The Church of Christ, Scientist, consists of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, (The Mother Church) and of branch churches and societies around the world. They are united in working to fulfill Mary Baker Eddy’s vision of a church so that Jesus’ works will be more universally understood and practiced. 

What is the vision for Church?

Mary Baker Eddy founded the Church of Christ, Scientist in 1879 “to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing” (Church Manual, page 17). Eddy grew up in the Congregational church in New England and loved and revered the life and teachings of Jesus. She founded a church so that his healing works would be more universally understood and practiced.

How is the Church organized and governed?

Guiding the Church’s global ministry is a simple 100-page Church Manual which reflects Eddy’s desire for a Church living by the Golden Rule and unencumbered by excessive human organization.

While local branch churches and societies are democratically run, The Mother Church and its business is transacted by a five-person Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for overseeing a range of activities including an international Board of Lectureship, the Board of Education, Church membership, and the publishing of Mary Baker Eddy’s writings and the editorial content of the Church periodicals.

The Board of Directors elects their own members as well as the other officers of The Mother Church. These officers are a President (elected to a one-year term), a First Reader and a Second Reader (both elected to three-year terms), and a Clerk and a Treasurer (both elected yearly, may be reelected). Here’s a list of the current officers. The Board also appoints other key positions in The Mother Church.

What is the difference between The Mother Church and branch churches?

The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, is located in Boston, Massachusetts. There you’ll find the main Church offices and The Christian Science Publishing Society. It is governed under By-Laws given in the Church Manual. It’s business is transacted by the Christian Science Board of Directors.  
 
The Church of Christ, Scientist, also has Christian Science branch churches and societies around the world.

• The branches are locally and democratically governed under branch by-laws as well as by relevant By-Laws provided in the Church Manual.
• Branch churches also have Sunday services, testimonial meetings, and Sunday Schools. Societies have Sunday services and sometimes testimonial meetings and Sunday Schools. Locate a church near you.

What is the Church doing for the world?

For a small denomination, we are quite active on many fronts. Christian Scientists pray each day for the world and many church members are involved in the public practice of Christian Science healing. We publish numerous magazines and support an international news organization, The Christian Science Monitor. We open our doors to children and teens at Christian Science Sunday Schools for classes and discussions about the Bible every Sunday. The Mother Church and its branches also sponsor public talks on Christian Science that address both personal and global issues. In addition to supporting these and other activities, our members participate actively in community service and contribute to many public charities and causes. The Church also interacts with the world though the two main Church websites: christianscience.com and csmonitor.com.