Effendi's writings, and to those of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá and Baháʼu'lláh, the Universal House of Justice assumed full authority over the affairs of the Baháʼí community. From the outset of his ministry, Shoghi Effendi dedicated energy to the development of the Administrative Order, bringing it into being in embryonic form and paving the way for the election of the Universal House of Justice. Quotations – An introductory selection of extracts from the Bahá’í writings on the theme of Bahá’í administration. Notes: Mirrored from bahai.org, where it is also available in PDF and Word formats. Under its guidance, elected bodies, known as Local Spiritual Assemblies and National Spiritual Assemblies tend to the affairs of the Bahá’í community at their respective levels, exercising legislative, executive, and judicial authority. Sometimes several countries are grouped together into a single Assembly, for instance the Baltic States, or (originally) Canada and the United States. 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