Hundreds gather to explore impactful change at the neighbourhood level

More than 400 people serving in various capacities from Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands have gathered in Sydney to explore how to contribute to the spiritual, material and social progress of their communities over the next few years. 

The gathering was one of a series of such gatherings held across the globe and called for by the international governing body of the Baha’i Faith, the Universal House of Justice, as the Baha’i world enters the second phase of the Nine Year Plan. 

Held over four days, individuals of all ages and all walks of life, hailing from urban settings through to rural communities, small towns and the Australian outback, shared insights into the flourishing process of learning occurring at every level of the community, and made plans to spearhead the community-building process in their respective regions over the years to come. 

The secretary of the national governing body of the Baha’i Faith, the National Spiritual Assembly, said the gathering was a precious opportunity to come together to internalise the guidance of the Universal House of Justice, to reflect, and to consult and make the necessary adjustments with a “unity of vision and clarity of understanding”. 

According to one participant, the gathering assisted their region to take a significant stride forward in its thinking about practical action related to expanding the pool of human resources in every neighbourhood and cluster.  

“We were lovingly accompanied to review the guidance of the Universal House of Justice in such a way that opened up a clear vista of possibilities, and benefitted from learning from other regions and clusters about what they have learned so far in this Plan, that we can quickly put into action in our own reality,” he said. 

Another participant said the gathering was an “excellent opportunity to learn from the rich experience of neighbourhoods in other regions who have learnt how to build a vibrant community life, and apply their learning to our own settings” while another said it re-energised her and made her “realise I am part of one community that is linked with many, all striving to reflect the teachings of Baha’u’llah to our realities.” 

“I don’t feel alone in my endeavours and I can see how every effort is a stepping stone towards reaching our goals.”

The conference featured plenary sessions led by four Counsellors from the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia. The Counsellors work to foster learning in the Baha’i community and encourage the emergence of a vibrant pattern of community life. 

Breakout sessions were also conducted in the six regions of Western and Central Australia, North-Eastern Australia, New South Wales and ACT, Victoria and Tasmania, and New Zealand (north and south island), with the gathering paving the way for intense, profound, creative and joyous deliberations where participants reflected about the reality of their neighbourhoods, how far they had come and their goals for the future. 

Conversations from the gathering will now be shared with many others in a multitude of settings, big and small, as all are invited to reflect together on what has been learned and accomplished, propelling the community-building process in their own localities, embracing more people into the fold and “in the company of many others … building havens of peace.” 

Launched in 2022, 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.” Since its launch, it has expanded to include countless new friends who have been attracted to devotional meetings, educational activities, and other Baha’i initiatives. 

Each Plan provides a framework for action, empowering the Baha’i community to strengthen its community-building efforts in towns, villages and cities everywhere to advance the material, spiritual and economic life of society.