Interfaith dialogue opens door of understanding

“Our turn to go to NCC headquarters” September 20, 2011

The following blog by Shirley Paulson reports on the ongoing conversation between the Church of Christ, Scientist, and the National Council of Churches (NCC). Last month, members of the Christian Science Board of Directors, as well as Lyle Young (who had not yet been appointed to the Board) and Shirley Paulson visited the NCC headquarters in New York City, reciprocating several visits to Christian Science Church headquarters by the General Secretary of the NCC, Michael Kinnamon.

As in any good dialogue, we hear each other better when we visit each other’s homes. Michael Kinnamon, the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches (NCC), has come to visit The Mother Church three times, meeting with various representatives of the Church. Last April, six additional representatives from NCC came to the headquarters of the Christian Science Church in Boston.

And on September 15, members of the Christian Science Board of Directors, along with Lyle Young, C.S.B. (who has had considerable experience in interfaith work) and I, went to the NCC headquarters in New York. Eight NCC staff and communion representatives joined in the discussion.

We’re getting to know each other, little by little.

During this visit, we spent more time with John McCullough, Executive Director and CEO of Church World Service (CWS), because members of the National Council of Churches are also automatically members of CWS. If the Christian Science Church were to become a member of the NCC, it would also engage in CWS. Some Christian Scientists may be familiar with CWS as the headquarters for Crop Walks. These are locally organized fund-raisers (backed by CWS) for people who are hungry around the world. A number of Christian Science churches in the United States participate in these local activities. The primary focus for CWS is to provide a unified Christian response to hunger and poverty around the world.

From the perspective of Christian Science ears, it sounds like Church World Service is a call for fellow Christians to come together, bringing their greatest gifts to support those who need them the most. Naturally, the importance of The Christian Science Monitor came up several times in our conversation about CWS, as we explored together the role Christian Science might play in support of its objectives.

Apart from our discussion about CWS during the New York visit, theological questions arose as well. Toward the end of our day together, one of the NCC delegates admitted he was quite tired; part of the reason, he claimed, was that it was very taxing to think so deeply and broadly. The Christian Scientists were deeply grateful to each of the NCC participants who patiently and lovingly struggled to understand the message and theology of Christian Science.

It was a rich dialogue, in which all of us searched to find new ways of expressing ourselves and understanding what we mean in the context of where others are coming from. Some of the deepest questions related to the role Mary Baker Eddy’s authority played in the life of the Christian Science Church. Naturally, other Christians would want to know if she is considered superior or more authoritative to Christ Jesus in any way. We also spent some time discussing the meaning of atonement, sin, matter, and redemption from a Christian Science perspective. Our answers to all of these questions highlighted our appreciation of Mary Baker Eddy’s guidance to the authority of Jesus’ ministry.

The conversation will continue, and at this time we are deeply grateful for our NCC friends who welcomed us so warmly and sincerely. Both parties will continue to pray and consider just how to pursue the conversation. In the meantime, we welcome everyone’s prayers and thoughts along the way.

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