Bahá’í World/Volume 24/From the Universal House of Justice

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[Page 27]

FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

The Universal House of Justice, the international governing council of the Bahá’í world community, was ordained by Bahá’u’lláh as that body charged "to ensure the continuity of that divinely-appointed authority which flows from the Source of the Faith, to safeguard the unity of its followers, and to maintain the integrity and flexibility of its teachings." Thus explicitly empowered through the writings of the Bahá’í Faith, the Universal House of Justice seeks continually to raise Bahá’í community members' vision about their contributions to shaping society, while giving full recognition to the obstacles and challenges inherent in current world events. Significant communications of the Universal House of Justice between Ridván 1995 and Ridván 1996, which largely focus on both the expansion of the community and various aspects of its development, are highlighted here.

1. The Constitution of the Universal House of Justice (Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1972), p. 4. [Page 28]

Ridván Message (152 B.E.)

Each year between 21 April and 2 May, during the twelve-day commemoration of Bahá’u’lláh’s public declaration of His mission in the Garden of Ridván in Baghdad, the Universal House of Justice addresses a letter to the Bahá’ís of the world, outlining the achievements of the past year and looking ahead to the activities of the coming year. The 1995 Ridván message (152 B.E.) focuses largely on the growing recognition of the Bahá’í Faith, its role in assisting the progress of humanity, and various aspects of its community's affairs.

The letter begins by noting "the despair besetting leaders of nations and peoples in their search for solutions to pressing social problems" and by seeing in their "desperation" "a world-wide cry for the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh." In the face of the "melancholy outlook evident at the World Summit for Social Development" in Copenhagen in March 1995, for example, the Bahá’í International Community's considerable presence there and its many follow-up activities undertaken after the gathering evidenced "the further advance of our world community in influencing the processes towards the Lesser Peace."²

Indeed, while the international conferences called by the United Nations may not appear to have accomplished much, Bahá’ís see in them "a gradual movement towards the ultimate fulfillment of the will of Bahá’u’lláh that the rulers of nations meet to consult and decide on the outstanding issues in an increasingly global society." In fact, the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, Shoghi Effendi, described how the parallel processes leading to the political union of nations and to the uniting of people in one common faith would eventually draw closer together towards the end of this century, and the Universal House of Justice sees in current events evidence of the approaching fulfillment of this vision. Bahá’ís, then, have offered strong support to the recent series of United Nations conferences and summits.

Another indication of the wider recognition of the Bahá’í Faith noted by the Universal House of Justice is the increasing number

2. For further details concerning Bahá’í participation in the World Summit for Social Development, see The Bahá’í World 1994-95, pp. 37–46. [Page 29]of visits to the Bahá’í World Centre by dignitaries, high-ranking government officials, and media representatives, underscoring "a trend towards a greater familiarity of the governments of the nations with the evolving center of a World Faith." Such recognition also highlights the necessity for the speedy completion of the current construction projects on Mount Carmel. Bahá’ís understand the act of erecting these buildings as synchronizing, in the words of Shoghi Effendi, with "two no less significant developments—the establishment of the Lesser Peace and the evolution of Bahá’í national and local institutions."

Against the backdrop of despair in the wider society, developments in the Bahá’í community are, in contrast, "encouraging." Aside from "heartening" advances in external affairs activities and an increase in the community's efforts to share the message of Bahá’u’lláh, a number of stimulating factors concerning the internal functioning of Bahá’í communities around the world are highlighted. These include evolution in the work of the International and Continental Counsellors, appointed high-ranking officers of the Faith, and their auxiliaries around the globe; the emphasis on the education of children in the Bahá’í community; the "vigor of the youth"; and the "gathering strength" of Spiritual Assemblies at both the national and local levels. These institutions, says the Universal House of Justice, "foster a climate of unified action" in the Bahá’í community by engaging in complementary collaborative activities with individuals. By establishing such a climate, they will be able to work together "to combat the ravages of a rampant moral decadence" evident in society.

The vitality of the Bahá’í community is also reflected in the formation, at Riḍván 1995, of five new National Spiritual Assemblies: Armenia, Georgia, Belarus, Sicily, and Eritrea. At the same time, four previously existing Assemblies, in Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, South Africa, and Transkei, merged into one under the jurisdiction of the National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa, reflecting the recent political reunion of the region. At Riḍván 1995, then, the total number of National Spiritual Assemblies throughout the world stood at 174.

Towards the close of the letter, again drawing the Bahá’í community's attention to "humanity's current plight," the Universal [Page 30]House of Justice reiterates the importance of the efforts of individual Bahá’ís, reinforced by their institutions, to bring the healing message of Bahá’u’lláh to the peoples of the world. Indeed, the House of Justice states that "at this extraordinary moment in the history of the planet, nothing whatever is of more critical importance than inviting people of every sort and every gift to the banquet table of the Lord of Hosts," and cites ‘Abdu’l- Bahá’s reference to the current century as a time that will leave "traces which shall last forever."

Judgement by the Supreme Court of India

The theme of widening recognition of the Bahá’í Faith can be seen again in a letter of 5 May 1995, in which the Universal House of Justice informs National Spiritual Assemblies around the world of a judgement by the Supreme Court of India that refers to the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith as a means for solving religious disputes. The case ruled on by the Court involved strife between Hindus and Muslims occasioned by the razing of a mosque in Ayodhya, the site where Hindus believe the god Rama was born thousands of years ago. The mosque's destruction ignited wide- spread violence and attacks on property.

The Universal House of Justice cites this reference to the Bahá’í Faith as evidence of its emergence from obscurity and further notes that "Reports have been received that receptive members of governments are now using the...Teachings and principles of the Faith in directing the affairs of their countries." The House of Justice also pays tribute to the "sacrifices of the Bahá’ís in Iran and the solidarity of the Bahá’í world in rallying around its institutions" in support of the Iranian Bahá’ís. These factors, it says, have led Bahá’ís in many parts of the world to contact their governments on behalf of their fellow believers, resulting in a greatly increased awareness of the Faith and its teachings which, in turn, leads to references to the Faith such as that made by India's Supreme Court.

Increase in the Number of Continental Counsellors

A letter to the Bahá’ís of the world written 29 October 1995 marks a significant advance in one aspect of community development, with the Universal House of Justice's announcement of the [Page 31]commencement of a new five-year term of service for members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors for the Protection and Propagation of the Faith and the indication that the number of appointees will be raised from 72 to 81. After giving the names of the new Counsellors and thanking the 15 individuals retiring from their duties, the Universal House of Justice states that an important focus for the Counsellors during "the crucial period ahead" will be "fostering the evolution of local and national Bahá’í institutions and...helping the rank and file of the believers to increase their devotion to Bahá’u’lláh, their ardor in teaching, and their ability to draw on the tremendous power latent in the unified action of Bahá’í communities."

Messages at the Time of the Continental Boards of Counsellors' Conference

The holding of a conference for members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors from around the world in Haifa in December 1995 occasioned several weighty messages from the Universal House of Justice. The letter of greeting to the confer- ence, dated 26 December 1995, refers to the role of the institution of the Counsellors over the past 25 years and announces the launch of a Four Year Plan, at Riḍván 1996, for the expansion and consolidation of the Bahá’í world community. It also chal- lenges the Counsellors to call forth "the wholehearted endeavors of the followers of Bahá’u’lláh," to raise "the level of their spiritual awareness," and to promote "the evolution of national and local Bahá’í communities."

In its letter specifically about the Four Year Plan, also dated 26 December 1996, the Universal House of Justice outlines its central focus as a single major accomplishment: a significant advance in the process of steady large-scale enrollments. To effect this, it writes, will require "marked progress in the activity and development of the individual believer, of the institutions, and of the local community." Discussing the responsibilities of the individual in teaching the Faith to others and of local institutions in coordinating such efforts, the House of Justice stresses that "those who enter the Faith must be integrated into vibrant local communi- ties, characterized by tolerance and love and guided by a strong sense of purpose and collective will, environments in which the [Page 32]capacities of all components-men, women, youth and children- are developed and their powers multiplied in unified action." The letter deals with a number of different aspects of the Four Year Plan, including the planning process itself, as each national community formulates its own plan within the global guidelines set by the House of Justice; the focus of the work of the Continental Counsellors in assisting national communities to formulate their plans and pursue their goals; and necessary elements for effective plans. The House of Justice spends some time on the development of "institutes," which it defines as “organizational structures dedicated to systematic training," the purpose of which is "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" of the community. "Institutes should be regarded as centers of learning,' it notes, which are designed to assist in the large-scale development of human resources in the Bahá’í community. The House of Justice concludes, "It is our hope that significant progress in this direction will constitute one of the distinguishing features of the Four Year Plan."

Another section of this letter is devoted to development at the local level, about which the House of Justice says, "The community must become imbued with a sense of mission and the Assembly grow in awareness of its role as a channel of God's grace not only for the Bahá’ís but for the entire village, town or city in which it serves." To this end, in local communities where the participation of women is lagging, "determined steps" must be taken to rectify this situation; proper annual elections of Local Spiritual Assemblies and enhancement of their functioning must be achieved (later in the message the House of Justice announces that as of Ridván 1996 all Spiritual Assemblies around the world must be elected on the First Day of Riḍván); priority should be given to the regular holding of Bahá’í children's classes; youth should be given attention. All of these factors combine to define a first stage in the process of community development, beyond which the community can further progress.

The functioning of members of the Auxiliary Boards of the Continental Boards of Counsellors receives considerable attention [Page 33]in the 26 December letter, focusing on their work locally to assist the growth and development of communities and on their role in the evolution of institutes.

At the conclusion of the Continental Counsellors' Conference, the Universal House of Justice released a letter to the Bahá’ís of the world, informing them of the launch of the Four Year Plan at Ridván 1996, referring to the deliberations of the Counsellors at their conference, and reiterating the Four Year Plan's one key goal: a significant advance in the process of large-scale enrollments of new believers. The House of Justice also summarizes the requisites necessary for progress "in the activity and development of the individual believer, of the institutions, and of the local community":

The first calls for a vitality of the faith of each believer that is expressed through personal initiative and constancy in teaching the Cause to others, and through conscientious, individual effort to provide energy and resources to upbuild the community, to uphold the authority of its institutions, and to support local and regional plans and teaching projects. The second requires that local and national Bahá’í institutions evolve more rapidly into a proper exercise of their responsibilities as channels of guidance, planners of the teaching work, developers of human resources, builders of communities, and loving shepherds of the multitudes. The third, the flourishing of the community especially at the local level, demands a significant enhancement in patterns of behavior by which the collective expression of the virtues of the individual members and the functioning of the Spiritual Assembly is manifest in the unity and fellowship of the community and the dynamism of its activity and growth.

The House of Justice then elaborates the "new dimensions" of the work of the Continental Counsellors, including developments in their mode of functioning, the planning process, human resource development, Local Spiritual Assembly functioning, and further development of local Bahá’í communities.

In concluding this message, the House of Justice states that "An auspicious beginning for the new Plan will largely depend on the results of the current one, which will end in just a few months" and continues, "There are divine deadlines to be met. Our work is [Page 34]intended not only to increase the size and consolidate the foun- dations of our community, but more particularly to exert a positive influence on the affairs of the entire human race. At so crucial a moment in world affairs, we must not fail in our duty to take timely action on the goals set before us in the Three Year Plan."

Persian Edition of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas

On 28 December 1995, the Universal House of Justice announced to all National Spiritual Assemblies the publication of a Persian edition of Bahá’u’lláh’s Book of Laws, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas or Most Holy Book, in January 1996. The text of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas itself remains in the original Arabic and other sacred writings in the volume are in their original language, either Persian or Arabic. The introduction, notes, and other supplementary material from the English edition are published here in Persian.

New National Spiritual Assemblies, Riḍván 1996

A letter written on 15 February 1996 to all National Spiritual Assemblies announced the formation of two new National Spiritual Assemblies at Ridván 1996: São Tomé and Príncipe, and Moldova. Further to this, "the Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Ukraine and Moldova with its seat in Kiev will become the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Ukraine." In conclusion, the Universal House of Justice states, "We are delighted by these further evidences of the extension of the institu- tions of Bahá’u’lláh’s Administrative Order as the conclusion of the Three Year Plan approaches."

Conclusion

The letters written by the Universal House of Justice between Ridván 1995 and Ridván 1996 indicate both the increasing inter- national recognition accorded to the Bahá’í community for its teachings and activities and the importance of strengthening the Bahá’í community for the growth it must sustain as it extends its interaction with wider society. Such complementary concerns reflect the gathering strength of an emerging global religion.