People of many faiths have long relied on their clergy in times of need. In the Christian Church, many have turned to their pastors for solutions to difficult problems, physical healing, and answers to the meaning of life. Though not everyone goes to church, all do have the right to feel they have someone—or something—that can see them through difficult times.
Mary Baker Eddy ordained the Holy Bible and her work Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures as the pastor of the Church she founded—the Church of Christ, Scientist. In the Manual of The Mother Church, she wrote, " ... the Bible, and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures ... will continue to preach for this Church and the world." Manual, p. 58.
A workshop entitled "The Pastor: The Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," which was given at the 2002 Annual Meeting & Conference of The Mother Church in Boston, Massachusetts, explored how the Bible and Science and Health can provide comfort and be anyone's pastor. Presenting the workshop were spiritual healers J. Thomas Black, Mario Tosto, and Pamela DeBolt. Their guests—Linda Dinardo, from Newton, Massachusetts; Neera Kapur, from Bombay, India, and Annette Kreutziger-Herr, from Berlin, Germany—provided added insights as to how this pastor has helped them. Following are excerpts from the workshop.
