Local Spiritual Assembly

From Bahaikipedia

A Local Spiritual Assembly is a nine-member administrative body tasked with overseeing the affairs of a Bahá’í community of a particular locality. Local Spiritual Assemblies are elected annually on April 21, the first day of the Ridván Festival. All Bahá’í elections occur in an atmosphere of prayer where nominations, campaigning, and all discussion of persons is forbidden. Local Spiritual assemblies are the nascent form of Local Houses of Justice, but are entitled as Assemblies currently to reflect their purely spiritual authority. Local Spiritual Assemblies oversee a wide range of affairs, they hold the authority to approve divorces, choose witnesses for marriages, and create committees to oversee specific issues under their authority. The Bahá’í principle of Consultation is used in deliberations of Local Spiritual Assemblies.