Kiser Barnes
Kiser Barnes (born January 13, 1943) is a lawyer and educator who has served in various positions within the hierarchy of the Bahá’í Administrative Order, including service on the Universal House of Justice, the supreme governing body of the Bahá'í Faith, from 2000 through 2013.[1]
Background
Kiser Barnes was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Kiser Barnes obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Morgan State University in 1965 and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1974. Barnes would practice law in Maryland where he also held senior positions in human rights organizations. He would subsequently relocate to West Africa where he held senior academic posts at universities in Benin, Togo, and Nigeria. Barnes was a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at Obafemi Awolowo University in , Ife, Nigeria where he taught the Law of Business Associations, Law of Contracts, and International Economic Law from 1980 to 1993. He earned a Masters Degree in the Philosophy of Law from Obafemi Awolowo University in 1984.[2][3]
Religious service
Mr. Barnes was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Benin from 1977 to 1979. He was appointed to the Auxiliary Board for the propagation of the Faith in Nigeria and served in that capacity from 1981 to 1990. In 1990 he was appointed to the Continental Board of Counsellors for the Protection and Propagation of the Faith in Africa. Three years later, in 1993, he was appointed to the International Teaching Centre. The International Teaching Centre, whose seat is at the Bahá'í World Centre in Haifa, Israel, is composed of nine Counsellors appointed by the Universal House of Justice and tasked with duties to stimulate and coordinate the Continental Board of Counselors and assist the Universal House of Justice in matters relating to the teaching and protection of the faith.[4] All of the current members of the Universal House of Justice previously served as members of the International Teaching Centre. In 2000, Barnes was elected to the Universal House of Justice.[2] After thirteen years of service on the Universal House of Justice, Barnes retired from that body in 2013.[1]
Writings
- Barnes, Kiser. Animals for Peace. New Delhi, India: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, India. ISBN 81-86953-58-2.
- Barnes, Kiser. Bahá’u’lláh: His Station and Mission. Johannesburg, South Africa: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa. ISBN 978-1-874801-70-2.
- Barnes, Kiser. Mírzá Mihdí's Five Smooth Stones. Johannesburg, South Africa: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa. ISBN 978-1-919864-34-1.
- Barnes, Kiser. The Naming of Femi's Brother. Oxford, England: George Ronald Publisher Ltd.
- Barnes, Kiser. Stories of Bahá’u’lláh and Some Notable Believers. New Delhi, India: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, India. ISBN 81-7896-021-4.
- Barnes, Kiser. A Story of Peace: For the Children of God. Hong Kong: Juxta Publishing Limited.
References
- ^ a b "Two members of Universal House of Justice leaving after years of service". Bahá’í World News Service. April 23, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
- ^ a b "Two new members join Universal House of Justice". Bahá'í World News Service. Haifa, Israel. May 7, 2003. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ "Biographies of Co-Chairs, Faith Participants and Other Invitees". World Faiths and Development - Dialogue. The World Bank Group. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ Smith, Peter (2000). A Concise Encyclopedia of the Bahá'í Faith. Oxford, UK: Oneworld Publications. ISBN 1-85168-184-1.