Article May 20, 1950 Issue

OUR IMPERSONAL PASTOR

[Original article in French]

GEORGETTE F. ANDREAE

Although Christian Science is preached in every continent today, it does not have ministers to officiate in its churches. It has but one pastor. Outsiders and beginners may ask how a single pastor can occupy so many pulpits simultaneously. It is quite pertinent to say that this one pastor, which is unprecedented in religious history, was made possible through the spiritualmindedness of Mary Baker Eddy, who for all time detached her church from human personality. In "Miscellaneous Writings" she says (pp. 313, 314), "Humbly, and, as I believe, divinely directed, I hereby ordain the Bible, and 'Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,' to be hereafter the only pastor of The Church of Christ, Scientist, throughout our land and in other lands."

It is evident that this decision, of inestimable value to the integrity and stability of our movement, was not made all at once by our Leader. It was the sometimes disappointing results of students' preaching which prompted the search for a pastor capable of fulfilling the task in a satisfactory manner. Mrs. Eddy was aware of the fact that some students, who were of high moral and spiritual fiber, would preach correctly. But she also knew that some students, who were less well prepared, might adulterate the truth which had been revealed to her and might not know how to hold error in check—might yield to presumption or discouragement, as they were flattered or criticized.

It is nevertheless true that without constant devotion to the Cause of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy would never have been able to persevere in her intention to seek and find a pastor worthy of her church. So it is primarily because of the fidelity, intelligence, spiritual insight, perspicacity, wisdom, and, above all, the prayers of this noble woman that our churches have an impersonal pastor which cannot be corrupted, since its fidelity defies space and time.

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