Dear Bahá'í friends,
The centennial year of the revelation of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas
has already witnessed events of such capital significance in the annals of the
Bahá'í Dispensation as to cause us to contemplate with awe the rapidity with
which Divine Providence is advancing the Cause of the Most Great Name. The time
is indeed propitious for the establishment of the International Teaching
Centre, a development which, at one and the same time, brings to fruition the
work of the Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy Land and provides for its
extension into the future, links the institution of the Boards of Counsellors
even more intimately with that of the Hands of the Cause of God, and powerfully
reinforces the discharge of the rapidly growing responsibilities of the
Universal House of Justice.
This International Teaching Centre now established will, in
due course, operate from that building designated by the Guardian as the seat
for the Hands of the Cause, which must be raised on the Arc on Mount Carmel in
close proximity to the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.
The duties now assigned to this nascent institution are:
- To co-ordinate, stimulate and direct the activities of the Continental Boards of Counsellors and to act as liaison between them and the Universal House of Justice.
- To be fully informed of the situation of the Cause in all parts of the world and to be able, from the background of this knowledge, to make reports and recommendations to the Universal House of Justice and give advice to the Continental Boards of Counsellors.
- To be alert to possibilities, both within and without the Bahá'í community, for the extension of the teaching work into receptive or needy areas, and to draw the attention of the Universal House of Justice and the Continental Boards of Counsellors to such possibilities, making recommendations for action.
- To determine and anticipate needs for literature, pioneers and travelling teachers and to work out teaching plans, both regional and global, for the approval of the Universal House of Justice.
In addition, we now appoint Mr. Hooper Dunbar, Mrs. Florence
Mayberry and Mr. 'Aziz Yazdi to membership of the International Teaching
Centre, with the rank of Counsellor. These believers, who have been serving
with distinction on the Continental Boards of Counsellors in South America,
North America and Central and East Africa respectively, will henceforth reside
in Haifa and will, together with the Hands present in the Holy Land, constitute
the nucleus of the operations of the Centre.
Authority for the expulsion and reinstatement of
Covenant-breakers remains with the Hands of the Cause of God. All such matters
will be investigated locally by the relative Continental Board of Counsellors
in consultation with any Hand or Hands who may be in the area. The Continental
Board of Counsellors and the Hands concerned will then make their reports to
the International Teaching Centre where they will be considered. The decision whether
or not to expel or reinstate will be made by the Hands of the Cause residing in
the Holy Land who will, as at present, submit their decision to the Universal
House of Justice for approval.
The following changes to the zones of the Continental Boards
of Counsellors are now made:
- The number of zones has been raised to twelve by the removal of India, Tibet, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Laccadive, Maldive, Andaman and Nicobar Islands from Central Asia.
- The Philippines, Hong Kong and Macau are transferred from North-eastern Asia to South-eastern Asia.
- The Caroline Islands and all other Pacific islands lying north of the equator and between longitudes 140o east and 140o west, with the exception of the Gilbert Islands, will be transferred from the zone of Australasia to the zone of North-eastern Asia. Islands under the jurisdiction of the National Spiritual Assembly of Alaska remain in the zone of North America.
The number of Counsellors is now raised to fifty-seven by
the appointment of Mr. Friday Ekpe and Mr. Zekrullah Kazemi in North-western
Africa, Mr. Hushang Ahdieh and Mr. Peter Vuyiya in Central and East Africa, Dr.
Sarah Pereira and Mrs. Velma Sherrill in North America, Mr. Rowland Estall and
Mr. Paul Lucas in Central America, Mrs. Leonora Armstrong, Mr. Peter McLaren
and Mr. Raul Pavon in South America, Mr. Dipchand Khianra and Mrs. Zena
Sorabjee in South Central Asia, Mr. Firaydun Mithaqiyan in South-eastern Asia,
Mr. Richard Benson and Miss Elena Marsella in North-eastern Asia and Miss
Violet Hoehnke in Australasia. Dr. William Maxwell who has been rendering
distinguished service as a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in
North-western Africa has been obliged to return to the United States.
Mrs. Zena Sorabjee is appointed Trustee of the new
Continental Fund of South Central Asia, while Mr. Hushang Ahdieh and Mr. Mas'ud
Khamsi are appointed the new Trustees of the Continental Funds of Central and
East Africa and South America respectively.
Beyond these significant developments at the World Centre of
the Faith and on the continental level, it is becoming increasingly necessary
in many parts of the world for the Auxiliary Boards to be reinforced. The
nature of the work differs from zone to zone and the Universal House of Justice
is now consulting the Boards of Counsellors on this matter before making an
announcement.
The decisions now announced are the outcome of deliberation
extending over a number of years, reinforced by consultations with the Hands of
the Cause of God, and especially with the Hands residing in the Holy Land who
were requested in 1968 to assist the Universal House of Justice in the
establishment of the International Teaching Centre, a task that now increases
in magnitude as that Centre begins its work.
It is our fervent prayer that the Blessed Beauty will
abundantly confirm this latest unfoldment of His divinely-purposed
Administrative Order.
The Universal House of Justice
(Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1963 to 1986)
