> It is said that the House of Justice can only make infallible decisions as a > group of nine.
I don't know of a text to support that view. > I am interested to know what happens during periods where a > member or members is absent from Haifa/too unwell to work, and during times > when a member has died and for some time there are not nine members. Are > decisions simply postponed until such time as nine can deliberate? I was told by a House member that it is very common for one or more members to be travelling, so I gather that it is not uncommon to have fewer than nine members consulting. Apparently, some decisions may be postponed until there are nine. Twenty-some years ago, when speaking at the Bosch School in California, House member Charles Wolcott told us that the House of Justice has several agendas, including the regular agenda, an emergency agenda, and an agenda for nine. I don't know if I heard it accurately, and if I did, if this is still the practice of the House of Justice. The House of Justice makes provision for vacancies in its membership in the Bylaws to its Constitution, p. 12. Vacancies can occur when a member dies; is dismissed for a misdeed injurious to the common weal; is declared no longer able to fulfill the functions of membership; or when a member, with the permission of the House, relinquishes his membership. By-elections, if they fall too close to regular elections, may be deferred until the regular election date (Constitution / Bylaws p. 13). So there are plenty of provisions in the Constitution anticipating circumstances when fewer than nine members are actively present. In any event, as to the infallibility of the House, with or without all nine members present, I believe this verse from the Master applies: "That which this body, whether unanimously or by a majority doth carry, that is verily the Truth and the Purpose of God Himself." Will and Testament p. 19. Brent ---------- You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://list.jccc.net/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=bahai-st news://list.jccc.net/bahai-st http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist (public) http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] (public)
