The Baha'i Administrative Order

Working in groups effectively requires some kind of organization.
Therefore, Baha'u'llah provided for an administrative order at the local, national and international levels to guide the Baha'i World after His passing.
Houses of Justice
The Baha'i Administrative Order is organized into Houses of Justice of nine members each.
The Local House of Justice is elected by the believers in the local community.
The National House of Justice is elected by delegates at a national convention.
The Universal House of Justice, the supreme international body in the administrative order, is elected by the National Houses at a world convention.
The Universal House of Justice is authorized to rule on any aspect of the Faith not expressly revealed in Baha'i scriptures. This hierarchy of elected representative bodies constitutes the administrative wing of the Baha'i Order.

OPEN INVITATION

Dear Bahai Friends
This is an open invitation to all bahais of the world to post your comments and thoughts about tarbiyat bahai faith on this blog.
We can have fruitful discussion to know the real message ofBahaullah.

Q: What is the difference between the Tarbiyat Baha'i Community and other Baha'i groups?

A: The only difference between the Tarbiyat Baha'i Community and the rest of the Baha'i world relates to the spiritual leadership of the Faith. The Tarbiyat Baha'i Community believes that the institution of the hereditary Guardianship, delineated by Abdu'l-Baha in his Last Will and Testament, is necessary to preserve the long-term integrity of the Faith. The Tarbiyat Baha'i Community believes that the Guardian must come from the bloodline of Baha'u'llah, and that a Guardian from the Holy Family will arise in due time. The largest Baha'i group, with American headquarters in Wilmette and international headquarters in Haifa, Israel, believes that the institution of the Guardianship terminated when the Faith's first Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, died without children and, apparently, without appointing a successor Guardian.

WHAT IS UHJ?

Q.What is the reason then why the present group of Baha’is under the leadership of the Haifa organization do not recognize the continuance of the Guardianship?Ans.Upon the passing of Shoghi Effendi in November 1957, a majority of the Baha’is were tragically led astray from their former faithful adherence to the provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha by the highly revered Hands of the Cause (distinguished and highly esteemed assistants appointed by the Guardian who serve under his direction) who, upon the passing of Shoghi Effendi, failed to recognize the import and significance of Shoghi Effendi’s appointment of Mason Remey as President of the first International Baha’i Council (the embryonic Universal House of Justice) over which according to the provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha only the Guardian of the Faith presides as its “sacred head” and for this reason had been carefully retained by Shoghi Effendi as an inactive body, pending his passing. These Hands, losing sight of the fact that the Guardian must appoint his successor “in his own life-time” and therefore not by a conventional will and testament, upon not finding such a will, erroneously concluded that the Guardianship had come to a premature end. They then appointed a body of nine Hands from their own number, a body outside the provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, which assumed the role and functions of the Guardianship and took control of the world administrative seat of the Faith in Haifa. Some six years later, in 1963,this body transferred the authority and functions it had illegitimately assumed to the UHJ in Haifa, a now headless and incomplete body in the absence of a presiding Guardian, whose successor elected bodies have been similarly named Universal Houses of Justice.

SHOGHI EFFENDI

Baha’i Faith would be imperiled without the Guardian.Shoghi Effendi warned to the Baha’is in his Spiritual Testament “The Administrative Order of The Dispensation of Baha’u’llah” that the Faith would be imperiled, and the stability of entire fabric would be gravely endangered without the guardian. Therefore Baha’is should obey his commandments and search the Living Guardian of Baha’i Faith.

BAHAI GATHERING

Nineteen days Feasts(NDF)
The only regular Baha'i activity which might be considered a religious service is the Feast. The Feast, which is held once every nineteen days, consists of three portions. The spiritual portion involves the reading of prayers. The administrative portion is a discussion of community business, and the material portion is the sharing of refreshments and fellowship.Baha'u'llah established a new calendar with nineteen months of nineteen days each and four "intercalary" days to adjust to the solar year. Therefore, the Baha'i community's monthly gatherings are known as the Nineteen Day Feast.

OUR BELIEFS

We are an organized community of Baha'is who accept the Teachings of Baha'u'llah, Founder of the Baha'i Faith, and uphold the validity of the continuing Guardianship of the Cause of God. The institution of the Guardianship was established to provide spiritual guidance to the Baha'i World. The Faith has been without that necessary leadership since the death of the first Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, in 1957. We believe a lineal descendant of Baha'u'llah will arise to take up the mantle of the Guardianship in the future. In the meantime, this community of believers is led by a Council of "Regents" who serve no other purpose than to unite Baha'is in anticipation of that day when the second Guardian arises to restore spiritual guidance to the Faith and reunify the Baha'i World.

What is the Baha'i Faith?

The Baha'i Faith is a world religion Which calls for a renewal of the common spiritual teachings found in all religions and sets forth a dynamic body of social teachings specifically designed to lead humanity into a new world civilization and an era of peace based upon the Faith's twin teachings of unity and justice.The word "Baha'i" is taken from the title given to a man known as Baha'u'llah (which means the Glory of God). Baha'u'llah, whose ministry lasted from 1853 to 1892, was a Manifestation of God - a messenger to humanity with a new revelation from God for this day.The Baha'i Faith, which originated in Persia, was relatively unknown in the west until the early part of this century. Since then it has spread around the world as people have embraced its strong spiritual ethic, progressive social teachings, enlightening answers to age-old religious questions, and its vision of a world united in peace.

SPIRITUAL WING OF BAHAI ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

The spiritual leader of the Baha'i Faith is known as the Guardian of the Faith.
1) He must be a male lineal descendant of Baha'u'llah and has sole authority to interpret Baha'i scriptures.
2)He also sits as chairman for life of the Universal House of Justice.
3)He has the right to define its proper sphere of legislative action and to require that body to reconsider any of its decisions. He is required to appoint a successor in his own lifetime.
4)The Guardian also appoints believers as Hands of the Cause to assist him in spiritual matters, particularly teaching and protection of the Faith.Thus, the Administrative Order reflects legislative and executive, elective and hereditary, material and spiritual principles.

The first Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, explained with regard to the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice, respectively: "The first [the Guardianship] preserves the identity of His Faith and guards the integrity of His law. The second [the Universal House of Justice] enables it, even as a living organism, to expand and adapt itself to the needs and requirements of an ever changing society."(World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 23)

CONTACT TARBIYAT BAHAI COMMUNITY

If you would like to reach us for more information, or simply for discussion, we welcome you to contact us in the following ways: By email: info@tarbiyatcenter.orgBy mail:
Tarbiyat Baha'i CommunityP.O. Box 1424Las Vegas, NM 87701By phone: 505.425.3688

Q: Who was Abdu'l-Baha and what is his role in the Baha'i Faith?

A: Abdu'l Baha, the eldest surviving son of Baha'u'llah, was appointed by his Father as the "Center of His Covenant" and the authorized Interpreter of His Writings.. In this capacity, unique in the history of religion, Abdu'l-Baha left many writings explaining and elucidating the teachings of Baha'u'llah. Although recognized as the "Perfect Exemplar" of Baha'u'llah's teaching, Abdu'l-Baha was, nevertheless, essentially human and held a station radically different from that of Baha'u'llah.

Q: What is the difference between the Tarbiyat Baha'i Community and other Baha'i groups?

A: The only difference between the Tarbiyat Baha'i Community and the rest of the Baha'i world relates to the spiritual leadership of the Faith. The Tarbiyat Baha'i Community believes that the institution of the hereditary Guardianship, delineated by Abdu'l-Baha in his Last Will and Testament, is necessary to preserve the long-term integrity of the Faith. The Tarbiyat Baha'i Community believes that the Guardian must come from the bloodline of Baha'u'llah, and that a Guardian from the Holy Family will arise in due time. The largest Baha'i group, with American headquarters in Wilmette and international headquarters in Haifa, Israel, believes that the institution of the Guardianship terminated when the Faith's first Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, died without children and, apparently, without appointing a successor Guardian.

ABDU'L BAHA - CENTER OF THE COVENANT

Since His childhood Abdu'l-Baha had recognized His father's station and was His closest companion and protector. From the time of His youth He actively participated in His father's ministry by assisting with correspondence, writing religious commentaries, and meeting with religious leaders.Throughout His life Abdu'l-Baha was known for His courteous and gracious manner, His kindness, His love for children, His generosity and His care for the poor and suffering. He was knighted by the British for the part he played in alleviating the suffering of the people of the Holy Land during the 1914-18 war, a title he accepted, but never used.Like His father, Abdu'l-Baha suffered persecution and was held a prisoner in Akka for 40 years. Still He continued spreading the Baha'i Faith. He was finally freed from governmental arrest in 1908. In 1911 and 1912 He traveled to Europe and the United States, teaching the Faith at the request of interested western inquirers and early believers. He, too, wrote many books and letters and had talks transcribed which today make up part of the scriptural resources available to Baha'is. Before Abdu'l-Baha died in 1921, He provided for the continued spiritual leadership of the Faith by establishing the Institution of the Guardianship.

IN MEMORY OF JOHN MANDES

On September 30, John Mandes, a long-time
member of the Tarbiyat Baha’i Community, passed
away after over 12 years of cancer. He was at
home when he passed, with his family around him
at the time.
John became a member of our community in 1972,
while touring the country with Up With People and
meeting some of our community members and
friends backstage after a perfromance in Santa
Fe. John was clear from the beginning about the
message of Baha’u’llah, and about the importance
of the Guardianship. He declared on the spot and
never waivered in his dedication to the Cause.
Over the course of the years John moved from place to place, and eventually found his calling
in teaching. His last position was at the College of the Desert in Palm Springs, CA. He loved his
work, and his students loved him. His classes always filled up first when registrations opened.
He was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, and had surgery to remove it. The surgery
was successful, but the cancer later reappeared elsewhere. His attitude was that it was simply a
condition of life, and one must deal with those conditions. It wasn’t a battle to be won or lost.
Marny and I went to Pennsylvania (Hershey) to fulfill John’s request to prepare his body for
burial and oversee the internment services according to Baha’i procedures. I prepared a small
pamphlet (which I e-mailed to the Baha’i Community earlier) which included statements about the
body and the spirit, and death, as well as the Prayer for the Departed. These were used in the
service. Jessica King and An Wine were able to drive up and join us for the service as well.
John’s family was very grateful for our presence, and took all of us in as part of their family. It
was clear this was something that completed their own relationship with John, as he was the
only one of six siblings to move away from the area. His family now knows who John’s “other
family” is and how much we loved him. Your prayers for John and his family are appreciated.
John will be deeply missed by all. —Ralph