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Church

Annual Meeting 2013—Frequently Asked Questions

Annual Meeting 2013 will be different from 2012. Please read this letter from the Christian Science Board of Directors.

What will Annual Meeting 2013 be like? It will be different from past years.
  • It will be video webcast live from the Board Room here at The Mother Church. All the officers will be present as required by the Church Manual (See Article XIII, Section 1). The only other people present will be those who give live reports and the broadcast/media staff necessary to videotape the meeting.
  • Instead of gathering in Boston in June, members and friends are invited to join the Officers of The Mother Church for Annual Meeting 2013 on the Internet—webcast live from the Directors’ Boardroom in the Publishing House. There will be updates from Church departments, video reports from the field, and even live greetings from a few gatherings around the globe via Skype.
  • Mark your calendar—June 3 at 1 p.m.—and reserve your seat now—in front of your home computer, or with fellow church members in your Reading Room, or in a community venue for a larger audience.
  • A replay will be available shortly afterward and be available for a year. A downloadable version should be ready by the end of that week.
Can we still come to Boston?
  • Yes, you are welcome to visit any time of the year. Your visit might include attending Sunday Church service, attending the Wednesday testimony meeting, visiting The Mother Church Reading Room, visiting the Mary Baker Eddy Library, and taking a church tour. You are always welcome!
  • On June 3, there will no special gathering. Because there will be no gathering in Boston on June 3 for Annual Meeting, there are also no special events planned in Boston for that weekend. (See Church Manual, Article XIII, Section 1.)
What is the theme for Annual Meeting 2013?
  • The specific theme hasn’t been decided.
  • The focus on Church Alive will continue this next year.
What is the role of Skype at Annual Meeting 2013?
  • Skype will be a tool by which the Officers will dialogue briefly during the meeting with a few pre-selected branches around the globe. The purpose for using Skype is to provide us a glimpse of some members watching Annual Meeting together. It will be similar to watching a pre-taped video report at the meeting except it won’t be pre-taped.
  • Except these three or four branches and the Officers in the Boardroom, none of us will be on Skype or be able to see the meeting on Skype.  To have 10,000 computers on Skype together, if even possible, would be impractical.
  • Please join the rest us watching Annual Meeting on the Internet via the live webcast where we can watch one segment were members in a few branches wave at us and say “hello.”
When and where will Annual Meeting be held?
  • It is held on Monday, June 3, 2013, at 1 p.m. and video webcast live. If you are uncertain about what time this will be in your community, please check with World Clock.
  • While the live meeting will be on June 3 in Boston, it will be in the Boardroom and only the officers and a few other staff will be present. The rest of us will join them via the Internet.
  • The Web stream should be live about an hour ahead of time so you can test your connection. We recommend you test your computer earlier. Go to our Webcast Help Guide for answers to questions about viewing or listening to a webcast.
  • The meeting will be available for replay a few hours. You also will be able to download Annual Meeting about a week afterward.
What are the music and hymns for Annual Meeting?
  • There will be music to accompany the live video webcast.
  • More information will be available in spring.
Will there be other activities at that time?
  • There will be no special activities around June 3 in 2013.
What if I am having trouble viewing a video?
  • Go to our Webcast Help Guide for answers to questions about viewing or listening to a webcast.
Will Annual Meeting be interpreted into other languages?
  • We will have more information about sharing Annual Meeting 2013 with the International Fields in late fall or early winter.
  • You’ll find more information about the Annual Meeting 2012 replays here.
What about accommodations for visits at any time of the year?
  • Check this list of hotels and guest lodgings in the Back Bay of Boston and a few near-by areas. The Mother Church doesn’t endorse any of these facilities.
  • Or contact your travel agent.
  • There is no longer a service at The Mother Church for connecting visitors with members who have space in their home and welcome paying guests. When staffing at the Church was reduced, this service was discontinued.
Is parking be available in The Mother Church garage?
  • There is parking for $20 a day in the Church garage. You can get validations from the Mary Baker Eddy Library, the Reading Room of The Mother Church, and from the Church for attending the services. Please check with them to find out what they provide for visitors.
Are there any rental car agencies nearby?
  • There are many rental car agencies at Logan Airport.
  • Here are a few agencies close to the Church. The Mother Church hasn’t researched and doesn’t endorse these firms.
    • Enterprise Rent-A-Car is located in The Prudential Center, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, 617-262-8222.
    • Hertz Car Rental is located at the Sheraton Boston Hotel, 39 Dalton Street, Boston, 617-338-1506.
    • Avis Car Rental is located 100 Clarendon Street, Boston, 617-535-1404, (1.3 miles from The Mother Church).
Will this meeting be on Twitter?
  • Yes, it will be on Twitter. There will be more information about this in spring.
Can we hear or see Annual Meeting events again after they are over?
  • You can replay the Annual Meeting video webcast or download it to your computer, IPod, or MP3 player for about one year after the event. The replay is available a few hours after the JSH-Online live event. The download should be available by the end of the week.
What if I have more questions?
Please email your questions to AnnualMeeting@christianscience.com or call 617-450-3481. Staff answers the phones Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm EDT.