The Institution of the Counsellors was created in 1968 by the Universal House of Justice to perpetuate the work done previously by the Hands of the Cause.[4] The functions of the institution are generally "protection" from schism and "propagation", or spreading, of the religion at an international level.[4][5] Members of the institution have no legislative or executive power, and do not fill the role of clergy, but they are tasked with "stimulating, counseling, and assisting" the elected institutions and Baháʼí communities generally.[5][2] They fill a largely advisory and inspirational role.[6]