When someone wants to join a Christian Science branch church, he or she generally fills out an application form generated by that branch. Each branch church has a different procedure for new applicants based on its bylaws, but many churches have membership committees that then meet with the applicant to discuss his or her commitment to Church and to Christian Science. This meeting is also an opportunity for the applicant to ask questions about the church and its relationship to the community it serves.
After many years, I realized that while prospective members are asked questions about their readiness for membership, nothing is asked of the existing members about their readiness to welcome them. So I compiled a list of questions. It seems only fair!
- Do I see this new member as one more for me to love and not as another pair of hands for church work?
- Can I tell this member that he or she has joined a church at which an unkind word will never be heard?
- Do I acknowledge that I freely welcome this member, along with all of his or her new ideas?
- Am I willing to be patient and kind toward this member at all times?
- Can I admit that a new member might see things in our church in need of change that I have ceased to pay attention to?
- Do I vow never to say, “This is the way we do things”?
- Can I promise not to shake my head, sigh, or roll my eyes (even inwardly) when this member speaks?
- Do I acknowledge that the moment this new member joins, the church is a different church, and am I glad of it?
- Am I free from gossip, criticism, rigidity, anger, and satisfaction about the way things are?
- Am I really glad to be a member of my branch church?
Feel free to add to the list . . .
