Assemblies sometimes misunderstand what is meant by the
statement that Counsellors and Auxiliary Board members are concerned with the
teaching work and not with administration. It is taken to mean that they may
not give advice on administrative matters. This is quite wrong. One of the
things that Counsellors and Auxiliary Board members should watch and report on
is the proper working of administrative institutions. The statement that they
do not have anything to do with administration means, simply, that they do not
administer. They do not direct or organize the teaching work nor do they
adjudicate in matters of personal conflict or personal problems. All these
activities fall within the sphere of responsibility of the Spiritual
Assemblies. But if an Auxiliary Board member finds a Local Spiritual Assembly
functioning incorrectly he should call its attention to the appropriate Texts;
likewise if, in his work with the community, an Auxiliary Board member finds
that the teaching work is being held up by inefficiency of national committees,
he should report this in detail to the Counsellors who will then decide whether
to refer it to the National Spiritual Assembly concerned. Similarly, if the
Counsellors find that a National Spiritual Assembly is not functioning
properly, they should not hesitate to consult with the National Spiritual
Assembly about this in a frank and loving way.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a message dated 1 October 1969; ‘Messages from the Universal House of
justice, 1963-1986’)
