DEEP troubles have turned people to God throughout many generations. Frequently individuals have consulted the pastor of their church, the pastor being considered an understanding person dedicated to comforting weary mortals and ministering to their spiritual needs. Yet, however devoted such personal pastors may be, they cannot always be present when needed, nor do personal ministrations provide the exact and healing answer to each need.
After Mrs. Eddy had discovered Christian Science and had founded her Church, a need arose for something more dependable than human endeavor and more reliable than human opinions for preaching the gospel of Christian Science. Our Leader saw the individual's need of looking to God and to the demonstrable Science of divine Principle for understanding, comfort, healing, and salvation. She discontinued the practice of having ordained personal pastors and officially ordained the Holy Bible and Science and Health, of which she is author, as the pastor for all Churches of Christ, Scientist.
Article XIV, Section 1, in the Manual by Mrs. Eddy reads: "I, Mary Baker Eddy, ordain the Bible, and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Pastor over The Mother Church,—The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass.,—and they will continue to preach for this Church and the world."
