Interviews

The year that Mary Baker Eddy established The Christian Science Monitor , its Editor-in-Chief, Archibald McLellan, wrote that Christian Scientists were “requested to subscribe for the Monitor”  because its success rested solely on their support, though they alone would not be interested in a paper of such high quality and “character” ( Christian Science Sentinel,   October 17, 1908 ). More than simply subscribe to the Monitor,  or read it, the expectation was that Christian Scientists everywhere would engage with its content on a deeply spiritual level, in order to help meet humanity’s pressing need for stability, justice, peace, and healing, in a challenging world.

Mary Baker Eddy authored a wide range of articles, essays, and letters on Christmas, all found in Prose Works.   These writings by Mary Baker Eddy are collected in the book  What Christmas Means to Me and Other Christmas Messages.

David Kennedy, Editor of the Christian Science magazines, has been thinking and praying about the magazines Mary Baker Eddy founded since he began writing for them in 1975. In this interview with Managing Editor, Susan Stark, David talks about the importance of faithfully and clearly conveying the teachings of Christian Science in its applicability to all of humanity’s needs.

When you first engage in conversation with Lyle Young, the Clerk of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, you might be surprised at what you hear—that is, if your mother tongue is French, Spanish, Portuguese, or Dutch. He speaks them all fluently.

Linda Kohler has been a Christian Science nurse for about 30 years. She graduated magna cum laude from Southern Methodist University in theater/directing, and a year later began Christian Science nursing training at Arden Wood in San Francisco.

Connie Coddington, Manager of Christian Science Practitioner Activities at The Mother Church, talks about why this new format has gained such momentum. Connie, since these roundtables got going a few months ago, there’s been a real spike in bookings.

Since 2005, a small group of Christian Scientists in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, has been producing and broadcasting a bimonthly radio show titled Spiritual healing today,  featuring Christian Science healings. In January this year, one of the hosts of the show, Gérard Mutombo Biba [GMB], recorded a program about the importance of the Wednesday testimony meetings held in Christian Science churches all over the world.

For the last five years, Douglas Paul has been the manager of human resources for The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston. During his many years in the field of management, Doug’s career has included service in the academic (both profit and not-for-profit) and business sectors.

On February 11 and 12, a two-day meeting on “Christian Science Nursing and Sustainability” was held at The Mother Church in Boston.   Participants came from the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, Canada, and the United States.

The Mary Baker Eddy Library’s research programs are designed to support original contributions to scholarship and help further research by established scholars, graduate students, and recent graduates beginning their academic careers. The Library awards fellowships to academic scholars and independent researchers for research in its collections, which center on the papers of Mary Baker Eddy and records documenting the history of the Christian Science movement.