Dear Fellow Members and Friends,
With the deepest respect and warmest affection, the Christian Science Board of Directors has accepted a letter of intent from Nathan Talbot, CSB, to conclude his duties on the Board, and as Clerk of The Mother Church, on November 3, 2013.
It’s nearly impossible to summarize in a short space the decades-long contribution Nate and his wife, Margie, have made to the Christian Science movement. We’re thankful they’re not retiring—only changing their location for serving the Cause to their beloved home base in the mountains of Idaho.
Nate earned a law degree before giving his full time to the practice of Christian Science healing, and three years later became a teacher of Christian Science. The following decades found him serving in almost every activity of this Church, including his perhaps best-known roles as Associate Editor of the periodicals and Manager of Committees on Publication. From 2004 to the present he has served concurrently as a member of the Board of Directors and Clerk.
In Nate’s own words, “Being a Mother Church Director has demanded growth and humility, yet provided expanded spiritual views. But healing and teaching still form the core of my life.” Those who have served with Nate have witnessed how his faithful practice and love of Christian healing bring wisdom, spirituality, and fog-piercing humor to every phase of his work for Church. And we know the whole Christian Science Field joins us in thanking him for the commitment to healing that shines through all his outstanding contributions.
We hope each sunrise in beautiful Idaho reminds you of our gratitude, Nate and Margie!
And it’s a joy to welcome the newest member of the Board of Directors, Scott Preller, CSB. He lives in Andover, Massachusetts, USA, with his wife, Paula; they have two children, Ben and Christabel.
Scott grew up in Colorado. He received a BA in political science from the University of Colorado in Boulder, and has a Master of Divinity in biblical studies from Boston University. From 1986 to 1989 he served as a Christian Science Chaplain in the United States Air Force, and later as a staff editor for the Church’s religious periodicals. He became Journal-listed as a practitioner in 1994, and attended Normal class in 2006. He was a member of the Board of Lectureship from 2004 to 2009, at which time he was appointed to become a Trustee of the Publishing Society. In 2011 he became President of the Board of Education.
Scott has been serving The Mother Church and various branch churches from the perspective of a practitioner. He describes his love for the Christian Science practice in this way: “I had many questions about life and the world, and Christian Science encouraged me to keep asking, keep exploring. As answers and healings came, I increasingly realized that nothing made me feel more alive or purposeful than actively practicing Christian Science.”
Announcements about responsibilities for the work of Clerk and President of the Board of Education will follow later in the month.
With deep gratitude for Nate’s and Scott’s willingness to serve,
THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
