1. n.d.. Group Dynamics: Compilation, Study Guide, and Worksheets. Author unknown, comp. Collection of materials on group dynamics: a compilation from the Writings, study questions, observation techniques, worksheets to help improve group discussion and cohesion. Compilations-personal.
2. 2025-09. Principled Engagement: The Bahá'í Community of Iran's Approach to Social Change. Iqan Shahidi. Analyzes the Iranian Bahá’í community’s principled, non-adversarial engagement in social change, highlighting constructive resilience, community building, and non-political contributions despite persecution. Articles.
3. 2025-07. Bahá'í Sacred Writings. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í World Centre, comp. . A comprehensive collection of selections from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and the Writings and utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, representing the range of the Bahá’í teachings Writings.
4. 2024-03. Even as the Waves of One Sea: Bahá'í Consultation's Implicit Cultural Support for the Clash of Differing Opinions. Whitney White Kazemipour. A letter from Shoghi Effendi introduces some cultural dynamics which underlie Bahá'í consultation; disagreement can precede collective understanding and is not a sign of failure; the prayer to open meetings gives a moral motivation and ethos of tolerance. Articles.
5. 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.
6. 2023-10. National Spiritual Assembly, The. Bahá'u'lláh, Universal House of Justice, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, Research Department, comp. . Compilation outlining the spiritual foundations, responsibilities, and evolving role of National Spiritual Assemblies in fostering unity, administration, and the society-building mission of the Bahá’í Faith. Compilations.
7. 2022-02-17. Term Limits for Members of Spiritual Assemblies. Universal House of Justice. Quotations from Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice on matters regarding Bahá'í elections, and why there are no term limits for members of Bahá'í assemblies. UHJ-letters.
8. 2021. Light of the World: Selected Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Abdu'l-Bahá. Tablets of ‘Abdul-Bahá describing aspects of the life of Bahá’u’lláh including the tribulations He suffered, events in His homeland, the purpose and greatness of His Cause, and the nature and significance of His Covenant. Writings.
9. 2019. Introduction to the Baha'i Faith. Peter Smith. A look at the central features of the Baha’i Faith, including its history, and the key beliefs, organisation and world-view of the Baha’i community (archived copy, original offline). Articles.
10. 2018. Power and the Bahá'í community. Moojan Momen. While Bahá'í social teachings may have sounded new and exciting a century ago, that is no longer the case today. The problem the world faces is not in the principles that would lead to a better society, but in their application. Articles.
11. 2017-07-28. Spiritual Assembly. The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopedia.
12. 2011. Spiritual Assembly (Mahfel-i-Ruháni). Moojan Momen. Brief excerpt, with link to article offsite. Encyclopedia.
13. 2010. Measuring Success: An Exploratory Study of United States Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assemblies and the Five Year Plan. Armin J. Jezari. Applied research project on what degree a typical Local Spiritual Assembly in the United States is adopting elements of effective public administration based on the Five Year Plan (2006-2011). Articles-unpublished.
14. 2009-05-15. Role of the Local Assembly in Cluster Growth. Universal House of Justice, International Teaching Centre, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Practical guidelines for LSAs to organize and teach more effectively. Compilations.
15. 2007-03. Shoghi Effendi and Social Justice. Jack McLean. The term "social justice” has been used by many engaged groups as a rhetorical tool to obtain more equitable transformations of the social order. To the Guardian and the later Bahá'í Administration, it is a Divine justice at heart. Encyclopedia.
16. 2001-04-04. Withdrawal from the Faith. Universal House of Justice. UHJ-letters.
17. 2000. Community Functioning, Issues Concerning: Fostering the Development of Bahá'í Communities. Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, Universal House of Justice, Research Department, comp. . Extensive guidance on community development. Includes extracts from letters written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi on fostering the evolution of Bahá'í communities. UHJ-letters.
18. 1999. Developing the Secretariat of a Local Spiritual Assembly. Paul Friedman. Management; administration; delegation by assemblies and institutions; developing human resources to advance the cause; role and duties of the secretary; experience of the Hamilton, New Zealand Assembly secretariat in 1993. Essays.
19. 1998. Developing Distinctive Bahá'í Communities: Guidelines for Spiritual Assemblies. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. A guide to community development, for historical purposes only, originally intended to be made "available electronically to all Local Spiritual Assemblies." (Links to document, offsite.) NSA-documents.
20. 1997. Spiritual Assembly as Arbitrator, The. John B. Cornell. The function of Spiritual Assemblies in arbitrating disputes among Bahá'ís, and some historical insight into the development of Bahá'í practice. Articles-unpublished.
21. 1996-08-18. Electioneering. Universal House of Justice. On how to recognize and avoid "electioneering," and how to determine who to vote for in the Bahá'í administration. UHJ-letters.
22. 1996-04-22. Teaching the Bahá'í Faith and the Role of the Institutions. Universal House of Justice. On the "sacred obligation" of teaching the Bahá’í Faith, the role of the institutions in teaching, and on questioning vs. obeying the institutions. UHJ-letters.
23. 1996. Overcoming Barriers to Unity: An Essay on Group Harmony. Steven E. Ellis. Different perspectives on unity and disunity; red flags of disunity including anger, advising, perfectionism, excessive speech; group decision-making; and the role of the institutions. Includes compilation on the subject of unity. Books.
24. 1995. Community as Family, The: Opportunities of Growth. Ros Gabriel. Essays.
25. 1994-05-19. Letter to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States, May 19 1994. Universal House of Justice. A lengthy response inspired by the US community's 1994 "Vision in Action" initiative, addressing the slowness of the growth of the Faith in America and the impact of negative trends in American society on the nation's Bahá'í community. UHJ-documents.
26. 1993. Removal of Administrative Rights. Universal House of Justice, Universal House of Justice, Research Department, comp. . Compilations.
27. 1991/2017. Local Spiritual Assembly, The. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, Universal House of Justice, Research Department, comp. . Compilations.
28. 1991-12-09. Violation of Bahá'í and Civil Law. Universal House of Justice. The role of spiritual assemblies in regulating behavior of Bahá'ís, the role of institutions in upholding of Bahá’í law, removal of administrative rights, and treatment of Bahá'ís convicted of a criminal offense. UHJ-letters.
29. 1991. Local Spiritual Assemblies. Universal House of Justice, Universal House of Justice, Research Department, comp. . Compilations.
30. 1991. National Spiritual Assembly. Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, Research Department, comp. . Compilations.
31. 1988. Lights of Guidance: A Bahá'í Reference File. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, Helen Bassett Hornby, comp. . The classic Bahá'í reference book. This is its first online edition. Compilations-personal.
32. 1988. Protection of Diversity in the World Order of Baha'u'llah, The. Bahá'í World Centre Office of Public Information. Statement dated December 29, 1985, released by the Bahá'í International Community's Office of Public Information following the broadcast of a BBC program on the Bahá'í Faith in 1985. BIC.
33. 1983-08. Flame Within Us, A. Alí Nakhjavání. Faith must become an inner flame expressed through action, sacrifice, and sincerity, preparing individuals to face trials and contribute to the spiritual transformation of humanity; persecutions in Iran. Transcript not formatted. Audio.
34. 1978-03-27. Ranks and Functions in the Bahá'í Cause. Universal House of Justice. Regarding the relationships between administrative institutions; Different ranks of and interactive functioning of the Continental Board of Counsellors versus National Spiritual Assemblies. UHJ-letters.
35. 1977-08-21. Letter to an individual. Universal House of Justice. Regarding the response of humanity to the summons of Bahá’u’lláh and the reconstruction of society. UHJ-letters.
36. 1976-12-02. Letter to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Universal House of Justice. Regarding a proposal for an international educational institution and the necessity of consolidation of local communities and Assemblies. UHJ-letters.
37. 1976. Spiritual Assembly's Growing Pains, A. Rúhíyyih Khánum. A play, in 28 pages, showing "some of the workings of a Bahá'í Spiritual Assembly: some of the blunders, some of the problems; how certain types of people fit better into one office and others into another." Fiction.
38. 1974. Six Lessons on Bahá'í Law: A Deepening Course for Bahá'ís. John B. Cornell, comp, Beatrice Rinde, comp. Principles of the Faith; justice and mercy; laws for the individual vs society; jurisdiction; civil law. Books.
39. 1972/1999/2009. Trustees of the Merciful: An Introduction to Bahá'í Administration. Adib Taherzadeh. The spirit that animates the Administrative Order of Bahá’u’lláh; spiritual attitudes that characterize members of the institutions of the Cause; unfoldment of the Administrative Order during the first 50 years of the Formative Age; statistical info. Books.
40. 1958. Trustees of the Merciful: The Station, Responsibilities and Duties of the Local Spiritual Assembly. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Brief compilation from Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi; constitutional basis of the Local Spiritual Assembly; duties and responsibilities. Compilations-NSA.
41. 1957 (?). Spiritual Reinforcement: Study Questions, Compilation, and Quiz. Author unknown, comp. Questions and quizzes for individual study and group discussion, on "what every Bahá'í should know" about the Covenant and the Bahá'í way of living. Study.
42. 1956. Charter of a Divine Civilization: A Compilation. Shoghi Effendi. A compilation of writings of Shoghi Effendi which "assembles the particular passages which interpret the meaning of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá as source of the New Bahai' Order." Compilations-NSA.
43. 1947/1963. Bahá'í Community, The: A Summary of Its Organization and Laws. Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States, comp. . An early manual and compilation on Bahá'í administration, community, and laws. Compilations-NSA.
44. 1944-10. Primer for Bahá'í Assemblies. Marzieh Gail. Overview of the Bahá'í political system, and proposals for consultation, assembly functioning. Essays.
45. 1937. Bahá'í Procedure. Shoghi Effendi, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Instructions from Shoghi Effendi and procedures and rulings adopted by the National Spiritual Assembly, compiled from the Guardian's letters, Bahá'í News, and minutes and records of the National Spiritual Assembly, for the information of American Bahá'ís. Compilations-NSA.

1. 1897-00-00 —
   The Hands of the Cause appointed by Bahá'u'lláh were instructed by `Abdu'l-Bahá to gather to begin the consultations regarding the future organization of the Bahá'í community in Tihrán.
   • This gathering led to the formation of the Central Spiritual Assembly of Tihrán in 1899. [BBD98, 114, 115; EB268; BAHAISM v. The Bahai Community in Iran by V. Rafati]
2. 1899-05-00 —
   A council board of seven officers, a forerunner of the Local Spiritual Assembly, was established in Kenosha. [BFA1:112; GPB260]
   • Those elected were not so much members of a council but rather "community officers" who carried out the decisions made at a community meeting. [BFA1p112] iiiii
3. 1900-03-16 — The Chicago community re-organized by selecting a ten-member Board of Council. Neither Kheiralla nor any of his supporters were on the Board. [BFA1:XXIX, 170; The Service of Women on the Institutions of the Baha'i Faith]
4. 1900-12-07 — In New York, nine men were selected to govern the affairs of the Faith. Those serving were Arthur Dodge, Hooper Harris, William Hoar, Andrew Hutchinson, Howard MacNutt, Frank Osborne, Edwin Putnam, Charles Sprague and Orosco Woolson. Among the problems that they had to face was the effect of the disaffection of Kheiralla. [BFA2p36; Highlights of the First 40 Years of the Bahá'í Faith in New York, City of the Covenant, 1892-1932 by Hussein Ahdieh p5]

   One of the men, William Hoar, had been present at the reading of the paper by Henry Jessop at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1892. Shortly after he began study of the Faith with Ibrahim Khayru'llah. Later Hoar moved to New York where he continued study with Anton Haddad. Haddad had learned of the Faith in Egypt from Haji 'Abdu'l-Karim-i-Tihrani. [WMSH59]

5. 1901-05-15 — Mirza Assad'u'llah, received a Tablet from Abdul-Baha, in which He has positively declared to be necessary the establishment here of the House of Justice by election by the believers with order and just dealing. According to this blessed Announcement, our believers have elected those whom they deemed best fitted, and thus The House of Justice was established.The Chicago Bahá'ís elected a nine-man Board of Council for a term of five years. Those elected were: George Lesch, Charles H. Greenleaf, John A. Guilford, Dr. Rufus H. Bartlett, Thornton Chase, Charles Hessler, Arthur S. Agnew, Byron S. Lane and Henry L. Goodall. [BFA2:XXV, 44–7; The Service of Women on the Institutions of the Baha'i Faith]

   Only days after the election of the Chicago House of Justice, a Ladies' Auxilliary Board was organized at the suggestion of Mrs. Ella Nash and Mrs. Corinne True. This Board was later to be known as the Women's Assembly of Teaching. It appears that the Ladies' Auxilliary was able to maintain control of the funds of the Chicago Bahá'í community despite the election of the House of Justice.[The Service of Women on the Institutions of the Baha'i Faith]

6. 1901-05-20 — The number of members on the Board of Council was raised to 12. [BFA2:47]
7. 1901-05-24 —
   The name of the Chicago Board of Council was changed to the House of Justice. [BFA2:48]
   • `Abdu'l-Bahá requested that this name be changed a year later. [BFA2:49]
8. 1902-05-10 — The Chicago House of Justice (or the Board of Council) changed its name to the House of Spirituality. Membership was restricted to men. [BFA2:XV; SYH64]
9. 1903-03-07 — Inspired by the news of the `Ishqábád Temple project, the Chicago House of Spirituality asked `Abdu'l-Bahá for permission to construct a Mashriqu'l-Adhkár. Two days later Mirza Asadu'lláh drafted a petition to be sent to 'Abdu'l-Bahá. His reply was received in late May and three other letters were received over the next several weeks containing statements about the Temple. [BFA2:XVI, 118; BW10:179; GPB348; DH4-5]
10. 1903-05-30 — A letter from `Abdu'l-Bahá was received by the Chicago House of Spirituality giving His approval for the building of a Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in North America. [BFA2:119]
11. 1903-06-07 — Eight days after `Abdu'l-Bahá's first Tablet arrived, a second Tablet arrived from Him approving the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár project. [BW10:179; CT41; GPB262, 349; MBW142]
12. 1907-07-19 —
    The Chicago `Bahai Assembly' filed an affidavit of incorporation, the first Bahá'í community to acquire legal status. [BFA2:278]
    • The incorporation is in the name of the community rather than the governing body. [BFA2:278–9]
13. 1907-11-26 —
    The first national Bahá'í conference was held in America. [BFA2:XVI; BW10:179]
    • At the invitation of the House of Spirituality of Chicago, nine Bahá'ís from various communities joined some ten from the Chicago area at a one-day conference to foster national cooperation on the Temple project and to choose a suitable site for the Temple. [BFA2:280; CT78; GPB262, 349]
    • M. Momen posits that this was probably the first Bahá'í convention. [BAHAISM xi. Bahai Conventions]
14. 1911-08-23 —
    `Abdu'l-Bahá took up residence at Thonon-les-Bains on Lake Leman (Lake Geneva). [AB140; GPB280; SBR219]
    • While there He encountered Zillu's-Sultán, the eldest son of the Sháh of the time, Násirid-Dín Sháh. It was he who had ratified the execution of the King of Martyrs and the Beloved of Martyrs and at least 100 others. The whole family was in exile in Geneva at this time. 'Abdu'l-Bahá was very courteous to this man who had been such an inveterate enemy of the Cause. [DJT172, AY19, GPB201] .
    • The Master sent for Juliet Thompson who had been waiting in London for His permission to join Him.
    • During His stay he had a visit from Annie Boylan, a member of the New York community that was experiencing disharmony. Unaware of Bahá'í election procedures, a group that was unhappy with the disunity and ineffectiveness of the Council had organized a vote to be rid of several of its Council members. 'Abdu'l-Bahá had written to the community a short time before recommending that the Council be expanded from 9 to 27 members so that all factions could be represented. He also recommended that women be included on the Council and that the name be changed to "the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of New York". This apparently addressed the problem of disunity because the New York community went on to contribute significantly to the progress of the Faith on a national level. [DJT181, BFA2p338]
    • Horace Holley, who lived at Quattro Torri, Siena, Italy at the time, along with his wife Bertha Herbert and baby daughter Hertha, visited 'Abdu'l-Bahá on the 29th and 30th of August. Please see his Religion for Mankind p 232-237 for a pen portrait of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
    • He met with Elizabeth Stewart and Lillian Kappes who were on their way to Tehran. [find reference]
    • It would appear that He returned to Marseilles and travelled to London by sea. [SCU22-23]
15. 1912-08-11 — While ‘Abdu’l-Baha was in New York, He sent word to the Baha’is of Chicago that the House of Spirituality should be reorganized and a new election held. He chose Howard MacNutt, to travel to Chicago as His personal representative. MacNutt was instructed to hold a new election for a “Spiritual Meeting” of the Bahá'ís of Chicago. For the first time, women were eligible for election to this body..

    MacNutt arrived in Chicago on August 8th. At ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s instructions, a feast was held on August 10, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Lesch, where the entire Chicago Bahá'í community was invited to be the guests of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. MacNutt delivered to the community ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s message of unity and love. The election was held the following day the 11th of August.

    On Sunday evening, the 1rth of August, the Chicago Assembly selected a "Spiritual Meeling'' of nine, composed of men and women. whose service-according to the wish of Abdul-Ilahá -is, first, to propagate the teachings of the Revelation, and, second, to attend to other matters necessary lo the welfare of the assembly. [SoW Vol 3 No 9 20 August 1912 p16]

16. 1922-04-00 — Shoghi Effendi sent verbal messages through Consul Schwarz to Germany and Ethel Rosenberg to Britain to form local spiritual assemblies and to arrange for the election of a national spiritual assembly in each country. [CB293; EJR209, 211-12; PP56]
17. 1922-04-03 —
    To the United States and Canada Shoghi Effendi sent a message to transform the 'Executive Board' into a legislative institution. [CB293; CT160; ER211-12; PP56]
    • It had been functioning since 1909 concerned mostly with the construction of the Bahá'í House of Worship.
    • This year the elected members of the Executive Board Bahá'í Temple Unity were: Mountfort Mills. Annie L. Parmerton. Bernard M. Jacobsen. Arthur S. Agnew. Corinne True. William H. Hoar. Joseph H. Hannen. Roy C. Wilhelm.
    • He addressed his first letter to this body as the "National Spiritual Assembly of the United States" on December 23rd however in God Passes By pg333 he stated that the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States was not formed until 1925. [SETPE1p107, CT160, CoB293]
18. 1922-04-25 —
    A National Spiritual Assembly was elected in the United States to replace the Executive Board of the Bahá'í Temple Unity. [SBR94]
    • The difference between this body and its forerunner was little more than a change in name. [DP122]
    • The conversion of the Bahá'í Temple Unity into the National Spiritual Assembly took four years; it was not until 1925 that Shoghi Effendi recognized the American national body as a National Spiritual Assembly. [CT161; DP121-2; GPB333]
    • The election procedures followed that were used this period were not the current Bahá'í procedure: there was electioneering and candidates were nominated with a straw poll taken to trim the number of eligible candidates. [CT160; DP122]
19. 1922-05-31 —
    The communities of London, Manchester and Bournemouth elected a Bahá'í Spiritual Assembly for England. [EJR213; SBR28, 67]
    • This was also known as the Spiritual Assembly for London and the All-England Bahá'í Council. [EJR2 13; SBR67]
    • See EJR213 and SBR28 for membership.
    • The social centre of the London group was Ethel Rosenburg with Mrs Thornburgh-Cropper and later Lady Blomfield also playing significant roles. The group in Manchester came from the working- or lower middle-class background with Edward Hall and other men in leadership positions. The group in Bournemouth developed around Dr. Esslemont. In addition to these centres there were a few scattered isolated believers. [SBBH5p220]
20. 1925-04-10 — Shoghi Effendi wrote to the American National Spiritual Assembly indicating that the word 'assembly' was to apply only to the elected body of nine believers in each locality or to the national assembly, not to the believers as a whole. They had been using the term to mean the community of Bahá'ís. [BA83; SBBH258]
21. 1929-06-00 —
    Shoghi Effendi made plans to hold an international conference to consider, among other things, how to establish national spiritual assemblies as a prelude to the Universal House of Justice. [PP250]
    • He cancelled the conference when he perceived that the Bahá'ís would find it a source of confusion and misunderstanding. [BBRSM126; PP250]

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