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).

In that church, each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs. Mrs. Eddy’s early church experience may have been a guiding influence in leading her to provide in the Church Manual: “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” (p. 74).

Democracy has been defined as “the principle of equality of rights, opportunity, and treatment, or the practice of this principle” (Webster’s New World Dictionary). The Magna Charta of Christian Science as defined by our Leader “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 First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, pp. 246–247).

We saw that this is what distinguishes the democracy of our individual branch churches. It is based on each member’s individual right to go directly to God for guidance in his participation in church activities. Prior to and during elections for church officers, each member depends upon divine wisdom, not upon the opinions of others. The same is true in voting upon motions presented at business meetings and in the fulfillment of committee assignments. Every activity in a branch church provides the opportunity for the individual member engaged in that activity to demonstrate that “man governed by his creator is self-governed.” …

Even when we don’t always agree with another’s human opinion, we always can feel the strong, spiritual bond of our mutual love for the teachings of Christian Science and the desire to demonstrate them more effectively. …  

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Items of Interest
Study points to health benefits of prayer
October 29, 2012
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit