Upon attaining the age of fifteen a child becomes spiritually mature and is responsible for stating on his own behalf whether or not he wishes to remain a member of the Bahá'í community. If he does not then reaffirm his faith, he must be treated, administratively, as a non-Bahá'í.
- The Universal House of Justice (Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, dated December 12, 1975; Developing Distinctive Baha’i Communities, NSA of USA, 1998 edition)
