I was in Boston for the Annual Meeting of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, held last Monday. It was a good chance to catch the current perspective of the administration, hear what the pressing issues were and consider how to more effectively help.
The format of the meeting was very simple with the nine officers of the church,–the Board of Directors, Readers, Treasurer and President—sitting on stage all at once, and talking back and forth impromptu about the talking points Michael Pabst, the Chairman of the Board, put before them to discuss.
It’s easy to come to meetings like this with preconceptions of what ought to happen, and then be disappointed or elated according to whether your expectations were fulfilled or not. I purposely put aside all preconceptions and focused on listening to whatever God was telling me. I didn’t hear much for quite a while. There were no big visions for the future introduced, no sweeping agendas outlined, no big announcements, not much different in message, really, than I had already heard in the past.
Fighting a bit of disappointment, I then noticed a super big event happening on stage that I can’t remember happening at an Annual Meeting. There was virtually no ego on display. No one single human ego stood out over the rest. There was no jockeying for position among the speakers. No one person with all the answers. No single soul dominating the discussions. The presentation was very egalitarian. A sense of awe swept over me as I considered the significant implications of this expression.
The church has suffered over the past 20 or 30 years, ever since I can remember, it seems, by ego. Members in conflict with each other, not able to get along, not able to express one Mind, not loving one another, not loving thy neighbor as thyself, and on and on…to the detriment of church harmony. But now, it felt like maybe we’ve gotten past that era. Maybe we’ve glimpsed, collectively, a better view of the one Ego, and are letting divine Mind, through Christ, lead the way, rather than allowing human/mortal ego to interfere and mess everything up.
I was super grateful. I really was. I thought, “The most significant happening in this meeting is what is not happening. Human ego stayed home. And now we’re at a quiet place in thought that members can start listening to God instead of to human opinion, mortal attitude and material disgruntlement.”
Whoa!! This was soooo good!
Our church has a leader. It’s Mary Baker Eddy. And Eddy instructed her followers to follow her as she followed Christ. So, in practical fact, she told her followers that Christ was the leader of her Church.
I found great comfort in realizing that I did not have to look to the Board of Directors for vision or guidance for what to do next. They were adminstrators of church business, not spiritual leaders. They were freely sharing with us the pressing issues of the moment and what they saw the needs were. But they were not telling us what to do and how to do it, except for the expected prod of “Heal your neighbor!” And that is Christ talking anyway. Christ told us to heal our neighbor.
It was almost revelatory for me…Christ is leading our church forward! Christ knows what to do. Christ has the answers. Christ is not in the dark. Christ is active, on the scene, at work in every branch church, at work in every heart of every member, at work in every church service and activity, telling us what to do, how to do it and guaranteeing success.
For all the pressing issues the organization faces, it wasn’t any human vision that was going to save the day. It was a spiritual vision of what Christ was doing and our role in faithfully following where Christ was leading.
It was incumbent on each member to individually turn to God, listen to divine Mind and let Christ lead them forward for the benefit of the whole church organization. I could do that! I knew. And so could every other member.
No man or woman will ever be the savior of our church in time of need. Christ is our Savior. Christ is the Savior of our church! I concluded.
The meeting ended with prolonged clapping and a standing ovation. Members were expressing their gratitude for what the officers of the church we’re doing for the organization, but even more, I felt they were expressing their deep love, commitment, and determination to see the purpose and mission of their church successfully filled. They didn’t have a doubt that it would happen. We could all do it together.
Reflecting pool on Mother Church campus
Evan, thank you for this wonderful perspective on the Annual Meeting. I “get” what you are saying about the lack of ego. That was very dear. And I love what you say about the Christ leading our Church. So appreciate your candor.
So well said, Evan. Thanks for your perspective and putting it in words that summarizes the leadership of our church – the activity of the Christ. Vicki
Wow! Thank you for this…..
A greatly helpful perspective.
Thank you so much for this!! What a wonderful insight & healing inspiration!!!
Brilliant. We don’t need sweeping visions by those at the “top.” We need servant leadership … they take care of the ways and means so each member can follow the Christ.
Thank you Evan – great article here. There was one thing I could do without, the bantering back and forth between the readers …
What a lovely insight Christ gave you; thanks for listening … and passing it along, Evan.
Though I wasn’t aware of ego issues in the past, I am aware, blessedly, of this year’s feeling of equality and “servant leadership,” as one commenter here put it.
As for the bantering between the two TMC Readers mentioned above, I quite liked the twinkle in their eyes as they traded gentle jibes. I much prefer affectionate
ribbing to prim and proper. 🙂
Lots of good healing going on, for sure. Starting individually, as Michael Pabst pointed out, and radiating out to the world. I loved what Tom Black said about how important it is to TRULY FEEL that God loves YOU! Reminds me of the sweet children’s song, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so….”
Your article on Annual Meeting gave me a lot to think about it.
The unity of thought made me feel like I was “inside” the meeting. I was far away from Boston, attending through the internet, and yet the harmony and joy were completely tangible… wow, this is huge!
Thank you Evan for sharing this spiritual perspective about it.
Much love. E
You know I was moved in the same way. Such a breath of fresh air. Joy and humor being shared by the individuals that are overseeing, and supporting this movement.
I’ve been to many Annual Meetings over the years and this one stood out as I felt the deep love and support for our church from everyone who spoke and from everyone attending. It’s a feeling that’s hard to put into words. I’m so grateful I was able to be present for this one especially.
Here Here!!! My thoughts exactly on the missing human ego!! I was so exceedingly grateful for what I saw at that annual meeting and at the church alive summit in our region. I see a revitalization of our movement.. “In proportion as the personal and material element stole into religion, it lost Christianity and the power to heal” (Christian Healing 3:10-12) ….. No more!
Evan, thanks for your impressions and appreciation of Annual Meeting. There was a beautiful sense of following, following the Christ, but it was certainly a bold following– being willing to stand up for Christian healing, and simply share what is most vital about church.
I know that part of my deep appreciation for this Annual Meeting is a result of my own spiritual growth, leaving behind much fear of not being good enough, replacing that fear with the clearer sense that God is able to make good Christians of each one of us. I do not recall an obvious sense of ego coming through in previous Annual Meetings. They have all been inspiring, a time when the officers of the church share what they see as the needs and opportunities, and most dear of all, the reports from the field of the opportunities fulfilled, healing accomplished through faithful following of the Christ. There truly is the leadership of the church.
Loved this posting, and loved all the comments. I, too, was greatly inspired by this year’s Annual Meeting. And I must say that Annual Meeting always inspires me, especially reports from the field. I’ve never felt that sense of false ego, but did enjoy this year’s new format. And I love the gentle sense of humor that was shared, especially by Marian English. What a delight she is… and they all are.
One of the points that I will remember and carry with me, whether in church work or just every day life decisions, was when they were talking about change. So often there is a rush to change. We’ve got to change this. We’ve got to change that. BUT, if we are looking to change from the standpoint that change is our savior, we’ll be disappointed and often going down the wrong path. But if change is the result of unfoldment through consecrated prayer and listening, truly God directed, it’s a good thing. What is our motive for change? Change for change’s sake?
One time I changed jobs just because I was unhappy with one person. I wanted out of there badly and I KNEW that changing jobs would save me. It was a very impulsive thing to do, but I KNEW that this change in my life would save me from this unhappiness. NOT! I learned from that impulsive change that whatever the problem is that needs healing will still be there until it’s healed!
Thank you always, Evan, for your very insightful and love-filled blogs!