| The structure of Bahá'í institutions, conceived by Bahá'u'lláh, formally established by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in His Will and Testament, and expanded during the guardianship of Shoghi Effendi. Its
"twin pillars' are the Universal
House of Justice and the Guardianship. |
| The Bahá'í Administrative
Order includes the local and national
spiritual assemblies (in future called Houses
of Justice) and the Universal
House of Justice, the Guardianship and the institution of the Hands of the Cause. Shoghi Effendi described
the Bahá'í Administrative
Order 'not only as the nucleus but the very pattern of the New World Order destined
to embrace in the fullness of time the whole of mankind',11 and as 'the sole framework'12 of the future Bahá'í Commonwealth. |
| Combining the best features of various secular forms of government without the drawbacks,
the Bahá'í Administrative
Order is unique in religious history in its structure and origin. Its establishment
by the Founder Himself, and
the clear provisions set down for its continuation into the future, safeguard it against
division and the formation of sects. |
| Bahá'í administration, Shoghi Effendi has emphasized,
is 'an instrument and not a substitute for the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh,
. . . a channel through which His promised blessings may flow' and which 'should guard
against the rigidity as would clog and fetter the liberating forces released by His
revelation.'13 |
| [BD 9] |
 |
| See also: |
|
