A branch is expected to provide Readers and to staff its Sunday School, Reading Room, and necessary church committees.
Occasionally, however, a small church or society finds itself in need of temporary help.
The Department of Branches and Practitioners reports several instances where larger churches have helped smaller ones with good results. This does not mean that a small church should look to a neighboring branch as an "easy out" of its own demonstration or obligation. Nor should a larger church, acting on its own initiative, attempt to help a smaller neighbor. But, when unable to meet a particular need, a church requiring emergency assistance could invite individual Christian Scientists from a neighboring church to lend a hand temporarily.
