Mary Baker Eddy's church design encompasses institutions of higher learning. In 1904, she provided for the formation of Christian Science organizations at universities and colleges, and her Church Manual gives the green light for those CSOs to sponsor lectures by members of the Board of Lectureship. Manual, p. 73 .
Today's CSOs are finding a variety of creative and effective ways to use this provision, engaging young spiritual thinkers with the concepts Mrs. Eddy laid out in Science and Health. In just the first few weeks of this academic year, more than 20 events were hosted by CSOs. At the University of Southern Maine, for example, three events were held in one day, and more than 190 copies of Science and Health were shared with interested participants. And at a freshman welcome table at the College of William and Mary, in Virginia, 140 copies of the book were shared.
William and Mary student Erin Dyerle says that the contact she's made with other students through such activities "makes it more apparent to me than ever that everyone should know about the ideas in this book. When I think about those 140 people who now have a copy ready for them when they need it—perhaps when they least expect it—it's really moving, because I know it can help them."
Panel discussions are also becoming very popular. Last year, lecturer David Stevens participated in two panels sponsored by CSOs, one on "Science and Theology" at Southwest Missouri State University and another on "Spirituality and Sexuality" at the University of Michigan. In both cases, says Mr. Stevens, the rooms were "filled with students and faculty eager to wrestle with the possibilities of spiritually based answers. The discussion went beyond intellectual sparring. What you saw was thoughtful contemplation of answers from the premise of Christian Science—God's allness and man made in the likeness of Spirit."
Classroom lectures impact not only students but also professors. Says Stevens, "A presentation to two History of Christianity classes at Indiana University of Pennsylvania ended with the professor thanking me and saying that he realized how important it is to include Christian Science in the curriculum. He said that he would do just that in the future and asked for a videotape on Mary Baker Eddy. The CSO was able to follow up and provide one."
(This series will include a full-length feature on CSOs in an upcoming issue of the Journal.)
