International Bahá’í Council |
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 Elected membership of the International Bahá’í Council, 1961.
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| Established | 1951 | |
| - | Disbanded | 1963 |
The International Bahá’í Council was a multi-national body formed by Shoghi Effendi on January 9, 1951. At Ridván 1961, the Council became an elected body. It was disbanded in 1963 when the Universal House of Justice was formed.
History[edit]
The International Bahá’í Council was formed in 1951 with Shoghi Effendi appointing six members who were either already serving in the Holy Land or had been invited to the Holy Land shortly before its establishment. He referred to it as a temporary body to be succeeded by the Universal House of Justice. He designated the appointees as various officers, and the Council generally did not meet and consult as a body, with the members instead receiving instructions from the Guardian individually. Shoghi Effendi later appointed additional members to the body, who were Ugo Giachery and Leroy Ioas, appointed in March 1952, and Sylvia Ioas, appointed in 1955.
At its formation the Council was charged to[1]:
- Forge links with the authorities in the State of Israel
- Assist Shoghi Effendi in the erection of the superstructure of the Shrine of the Báb
- Conduct negotiations related to matters of personal status with the civil authorities.
In 1953 members of the Council were entrusted with the task of representing the Guardian at Intercontinental Conferences held across the world to launch the Ten Year Crusade.
After the passing of the Guardian in 1957 the Hands of the Cause elected nine Custodians from their ranks to serve as Head of the Faith until the Universal House of Justice was established. The Custodians announced that the Council was to represent the Faith in all matters related to the Israeli Government and its courts, and that the the five Custodians who were not already members of the Council were to serve on the body.[2]
On November 4, 1959, the Hands of the Cause announced that the International Bahá’í Council was to become an elected body with an election to be held during Ridván 1961 in which members of all National Spiritual Assemblies were to vote by postal ballot for members who were to serve one two year term. The Hands exempted themselves from being elected to the Council, and also outlined additional duties of the Council:
- To assist the Hands of the Cause in the care of the properties at the World Center
- To assist the Hands of the Cause in the establishment of the Universal House of Justice
- To assist the Hands of the Cause in any other functions which they may assign from time to time.
On June 25, 1961, the Custodians announced the assignments of the elected Council were to[3]:
- Forge link with authorities of newly emerged State.
- Conduct negotiations related to matters of personal status with civil authorities.
- Legal protection of the international endowments of the Faith at the World Centre and completion, circumstances permitting, of plans made by the beloved Guardian for their extension.
- Supervision of income-producing properties at the World Centre.
- Assist the Hands in preparing for the World Congress to be held in Baghdad in 1963.
- Assist the Hands in arrangements for the election of the Universal House of Justice.
- Issue a News Letter from the World Centre of the Faith.
- Financial responsibility for work at the World Centre exclusive of affairs of the Hands of the Faith.
- Handle guiding at Shrines.
The International Bahá’í Council was dissolved in 1963 and succeeded by the Universal House of Justice.
Appointed Membership[edit]
| Name | Office | Served |
|---|---|---|
| Rúhíyyih Khánum | Liaison between the Council and the Guardian | 1951 - 1961 |
| Charles Mason Remey | President | 1951 - 1959[4] |
| Amelia Collins | Vice-President | 1951 - 1961 |
| Jessie Revell | Treasurer | 1951 - 1961 |
| Ethel Revell | Western Assistant Secretary | 1951 - 1961 |
| Luṭfu’lláh Ḥakím | Eastern Assistant Secretary | 1951 - 1961 |
| Leroy Ioas | Secretary General | 1952 - 1961 |
| Ugo Giachery | Member-at-Large | 1952 - 1961 |
| Sylvia Ioas | Member-at-Large | 1955 - 1961 |
| Hasan Balyuzi | Member/Custodian | 1957 - 1959[5] |
| ‘Alí-Akbar Furútan | Member/Custodian | 1957 - 1961 |
| Jalál Kháḍih | Member/Custodian | 1957 - 1961 |
| Paul Haney | Member/Custodian | 1957 - 1961 |
| Abu'l-Qásim Faizi | Member/Custodian | 1957 - 1961 |
| John Ferraby | Member/Custodian | 1959 - 1961[6] |
| Horace Holley | Member/Custodian | 1959 - 1960[7] |
| William Sears | Member/Custodian | 1960 - 1961 |
Elected Membership[edit]
| Name | Office | Served |
|---|---|---|
| Alí Nakhjavání | President | 1961 - 1963 |
| Sylvia Ioas | Vice-President | 1961 - 1963 |
| Jessie Revell | Treasurer | 1961 - 1963 |
| Charles Wolcott | Secretary General | 1961 - 1963 |
| Ian Semple | Assistant Secretary | 1961 - 1963 |
| Luṭfu’lláh Ḥakím | Member | 1961 - 1963 |
| Ethel Revell | Member | 1961 - 1963 |
| Mildred Mottahedeh | Member | 1961 - 1963 |
| Borrah Kavelin | Member-at-Large | 1961 - 1963 |
References[edit]
- Baha'i World, The 1954-1963: Vol. XIII. World Centre Publications.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|coauthors=and|month=(help) - International Bahá'í Council by Duane L. Herrmann published in Bahá'í News, pages 10-11 1990-03
Notes[edit]
- ↑ Momen, Wendi. A Basic Baha'i Dictionary. George Ronald Publisher Ltd. ISBN 978-0-85398-231-7.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: checksum (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ↑ https://bahai-library.com/uhj_ministry_custodians&chapter=1#34
- ↑ https://bahai-library.com/uhj_ministry_custodians&chapter=5#324
- ↑ Baha'i News (1959). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 346, Pg(s) 4. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1959). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 346, Pg(s) 4. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1959). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 346, Pg(s) 4. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1959). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 346, Pg(s) 4. View as PDF.
