Shia Convocation

The Shia Convocation
Konvokasi Syi'i - De Sjiitische Vergadering
Orientation	Esoteric Shi'ism
Governance	Hierarchical
Auxiliary Imam	Hussein al-Hakim Billah
Associations	Commonwealth Conference of Religious Communities
Region	Hindia Belanda, Maqtajer
Language	English, Dutch, Indonesian and Zalqintili
Founder	Traditionally, the First Shia Imam
Congregations	2 National Councils (Hindia Belanda and Maqtajer), 2,812 Local Jurisdictions
Members	43 million Hindia Belandans, 578.000 Maqtajeris (2019 estimate)

The Shia Convocation (Indonesian: Konvokasi Syi'i; Dutch: De Sjiitische Vergadering) is the supreme governing body of Esoteric Shi'ism headquartered in Bukit Ilias, a verdant hill range in Java, Hindia Belanda rising over 500 metres above sea level and entirely owned by the institution. The Shia Convocation is headed by the Auxiliary Imam who acts as the spiritual guide of Esoteric Shias during the ongoing absence of the Imam of the Time (the Twelfth Imam), a period which Shias believe will continue until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

As an organisation, the Shia Convocation enjoys a unique legal status within Hindia Belanda derived from the colonial-era Treaty of Bukit Ilias which accorded the then-Shia Community of Bukit Ilias significant autonomy from colonial rule. As recorded on colonial government documents, when colonial Governors-General climbed Mount Ilias to meet the Auxiliary Imam, they were said to have paid a 'state visit', indicating that the Shia Convocation was treated in the same manner as the self-governing Vorstenlanden. Following the independence of Hindia Belanda from Noordenstaat, the Hindia Belandan government agreed to partially honour the treaty and recognise the Shia Convocation as a legal body with the ability to enter into treaties with sovereign countries, although neither its properties nor the land which it owns in Hindia Belanda enjoy the status of being sovereign.

The Shia Convocation is headed by the Auxiliary Imam, who is elected by an electoral body consisting of representatives of each local Esoteric Shia jurisdiction, numbering 2,812 in total. Once elected, the Auxiliary Imam serves for life and takes upon the role of administrative head of the Shia Convocation and, by extension, spiritual guide of the Esoteric Shia faithful. The position of the Auxiliary Imam does not replace the Imamate, which is a divinely-appointed position occupied by the hidden Twelfth Imam.

Governance and hierarchy

Territorial jurisdictions

The Shia Convocation is divided into National Councils (currently, there are two, in Hindia Belanda and Maqtajer) and Local Jurisdictions. National Councils are subordinate to the Auxiliary Imam.

Clergy

The Esoteric Shia clergy consists of Interpreters, Panghoeloes (a Dutch-Indonesian word originally denoting a person with religious training who served the colonial government before 1929) and Mualims. Interpreters are the highest religious position an Esoteric Shia can achieve.

Responsibilities

The Shia Convocation is responsible for providing guidance to the Esoteric Shia faithful, distributing alms, maintaining Houses of Remembrance (the principal place of worship for Esoteric Shias) and organising religious rituals.