In any group, however loving the consultation, there are
nevertheless points on which, from time to time, agreement cannot be reached.
In a Spiritual Assembly this dilemma is resolved by a majority vote. There can,
however, be no majority where only two parties are involved, as in the case of
a husband and wife. There are, therefore, times when a wife should defer to her
husband, and times when a husband should defer to his wife, but neither should
ever unjustly dominate the other....
- The Universal House of Justice (From a message dated 28 December 1980
written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual
Assembly; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Preserving Baha’i Marriages)
