- 1953-08-02 —
Fred Schechter, an American, arrived in Djibouti and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for French Somaliland. [BW13:451]
- Mr Schechter went on to pioneer to several Latin American countries, he spent thirteen year on the Continental Board of Councillors for the Americas and served on the International Teaching Centre. He passed away on 27 January 2017 in California, U.S.A. He was 89 years old. [BWNS1149]
- See In Memoriam Fred Schechter: Bahá'í House of Worship Memorial Program.
- 1968-06-21 —
The Universal House of Justice established the Continental Boards of Counsellors to continue the functions of the Hands of the Cause in the protection and propagation of the Faith. [BBD58–9, 97; BW15:611–13; BW17:319; MUHJ4–5; WG141, Mess63-86p130, 21 June, 1968, CEBF112]
- For details of the eleven Boards and their membership see BW15:612 and WG140–4.
- Among the eleven people named to the Boards
in Africa were three native believers: Oloro Epyeru and Kolonario Oule in Uganda, and
Seewoosumbur-Jeehiba Appa in Mauritius.
- For pictures of the Counsellors see BW15:614, 615, 618, 619, 622, 623, 625, 627.
- For a history of the development of the institutions of the International Teaching Centre and the Continental boards of Counsellors see BW20p673-693.
- 1968-06-24 — The Universal House of Justice made the first appointments to the Continental Board of Counsellors. [Mess63-86 No 60]
- 1969-07-10 — The Universal House of Justice announced an increase in the total number of members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors for the Protection and Propagation of the Faith to thirty-eight. [MUHJ63-86]
- 1970-04-21 — In its Ridván Message the Universal House of Justice announced the appointment of three additional Councillors, Iraj Ayman in Western Asia, Anneliese Bopp and Betty Reed in Europe and some 45 additional Auxiliary Board Members, 9 in Africa, 16 in Asia, 2 in Australasia and 18 in the Western Hemisphere. [Ridván 1970]
- 1973-00-00 — Leonora Armstrong was appointed to the Continental Board of Counsellors. [Biographical Profile]
- 1973-06-05 —
The International Teaching Centre was established at the Bahá'í World Centre for the purpose of continuing the work of the Hands of the Cause of God into the future. [BBD118–19; BBRSM132–3; BW16:134, 411–14; BW17:322–5; VV16, CEBF200; Wikipedia]
- For cable of the Universal House of Justice see BW16:413.
- Hands of the Cause Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, 'Alí-Akbar Furútan, Paul Haney and Abu'l-Qásim Faizí and Counsellor members Hooper Dunbar, Florence Mayberry and Aziz Yazdí were appointed. [BW16:413]
- For pictures see BW16:412 and VV16.
- The duties and the organization of the International Teaching Centre were deliniated in the Message from the Universal House of Justice of June 8th, 1973.
- See Wikipedia article for the names of the Counsellor members since its inception.
- 1973-06-08 —
The Universal House of Justice permitted the Continental Boards of Counsellors to authorize individual Auxiliary Board members to appoint assistants. [BW17:322]
- Mrs. Zena Sorabjee was appointed Trustee of the new Continental Fund of South Central Asia, while Mr. Hushang Ahdieh and Mr. Mas'úd Khamsí were appointed the new Trustees of the Continental Funds of Central and East Africa and South America respectively. 8 June, 1973
- 1973-10-07 —
The Universal House of Justice announced that the number of Auxiliary Board members throughout the world was to be raised to 270, of whom 81 will serve on the Auxiliary Boards for the Protection of the Faith and 189 will serve on the Auxiliary Boards for the Propagation of the Faith. In all there will be 54 Auxiliary Board members in Africa, 81 in the Western Hemisphere, 81 in Asia, 18 in Australasia and 36 in Europe.-
Each Continental Board of Counsellors was given the discretion to authorize individual Auxiliary Board members to appoint assistants and given broad latitude in this matter.
[Message from the Universal House of Justice 7 October, 1973]
- 1978-03-27 — Counsellors do not have any legislative, executive or judicial authority, priestly functions, and can not make authoritative interpretations, however, the Universal House of Justice explained that they outrank Assemblies and the Assemblies are to keep them informed and consider their advice and recommendations. The relationship between the Councellors and the Assemblies is to be one characterized by love and a common desire to serve rather than by rank or station.
[27 March 1978]
- 1979-06-29 — The Universal House of Justice announced that the term of service for the members of the Continental Board of Counsellors will be five years as of the 26th of November, 1980, the Day of the Covenant. [Message from the Universal House of Justice 29 June, 1979, BW19:27]
- 1979-07-04 — The Universal House of Justice announced the appointment of a fourth Counsellor to the International Teaching Centre, Counsellor Anneliese Bopp. [Mess63-86p421]
- 1980-11-03 — The Universal House of Justice announced that the zones of the Continental Boards of Counsellors will, from the Day of the Covenant of the year 137 (26 November 1980), be as follows:
1. Africa, comprising the areas of the four present zones of that continent.
2. The Americas, comprising the present zones of North, Central and South America.
3. Asia, comprising the present zones of Western, South Central and Southeastern Asia, together with the present zone of Northeastern Asia without the Hawaiian Islands and Micronesia.
4. Australasia, comprising the present zone of Australasia plus the Hawaiian Islands and Micronesia.
5. Europe.
[Universal House of Justice Message 3 November, 1980] - 1980-11-26 — The date, coincident with the Day of the Covenant, determined by the Universal House of Justice to be when the members of the Continental Board of Counsellors will start their five years term of service. [Message from the Universal House of Justice 29 June, 1979, BW19:27]
- 1983-05-19 —
The Universal House of Justice announced a number of changes to the membership of the International Teaching Centre raising the number of members to nine. [BW19:27]
- For reasons of health Counsellor Florence Mayberry took her retirement from the ITC. [Mess63-86p577]
- Four new Counsellors were appointed: Mr Magdalene Carney, Mr Mas'úd Khamsí, Dr Peter Khan and Mrs Isobel Sabri. [Mess63-86p578]
- The Hands of the Cause serving in the International Teaching Centre were: Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum and 'Ali-Akbar Furutan. [Mess63-86p578]
- 1983-05-23 — A five year term for the Counsellor members of the International Teaching Centre was established by the Universal House of Justice. [Message 19 May, 1983; BW19:27]
"... a five-year term for the Counsellor members of the International Teaching Centre. Each term will start on 23 May immediately following the International Bahá'í Convention, and the current term will end on 23 May 1988. Should circumstances prevent the Universal House of Justice from making new appointments at the end of any five-year term, the Counsellors will remain in office until such time as new appointments can be made." - 1985-12-27 —
The Universal House of Justice convened a Counsellors' Conference at the Bahá'í World Centre. [AWH39; BW19:29; VV122]
- The Universal House of Justice announcing that for the first time the Counselors would be helping National Spiritual Assemblies to form their own goals, rather than goals being assigned to communities from the World Centre, at the close of the conference. [2 January 1986]
- The gathering, held in the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, consulted on the opportunities and challenges facing the Bahá'í world community. It was attended by 64 Counsellors from the five continents. [BW19:29]
- See BW19:494, 504 for pictures.
- 1988-12-09 —
The passing of Edna M. True, (b. July 29, 1888, in Grand Rapids, Michigan) She was a daughter of the Hand of the Cause of God Corinne Knight True whose valiant work from 1909-25 as financial secretary of Bahá'í Temple Unity was instrumental in building the House of Worship in Wilmette.
- She formally enrolled in the Faith as a 15-year-old in 1903.
- See PG111-113. Edna and her mother had spent 11 days on pilgrimage in November of 1919. On the point of her departure 'Abdu'l-Bahá called her to His side.
- Like her mother, Miss True became intimately involved in the completion of that magnificent edifice, serving on its construction committee from 1947-53, lending her expertise to interior design, and helping to plan its formal dedication in 1953.
- From 1940-46 she was a member of the Bahá'í Inter-America Committee, serving as its chairman in 1941-42 and secretary in 1945-46.
- In 1946 when she was elected to membership on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. She served as recording secretary for the next 22 years.
- She served as chairman of the European Teaching Committee for the entire span of its existence (1946-64), her organizational skills to work to help form local Spiritual Assemblies and, later, National Spiritual Assemblies in 11 European countries.
- In 1968, now 80 years old, Miss True was named by the Universal House of Justice as a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for the Americas. She served with distinction as a Counsellor and Trustee of the Continental Fund until 1981 when advancing years (she was then 93) forced her to reduce her activities.
- In 1986, Miss True and and her longtime friend and companion Miss Jackson made a pilgrimage to the World Centre in Haifa, Israel, where they visited the Holy Shrines and were entertained by members of the Universal House of Justice.
- She was buried in the True family plot at Chicago's Oak-woods Cemetery. [Bahá'í News January, 1989 Issue 694 p.2]
- 1990-05-18 — The first of seven European women's conferences sponsored by the Continental Board of Counsellors was held in Iskenderun, Turkey. [BINS230:1]
- 1992-06-18 —
The passing of Counsellor Isobel Sabri, (b. 19 July, 1924) member of the International Teaching Centre, in England. She was born in California in 1924. Letter from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada to all Local Spiritual Assemblies dated the 16th of October 1992. [VV124]
- She was buried at the New Southgate Cemetery
- Find a grave
- See Bahaipedia for the message of condolence from the Universal House of Justice.
- 1993-05-23 — The following Counsellors were appointed to the International Teaching Centre for a five-year term: Mr. Kiser Barnes, Mr. Hartmut Grossmann, Mrs. Lauretta King, Mrs. Joan Lincoln, Mr. Shapoor Monadjem, Mr. Donald Rogers, Mr. Fred Schechter, Mrs. Kimiko Schwerin, Mrs. Joy Stevenson. Retiring members were: Mr. Mas'úd Khamsí and Mr. Peter Vuyiya. [From a message from the Universal House of Justice dated the 13th of May, 1993]
- 1995-12-26 —
Start of the Institute Process
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.
- See as well the Ridván Message 153
As the term "institute" has assumed various uses in the Bahá'í community, a word of clarification is needed. The next four years will represent an extraordinary period in the history of our Faith, a turning point of epochal magnitude. What the friends throughout the world are now being asked to do is to commit themselves, their material resources, their abilities and their time to the development of a network of training institutes on a scale never before attempted. These centres of Bahá'í learning will have as their goal one very practical outcome, namely, the raising up of large numbers of believers who are trained to foster and facilitate the process of entry by troops with efficiency and love. - 1995-12-26 — The Universal House of Justice clarified the functioning of the Continental Boards:
"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." [26 December 1995] - 1998-04-08 —
The passing of Florence Virginia Wilson Mayberry (b. 18 September 1906 in Sleeper, Missouri) in Marshfield, Missouri. She became a Bahá'í in 1941 in Reno, Nevada. From 1954 to 1959 she served on the first Auxiliary Board for North America covering the Western States and Canada. While serving as an Auxiliary Board member, Florence was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States in 1959. Shortly after the Mayberry family pioneered to Mexico in 1961 where Mrs. Mayberry was elected to serve on the National Spiritual Assembly of that country and participated in the first International Bahá'í Convention in 1963. In 1968 she was appointed to the Continental Board of Counsellors for North America, then in 1973 she was appointed as one of three Counselors of the newly established International Teaching Center where she served for 10 years.
[BW26p275]
- Her autobiography, The Great Adventure was published by Nine Pines Publishing in 1994.
- She was a mystery writer. She had a number of stories published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.
- Find a grave.
- 2000-10-29 —
The commencement of a new five-year term of service for members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors for the Protection and Propagation of the Faith. The number of Counsellors remained at eighty-one. The appointments were:
- AFRICA (19 Counsellors): Beth Allen, George Allen, Beatrice Asare, Asfaw Tessema, Niaz Bushrui, Mehraz Ehsani (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Clement-Thyrrel Feizoure, Kobina Fynn, Ibrahim Galadima, Kamaye Moussa, Eddy Lutchmaya, Enos Makhele, Maina Mkandawire, Rachel Ndegwa, Muhammad Otmani, Ahmad Parsa, Garth Pollock, Antoinette Ziehi, Tiati a Zock.
- THE AMERICAS (19 Counsellors): Eugene Andrews, Eloy Anello, Stephen Birkland, Gustavo Correa, Irma Nelly de Dooki, Abdu'l-Missagh Ghadirian, Angelica Huerta, Antonio Gabriel Marques, Herve Masrour, Catherine Monajjem, Rebequa Murphy, Carmen Elisa de Sadeghian, Arturo Serrano, Crystal Shoaie, David Smith, Marilyn Smith, Leticia de Solano, Rodrigo Tomas (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Dorothy Whyte.
- ASIA (19 Counsellors): Fadel Ardakani, Baatar Uransaikhan, Nidavanur Baskaran, Irene Chung, Jabbar Eidelkhani, Bijan Farid, Elena Grouzkova, David Huang (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Humaida Jumalon, Lee Lee udher, Delafruz Nassimova, Lori Noguchi, Jaya Gopan Ramasamy, Lateef Rashid, Foad Reyhani, Payam Shoghi, Zena Sorabjee, George Soraya, Rosalie Tran.
- AUSTRALASIA (11 Counsellors): Beatrice Benson, Donald Blanks, David Chittleborough (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Jalal Mills, Sirus Naraqi, Manijeh Reyhani, Heather Simpson, Henry Tamashiro, Erama Ugaia, Robin White, Fereidoun Yazdani.
- EUROPE (13 Counsellors): Fevziye Baki, Alla Borets, Uta von Both, Firouzeh Moghbel, Paul Ojermark, Patrick O'Mara (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Shahriar Razavi, Ilhan Sezgin, Nosrat Tirandaz, Nicola Towfigh, Larissa Tsutskova, Sohrab Youssefian, Ivo Zerbes.
- The following believers were relieved of the duties of membership on the Boards of Counsellors: Borhanoddin Afshin, Ben Ayala, Hooshidar Balazadeh, Patricia Coles, Parvine Djoneydi, Wilma Ellis, Tod Ewing, Shidan Fat'he-Aazam, Linda Gershuny, Louis Henuzet, Hizzaya Hissani, Nobuko Iwakura, Abbas Katirai, Zekrullah Kazemi, Kim Myungjung, Jacqueline Left Hand Bull, Betra Majmeto, Peter McLaren, Alejandra Miller, Perin Olyai, Nabil Perdu, Maija Pihlainen, Ruth Pringle, Polin Rafat, Daniel Ramoroesi, Shapour Rassekh, Cyrus Rohani, Vicente Samaniego, Isabel de Sanchez, Bruce Saunders, Errol Sealy, Edith Senoga, Farhad Shayani, Tiberiu Vajda, Lally Warren, Wingi Mabuku. [From a message from the Universal House of Justice dated the 29th of October, 2000]
- 2001-01-08 —
- 2001-01-09 — In its message to the Conference of the Continental Board of Counselors to launch the 1st Five Year Plan and Universal House of Justice said, "the training institute is effective not only in enhancing the powers of the individual, but also in vitalizing communities and institutions." It went on to say that "The continued development of training institutes in the diverse countries and territories of the world, then, must be a central feature of the new Plan." [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 9 January, 2001, Mess86-01p763-764]
- 2001-01-10 — The Counsellors in all continents met at the World Centre to take part in deliberations on the general features of the Five Year Plan. They were joined by the Auxiliary Board members (849 from 172 countries) who gathered from throughout the world to participate in events marking the occupation by the International Teaching Centre of its permanent seat on Mount Carmel. [From the messages from the Universal House of Justice dated the 29th of October, 2000 and the16th of January, 2001]
- 2001-01-12 —
The Administrative Order was further developed by the Universal House of Justice in its message to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counselors of
9 January 2001 in which the concept of the "cluster" was first introduced. The cluster, a subdivision of the region, is to be formed on the basis of cultural, language, pattern of transport, infrastructure or the social life of the inhabitants.
- In its message of 12 December 2011 the Universal House of Justice stated that the cluster should have three coordinators appointed by the Training Institute, one concerned with study circles, junior youth groups and a third for children's classes.
- National Assemblies
worldwide divided their countries into clusters on the basis of demographic, geographic, and
socio-economic factors. A third of the resulting 15,000 clusters were in Africa.
- TP176 says
that there are now (17 January 2003) close to 17,000 clusters worldwide, excluding those countries where, for one reason or another, the
operation of the Faith is restricted. The number of clusters per
country varies widely—from India with its 1,580 to Singapore,
which necessarily sees itself as one cluster. Some of the groupings are sparsely populated areas with only a few thousand
inhabitants, while the boundaries of others encompass several
million people. For the most part, large urban centers under
the jurisdiction of one Local Spiritual Assembly have been designated single clusters, these in turn being divided into sectors,
so as to facilitate planning and implementation. - 2001-01-29 — The publication of Institution of the Counsellors by Universal House of Justice.
- 2003-08-22 —
The passing of Ruth Yancey Pringle in Ciudad, Costa Rica at the age of 83 after 5 decades of service to the Faith, 2 decades as on the Continental Board of Counsellors.
- The Universal House of Justice praised her as an "intrepid champion" of the Faith of God. [BWNS250, BW'03-'04pg236]
- She went pioneering before being accepted into the Faith. The Chicago Assembly was preoccupied with the organization of the Intercontinental Conference and didn't have a chance to process her application for membership. Because she was so close to the Faith she was allowed to attend the conference and she departed for her pioneer post immediately after. She received her membership card after arriving at her pioneer goal in Puerto Rico. [from a talk by Hooper Dunbar 26:05]
- 2004-04-19 — The passing of Mr Aziz Ismayn Yazdi (b. Alexandria, Egypt in 1909) in Vancouver, Canada at the age of 94. Aziz Yazdi lived in Egypt, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Great Britain, Uganda, Kenya, Israel, and finally Canada. In 1968 he was appointed to the Continental Board of Counsellors in Central and East Africa and was an inaugural member of the International Teaching Centre in Haifa. [BWNS297, BW'03-'04pg239]
- 2005-12-27 — The gathering, at the Bahá'í World Centre, the members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors [BWNS418]
- 2007-05-24 —
The passing of Hadi Rahmani-Shirazi (b. 1914) in the United Kingdom. He was buried in New Southgate Cemetery.
- pioneered to Afghanistan at the Guardian's behest,
- served on the National Spiritual Assembly and the Auxiliary Board in the Cradle of the Faith,
- served as the executive director of the Nonahalan Company, (A Bahá'í investment company in Iran)
- among first appointed to institution of the Counsellors created by the Universal House of Justice in June 1968,
- relocated to the United Kingdom in the early 1980s,
- contributed greatly to the development of the Institution of Huququ'llah through his services as a Deputy. [UK BAHA'I NEWS EMAIL SERVICE message from the National Spiritual Assembly nsa@bahai.org.uk 24 May 2007]
- Find a grave
- 2010-12-28 —
The conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors was held at the World Centre attended by 79 of the world's 81 Counsellors, from some 58 countries. [BWNS804]
- See the message from the Universal House of Justice to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors dated 28 December, 2010.
- As of this date there were 170 Regional Councils in 45 countries.
- 2013-03-05 —
- 2015-10-27 — The Universal House of Justice announced the appoint of the Counsellors (81) who will serve for the next five years. [Bahá'í Canada October 2015]
- 2016-10-13 —
- 2020-10-29 — The Universal House of Justice announced an increase in the number of members of the Continental Board of Counsellors from 81 to 90. The names of those appointed for a five-year term to commence on the Day of the Covenant, the 25th of November 2020 were as follows:
AFRICA (20 Counsellors): Mélanie Bangala, Mariama Ousmane Djaouga, Alain
Pierre Djoulde, Agatha Sarinoda Gaisie-Nketsiah, Augustino Ibrahim, Mati
Issoufou, Hamed Javaheri, Jacques Tshibuabua Kabuya, Musonda Kapusa-Linsel
(Trustee of the Continental Fund), Linnet Sifuna Kisaka, Townshend Lihanda, Izzat
Abumba Mionda, Maina Mkandawire, Judicaël Mokolé, Amélia Mujinga Ngandu,
Nsika Mutasa, Michael Okiria, Nancy Oloro Robarts, Djamila Tchakréo, Jean-
Pierre Tshibangu
THE AMERICAS (21 Counsellors): José Luis Almeida, Ayafor Temengye
Ayafor, Louis Boddy, Natasha Bruss, Beatriz Carmona, Brígida Carrillo, Ingrid
Umpierre Conter, Blas Cruz Martínez, Daniel Duhart, Farah Guchani-Rosenberg,
Sonlla Heern, Badí Hernández, Irene Iturburo, Nwandi Ngozi Lawson, Ada
Micheline Leonce Ferdinand, Borna Noureddin (Trustee of the Continental Fund),
Arthur Powell, Pejman Samoori, Bernardino Sánchez, William Silva, Margarita
Valdez Martínez
ASIA (27 Counsellors): Yam Prasad Acharya, Jamil Aliyev, Bhavna Anbarasan,
Walid Ayyash, Marjini Deraoh, Gulnara Eyvazova, Shareen Farhad, Nadera Fikri,
Kam Mui Fok Sayers, Rahul Kumar, Nicholas Loh, Parimal Mahato, Tarrant
Matthew Mahony, Uttam Mitra, Myint Zaw Oo, Faris Naimi, Sokuntheary Reth,
Foad Reyhani (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Artin Rezaie, Hesham Saad,
Niroshani Saleh, Omid Seioshanseian, Dregpal Singh, Zebinisso Soliyeva, Ircham
Sujadmiko, Fang Jung Tseng Chung, Ozoda Zoidova
AUSTRALASIA (10 Counsellors): Bob Ale, Latai 'Atoa, Ritia Kamauti Bakineti,
Kirk Johnson, Jalal Rodney Mills, Taraz Nadarajah, Daniel Pierce, Kessia Ruh,
Vahid Saberi, Tessa Scrine (Trustee of the Continental Fund)
To the Bahá'ís of the World 2 29 October 2020
EUROPE (12 Counsellors): Raffaella Capozzi Gubinelli, Aistė Elijio, Orlando
Ravelo Hernández, Varqá Khadem, Shirin Youssefian Maanian, Sabà Mazza,
Veranika Medvedeva, Hedyeh Nadafi-Stoffel, Yevgeniya Poluektova, Mehdi
Rezvan, Amir Saberin (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Paul Verheij
The Universal House of Justice paid tribute to those retiring members:
Vugar Alizadeh, Naisan Azimi, Ronny Brenes, Olga Daradur, Jabbar Eidelkhani,
Clément Thyrrell Feizouré, Shirin Fozdar-Foroudi, Zoraida García Garro, Bernard
Lo Cascio, Lee Lee Loh Ludher, Sehla Masunda, Nibras Sarmad Moqbel, Aggrey
Zeyazi Munubi, Delafruz Nassimova, Ahmad Parsa, U'ileiuluwehi Pimental,
Iharinirina Rakotomavo, Carmen Elisa de Sadeghian, Rajan Sawant, Mark Sisson,
Christopher Kiprotich Songok, Raúl Taboada, Henry Tamashiro, Shabnam
Tashakour
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