Baha’is from throughout Australia have elected the members of the Faith’s national governing body at the annual convention in Sydney.
Conducted by secret ballot in a prayerful atmosphere with no nominations or electioneering, the election by 95 delegates was the central focus of the National Baha’i Convention, held from 29 April to 1 May at the Sydney Baha’i Centre in Silverwater.
All adult Baha’is in Australia, men and women, are eligible to be elected to the nine-member National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Australia. The Faith has no clergy but is governed by elected councils at national, State and local levels
Those elected to the National Spiritual Assembly were Arini Beaumaris, Anton Jones, Eric Kingston, Fiona McDonald, Fariborz Moshirian, Golshah Naghdy, Vahid Saberi, Bijan Samali, and John Walker.
Speaking on behalf of the members of the incoming National Assembly, Professor Samali thanked the convention delegates for the trust they had placed in the elected members.
“The love that members of this institution receive from the community is the real driving force,” he said.
Consultation
As well as participating in the election of the National Spiritual Assembly, the convention delegates, representing electoral units in all parts of Australia, discussed issues of concern to the Australian Baha’i Community.
These included plans for community development over the coming five years, educational programs for children and young teenagers, and working with other Australians to transform the neighbourhoods in which we live.
Service
On the opening day of the Convention, the delegates attended a special service at the Baha’i House of Worship in Mona Vale.