National Spiritual Assembly elected to guide community

As happens every year, the national governing council of the Baha’i Faith was elected and organized. But this year it was by mail and over the internet rather than at a national convention.

In keeping with the requirements of social distancing, delegates from across the U.S. Baha’i community voted by mail to elect the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States. 

Ballots were counted on schedule in late April for the nine-member body that will guide the development of the Faith nationally through the end of April 2021. The Assembly announced earlier this week that it had elected its officers. The members are listed below in alphabetical order:  

• Muin Afnani 
• Fariba Aghdasi
• Kenneth E. Bowers, Secretary
• Juana C. Conrad, Treasurer
• Robert C. Henderson
• Jacqueline Left Hand Bull, Vice Chair
• Rabi Musah
• Kevin Trotter
• David F. Young, Chair

“While the coronavirus pandemic prevented us from gathering for frank and loving consultation with delegates for the 112th United States Baha’i National Convention,” a letter to U.S. Baha’is reads, “the election of the National Spiritual Assembly, nonetheless, was carried out in a sacred and dignified manner.”

Voting in this election were 171 delegates, who themselves had been elected regionally by Baha’is in geographic areas from coast to coast in October 2019. 

Baha’i elections, whether for local, regional, national or global administrative bodies, are carried out by secret ballot, without nominations or campaigning. 

For the time being, the National Assembly plans to conduct its meetings through videoconferencing.