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The Baha'i community is led by elected councils at the local, national, and international level. In addition there are a number of appointed individuals whose function is to encourage the Baha'is, to help them to spread the Baha'i Faith, and to maintain the unity of the Baha'i community.

The Baha'i community has no clergy or any professional religious class. Leadership is vested in elected institutions. Pastoral care is partly the responsibility of these institutions and partly the responsibility of every Baha'i.

The Baha'i scriptures are full of injunctions to move away from a life of lusts and passions and toward one of virtue and service. The purpose of life is to acquire spiritual attributes.

Baha'u'llah declared that the age for global unity and peace has arrived. In order to bring this about, Baha'is believe that global institutions need to be established and certain social changes, such as a radical revision of social structure and functioning, need to occur.

The Baha'i scriptures start from the assumption of the equality of women and men. Baha'is therefore advocate the education of the female child and the social advancement of women in order to make this a social reality.