When church officers are to be elected by the members and when appointments are to be made by the executive board of a branch church or society, the one question of paramount importance must always be: Is the candidate spiritually qualified for the duty? The primary aim of all who have a part in church elections or appointments is to choose those who have given faithful proof of their fitness by consistent loyalty to the teachings of our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, and by their genuinely Christian living. Only as we consecrate thought and action unselfishly to the divine purpose of Church in Christian Science can we demonstrate the truth of Mrs. Eddy's words (Science and Health, p. 455): "The All-wise does not bestow His highest trusts upon the unworthy. When He commissions a messenger, it is one who is spiritually near Himself."
Every branch church and society determines through its own democratic procedures the qualifications required for the various church offices. Necessarily each branch will adopt standards in keeping with its available resources of ability and experience. The Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy (Art. Ill, Sect. 6) requires that all Readers in branch churches shall be members of The Mother Church.
The by-laws of branch churches and societies usually provide that members of the executive board shall also be members of The Mother Church. Members who have not yet attained the privilege of membership in the parent body are naturally interested in strengthening themselves by taking the necessary steps to qualify for this membership as soon as possible.
When the number of available workers is small, it is not always wise, or even possible, to insist on class instruction as a qualification for service as a Sunday School teacher or Reading Room librarian. Class instruction is an invaluable aid to the church worker, yet it has often been found that to serve his church in positions where it has not been made a definite requirement alerts the member to his need of the deepened understanding which systematic class study enables him to gain. In many branches it is not practicable to fill all vacancies for ushers, Sunday School secretaries, distribution workers, and other activities, with class-taught members. Here too those who hold these positions can be encouraged to make their own individual demonstrations of guidance on this important question. There have been many instances where one who recently reached the age for leaving Sunday School, even though not yet class taught, has shown himself to be spiritually prepared to teach a class of young pupils.
Class instruction as provided by our Leader in the Church Manual affords rich opportunities for spiritual growth and demonstration. When it comes in response to the student's earnest prayer and obedience to the "Rule for Motives and Acts" (Art. VIII, Sect. 1), class instruction brings blessings which cannot be measured. Like all graces of Spirit, this step must be the outcome of individual demonstration; and it would be unwise to attempt to force this growth by making it an invariable condition for election or appointment to church positions.
