BAHAI ADMINISTRATION
Hello.
Welcome to my website about the Bahai administration.
There are approximately 8 million Bahais in the world.
We have no dedicated priesthood to run our affairs. each person is responsible for his own spiritual welfare.
Bahai affairs are run by democratically elected bodies known as Spiritual Assemblies, assisted by Appointed bodies.
99% of the work carried out is voluntary and unpaid.

Local Spiritual Assemblies
National Spiritual Assemblies
Universal House of Justice
Auxillary Board Members
Hands of the Cause
Continental Counsellors
Bahai Center Staff
Bahai World Center Staff
Bahai House of Worship Staff
LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES
There are no priests in the Bahai community. Each Bahai is responsible for his own spiritual wellbeing.
However, for managing the affairs of a community there are local spiritual assemblies.
Local spiritual assemblies are democratically elected bodies.
They are elected Ridvan each year (20th April), and are composed of 9 men and women chosen through secret ballot.
There are approximately 30,000 LSAs throughout the world.
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES
There are no priests in the Bahai community. Each Bahai is responsible for his own spiritual wellbeing.
However, for managing the affairs of a community at national level are national spiritual assemblies.
National spiritual assemblies are democratically elected bodies.
They are elected Ridvan each year (20th April) at a national convention, and are composed of 9 men and women chosen through secret ballot.
There are approximately 180 NSAs throughout the world.
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
There are no priests in the Bahai community. Each Bahai is responsible for his own spiritual wellbeing.
However, for managing the affairs of a community at global level there is the Universal House of Justice.
The Universal House of Justice is a democratically elected body.
They are elected Ridvan every 5 years (20th April) at the Bahai World center in Haifa, Israel.
At this moment, membership of the House is restricted to men.
Auxilliary Board Members
Auxiliary Board members are men and women appointed to assist and protect the Bahai community
There are auxilliary board members for protection, and for propogation
They are appointed on a 5 year basis.
There are approximately 1000 Auxilliary board members.
Hands of the Cause
Hands of the cause are individuals who were appointed by Bahaullah, Abdulbaha, and Shoghi Effendi to protect and propogate the faith of God.
There were 50 of these men and women. The last one died about 20 years ago.
They spent their lifetime serving the faith.
Continental Counsellors
Continental Counsellors are appointed by the House of Justice on a 5 year basis
They are replacements for the Hands of the Cause
There were 81 of these men and women.
This institution came into being in the year 1968.
Bahai Center staff
I estimate there must be approximately 300-500 Bahai centers throughout the world.
These are staffed by local Bahais. Bahai centers act as places of prayer, and also places for meetings and as focal points for community activity and social interaction.
Bahai World Center staff
Bahai World center is based in Haifa Israel
this is because Bahaullah, the prophet founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled to Akka (near Haifa), today in Israel, in the year 1868 by the Ottoman government of the time.
The Bahai world center is staffed almost entirely on voluntary labour, given by Bahai youth and adults, who go there on a 'year of service'
there are various institutions and buildings in the Bahai world center, which need to be tended to:
  • The holy Shrines
  • The gardens
  • The House of Justice building
  • The International teaching center
  • The center for the study of the texts
  • The archives building
    • Bahai Houses of Worship staff
    Bahaullah asked Bahais to build houses of worship, where God could be worshipped
    There are 15 Bahai houses of worship throughout the world currently.
    They are staffed almost totally on voluntary labour
    There is usually a choir attached to the Houses of worship
    These houses are open to all, who come in respect to pray and contemplate
    Bahai houses of worship all have 9 sides. They are scattered throughout the world