Dear Baha'i friends,
It gives us great happiness to announce the membership of the Continental Boards of Counsellors as from the Day of the Covenant, 26 November 1985. The number of Counsellors has been increased from 63 to 72 and adjustments have been made in their geographical distribution in consonance with the development of the Faith around the world.
The membership of the Continental Boards of Counsellors as now appointed is:
Africa (18 Counsellors): Mr Hushang Ahdieh (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Mr Husayn Ardikani, Mrs Beatrice O. Asare, Mr Gila Michael Bahta, Mr Friday Ekpe, Mr Oloro Epyeru, Mr Shidan Fat'he-Aazam, Mr Kassimi Fofana, Mr Zekrullah Kazemi, Mr Muhammad Kebdani, Mrs Thelma Khelghati, Mr Roddy Dharma Lutchmaya, Mr Daniel Ramoroesi, Dr Mihdi Samandari, Mrs Edith Senoga, Mr Peter Vuyiya, Mrs Lucretia Mancho Warren, Mr Mabuku Wingi.
The Americas (17 Counsellors): Dr Hidayatu'llah Ahmadiyyih, Mr Eloy Anello, Dr Farzam Arbab (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Dr Wilma Brady, Mrs Isabel p. de Calderon, Mr Rolf von Czekus, Mr Robert Harris, Mrs Lauretta King, Dr Peter McLaren, Mr Shapoor Monadjem, Mrs Ruth Pringle, Mr Donald O. Rogers, Mr Fred Schechter, Dr Arturo Serrano, Mr Alan Smith, Dr David R. Smith, Mr Rodrigo Tomas.
Asia (19 Counsellors): Dr Sabir Afaqi, Mr Burhani'd-Din Afshin, Dr Iraj Ayman, Mr Bijan Fareed, Dr John Fozdar, Mr Zabihu'llah Gulmuhammadi, Mr Bharat Koirala, Mr Ruhu'llah Mumtazi, Mr S. Nagaratnam, Dr Perin Olyai, Mrs Rose Ong, Mr Khudarahm Payman (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Mr Masih Rawhani, Mr Vicente Samaniego, Dr Ilhan Sezgin, U Soe Tin, Mrs Zena Sorabjee, Dr Chellie J. Sundram, Mr Michitoshi Zenimoto.
Australasia (9 Counsellors): Mr Suhayl 'Ala'i, Mr Ben Ayala, Justice Richard Benson, Dr Kamran Eshraghian, Mrs Tinai Hancock, Mr Lisiate Maka, Mrs Gayle Morrison, Dr Sirus Naraqi, Mrs Joy Stevenson (Trustee of the Continental Fund).
Europe (9 Counsellors): Dr Agnes Ghaznavi, Mr Hartmut Grossmann, Mr Louis Henuzet (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Mrs Ursula Muehlschlegel, Dr Leo Niederreiter, Mrs Polin Rafat, Mr Adib Taherzadeh, Mr Adam Thorne, Mr Sohrab Youssefian.
The following nineteen devoted believers who are now being relieved of the onerous duties of membership on the Boards of Counsellors, will, as distinguished servants of the Cause, continue through their outstanding capacities and experience to be sources of stimulation and encouragement to the friends.
Mr A. Owen Battrick, Mr Erik Blumenthal, Mrs Shirin Boman, Mrs Carmen de Burafato, Mr Athos Costas, Mr Angus Cowan, Mrs Dorothy Ferraby, Mr Aydin Gueney, Dr Dipchand Khianra, Mr Artemus Lamb, Mr Kolonario Oule, Dr Sarah Pereira, Mrs Betty R. Reed, Dr Manuchihr Salmanpur, Mrs Velma Sherrill, Mr Hideya Suzuki, Mrs Bahiyyih Winckler, Mr Donald Witzel, Mr Yan Kee Leong.
We express to each and every one of these dear friends our heartfelt gratitude and assure them of our prayers in the Holy Shrines for the confirmation of their highly meritorious and self-sacrificing services to the Cause of Baha'u'llah.
At this time when the Baha'i world is facing the challenge of the International Year of Peace, on the point of completing the Seven Year Plan and standing on the threshold of a new Six Year Plan, we have felt it important to call upon the Counsellors from all the continents to gather at the World Centre for a conference to deliberate on the tasks and opportunities of the years immediately ahead. This conference will take place from 27 December 1985 through 2 January 1986 and is yet one more sign of the rapid advance and consolidation of the institutions of the Cause of God.
We are profoundly grateful to the Blessed Perfection for His bountiful confirmations which are enabling His strenuously labouring servants in every part of the world to witness the growing influence of His glorious Cause, and to take part in the vitalizing unfoldment of His Administrative Order.
It is our fervent prayer at the Sacred Threshold that the followers of Baha'u'llah in every land will arise with increased determination and self-abnegation to mirror forth the standards upheld by His potent Faith.
With loving Baha'i greetings,
The Universal House of Justice
(Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986’)
