the strong trend towards the secularization of Religious Courts in this part of the world, might not be achieved." (Ministry of the Custodians, p. 169) The IBC's recognition as a Baháʼí court was never achieved. In 1960 one of the members of the IBC, Charles Mason Remey, was declared as a Covenant-breaker by the Hands for claiming to be the Guardian and was expelled from the Baháʼí Faith. Duly Elected Body The election for the new International Baháʼí Council was scheduled for Ridvan 1961. The Hands of the Cause declared themselves ineligible for election and requested the Baháʼís not vote for them since the appointed institutions of the Baháʼí Faith were different in both nature and function from the elected administrative bodies. The election was concluded via postal ballot by all members of National Spiritual Assemblies and regional spiritual assemblies of 1960–61. All adult Baháʼís were eligible for election except for the Hands of the Cause. The members of the elected Council were: Ali Nakhjavani (1961–63) President Sylvia Ioas (1961–63) Vice President Charles Wolcott (1961–63) Secretary General Jessie Revell (1961–63) Treasurer Ian Semple (1961–63) Assistant Secretary Luṭfu'lláh Ḥakím (1961–63) Eastern Assistant Secretary Ethel Revell (1961–63) Western Assistant Secretary Borrah Kavelin (1961–63) Member-at-large Mildred Mottahedeh (1961–63) The elected IBC was under the direction and supervision of the Hands of the Cause of God. The Council's responsibilities included two of the original functions assigned by Shoghi Effendi: to forge links with the Israeli authorities, and to negotiate with them related to matters of personal status. In addition to these, the Hands instructed the Council to assist them with: the care of the properties at the World Centre, the establishment of the Universal House of Justice, any other functions they assigned. Universal House of Justice The election of the Universal House of Justice took place on Ridvan 1963. With this election, the International Baháʼí Council ceased to exist although five male members of the Council were elected. Notes References Baháʼí World, Vol 12, pp. 395–401 Bahá'í institutions Religious organizations established in 1951 1963 disestablishments