Guest Author - Vahid Ajepuh Oloro
The defining feature for any religion is its teaching and leadership. These are the pillars that shape its growth. The Baha�i Faith however, has a very distinct leadership system never found in any religion before.
While other religions are led through ecclesiastical based systems, the Baha�i Faith has democratically elected and appointed institutions.
There are three elected administrative institutions established in the Kitab-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book), the local, the secondary and the international administrative institutions. During the evolution of the Faith regional administrative institutions have also been added to the list of elected institutions but are active in relatively large countries.
The Local Spiritual Assembly is elected annually in every locality and city where there are nine or more adult Baha�is (of 21-years and above). Nine because the Assembly is made up of nine adult members. The election, indeed every Baha�i election, is conducted by secret ballot without the least element of coercion or campaigning.
The Local Assembly is responsible for the day-to-day running of Baha�i affairs in locality. Once elected all Baha�is pay allegiance to its decisions and instructions. But as individuals its members remain as ordinary as any other Baha�i. Membership in any Baha�i institution doesn�t confer special status on anyone.
The National Spiritual Assembly nine members are elected annually to conduct affairs of the Baha�i Faith at the national level. It�s elected by a college of delegates elected by Local communities, in the entire country, to represent them in the National Convention.
At the international level is the Universal House of Justice whose nine members are elected for a five-year term. National Spiritual Assemblies� members form the college that elects this institution which is the Baha�i supreme governing body. It�s headquartered on Mt. Carmel in Haifa, Israel.
Baha�i writings state that the decisions of the Universal House of Justice are �the source of all good and freed from all error.�
The appointed institutions include the Board Assistants, Auxiliary Board Members, Continental Boards of Counselors and International Counselors. Their role is the protection and propagation of the Baha�i Faith.
The International Counselors are nine members appointed to serve at the International Teaching Centre, which is a body that directly helps the Universal House of Justice. They also closely liaise with Continental Counselors helping them in their continental responsibilities. Continental counselors are assigned countries to focus on in their continents of residence.
Auxiliary Board Members are appointed by the Continental Counselors and work closely with regional and local administrative institutions. They also directly deal with individual Baha�is, helping them in the course of their propagation and protection of the Faith. In turn the Auxiliary Board Members appoint their assistants referred to as Auxiliary Board Assistants. These Assistants work directly with the local communities they reside in.
The key modus operandi of the Baha�i administrative institutions is consultation. All decisions of these institutions are arrived at through a consultative process by their members. Turning unto God, they supplicate His guidance in enabling them to arrive at suitable decisions for the Faith.
Writing in His �Will and Testament� on the institutions of the Guardian and Universal House of Justice, Abdu�l-Bah�, the appointed Successor of Baha�u�llah said:
�Whatsoever they decide is of God. Whoso obeyeth him not, neither obeyeth them, hath not obeyed God; whoso rebelleth against him and against them hath rebelled against God; whoso opposeth him hath opposed God; whoso contendeth with them hath contended with God; whoso disputeth with him hath disputed with God.�
