Institutions of the Faith

"Hands of the Cause" and "Counsellors"

The emphasis on group leadership, as opposed to individual power, runs throughout the Bahá'í administrative system.

Individuals do not set policy or make rules in Bahá'í Institutions -- Spiritual Assemblies make the decisions, but may delegate specific executive responsibilities.

There are, however, several distinct groups of individuals who are recognized for their spiritual capacities and experience. They play a special role in inspiring and advising the Bahá'í community.

Although they have no decision-making power, their ideas and insights are often sought by elected Bahá'í decision-making bodies.

Foremost among these advisers are the "Hands of the Cause of God." This title has been given to some 47 individuals in the history of the Faith; all were appointed either by Bahá'u'lláh or Shoghi Effendi. Only three were living in mid-1992, and no more can now be appointed.

In 1968, the Universal House of Justice began to designate a number of spiritually mature and experienced individuals as "Continental Counsellors," so as to extend into the future the functions of the Hands of the Cause. Appointed to five year terms, they coordinate their activities through the instrumentality of continental Boards. The work of the Boards--which comprise those Counsellors who reside in a specific continental region--is coordinated, in turn, by a body known as the International Teaching Centre. Located in Haifa, Israel, the Centre's membership comprises all living Hands of the Cause and a number of Counsellors. Continental Counsellors appoint various auxiliaries and assistants, who are charged with working to stimulate and advise Bahá'í communities at the regional and local levels. There are 72 Counsellors worldwide.

Non-involvement in partisan politics

Following a framework set down by Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá'í communities conduct their business through a distinctive system of freely elected governing councils that challenge commonly accepted ideas about the inherent limitations of democracy.

The Bahá'í teachings also stress the importance of obedience to civil government and laws. While Bahá'ís may accept non-partisan government posts or appointments, they do not engage in partisan political activity-- including the discussion of individual candidates or parties. As individuals, however, Bahá'ís are free to vote according to their conscience in civic elections.

Questions about money - or, how Bahá'ís raise funds

Bahá'u'lláh forbade accepting funds for Bahá'í purposes from outside sources in any form. Accordingly, Bahá'í Institutions are supported solely by the registered membership of the Bahá'í Faith.

Bahá'ís are encouraged to give to the Bahá'í Fund on a regular basis. Local and national finances are usually discussed at each Nineteen-Day Feast. All individual contributions are, however, strictly voluntary and confidential.

The Bahá'í World Centre : focal point for a global community

High on Mt. Carmel stands the administrative Center of the World wide Bahá'í Community

Before His passing, Bahá'u'lláh indicated that the world headquarters for the Faith He had founded would be in the Haifa/Acre area in the north of what is now Israel. The region today is home to the spiritual and administrative heart of the Bahá'í Faith.

The final resting places of both Bahá'u'lláh and the Báb are in the region. The gold-dome Shrine of the Báb sits on the slopes of Mt. Carmel in Haifa while the majestic Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh is located just across the bay at Bahji, outside of Acre. Situated in the heart of magnificent gardens, these two spots are the most holy places in the Bahá'í world.

The administrative center of the Bahá'í Faith is in Haifa. Located on Mt. Carmel, just above the Shrine of the Báb and at the top of an arc-shaped path in a monument garden, is the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Bahá'í Faith. From this building and others nearby, a staff of more than 500 people from 50 countries administers the international affairs of the Bahá'í world community.

From Haifa, information is transmitted back and forth between national Bahá'í communities; international goals and plans are disseminated; social and economic development projects are monitored; statistics are collected and kept; and international funds are managed. There is also an international archives building, within which are housed relics, writings and artifacts associated with the lives of the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh, and `Abdu'l-Bahá.

In the early 1990s, a new phase of construction was launched, reflecting the rapid expansion of the Faith. Ground was broken for a series of terraces extending above and below the Shrine of the Báb and for several other new institutional buildings in a program expected to cost more than $150 million before it is completed.

Each year, thousands of pilgrims come from around the world to pray and meditate in the Shrines, and to visit the other Bahá'í holy places in the Haifa/Acre area. These pilgrimages, which bring together Bahá'ís from all over the world, serve further to give social cohesion and integration to the Faith.

"Excerpted from The Bahá'ís, a publication of the Bahá'í International Community."

An aerial view of the administrative buildings of the Bahá'í World Centre. From left to right: The International Teaching Centre Building, the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the Centre for the Study of the Texts, and the International Archives Building. In the background (upper right) are the topmost terraces above the Shrine of the Báb.