Virginia Harris
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Virginia S. Harris was Publisher of The Writings of Mary Baker Eddy, President and founding Trustee of The Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity and Chair of The Christian Science Board of Directors between 1990 and 2004. In these roles she was instrumental in expanding the availability of Mary Baker Eddy's primary work, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures and increasing awareness of Mrs. Eddy's life and ideas. The establishment of The Mary Baker Eddy Library enabled a large and valuable collection of 19th and early 20th century letters and artifacts to be available to the public for the first time.
Harris has spoken extensively on Christian Science and Mary Baker Eddy. She was on the faculty of Harvard Medical School's semi-annual Spirituality & Healing in Medicine symposium from 1995-2004, speaking on Christian Science healing to hundreds of physicians, nurses, healthcare professionals, and clergy. She appeared in two exclusive interviews on Larry King Live, in 1999 and 2001, and has been interviewed by The Boston Globe, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, NPR and many other media sources.
During her time as chair they saw successes in dealing with members in Eastern Europe, but also reported declines in membership. Other setbacks are detailed at Church of Christ, Scientist. She had supporters who gave her the affectionate name "Ginny" and detractors who charged that she was diluting the Christian nature of the faith and her tenure on the Board was not without controversy as the Church continued to see steep declines in membership worldwide as well as the closing of many branch churches. This demographic decline however, has been in play since the 1940s and can not be laid on any one person's doorstep.
The board of directors no longer has a chair position and it should be mentioned that even when she was chair she insisted the group had a five person leadership system.
Virginia Harris made significant contributions, attempting to foster new appreciation and interest in the teachings of Christian Science by opening the doors and documents of the Church as well as creating new dialogue with a wide range of current thinkers on the relationships between healing and thought. Among the significant achievements during her time of service were the launch of the The Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity and involvement in annual celebrations of the history of the women's movement.
