Editing Baháʼí Faith (section)

=== Universal House of Justice ===
{{Main|Universal House of Justice}}
[[File:Seat of the House of Justice.jpg|thumb|The [[Universal House of Justice]] on [[Mount Carmel]], [[Haifa]], Israel]]
Since 1963, the Universal House of Justice has been the elected head of the Baháʼí Faith. The general functions of this body are defined through the writings of Baháʼu'lláh and clarified in the writings of Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi. These functions include teaching and education, implementing Baháʼí laws, addressing social issues, and caring for the weak and the poor.{{sfn|Iranica-Bayt-al-'adl|1989}}

Starting with the Nine Year Plan that began in 1964, the Universal House of Justice has directed the work of the Baháʼí community through a series of [[Baháʼí teaching plans|multi-year international plans]].{{sfn|Smith|Momen|1989}}{{sfn|Hartz|2009|p=107}} Starting with the Nine-Year Plan that began in 1964, the Baháʼí leadership sought to continue the expansion of the religion but also to "consolidate" new members, meaning increase their knowledge of the [[Baháʼí teachings]].{{sfn|Fozdar|2015}} In this vein, in the 1970s, the [[Ruhi Institute]] was founded by [[Baháʼí Faith in Colombia|Baháʼís in Colombia]] to offer short courses on Baháʼí beliefs, ranging in length from a weekend to nine days.{{sfn|Fozdar|2015}} The associated Ruhi Foundation, whose purpose was to systematically "consolidate" new Baháʼís, was registered in 1992, and since the late 1990s the courses of the Ruhi Institute have been the dominant way of teaching the Baháʼí Faith around the world.{{sfn|Fozdar|2015}} By 2013 there were over 300 Baháʼí training institutes around the world and 100,000 people participating in courses.{{sfn|Stockman|2013|pp=193–194}} The courses of the Ruhi Institute train communities to self-organize classes for the spiritual education of children and youth, among other activities.{{sfn|Stockman|2013|pp=193–194}} Additional lines of action the Universal House of Justice has encouraged for the contemporary Baháʼí community include [[Socioeconomic development and the Baháʼí Faith|social action]] and participation in the prevalent discourses of society.{{sfn|Stockman|2013|p=203}}

Annually, on 21 April, the Universal House of Justice sends a '[[Ridván]]' message to the worldwide Baháʼí community,{{sfn|Smith|2000|p=297|ps=: "Ridván"}} that updates Baháʼís on current developments and provides further guidance for the year to come.{{efn|All Ridván messages can be found at [http://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages Bahai.org].}}

At local, regional, and national levels, Baháʼís elect members to nine-person [[Spiritual Assembly|Spiritual Assemblies]], which run the affairs of the religion. There are also [[Institution of the Counsellors|appointed individuals]] working at various levels, including locally and internationally, which perform the function of propagating the teachings and protecting the community. The latter do not serve as clergy, which the Baháʼí Faith does not have.{{sfn|Daume|Watson|1992}}{{sfn|Smith|2008|p=160}} The [[Universal House of Justice]] remains the supreme governing body of the Baháʼí Faith, and its 9 members are elected every five years by the members of all National Spiritual Assemblies.{{sfn|Warburg|2001|p=20}} Any male Baháʼí, 18 years or older, is eligible to be elected to the Universal House of Justice; all other positions are open to male and female Baháʼís.{{sfn|Smith|2008|p=205}}