What a refreshing experience to open the July Journal to "The new spirit of volunteering"! Often one hears the view expressed that Christian Scientists and their local churches are fulfilling their spiritual obligation to help their neighbor by supporting the Reading Room, literature distribution, care committee, and lectures; leave the community outreach for other needs to other churches and individuals. Your piece on volunteering beautifully shows the way to serve both the spiritual and human needs of one's community and experience the joys of personal fulfillment.
Millington, New Jersey
I am troubled by the section on volunteering in the July Journal. It is not that I do not think volunteering is good. I have participated in volunteer activities both in church and in the wider community all my adult life. But I have done so feeling that while I was doing some good humanly, I was not being obedient to Article VIII, Section 15, of the Church Manual. Is your article in conflict with the Church Manual as I felt I was?
