Christian Science Organizations
at Colleges and Universities (CSO)
What is a Christian Science organization? Students and faculty at colleges and universities worldwide are responding to the demand for spiritual answers on their campuses through the activities of Christian Science organizations (CSOs). Since 1904, they've been sharing Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, sponsoring lectures, and engaging in an ongoing dialogue about spirituality with others on campus.
What issues on your campus would benefit from the ideas in Science and Health or from knowing more about Mary Baker Eddy? Check out your school newspaper, listen to hear what others are saying about their lives, their career ambitions and their relationships.
Why start a Christian Science organization? Do you value the ideas in Science and Health? Do you feel they have been of benefit to you? Have you identified anyone on campus who could also benefit from those ideas? Would you be willing to share a copy of Science and Health with someone else on campus? The CSO Resource Center is here to help you take advantage of your "privilege" to start a CSO.
What do you need to start one? Science and Health and to respond to the spiritual seekers you meet on your campus.
To get started, you may want to start by first talking with the Student Activities office at your college or university. Find out what the requirements are for organizations wanting to form or become established on campus. This may help with funding support for lectures and allow space for your meetings. Each school has different requirements for what an organization can or cannot do on campus. Give us a call and we'll help you with all of the details. We would also be glad to arrange for a free advertisement in The Christian Science Journal so that other students and faculty members may become aware of your presence on campus.
The entire guideline that Mary Baker Eddy set aside for Christian Science organizations is located in the Church Manual, page 73, Article 23, Section 8. Take some time to look over this By-law, individually or as a group, to consider the potential for a CSO on your campus. You may also want to talk about the possible activities for your CSO - what form should your meetings take? Should you set up a regular display of Science and Health on campus or sponsor lectures for the general student body or in a classroom?
Contact the CSO Resource Center at any time to discuss your questions or comments at cso@csps.com. We can assist with funding for events and lectures on your campus, as well as send you promotional materials, displays and copies of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures to share with your campus. You can list the contact information for your CSO in The Christian Science Journal free of charge, as well as on the CSO website. Remember, forming and conducting a CSO is a privilege and a blessing for your campus community.
How many people does it take to start a CSO? The Church Manual provision for Christian Science organizations provides a vehicle for helping you share the ideas in Science and Health with your campus community. So, if you've begun to connect with the ideas in Science and Health, and want to share those ideas with others on campus, it only takes one person to become a CSO. However, if you want to be recognized as an "official" organization on your campus, you will want to check with the Student Activities office for more clarification on the number of members you will need.
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Data Source: The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Massachusetts. Updated: 12/09/2004
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