The system of administration as conceived by Baha'u'llah, formally established by 'Abdu'l-Baha, and realized during the Guardianship of Shoghi Effendi. It embodies the international system for administering the affairs of the Baha’i community. It is unique in religious history in that clear instructions concerning succession of authority and the form of organization are set out in writing by Baha’u’llah, the Founder of the Faith. The principal institutions of the Baha’i Administrative Order are the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice. It also consists, on the one hand, of a series of elected councils, universal, national, and local, in which are invested legislative, executive, and judicial powers over the Baha'i community, and on the other hand, of eminent and devoted Baha'is appointed for the specific purposes of' propagation and protection of the Faith under the guidance of the Head of that Faith, the Universal House of Justice. The democratically elected local and national councils known as Local and National Spiritual Assemblies, direct the affairs of the Baha’i community, uphold Baha’i laws and standards, and take responsibility for the education, guidance, and protection of the community. The appointed institutions, include the Hands of the Cause of God, the International Teaching Center, the Continental Board of Counselors and their Auxiliary Boards and assistants. The appointed members of these institutions perform a counseling and advisory function and have particular responsibility for the protection and expansion of the Baha’i Faith.
April 17, 2013
Administrative Order
From: Baha'i Glossary
The system of administration as conceived by Baha'u'llah, formally established by 'Abdu'l-Baha, and realized during the Guardianship of Shoghi Effendi. It embodies the international system for administering the affairs of the Baha’i community. It is unique in religious history in that clear instructions concerning succession of authority and the form of organization are set out in writing by Baha’u’llah, the Founder of the Faith. The principal institutions of the Baha’i Administrative Order are the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice. It also consists, on the one hand, of a series of elected councils, universal, national, and local, in which are invested legislative, executive, and judicial powers over the Baha'i community, and on the other hand, of eminent and devoted Baha'is appointed for the specific purposes of' propagation and protection of the Faith under the guidance of the Head of that Faith, the Universal House of Justice. The democratically elected local and national councils known as Local and National Spiritual Assemblies, direct the affairs of the Baha’i community, uphold Baha’i laws and standards, and take responsibility for the education, guidance, and protection of the community. The appointed institutions, include the Hands of the Cause of God, the International Teaching Center, the Continental Board of Counselors and their Auxiliary Boards and assistants. The appointed members of these institutions perform a counseling and advisory function and have particular responsibility for the protection and expansion of the Baha’i Faith.
The system of administration as conceived by Baha'u'llah, formally established by 'Abdu'l-Baha, and realized during the Guardianship of Shoghi Effendi. It embodies the international system for administering the affairs of the Baha’i community. It is unique in religious history in that clear instructions concerning succession of authority and the form of organization are set out in writing by Baha’u’llah, the Founder of the Faith. The principal institutions of the Baha’i Administrative Order are the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice. It also consists, on the one hand, of a series of elected councils, universal, national, and local, in which are invested legislative, executive, and judicial powers over the Baha'i community, and on the other hand, of eminent and devoted Baha'is appointed for the specific purposes of' propagation and protection of the Faith under the guidance of the Head of that Faith, the Universal House of Justice. The democratically elected local and national councils known as Local and National Spiritual Assemblies, direct the affairs of the Baha’i community, uphold Baha’i laws and standards, and take responsibility for the education, guidance, and protection of the community. The appointed institutions, include the Hands of the Cause of God, the International Teaching Center, the Continental Board of Counselors and their Auxiliary Boards and assistants. The appointed members of these institutions perform a counseling and advisory function and have particular responsibility for the protection and expansion of the Baha’i Faith.
