Cluster agencies

(Prepared by: Regional Bahá’í Council of the Southeastern States)

Cluster Reflection Meetings -- some excerpts from the messages of the Universal House of Justice and the statements of the International Teaching center

The “pulsating heartbeat” of each cycle

The impulse to learn through action is, of course, present among the friends from the very start. The introduction of quarterly cycles of activity capitalizes on this emerging capacity and allows it to be steadily reinforced. Although this capacity is specifically associated with the reflection and planning phase of a cycle, especially the reflection gathering that regulates its pulsating heartbeat, it also comes to be exercised at all other points of the cycle by those pursuing related lines of action. We note that, as learning accelerates, the friends grow more capable of overcoming setbacks, whether small or large—diagnosing their root causes, exploring the underlying principles, bringing to bear relevant experience, identifying remedial steps, and assessing progress, until the process of growth has been fully reinvigorated.  (The Universal House of Justice, Dec. 29, 2015)

Unifying thought and action

Reflection meetings at the level of clusters have become a powerful means of unifying thought and action across institutions and localities; they have lent a potent stimulus to institutional and individual initiatives in a mutually supportive spirit. (The Universal House of Justice, Ridvan 2003)  

Reaching a consensus on short-term goals

A natural vehicle for multiplying core activities has been reflection meetings. These meetings at the cluster level have been particularly effective in well-established areas where an expanding pool of human resources exists. In such gatherings the institutions and the believers, many of whom are involved in the institute process, study the relevant Five Year Plan documents, share experiences, and consult on the achievements and strengths within the cluster. Avoiding "grandiose and elaborate plans," [29] the friends reach a consensus on short-term goals which reflect the pledges of individual initiatives and collective actions that have emerged from the consultation. These goals are generally incorporated into a calendar of activities that becomes the framework for the subsequent two-to-three-month period. In many clusters around the world, how to hold productive and enjoyable reflection meetings has - - - become an important area for learning. (The International Teaching Center, ‘Building Momentum’, 2003)

Reflection Gathering - Jan. 27, 2018

Contact information for the ATC and Study Circle Development Team

Area Teaching Committee

•  Beverly Azizi - (727) 641-2623, Mel61930jobb@gmail.com
• Gary Hogenson - (804) 332-9941, ghogenson@gmail.com
• Maria Carlberg - (727) 637-3454, mariacarlberg9@gmail.com
• Lois Naderi - (727) 560-3251, loisn9@gmail.com
• Alex Carlberg (Secretary) - (727) 365-7485, alexcarlberg@gmail.com

Study Circle Development Team

• Sue Rishworth (Convener) - (708) 612-4493, susankrishworth@gmail.com
• Malek Yazdani - (727) 733-5717, malekyazdani@hotmail.com
• Thomas Alexander - (727)-709-5146, alexander_thomas_o@hotmail.com
• Maggie Mayers (Statistics) - (727) -858-9792, maggie.mayers@rocketmail.com
• --> Statistics – Please send all Ruhi statistical information to Maggie.

Pinellas County Cluster Cycle 7 begins with a Reflection gathering and 2 goals

Cycle 7 (Oct. 28, 2017 – Jan. 20-21, 2018) began with the Reflection gathering at the Clearwater Center on Sat. Oct. 28, with fourteen friends participating. We had lively reflection on activities during the previous cycle which included the Bicentenary, the “Gifts to the Blessed Beauty” campaign, the formation of the Study Circle Development Team, a service project by the Jr. youth and Service Learning School to collect pet food donations for the Humane Society, as well as the creation of new children’s classes and Jr. Youth groups.

Two exciting goals were set to launch the next cycle of growth:

Goal #1: 19+ Home Visits during the Expansion phase (Sat. Nov. 4 – Sun. Nov. 19). Please contact an ATC member (or email pinellasatc@gmail.com) to reflect on the outcomes of your home visits.  This reflection is essential to help us develop further community-building endeavors!  There was much consultation on this numerical goal, with some thinking 19 was too few while others thought it was better to set an achievable goal that hopefully will be surpassed!  To support this initiative, we studied a short but comprehensive compilation of extracts about home visits.  This compilation will be made available through email, the cluster website and other study opportunities.

Goal #2:  Collect Ruhi book statistics from 150 people - This represent approximately 50% of Baha’i youth and adults in the cluster. 

Home Visits – a compilation from messages of the Universal House of Justice

1. "... to organize systematic home visits to the friends who would benefit from deepening and discussions that connect them with the community" (UHJ, 29 Dec. 2015)

2. "Even an act of service as simple as visiting the home of a new believer ... reinforces ties of fellowship that bind the members of the community together. Conceived as a means for exposing believers to the fundamentals of the Faith, "home visits" are giving rise to an array of deepening efforts, both individual and collective, in which the friends are delving into the Writings and exploring their implications for their lives."

(UHJ, 27 December 2005)

3. "... acts of service, such as hosting devotional gatherings, undertaking home visits, and teaching the Faith. These are not merely activities to be multiplied but fundamental aspects of Bahá’í community life intended for all.  ... Visiting one another’s homes weaves bonds of love and union." (Dept. of the Secretariat, Jan. 5, 2015)

4. “…the spiritual and social fabric of the community is being strengthened as the friends visit one another in their homes." (UHJ, 28 Dec. 2010)

An amazing example of youth empowerment in Australia – by Kenneth Bowers

Sound bite from the report given at 2017 National Convention by the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States

The main report includes points that were discussed in a meeting at the Baha’i World Center in November of 2016. Participants were 3 members of the Universal House of Justice, 2 members of the International Teaching Center, 3 members of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Americas, and 4 members of US National Spiritual Assembly.

Examples of the supporting role that LSAs played in one cluster

Sound bite from 2017 US National Convention

Conducting meaningful conversations and one’s own ongoing spiritual growth and development

“With greater and greater spiritual perception, they are able to sense receptivity and recognize thirst for the vivifying waters of Bahá’u’lláh’s message.” (The Universal House of Justice, 27 December 2005, to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors)

“As a person cultivates the habit of study and deep reflection upon the Creative Word, this process of transformation reveals itself in an ability to express one’s understanding of profound concepts and to explore spiritual reality in conversations of significance.” (The Universal House of Justice, 29 Dec, 2015, to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors)

Meaningful Conversations: A compilation of some extracts from recent messages of the Universal House of Justice

view and download compilation

1. ... the purpose of such campaigns in local communities which have been dormant for years would not be to find every Baha'i , whose name appears on the membership list and verity his or her status. The list of names should be considered, rather, as a starting point, leading to opportunities to meet individuals who are willing to engage in meaningful conversation, exploring spiritual realities and learning more and more about the Faith. (Letter dated 3 June 2001 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Union of Myanmar, quoted in ‘Building Momentum’)

2. Nowhere has the rise in individual initiative been more clearly demonstrated than in the field of teaching. Whether in the form of firesides or study circles, individual efforts to teach the Faith are indisputably on the increase. Equipped with skills and methods, effective and accessible to all, and encouraged by the response their actions elicit, the believers are entering into closer association with people of many walks of life, engaging them in earnest conversation on themes of spiritual import. With greater and greater spiritual perception, they are able to sense receptivity and recognize thirst for the vivifying waters of Bahá’u’lláh’s message. From among all those they encounter-parents of neighbourhood children, peers at school, colleagues at work, casual acquaintances-they seek out souls with whom they can share a portion of that which He has so graciously bestowed on humanity. Increased experience enables them to adapt their presentation to the seeker's needs, employing direct teaching methods that draw on the Writings to offer the message in a manner both forthcoming and inviting. (The Universal House of Justice, 27 December 2005 to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors)

Cycle 5: April 27 - July 21 --> expansion, consolidation, planning

“connecting hearts to Bahá’u’lláh”

Viewed aright, this year presents the single greatest worldwide opportunity there has ever been for connecting hearts to Bahá’u’lláh. In the months ahead, let all be mindful of this precious chance and alert to the possibilities that exist in every space for acquainting others with His life and sublime mission. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (Ridvan 2017) 

Pinellas Cluster Reflection Gathering - April 2017

• Presentation -- PowerPoint format
• Presentation -- adobe format

Need for “systematization of teaching efforts”

Ample attention must also be given to further systematization of teaching efforts, whether undertaken by the individual or directed by the institutions. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a message dated 26 November 1999)

Pinellas Cluster Reflection Gathering - January 2017

Reflection Gathering - January 2017  PowerPoint Presentation
Reflection Gathering - January 2017  PDF version

A Presentation on Baha'u'llah

Baha'u'llah - an introduction: a PowerPoint presentation
Baha'u'llah - an introduction PDF version

Grouping of Clusters – in our area: Pinellas+ Pasco-Hernando+Tampa

From: The Southeast Regional Baha’i Council Newsletter ‘Update’, November 2016

What is a grouping of adjoining clusters?

"In some regions that stretch across a large territory, Councils have made arrangements for nurturing the development of groups of adjoining clusters. Meanwhile, in smaller countries that do not require the establishment of Regional Councils, National Assemblies are increasingly giving thought to ways of helping clusters advance, in some instances by forming a working group charged with this task; you are encouraged to stimulate learning in this area, with the aim that, in due course, formal structures can be defined that would assume this responsibility in much the same way that Councils do in other countries." - The Universal House of Justice  (Dec 29, 2015)

What are the groupings in the Southeast?

The Southeast region has identified nine groupings, one in Mississippi, one in Alabama, three in Florida, two in Georgia and two in South Carolina. On the average there are nine clusters in each grouping, the majority being milestone ones as of the beginning of the Five Year Plan. The grouping maps for the Southeast region is shown in the Council website www.rbcsoutheast.org. The color coding corresponds to programs of growth (milestone ones, yellow) and intensive programs of growth (milestone two's, blue) respectively. One cluster within each grouping is designated as reservoir cluster with the expectation that it would supply the flow of resources with knowledge and experience to the remaining clusters within the grouping.

Map of Pinellas County, Florida

Pinellas County Florida -- Unincorporated portion is shown as light blue

Home Visits – some excerpts from the recent messages of the Universal House of Justice

• "Conceived as a means for exposing believers to the fundamentals of the Faith, "home visits" are giving rise to an array of deepening efforts, both individual and collective, in which the friends are delving into the Writings and exploring their implications for their lives."

- Universal House of Justice, 27 December 2005

• "...home visits to the friends who would benefit from deepening and discussions that connect them with the community…"

- Universal House of Justice, 29 December 2015

• "As they call on one another in their homes and pay visits to families, friends and acquaintances, they enter into purposeful discussion on themes of spiritual import, deepen their knowledge of the Faith, share Bahá’u’lláh’s message, and welcome increasing numbers to join them in a mighty spiritual enterprise."

- Universal House of Justice, Ridván, 2008