The report concluded by offering a series of specific suggestions in these areas: 1 .Achieving a new mindset about growth 2. Continued development of local and national outreach and follow-up 3 . Building our communities: dealing with diversity of many kinds 4. Development of Training Institutes 5. Improving local stewardship 6. Improving our discourse about teaching 7. The leadership of the Regional Bahá'í Councils

A Word version of the full report is available here.

The document A Call to Our Guiding Institutions served as the centrepiece for the working sessions of the Assembly. The Call—the result of a three-year drafting process—was addressed to eight of the world's most powerful and most influential institutions, inviting each to reflect on and redefine its role for a new century. [Capetown 1999]

Appendix I was a letter from the Department of the Secretariat Letter 4 May 1999 to an individual in response to an inquiry requesting (1) clarification of the policies governing access to sources at the Bahá'í World Centre and (2) regarding publication of primary source material available to people through other avenues.

Appendix II Policies Governing Authorized and Provisional Translations of the Bahá'í Holy Writings into English and their Publication

Appendix III Policies Governing the Publication and Translation of Bahá'í Historical Documents

Further, in its message of 26 November 1999 it stated that "An impressive network of training institutes on a scale but dimly imagined at the start of the Plan has been established throughout the world. These nascent centres of learning have made significant strides in developing formal programmes and in putting into place effective systems for the delivery of courses. Reports indicate that the number of believers benefiting directly from training courses has climbed to nearly 100,000." [Message 26 November, 1999]

• See various FaceBook pages including ISGP's The Forum.

With these new assemblies, the number of National Spiritual Assemblies rose to 179. [Ridván 155]

The institute seemed to be a relatively safe alternative for non-Islamic students until this time when Iranian government agents arrested 36 BIHE faculty members. The Bahá'ís set up a network of more than 45 private libraries in Baha'i homes so that students could access textbooks discreetly. Raids occurring in 1998 led to officials seizing some of these libraries along with many of the photocopiers used to distribute assignments. [The Borgen Magazine 14 November 2021]

He enrolled in the Bahá’í Faith in 1939 and left the United States in 1944 to pioneer to Punta Arenas, Chile, and later moved to Costa Rica. Mr. Lamb lived in Central America and Mexico for the rest of his life. From 1951 to 1961 he served first on the National Spiritual Assembly of Central America and the Antilles and then on the National Spiritual Assembly of Central America; from 1963 to 1968 he served as an Auxiliary Board member for the region; and from 1968 to 1985 he served on the Continental Board of Counsellors for the Americas. He wrote many booklets and pamphlets and in 2003 George Ronald published his much-loved book, The Odyssey of the Soul.

At the time of his passing the Universal House of Justice described him as “dearly-loved,” “steadfast, noble-hearted, self-effacing” and recalled his “sterling achievements” in Latin America with “keen admiration.” [BW26p273-4]

"As of Riḍván 1997, all Local Spiritual Assemblies throughout the world will have to be elected on the First Day of Riḍván." (31 December 1995 – To the Bahá'ís of the World)

"This development was related to the fact that, while believers from outside a locality could assist with the electoral process, the primary responsibility for electing any Assembly and maintaining its operations rests with the Bahá'ís of that place" (30 December 2021 – To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors)

See 2019-05-23.

Talisman eventually evolved into Talisman9 for 'free and open discussion of issues in the Bahá'í faith from an intellectual point of view', but welcomed criticism of Bahá'í institutions.

Bahá'í-Studies was created by a Bahá'í sociologist at an American university for scholarly discussion of Baha'i academic and other issues.

H-Bahai was initiated for academic discussion of Bábi and Bahá'í topics; membership was generally restricted to individuals with advanced degrees in fields relevant to Bahá'í studies. Somewhat later, Bridges was created for similar discussions, but with membership by invitation and restricted to Bahá'ís. [Seeking for Truth: Plausibility Alignment on a Bahá'í Email List by David Piff and Margit Warburg] iiiii. The current incarnation of Talisman is Tarikh, established 2003.

"Fundamental to the work of the Counsellors is the understanding that all members of the Continental Board are responsible for the entire continent, and should, to the degree possible, endeavor to familiarize themselves with the conditions of the Cause in the countries therein. Through periodic reports from individual Counsellors, the Board is kept abreast of developments in all areas of the continent and is able to offer guidance to assist its members in the execution of their duties. Whereas no Counsellor should be regarded as having exclusive responsibility for any one territory, the detailed familiarity acquired by each through close interaction with the National Spiritual Assembly and Auxiliary Board members in a particular area is in fact a valuable asset to all the Counsellors on the Board."

In its message of 26 December 1995 to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors the Universal House of Justice announced that a Four Year Plan would be rolled out at Ridván.

For the proceedings see Law and International Order: Proceedings of the First European Bahá'í Conference on Law and International Order and for a review of the book by Joshua Lincoln see Bahá'í Library Online.

On June 20th the Universal House of Justice informed the same National Spiritual Assemblies that the entire sum had been ensured but that $10M annually would be required until the end of the century. [Ridván 152; Vineyard of the Lord No 11 p8; Sacred Stairway p66-67]

Humanity has done well to articulate material indicators of development, and even to achieve a number of them. But focusing only on that which is quantifiable has obscured the critical importance of factors related to higher aspects of the human spirit, such as the value of relationships, the quality of one's character, and the coherence between principles and deeds. The need to bring such factors to the centre of the development discourse was outlined in The Prosperity of Humankind, which made clear that ideals require the force of spiritual commitment to cement them. The statement laid out an ambitious vision of humanity's capacity to take charge of the course of its development, and addressed a set of principles and concepts indispensable to the task, from reimagining collective decision-making to rearranging economic priorities. It called for "unconditioned recognition of the oneness of humankind" and "a commitment to the establishment of justice as the organizing principle of society". [BIC 3 March 2020]

"The Wilmette Institute is a center of Bahá'í learning. Its programs aim to facilitate study and dialogue on the teachings and principles of the Faith to help individuals and communities apply learning and advance human civilization."

...a translation is regarded as authorized when it is approved by one or more translation committees appointed by the Universal House of Justice. While members of the Research Department may well, from time to time, be appointed to serve on such a translation committee, the authorization of new translations is currently not one of the responsibilities assigned to the Research Department by the House of Justice. Further, the approval of a translation does not mean that improvements or amendments cannot be made to it in the future.

They go on to note that Shoghi Effendi did not regard his own translation of the Kitáb-i-Íqán as final but that it might assist others in their work.

They also noted that translations into most other languages use the English translation rather than the original text. [15 December 1994]

Background: On the 6th of December, 1992, the Babri mosque in the northern town of Ayodhya was razed by a group of Hindus because the mosque, built in 1528, had been erected on the spot where the Hindu deity Rama is said to have been born thousands of years earlier. The destruction enraged Muslims and ignited a grave crisis in India. Muslim and Hindu mobs attacked each other's houses of worship, homes and people in a number of cities, resulting in the death of hundreds and the destruction of property not only in India but in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and even in Britain. [Mess86-01p440]

  The Bahá'í community had issued a statement in English that highlighted a central theme: "Communal Harmony—India's Greatest Challenge." The issue of religious conflict and the importance of harmony and peacebuilding were emphasized. This statement was later translated into most of the official languages of India and distributed to Ministers, bureaucrats, district county workers, the superintendent of police, NGOS, and faith communities.

The judges, in their ruling, quoted from the statement from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of India Communal Harmony: India's Greatest Challenge. [Mess86-01p441]

Hand of the Cause Amatu'l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum attended the inaugural convention as the representative of the Universal House of Justice. [Ridván 151]

Hand of the Cause Amatu'l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum attended the inaugural convention as the representative of the Universal House of Justice. [Ridván 151]

• See AY91 for 'Abdu'l-Bahá's praise of her as a child and confirmation and promises for the future. He commented that she had átish (fire) and namak (salt). [AY93]
• Photo of 'Abdu'l-Bahá with the children of Ali-Kuli Khan and Florence.
• A translator (Arabic and Persian into English) and author. Poet Roger White would say of his friend: "She is the first lady of Bahá'í literature and I and many writers are indebted to her for leading the way."
• Translations include: The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys (1945) and The Secret of Divine Civilization (1957) with her father; Memorials of the Faithful (1971); Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá (1976) with a Committee at the Bahá'í World Centre; My Memories of Bahá'u'lláh (1982).
• Author of a dozen Bahá'í and non-Bahá'í books in addition to countless essays, articles, and short stories. Her remembrances of 'Abdu'l-Bahá are contained in The Sheltering Branch (1959), and those of His Exalted Sister in Khanum: The Greatest Holy Leaf (1981).
• Many of her essays and pioneering stories are contained in Dawn Over Mount Hira (1976) and Other People, Other Places (1982). As well she wrote "Six Lessons in Islam" (1953), Summon Up Remembrance (1987), Arches of the Years (1991) and, "Bahá'í Glossary" (1955). [Bahá'í Studies Review, Vol 6, 1996]
• See Obituary: Marzieh Nabil Carpenter Gail (1908-1993): Translator and Author, "Patron Saint" of Women Bahá'í Scholars by Constance M. Chen.
• Bahaipedia.
• For a more complete list of her writings and translations see Bahai-library. iiiii
• See also Notes on Marzieh Gail

At the first modern Parliament held in Chicago an Assembly of 250 religious and spiritual leaders endorsed a groundbreaking document, Towards a Global Ethic: An Initial Declaration. One of the speakers was His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. [Chicago 1993]

The Bahá'í Chair for World Peace is an academic program that conducts and publishes research with a diverse group of scholars on global issues. The organization's purpose is to study worldwide challenges and discuss solutions that could advance peace and promote tolerance.
In addition to conducting academic research and releasing publications, the chair hosts events at the University of Maryland that are available to students, university staff and the general public.
Although the chair was inspired by the spiritual teachings of the Bahá'í faith's focus on humanity's unity, the program emphasizes science-based analysis along with the values the Faith provides. [Unwind Magazine]