The mission of the Association for Bahá'í Studies is “to stimulate scholarly study of the Faith and its teachings, to promote a sound understanding of the Cause in academic circles and to demonstrate its relevance to the study of social issues”; as well as “to stimulate an appetite for learning within the Bahá'í community generally”.^* This mission is pursued within the context of the overarching global plans of the Universal House of Justice for the expansion and development of the Bahá’í community.

* The Universal House of Justice, letter to an individual, 22 February 2005.