Chapter 16: every tradition · Christianity

Church of Christ, Scientist

A branch Church of Christ, Scientist, which describes itself as a Christian, Bible-based religion, founded by Mary Baker Eddy: it acknowledges one supreme and infinite God and the divinity of the Christ, without a creed, and its pastor, as Eddy ordained it, is the Bible together with her Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. There is no clergy and no personal preaching. On Sunday two Readers, members elected by the church for a term, read the Lesson-Sermon read that week in every branch, the Second Reader from the Bible and the First Reader from Science and Health, without remarks of their own; on Wednesday evening the First Reader reads and the congregation gives testimonies of healing. Baptism and communion are understood spiritually, with no water, bread, or wine: twice a year, in January and July, the congregation kneels in silent communion. Each branch governs itself democratically under the Manual of The Mother Church, which sets its order of service and may not be changed; members also belong to The Mother Church in Boston and pay it a yearly per capita tax. Every branch keeps a Reading Room open to the public. Christian Scientists are free to choose their own health care, and many rely on prayer for healing, often with the help of practitioners, who are self-employed and paid by those they help, not by the church.

All 80 traditions · its profile in Faiths and traditions, with how to play it; How people feel, what every factor is.

At a glance

Faith	Christianity
Its words	church, church, auditorium; the Reader leads the service; the Lesson-Sermon; Sunday; the Bible and Science and Health
Worship	readings focus, reserved, moderate formality (0.67 of 1); seated on pews
Music	organ expected; gospel organ discouraged; choir discouraged; band discouraged; brass discouraged; handbells discouraged; chant discouraged; song leader discouraged; recorded discouraged
The room's sound	likes a ringing room (organ and choir)
Its year	christian science; minimal observance; fasts none
Leans	neutral on moral questions, neutral on economic ones
Polity	congregational; leaders come by call; property local
Leaders	two leader, unpaid, trained by none; marriage any
Belonging	moderate commitment, formal discipline, admitted by board; exclusive
Giving	tithing not emphasised; collected by plate, online
Way of life	alcohol abstinence, dress church clothes, sabbath relaxed

The week's services

Day	Time	Service	Led by	People look for it
Sunday	10:30 am	Lesson-Sermon service	the laity	expected
Wednesday	7:30 pm	Testimony meeting	the laity	expected

Leader: none needed: the laity lead every service, so no Reader is missed.
Communion: not kept.

Rites

Communion Service (yearly, +0.025 to those there): Held in January and July, with no bread or wine: at a moment in the service the congregation kneels together in silent prayer, then repeats the Lord's Prayer aloud.

Joining

No baptism: a content regular is received after about 26 weeks.
Joining age: 12.
Kinds of belonging: members (votes, may hold office); received by its board.
What it means: being baptized, confirmed, or received is worth +0.1 to the person, +0.05 to family there, and +0.03 to everyone else at the service. It roots them: a rooted household drifts away only 0.6 times as often, and if it does fall away, it has a 25% chance of coming home at each of its great days (at most once a month) for ten years.

Giving, and what goes up

How its people give and what else comes in, as Money explains it for every faith.

How it's given: the collection, by a plate passed at each main service, and giving online. A visiting household puts $5 to $25 in the plate. Those who give online give whether or not they come (8% more a month).
Tithing isn't emphasised: people give 10% less.
Fundraisers: only the modest ones (below).
Owed above: Per capita tax, $1 a year for each member, paid by its members, to the The Mother Church.

The Reader, the staff, and who decides

How the Reader comes: named from the members (Ask who'd serve): the longest-standing members are the candidates.
Paid: unpaid.
Who they are: with no formal training; women among them (about a third); most married.
Tenure: a term of 3 years.
Staff it can hire or name (see Staff and volunteers):
- Lay leader (unpaid; from the members; cares for 60)
- Choir director / organist / pianist ($15,000–$35,000; leads the music (up to +0.06))
- Caretaker ($18,000–$30,000; slows the building's wear)
- Church secretary ($20,000–$35,000; runs the office (+50 to the leader's reach, once))
- Youth director ($20,000–$40,000; up to +0.08 for households with young people)
Its boards: the executive board (deciding, over everything); the building committee (deciding, over the building).
Renovations: The members vote.
New construction: The members vote.
Calling a leader: The members vote.
Who votes: members, 16 and over.

Life together

What its Community screen offers it, with the dilemmas only its own faith or family meets; see The congregation in its community.

Ministries of its own: Choir.
Ministries every tradition can run that it's offered: Blood drive, Food pantry, Preschool, Youth group.
Fundraisers of its own: Soup supper.
Shared fundraisers it may hold (only the modest ones): Bake sale, Car wash, Raffle, Rummage sale.
Tenants it can take: A Masonic lodge, A scout troop, Another congregation, Dance classes, Parties and receptions.
Outreach: literature (from its Reading Room), invitation Sunday (Community → Evangelism).
Dilemmas of its own faith (besides those every congregation meets): A petition for cushions, The bells, again.
Dilemmas its code of life brings: A Masonic funeral, A matter of discipline, A raffle for the roof, A recruiter asks for the hall, Champagne at the reception.

What the building needs

required Readers' desksThe service is read by two Readers, from desks on the platform.
required reading roomThe Church of Christ, Scientist asks every church for one.
expected Pipe organThe congregation expects hymns led by an organ.
discouraged BannerBanners are not part of this tradition's worship space.
discouraged Brass band standsBrass doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
discouraged Choir stallsThis tradition's worship has no choir.
discouraged CrucifixThis tradition doesn't set a crucifix, or any cross, before its people.
discouraged Flag of the churchThis tradition doesn't fly a flag in worship.
discouraged Drum kitA band and drum kit do not belong in this tradition's worship.
discouraged CrossCrosses and other symbols are not part of this tradition's worship space.
discouraged Flaming chaliceThe flaming chalice is another tradition's symbol.
discouraged Hammond organA gospel organ doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
discouraged IconIcons are not part of this tradition's worship.
discouraged National flagThis tradition keeps the nation's symbols out of worship.
discouraged Painting of ChristPictures of Christ are not part of this tradition's worship space.
discouraged PulpitThere is no preacher: the Readers read the service.
discouraged StatueStatues are not part of this tradition's worship space.

What people here feel

Architectural style: Colonial brick +0.028; Modern synagogue +0.046; Gurdwara +0.052; Japanese temple +0.056; Islamic +0.05; Shinto shrine +0.05; Chinese temple +0.044; Dravidian temple +0.038; Nagara temple +0.038; Thai temple +0.038; Jain marble +0.032; Gothic +0.026.
Building fit: up to ±0.15 for everyone, the average fit of the characterful items in its worship rooms (the table below).
Acoustics: it wants a ringing room, about 3.4 seconds of reverberation: stone, plaster, a high ceiling. Up to ±0.05.
Seasonal decor: it keeps the church year: paraments and the season's decor are worth up to ±0.027.
The Lesson-Sermon lands by its topic and the tradition's leaning (below); the Reader's preaching adds or costs up to 0.08 more.

How each Lesson-Sermon lands

The topics its leader can choose from (some are only for one faith or family), and what each is worth.

Biblical Stories+0.015
Blessed Are the Peacemakers+0.015
Called by Name+0.015
Doubt & Faith+0.015
Eternal Life & Resurrection+0.015
Grace & Forgiveness+0.015
Gratitude+0.015
Hope & Comfort+0.015
Joy in All Things+0.015
Love One Another+0.015
Sabbath Rest+0.015
Saints & Witnesses+0.015
Servant Leadership+0.015
Songs of the Psalms+0.015
Stewardship & Generosity+0.015
The Church Year+0.015
The Life of Prayer+0.015
The Parables of Jesus+0.015
Care for Creation-0.02
Faith & Family-0.02
Faith of Our Fathers-0.02
Healing for All-0.02
Interfaith Understanding-0.02
Obedience & Discipline-0.02
Personal Holiness-0.02
Reading Scripture in Context-0.02
Resisting Temptation-0.02
Spiritual Warfare-0.02
Swords into Ploughshares-0.02
The Authority of Scripture-0.02
The Great Commission-0.02
The Prophets' Call-0.02
Wealth & Poverty-0.02
Welcome the Stranger-0.02
Women Who Led-0.02
Marriage as God Designed-0.03
Racial Justice & Reconciliation-0.03
Radical Inclusion-0.03
Sanctity of Life-0.03
Social Justice Call-0.03
The Last Days-0.03
Fire & Brimstone-0.04

Every item, for this tradition

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); the building fit is the average over the characterful items in the worship rooms. An item with no character (a table, a toilet) has no fit. A rule applies wherever the item is.

Item	Fit	Rule
Seating
Box pew	+0.333
Choir stalls	-0.333	discouraged This tradition's worship has no choir.
Meeting bench	no fit
Oak pew	no fit
Row of chairs	0
Liturgical furniture
Altar	+0.333
Baptismal font	+0.333
Baptistry	no fit
Bishop's chair	+0.333
Brass eagle lectern	+0.333
Columbarium niches	+0.333
Communion rail	+0.333
Communion station	no fit
Communion table	no fit
Communion trays	no fit
Confessional screen	no fit
Coptic cross	-1
Epitaphios	-1
Flaming chalice	-1	discouraged The flaming chalice is another tradition's symbol.
Foot-washing basins	no fit
Haikal screen	-1
Iconostasis	-1
Immersion font	+0.333
Lectern	no fit
Litany desk	+0.333
Mercy seat	no fit
Octagonal stone font	+0.333
Paraments	no fit
Pulpit	no fit	discouraged There is no preacher: the Readers read the service.
Readers' desks	no fit	required The service is read by two Readers, from desks on the platform.
Rood screen	-1
Sanctuary lamp	+0.333
Tabernacle	+0.333
Three-bar cross	-1
Thurible and stand	no fit
Music
Brass band stands	-1	discouraged Brass doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
Chanter's stand	-0.333
Drum kit	-1	discouraged A band and drum kit do not belong in this tradition's worship.
Electronic organ	+1
Grand piano	0
Hammond organ	-1	discouraged A gospel organ doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
Handbell table	-1
Pipe organ	+0.667	expected The congregation expects hymns led by an organ.
Sound system	-1
Upright piano	0
Decor
Advent wreath	no fit
Banner	-1	discouraged Banners are not part of this tradition's worship space.
Christmas Eve candles	no fit
Cross	-1	discouraged Crosses and other symbols are not part of this tradition's worship space.
Crucifix	-1	discouraged This tradition doesn't set a crucifix, or any cross, before its people.
Easter lilies	no fit
Eternal flame	no fit
Flag of the church	-1	discouraged This tradition doesn't fly a flag in worship.
Great dome	+0.333
Icon	-1	discouraged Icons are not part of this tradition's worship.
Memorial plaque	no fit
National flag	-1	discouraged This tradition keeps the nation's symbols out of worship.
Painting of Christ	-1	discouraged Pictures of Christ are not part of this tradition's worship space.
Paschal candle	no fit
Plain spire	no fit
Small dome	no fit
Stained glass window	+0.333
Statue	-1	discouraged Statues are not part of this tradition's worship space.
Steeple and bells	+0.333
Votive candle stand	no fit
Furnishings
Alms box	no fit
Coffee pot	no fit
Commercial coffee pot	no fit
Computer	no fit
Crib	no fit
Desk	no fit
Desk chair	no fit
Folding table	no fit
Full-length mirror	no fit
Pillar	+0.333
Prie-dieu	+0.333
Projection screen	0
Vestment cabinet	+0.333
Wooden table	no fit
Utility
A/V rack	no fit
Camera	no fit
Cast-iron boiler	no fit
Central air conditioner	no fit
Commercial HVAC plant	no fit
Commercial stove	no fit
Congregation van	no fit
Ductless heat pump	no fit
Electric wall heater	no fit
Gas furnace	no fit
Hearing loop	no fit
Lift	no fit
Packaged heat pump	no fit
Plumbing stack	no fit
Ramp	no fit
Shuttle bus	no fit
Sink	no fit
Solar panels	no fit
Stairs	no fit
Toilet	no fit
Used school bus	no fit
Wall camera	no fit
Window air conditioner	no fit
Grounds
Evergreen tree	no fit
Flower bed	no fit
Fountain	no fit
Garden bench	no fit
Hedge	no fit
Lychgate	+0.333
Playground	no fit
Shade tree	no fit
Standing cross	no fit

Sources

Church (christianscience.com) (link)
Frequently Asked Questions (christianscience.com) (link)
Manual of The Mother Church, Art. XXIII: The Mother Church and Branch Churches (Wikisource) (link)
Manual of The Mother Church, Art. III: Duties of Readers (Wikisource) (link)
Manual of The Mother Church, Appendix: Order of Services (Wikisource) (link)
Manual of The Mother Church, Art. XVIII: Communion (Wikisource) (link)
Manual of The Mother Church, Art. XXI: Reading Rooms (Wikisource) (link)
Manual of The Mother Church, Art. VIII: Guidance of Members (Wikisource) (link)
Christian Science practitioners (christianscience.com) (link)
Church services (christianscience.com) (link)