Institution of the Counsellors

Part of a series on the
Baháʼí Faith
Central figures
Basics
Key scripture
Institutions
History
People
Places
Other topics

The Institution of the Counsellors (Persian: مؤسسهٔ مشاورین) is the current appointed branch in the administrative system of the Baháʼí religion. It consists of the 9 International Counsellors of the International Teaching Centre, the 90 Continental Counsellors, their Auxiliary Board Members, and assistants.[1] The Counsellors, a respected and high-ranking position,[2][3] are appointed to 5-year renewable terms, and organized into boards working on 5 continents that are coordinated by the International Teaching Centre.[4]

The Institution of the Counsellors was created in 1968 by the Universal House of Justice to perpetuate the work done previously by the Hands of the Cause.[4] The functions of the institution are generally "protection" from schism and "propagation", or spreading, of the religion at an international level.[4][5] Members of the institution have no legislative or executive power, and do not fill the role of clergy, but they are tasked with "stimulating, counseling, and assisting" the elected institutions and Baháʼí communities generally.[5][2] They fill a largely advisory and inspirational role.[6]

The continental and international Counsellors are appointed by the Universal House of Justice, the supreme institution of the religion. Continental Counsellors appoint Auxiliary Boards, who in turn appoint assistants. When including the Hands of the Cause, the whole structure is sometimes called the 'appointed branch' of the religion, or the 'Institution of the Learned', to contrast it with the elected Spiritual Assemblies.[6] All members of the institution, from the International Teaching Centre to Auxiliary Board members serve 5-year terms that begins on the Day of the Covenant, which falls on either November 25 or 26, except for local Assistants, whose duration of service is "left to each Continental Board to decide for itself".[7]

There are no formal qualifications, pre-requisites, or training needed to be appointed to the Institution of the Counsellors.[3]

  1. ^ Universal House of Justice 2001.
  2. ^ a b Adamson 2009.
  3. ^ a b Smith 2008, p. 183.
  4. ^ a b c Smith 2000.
  5. ^ a b Iranica-The Faith 1988.
  6. ^ a b Smith 2008, p. 175.
  7. ^ "The Institution of the Counsellors | Bahá'í Reference Library". Bahá’í.org. The Universal House of Justice.