In December 1894, Mary Baker Eddy ordained the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures as pastor over The Mother Church. This was extended by her in April 1895 to include all branch churches. What does this mean to a branch church? What does it mean to a branch church's community? What does it mean for a Christian Science Reading Room? At the Annual Meeting of The Mother Church on June 5, along with reports of the Treasurer, Clerk, and Committees, the general reports from the Field will focus specifically on the needs of mankind and of our communities, and how these needs are being ministered to by our pastor through branch church Reading Rooms.
Because of this focus, each branch church is invited to think and pray about its own community and the pastor's role within it. What is the purpose of a branch church's Reading Room? This prayer and self-examination will surely result in new ways of thinking about a Reading Room, with greater access for the public and members, and an expanded expression of healing.
Branch churches may also want to hold a meeting on June 5 to pray about and consider these issues, and to develop further ideas in response to the opportunities given by our Leader. Future issues of the periodicals will contain more details.
