Whenever people organize to achieve any aim, there is need for some form of government. Government may be authoritarian or democratic, or it may embody varying degrees of each. If it is authoritarian, it rules through a power structure stemming from the top and imposes its decisions on its members. Individuals under an authoritarian system are not permitted full freedom of expression and initiative because this would set up a power conflict which is centrifugal and would threaten the fragile group structure. The group is held together by external discipline and lacks dynamism because individuals feel inhibited.

A truly democratic government, on the other hand, permits full and free expression and enlists the willing cooperation and initiative of each individual in service to the whole. Members of the group feel a sense of belonging and of unity which is centripetal and cohesive. Every individual has freedom and opportunity to demonstrate his innate God-given ability; and this encourages self-reliance, responsibility, dignity, and individual growth.

Churches of Christ, Scientist, being essentially democratic institutions, are dynamic and progressive. Where there is stagnation, it may be that more democracy is needed, more freedom, and more love. Is the executive board perhaps running church affairs on authoritarian lines in a well-meaning effort to keep them going? Do members really feel their church government is their own responsibility? Do they fully realize that the institution's authority stems from the members, collectively and individually expressing their God-given wisdom and initiative?

In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany,"' Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes (pp. 246, 247): "The Magna Charta of Christian Science means much, multum in parvo,—all-in-one and one-in-all. It stands for the inalienable, universal rights of men. Essentially democratic, its government is administered by the common consent of the governed, wherein and whereby man governed by his creator is self-governed."

The members reflect originality, initiative, and authority through their understanding of divine reality, lit the church institution the members, with reflected wisdom, appoint an executive board to carry out their wishes. No individual or committee, not even the board itself, has authority to determine what is good for the members. It is the Christ, the true idea of divine Mind, that reveals God's government. In Isaiah we read (9: 6, 7): "The government shall be upon his shoulder.... Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end . . . to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever."

Reflecting the government of the one Mind and responding to Christly impulsions, the board executes the wishes of the members. The board is not a legislative body. It acts in terms of the rules or bylaws of its church and within the spirit of the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy. It appoints committees to perform certain functions, and in a truly democratic system such committees have definitive freedom of operation within their terms of reference and the bylaws of the church. The committees are given the maximum discretion and freedom rather than the minimum. In an authoritarian system, however, members of committees are at all times subservient and do not feel free to use their initiative, discretion, freedom of expression, and action.

Though committees are responsible to the board, the spheres of authority and competence of each should be defined in terms of democratic precepts, clearly understood by both the board and the committees. Conflict may arise where authority is exercised outside its proper limits. Such limits should be set to allow the maximum democratic freedom of operation.

If executive boards are inclined to perform functions which properly belong to committees, they may find themselves overburdened with work. Responsibility should be delegated as far as possible to the committees and members. The aim should constantly be to have more democracy, not less; and to examine all the affairs of the church in this light. Democracy brings the best results; it encourages unity, fellow feeling, initiative, growth, responsibility, and progress.

It is important to remind ourselves that in the sight of God no one member is more important than another. God does not know about Readers or janitors or chairmen or committee members. These are human categories. Just as every member of an orchestra is important, so every individual church member's gift or work is of value.

Paul said (Rom. 12:4, 5), "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." An individual manifesting the Christ is, in fact, the expression of divine power and authority. By realizing that the real, spiritual man is governed harmoniously In the one God, human beings bring their affair's into accord with the perfect government.

It is the church member's right to differ from the majority if he feels so guided by divine Principle, Love. However, the one who differs should cooperate with a majority decision in the interests of the larger purpose of Church. This does not deprive him of his democratic right to work for the reversal of a decision he believes to be wrong.

Autocracy may sometimes achieve spectacular results, but these are not enduring because people do not feel they are their own expression and are not responsible for them. A Church of Christ, Scientist, is a voluntary organization, There may be some individuals who remain outside church organization because of their dislike of the obligations involved.

However, the necessity of overcoming self-will, self-justification, and self-love stimulates growth and progress. In a democratic church, with free and full participation by members, wise and enduring decisions can be reached without rancor, and these result in greater coherence and dynamism.

Mrs. Eddy always expressed humility, unselfishness, and tender love for all. She shunned authoritarianism and worked hard to protect her democratic concept of church from the aggressive evil expressed through pride of power.

The Church Manual established the form of government for The Mother Church, and Mrs. Eddy was impelled by divine Mind to write its Rules. Insofar as branch church bylaws are humanly devised, they may need pruning and grafting to remove authoritarianism and express more democracy.

Branch churches are autonomous. They have full freedom to manage their own affairs. In the Manual, Mrs. Eddy writes (Art. XXIII, Sect. I). "The Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, shall assume no general official control of other churches, and it shall be controlled by none other." And she also states (Sect. 10), "In Christian Science each branch church shall be distinctly democratic in its government, and no individual, and no other church shall interfere with its affairs."

Where this is understood, there will be less temptation to write to headquarters in Boston frequently for direction. The Mother Church may offer advice, but this is not to be interpreted as law unless it speaks in terms of the Manual and of Mrs. Eddy's other writings.

There is danger in uncritical acceptance of precedents and established procedures, which in themselves are a form of authoritarianism. There are no stereotypes in Mind, and outworn systems should not be permitted to impose their stifling authority.

Our Way-shower, Christ Jesus, did not look to human codes and systems for direction but to God. We as his followers can also claim and use our individual right, to be God-directed. Mind directs, Truth is unerring, Soul is unconfined to forms, and divine Principle governs. Where these truths are understood and demonstrated, there will be constructive, fruitful, peaceful progress as outworn procedures are cast aside.