The Role of Assemblies in Dealing with Violations of Baha’i Law

9 December 1991

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'í of Australia

Dear Bahá'í Friends,

The Universal House of Justice has received your letter of 26 September 1991 which raises a number of questions concerning the exercise of your functions in situations where the Bahá'í laws are being violated. We have been asked to provide the following response.

Before commenting on your specific questions, the House of Justice feels it would be useful to review some aspects of the role of the Local and National Assemblies in regulating the behavior of the members of the Bahá'í community.

The aim of any Spiritual Assembly should be to develop a warm and loving relationship with the believers in its community, so that it can most effectively nurture and encourage them in the acquisition of a deeper understanding of the teachings, and can assist them to follow the Bahá'í principles in their personal conduct. The Assembly should aspire to being regarded by the members of the community as a loving parent, wise in its understanding of the varying degrees of maturity of those entrusted to its care, compassionate in dealing with the problems which arise as a result of any shortcomings, ever prepared to guide them to the correct path, and very patient as they strive to effect the necessary changes in their behavior. Such an approach is far removed from the harshly judgmental and punitive approach which so often characterizes the administration of law in the wider society. The Bahá'í application of justice, firmly rooted in spiritual principle and animated by the desire to foster the spiritual development of the members of the community, will increasingly be seen as a distinctive and highly attractive feature of the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh.

Selecting Reviewers for Baha’i Manuscripts

30 October 1991

To selected National Spiritual Assemblies

Dear Bahá'í Friends,

The Universal House of Justice has requested us to send you the enclosed copy of a letter dated 28 October 1991 which we have written at its instruction to a believer who is an academic and who requested that consideration be given to changing the Bahá'í administrative policy requiring prepublication review of manuscripts authored by Bahá‘ís. The concern expressed is that this policy contradicts values of free inquiry as perceived in academic circles and that submission to it could undermine scholarly credibility. As you will see from the enclosure, the House of Justice does not agree with this perception of Bahá'í review, but it sympathizes with the difficulties faced by Bahá'í academics in upholding and defending Bahá'í policy. Your attention is called particularly to the penultimate paragraph of the letter which mentions an approach intended to ease these difficulties and which can readily be accommodated by the current regulations on Bahá'í review.

The scholar who has authored a manuscript on a Bahá'í subject may recommend to the National Spiritual Assembly one or more individuals for inclusion among the reviewers selected by the Assembly. If for some particular reason the Assembly finds his nominees unacceptable, it may ask the author to submit other names for its consideration. While the National Assembly must retain control of the reviewing process and operate its reviewing mechanism as it sees fit, it must at the same time exercise a flexibility which will allow it to accommodate such a procedure. As in any other instance of review, the Assembly should exercise independent judgment as to the merits of the recommendations it receives from its appointed reviewers.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1986-2001’)

Passing of Magdalene Carney, Counselor Member of the International Teaching Center

10 October 1991

To All National Spiritual Assemblies

DEEPLY GRIEVED SUDDEN PASSING STALWART MAIDSERVANT BAHÁ’ULLÁH MEMBER INTERNATIONAL TEACHING CENTER MAGDALENE M. CARNEY. HER WELL NIGH THREE DECADES UNBROKEN SERVICE CAUSE GOD EXERTED IMMENSE INFLUENCE TEACHING WORK SOUTHERN REGION UNITED STATES, INVOLVED THIRTEEN YEARS MEMBERSHIP NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY THAT COUNTRY UNTIL HER APPOINTMENT IN 1983 TO INTERNATIONAL TEACHING CENTER. INDOMITABLE FAITH, UNSWERVING DEVOTION COVENANT, SELFLESS SPIRIT, OPEN CANDOR, WHOLEHEARTED COMMITMENT EDUCATION CHILDREN AND YOUTH ARE AMONG QUALITIES THAT WILL EVER BE ASSOCIATED WITH GOLDEN MEMORIES HER HIGHIY ACTIVE LIFE. AR-DENTIY PRAYING HOLY THRESHOLD PROGRESS HER STERLING SOUL THROUGHOUT DIVINE WORLDS.

ADVISE HOLD MEMORIAL SERVICES HER HONOR ALL HOUSES WORSHIP AND IN BAHÁ‘1 COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT WORLD.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

(‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1986-2001’)

Appointment of New Continental Counselor

7 October 1991

To all National Spiritual Assemblies

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

We are happy to announce the appointment of Dr. Payman Mohajer as a new member of the Continental Board of Counselors in Asia.

He is replacing Mr. S. Nagaratnam who, due to ill health and personal circumstances, found it necessary to resign from the Board of Counselors. His resignation was regretfully accepted and his many years of dedicated service in his capacity as a Counselor are warmly remembered.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

The Universal House of Justice

(‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1986-2001’)

Progress of the Mount Carmel Projects

11 September 1991

To all National Spiritual Assemblies!

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

The historic Arc and Terraces projects are now advancing at full speed, and the Universal House of Justice has asked us to inform you of the progress being made.

The work is planned to proceed in several distinct phases. Phase One involved the strengthening and facing of the two-hundred-meter-long retaining wall supporting the main Terrace of the Shrine of the Báb. This work continued in spite of many difficulties during the Gulf crisis and has now been completed.

Phase Two, the contract for which was signed on 17 June 1991, as already announced, involves the excavation for the Center for the Study of the Texts and the Archives Extension, the extension eastwards of the main Terrace of the Shrine of the Báb, and the completion of eight of the Terraces below the Shrine. Work is currently in progress in three main areas, as explained below.

On the site of the Center for the Study of the Texts and the Archives Extension a security fence has been erected around the work area to separate it from the Archives Building and the gardens below the Arc Path. Access roads have been opened to permit removal of excavated material. The first stage of excavation has been completed and rock bolts have been installed, allowing the construction of the first retaining wall to begin.

Commencement of Phase Two of the Mount Carmel Projects

20 June 1991

To the Bahá’ís of the World

FOLLOWING RECEIPT BUILDING PERMITS FOR SECOND PHASE OF TERRACES OF THE BAB’S SHRINE AND FOR EXCAVATION FOR THE FIRST TWO BUILDINGS, AND AFTER COMPLETION TENDER FORMALITIES, WE REJOICE ANNOUNCE CONTRACT SIGNED SEVENTEENTH JUNE 1991, OFFICIALLY COMMENCING PHASE TWO OF MOUNT CARMEL PROJECTS.   

THIS PHASE, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO TAKE APPROXIMATELY SIXTEEN MONTHS, WILL INCLUDE EXCAVATION AND ANCHOR WORK FOR CENTER STUDY TEXTS AND ARCHIVES EXTENSION AS WELL AS EARTHWORK OF FIVE TERRACES IMMEDIATELY BELOW HOLY SHRINE AND EXTENSION OF MAIN TERRACE TOTAL COST THIS PHASE ESTIMATED FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.

APPEAL CONTINUING FLOW FUNDS ENSURE UNINTERRUPTED PROGRESS.     

SUPPLICATING SACRED THRESHOLD DIVINE CONFIRMATION HISTORIC UNDERTAKING.

THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

(Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1986-2001)