The Manual of The Mother Church by Mary Baker Eddy states: “In Christian Science each branch church shall be distinctly democratic in its government, and no individual, and no other church shall interfere with its affairs” (p. 74). On this basis each branch church has the opportunity to develop its own constitution and bylaws.
The Mother Church Manual is a good example of how our concept of church can be freed—not restrained—to demonstrate Christian Science. It allows for individual as well as collective proof of that which “. . . rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle” (Science and Health, p. 583). The Mother Church Manual does not limit or prescribe, but actually relieves us of the dependence on human outlining. It leaves all to God, to Mind, Life, Truth, and Love, to unfold the Father’s will.
I had occasion to be involved in committees tasked with producing a draft of a branch church constitution for members to assess. Our first step was to define the parameters. We basically came up with one only: to have a set of bylaws and rules without creeds—thus to be governed by divine Soul.
