Church Reports Monday's Annual Meeting Start of Joyful Week

Dear Fellow Member of The Mother Church,

It's been an eventful week here in Boston for our worldwide church family.

Last Friday, May 30, the Christian Science Board of Directors welcomed into membership individuals living in Angola, Argentina, Australia, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Congo Republic (Brazzaville), Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa), France, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritania, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Russia, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Zambia. These new members havespecial stories to tell of their journeys to membership; and their stories include you-- the current members who approved their applications -- so thank you all!

We look forward to the participation of the entire Mother Church family in the next admission of members on November 7, 2008. Whether you've been a member for many years or joined in a recent admission, we invite you to consider prayerfully your role in helping others become members. In cherishing your own membership, opportunities may open up to answer questions, encourage a young Sunday School student to complete his or her application, or help a newcomer to understand the wonderful benefits of being a member of The Mother Church.

On Monday, June 2, the Annual Meeting of The Mother Church was held cherishing "the simplicity that is in Christ" (II Cor. 11:3). Members and friends around the world viewed the live webcast. If you missed it, the replay of the meeting is available at http://www.churchofchristscientist.org/annualmeeting/.

At this Annual Meeting, it was also announced that Richard Bergenheim, Editor of The Christian Science Monitor, is the new President of The Mother Church. The following is the announcement that was sent to employees of The Mother Church.

Warmly,

Nathan Talbot

Clerk of The Mother Church

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THE MOTHER CHURCH AND ITS ACTIVITIES

MEMORANDUM

June 2, 2008

To:All Employees

From: The Christian Science Board of Directors

Re:New President of The Mother Church

Newly elected President of The Mother Church, Richard Bergenheim of New York City, knows firsthand -- as Editor of The Christian Science Monitor -- the pace and depth of change going on in the world of publishing. "In an age when so much is changing," Richard asks, "what is the unchangeable underlying nature -- the bedrock purpose and mission -- of each periodical that Mary Baker Eddy founded?" Richard will explore with church members the answer to that question in his one-year term as President, effective today.

Richard expects to meet with Christian Science practitioners and teachers during the summer months. Then, he will accept invitations from branch churches for meetings to broaden appreciation and support for the Church's periodicals. Those attending these meetings will explore how prayer and other means of active support can advance the Monitor, Journal, Sentinel, Herald, and Quarterly Bible Lessons in their service to the global human family. Richard's year as President coincides with events this fall marking the Monitor's first 100 years of publication.

As a college undergraduate, Richard spent summers working as a "copy kid" at the Monitor, as he says, "filling editors' paste pots" -- one of those ancient memories in today's all-electronic newsrooms. After earning a Master's degree from the Shakespeare Institute at University of Birmingham, England, Richard taught English for two years before pursuing his lifelong commitment to and love for the practice of prayer-based Christian healing. He first advertised in The Christian Science Journal as a practitioner in 1974, and became a teacher of Christian Science in 1982. In the 1990s, Richard served as Editor-in-Chief of the periodicals, during a time when he was also a member of the Christian Science Board of Directors.

While Richard continues to hold his Christian Science Students' Association meeting in New York, he currently teaches his classes in Boston, where he lives with his wife, Phebe. She serves as project manager for the Chestnut Hill Benevolent Association, a Christian Science nursing facility in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
Mark Swinney, last year's President of The Mother Church, has gained heartfelt thanks from the many hundreds who attended one of the workshops he co-conducted on the Christian Science healing practice. Traveling widely with fellow practitioners and teachers Karl (Sandy) Sandberg, Olga Chaffee, and others, Mark spoke from experience -- and with openness and humility -- about what it takes to be a healer in today's world.

6/4/08

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