Baha’i Faith being the newest major Religion in the World has come with a new order of Administration. The most outstanding feature is that the Faith does not have the clergy system. The institutions that administer the Faith are either appointed or elected in a secret ballot. The institutions are at the levels of international, continental, national, regional and local.
The Universal House of Justice is a 9-member institution that oversees the affairs of all Baha`is in the world. It is elected after every 5 years by National Spiritual Assembly members from all over the world at an International gathering called The International Convention. The Office (Seat) of the Universal House of Justice is situated on Mt. Carmel in Haifa Israel. From time to time, The House of Justice sends guidance to the Baha`is of the world through letters on different themes.
The International Teaching Centre (ITC) is a 9-Member institution that overseers the teaching activities of the Faith in the world. It is appointed after 5 years by the Universal House of Justice from a pool of individual Counsellors from across the world. The office of the International Teaching Centre is also on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. The International Teaching Centre offers counsels (guidance) to the Baha`i Community on the unfoldment of the Divine Teaching Plan which was initiated by Abdu’l-Baha.
The Continental Board of Counselors are dedicated individuals from all over the world appointed after 5years by the Universal House of Justice. Their main role is to provide counsel (guidance) to national., regional, and local institutions and individuals in the teaching and consolidation endeavours. Counsellors are administratively grouped into regional working groups at a sub-continental level and they are assisted by Auxiliary Board Members and their Assistants in their service.
The National Spiritual Assemblies is 9-member institution elected every year to overseer the affairs of Baha`is in a country. The members are elected by delegates from across the country at a National Convention gathering held annually. The National Spiritual Assemblies accompany Regional Baha`i Councils and Local Spiritual Assemblies in their service.
The Regional Baha`i Councils are institutions that have evolved with the growth of the Faith in regions of specific countries. The members are appointed annually by the National Spiritual Assemblies in consultation with Counselors. Membership numbers depend on the growth and range from 5 to 9. The councils work in collaboration with Regional Institute Board, an institution appointed by the Council and the National Spiritual Assembly in consultation with the Counselors. The Regional Institute Board is responsible for the development of human resources and materials for the spiritual education processes of the Faith.
The Auxiliary Board Members (ABM) are individuals that are appointed by the Continental Board of Counselors from a pool of dedicated individuals across the Baha`i community for a term of 5 years. ABMs work with all institutions for the protection and propagation of the Faith. The Auxiliary Board Members appoint their Assistants in consultation with the Counsellor for the region or country.
Area Teaching Committee (ATC)is the engine of growth in cluster (Baha’i local districts). In each cluster there is an ATC. When Baha’i core activities reach a certain range (15 or more core activities) the ATC is born to manage further growth of those core activities.
The Local Spiritual Assemblies are 9-member institutions elected every year to oversee the activities of Baha`is in a local Baha`i community. Local Spiritual Assemblies are elected annually on the first day of Ridvan (20th or 21st April) festival via a secret ballot system. The Local Spiritual Assemblies` main focus is administration and teaching the Faith. The Local Spiritual Assemblies appoint committees and Task Forces that help them in their service.
Baha’i Faith being the newest major Religion in the World has come with a new order of Administration. The most outstanding feature is that the Faith does not have the clergy system. The institutions that administer the Faith are either appointed or elected in a secret ballot. The institutions are at the levels of international, continental, national, regional and local.
The Universal House of Justice is a 9-member institution that oversees the affairs of all Baha`is in the world. It is elected after every 5 years by National Spiritual Assembly members from all over the world at an International gathering called The International Convention. The Office (Seat) of the Universal House of Justice is situated on Mt. Carmel in Haifa Israel. From time to time, The House of Justice sends guidance to the Baha`is of the world through letters on different themes.
The International Teaching Centre (ITC) is a 9-Member institution that overseers the teaching activities of the Faith in the world. It is appointed after 5 years by the Universal House of Justice from a pool of individual Counsellors from across the world. The office of the International Teaching Centre is also on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. The International Teaching Centre offers counsels (guidance) to the Baha`i Community on the unfoldment of the Divine Teaching Plan which was initiated by Abdu’l-Baha.
The Continental Board of Counselors are dedicated individuals from all over the world appointed after 5years by the Universal House of Justice. Their main role is to provide counsel (guidance) to national., regional, and local institutions and individuals in the teaching and consolidation endeavours. Counsellors are administratively grouped into regional working groups at a sub-continental level and they are assisted by Auxiliary Board Members and their Assistants in their service.
The National Spiritual Assemblies is 9-member institution elected every year to overseer the affairs of Baha`is in a country. The members are elected by delegates from across the country at a National Convention gathering held annually. The National Spiritual Assemblies accompany Regional Baha`i Councils and Local Spiritual Assemblies in their service.
The Regional Baha`i Councils are institutions that have evolved with the growth of the Faith in regions of specific countries. The members are appointed annually by the National Spiritual Assemblies in consultation with Counselors. Membership numbers depend on the growth and range from 5 to 9. The councils work in collaboration with Regional Institute Board, an institution appointed by the Council and the National Spiritual Assembly in consultation with the Counselors. The Regional Institute Board is responsible for the development of human resources and materials for the spiritual education processes of the Faith.
The Auxiliary Board Members (ABM) are individuals that are appointed by the Continental Board of Counselors from a pool of dedicated individuals across the Baha`i community for a term of 5 years. ABMs work with all institutions for the protection and propagation of the Faith. The Auxiliary Board Members appoint their Assistants in consultation with the Counsellor for the region or country.
Area Teaching Committee (ATC)is the engine of growth in cluster (Baha’i local districts). In each cluster there is an ATC. When Baha’i core activities reach a certain range (15 or more core activities) the ATC is born to manage further growth of those core activities.
The Local Spiritual Assemblies are 9-member institutions elected every year to oversee the activities of Baha`is in a local Baha`i community. Local Spiritual Assemblies are elected annually on the first day of Ridvan (20th or 21st April) festival via a secret ballot system. The Local Spiritual Assemblies` main focus is administration and teaching the Faith. The Local Spiritual Assemblies appoint committees and Task Forces that help them in their service.
