A melting pot of learning, inspiration and consultation: Key themes from the 2025 National Convention
Several key themes emerged as almost 90 delegates gathered at the Sydney Baha’i Centre of Learning for the 2025 National Baha’i Convention.
According to a first-time delegate, attending the Convention was “one of the most incredible experiences”.
“I felt like more members of the community needed to experience it,” she said.
From efforts focusing on social transformation, through to the strengthening of institutions in communities across Australia, delegates consulted in a spirit of utmost respect and devotion, all the while maintaining a humble posture of learning as they gleaned insights about the process of growth unfolding in regional areas, cities and neighbourhoods everywhere.
Here are some of the key themes explored during the three days:
Teaching efforts
Much was shared about the efforts being made across Australia to teach friends from all walks of life about Baha’u’llah and the Baha’i Faith, and people’s various journeys towards formally enrolling as Baha’is. Member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, Vahid Saberi, said the current Nine Year Plan demanded a “shift in our thinking” when it came to teaching our friends, and asked that we adopt a more “expansive view” as we learn how to attract groups of families into the community-building process.
The Nine Year Plan is one of the first in a series of ambitious plans for the worldwide Baha’i community, spanning the next quarter-century, which focuses on “a single aim: the release of the society-building power of the Faith in ever-greater measures.” Each Plan provides a framework for action, empowering the Baha’i community to strengthen its community-building efforts in towns, villages and cities across the globe in a bid to advance the material, spiritual and economic life of society.
The movement of clusters and learning from the most advanced clusters
The Convention heard from delegates in advanced centres of intense activity, particularly in the country’s more urban localities, where the process of growth was having a wide impact. Delegates shared how their communities were utilising camps and family festivals, working systematically as groups of families, creatively engaging youth through special service programs, and empowering the junior youth and younger ones in their communities to raise their capacities to serve in various roles in the institute process. Delegates in advanced clusters in Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth shared examples of groups of families going through the institute and witnessing a strengthening in the capacity-building process. Regional areas including Ballarat, Albany and Launceston shared snippets highlighting the impact the Faith was having on hearts and souls, with Townsville sharing heartwarming examples of working with Indigenous communities.
Engagement in social transformation and discourse
Reflections about involvement with civil society and local organisations, showcasing how communities are elevating the narrative across the country, were a highlight of the Convention. Delegates spoke about initiatives emerging in their areas creating spaces for conversations, connection and collaboration. Vignettes from social action efforts with the Brazilian community in the Gold Coast through to mental health endeavours in Perth inspiried the delegates. Examples of communities engaging in the discourses of society were also a key area of focus. It was noted that engaging in discourse must go hand-in-hand with the community’s social action endeavours.
Pioneering
One of the themes continuously explored during the consultations was the need for pioneers, both on the homefront and internationally. It was expressed that for the country to reach its goal of achieving 23 more third milestone clusters and seven more second milestone clusters by the end of the first phase of the Nine Year Plan, there needs to be more emphasis placed on individuals and families moving to regional and remote communities across the country – not just for the clusters’ movement but also to support the friends in those areas. Some communities have established special taskforces focusing on how to mobilise more pioneers and visiting teams also assist with the community-building process in areas that need it most.
Recommendations made
Two recommendations were passed at this year’s National Spiritual Assembly – one was for the National Spiritual Assembly to consider creating regional youth gatherings to bring youth aged between 15 and 30 together in Australia’s four different regions, and the other was for the National Spiritual Assembly to create a space at the national level that focuses on the gathering and distribution of learning about the engagement of Aboriginal people, Councils and tribal leaders, led by Aboriginal Baha’is.
Thanks for reading.
Subscribe
Horizons Team
The Horizons Team aims to cast a spotlight on how the Baha’i Faith’s society-building power is being released in ever-greater measures across this vast and diverse country of ours.
Published in May, 2025, in Baha'i Institutions > Events
Available online at: horizons.bahai.org.au/bahai-institutions/a-melting-pot-of-learning-inspiration-and-consultation-key-themes-from-the-2025-national-convention/
Related Stories
Art showcases connection between Baha’i Faith and Aboriginal Spiritual Lore
When Wagan Guburu (Philip Obah Senior) shared his artwork titled Tjukurpa with the Elders in his community, they responded: “we have been waiting for this; we’ve been waiting for our Lore ...
Delegates from across Australia reflect on common purpose in lead up to National Convention
Delegates from regions and cities across Australia have gathered at Sydney’s Baha’i House of Worship in the lead up to this weekend’s National Baha’i Convention, finding joy, upliftment and calm ...
Power of Faith showcased throughout Australia as thousands celebrate Ayyam-i-Ha
Ayyam-i-Ha celebrations in cities and regional areas across the country have showcased the Baha’i Faith’s power in promoting vibrant, healthy and hopeful communities. Ayyam-i-Ha, also known ...
Summer schools solidify vision of service and sacrifice
The Australian Baha’i summer schools have attracted hundreds of Baha’is and well-wishers of humanity as they have explored how to further the community-building efforts in their own localities in ...
‘Reminded of the global unity’: Honouring the Faith’s founders in a multitude of settings
The Twin Holy Days – the birth of the Bab and the birth of Baha’u’llah – have been marked in a myriad of settings across the country, with people of all walks of life gathering to honour ...
‘The chief sinews of Baha’i society’: Reflecting on the role of Local Spiritual Assemblies
In its message dated 30 December 2021, the international governing body of the Baha’i Faith, the Universal House of Justice, described the role of the local governing councils of Baha’i ...