When a believer's name can be removed from the membership list - 25 September 1973

Further guidance might be welcome and we share portion of a letter written by the Universal House of Justice to another National Spiritual Assembly on 4 September 1966: '... Whilst it is embarrassing to leave names of inactive believers on a membership list, inactively and lack of attendance at Bahá'í meetings are not the bases for removable names of believers from the membership roster. A name should be removed only when the person clearly states that he no longer believes in Bahá'u'lláh and wishes his name to be removed from Bahá'í membership. If the believer's whereabouts are unknown, his name should still not be removed from membership, but kept in a special list of believers whose addresses are unknown, and who obviously are not counted in determining the allocation of delegates.' 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Malaysia, September 25, 1973: Malaysian Bahá'í News, Vol.9, Nos. 2 & 3, June/November 1973; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)

“to guide and teach the friends in proper Bahá'í administrative procedures” - throughout the year - 24 September 1973:

The conditions of limited manpower, of difficulties in travelling and of illiteracy among the local people are found in varying degrees in other countries of the world, and we have always and everywhere urged the National Spiritual Assemblies concerned to guide and teach the friends in proper Bahá'í administrative procedures, not only during the weeks immediately preceding local elections but indeed throughout the year, so that the friends would await the advent of Ridván with anticipation and determine to observe and uphold correct principles of Bahá'í administration. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 24 September 1973 to a National Spiritual Assembly; The Compilation of Compilation, Vol. III, Sanctity and Nature of Baha’i Elections)

Termination of year of waiting - 20 September 20 1973

We have your letter . . . asking about the termination of the year of waiting in the event of the remarriage of the non Bahá'í partner following a civil divorce. The need to observe the year of waiting is terminated by the marriage of the non-Bahá'í partner in such cases. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated September 20, 1973, to a National Spiritual Assembly; compilation: Developing Distinctive Baha’i Communities, NSA of USA, 1998 edition)

Taking “an oath, if required, on any sacred book” - 20 September 20 1973

In reply to your letter of September 12th the Universal House of Justice asked us to refer you to a letter on this subject written on behalf of the beloved Guardian on July 11th, 1956 to your National Spiritual Assembly:

"Regarding taking oaths, there is nothing in the Teachings on this subject. As a Bahá'í is enjoined by Bahá'u'lláh to be truthful, he would express his truthfulness, no matter what the formality of the law in any local place required of him. There can be no objection to Bahá'ís conforming to the requirements of the law court whatsoever they may be in such matters, as in no case would they constitute in any way a denial of their own beliefs as Bahá'ís.”

The above decision makes it clear that Bahá'ís may take an oath, if required, on any sacred book. The Universal House of Justice considers that it may be preferable for them to do so on a Bahá'í book, if possible. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual of the United Kingdom, September 20, 1973; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)

Standard English for Sacred Writings – if needed, accompanied by Simple English - 20 September 1973

Obviously teaching literature and books about the Faith can be written in Simple English. However, we feel that when the Sacred Writings are published the standard English translation should be used, but there would be no objection to printing alongside it the translation into Simple English which should be described as a paraphrase of the Holy Word. Thus, for the people of ... who have difficulty in comprehending standard English, the simple English version would be in the nature of an explanation of the Writings which they could understand. In the case of teaching literature in which quotations from the Writings appear, these could either be paraphrased or a simple English version could be used with the standard version printed as a footnote. This method also provide a means whereby the people of ... could improve their knowledge and understanding of the English language. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 20 September 1973 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)