Stimulus of a conference adds vibrancy to community

A conference for the nine sectors in the southern part of the Auckland community – namely, Mangere North, Mangere South, Manurewa East, Manurewa West, Franklin, Papakura, Papatoetoe, Otara, and Manukau – took place on 28-29 June 2025, at the Bahá'í Centre in Manurewa, Auckland

Key features of the gathering

Counsellor Bob Ale

Numbers participating (170 souls joined for part or all of the two-day conference) included eight children, four junior youth and 15 youth as well as members of the National Spiritual Assembly, members of the Auckland Spiritual Assembly, an Auckland-based member of the North Island Bahá'í Council, cluster Institute coordinators, the Auckland Area Teaching Committee, Auckland-based Auxiliary Board members, and special guest Counsellor Bob Ale who came from Samoa for this purpose.

Counsellor Ale played a significant role in shaping this particular conference, including the materials, so that it responded to the predominant populations attending. The gathering brought together many Pasifika friends in what was a high-spirited, energetic, and thoughtful gathering.

The programme was wonderfully facilitated by members of the Auckland Area Teaching Committee, with moving and uplifting plenary talks offered by Counsellor Bob Ale.  On the first day there were four breakout language groups, two English, one Tongan and one Samoan. On the second day, the friends were brought together by groups of sectors.  

The conference gave weight to the spiritual heritage of the Auckland believers and generated a spirit of sacrificial service and increased understanding of the institute process, including what a process of systematic teaching and community building can look like within groups of families at the grassroots.

Context

Facilitator reflection with Counsellor Ale and Auxiliary Board members

In response to the provisions of the Nine Year Plan and the key strategy of increasing the engagement of groups of families, the Area Teaching Committee together with the Auxiliary Board members and members of the Local Spiritual Assembly came together to learn about fostering “collaborative arrangements amongst groups of families who endeavour to expand their community-building activities to many nearby households... it is readily evident that this process of mutual support and systematic action is key to creating communities characterised by unity in diversity.”

Strategy

The conference for the southern part of Auckland cluster was the first in a series of three conferences to be held for Auckland in 2025 with the overall aim of having these conferences contribute to the ongoing process of mobilisation, learning and capacity building amongst the friends. A key aim is to generate a larger number of groups of families, all of which become part of a well-coordinated system of learning and capacity building. Every group of families can contribute to reaching the current goal of having at least 450 core activities occurring in the cluster. The three conferences aim to serve the needs and interests of all age groups and backgrounds, including as many friends as possible beyond the Bahá'í community.

A Samoan language group

Approach taken

Materials generated for the conference were organised into four themes:

Theme 1: Bahá'u'lláh’s Vision for Humanity

Theme 2: Our Spiritual Heritage and High Destiny

A group from neighbouring sectors

Theme 3: Service to humanity today - applying the framework for action within groups of families  

Theme 4: Service to humanity today - our experience of teaching & serving in groups of families

An English language group

Day 1 of the conference was organised by language groups for the study of the first 3 themes.  The Pasifika groups truly benefitted from the material studied and the discussion this inspired. Many of the friends were moved to tears as they shared their longing to join the ranks in service to the Cause while also sharing their struggles and cultural/material limitations. The first day ended with a fiafia - a wonderful arts and cultural night that was lively and well attended by more friends.

Day 2 of the conference focused on practical steps forward in the breakout groups organised by sector. Overall, the friends left the conference in high spirits and now there is more work to be done to not lose the energy and spirit that was generated at the conference.

Outcomes of the conference

Hearing from an Auxiliary Board Member

The conference further enkindled the friends’ spirit of service. Counsellor Bob Ale struck a perfect tone and connection with the conference participants, reminding the friends of their love for Bahá'u'lláh and His World Order as well as their spiritual roots connecting them to the Knights of Bahá'u'lláh and early believers of the Pacific. The materials were both conceptually inspiring as well as practical in nature, drawing on the experience and knowledge of the participants.  The spirit of the conference was characterised by fellowship and much joy.

Youth consulting

Further conferences coming

Following the south Auckland conference, learning will be integrated into plans for the next conference, which is for the friends in the eastern and central areas of Auckland, to be held on 16-17 August at the Bahá'í Centre in Glen Innes. The final conference in the series will be held for the western & northern areas of Auckland on 18-19 October at Te Whare Akoranga Bahá'í (Bahá'í Centre for Learning).

Featured image: Group photo of the participants at the conference.