The third Institutional Meeting for Northern Ireland was held on the 26 October in Ballymena. The purpose of this meeting is for the institutions to come together to review progress in relation to the Five Year Plan, and to develop a united vision and a clearer understanding of the role which the institutions play in advancing the three core activities of the Plan (study circles, devotional gatherings and children’s classes). Auxiliary Board members Ann O’Sullivan and Denis Coyle were present; Kishan Manocha, Rob Weinberg, Wendi Momen and Iain Palin represented the National Spiritual Assembly and representatives of local Assemblies and Council agencies also attended.
National Spiritual Assembly members Kishan Manocha and Rob Weinberg spoke on how the first years of this plan have been a time of dramatic change in the vocabulary we use and the way we think about doing things. Now we are at a stage when, for the rest of the Plan – just over two years – we have to make great efforts to implement the changes. Ann O’Sullivan, who represented the Continental Board of Counsellors, talked the participants through an audiovisual presentation on the document Building Momentum, prepared by the Counsellors, and focusing in particular on the different approaches to be taken by clusters in differing stages of development.
There were presentations on the core activities of the Plan, and workshops on children’s classes and on devotionals. The Training Institute gave a lively presentation on study circles—well worth a repeat performance—and there was discussion on the reflection meetings. This day was a learning opportunity, to see where we have been, where we are now and how we can go forward together. Auxiliary Board member Denis Coyle summed it up by reminding us to ponder on why we were there – to advance the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.
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