In June 1979 we were moved to announce that the duration of
the terms of office of Continental Counsellors would be five years, to start on
the Day of the Covenant of this year. As this date approaches, we have decided
that the time is ripe for a further step in the development of the institution
itself that will, at one and the same time, accord greater discretion and
freedom of action to the Continental Boards of Counsellors in the carrying out
of their duties, and widen the scope of each Board to embrace an entire
continent. In accordance with this decision, the zones of the Continental
Boards of Counsellors will, from the Day of the Covenant of the year 137 (26
November 1980), be as follows:
1. Africa, comprising the areas of the four present zones of
that continent.
2. The Americas, comprising the present zones of North,
Central and South America.
3. Asia, comprising the present zones of Western, South
Central and South-eastern Asia, together with the present zone of North-eastern
Asia without the Hawaiian Islands and Micronesia.
4. Australasia, comprising the present zone of Australasia
plus the Hawaiian Islands and Micronesia.
5. Europe.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a message dated 3
November 1980 to the Baha’is of the World; ‘Messages from the Universal House
of Justice 1963-1986’)