the shortage of available mobeds across North America. The program was initially open to any male Zoroastrian, irrespective of Athornan (priestly) or Behdhin (non-priestly) caste or lineage. The first mobedyar was ordained in Virginia in late 1997. Another NAMC-trained mobedyar was ordained in California in 2004 after several years of serving the community.

In 2008, the NAMC amended the original resolution passed in 1999 to broaden the criteria for the eligibility and training of mobedyars to include women. As of 2010, the North American