Progress gladdens hearts of House of Justice
A message of the Universal House of Justice dated 11 July 2023 is shared below and beneath this beautiful message, the National Assembly offers some thoughts arising from the words of the Supreme Institution.
Transmitted by email
TO: The National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahá’ís of New ZealandDATE: 11 July 2023
Email address: nationaloffice@bahai.org.nz
______________________________________________________________________MESSAGE:
Our hearts were gladdened to receive the loving message from the delegates at your National Convention and to learn of the rich consultations that took place at that gathering, which included inspiring accounts of the progress being made by youth and groups of families to take charge of their own spiritual, social, and material progress. Your community has realized the strength and beauty to be found in embracing diversity, which will no doubt greatly fortify its efforts to widen the circle of unity still further. As the friends in New Zealand arise, with unrestrained fervour, to release the society-building power of the Faith in ever-greater measures, we will supplicate in the Holy Shrines on their behalf, that their every effort to serve the Cause may be reinforced by the Company on high.
The Universal House of Justice
cc: International Teaching Centre
Board of Counsellors in Australasia
Counsellor Tessa Scrine
A pdf of the message can be downloaded using the button below
The message sent from Aotearoa’s National Convention to the Supreme Body in May 2023 can be found in an article published in Bahá'í Aotearoa on 31 May 2023. Link: Convention message to House of Justice
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
18 July 2023
To the friends in New Zealand
Dearly loved brothers and sisters,
The National Spiritual Assembly was uplifted to receive such a beautiful message from our beloved Supreme Institution (attached and copied above), and we have no doubt you, too, will feel spiritually enriched to learn that the hearts of that Divine Body were gladdened by what took place at our National Convention and by the loving message from that Convention which conveyed what friends in many parts of Aotearoa are undertaking in service to Bahá'u'lláh.
The House of Justice recognises that the community of the Greatest Name in Aotearoa is learning about the strength and beauty that comes from embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment that values and celebrates the contributions of all individuals.
The message of the House of Justice specifically acknowledges the progress made by youth and groups of families in many parts of the country who are taking charge of their own spiritual, social, and material progress, and urges all the friends to arise and continue widening our circles of unity, thus enabling these endeavours to release the society-building power of the Faith in ever-greater measures.
The Universal House of Justice expressed its commitment to supplicate in the Holy Shrines that, “as the friends in New Zealand arise, with unrestrained fervour” to add your efforts towards releasing the society-building power of the Faith, these endeavours “may be reinforced by the Company on high.”
Let each of us strive, in this way, to bring further joy to the hearts of the Supreme Institution.
Loving greetings,
National Spiritual Assembly
Featured photo: A group of friends collaborating together to advance the institute process in the North Island (June 2023): A demonstration of embracing diversity, thereby finding strength and beauty to fortify efforts for widening the circle of unity still further.
