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Interpretation of Scripture has always in earlier religions been a most fertile source of schism. Baha'u'llah, in the Book of His Covenant, vested in His eldest son, 'Abdu'l-Baha, full powers for the interpretation of His Writings and for the direction of His Cause. 'Abdu'l-Baha, in His Will and Testament, appointed His eldest grandson, Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Faith and sole interpreter of the Writings. There is no priesthood within the Faith and no individual may claim special station or guidance; authority is vested in institutions created within the Baha'i Scriptures (180:9) By virtue of these unique provisions, the Faith of Baha'u'llah has been preserved from schism, from the depredations of unauthorized leadership, and above all from the infiltration of man- made doctrines and theories, which in the past have shattered the unity of religions. Pure and inviolate, the revealed Word of Baha'u'llah, with its authorized interpretation, remains throughout the Dispensation the uncorrupted and incorruptible source of spiritual life to men (180:10) In 1968 the Universal House of Justice took action to provide for the future carrying out of the specific functions of protection and propagation vested in the Hands of the Cause, by the establishment of Continental Boards of Counselors. Each Board consists of a number of Counselors appointed by the Universal House of Justice, and they work in close collaboration with the Hands of the Cause of God. The appointment and direction of Auxiliary Boards is now the duty of the Boards of Counselors, and the activities of the Hands, of whom just one is still living, have been extended to be worldwide. In June 1973 the Universal House of Justice established in the Holy Land an International Teaching Centre and assigned it the activities of the Continental Board of Counselors and as liaison between them and the Universal House of Justice (180:11) The Guardian had written of future global teaching plans to be carried out under the direction of the Universal House of Justice, and the first of these, a Nine Year Plan, was launched in 1964. This was followed by a Five Year Plan (1974 - 1979), a Seven Year Plan (1979 - 1986), a Six Year Plan (1986 - 1992), a Three Year Plan (1993 - 1996), a Four Year Plan (1996 - 2000), a Twelve Month Plan (2000 - 2001), and a Five Year Plan, which will terminate at Ridvan 2006. By early 2006, the Baha'i Faith had been established in 191 independent states and 45 dependent territories or overseas departments; There were Baha'is living in over 100,000 localities throughout the world; Baha'i literature had been translated into at least 802 languages; an eighth Baha'i Temple had completed in India in 1986, and plans for construction of a ninth Temple in Santiago, Chile, were under way; there were 179 National or Regional Spiritual Assemblies and at least five million Baha'is. Baha'is are now energetically pursuing a Five Year Plan designed to further expand and consolidate the growth of the Faith throughout the world (180:12) Most encouraging of all has been the response of the peoples of Africa, India, Southeast Asia and Latin America, where large numbers have begun to enter the Cause, bringing about a new stage in the development of the administrative and social activities of the worldwide Baha'i community (180:12) NOTE: See http://www.bahai.org/library/ for additional information
(180:13)
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