When a church organization is confronted with the desirability or necessity of erecting a church edifice, various practical considerations immediately present themselves. For example, a good location, the size of the building, style, materials, and many similar details natural in the circumstances. All of these must be given prayerful consideration if the human footsteps are to be taken at the right time and in the right way. If the situation is scientifically considered, it will be seen that in the problem of church building, as in all our demonstrations, the thing primarily to be dealt with is thought. Thought motivates all action, is the basis of all we do. And, conversely, what we do and how we do it indicates the quality of our thoughts. Right thinking is effective in right action, even as right action bespeaks right thinking, expressing the presence of Mind. So in the erecting of a church building the first steps are not what they appear to be, that is, material, but rather are a matter of spiritual realization. The action to be taken will then be in line with that spiritual thinking which reflects God.
The erecting of a church edifice, however, is neither the beginning nor the end of church building in its spiritual sense. Such an event but marks the opportunity for wider service in the extension of facilities, in the modernization of equipment, in the providing of a more attractive, convenient, and satisfactory place in which to hold services.
The scientific concept of Church was revealed to our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, and her statement of it is given to all on page 583 of her book "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." There "Church" is defined thus: "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle. The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick."
