What role does the five-member Board of Directors have in the Mother Church?

The five-member Board of Directors serves as the central administrative authority for the Mother Church, the First Church of Christ, Scientist. Established by Mary Baker Eddy and outlined in the Manual of The Mother Church, the board is a self-perpetuating body responsible for overseeing all activities of the church.12

The board’s primary roles and responsibilities include:

• Administration: Managing the ongoing activities and operations of the Mother Church.1
• Appointments: Selecting the church’s other officers, including the president, the first and second readers, the clerk, and the treasurer.1
• Governance: Executing the provisions set forth in the Manual of The Mother Church, which serves as the governing authority for the organization.12
• Oversight: Supervising the various agencies and committees that carry out the church's work, including the Christian Science Publishing Society, which produces publications such as The Christian Science Monitor.1