> 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 would have thought that is implicit in this passage, which you cited:
"Thatwhich 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.
My understanding, which I sube erroneous, is that the Universal House of Justice differs from local and national assemblies, in that all members have to be involved in making the decision, and that "a majority" would by definition be comprised of five people, whereas for local and national assemblies a minimum of five may be present, making the majority three. I have always assumed that "a majority" in this passage means a majority of the nine, so five people. This passage presupposes that it is talking about more than five people, as "unanimously" is differentiated from "a majority." It does say "this body," and I see no reason to assume it isn't referring to all nine, just like all other passages on the infallibility of the House. Hence, I see no reason to assume that a majority isn't meaning five, but if we allow House decisions to be made by a majority of members, i.e., five, the decision would be unanimous AND by a majority. Unless, of course, we classify the absent four members as dissenters. I just don't see support for the idea that House decisions could be made by five members, where the view of three members would be "the Truth and the Purpose of God Himself."
Regards,
David
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