A Very important and fundamental provision in the by-laws of many Churches of Christ, Scientist, is contained in a quotation from "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" by Mary Baker Eddy. The passage reads (pp. 254, 255): "The Magna Charta of Christian Science means much, multum in parvo,— all-in-one and one-in-all. It 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 church is the mouthpiece of Christian Science,—its law and gospel are according to Christ Jesus; its rules are health, holiness, and immortality,—equal rights and privileges, equality of the sexes, rotation in office."
To maintain this high standard of church government ordained by our Leader requires an understanding of the fundamentals of Christian Science and the loving, patient, active co-operation of every member. With what consecrated diligence should Christian Scientists, in preparation for business meetings at which officers are to be elected, pray that the Lord of the harvest will send forth able, willing, humble workers into His vineyard! Because they know that it is God who anoints and appoints and is responsible for the government of His Church, they realize that there is no question of choosing for oneself whether to allow one's name to stand or not to stand for office. Neither is electioneering for others necessary or permissible when one is trusting God, the divine Mind, to make known His unerring will to all. Truly we can know that the all-acting, all-knowing Mind amply supplies, armors, and equips man with spiritual qualities.
Each member is privileged to come to church business meetings equipped with the understanding that there is but one Mind, God, and that God is revealing His perfect pattern and purpose, thus blessing all. Through the study of Christian Science we all may learn how to lay aside personal desires and human will and to follow Christ, the true idea of God. It is the Christ, Truth, which enables us to discern that nothing in our business meetings unlike the divine will can be manifested, because all God's ideas are obedient, unselfish, and loving.
