In reply to your letter of May 13th, 1976, the Universal House of Justice instructs us to say that all members of the Spiritual Assembly are equal and should have access to the files and minutes of the Assembly of which they are members. It is, however, within the discretion of any Spiritual Assembly to so organize its files and records that certain items could be listed as "confidential" and access to those so classified could only be had by a specific decision of the Assembly itself.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, dated June 8, 1976; compilation: ‘Developing Distinctive Baha’i Communities’, prepared by NSA of USA, 1998 edition; and compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)