Yesterday, my husband and I spent the day in a workshop with representatives from all the Christian Science churches in Connecticut to discuss our future.

We started by coming up with a long list of the strengths that we have, and owning those as real assets going forward. We listed things like dedicated members and workers, established systems, ever-available pastor, strong quality of thought, educated, open-minded state, equity in real estate, shared spiritual journeys, receptivity to new ideas, a desire to help our communities, connections to resources, etc.

After that, we broke out into groups to share and express our vision for where Christian Science in our state would be in ten years.  We thought of things like the public actually knowing what Christian Science is, and who Mary Baker Eddy is as its founder, that we’d speak with less jargon, be less insular, more visible, more inclusive, more diverse, more confident in what we have to offer, more comfortable effectively sharing, be less overwhelmed by how much work there is to be done, express more moral courage, and to facilitate public understanding of our unique definition of God as Life, Truth, Love, Mind, Soul, Spirit, and Principle–for everyone to FEEL THE LOVE, and to find the healing that naturally results from this practical understanding.

Then we made a non-exhaustive list of 61 challenges/ concerns/ or “elephants in the room,” that need to be addressed. We each agreed to “reframe” each one of those, to pray about each one them, and find the counterfact, or corrective for each one.

We are going to meet again (quarterly by zoom?) and proactively work together to bring about our collective vision, instead of just passively letting happen whatever is the path of least resistance.

Church, after all in Christian Science is defined as, “that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race…” so let’s get on with doing just that!

I am grateful to be part of a movement looking to bring solutions to the challenges that surround us. I am thankful to live in this wonderful state where we are collectively willing to take initiative to create a bright future.