Consultation

Consultation is the chief tool for collective decision-making described in the Bahá’í writings. The principles of consultation were given in the writings of Bahá'ulláh, and apply at all levels of administration and in any other setting where cooperation, group decision-making or the resolution of disputes is needed.

Consultation aims to build united consensus within a group through the application of certain principles:

• Seeking a diversity of points of view, especially including input from people of different backgrounds;
• Frankness, openness, objectivity and humility of expression;
• Surrendering every idea that is put forth as the property of the group rather than that of the individual;
• Striving for unanimous consensus, but when this is not possible, abiding by and acting upon the will of the majority in a spirit of unity.

Purpose

Bahá'ulláh Himself exhorts the world to "Hold fast to the cord of consultation", and in the Third Ishráq, He declares that:

"It is incumbent upon everyone to observe God's holy Commandments, inasmuch as they are the wellspring of life unto the world. The heaven of divine wisdom is illumined with the two luminaries of consultation and compassion...."

Requirements

Citing ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi states:

"The prime requisites for them that take counsel together are purity of motive, radiance of spirit, detachment from all else save God, attraction to His Divine Fragrances, humility and lowliness amongst His loved ones, patience and long-suffering in difficulties and servitude... The members thereof must take counsel together in such wise that no occasion for ill-feeling or discord may arise. This can be attained when every member expresseth with absolute freedom his own opinion and setteth forth his argument. Should any one oppose, he must on no account feel hurt for not until matters are fully discussed can the right way be revealed. The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions. If after discussion, a decision be carried unanimously, well and good; but if the Lord forbid, differences of opinion should arise, a majority of voices must prevail."

Shoghi Effendi "Bahá’í Administration: Selected Messages 1922-1932", p. 21-22

General principles

A few points of principle can be highlighted. These would include:

• Group ownership of every idea
• The necessity of being detached from one's "own" ideas
• The importance of inclusiveness during the consultation
• The importance of treating every person's opinion with respect
• That consultation allows building onto or from ideas
• That decisions previously taken can be altered or reversed

References

Bibliography

• Compilations (1991). Research Department of the Universal House of Justice (ed.). Compilation of Compilations, Volume I. Bahá’í World Centre: Bahá’í Publications Australia.

• Compilations (1983). Hornby, Helen (Ed.) (ed.). Lights of Guidance: A Bahá’í Reference File. Bahá’í Publishing Trust, New Delhi, India. ISBN 8185091463.