All Hands of the Cause were initially members of the board, as well as three Counsellors. Over time, as Hands of the Cause grew older and could not be replaced, the board transitioned to four Counsellors in 1979, seven in 1983, and to the present nine in 1988. The Counsellors of the International Teaching Centre also serve 5-year terms. The International Teaching Centre is responsible with overseeing the security and ensuring the protection of the Baha'i faith. It must investigate all cases of Covenant-breaking with the help of the Continental Counsellors and their auxiliaries, evaluate their reports and decide whether to expel the offender from the Baha'i faith, they submit their decisions to the Universal House of Justice for its final words. Continental Boards of Counsellors The Continental Boards of Counsellors are responsible for protecting and propagating the Baháʼí Faith at a continental level, as well as informing the Baháʼí World Centre of developments in their area. As individuals they are known as 'Continental Counsellors'. They were created to perpetuate the role of the Hands of the Cause, who could no longer be appointed after 1957. They outrank the National Spiritual Assemblies, though only in an advisory role since they have no administrative authority, but they are regarded as lower than the Hands. The announcement of their creation on 21 June 1968 also changed the Hands of the Cause from continental to worldwide appointments. The Counsellors took on the responsibility of directing the work of the Auxiliary Boards, appointees working closer with local communities, and one Counsellor from each board was appointed as the trustee of funds. At first the Hands resident in Haifa directed the boards of Counsellors, until the International Teaching Centre was created in 1973. Upon their creation in 1968 there were 11 distinct boards: three each in Africa, the Americas, and Asia, and one each for Australia and Europe. In 1980 that arrangement was changed to five boards: one each in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe. The term of Continental Counsellors is 5 years, though the term length may be changed at the discretion of the Universal House of Justice. If a Continental Counsellor is appointed to the International Teaching Centre, they must relinquish their role on the continental board, and if they are elected to the Universal House of Justice, they cease to be a Counselor. Some of the duties assigned to the