Bahá’í World/Volume 28/From the Universal House of Justice
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FROM THE
UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
ince its first election in 1963, the Universal House of Justice
has directed and coordinated the worldwide activities of the Bahá’í community. Originally ordained in the writings of Baha’u’llah, the administrative structure of the Bahá’í Faith was defined by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and was raised up during the Guardianship of Shoghi Effendi. A solid foundation of Local and National Spiritual Assemblies was laid, and at that historic juncture when the Bahá’í Faith had spread widely enough and national communities were stable, the structure was capable of supporting an international governing body, the Universal House of Justice. Bahá’ís around the world now turn to it for vision and direction, for the further application of the laws of Bahá’u’lláh, and for inspiration.
Rigivan 156 BE. Message
In its message to the worldwide Bahá’í community at Riḍván in April 1999, the Universal House of Justice both reviewed the accomplishments of what it termed a “community in a dynamic state of transfonnation” and surveyed its future prospects.
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The House of Justice began by noting the momentum generated by the Eighth International Bahá’í Convention as the Bahá’í community entered the final year of its Four Year Plan. Signs of that momentum were apparent in the establishment of three new National Spiritual Assemblies,l progress made on the Mount Carmel Projects at the Bahá’í World Centre, an increase in the size of pilgrim groups, and the translation and planned publication of texts from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh. The development of training institutes—at that date, 344, which had provided at least one course to some 70,000 people—and the emergence of Regional Bahá’í Councils were given as indications of the growing strength of Bahá’í communities, as was the involvement of communities and individuals in social and economic development. Accomplishments in external affairs and the increasing use of the arts in the Bahá’í community were also noted.
Looking ahead, the House of Justice called for the formation of more new National Spiritual Assemblies.2 It also announced two significant upcoming events: the inauguration of the new Centre for the International Counsellors at the Bahá’í World Centre with a gathering of Counsellors and Members of the Auxiliary Boards in January 2001, and the official inauguration of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab in May 2001.
Contrasting “the confident Vision that propels the constructive endeavors of an illumined community” with the “tangled fears” of millions around the globe, the House of Justice urged Bahá’ís everywhere to become fully engaged in pursuit of the ultimate objective of making it possible for the world’s peoples “to build a united, peaceful and prosperous life.”
26 November 1999
Some seven months later, on the Day of the Covenant, 26 November 1999, the Universal House of Justice took the
' Sabah, Sarawak, and Slovakia; see The Bahá’í World [998—99, pp. 53'58.
3 The letter originally called for the formation of new National Spiritual Assemblies in Latvia, Lithuania and Macedonia, but conditions in the latter country later prompted the House of Justice to postpone the formation of the National Assembly there.
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Tmfi UNIVERSAL HOI ‘SE OF JUSTICE
opportunity to provide a further review of the community’s progress and prospects.
It particularly noted the growth of the worldwide network of training institutes and the effort to develop formal programs and systematically deliver courses. By that point, institutes had reached some 100,000 people, resulting in “a greatly strengthened community, internally sound and notably reinforced.” Achievements in external affairs, in social and economic development, and in the ability of the Bahá’í community to reach out to and win the trust of the general public, governments, and organizations of civil society were also noted.
Looking ahead, the Universal House of Justice announced that at Riḍván 2000 the Bahá’í community would embark on a worldwide Twelve Month Plan “aimed at concentrating the forces, the capacities and the insights” that had emerged through the Four Year Plan. Following those twelve months, a Five Year Plan will initiate “a series ofworldwide enterprises that will carry the Bahá’í community through the final twenty years in the first century of the Faith’s F ormative Age.”3
In preparation for those “worldwide enterprises,” the Bahá’í community must bring institute programs into full operation and further systematize its efforts to teach the Bahá’í Faith. “Area Growth Programs” in targeted regions of each continent will contribute to this process, and what is learned from them will be incorporated into future plans. The House of Justice urged that particular emphasis be given to children, and that “definite steps be taken to ensure that the Vision of the community fiilly embraces its younger members.”
At a moment when “keen interest is being shown by leaders of thought in the destiny of the coming generations,” the Universal House of Justice expressed its hope that “the Bahá’í community, both in its internal operation and its interactions with society, will convey a sense of confidence in the future of humanity.”
3 The Formative Age of the Bahá’í Faith began with the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1921.
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T111; Bahá’í Weigh
28 December 1999
The enrichment of the spiritual life of the Bahá’í community was the theme of a letter written on 28 December 1999 by the Universal House of Justice, which said, “In every land we see a growing thirst for spiritual life and moral clarity. There is recognition of the ineffectiveness of plans and programs for human betterment which are not rooted in lives of spiritual awareness and ethical virtue.” In this context, the House of Justice announced the universal application of all Bahá’í laws pertaining to obligatory prayer, fasting and the recitation of the Greatest Name ninety-five times a day—all ofwhich, it noted, directly foster individual devotional life and s0 affect the community as a whole.4
Further, noting that “The spiritual growth generated by individual devotions is reinforced by loving association among the friends in every locality, by worship as a community and by service to the Faith and to one’s fellow human beings,” the House of Justice called upon Bahá’í communities to hold regular worship meetings open to all and to become involved in projects of humanitarian service.
Other Letters
In a letter dated 24 August 1999, the House of Justice, noting that Turkey is “a land held sacred in the hearts of Bahá’ís” because of its historic associations with Bahá’u’lláh, expressed its grief at the suffering and loss brought about by the devastating earthquake there. It informed all National Spiritual Assemblies that it had arranged for a financial contribution to be made to the relief effort and for condolences to be extended to the country’s president.
The passing of Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum on 19 January 2000 occasioned a moving letter of tribute, which was addressed to the worldwide community and was followed shortly after by an account of her funeral.5
4 Some laws revealed by Baha’u’llah in the Kitab-i-Aqdas not yet universally binding and are being progressively applied by the Universal House of Justice as the Bahá’í community matures.
5 See pp. 167—96 for a retrospective article on the life ot‘Amatu’l—Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum and the text of the letter ot‘tribute.
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The passing of member of the Universal House of Justice Adib Taherzadeh on 23 J anuary 2000," the subsequent election of Kiser Barnes t0 the Universal House of Justice, and the appointment OfZenaida Ramirez to the International Teaching Centre were also announced in letters to the Bahá’í community.
In support of its call for the further development of Bahá’í Institutes and the systematic growth of the community, in March 2000 the House of Justice released a seminal document on this topic which offers an overview of the advancement of the institute process since April 1998, when the first document on the subject was released.
" See obituary, pp. 311712.
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