CommuNIqué - Newsletter of the Bahá'í Community in Northern Ireland
Issue 136 - 12 Bahá 165 BE - 1 April 2008 CE

 

BAHÁ’í COUNCIL FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

 

WHAT IS AN AREA TEACHING COMMITTEE?

The Area Teaching Committee has a key role to play in the development of our A” cluster; to help the Friends better appreciate what it is and does this article was written by Afnan Hashemi-zadeh at the request of the Bahá'í Council.

In response to the guidance of the Universal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assemblies acted to map territories in their areas of jurisdiction into areas consisting of adjacent localities called clusters, using criteria that were purely geographic and social.

The Area Teaching Committee (ATC) is a cluster agency appointed by the Bahá'í Council for Northern Ireland. The other cluster agencies include Institute co-ordinators (cluster coordinator, children’s class coordinator and junior youth coordinator) while the Auxiliary Board Members have a vital part to play.

As currently set out by the International Teaching Centre, the role of the Area Teaching Committee is:

  • To promote the gradual increase in devotional gatherings.
  • To hold periodic reflection meetings. T
  • o arrange for systematic visits to the homes of new believers.
  • To collect vital statistics.
  • To encourage the development of the Nineteen-Day Feast.
  • To encourage the strengthening of the Local Spiritual Assembly, with the help of the Auxiliary Board Members and their assistants.

The relationship between the cluster agencies is one of sustained loving collaboration in which we all strive to achieve growth for the cluster, but growth in the context of unity, constant consultation and sharing of information is essential. As learning is a dynamic process the ATC works closely with individuals and teaching teams in learning from them and in assisting them with their teaching activities.


“REFLECTIONS ON GROWTH” ISSUE 19

The latest issue of this newsletter, prepared under the auspices of the International Teaching Centre and carrying news of teaching and progress from all over the world, has been received. It has been distributed electronically to Spiritual Assembly and group secretaries but should be read by everyone. If you do not have a copy please contact your local secretary or the Bahá'í Council for an electronic or printed copy.


PHOTOGRAPHS OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

CommuNIqueand other Bahá’í publications welcomes photographs of your activities. However where children and young people (up to age 18) are featured the Child Protection Procedure of the National Spiritual Assembly requires that (unless it is a group picture—five or more) permission of the parent or guardian be given. If this doesn’t come with the photo then it cannot be used. Please bear this in mind when sending pictures. Of course if the sender is the parent or guardian of the young person featured, permission is assumed.


ELECTRONIC CALENDAR

The Bahá'í Council been experimenting with the setup of an electronic calendar If anyone has been able to access it we would be very grateful to havesome feedback. It is now possible to access the calendar by using the URL http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=bahai.council4ni%40googlemail.com.

In addition you can import the calendar data into other electronic calendars such as Outlook etc. Please send details of any items you would like to add to the calendar to Edwin Graham.


GOING TO THE HOLY LAND?

Are you due to go on Pilgrimage, or making a three-day visit to the World Centre? Not only will this bring you great bounties, it can be an opportunity to share more about the Faith with the people of your area. Such a visit is newsworthy and your local paper will probably print a report about your experience, especially if it is seen as a “pilgrimage with a difference”.

A special press lead is available to help you with this. You can obtain it from the Bahá'í Council’s Press and Public Information Officer.


RESOURCE BOOKLETS AVAILABLE

The Bahá'í Council would like to remind all the Friends in Northern Irelandthat the small ‘activities booklet’ is still available on request (in small or larger quantities). Giving an overview of the core activities for the non-Bahá'í reader, it is professionally-designed, colourful, ideal for handing to friends and enquirers: if you want some copies to give away please get in touch with the Secretary of the Bahá'í Council.

These booklets are resources to be out there working for the Faith, telling people about our various activities and inviting them to join. Why not get some and use them?

 

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