The 1994-1995 year marks the one-hundredth anniversary of the ordination of the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures as pastor over the Church of Christ, Scientist. In December 1894, Mary Baker Eddy ordained these books as pastor over The Mother Church, and a By-Law followed in the Manual of The Mother Church (see Art. XIV Sect. 1). In April 1895, she extended this ordination to include every branch Church of Christ, Scientist. She wrote: "Humbly, and, as I believe, divinely directed, I hereby ordain the Bible, and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," to be hereafter the only pastor of The Church of Christ, Scientist, throughout our land and in other lands" (Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 313-314).
The impact of the Christian Science pastor is felt far beyond denominational boundaries, as the following letter received by the Office of the Publisher of Mrs. Eddy's Writings conveys:
"I was brought up in a Jewish home, but was converted to traditional Christianity at age sixteen. After exploring several churches, I finally landed in the Episcopal Church, where I remain a happy and productive member.
