1. 2025-04-21. Evolving Administrative Order, An. Bahá'í World. The Bahá’í administrative order, evolving globally, fosters unity, decentralization, and social transformation, offering a cooperative model of governance rooted in Bahá’u’lláh’s vision of humanity’s collective maturity. Articles.
2. 2023-11-28. Reflections on the First Century of the Formative Age. Universal House of Justice. Overview of the Faith's developments and activities during the previous century, including the Guardianship, global expansion, community building and development, participation in societal discourse, and construction of the Bahá'í World Centre. UHJ-letters.
3. 1997-12. Regional Bahá'í Councils of the United States, Messages to. Universal House of Justice. In these two short letters, the House of Justice first sends greetings to the newly-formed United States' four Regional Bahá'í Councils, followed by the Councils' vow of firmness. UHJ-letters.
4. 1997-11-23. Results of the First Regional Bahá'í Council Election. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Results of the first US Regional Bahá'í Councils election, posted here because it was a "historic event." NSA-letters.
5. 1997-05-30. Establishment of Regional Councils: Introduction. Universal House of Justice. Nature, functioning, and establishment of the administrative bodies known as Regional Bahá'í Councils. UHJ-letters.
6. 1997-05-30. Establishment of Regional Bahá'í Councils in Certain Countries, Their Characteristics and Functions, The. Universal House of Justice. Outline of various policies governing the formation and functioning of Regional Bahá'í Councils. UHJ-letters.
7. 1997-05-30. Establishment of Regional Bahá'í Councils in the United States. Universal House of Justice. Announcement of the historic event of the founding of a new administrative level in the United States, the "Bahá'í Councils." UHJ-letters.

1. 1986-05-23 —
   Fourteen State Bahá'í Councils were elected in India by members of local spiritual assemblies. [BW19:162; VV99–100]
   • For a description of the Councils and their responsibilities see BW19:162–4.
   • The State Bahá'í Council was the forerunner for the Regional Bahá'í Council which was announced on the 30th of May, 1997.
2. 1991-04-21 — The administration of the Bahá'í Faith in Zaire was devolved to a system of subordinate regional councils.
3. 1997-05-30 —
   In its message of 30 May 1997 the Universal House of Justice announced that they have authorized the formation of "State Bahá'í Councils" or "Regional Teaching and Administrative Committees" to be called "Regional Bahá'í Councils. Their intention was to provide a balance between centralization and decentralization. This structure had been in place in some countries, notably India, for some years prior to this time. See 23 May 1986. [TP87-90]

   It was described as "a new element of Bahá'í administration, between the local and national levels".

   This decision was guided by the principles of Bahá’í administration set forth by Shoghi Effendi and was a response to the “expansion of the Bahá’í community and the growing complexity of the issues which are facing National Spiritual Assemblies in certain countries."

   Regional Councils are “responsible largely for overseeing the execution of the global Plan in the territories under their jurisdiction, in collaboration with the Counsellors and their deputies, ensuring that the two complementary movements central to its progress steadily unfold.”. [Message 31 August 2007]

   Accompaniment of cluster agencies and strengthening of the training institute are two of the key means by which Regional Bahá’í Councils oversee execution of the Plan. Councils are responsible for appointing members of Area Teaching Committees and also “guide and assist cluster agencies as they learn to support” the efforts of individuals and teams to advance the Plan at the grassroots of each cluster.

   Regional Bahá’í Councils also support the training institute, both by appointing members of Regional Institute Boards and through maintaining “a close working relationship” with the Board as they execute their plans. “Systematic” support of Local Spiritual Assemblies and mobilisation of pioneers for both homefront and international destinations are also responsibilities of Bahá’í Councils. Finally, other responsibilities include: ensuring that organisational structures are in place to provide financial support; receiving contributions and distributing Bahá’í literature; rapidly disseminating learnings between clusters, including by organising institutional meetings and; regularly communicating with the body of believers regarding the “progress of the plans for the region”. [Australian Cluster Map and Explainers]

   For a synopsis of the letter see The Establishment of Regional Bahá'í Councils in Certain Countries, Their Characteristics and Functions.

   The distinguishing effects of the establishment of Regional Bahá'í Councils were the following:

   • It provided for a level of autonomous decision making on both teaching and administrative matters, as distinct from merely executive action, below the National Assembly and above the Local Assemblies.
   • It involved the members of Local Spiritual Assemblies of the area in the choice of the members of the Council, thus reinforcing the bond between it and the local believers while, at the same time, bringing into public service capable believers who were known to the friends in their own region.
   • It established direct consultative relationships between the Continental Counselors and the Regional Bahá'í Councils.
   • It offered the possibility of forming a Regional Bahá'í Council in an ethnically distinct region which covered parts of two or more countries. In such a situation the Council was designated to work directly under one of the National Assemblies involved, providing copies of its reports and minutes to the other National Assembly.
   • The greater degree of decentralization involved in the devolution of authority upon Regional Bahá'í Councils required a corresponding increase in the capacity of the National Spiritual Assembly itself to keep fully informed of what was proceeding in all parts of the territory over which it had ultimate jurisdiction.
4. 1998-11-23 — The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States announced the results of the elections for their first Regional Councils. Four were elected in the regions corresponding to those mentioned in The Tablets of the Divine Plan. [Results of the First Regional Bahá'í Council Election]
5. 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 Bahá'í Councils in 45 countries.
6. 2019-04-06 — The Heroes Teaching Conference was an historic gathering of over 1,000 Baha'i adults, youth, junior youth and children, as well as some of their like-minded friends from all over Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales, Australia. It was organised by the Regional Bahá'í Council and Board of Counsellors, the program aimed to help its participants find their place in service to Bahá'u'lláh and humanity, by drawing on the heroism of the past, inspiring them to arise, through humble service, and become heroes of the Faith for this age. [Conference Website]

1. 2006-11-18 — The members of the Spiritual Assemblies in Canada voted for the members of their respective Regional Councils in six regions: Alberta; the Atlantic Provinces; British Columbia & Yukon, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan, Manitoba & Northwestern Ontario. [NSA letS6660 22 November 2006] iiiii

   What is the function of the Regional Bahá'í Councils?

   The primary responsibility of Regional Councils at this time is to support and guide the work of expansion and consolidation in cluster after cluster. Not only does this require them to interact directly with training institutes, Area Teaching Committees, and Local Spiritual Assemblies operating in their respective regions, they must also function in close collaboration with the Counsellors and their auxiliaries …Regional Councils gather and analyze essential information, ensure the efficient use of financial resources, and arrange for the dispatch of homefront pioneers. Moreover, they maintain regular communication with the friends in their regions, keeping them apprised of the progress of plans and facilitating the rapid dissemination of lessons learned. – February 22, 2012 Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice
   The House of Justice highlights, among other things, the need for Councils to pay close attention to the operation of the regional institute, including the scheme of coordination the institute establishes at the level of the cluster. The Councils must ensure, too, the timely appearance and dynamic functioning of Area Teaching Committees. The discharge of these duties, carried out with the assistance of the Counsellors and their auxiliaries, will serve to foster the participation of increasing numbers of the friends in a rising number of programs of growth--and this, in turn, conduces to the sound development of the individual, the community, and the institutions. — August 9, 2012 Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States
2. 2006-11-18 — The Spiritual Assemblies of Québec elected the first Québec Regional Council. Those elected were and approved by the National Spiritual Assembly were: Monique Robert 120, John MacLeod 106, Elizabeth Wright 94, André Bergeron 81, Nabil Nakhostine 76, Nicole Lachance 69, Suzanne Maloney 65, Pierre Austin 53, Louise Gagnon 23 Please note that Mitra Javanmardi received 104 votes, but she has confirmed her acceptance of appointment as an Auxiliary Board member as of 26 November 2006. The individual with the next highest number of votes, Louise Gagnon, filled this vacancy. [NSA message S6660 22 November 2006]
3. 2023-11-27 — The National Spiritual Assemblies announced the names of those who were selected to serve on the Regional Councils for the following year. [Bahá'í Canada online]

   Alberta: Milad Asdaghi, Nazila Ghasemi, Tony Liu, Shamim Mehrabkhani, and Sina Misaghian
   The Atlantic Provinces: Ryan Brennan, Kristi Petro, Hedda Schuurman, Gnei (Kumala) Sobhani, and Kelley Wright
   British Columbia:
   Charlene Antinuk, Jason Burtwistle, Tabasom Eblaghie, Nabet Fani, Neil MacMillan, Chohre Rassekh, Alaleh Rohani, Pegah Seisan, and Cindy Snedden
   Ontario:
   Sonya Appadoo, Tyrone Davids, Livia Dittmer, Jeff Hamilton-Bachiu, Jane Hoy, Pejman Mosleh, Roya Mostaghim-Vaezi, Todd Smith, and Melanie Vafaie
   Quebec:
   Josée Cardinal, Dave Courtemanche, Gregory Fortin-Vidah, Mitra Javanmardi, Nabil Nakhostine, Ilya Shodjaee-Zrudlo, Leyla Shodjai, Anne Skeaff and Laurie Zrudlo
   Saskatchewan and Manitoba:
   Sandra Agahi, Sally Greenough, Ward Johnston, Payam Towfigh, and Joanne Yeo

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