Area Teaching Committees (ATCs) are appointed in well developed ‘B’ and all ‘A’ clusters to oversee the launching and managing of an Intensive Program of Growth. It is the Council, in consultation with the Learned Arm, that appoints, oversees, trains and supports the work of these committees. To date, there are 11 committees, with more being appointed very soon.
Below are some excerpts from guidance about the work of ATCs:
“Today as we observe the workings of those clusters which are in a robust state of growth, we note that in every one of them the friends have continued to strengthen the institute process, while learning to mobilize their expanding nucleus of active supporters of the Faith, to establish an efficient scheme for the coordination of their efforts, to weave their individual initiatives and collective endeavours into an effective pattern of unified action, and to draw on the analysis of pertinent information in planning the cycles of their activities.”
From the Ridvan letter, 2007, from the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the World
“This committee [the Area Teaching/Growth Committee] would be assigned tasks such as promoting the spread of short-term teaching projects and devotional meetings in the cluster, in addition to overseeing a program of visits to the homes of newly enrolled believers and those less active in the community in order to deepen them in the fundamentals of the Faith. The establishment of the Nineteen Day Feast and the strengthening of the Local Spiritual Assemblies in the localities would also constitute one of the committee’s primary concerns, as would the collection of statistical information …
It is to be expected that much of the committee’s work could be carried out by its secretary, but it would also be possible for a few designated believers to discharge certain administrative functions. While maintaining clearly defined spheres of service, the institute coordinator and committee would collaborate closely to ensure that activities are synchronized effectively. … In the performance of all their functions, the committee and the institute coordinator would, of course, receive the unflagging support of the Auxiliary Board members and their assistants.”
From a letter written on behalf of the UHJ to a NSA, 16th Sept 2003
“The functions that we ask each Council to perform in the territory which falls under its responsibility are as follows:
(among other duties) To appoint cluster agencies where appropriate to promote the expansion and consolidation of the Faith, coordinating their work and encouraging them to adopt detailed plans of action, with specific goals and the corresponding methods, eliciting the full support of Local Spiritual Assemblies. With this mind, the Council will give systematic attention to each cluster agency as necessary, lending it support, offering it advice and helping it to develop the capacity to perform its administrative functions, to coordinate activities and to implement increasingly more complex programmes of growth and devise corresponding budgets.”
From a letter from an NSA to its Regional Councils, quoting the Universal House of Justice, 26th Nov 2006
Below are some materials and resources which ATCs may find useful. Please click on them to download.
A Check-list for Well-Functioning ATCs
Outline of Administrative Procedures for ATCs
A Blank Year Planner for Planning Cluster Activities and Meetings
A Compilation of Guidance for ATCs
Guidance for Ordering Literature for Teaching Campaigns
Guidelines for Coordinators of Collective Teaching Projects
Systematic Consolidation and Nurturing of Contacts and New Believers - sample record sheet
3-Member ATCs - How would they work?