Reader (Christian Science Church)

Reader (Christian Science Church)

A Reader in a Christian Science church is a member responsible for conducting services and reading from the "Bible" and the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures".

Duties of Readers

The principal responsibilities of Readers in Christian Science services were established by Mary Baker Eddy and written into the Manual of The Mother Church. The Mother Church and every branch church each have two Readers who are referred to as a First Reader and a Second Reader.

Sunday church services are conducted primarily by the First Reader, who selects hymns, reads a selection from the Scriptures, makes announcements, and reads about half of the sermon from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures". The Second Reader reads the other half of the sermon from the "Bible".

Wednesday evening meetings are conducted by the First Reader, who reads from both books. The Second Reader has no role in the meeting, but is likely to attend in the same manner as any other member or guest.

Appointment and status in church

Readers in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts" (more simply termed "The Mother Church") are appointed by its governing panel, "The Christian Science Board of Directors". Readers in The Mother Church serve a three year term.

Readers in branch churches are elected by the members of each branch. The term of office depends on the by-laws adopted by the branch church in question.

Christian Science churches have no ordained clergy; the Readers in these churches are ordinary members and are treated as such. The only potential distinction is that all Readers in branches of The Mother Church are required to be members of The Mother Church. Other members of branch churches might or might not also be Mother Church members.

Weddings and funerals

Because Readers in Christian Science churches are not clergy, they are not authorized to officiate over weddings in most jurisdictions. This presents a unique situation for Mother Church members who get married, as a rule in their "Church Manual" requires a "clergyman who is legally authorized". A member of another denomination's clergy can fulfill this requirement. This clergyman might in fact be a woman, as Christian Scientists frequently use the term "man" without implying any gender.

The Christian Science faith has no specific requirement to have funeral services or how they might be conducted. As such, Readers have no funeral duties per se, although a Reader or any other Christian Scientist might choose to conduct a meeting of this type if requested to do so.

Pastor and preachers

In 1894, Mary Baker Eddy added the following ordination to the Manual of the Mother Church:

:I, Mary Baker Eddy, ordain the BIBLE, and SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES, Pastor over The Mother Church,—The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass.,—and they will continue to preach for this Church and the world.

In Christian Science churches worldwide, an explanatory note is read concerning the role of the Readers, the "Bible", and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures", which begins with the sentence

:Friends: The Bible and the Christian Science textbook are our only preachers.

Specifically, Readers in Christian Science churches are neither pastors nor preachers.

References

Eddy, Mary Baker, "Church Manual of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass.", 1908, pp. 26, 31-33, 49, 58.

Eddy, Mary Baker, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures", 1906.

Various authors, "The Holy Bible", Authorized King James Version, 1611.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Christian Science — a system of religious teaching, founded in 1866 by Mary Baker Eddy and based on the Scriptures, the most notable application of which is the practice of spiritual healing. [1860 65, Amer.] * * * officially Church of Christ, Scientist Religious… …   Universalium

  • Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lessons — The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lessons are a publication of the Christian Science Publishing Society. Each week s Lesson that is used for individual study during the week, and as the Sunday sermon read during Christian Science church… …   Wikipedia

  • Christian Science Journal — The Christian Science Journal is an official monthly publication of the Church of Christ, Scientist through the Christian Science Publishing Society, founded in 1883 by Mary Baker Eddy. It is designed to demonstrate the practical applications of… …   Wikipedia

  • Church of Christ, Scientist — Classification Christian Geographical areas United States Founder Mary Baker Eddy Origin 1879 Boston, Massachusetts, USA Congregations …   Wikipedia

  • Reader — can mean: * a reader: a person who is reading a text.* A family name: ** Colin Reader, English geologist ** Eddi Reader, Scottish singer ** Francis Reader (born 1965) , Scottish musician ** Ralph Reader (1903 1982), British director and producer …   Wikipedia

  • The Christian Science Journal — is an official monthly publication of the Church of Christ, Scientist through the Christian Science Publishing Society, founded in 1883 by Mary Baker Eddy. It is designed to demonstrate the practical applications of Christian Science healing… …   Wikipedia

  • reader — noun Date: before 12th century 1. a. one that reads b. one appointed to read to others: as (1) lector (2) one chosen to read aloud selected material in a Christian Science church or society c. (1) proofreader (2) one who evaluates manuscripts (3) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • The First Church of Christ, Scientist — Coordinates: 42°20′40″N 71°05′06″W / 42.34443°N 71.084872°W / 42.34443; 71.084872 …   Wikipedia

  • Christian views on Hell — vary, but in general traditionally agree that hell is a place or a state in which the souls of the unsaved suffer the consequences of sin. Different Hebrew and Greek words are translated as hell in most English language Bibles. They include:… …   Wikipedia

  • Christian primitivism — See also: Restorationism (disambiguation) Part of a series on the History of Christian Theology …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”