‘Serve together in unity’: a timely message sent to community on Day of the Covenant 

To the Australian Bahá’í Community  
Transmitted by email 
 
Dearly loved friends,
 
We write to you on the sacred occasion of the Day of the Covenant, a day that calls to mind the enduring bond between the Blessed Beauty and His followers, and the promise of divine guidance “from all eternity to all eternity” through the Centre of the Covenant. It is in this spirit of unity, love and gratitude for the unfailing guidance of our beloved Supreme Body and its vision for the unfoldment of the Divine Plan that we share with you a glimpse of the progress being made across our  nation in the implementation of the Nine Year Plan.
  
Among the wider social and economic conditions shaping life in our nation, Australians are  contending with significant cost-of-living pressures that have strained families and communities, while the ripple effects of global conflicts and the radicalisation of political views have impacted the  bonds of trust and unity that underpin our collective well-being. Increasing polarisation in public discourse and a growing sense of isolation, particularly among young people, point to a deeper yearning for connection and meaning. Against this backdrop, the efforts of the friends to engage in elevated conversations and to foster vibrant communities that are safe havens of love and mutual support, assume even greater urgency and significance.
  
Over the past six months we have observed the emergence of new capacities across groups of families, enhanced efforts to support and follow the movement of youth, and the growing influence of the Faith in the life of society- in both thought and action. We are increasingly witnessing the impact of the training institute on people’s lives at the grassroots- for example, the way a children’s class can influence the lives of families connected to it and the ongoing conversations with these families. In neighbourhoods across the country, youth are arising with zeal to offer extended periods of service, unlocking new levels of vitality and creativity in communities and inspiring their peers to walk a path of service and contribute to the emergence of spiritually vibrant patterns of life.
   
The National Assembly has been particularly pleased to observe a shift in the community’s outward orientation: rather than simply inviting others to activities, the friends are offering their perspective and insight to conversations on issues facing their professions and communities as an integral part of the wider population. Responses to social challenges are becoming more purposeful and widespread as the three protagonists of the Plan are increasingly consulting on the spiritual principles underlying the challenges facing their communities and applying those principles to enable practical solutions. Social action initiatives are continuing to emerge in areas such as mental health, environmental stewardship, education and family life.
  
At the national level, the Office of External Affairs has continued to expand its reach and deepen its engagement in prevalent discourses of society. This month the Office hosted its fifth national conference on social cohesion and inclusion, described by one guest as “a very thoughtful and thought-provoking conference”, and by another as “one of the most engaging experiences I have been part of in recent times”. In this space thought leaders, academics, faith leaders and community actors  explored the need for inclusive dialogue, the role of communities, First Nations perspectives in  strengthening the country’s cohesion and unity, and neighbourhoods as settings for learning and  positive impact, drawing on the experience generated by Bahá’í community-building endeavours, among others. This year the Office has also been hosting roundtables on social cohesion as part of the ‘Creating an Inclusive Narrative’ project, looking at the future of our country and the values and  pathways that will take us there, in an
environment characterised by a spirit of consultation with  government and other social actors at local and State and Territory levels. 
 
All these advances have been supported and underpinned by the continued evolution of the structure of our administrative systems, including Local Spiritual Assemblies and the Regional Bahá’í Councils. Spiritual Assemblies are increasingly serving alongside groups of families, neighbourhoods and cluster agencies: learning to function in closer degrees of unity, overcoming barriers and shifting the culture of communities. Systems of support at the cluster level are strengthening, guided by the principle that every soul with a desire to serve may be connected to others with experience, and that advancement occurs where we learn to serve together in unity.
  
Regional Councils continue to gain experience and uncover new approaches in the execution of their core responsibilities: to propel the movement of clusters from one stage of growth to the next, to facilitate the formation and continued development of Area Teaching Committees in a variety of settings, and to lend support to the advancement of training institutes. They are also assuming increasing responsibility in areas previously centralised at the national level, including management of Bahá’í properties, social action, development of Local Spiritual Assemblies, and stewardship of the community’s financial resources. Their efforts to establish, refine, and strengthen regional systems for the steady flow of information, guidance, learning, human resources and funds, will now be bolstered by the newly established Desk for the Development of Administrative Systems at the national level. The desire to ensure rapid dissemination of new insights from one region to another has led to a  growing number of settings in which Regional Councils, training institutes, and those serving our  most advanced clusters throughout the country are able to periodically interact and stay connected to  an ongoing conversation about the frontiers of learning.
  
The Dayspring of Light project is a once in a lifetime opportunity to contribute to the development of the institution of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár and the betterment of humanity through the refurbishment and repair of our beloved House of Worship. The project team has been progressing well and construction certification to commence demolition and building of the stairs and hard landscaping was granted on 14 October 2025, with works to commence early next year.
  
Beloved friends, all these developments are signs of a community maturing in its capacity to translate spiritual principles into action. As we enter the final summer of the first phase of the Nine Year Plan, we are acutely aware of the guidance in the Riḍván 2025 message that “Every advance made in the  fleeting months before next Riḍván will better equip the community of the Greatest Name for what it must accomplish in the Plan’s second phase.” Be assured of our ardent prayers in the Mother Temple of the Antipodes that your steps may be guided, your hearts uplifted with the joy of service and your efforts confirmed in this sacred and collective endeavour to release the society-building power of the Faith in ever greater measures.
 
With loving Bahá’í greetings  

National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Australia