August 6. On this date in 1967, a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States was written in response to a letter "asking for clarification of Article VIII, Section 1 of the By-Laws of a Local Spiritual Assembly which appears on Page 19 of the Declaration of Trust" noting that "Assemblies should take into account the last clause of the first sentence of Section 1 of Article VIII."
166. Assembly Quorum
"We have your letter of July 20, 1967 asking for clarification of Article VIII, Section 1 of the By-Laws of a Local Spiritual Assembly which appears on Page 19 of the Declaration of Trust.
"A majority of the members present and constituting a quorum is sufficient to carry a motion. Thus, if only five members of the Assembly are present at a meeting, a majority vote of three is sufficient.
"However, Assemblies should take into account the last clause of the first sentence of Section 1 of Article VIII reading as follows:
'...and with due regard to the principle of unity and cordial fellowship involved in the institution of a Spiritual Assembly.'
"In other words, members of a Spiritual Assembly should not take advantage of a quorum as an expedient to pass a motion which would violate the spirit of the above quoted passage.
"As your National Assembly has stated, it is desirable that all nine members of a Local Spiritual Assembly be present at every meeting, and we hope that you will be able to educate members of Assemblies to assume their responsibilities in this regard."
(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, August 6, 1967)
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