Fourth International Convention

The Fourth International Convention held to elect the Universal House of Justice was held from April 29th to May 2nd, 1978. It was the first Convention at which general sessions were held in the Haifa Auditorium, not the Beit Harofe Auditorium.

Summary[edit]

The Convention was attended by 487 delegates from 108 National Spiritual Assemblies from across the world, out of a possible one thousand 1107 delegates from 123 Assemblies. 52 Continental Counsellors and 13 Hands of the Cause also attended. The attendees were able to arrive up to three days prior to the Convention to visit the Holy Land.

Rúhíyyih Khánum opened the first day of the Convention at the Haifa Auditorium with a short talk, after which the vote for the Universal House of Justice took place, and mail ballots were submitted. In the afternoon the delegates visited the site of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice where construction was in progress. Ugo Giachery gave a talk in which he spoke on the significance of the House, mentioning the International Bahá'í Council. Rúhíyyih Khánum also gave a talk on the significance of the Shrines and the Seat of the House, and placed a silver casket, given to her by Shoghi Effendi, containing dust from the Holy Shrines in a niche above the main entrance of the building. The Convention attendees then went to the Pilgrim House and celebrated the Ninth Day of Ridvan, with Abu'l-Qásim Faizi presiding over the program. In the evening the delegates returned to the Haifa Auditorium where William Sears gave a talk on the progress of the Five Year Plan.

The second day of the Convention was opened by Paul Haney who introduced Rúhíyyih Khánum who then read the message from the House of the Convention. She then opened a session of consultation, after which the results of the election were announced. In the afternoon a session of consultation led by Collis Featherstone was held. In the evening delegates and Counsellors from the same areas consulted on the Plan.

The third day of the Convention was opened by John Robarts who presided over a consultation session. In the afternoon Rahmatu'lláh Muhájir presided over a consultation session on mass conversion.

On the fourth and final day of the Convention Zikrullah Khadem presided over a final consultation session. Ugo Giachery then gave a closing address, summarizing the Convention and stressing that administration alone would not be sufficient to complete the goals of the Plan. In the afternoon the Twelfth Day of Ridvan was celebrated at Bahji with ‘Alí-Akbar Furútan presiding.

After the Convention the Continental Counsellors remained in the Holy Land and consulted with the International Teaching Center and Universal House of Justice on the Five Year Plan for five days of sessions which closed with a luncheon with the Universal House of Justice at Mazra'ih.

Election Results[edit]

References[edit]

Bahá'í World, Vol. 17, pp 293-300.
Bahá'í News, No. 569, p 3-5.