Church Elections

George Shaw Cook

At about this time many branch churches hold meetings for the election of members of their official boards of trustees or directors, and in some instances of church Readers also. Because of the democratic form of government which obtains in branch churches, these officers are chosen by ballot. In some churches the choice of Readers depends upon their receiving the votes of two thirds of the members present and voting. The purpose of this rule doubtless is that those elected shall be the choice of a large majority. In churches where there is unity of thought and an unselfish desire on the part of the members to be governed by Principle, rather than by "animosity" or "mere personal attachment" (Church Manual, Art. VIII, Sect. 1), the demonstration is easily, quickly, and harmoniously made.

However, in some instances elections are had with difficulty and delay because of differences of opinion stubbornly held to by those who do not see the wisdom and rightness of making their personal preferences subservient to the good of the organization of which they are members. In such a situation it is helpful to know that a right working out of the problem cannot be prevented or hindered by error manifesting itself as rivalry, ambition for place or preferment, self-seeking, self-will, suspicion, distrust, or any other unlovely trait of mortal mind. It is also well to know, in such a case, that no kind of opposition to the truth as it is revealed in Christian Science can operate through the belief of mental manipulation to produce or to perpetuate a sense of dissension, division, discord, or strife. Christian Science is the truth, revealed in this age by our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, and it shows that good is infinite, and can therefore have no opposite and no opposition. Christian Science likewise shows that there is in reality but one Mind, and that in this divine Mind there is no contention, no misunderstanding, no conflict of opinions.

When facing the supreme trial of his earthly experience, Christ Jesus was able to say, "Not my will, but thine, be done." To let God's will, the will of divine Love, be done, is not always easy for his followers; but it is always possible. Willingness on the part of Christian Scientists to make their human opinions as to how a particular thing shall be done subservient to Principle, whatever the outcome may be, greatly facilitates the demonstration of getting along harmoniously in church activities. It is good to recall, in this connection, that Paul, who has much to do with the establishment of the primitive Christian church, wrote in his epistle to the Romans, "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another."

On more than one occasion, when a so-called deadlock has seemed to obtain, an election has been had by reason of the members constituting the minority group seeing the expediency of withdrawing opposition so that a choice could be made. In so doing, may they not have proved themselves more nearly right than if they had persisted in contending for the election of the person they had previously decided upon as the right one for the place?

In all our contacts with fellow workers in our movement, love of unity and due consideration for the rights and views of others should prevail. Our Leader has referred to unity as "the bond of perfectness, the thousandfold expansion that will engirdle the world" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 164). Unity among the brethren in our churches will be demonstrated in proportion to their recognition of man's unity with Principle, divine Love.

When confronted by the problems incidental to church elections, and to church government and activity in general, it is of the utmost importance to remember that Mrs. Eddy has defined Church—the ideal Church, the Church Universal—as "the structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 583). That Church is, of course, spiritual, invisible, indivisible, perfect, complete. It is governed absolutely and harmoniously by divine Truth and Love. It includes and embraces the right idea or truth about all that is humanly called church organization, church activity, church service. To the extent, then, that members of The Mother Church and of the branch churches are individually able consciously to entertain the right, spiritual concept of Church, they will be helping to bring about increasingly improved conditions in what is humanly known as church organization. In this way they will be able truly to make their "calling and election sure."

George Shaw Cook

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