Bahá’í World/Volume 27/From the Universal House of Justice
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FROM THE
UNIVERSAL
OUSE HJUSTICgE
he establishment of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing council of the Bahá’í Faith, was called for in the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Who vested the institution with authority “to take counsel together regarding those things which have not outwardly been revealed in the Book, and to enforce that which is agreeable to them.”1 While the Universal House of Justice does not have the right to nullify laws or alter teachings revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, it is authorized to legislate on matters not dealt with in the Bahá’í writings, and it can abrogate its own laws. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’u’lláh’s Son and appointed successor, explained this right of abrogation thus: “The wisdom of this is that the times never remain the same, for change is a necessary quality and an essential attribute of this world, and of time and place. Therefore the House of Justice will
1. Tablets ofBahci ’11 7163/7 Revealed after the Kitdb—i-Aqdas (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1994), p. 68.
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TH_E BAHM WORLD
take action accordingly.”2 In His Will and Testament, ‘Abdu’l-B aha affirmed it to be “incumbent” upon members of the Universal House of Justice to “deliberate upon all problems which have caused difference, questions that are obscure and matters that are not expressly recorded in the Book,” concluding that “Whatsoever they decide has the same effect as the Text itself.”3 Consequently, since the Universal House of Justice was first elected in 1963, the Bahá’í community has turned to it with respect and trust, regarding obedience to its decisions as obedience to the will of God.
Since its establishment, the Universal House of Justice has carried on a voluminous correspondence with individuals, institutions, the Bahá’í community as a whole, and other organizations. By this means it provides clarification and elucidation of issues relating to the development of the Bahá’í community, guidance concerning the gradual application of Baha’u’llah’s laws, encouragement to believers to arise and promulgate their Faith, and directives concerning the further development of the Bahá’í administrative system.
Riḍván 155 B.E. Message
The Riḍván 155 B.E. message (April 1998) of the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the world reviewed the community’s accomplishments at the midpoint of the Four Year Plan, analyzed this moment in history, and focused on what is necessary in order for the Bahá’í community to move ahead.
Highlighted accomplishments included the following: a strengthened faith, spiritual identity and commitment to service seen in Bahá’ís who have participated in training institute courses around the world; the maturation of the institution of the Local Spiritual Assembly, now elected only on the first day of Riḍván by local communities around the world; new confidence and an increase in the methodical approach to teaching among Bahá’ís throughout the world; rapid progress on the construction projects on Mount Carmel in Haifa; the establishment in May 1998 of three new
2. Cited in Messages fiom the Universal House ofJustz'ce 1963—1986: The Third Epoch Ofthe Formative Age (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1996), p. 85.
3. The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l—Bahd (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1971), p. 20.
3O
THE Uwfilfli HQLTSE 9E USTJCE
National Spiritual Assemblies—in Sabah, Sarawak and Slovakiaand the re-establishment of the National Spiritual Assembly in Liberia.4
The House of J ustice noted that the “widespread desolation Of the human spirit,” so prevalent at this moment in history, has prompted masses of people to search for spiritual truth. At the same time, “a growing sense of an irresistible movement towards global unity and peace” is evident in developments such as the United Nations’ increasing involvement—backed by powerful governments—in urgent world problems, and world leaders’ recognition of the interconnectedness of their countries in areas such as trade and finance. Thus, the House of Justice points out, the Major Plan of God, while “associated with turbulence and calamity,” is nevertheless “inexorably driving humanity towards unity and maturity.”
Given this confluence of factors, Bahá’ís find themselves, at the midpoint of the Four Year Plan, in a dynamic situation. T0 capitalize on it and bring about significant and sustained growth and development of their community, they must not only rely on faith, prayer, and divine assistance, but be realistic and systematic in their approach. In pursuing the systematic development of human resources that can maintain a balance of continuous expansion and consolidation of the community, the House Of Justice points out that training institutes are invaluable.
In the last analysis, however, teaching the Bahá’í Faith is the sacred duty of each member, in fulfillment of which he or she is directly responsible to Baha’u’llah. Thus, the individual occupies an “irreplaceable role in the advancement of the Cause” and must consciously decide what, how, where, and when to contribute to the Plan. The House of Justice further urges individuals to acquire the habit of reflection upon actions they have taken, which “lends meaning and fulfillment” to their lives. This is the moment, the House of Justice states, for all Bahá’ís “to be consciously involved in a vast historic process, the like of which has not ever before been experienced by any people,” and in which the Bahá’í community has an “inescapable responsibility.”
4. See pp. 53—58 for further information on the establishment of these National Spiritual Assemblies.
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THE BAHAii WORLD
The Eighth International Bahá’í Convention
On the occasion of the Eighth International Bahá’í Convention, held in Haifa, Israel, in April 1998, the Universal House of Justice addressed two letters to the delegates. The first, dated 23 April 1998, welcomed them and drew their attention to the “extraordinary conjunction of Bahá’í Holy Days” occurring during the gatheringthe Birthdays of the Bab and of Baha’u’llah falling, according to the lunar calendar, on 28 and 29 April (the latter coinciding with the Ninth Day of Riḍván). The House of Justice further highlighted the opportunity given to delegates to Visit the Bahá’í holy places, preparing them to take up the “sacred responsibility of electing the Universal House of Justice” and engage in consultations on “Vital issues” of concern to the Bahá’í community.
At this Convention, while consultation would not be limited to specific topics and delegates were urged to “open [their] minds and hearts” on the topics that seemed to them to be most Vital, the House of Justice also asked them to remain conscious of the central aim of the F our Year Plan: namely, advancing the process of entry by troops. In this regard, the House of Justice noted, analysis of circumstances leading to and maintaining that process would be especially useful, as would evaluations of different programs and methods adopted by permanent training institutes and suggestions regarding effective ways of mobilizing individuals, communities, and institutions in teaching the Bahá’í Faith.
In sum, Convention consultations should help delegates “deepen [their] understanding of the aim and processes of the Plan, and acquire ideas and perspectives that will reinforce the ability of [their] National Spiritual Assembly to play its full part in the collective enterprise which is preparing the Cause of God to meet the challenges of a new century.”
At the conclusion of the International Convention, on 2 May, the House of Justice addressed a second letter to the delegates, oomrnenting particularly on how their conduct reflected “a degree of love and unity rare for so variegated a gathering of humanity” and seeing in the “clarity, oogency and discipline” of the consultations “indications of an accelerated process of maturation. . .that must in the fullness of time play a major role in guiding the destiny of nations.” Identifying the Convention as “the defining moment for
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T11; UNIVERSAL HOUSE 913 JQSJJQE
the Four Year Plan”——a turning point at which “the full range of its aim and possibilities” were realized—the House of Justice expressed the hope that the unity experienced at the Convention would permeate all Bahá’í institutions in every country. Thus it would be evident that “in contrast to the contentious attitudes of the world, the unity of the Bahá’í community is an outer reflection of that inner reality that motivates the divinely ordained institution charged with directing and coordinating the community’s affairs.”
On 3 May, the Universal House of Justice sent a brief message to all National Spiritual Assemblies, announcing the results of the election carried out at the International Convention, in the following words: “NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE ‘ALI NAQJAVANL PETER KHAN, ADIB TAHERZADEH, GLENFORD MITCHELL, IAN SEMPLE, HOOPER DUNBAR, FARZAM ARBAB, DOUGLAS MARTIN, HUSHMAND FATHEAZAM.”5
Counsellors’ Conference and the International Teaching Centre Immediately following the International Convention, the members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors from around the world held a conference in the Holy Land, and on 3 May 1998 the Universal House of Justice addressed a letter to that gathering. The House of Justice noted the “dramatic advance in maturity” evident in the prosecution of the Plan and stated, “Your work has brought honor to your institution and immense joy to our hearts.”
Reviewing the Counsellors’ activities since their previous conference in December 1995, at which the F our Year Plan and its obj ectives were announced, the House of Justice noted how their “selfless, inspiriting and intelligent contributions” had prepared the Bahá’í world to develop detailed national plans and praised the ways in which they and the members of their Auxiliary Boards had promoted systematic and focused action on the Plan’s goals. Now the energies generated and skills developed through training institute programs must be used to meet the needs of the Plan, and the Counsellors’ experience must be “examined and correlated” to foster further progress throughout the world and in the institutional capacity of the Counsellors themselves.
5. For a fill] report on the Eighth International Bahá’í Convention, see pp. 39—47.
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TH‘Bahá’í WORLD
Shortly after the conference, on 13 May, an electronic mail message announced the appointment of the Counsellor members of the International Teaching Centre for the five years beginning 23 May 1998 and thanked the outgoing members for their “distinguished self—sacrificing labors.”
On 2 July, a letter from the House of Justice to all National Assemblies reported that the newly appointed Counsellor members of the International Teaching Centre, Hands of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Ri'lhiyyih Khánum and ‘Ali-Akbar Fun'ltan, and members of the Universal House of Justice had met to pray at the Shrine of Baha’u’llah on 13 June, followed by a week of “intense consultation” about the work ahead. The International Teaching Centre—the twenty—fifth anniversary of which was noted—was described as a “cardinal institution” that has “exercised increased responsibility in relation to the protection of the Faith,” has “stimulated pioneering and travel-teaching, as well as the production and distribution of literature and audiovisual aids,” and has “imparted a fundamental impetus to the establishment and sound functioning of training institutes.”
Other Letters
In its efforts to educate and raise the Bahá’í community’s consciousness on particular issues, the Universal House of Justice this year distributed several important documents to National Spiritual Assemblies, including one entitled “Training Institutes” and compilations on “The Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith” and “Aspects of Traditional African Culture”; the latter was intended to assist Bahá’ís in Africa to understand how to deal with certain traditional practices in light of the Bahá’í teachings. In F ebruary 1999, the Secretariat of the Universal House of Justice released a statement prepared by the Bahá’í International Community’s Office of Public Infonnation entitled Who 15 Writing the F uture?, which reflects on the twentieth century through the lens of Baha’u’llah’s teachings and looks ahead to the challenges humanity faces as it enters a new century.7
6. See pp. 49—52 for further information about the Counsellors’ conference and the appointment of the International Teaching Centre. 7. For the full text of this statement, see pp. 255—68.
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A letter dated 29 March 1999 to National Spiritual Assemblies around the world announced the establishment of a Chair of Bahá’í Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, following a brief signing ceremony at the Bahá’í World Centre. The House of Justice remarked that this “concluded discussions initiated by the University nearly a year ago” and cited the University’s recognition Of “the importance of the field and Of the need to provide an institutional basis for the continuation and development of this work on both the teaching and research levels.” As a historical note, the House recalled that in 1925 Shoghi Effendi had written a1etter“Ofwarm encouragement” to the University’s founders upon the establishment of the institution.8
8. For further information about the establishment of the Bahá’í Chair at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, see p. 74.
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