Dear fellow learners on this list The great Dr Mark Foster our list owner has placed the recent Document from the International Teaching Centre on the Bahai Studies Website
http://bahaistudies.net/momentum.html Building Momentum: A Coherent Approach to Growth International Teaching Centre THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARIAT.. I was wondering if any of the friends here who have perused it infinitely better than me can help me What does this part of the Document mean? ***A high degree of enthusiasm and a strong sense of ownership are also characteristics of clusters ready to embark on an intensive program of growth. *** More or less I can recognize enthusiasm but what does *ownership* refer to? I notice the word OPEN occurs frequently: **** Yet the way should be open for all the friends, irrespective of the degree of their knowledge and experience, to participate in the affairs of the Faith…. ...the efforts of Bahá'ís to open their communities to the public at large and guide ready souls to the Cause in progressively increasing numbers...As both activities are made open to the wider community through a variety of wellconceived ... An “Outward-Looking Orientation” When the Universal House of Justice called on the Bahá'ís at the beginning of the Five Year Plan to open their study circles, children’s classes, and devotional meetings “to all the inhabitants of the locality,” that phrase signalized a change in the culture of Bahá'í communities, a change that is intimately linked with the efforts of the Faith to grow and to embrace humankind. ... In reaching out to all inhabitants of a locality we are inspired by the words of Bahá'u'lláh: “This Day a door is open wider than both heaven and earth.” Making a concerted effort to open the portals of our community life to the outside world requires both courage and imagination. Stories abound of the creative measures Bahá'í communities around the globe are employing to attract seekers to their activities. Beyond opening the doors of the Bahá'í community to the outside world, the believers are also exerting themselves to reach out. Bahá'ís are striving to expand their social circles and ultimately their friendships, as friendship is the surest foundation for touching the hearts. To pursue these aims, individuals have begun to examine their priorities, including the services they are rendering the Faith, and to reorder their lives so as to allow themselves more time for interaction with their relatives, friends, and co-workers. Ultimately, what is the point of striving to become more effective teachers if we are not meeting people to teach?**** any help would be welcome khazeh an old and very slow learner ---------- You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://list.jccc.net/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=bahai-st news://list.jccc.net/bahai-st http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist (public) http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] (public)
