"Regarding the statement made by the Guardian ... concerning the fact that
believers can serve both as teachers and administrators. Shoghi Effendi
would approve your Assembly making this fact known to all the friends. For
although it is essential for the believers to maintain always a clear
distinction between teaching and administrative duties and functions, yet
they should be careful not to be led to think that these two types of
Baha'i activity are mutually exclusive in their nature and as such cannot
be exercised by one and the same person. As a matter of fact, the friends
should be encouraged to serve in both the teaching and the administrative
fields of Baha'i service. But as there are always some who are more
specially gifted along one of these two lines of activity it would seem
more desirable that they should concentrate their efforts in acquiring the
full training for that type of work for which they are best suited by
nature. Such a specialization has the advantage of saving time and of
leading to greater efficiency, particularly at this early stage of our
development. The great danger, however, lies in that by so doing the
friends may tend to develop a sort of class consciousness which is
fundamentally contrary to both the spirit and actual teachings of the
Faith.
"It is precisely in order to overcome such a danger that the Guardian
thinks it advisable that the friends should be encouraged to serve from
time to time in both the teaching and the administrative spheres of Baha'i
work, but only whenever they feel fit to do so."