Church Alive October 29, 2012 Issue

The following was written in support of Church Alive, a focus of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, that explores the meaning and possibilities of awakening to the spiritual basis and impact of Church.

Distinctly democratic

Dorcas Strong

Last February, the metaphysical committee of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Cleveland, began planning an inspirational meeting for our members to explore the significance of Mary Baker Eddy’s provision in the Church Manual that each branch church shall be “distinctly democratic” (p. 74).

The committee looked up several articles in the bound volumes of the Christian Science periodicals titled “Distinctly Democratic,” which expanded our understanding of how the democratic governance of our branch churches provides for both the individual and collective growth of its members. A letter went out to the members to attend a meeting to join us in this exploration.

At the meeting, some very thoughtful and insightful comments were made by members. Among them, it was noted that before our Pastor Emeritus, Mary Baker Eddy, discovered Christian Science and subsequently founded the Church of Christ, Scientist, she had been a member of the Congregational Church for nearly 40 years (see Mary Baker Eddy, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 174).

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