Mrs. Eddy's call. They have no powers and no duties[1] and they are not allowed to be present at the business meetings of the church. The manner of their election is unusual. The by-laws state that a member can be made an Executive Member only after a letter is received by the directors from Mrs. Eddy requesting them to make said persons Executive Members; and then, "they shall be elected by the unanimous vote of the Board of Directors."[2]
This "executive" board is a form only, and membership on it is merely a mark of Mrs. Eddy's personal favour. To her followers, however, this is sufficient reason for its existence, and they are proud to be called members of it.
Although Mrs. Eddy has made a by-law which says that the branch churches shall have "local self-government," she gives special instructions in the Manual as to what the branch churches may or may not do. The Church Manual is closely followed by all the branch churches, and as practically all the members of the branch churches are also members of the Mother Church, it is the duty of each to obey all the requirements of the Manual.
A branch church can only be organised by a member of the Mother Church.[3]
A branch church may not use the article "the" in its title. Only the Mother Church may employ it.[4]
No conference of branch churches shall be held except the annual conference at the Mother Church.[5]
