Regional Bahá'í Council
Letters[edit]
Regional Bahá’í Councils only formed with permission of the House of Justice where complexity of issues facing National Spiritual Assemblies requires it[edit]
"In a letter addressed to you under the date of 30 May 1997, the Universal House of Justice announced its decision to establish Regional Bahá’í Councils as a new element of Bahá’í administration, between the local and national levels. These institutions are formed only with the permission of the House of Justice in certain countries where the growing complexity of the issues which are facing National Spiritual Assemblies requires this development."
- (On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, to all National Spiritual Assemblies, 12 March 2000)
Regional Council established either through election by Local Spiritual Assembly members in the region or through appointment by the National Spiritual Assembly, receiving recommendations of candidates from Local Spiritual Assemblies in the region[edit]
"As specified by the House of Justice case by case for the countries directly concerned, a Regional Council is established either through election by the members of the Local Spiritual Assemblies in a region or through appointment by the National Spiritual Assembly, which receives recommendations of candidates from Local Spiritual Assemblies in the region."
- (On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, to all National Spiritual Assemblies, 12 March 2000)
To be elected 26 November, the Day of the Covenant[edit]
"The date set for formation of Regional Councils has been 23 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of the Báb according to the Gregorian calendar...
"In view of the experience gained over a period of several years, the House of Justice has recognized that it would be more practical to set a new date for the formation of these institutions. Henceforth, then, the election or appointment of Regional Councils will take effect every year on 26 November, the Day of the Covenant. The formation processes will, of course, have to be set in motion in sufficient time to be concluded on this date."
- (On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, to all National Spiritual Assemblies, 12 March 2000)
Regional Bahá’í Councils closely interacting with training institute sets stage for coherence of expansion and consolidation in a region[edit]
"Collateral with the demonstrated efficacy of training institutes is the pragmatic emergence of Regional Bahá’í Councils in selected countries where conditions have made the establishment of these institutions necessary and viable. Where there is close interaction between a Council and a training institute, the stage is set for a galvanic coherence of the processes effecting expansion and consolidation in a region, and for the practical matching of the training services of institutes to the developmental needs of local communities. Moreover, the operational guidelines whereby the Continental Counselors and the Regional Councils have direct access to each other give rise to a further institutional relationship which, along with that connecting the Councils to the National and Local Spiritual Assemblies, effectuates a dynamic integration of functions at the regional level."
Regional Bahá'í Councils cannot currently dissolve Local Spiritual Assemblies[edit]
"Your second question is whether or not a Regional Bahá’í Council can accept or dissolve a Local Spiritual Assembly in its area of jurisdiction. Although the prerogative of recognition of Local Spiritual Assemblies rests with the National Spiritual Assembly, procedures for accepting Local Assemblies are determined at the discretion of the National Assembly. The question of dissolving Local Assemblies is another matter; it should not be delegated by the National Assembly to the Regional Councils at this time. The Councils can, of course, make recommendations to the National Assembly in this respect."
- (On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of South Africa, 16 May 2000)
