The main thing to remember is that a group is not an
administrative institution within the Bahá'í Administrative Order; it is,
however, the embryo of a Local Spiritual Assembly and while remaining under the
direct authority of the National Spiritual Assembly should obviously be
encouraged to prepare itself for the time when it will establish that divine
institution. There is no objection whatever to its electing officers such as a
secretary, chairman and treasurer, holding Nineteen Day Feasts and observances
of the Holy Days, undertaking teaching and extension work, so long as it is
always understood that the directive authority is the National Spiritual
Assembly and not the group itself.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated 13 June 1974 written on behalf of the
Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Paraguay; The
Compilation of Compilations vol. I)
