Dear Members and Friends,
This morning the Christian Science Board of Directors voted to admit new members to our worldwide church family. As you may know, admission takes place at a regular business meeting of the Board that is required in the Church Manual.
Applications for the current admission were received in English, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish, and were sent to us from the following locations: Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa), Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, France, Gabon, Germany, Grenada, India, Israel, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Réunion, Rwanda, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Togo, Uganda, United States of America, Uruguay, and Viet Nam.
Over the years many members have shared that reading the announcements of admissions provides them an opportunity to take a moment and reflect on what their membership has meant to them. With the expectation that every member will know that their commitment to Church is felt and appreciated, we are sharing with all the message that is being sent to each new member this admission.
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May 30, 2014
Dear Member of The Mother Church,
The Christian Science Board of Directors met earlier today to elect new members, and I’m writing with the happy news that you have been accepted as a member of The Mother Church. We gratefully acknowledge your willingness to participate in the grand mission of our Church to bring salvation from sin, sickness, and death to all humanity.
All members of this Church are demonstrating the effectiveness of prayer in our own lives, families, and communities. And the Church, which in a sense is really us all praying and working together, has many resources to strengthen the healing ministry of each one of us. Most central to our work is the Bible. As you know from the Tenets, members of this Church “take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life” (Mary Baker Eddy, Manual of The Mother Church, p. 15). Thus, around the world, from the Washington, DC, lawyer in the United States to the owner of a chain of pastry shops in Caracas, Venezuela; from the woman selling produce in the market in Douala, Cameroon, to the couple living in a skyscraper in Hong Kong, every member of this Church is devoted to understanding the teachings of the Bible and applying them to all human needs through Christian Science. Turning to our Pastor, the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, through regular study and with our weekly Bible Lessons, we find the inspiration and joy that enrich all our church work together.
A unique and precious way to grow in understanding the Bible spiritually is to take Christian Science Primary class instruction (see pages 83-87 of the Manual). Based on the chapter “Recapitulation” in Science and Health, class instruction presents in a comprehensive, systematic way how to destroy the claims of error, including how to defend oneself against evil, and how to heal sickness and sin. Students of Christian Science who have taken class and enjoy the mutual support that participation in an association of students has provided them find their practice strengthened and that they can respond more fully to the public’s yearning for spiritual healing.
Of course, the Manual provides a multitude of provisions that strengthen the member as a healer—those that relate to subscribing to the Christian Science periodicals, starting a branch church, or teaching Sunday School, to name a few. Additionally, as a member of The Mother Church you now have the privilege of being able to approve others for membership. Membership forms can be found at http://christianscience.com/member-resources/applications-and-forms, or requested at any time from the Clerk. But the basic building block of this Church is our individual commitment to following Jesus in proving that Christian healing is quick and effective.
Again, on behalf of all of the members from around the world, a hearty and heartfelt welcome!
Sincerely,
Lyle Young
Clerk of The Mother Church
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Applications for membership are welcome at any time. The next admission of new members will take place on November 7, 2014. Completed applications must be received by the Office of the Clerk no later than November 4.
The majority of the personalized letters are mailed to new members on the day of Admission. If you submitted an application for this Admission and have not received your personal welcome letter by the middle of June (United States addresses) or the end of June (overseas addresses), please feel free to contact the Office of the Clerk by email: Clerk@ChristianScience.com, or postal mail: The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Membership Applications P6-10, 210 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115-3195, USA.
Warmly,
Lyle Young
Clerk of The Mother Church
