This page provides an archive of eight plenary presentation videos that were prepared for the 2021 summer school programme.
On this page:
- List of plenary presentations (titles and descriptions)
- Plenary presentation videos (The following links jump you to the respective video on this page)
- Reflections on the challenge of our time
- Commemorating 100 years: Holy Land experiences of NZ representatives at the centenary commemorations
- The past 25 years and emerging endeavours
- Improving race relations
- ‘Hohouterongo’ – Māori historical and modern perspectives on impacts of colonisation
- Informative presentation on the ISGP seminars for young adults
- Focus on the mission before us
- Providing for advances everywhere: a call to action
- Daily slideshows
List of plenary presentations
| Presentation title | Description |
|---|---|
| These titles match the titles shown on the model schedule. | All plenary presentations will be under an hour in length, except for the first topic, “Reflections on the challenge of our time”. This lasts 1 hr 17 mins. |
| 1. Reflections on the challenge of our time | Current member of the Universal House of Justice Mr Paul Lample delivered this keynote lecture for the Association for Bahá’í Studies North America Conference 2021. His theme addresses a question often posed to the Bahá’í community by interested outsiders: “How does such a small band of so-called idealists expect to make their dream a reality.” |
| 2. Commemorating 100 Years: Holy Land experiences of New Zealand representatives at the centenary commemorations | Vahid Qualls, Huti Watson, Disee Anorpong and Onna Tangifolau will impart some of the spiritual energies and inspiration they absorbed in the Holy Land. This pre-recorded presentation will convey their reflections, comments, anecdotes and inspiration that came from their participation, illustrated with photos and video clips. |
| 3. The past 25 years and emerging endeavours | A presentation prepared by a group of friends at the request of the National Spiritual Assembly. Reflection on achievements of the last 25 years in Aotearoa in the light of the Ridván 2021 message. The session will explore how the Faith grows through the dialectic of crisis and victory, in the context of the onward march of the Cause. The story is about a community that becomes outward oriented, learning to work with intensity in neighbourhoods, focusing on the movement of youth, building the devotional character of the community, and strengthening its institutions. |
| 4. Improving race relations | Sharing insights to support the Bahá’í community’s mission to create “flourishing environments [that] will embrace ever-widening circles of diverse peoples”. Presented by Jan Neilson. |
| 5. ‘Hohouterongo’ – Māori historical and modern perspectives on impacts of colonisation | A panel discussion with the Hetaraka family: Te Warihi, Janet and Justice, with the involvement of Huti Watson. |
| 6. Informative presentation on the ISGP seminars for young adults | Presented by coordinators of the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP). The talk introduces the aims and nature of the two seminars offered by ISGP which are available to young adults in Aotearoa — the seminars for university students and the seminar for graduates and young professionals. One aspect touched on is participation in the discourses of society, especially in relation to the graduate seminar. |
| 7. Maintaining a focus on the mission before us | Led by Auxiliary Board member Jeffrey Sabour This session will support individuals and communities to carry forward their momentum in the final months of the One Year Plan and into the Nine Year Plan. The presentation will discuss “what ‘qualities of faith, perseverance and commitment’ combined with ‘readiness to learn’ have looked like in New Zealand.” |
| 8. Providing for advances everywhere: a call to action | Presented by the Regional Bahá’í Councils Addressing the work of the moment and a call to action for initiatives leading up to Ridván 2022 and into the Nine Year Plan. Each region will give a presentation of about half an hour, to make up the hour-long session. |
A pdf of the above table is available:
Presentation videos
The simplest way to watch a video is, first do not click the “Watch on YouTube” button, as it will be easier to keep track of what you are doing if you remain on this page. Instead, hover your cursor over the video and click on the “Play” button (white arrow with a red background) in the middle of the video. Once the video starts running, use the Pause/Play button at the bottom left of video screen to pause or continue.
The first video is not on YouTube, but all the rest are hosted there.
1. Reflections on the challenge of our time
Mr Paul Lample discusses a question often asked of the Bahá’í community: ““How does such a small band of so-called idealists expect to make their dream a reality.”
This video is hosted on Vimeo. If you want to see it on the Vimeo website, go here: https://vimeo.com/563878944
Note: the video is downloadable on the Vimeo site.
To play the above video, click the Play button – white arrow button in the bottom left corner.
The Full Screen button is at the right, next to the ABS Conference logo.
2. Commemorating 100 years
Holy Land experiences of New Zealand representatives at the centenary commemorations
Advice on how to play the YouTube videos appears at the top of this web page.
3. The past 25 years and emerging endeavours
Reflection on achievements of the last 25 years in Aotearoa in the light of the Ridván 2021 message.
Advice on how to play the YouTube videos appears at the top of this web page.
4. Improving race relations
Jan Neilson shares insights to support the Bahá’í community’s mission to create “flourishing environments [that] will embrace ever-widening circles of diverse peoples”.
Advice on how to play the YouTube videos appears at the top of this web page.
5. Hohouterongo
Māori historical and modern perspectives on impacts of colonisation. A panel discussion with the Hetaraka family: Te Warihi, Janet and Justice, with the involvement of Huti Watson.
Explanatory notes on te Reo Māori terms, etc., have been kindly compiled by one of the friends. See pdf below:
Advice on how to play the YouTube videos appears at the top of this web page.
6. ISGP seminars for young adults
An informative presentation introducing the aims and nature of the two seminars offered by ISGP which are available to young adults in Aotearoa — the seminars for university students and the seminar for graduates and young professionals.
Advice on how to play the YouTube videos appears at the top of this web page.
7. Maintaining a focus on the mission before us
Led by Auxiliary Board member Jeffrey Sabour, this session will support individuals and communities to carry forward their momentum in the final months of the One Year Plan and into the Nine Year Plan.
Advice on how to play the YouTube videos appears at the top of this web page.
8. Providing for advances everywhere: a call to action
Presented by the Regional Bahá’í Councils, this session addresses the work of the moment and sounds a call to action for initiatives leading up to Ridván 2022 and into the Nine Year Plan.
Daily slideshows
Photographs of summer school activities, compiled each day.
Reverse chronological order – most recent slideshow is first.