In response to requests from college students wanting to offer talks on Christian Science on their campuses, Mary Baker Eddy in 1904 wrote a By-Law called "Privilege of Members," under the section "The Mother Church and Branch Churches." It enables students, instructors, and members of the faculty at colleges and universities to form and conduct Christian Science organizations (CSOs). In the ten decades since this By-Law was added to the Church Manual, CSOs have existed in academic communities around the world, providing a window of access to Science and Health at these institutions of learning. Today, more than 160 CSOs are listed in this magazine.
CSOs are not Churches of Christ, Scientist, on campus, even though they are often categorized among a school's religious organizations. The CSO operates in accord with the rules of the academic institution for the benefit of that community. (This series will take an in-depth look at CSOs in an upcoming issue.)
