I have written this article to introduce you to, and explain the key figures—the “who’s who”—of the Bahá’í Faith. I’ll focus exclusively on the principal individuals and those within the line of succession. While the list could be much longer, for the sake of clarity and respect for your time, I’m sharing only the most essential information on this topic. I sincerely hope this helps answer a question that weighs on many minds around the world and clears up any lingering confusion. Enjoy the read, and feel free to ask questions in the comments.
The Bab
Siyyid ‘Ali-Muhammad – Forerunner
Forerunner of Baha’u’llah. (In the same manner that John the Baptist was the Forerunner to Jesus Christ.) Prophet and founder of the Babi Faith. Reformer (as the Mahdi/Qa’im) of Islam. “Bab” is a Persian, Arabic and Aramaic word which means “Gate” or “Door.” The Bab closed the door to the Age of Prophecy (about the coming of the kingdom of God on Earth) and He opened the door to the Age of Fulfillment (which we are in the infant stage of now). The principle writing of the Bab is the Bayan.
Baha’u’llah
Mirza Husayn-‘Ali – Second Coming of Christ
Prophet and founder of the Baha’i Faith, as well as the return of Christ and the Manifestation of God for this day. “Baha’u’llah” is a Persian, Arabic, and Aramaic word which means “Glory of God” or “Glory of the Father.” Baha=Glory, u=of and llah=God or Father. Baha’u’llah is prophesied of throughout the Old and New Testaments as the Glory of God and the Glory of the Father. Baha’u’llah revealed and authored over 2000 books, prayers and tablets (considered to be the blueprints for the kingdom of God, foretold of by Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer).
‘Abdu’l-Baha
‘Abbas Effendi – Exemplar
The eldest son of Baha’u’llah. Known to Baha’is as the “Master” and the exemplar of the Baha’i Faith. Appointed in the Covenant of Baha’u’llah to be His infallible successor and interpreter of His words. ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s name means “Servant of Glory.” ‘Abdu’l-Baha also revealed and authored hundreds of books, prayers, and tablets, expounding upon the Revelation of his Father.
Shoghi Effendi
Afnan Guardian – “Unique” and “Chosen,” Guardian of the Baha’i Faith
Great-grandson of Baha’u’llah through the daughter of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Known to Baha’is as the Afnan Guardian as his mother was ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s daughter, while his father was a direct descendant of the Bab and Mohammed, making Shoghi Effendi Afnan, not Aghsan. Appointed in the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha to be his infallible successor and head (first Guardian) of the Faith. Shoghi Effendi was educated at Oxford, and he was the principal translator of the works of Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Shoghi Effendi also wrote dozens of books and hundreds of letters explaining and delineating details of the forthcoming Baha’i Administration.
Dr. Leland Jensen
Establisher of the Baha’i Faith – Bahana, Shiloh, Kalki Avatar, Soashyant, Maetreya, Return of Jesus, Melchizedek, Seventh Angel
Recognized as the greatest teacher of the Baha’i Faith and crowned a Knight of Baha’u’llah by Shoghi Effendi for his pioneering and teaching efforts in Africa and America. Dr. Jensen also fulfilled Biblical, as well as Baha’i, prophecies for the seventh angel who would usher in and establish the kingdom of God that Jesus foretold, Baha’u’llah revealed, ‘Abdu’l-Baha expounded, and Shoghi Effendi delineated and formed. Dr. Jensen wrote dozens of books, letters, and epistles, which contain his explanations and commentaries, regarding the Baha’i Faith, the Covenant and the Will and Testament, the Book of Revelation, and the Divine Plan of God.
Mason Remey
First Aghsan Guardian
The adopted, and only son of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Appointed by Shoghi Effendi, in 1951, to be the first Aghsan Guardian of the Baha’i Faith as the president and executive of the first International Baha’i Council. Mason Remey served as a Hand of the Cause under Shoghi Effendi. Mason Remey received recognition from ‘Abdu’l-Baha as well as Shoghi Effendi for being the firmest proponent of Baha’u’llah’s Covenant.
Joseph Pepe Remey
Second Aghsan Guardian
The adopted and only son of Mason Remey. Appointed by Mason Remey to be the second Aghsan Guardian of the Baha’i Faith. Joseph Pepe Remey was the president of the second International Baha’i Council (formed by Dr. Jensen), and today his son succeeds him as the third Aghsan Guardian of the Baha’i Faith.
Glenn Goldman Pepe
Third Aghsan Guardian
The adopted and only son of Joseph Pepe Remey. Appointed by Joseph Pepe Remey to be the third Aghsan Guardian of the Baha’i Faith. Glenn Goldman is the only living Aghsan in the world who also has a legal appointment to the Guardianship of the Baha’i Faith. You can read his Proclamation and ultimately contact him from here.
Hands of the Cause
Chief Stewards – Custodians
The Hands of the Cause are administrative assistants to the Guardian. Each Guardian chooses his own Hands to assist him in the execution of his executive duties. The Hands are authoritative only while under the direction of the current living Guardian. When the Guardian passes on, his successor chooses his own Hands, similar to the way each new president of the United States chooses his own cabinet members.
IBC / UHJ
International Baha’i Council / Universal House of Justice
The International Baha’i Council was the supreme administrative body of the Baha’i Faith. It was the first stage of four progressive stages to the Universal House of Justice (UHJ). In 1951 Shoghi Effendi announced the formation of the first International Baha’i Council, “…destined in time to become the Universal House of Justice.” (cablegram dated January 9, 1951– recorded in Messages to the Bahá’í World: 1950–1957) Shoghi Effendi handpicked the 9 members of the 1st IBC and placed it above himself in importance and significance. In 1957, under suspicious circumstances, Shoghi Effendi’s life ended. At this time, there was a hostile takeover of the Baha’i Faith and properties by the out-of-work Hands of the Cause, who, after convening a private conclave, proclaimed “Bada,” a Persian term meaning that “God had changed His mind” (concerning the composition of the Baha’i Faith). Shoghi Effendi’s assistants claimed that the Guardianship had suddenly ended and that “provisions of the Covenant had become inoperable.” In 1959, the non-authoritative Hands, under the direction of Shoghi Effendi’s disgruntled wife, Ruhiyyih Khanum (who was barren and secretly blamed her childlessness on Shoghi), dissolved the IBC and claimed all functions of the Guardianship for themselves. Mason Remey, unable to get the Hands to change their Covenant-breaking tactics, moved out of his home (which he inherited from his father, ‘Abdu’l-Baha) in the Holy Land and came to America, bringing with him the constitution for the Baha’i Faith. Then Mason declared, as Guardian of the Baha’i Faith, that the Hands and all those who followed them were “Covenant-breakers.” In 1991, Dr. Leland Jensen (who recognized Mason Remey as fulfilling all the necessary criteria for being the Guardian, being the only Aghsan appointed by Shoghi Effendi) announced the formation of the second International Baha’i Council. Dr. Jensen, executing the authority vested in him by his fulfillment of prophecy (seventh angel, knight on the white horse, lamb before the throne and the high priest Melchizedek) as well as his being the last knight of Baha’u’llah and the establisher of the Baha’i Faith, activated the sIBC, naming his 12 apostles to be the members as well as the second Aghsan Guardian, Joseph Pepe Remey to be its president and executive.
(NOTE) Immediately after Dr. Jensen’s passing in 1996, another power struggle emerged, resulting in every member but one (Dr. Jensen’s wife and liaison officer to the sIBC) of the second International Baha’i Council abandoning their positions as administrators of the council, and forfeiting their stations as Apostles of the Lamb. In the confusion caused by the sudden loss of Dr. Jensen, one member, Neal Chase, who was an exceptional teacher under Dr. Jensen’s leadership was able to seize control of most of the archives and the Web properties of the BUPC, the group of Bahai’s who recognized and followed Dr. Jensen, known as the Baha’is Under the Provisions of the Covenant, worldwide. Today, Mr. Chase has also made a false claim to the Guardianship, but lacks the necessary credentials, of being an Aghsan, and of being appointed 3rd Guardian by Joseph Pepe Remey. Beware of this charlatan who is claiming the throne.
Francis Wind Jensen
Bride of the Lamb – Revelation 19:7–9 and Revelation 21:9–11
Francis Jensen, whom friends and colleagues adoringly called “Wind” (from Ruach, which is Hebrew for spirit), was the second wife of Dr. Leland Jensen, whom he appointed as his liaison officer to the second International Baha’i Council. This appointment made Wind the highest-ranking officer on the council, only second to the president, Joseph Pepe Remey (who lived in Italy). When Joseph Pepe Remey passed, he had instructed his sister, who was the executor of his will, to deliver all of his Baha’i belongings by courier to Dr. Leland Jensen in Missoula, Montana. In the sealed chest were the most prized Baha’i artifacts and relics on the planet, which had been passed as tokens of inheritance from Baha’u’llah, to ‘Abdu’l-Baha, to Mason Remey to Joseph Pepe Remey. Dr. Jensen had in his possession now an envelope containing the sacred locks of Baha’u’llah’s hair, and coagulated droplets of His sacred blood, which symbolically represented the head and the body of the Baha’i Faith, as well as a sapphire and white gold ring which had graced the hands of Baha’u’llah, ‘Abdu’l-Baha, and both Aghsan Guardians.
On his death bed, Dr. Jensen reminded Wind of the great test that was to befall the entirety of the BUPC, that no one would know who the next Guardian would be after Joseph Pepe Remey. He gave her the chest, the hair and the blood, and the sapphire ring, and instructed her, “When you are certain of who the guardian is, give him these items as his rightful inheritance.” Even Wind was tested for several years, but she held onto the heirlooms, and only because of her nearness to Doc, coupled with her astute understanding of the Covenant, and the true criteria for guardianship successorship, was she able to eventually recognize that of several claimants to the throne, only Glenn Goldman met the necessary criteria, as he was the only person adopted by Joseph Pepe Remey, making him the Aghsan, as well as having an appointment from Pepe to succeed him as the 3rd Aghsan Guardian. Years after Dr. Jensen’s passing, Wind delivered everything to Glenn Goldman.
