Spiritual Institutions: The Foundation for Oneness
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Table of Contents:

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Bahá'u'lláh's Covenant
Divine Institutions (and overview)

Local Spiritual Assemblies
Regional Bahá'í Councils
National Spiritual Assemblies
The Universal House of Justice
Elections ...Everywhere and a summary of elections
A Rarified Atmosphere
Divinely Guided Spiritual Assemblies
Holding Assembly Elections
What Do Spiritual Assemblies Do?
Community Activities
My Faith
Bahá'í Consultation: A Shining Light
Individuals and Institutions

        

"He Who is your Lord,
the All-Merciful, cherisheth
in His heart the desire of
beholding the entire human race
as one soul and one body."
             — Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 214

"The history of humanity as one people is now beginning."  We are moving from
"the exper-ience of tribes, cultures, classes and nations" to the "physical
unification of the planet." Throughout the world, immense intellectual and
spiritual energies are seeking expression." Everywhere "the signs multiply that
the earth's peoples yearn for an end to conflict" and long for "the age-old
dream of global peace."  We hunger for "a vision of human prosperity in the
fullest sense of the term."— The Prosperity of Humankind, a statement written
on behalf of the Universal House of Justice

Bahá'u'lláh provided a solution. He has brought us a system for
organizing and uniting the world in His Administrative Order. This Order is
radically different from the administrative institutions seen in our modern day
governments. Only this system of institutions and the unique process for
electing them can ever hope to organize all the diverse inhabitants of the
planet into one organic whole.

The Administrative Order is established on the fundamental truths of the
Bahá'í Revelation. Its institutions have emerged gradually and
organically.  As the Bahá'í community has grown, the
characteristics and functions of each of the institutions have evolved, and are
still evolving.  This process of gradual change will continue until the World
Order destined in the Bahá'í Revelation emerges in its full
splendor.

"The source from which it derives its inspiration is no one less than
Bahá'u'lláh Himself. Its shield and defender are the embattled
hosts of the Abhá Kingdom. Its seed is the blood of no less than twenty
thousand martyrs who have offered up their lives that it may be born and
flourish."— Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of
Bahá'u'lláh, p. 156

Bahá'u'lláh has provided for the organization of His Faith around
the world through a net-work of elected institutions. Each community is cared
for by a Local Spiritual Assembly. Regional Bahá'í Councils serve
in designated regions. Countries are unified under National Spiritual
Assemblies. And all the Bahá'ís in the world are connected
through the loving guidance of the Universal House of Justice.

"Bahá'u'lláh has drawn the circle of unity.  He has made a design
for the uniting of all the peoples, and for the gathering of them all under the
shelter of the tent of universal unity." — `Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 54

Bahá'u'lláh's Covenant

"A day will come wherein the lights of unity will enlighten all the world."— `Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of the Divine Plan, p.
28

"Spiritual Assemblies are shining lamps . . ."— `Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of
`Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 80

Bahá'u'lláh's Covenant is unique in that its institutions and
laws give us a complete blueprint for a divinely ordained world order destined
to bring the world to unity. " Nowhere in the sacred scriptures of any of the
world's religions do we find any provisions establishing a covenant or
providing for an administrative order that can compare in scope and
authority."

"This Administrative Order is fundamentally different from anything that any
Prophet has previously established, inasmuch as Bahá'u'lláh has
Himself revealed its principles, established its institutions, appointed the
person to interpret His Word and conferred the necessary authority on the body
designed to apply His legislative ordinances."
— Bahá'u'lláh, The World Order of
Bahá'u'lláh, p. 145

"The world's equilibrium hath been upset through the vibrating influence of
this most great, this new World Order. Mankind's ordered life hath been
revolutionized through the agency of this unique, this wondrous system — the
like of which mortal eyes have never witnessed."— Bahá'u'lláh,
Kitab-i-Aqdás, p. 85

Divine Institutions

The institutions of the Faith all spring directly from the Writings of
Bahá'u'lláh, `Abdu'l-Bahá, His successor and Interpreter,
and Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian. This divinely re-vealed World Order has two
types of institutions that encircle the world like twin arms. On the left side
of the globe are the elected institutions. On the right side are the appointed
institutions, which guide and encourage elected institutions and draw us all to
the guidance of God's Word. 

Bahá'u'lláh, `Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi each
appointed Hands of the Cause of God.  The Hands have traveled all over the
world to encourage Bahá'ís in their teaching efforts and help
them establish communities. The Universal House of Justice appoints the
Continental Boards of Counselors every five years to serve specific regions of
the world. The Counselors appoint the Auxiliary Board members, who encourage
teaching and help to keep the Faith unified and safe from attack. Each Board
member appoints assistants, who serve local communities. 

Local communities are composed of individual believers who are like a solid,
unified founda-tion upon which are built the elected institutions of the Faith.
Individual believers elect Local Spiritual Assemblies, which later elect
Regional Councils. The individuals in each area also come together to elect
delegates, who in turn elect the National Spiritual Assembly. National
Spiritual Assemblies elect the Universal House of Justice, the supreme
administrative body for the world.

The elected institutions function as consultative bodies of nine individuals.
No one person has special authority over another. The elected institutions have
the power and authority to administer the affairs of the Faith as a group
working together in unity.

Bahá'u'lláh
Local
Spiritual Assemblies
`Abdu'l-Bahá
Individual
Believers
Elected
Institutions
The
Guardianship
Appointed
Institutions
The
Hands of the Cause of God
The
Universal House of Justice
The
Continental Boards of Counselors
National
Spiritual Assemblies
The
Auxiliary Boards and their assistants
Regional
Bahá'í Councils

"From them the spirit of life streameth in every direction. They, indeed,
are the potent sources of the progress of man, at all times and under all
conditions."— `Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of
`Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 80

Local Spiritual Assemblies

Bahá'u'lláh, in His Most Holy Book, has stated, "The Lord hath
ordained that in every city a House of Justice be established wherein shall
gather counselors to the number of Bahá." Each Assembly is composed of
nine individuals elected each year by the local adult believers in every
community.  At this time these institutions are called Assemblies. In the
future, as Assemblies mature, they will be called Houses of Justice.

As explained by the Universal House of Justice, "The divinely ordained
institution of the Local Spiritual Assembly operates at the first levels of
human society and is the basic administrative unit of
Bahá'u'lláh's World Order. It is concerned with individuals and
families whom it must constantly encourage to unite in a distinctive
Bahá'í society, vitalized and guarded by the laws, ordinances,
and principles of Bahá'u'lláh's Revelation." Spiritual Assemblies
are "channels of divine guidance, planners of the teaching work, developers of
human resources, builders of communities, and loving shepherds of the
multitudes."

Regional Bahá'í Councils

In 1997 the Universal House of Justice stated, "the time has arrived for us to
formalize a new element of Bahá'í administration, between the
local and national levels, comprising institutions of a special kind, to be
designated as `Regional Bahá'í Councils.'

Regional Bahá'í Councils partake of some, but not all,
characteristics of Spiritual Assemblies, and thus provide a means of carrying
forward the teaching work and administering related affairs of a rapidly
growing Bahá'í community in a number of situations." The main
task of Regional Bahá'í Councils is to devise and carry out
expansion and consolidation plans in close collaboration with Local Spiritual
Assemblies. Regional Bahá'í Councils are composed of nine
members.  They are elected every year by members of Local Spiritual Assemblies
in the four regions defined by `Abdu'l-Bahá in the Tablets of the Divine
Plan: the Northeastern States, the Southern States, the Central States and the
Western States. These elections are completed on November 26, the Day of the
Covenant.

National Spiritual Assemblies

When the number of believers in a country grows and reaches a considerable
size, a National Spiritual Assembly, representative of the friends throughout
the country, should be established. 

"Its immediate purpose is to stimulate, unify and coordinate . . . the manifold
activities of the friends as well as the Local Spiritual Assemblies; and by
keeping in close and constant touch with the Holy Land, initiate measures, and
direct in general the affairs of the Cause in that country.— Shoghi Effendi, Bahá'í Administration,
p. 39

The National Spiritual Assembly is elected every year by 171 delegates at a
National Conven-tion. Each electoral unit around the country has a unit
convention in the fall for the purpose of electing delegates to the National
Convention the following spring   The National Spiritual Assembly of the
Bahá'ís of the United States has its National Center and
administrative offices in Illinois, near the House of Worship in Wilmette.

The Universal House of Justice

In His Tablet of Carmel, Bahá'u'lláh announces, "Ere long will
God sail His Ark upon thee, and will manifest the people of Bahá who
have been mentioned in the Book of Names."  With these words He has called into
being the Universal House of Justice, the Supreme Institution of the
Bahá'í Faith, with its Seat on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.

The Universal House of Justice, which the Guardian said would be regarded by
posterity as "the last refuge of a tottering civilization," is the only
infallibly guided institution in the world. It is described by
`Abdu'l-Bahá in His Will and Testament as "the source of all good and
freed from all error."

"The Guardian has in his writings specified for the House of Justice such
fundamental functions as the formulation of future worldwide teaching plans,
the conduct of the administrative affairs of the Faith, and the guidance,
organization, and unification of the affairs of the Cause throughout the
world."— The Universal House of Justice, Messages from the Universal
House of Justice, p.  89

Elections ...Everywhere

"On the election day the friends must whole-heartedly participate in the
elections, in unity and amity, turning their hearts to God."— Shoghi Effendi, Letter to the friends in Persia,
February 27, 1923

"The evolution of local and national Bahá'í Assemblies at this
time calls for a new state of mind on the part of their members as well as on
the part of those who elect them, for the Bahá'í community is
engaged in an immense historical process that is entering a critical stage."
We are encouraged by the Universal House of Justice to see the role of the
individual who elects these institutions as serious and important.  These
institutions will operate in a World Order design-ed to channel the forces of a
new civilization. "The electors must prayerfully and devotedly and after
meditation and reflection elect faithful, sincere, experienced, capable and
competent souls who are worthy of membership" explains Shoghi Effendi.  "I
cannot but pray that they may be guided in their choice, and discharge
honourably their functions."

"Election to an Assembly, from a Bahá'í point of view, is not a
right that people are entitled to, or an honor to which they should aspire; it
is a duty and responsibility to which they may be called. The purpose is that
those who are elected to an Assembly should be the most worthy for this
service; this does not and cannot mean that all those who are worthy will be
elected. It is expected that, through training and experience in the process of
Bahá'í elections, the members of the electorate will have raised
their consciousness of their responsibility to vote for only those who satisfy
the requirements that the Guardian has outlined. They will, therefore, see it
as their continuing duty to familiarize themselves with the character and
abilities of those who are active in the community, so that, when the time for
an election comes, they will already have some idea of the people from among
whom they must make their choice."— The Universal House of Justice, November 16, 1988, — to the International Teaching Center

The election of Bahá'í institutions is a sacred responsibility.
Every adult believer is encouraged to participate.

Local ElectionsIn April Local Spiritual Assemblies are elected each year on
the First Day of Ridván.

Regional Councils
In November Assemblies meet and their members cast ballots to
elect Regional Councils.

Unit Convention
In October individuals gather in each electoral unit to elect
delegates to the National Convention the following spring.

National Convention
Each spring the delegates from electoral units around the
country gather at National Convention to elect the National Spiritual
Assembly.

International Convention
Every five years the National Spiritual Assemblies from every
country travel to Haifa, Israel, to elect the Universal House of Justice.

"Spiritual Assemblies are . . . heavenly gardens, from which the fragrances of
holiness are diffused over all regions." — `Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of
`Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 80

A Rarified Atmosphere

"Every Assembly elected in that rarified atmosphere of selflessness and
detachment is, in truth, appointed of God."— Shoghi Effendi, Bahá'í Administration, p.
65

Who Best Demonstrates these Qualities?

                —   Unquestioned loyalty
                —   Selfless devotion
                —   A well-trained mind
                —   Recognized ability
                —   Mature experience

A Bahá'í election should be a prayerful, joyful, and spiritual
experience. It is completely different from the methods and practices of
elections in political systems. Ballots are cast privately and confidentially,
and no electioneering or nominations are permitted. In a local election
individual believers have the responsibility to get to know one another and
find through personal experience who may be best qualified to serve.

"Consider without the least trace of passion and prejudice the names of only
those who can best combine the necessary qualities of unquestioned loyalty, of
selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature
experience," is our guidance from Shoghi Effendi. "Bahá'í electoral procedures and methods have,
indeed, for one of their essential purposes the development in every believer
of the spirit of responsibility. By emphasizing the necessity of maintaining
his full freedom in the elections, they make it incumbent upon him to become an
active and well-informed member of the Bahá'í community in which he lives."

Ballots are counted privately, and the names of the nine individuals with the
most votes are read to those who are gathered. If there is a tie, a member of a
racial minority is given priority. Elections at every level are handled in a
similar manner.

 Divinely Guided Spiritual Assemblies

"Spiritual Assemblies are aided by the spirit of God. Their defender is
`Abdu'l-Bahá. Over them He spreadeth His Wings. What bounty is there greater than
this?"— `Abdu'l-Bahá, The Local Spiritual Assembly, p. 6

When the Assembly is in session, it is more than just a group of individuals
having a meeting. When the hearts of the members turn toward God, they become
united and the Assembly receives God's guidance. Shoghi Effendi reminds us of
Bahá'u'lláh's promise that "in every Assembly where unity and
harmony prevail, there His glorious spirit will animate, sustain and guide all
the friends in their deliberations."

"The prime requisites for them that take counsel together are purity of motive,
radiance of spirit, detachment from all else save God, attraction to His Divine
Fragrances, humility and lowliness amongst His loved ones, patience and
long-suffering in difficulties and servitude to His exalted Threshold,"
explains `Abdu'l-Bahá. 

"'Abdú'l-Bahá is constantly engaged in ideal communication
with any Spiritual Assembly which is instituted through the divine bounty, and
the members of which, in the utmost devotion, turn to the Kingdom and are firm
in the Covenant. To them He is heartily attached and with them He is united by
everlasting ties." — `Abdu'l-Bahá, The Local Spiritual
Assembly, p. 6

On April 21, 1863, Bahá'u'lláh declared openly that He was the
Promised One. This day is celebrated as the First Day of Ridván.
Bahá'u'lláh declared that He was sent by God to show us how to
build God's Kingdom on Earth.  He taught that the foundation of God's Kingdom
on earth is the Local Spiritual Assembly.

On this same day each year, in every corner of the earth, Bahá'ís
gather in their local com-munities to form a Spiritual Assembly.  People of all
colors, of all backgrounds, of all income levels come together to vote in
cities and villages in obedience to God's instructions.
Bahá'u'lláh has given each of us the opportunity and the
responsibility to play his or her part in building God's promised Kingdom.
There is no one else to do this job. Bahá'u'lláh has given us the
instructions.  It is up to each of us to carry them out.

This blessed day begins at sunset on April 20 and ends at sunset on April 21.
Each Bahá'í community decides for itself the exact time that the
Bahá'ís will gather to form the Assembly. By the end of the day,
new "heavenly gardens" will have been planted throughout the earth.

Holding Assembly Elections

At least two weeks before April 21, all the Bahá'ís in the
community over the age of 21 should be invited to the gathering where the
Spiritual Assembly will be elected. Unlike political elections, no one is
nominated and discussion of names before the election is
forbidden. God forbid, no one should seek to be elected. We are trying to do
God's will; not our own. 

When it is time to vote, our hearts are drawn to God through prayer. In that
special atmos-here, we write down the names of the nine adults in the community
whom we feel are the most dedicated and the most qualified. These names are
written down in secret and given to the persons chosen to count the ballots.
The ballots are counted privately and the names of the nine with the most votes
are read to those gathered.  These nine form the new Local Spiritual Assembly
for that community. They have been called by God to serve with great
humility.

Whom should you vote for?   During prayer and while filling out the ballot, who
comes to your heart?  You might ask yourself: Who do you respect? Who is wise?
Who serves the community eagerly? Who is teaching the Bahá'í
Faith? Who goes out of the way to serve others?

What Do Spiritual Assemblies Do?

The individual members of the Spiritual Assembly have no power in the
Bahá'í community.  They are simply servants if God like everyone
else. But when the Assembly as a whole makes a decision, the believers follow
in unity. So how do these Assemblies make decisions and guide the community?

After the Assembly is elected, the nine members, or as many as possible gather
to organize the Assembly.  The Assembly elects its officers: a chairman,
vice-chairman, secretary and treasurer. The Assembly then begins consulting on
the needs of the community.

Bahá'í consultation demands that every member of the Assembly
have the freedom to express his or her views. However, once an opinion is
offered, it belongs to the Assembly, not to the individual. This way, pinions
can clash without feelings being hurt. For it is only this clash of different
opinions that can produce the "spark of truth."  It is through this process of
consultaion that the Assembly receives a shared vision.

This shared vision is the "lamp of guidance" for the community.  How can the
Assembly assist the believers to grow in their love for
Bahá'u'lláh? How can the community create an atmosphere of love
and unity? How can the Assembly encourage each individual to play his or her
own part? These and many other questions will come before the Assembly as it
grows to fulfill its role in building God's Kingdom on earth.

Community Activities

The Spiritual Assembly has the responsibility to guide the community to be both
a model and a magnet. The community, through the efforts of its members, should
become a model of love, righteousness, chastity and interracial fellowship.
Through its unity, the Bahá'í community will become a magnet
drawing the masses to the Cause of God. The Spiritual Assembly's great,
God-given task is to guide this process.

In stepping forth to meet this challenge, the Assembly should have confidence
and rely on the promises of `Abdu'l-Bahá that His spirit is present at
the Assembly meeting. The Assembly should also turn for assistance to their
Auxiliary Board Members. These are individuals appointed to love and nurture
Spiritual Assemblies in their region. The Auxiliary Board Members appoint
Assistants to help them care for the Assemblies.

 To create a "shared vision" the Assembly consults with the believers in the
community.  How does each one want to serve the Cause of God? What kinds of
events do the believers want to see?  How can the youth and children be at the
heart of the community? How can the community achieve true racial harmony? How
can the Bahá'í community serve the county, town or city? How can
our Feasts and Holy Days be more joyous?

Answering these and many other questions in unity will create the magnetic
model that will attract many others to the Bahá'í Faith. As new
believers enter in troops, the Assembly will find itself growing to meet
ever-increasing challenges.

My Faith

Do I believe? Do I have faith that God has sent Bahá'u'lláh to
build the Kingdom of God in these turbulent times? Do I believe that God can
and will work through the lowliest and most humble of His servants to achieve
His purpose? If the answer is "yes", then it is time for action - for it is
action that is based in faith that attracts the power and blessings of God.

 Only the actions of the individual believers can bring into being the Local
Spiritual Assembly. Only the individual can form friendships and attract others
to this great Cause. Only the individual can pray and study the Holy Writings.
Only the individual can joyfully and eagerly carry out the decisions of the
Spiritual Assembly.

On April 21, under God's watchful eye, may you have the great privilege and
bounty of helping to build His Kingdom by gathering with your fellow
Bahá'ís to elect His Spiritual Assemblies. May these actions of
faith bring the blessings of God to a darkened world. "Thy will be done on
earth, as it is in heaven."

Bahá'í Consultation: A Shining Light

"O Divine providence! This assemblage is composed of Thy friends who are
attracted to Thy beauty and are set abaze by the fire of Thy love cause them to
become the promulgators of the oneness of mankind and the cause of love and
concord in the world of humanity."  —  `Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í
Prayers, p. 115

Bahá'u'lláh has given us a process, called consultation, through
which we investigate truth, seek justice, and make decisions based upon
spiritual laws and principles. "Consultation is a shining light which, in a
dark world, leadeth the way and guideth.  The maturity of the gift of
understanding is made manifest through consultation."

The Universal House of Justice guides our understanding: "There are spiritual
principles, or what some call human values, by which solutions can be found for
every social problem." Spiritual Assemblies go through several steps during the
process of consultation. Facts are gathered, and the problem is clearly stated.
Relevant spiritual principles are identified, and the Assembly considers how
these apply to the particular situation.  A discussion follows in which every
member of the Assembly freely expresses his or her views, and ultimately the
spark of truth becomes apparent. A decision is made after all have been heard
and a consensus has emerged. All members then obey this decision in unity.

Individuals and Institutions

"The steps of her holy resting-place represent Local Spiritual Assemblies . . .
the columns are like the National Spiritual Assemblies, while the dome
symbolizes the Universal House of Justice."— Shoghi Effendi, in Bahiyyih Khanum, p. 92

There is an intimate connection between each individual Bahá'í
and the elected institutions of the Faith.  The believer is connected through
his or her prayerful and thoughtful participation in voting for the Local
Spiritual Assembly and for the delegate to the National Convention. The
individual is also involved through obedient and loving support of the
institutions and by devoted service on an institution should she or he be
elected.

"The friends are called upon to give their wholehearted support and cooperation
to the Local Spiritual Assembly, first by voting for the membership and then by
energetically pursuing its plans and programmes, by turning to it in time of
trouble or difficulty, by praying for its success and taking delight in its
rise to influence and honor.  This great prize, this gift of God within each
community must be cherished, nurtured, loved, assisted, obeyed and prayed
for."— The Universal House of Justice, Naw-Rúz 1974, in
Messages From the Universal House of Justice, p.
265

As the Universal House of Justice explains, "The authority to direct the
affairs of the Faith locally, nationally and internationally, is divinely
conferred on elected representatives. However the power to accomplish the tasks
of the community rests primarily in the mass of the believers."— The Universal House of Justice, letter of May 19, 1994

"The power of action in the believers is unlocked at the level of individual
initiative and surges at the level of collective volition."— The Universal House of Justice, letter of May 19, 1994

As we individually fulfill our responsibilities to the institutions of
Bahá'u'lláh's Adminis-trative Order, we are part of a divine
building process, providing a firm foundation for the unification and spiritual
regeneration of the human family.

"The Bahá'í community is engaged in an immense historical process
that is entering a critical stage. Bahá'u'lláh has given to the
world institutions to operate in an order designed to canalize the forces of a
new civilization."— The Universal House of Justice, Ridván Message to the
Bahá'ís of the World, 1996
-- Spiritual Institutions: The Foundation for Oneness (Used by permission of the curator)