Administrative privilege of minority groups within the Bahá'í community

Compilations

• Defining a "Minority" for the Purpose of Resolving a Tie for Ninth Place in a Bahá'í Election (direct link)

Letters

• https://bahai-library.com/uhj_clarification_electoral_process

Need for full and equal opportunity to participate in teachings and administrative activities

"The two races should ultimately be brought together, and be urged to associate with the utmost unity and fellowship, and be given full and equal opportunity to participate in the conduct of the teachings as well as administrative activities of the Faith. Nothing short of such an ultimate fusion of the two races can ensure the faithful application of that cornerstone principle of the Cause regarding the oneness of mankind."

(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, letter dated 3/22/37 to National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada, in Bahá'í News, no. 108 (June 1937) 1-2, in Power of Unity, no. 60)

No discrimination should exist between white and people of color in any administrative function or duty; duty of Assemblies to apply this to individual cases

"On principle no discrimination whatsoever should be made between the white and the colored believers in any administrative function or duty. The Cause stands above any racial consideration, for the core of its message is the principle of the oneness of mankind. The colored believers are entitled to the very same privileges and opportunities of service which their fellow-believers of the white race enjoy.

"This principle is quite clear, and should be always emphasized without any compromise of any kind. Its application, however, to individual cases is the responsibility of the assemblies."

(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, letter dated 10/14/37 to individual believer, attached to letter dated 2/4/85 on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States, in Power of Unity, no. 61)

When equal number of ballots cast, minority to be unhesitatingly accorded priority

"So great and vital is this principle that in such circumstances, as when an equal number of ballots have been cast in an election, or where the qualifications for any office are balanced as between the various races, faiths or nationalities within the community, priority should unhesitatingly be accorded the party representing the minority, and this for no other reason except to stimulate and encourage it, and afford it an opportunity to further the interests of the community. In the light of this principle, and bearing in mind the extreme desirability of having the minority elements participate and share responsibility in the conduct of Bahá'í activity, it should be the duty of every Bahá'í community so to arrange its affairs that in cases where individuals belonging to the divers minority elements within it are already qualified and fulfill the necessary requirements, Bahá'í representative institutions, be they Assemblies, conventions, conferences, or committees, may have represented on them as many of these divers elements, racial or otherwise, as possible. The adoption of such a course, and faithful adherence to it, would not only be a source of inspiration and encouragement to those elements that are numerically small and inadequately represented, but would demonstrate to the world at large the universality and representative character of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh, and the freedom of His followers from the taint of those prejudices which have already wrought such havoc in the domestic affairs, as well as the foreign relationships, of the nations."

(Shoghi Effendi, Advent of Divine Justice, pp. 35-36)

See also

• Affirmative action
• Tie-breaking votes

To-dos for this page

• Merge with affirmative action, Consideration of minorities during elections, and Tie-breaking votes pages