Membership on an Assembly imposes upon the believer the
spiritual responsibility to become an active participant in its work, to be
fully informed of its endeavors, and to ensure that its functioning is in
accord with Bahá’í principles. Every Assembly member should recognize that he
has a duty to ensure that his voice is heard and that appropriate consideration
is given to his views. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has stated that consultation succeeds in
avoiding "ill-feeling or discord" when "every member expresseth
with absolute freedom his own opinion and setteth forth his argument,"
with the further affirmation by the Guardian that "it is not only the
right but the sacred obligation of every member to express freely and openly
his views, without being afraid of displeasing or alienating any of his fellow
members," and "The Assembly members must have the courage of their
convictions, but must also express wholehearted and unqualified obedience to
the well-considered judgment and directions of the majority of their fellow
members."
- The Universal House of Justice (From a message dated 22 June 1989 written on behalf of the
Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly; ‘Messages from the
Universal House of Justice 1986-2001’)
