178. Expanded Function of the Office of Correspondence

178

Expanded Function of the Office of Correspondence

1 November 2011

To all National Spiritual Assemblies

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

178.1 In the letter dated 9 November 1999 sent to all National Spiritual Assemblies, it was announced that the Office of Correspondence at the Bahá’í World Centre would be handling a range of routine correspondence, which would be sent over its own signature. This was a further development in the process by which the Universal House of Justice, in order to concentrate on matters requiring its direct attention, has progressively referred to various departments at the World Centre subjects that can be handled in other ways.

178.2 As a further step in this process, the House of Justice has asked us to inform you that the range of incoming communications to which the Office of Correspondence will respond has been expanded and will include queries received from Bahá’í institutions and individual believers that can be answered by sharing responses provided on previous occasions to similar questions. In carrying out this function, the Office, in accordance with policies laid down for this purpose, will draw on a large body of communications sent over the years by the House of Justice or on its behalf. Of course, it is hoped that the friends will, in the first instance, direct their inquiries to their Local or National Spiritual Assemblies.

178.3 You are free to share this information with the members of your community as you deem appropriate.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat