We are alive with purpose and mission! Our Midwest Summit committee has inspired Christian Scientists throughout the area to take action, beginning with throwing off the smothering blankets of complacency, fear, boredom, and angst. We’re eager to let the flames of love and hope take shape and outline the next big steps into our bright future.
The Christian Science Fellowship-Metro Chicago is working with the Midwest Summit planners to provide one, or possibly two meetings for practitioners throughout the eight neighboring states. Certainly some practitioners are beginning to organize their schedules, so we want to inform you as quickly as possible about our plans.
At this time, we are beginning to organize, so no decisions have been made beyond our commitment to hold one or two meetings. It (or they) might be held sometime on Saturday or else on Sunday afternoon (April 30 or May 1). Please let us know your preferences in the “comments” after this blog.
The purpose of the meeting is to support the progress of Christian Science practice in our region. The format
will be an informal discussion on topics of mutual interest. There is no outside agenda, so your own interests will drive the conversation. Until we hear more specific guidance from you, we will prepare to cover such topics as:
1) Can we discuss openly some ethical questions concerning the practice of Christian Science? – such as elder neglect and abuse, confidentiality, family concerns with medical involvement
2) How can we, a community of Christian Science healers, work together when our community is threatened? – such as violence, unemployment, contagion
3) Is it necessary for us to stay abreast of religious issues in the world around us, and if so how should we do it? – such as interfaith dialogue, local response to Islam, repression of Catholic women
4) How can we take advantage of technology to improve our connection with the world? – such as support for communicating with patients, our own role in increasing visibility
5) What responsibility do we have as a group of Christian Science practitioners to contribute to the progress of the Christian Science Movement? – such as our relationship to one another, responding to public thought about it
6) Are we able to turn to each other, to confide in each other, to seek support from each other when our healing work should be more successful?
Sounds wonderful!
I would love to get together and talk with other practitioners about a number of different things:
-working with CS nurses
-working with the medical: not only when patients are involved but also dealing with the medical industry itself
– how has the leaven been at work in science, theology and medicine as well as cultural changes and how does that impact our practice?
-making a living in the practice:
-becoming a teacher
-working with social media
-working with individuals new to CS
Lots of ideas to throw into the pot! Other thoughts?
in the movie Toy Story a musical theme says ,”You’ve got a friend in me.” sounds like this idea would foster that same idea. Way to go!
Thank you for this great idea. I would love to get together with practitioners and teachers at lunch on Saturday. But, instead of having any agenda, why don’t we just get to know each other and love each other. Isn’t that the most important part anyway?
Being the only practitioner in cincinnati, coming together for genuine, open Christ sharing ,in support of the practice, would be a great blessing.
There are several here who have made a sincere effort to go into the practice full time, but there has not been fruition.
What can we do to handle the belief – “I’m not sure I can heal.” Specifically dealing with the aggressive opposition to healing success, is needed to bring new practitioners here into the fold.
We need to be able to confidentially, openly, deal with the deep concerns pratitioners are dealing with and not skirt the issues.
Warmly, Sondra Elkins
Just a happy reminder- of course Cincinnati has a capital C!
Count me in!
Dear Shirley and Midwest Practitioners,
I think this is a wonderful idea and am very grateful to see this come to fruition.
I’m also wondering if you would consider inviting Christian Science Journal-listed nurses as well. I think it would be great to have CS practitioners and CS nurses get together to get to know each other better and discuss important issues in Christian Science healing. Christian Science nurses are a key part of the healing ministry. And, unlike the medical model, there is no hierarchy in Christian Science – CS practitioners and CS nurses are equal partners in the healing work.
Another consideration might be to have one meeting with just the CS practitioners and a second meeting including CS nurses. Thanks for considering this idea.
Just to underline Mary Beth’s ideas….I think it would be wonderful to include CS nurses!
I love this idea of getting together and fortifying our commitment to our community and our world. Didn’t Mrs. Eddy expect that the science of Christianity to be embraced by all the churches? This was strongly evidenced last Sunday at the presentation on the Women Who Loved Jesus. What a great idea- count me in.
I love this idea–coming together to support one-another. A strengthening of ideas!
I would love to include CS practitioners as well as CS nurses.
There are a number of us that are faithfully living and practicing Christian Science, but are not Journal listed. Will this meeting include us?
Thanks for your really good question, Rindy. Judging from the response we’ve received before the first 24 hours of having posted this blog, it looks like we’ll have great interest in this meeting.
Since the planning team is still getting organized there have been no decisions at this time. The idea of including Christian Science nurses, Christian Science teachers, and those who are practicing Christian Science healing but not advertising in the Christian Science Journal is a very inclusive one. The Christian Science Fellowship-Metro Chicago is intentionally inclusive.
So, without predetermining the decisions of the organizers, I presume there will be thoughtful consideration for all those who seek to strengthen their healing practice and support each other’s work as well. We’ll want to make sure we provide the best support for those who are deeply in the trenches, in their healing ministries.
We hope we’ll continue to hear from all types of people who are interested in this kind of meeting. This will help us organize the planning most effectively.
It sounds as tho you are including all who are REALLY interested in C.S. I am no longer a resident of the North Shore of Chicago—(Florida) but am very interested in the orderly way C.S. is followed……Ellie Thompson
I have just been listed in the Journal – online listing now and in the April print edition.
I’d be delighted to meet with other practitioners and nurses. A Saturday lunch sounds like a great time. Just getting to know each other would be wonderful. I’m sure the ideas will flow.
Looking forward to this!