CommuNIqué - Newsletter of the Bahá'í Community in Northern Ireland
Issue 104 - 12 Bahá 162 BE - 1 April 2005 CE

 

FROM THE BAHÁ’Í COUNCIL

 

Dear Friends,

THRILLING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES¹

At the end of the Four Year Plan, the Universal House of Justice in their Ridvan 2000 message wrote that “the culture of the Bahá'í community [had] experienced a change” and that the “chief propellant of this change was the system of training institutes”.

The International Teaching Centre in Building Momentum have explained that the “"new patterns of thought and action²” introduced by the training institutes were having a profound impact on individuals, institutions, and communities. Fundamental to this new orientation was:

  • an attitude of learning,
  • along with an appreciation of systematization and focus,
  • a commitment to enlisting a greater number of believers in the work of the Cause, and a conscious outreach to society at large.”

In our own community in Northern Ireland this new culture of learning, systematization, teaching and outreach is in place. And what is also clear is that it is opening up “thrilling opportunities for Local Spiritual Assemblies”. The movement of scores of believers and their friends through the sequence of courses is developing and releasing their talents and capacities. These resources are now at the disposal of Local Spiritual Assemblies. This greatly enhances the ability of Assemblies to achieve their goals and objectives. Assemblies are thus greatly strengthened by this movement.

Parallel to this opportunity is one of the greatest challenges facing Assemblies at this time - the challenge of learning to use these resources effectively. From our understanding of the guidance and experience to hand, the Council believes that Assemblies can best learn how to harness and channel these newly released energies by giving attention to the following:

  • Fostering and facilitating the movement of souls through the sequence of courses.
  • Urging the participants of courses to do the practise required by each course, so that they can acquire the skills the courses are intended to foster.
  • Carefully consider how “to utilize the energies and talents of the swelling human resources available …..both to create a vibrant community life and to begin influencing society around them.¹”
  • In particular, consider how to use these resources to increase the number of core activities (study circles, children’s classes and devotional gatherings) in the community, and to increase the tempo of the teaching work.
  • Carefully plan, with the other institutions in their area, reflection meetings to ensure their best results.

The Council is also convinced that the effort to do each one of these things will be significantly enhanced if done in close consultation and collaboration both with the Auxiliary Board members and assistants and with the area co-ordinator of the Training Institute. It is most encouraged by the opportunities that have been created through the focus and commitment of the friends to the Five Year Plan, and looks forward with anticipation to seeing further progress in advancing the process of entry by troops during the remaining year of the Plan.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Bahá'í Council for Northern Ireland.

References:
¹ The Universal House of Justice to the Bahá'ís of the World, 17 Jan 2005
² The Universal House of Justice to the Bahá'ís of the World, Ridvan 2000

 

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