Family Participation
Parents are central to the community-building process, as the family is the foundation of human society and the first space where essential values and capacities for social progress are cultivated. Parents nurture the moral and spiritual development of children, guiding them to navigate a world often shaped by negative forces. By fostering consultation, joy, and shared responsibility in daily life, families contribute directly to the strengthening of communities and the advancement of society as a whole.
How do families partcipate?
"Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship."
Bahá'í Writings
Each of us is a member of a family, and at the same time we are all members of a community. We are convinced that, at its core, the progress of one is inseparable from the progress of the other. While parents are the primary ones responsible for the full development of their own children, they also share a common responsibility with every member of the community for the well-being of all the young people in a neighborhood or village.
The Chelsea Bahá’í Institute promotes spaces for ongoing conversation among families committed to contributing to the progress of civilization. As more families take part, processes emerge that advance both spiritual and material aspirations within their neighborhoods. Men and women, young and old alike, come to recognize that they hold the power to reshape the world around them. As increasing numbers embrace the vision of individual and collective transformation fostered by the Institute’s courses, the community steadily develops the capacity to reflect a pattern of life centered on service and worship.
What are the programs offered for families?
The spirit of fellowship and harmony that unites communities is strengthened through acts of worship. Devotional gatherings are welcoming spaces for prayer and collective worship, open to all, where sacred writings from any faith are shared alongside prayers and uplifting songs. Held in homes, parks, beaches, or other public spaces, these gatherings create an atmosphere of peace and tranquility in which children, youth, and adults alike are invited to participate, nurturing a devotional character at both the individual and collective level and breathing spiritual life into the broader process of community building.
Developing a vision that embraces the whole of humanity begins in childhood, within a family life that looks beyond individual well-being to the progress of the community, the nation, and the world. Through ongoing conversations about the education and accompaniment of children, youth, and adults, families and neighbors cultivate a shared understanding of how to raise the next generation. These conversations—often held during devotional gatherings, community meetings, festivals, family camps, and other local activities—strengthen bonds of affection and solidarity, reinforcing the social fabric of neighborhoods and villages.
Family camps, in particular, offer a space where parents and children can grow together in an atmosphere of unity and learning. Through a balance of spiritual reflection, community service, recreation, and study of the Institute’s courses, families deepen their understanding of the Bahá’í Writings and reflect on how to apply them in daily life. These shared experiences enrich the spiritual life of the home, strengthen communication and cooperation, and empower families to become active contributors to the transformation and well-being of their communities.
