The Mother Church receives lots of questions on a great variety of subjects. One subject that comes up pretty regularly has to do with disbursement of funds from international “trusts” (located in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa, and Germany). Many members do not realize that these trusts were initially formed to provide a way for Christian Scientists living in these countries to support The Mother Church, because local restrictions on sending money outside the country made donating to The Mother Church either impossible or highly undesirable from a tax standpoint. Recently, a member of the Church’s financial team replied to a Christian Science care facility that had asked why the trusts don’t provide operating funds for Christian Science care facilities. Since this is a question that others have asked as well, we thought Journal readers would be interested in the thinking behind the Church’s response.
There is tremendous respect and love for the role of Christian Science nursing as set forth in the Church Manual, and for Mary Baker Eddy’s articulation of the qualities and requirements for the nurse. We are grateful for this provision and support it energetically in various ways. When it comes to involvement with and support of care facilities, per se, our church history shows different approaches at different periods of time. Today, those who favor The Mother Church playing a more active role, financially or otherwise, point to evidence of Mrs. Eddy’s interest in starting such facilities. Others, however, point to the fact that she made no specific provision for such facilities within the Church Manual, which defines the scope of The Mother Church organization.
We are all unified in our desire for divine Mind’s guidance in understanding the ways and means of supporting Christian Science nursing as a component of the healing practice of Christian Science. We know that many throughout the worldwide movement of Christian Science are praying unselfishly and trustingly that right and sufficient answers will unfold in a timely manner to bless those in need of care as well as those providing care.
