The Continental Boards of Counsellors are an Institution of the administrative order of the Bahá’í Faith, and are responsible for overseeing the protection and propagation of the Faith. They were established by the Universal House of Justice in 1968.
Counsellors are appointed by the Universal House of Justice, and are assigned to a Continental Board. The primary responsibilities of Counsellors are the protection and propagation of the Faith within the area covered by their Continental Board. They are also responsible for appointing the members of Auxiliary Boards which are responsible for smaller regional areas.
There are currently 81 Counsellors, who are appointed for renewable five-year terms which start on November 26, which is a Holy Day, the Day of the Covenant. Nine Counsellors are assigned to the International Teaching Center instead of a Continental Board and coordinate the international efforts of the Counsellors. They are referred to as International Counsellors.
Functions
The Continental Boards of Counselors are responsible for undertaking the functions of protection and propagation of the Bahá’í Faith. In 1968 the Universal House of Justice assigned the following overarching duties related to this to the Continental Boards[1]:
- Directing the Auxiliary Boards in their respective areas.
- Consulting and collaborating with National Spiritual Assemblies.
- Keeping the Hands of the Cause and the Universal House of Justice informed concerning the conditions of the Cause in their areas.
More specific duties listed in the 2001 document The Institution of the Counsellors are[2]:
- Stimulating the expansion and consolidation of the Faith.
- Promoting the spiritual, intellectual, and social aspects of Bahá’í life.
- Stimulating the spiritual health of the community and the vitality of the faith of the individual.
- Strengthening of the foundations of family life.
- Promoting the study of the Teachings.
- Promoting a culture of growth.
A 1995 Letter from the Universal House of Justice included the following regarding the functioning of the Boards:
"Fundamental to the work of the Counsellors is the understanding that all members of the Continental Board are responsible for the entire continent, and should, to the degree possible, endeavor to familiarize themselves with the conditions of the Cause in the countries therein. Through periodic reports from individual Counsellors, the Board is kept abreast of developments in all areas of the continent and is able to offer guidance to assist its members in the execution of their duties. Whereas no Counsellor should be regarded as having exclusive responsibility for any one territory, the detailed familiarity acquired by each through close interaction with the National Spiritual Assembly and Auxiliary Board members in a particular area is in fact a valuable asset to all the Counsellors on the Board"[3]
The International Teaching Center coordinates, stimulates and directs the activities of the Continental Boards and acts as a liaison between them and the Universal House of Justice.[4]
In terms of the relationship between the Continental Boards and National Spiritual Assemblies the Counselors are to support initiatives adopted by a National Spiritual Assembly which are often decided through joint deliberation between the Board and the Assembly. Counselors are obligated to advise National Spiritual Assemblies and offer suggestions relevant to their functioning, alert them to any fields of concern in the community, and suggest corrective action if they feel a National Assembly is exhibiting a departure from Bahá’í principles in its functioning.[2]
Counsellors notably do not have any legislative, executive or judicial authority, priestly functions, and can not make authoritative interpretations,[5] however the Universal House of Justice has explained that they outrank Assemblies and Assemblies are to keep them informed and consider their advice and recommendations, although the relationship is to be characterized by love and a common desire to serve rather than by rank or station.[6]
History
When the Universal House of Justice was formed in 1963 one of the points of uncertainty before it was how the function that the Hands of the Cause played in protecting and propagating the Faith during the Ministry of the Guardian could be fulfilled indefinitely. This was an issue as the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stipulated that only the Guardian was able to appoint new Hands of the Cause, meaning that no additional Hands could be appointed.
Developing "the Institution of the Hands of the Cause with a view to extension into the future of its appointed functions of protection and propagation" was made a goal of the Nine Year Plan which began in 1964. Consultation between the House and the Hands resulted in the decision being made to establish the Continental Boards of Counselors in 1968.
Eleven Boards were formed, with each administering their duties for a geographical area. They were the Continental Boards for[7]:
- Northwestern Africa
- Central and East Africa
- Southern Africa
- North America
- Central America
- South America
- Western Asia
- Southeast Asia
- Northeast Asia
- Australasia
- Europe.
The number of Counselors appointed to each Board varied and each had one member designated Trustee of the Continental Fund.[8] In a 24 June 1968 Letter the Universal House of Justice noted that Counselors were to be appointed for terms, not for life, and that term lengths would be decided at a later date. The letter also listed the basic duties which had been assigned to the Boards.[1]
The letter also noted that the Hands of the Cause were to assist the fledgling Boards by consulting with them on appointments to the Auxiliary Boards and on any subject they thought affected the interests of the Cause and the Hands residing in the Holy Land were instructed to act as a liaison between the Universal House of Justice and the newly-formed bodies.
In 1973 the Universal House of Justice developed the Institution of the Counsellors by establishing the International Teaching Center to more closely oversee the body and act as a liaison between the Boards and the Universal House of Justice.[4] The membership of the International Teaching Center consisted of the living Hands of the Cause, with those residing in the Holy Land overseeing day to day functions, and three Counsellors appointed to the body who were to reside in the Holy Land.[9]
In 1973 an additional Continental Board was formed for South Central Asia, the areas administered by several Boards were slightly altered, and the total number of Counsellors was increased.[10] In 1975 the Board of Northwestern Africa was split into the independent Continental Boards of Northern and Western Africa.[11]
In June 1979 the Universal House of Justice announced that the term of office for Counsellors was to be five years, with the inaugural terms beginning on the Day of the Covenant, November 26, in 1980. On November 3, 1980 the House announced that the number of Continental Boards would be reduced to five on November 26 which were the following[12]:
The newly appointed Boards were granted greater autonomy over how to divide their areas, and manage their offices and Auxiliary Boards.[13]
The first international Conference for Counselors from all Continental Boards was held in the Holy Land from 27 December 1985 to 2 January 1986,[14] with the Universal House of Justice announcing that for the first time the Counselors would be helping National Spiritual Assemblies to form their own goals, rather than goals being assigned to communities from the World Centre, at the close of the conference.[15]
In 2001 the document Institution of the Counsellors prepared by the Universal House of Justice was released which "describes the Institution of the Counsellors and explains some specific aspects of its functioning."[16]
Current Boards
Continental Board for Africa
| Name | Appointed |
|---|---|
| Maina Mkandawire | 2000 |
| Agatha Gaisie-Nketsiah | 2005 |
| Mariama Ousmane Djaouga | 2010 |
| Townshend Lihanda | 2010 |
| Melanie Bangala | 2015 |
| Alain Pierre Djoulde | 2015 |
| Maty Issoufou | 2015 |
| Musonda Kapusa-Linsel | 2015 |
| Judicael Mokole | 2015 |
| Nancy Oloro Robarts | 2015 |
| Djamila Tchakreo | 2015 |
| Augustino Ibrahim | 2020 |
| Linnet Sifuna Kisaka | 2020 |
| Hamed Javaheri | 2020 |
| Jacques Tshibuabua Kabuya | 2020 |
| Izzat Abumba Mionda | 2020 |
| Amelia Mujinga Ngandu | 2020 |
| Nsika Mutasa | 2020 |
| Michael Okiria | 2020 |
Continental Board for the Americas
| Name | Appointed |
|---|---|
| José Luis Almeida | 2010 |
| Beatriz Carmona | 2010 |
| Pejman Samoori | 2010 |
| Borna Noureddin | 2010 |
| Bernardino Sanchez | 2010 |
| Sonlla Heern | 2013 |
| Nwandi Ngozi Lawson | 2014 |
| Brigida Carrillo | 2015 |
| Ingrid Umpierre Conter | 2015 |
| Daniel Duhart | 2015 |
| Farah Guchani-Rosenberg | 2015 |
| Arthur Powell | 2015 |
| Natasha Bruss | 2018 |
| Ada Micheline Leonce Ferdinand | 2018 |
| Ayafor Temengye Ayafor | 2020 |
| Louis Boddy | 2020 |
| Blas Cruz Martinez | 2020 |
| Badi Hernandez | 2020 |
| Irene Iturburo | 2020 |
| William Silva | 2020 |
| Margarita Valdez Martinez | 2020 |
Continental Board for Asia
| Name | Appointed |
|---|---|
| Foad Reyhani | 2000 |
| Tarrant Mahony | 2005 |
| Omid Seioshanseian | 2005 |
| Jamil Aliyev | 2010 |
| Nadera Fikri | 2010 |
| Myint Zaw Oo | 2010 |
| Ircham Sujadmiko | 2010 |
| Walid Ayyash | 2015 |
| Shareen Farhad | 2015 |
| Kam Mui Sayers Fok | 2015 |
| Sokuntheary Reth | 2015 |
| Hesham Saad | 2015 |
| Dregpal Singh | 2015 |
| Zebinisso Soliyeva | 2015 |
| Fang Jung Tseng Chung | 2015 |
| Bhavna Anbarasan | 2018 |
| Yam Prasad Acharya | 2020 |
| Marjini Deraoh | 2020 |
| Gulnara Eyvazova | 2020 |
| Rahul Kumar | 2020 |
| Nicholas Loh | 2020 |
| Parimal Mahato | 2020 |
| Uttam Mitra | 2020 |
| Faris Naimi | 2020 |
| Artin Rezaie | 2020 |
| Niroshani Saleh | 2020 |
| Ozoda Zoidova | 2020 |
Continental Board for Australasia
| Name | Appointed |
|---|---|
| Jalal Mills | 2000 |
| Kessia Ruh | 2005 |
| Ritia Kamauti Bakineti | 2010 |
| Kirk Johnson | 2010 |
| Tessa Scrine | 2010 |
| Taraz Nadarajah | 2015 |
| Daniel Pierce | 2015 |
| Vahid Saberi | 2018 |
| Bob Ale | 2020 |
| Latai 'Atoa | 2020 |
Continental Board for Europe
| Name | Appointed |
|---|---|
| Paul Verheij | 2010 |
| Raffaella Capozzi Gubinelli | 2015 |
| Saba Mazza | 2015 |
| Yevgeniya Poluektova | 2015 |
| Mehdi Rezvan | 2015 |
| Orlando Ravelo Hernandez | 2020 |
| Varqa Khadem | 2020 |
| Shirin Youssefian Maanian | 2020 |
| Veranika Medvedeva | 2020 |
| Hedyeh Nadafi-Stoffel | 2020 |
| Marina Bruckmann | 2023 |
| Ana Maria Marian | 2024 |
See also
References
- Momen, Wendi (1989). A Basic Bahá’í Dictionary. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN 0-85398-231-7.
- Smith, Peter (1999). A Concise Encyclopedia of the Bahá’í Faith. Oxford, UK: Oneworld Publications. ISBN 1-85168-184-1.
- Universal House of Justice (2001). The Institution of the Counsellors. Bahá’í World Centre.
- Universal House of Justice (1996). Marks, Geoffry W., (Ed.) (ed.). Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1963-1986: The Third Epoch of the Formative Age. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá’í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0-87743-239-2.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 24 June 1968 Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the World
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Universal House of Justice, The Institution of the Counsellors, at bahai.org. Viewed 26-09-2019.
- ↑ 26 December 1995 Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 8 June 1973 letter from the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'is of the World
- ↑ Universal House of Justice, The Institution of the Counsellors, at bahai.org. Viewed 26-09-2019.
- ↑ Message from the Universal House of Justice to All National Spiritual Assemblies, 27 March 1978 at bahai.org. Viewed 07-06-2020
- ↑ Baha'i News (August 1968). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 449, Pg(s) 1. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (August 1968). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 449, Pg(s) 2. View as PDF.
- ↑ https://bahai.works/index.php?title=File:Baha%27i_News_509.pdf&page=3
- ↑ https://bahai.works/index.php?title=File:Baha%27i_News_509.pdf&page=3
- ↑ https://bahai.works/MUHJ63-86/153/Formation_of_Five_New_National_Spiritual_Assemblies_during_Ri%E1%B8%8Dv%C3%A1n_1975_and_Readjustment_of_the_Zones_of_African_Continental_Boards_of_Counselors
- ↑ Baha'i News (February 1981). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 599, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (February 1981). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 599, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1987). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 676, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
- ↑ 2 January 1986 Message from the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'is of the World
- ↑ https://www.bahai.org/documents/bwc/institution-counsellors
