The biggest Baha’i conference ever held in Australia took place on 24-25 January 2009 when 5500 Baha’is gathered in the Sydney Convention Centre at Darling Harbour.
Two days set were aside for Australian Baha’is to “celebrate, deliberate and plan”.
The conference was one of 41 being held around the world from last October to March this year in response to a call by the Universal House of Justice, the Faith’s international governing body based in Haifa, Israel.
It was the second biggest such conference so far, and the biggest Baha’i conference ever held in the Southern Hemisphere.
A big bouquet of red roses on the stage throughout the conference was a reminder of the courage and sufferings of the persecuted Baha’is in Iran, many of whom have relatives in Australia.
Standing ovations greeted the representatives of the Universal House of Justice, Mrs Zenaida Ramirez and Mr Stephen Hall.
Mrs Ramirez called for renewed action in providing activities for the benefit of the general public as well as for the Baha’is: spiritual study circles, devotional meetings, children’s classes, and junior youth classes.
“Friends, we are living in unprecedented times and this requires an unprecedented level of response to the call to get involved,” Mrs Ramirez said.
Mr Hall said participation in training institute courses empowers Baha’is to fulfil their potential as servants of humanity.
“Those involved are engaged in a vision of social action and are being empowered to perform sacred acts,” Mr Hall said.
There were short presentations by Baha’is who had been asked to speak about their experiences in their home communities.
One man said that holding Baha’i children’s classes in a park in inner-city Sydney had helped create a sense of community in the neighbourhood.
“We all live in neighborhoods, we can all contribute to the quest for spiritual and social progress there,” he said.
A young woman from Western Sydney described how effective training releases energy and action.
“Building a new civilisation happens at the level of the neighbourhood,” she said.
A cultural program on Saturday evening including indigenous dance and music as well as humour and music from the Pacific, skits, children’s presentations and community singing.
Almost 500 participants committed themselves to hosting regular devotional meetings, and more than 530 said they would initiate study circles.
The two-day conference was followed on 26 January by a youth day, with 1500 Baha’is between the ages of 15 and 30 attending.
For more about the conference and for photos, visit Baha’i World News Service.