At a recent reflection meeting in Charles Dunning cluster on 19 December the Bahá’í Council for Northern Ireland shared with the friends the joyous announcement that at this point in the intensive institute campaign, this priority cluster moves to become a category B cluster. This milestone is the result of dedicated efforts by a number of the friends in the cluster who have arisen over these past few months, committed themselves and moved rapidly through the sequence of courses. In this endeavour they have been ably guided by the Area Coordinator and encouraged and assisted by the Local Spiritual Assemblies and the Assistants. A significant number of them have completed the sequence, and more yet have moved ahead towards completion.
In its letter to the reflection meeting of this newly enlarged cluster the Council wrote the following:
“We wish to congratulate you all. All those who have taken part in this historically momentous effort; all those who have systematically moved through the sequence of books; all those who has selflessly tutored during the summer months and on into the autumn; all those who fed and watered the participants; all these and more merit our wholehearted applause.”
Now the cluster has more skilled and trained human resources than ever in its history. It is anticipated that when these newly trained friends step forward into the arena of service and bring to bear more and more the knowledge, spiritual insights and skills they have acquired, new victories will be realised in the cluster and an increase in effective teaching, a multiplication of study circles, of devotional meetings and of children’s classes achieved!
The Universal House of Justice has stressed the point that movement of a cluster from one category to another is not a statement of status. Quoted in the document, Building Momentum, the Supreme Body states:
“…..Rather, it is a way of evaluating its capacity for growth, in order that an approach compatible with its evolving development can be adopted.”
Now it is seen that the sacrificial efforts of the friends going back to the 1950s, when such stalwarts of the community as Lisbeth Greeves, Jane Villers-Stuart and Charles Macdonald and many others pioneered the way forward for the Faith of God in our country, as well as the combined efforts of the last years and especially the last few months are now yielding fruits as never before.
The Council added, in their message to the cluster:
“The Ancient Beauty came into the world to establish the Golden Age of mankind. We have the inestimable privilege of helping Him during these very early days. Let us bring happiness to His heart. These forthcoming supreme efforts we owe to the people of Northern Ireland, who are yearning, waiting, longing for answers – which we have.”
It is noted that the friends in the other five clusters in Northern Ireland are watching with increased enthusiasm the results of the work being pioneered in Charles Dunning. They will follow in due course and able to learn so much from the valuable experience gained in this priority cluster. The
Council ended with a quotation from the 9 January letter of 2001 when the Universal House of Justice said:
“Let there be no doubt that what we are witnessing is the gathering momentum of that process of the entry of humanity into the Cause by troops, foreshadowed by Bahá'u'lláh's Tablet to the King of Persia, eagerly anticipated by the Master, and described by the Guardian as the necessary prelude to mass conversion. …….. May the prodigious output of energy devoted to this mighty undertaking be reinforced by the power of Divine assistance.”
Bahá’í Council for Northern Ireland
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