Church officers

Appointment and government

The officers of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, are appointed by the Christian Science Board of Directors and governed by the Church Manual By-Laws provided by Mary Baker Eddy.

Christian Science Board of Directors

Left to right: Keith Wommack, Robin Hoagland, Scott Preller, Barbara Fife, Richard Evans

The Christian Science Board of Directors has five members—each with an equal voice in overseeing both the Church’s long-term direction and day-to-day operations. The current members are: Richard Evans, Barbara Fife, Robin Hoagland, Scott Preller, and Keith Wommack. All five board members are, first and foremost, Christian Science healers. That means they are all Christian Science practitioners, providing professional healing services to the public. Each is also a teacher of Christian Science (hence the "C.S.B." after each of their names), which means each one conducts an annual in-depth course of spiritual study. According to the By-Laws in the Church Manual, the Directors fill any vacancy occurring on that Board. Below are short bios for each Board member.

Richard Evans, C.S.B. — Director

A healing of malaria while in the Peace Corps cemented for Rich what he had learned from childhood in Christian Science, that God, divine Love, is present and universal to heal and regenerate all mankind. With a BA in English from Principia College, and international experience, Rich obtained his law degree from Washington University. After an extensive career in law and global business, he transitioned to the full time public practice of Christian Science in 2005, becoming a Teacher in 2009. After eight years as Committee on Publication for Arizona, Rich moved to Boston where he worked as the manager of Committees on Publication (2015-2017), prior to becoming a Director. Each of these steps has been taken with the full partnership of his wife, Blythe, and the surround of love from their children.

Barbara Fife, C.S.B. — Director

Barbara grew up on the Canadian prairies, in Edmonton, Alberta, where she attended the Christian Science Sunday School. During some difficult teen years she stopped going to Sunday School, as she struggled to reconcile the concept of a good God in such a troubled world. Ultimately, it was what Christian Science teaches on this very subject that brought healing back into her life during a time of need. This is when she began exploring and studying Christian Science in earnest.

Church membership was so valuable in supporting both her love and growing understanding of Christian Science. She became a Journal-listed practitioner in 1991 and in 1994 she served as a coordinator for The Mother Church to broaden the availability of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures in communities. Her desire to share Christian Science expanded greatly during her years as a Christian Science lecturer from 1997 to 2010, which also led her to attending Normal class in 2003. Her deep love for God and mankind continues to grow as she now serves as a member of the Christian Science Board of Directors.

Robin Hoagland, C.S.B. — Director

During college, Robin developed a raised-eyebrow reputation as the only rugby player on the team who didn’t drink -- an outward expression of her commitment to spiritual living and healing in every activity in which she participated. While graduating from Williams College Magna Cum Laude and as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, she feels that raising two children with her husband has given her the richest education of all. Robin worked in publishing, public radio, and freelance writing before committing full-time to sharing this Science with others. In 1999 she began advertising as a practitioner in The Christian Science Journal, and in 2006 became a teacher of Christian Science. She has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of The Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity, and was a member of the Board of Lectureship from 2007 until 2013 when she was appointed to the Christian Science Board of Directors.

Scott Preller, C.S.B. — Director

Scott feels the best thing about having earned a Master of Divinity in biblical studies from Boston University is that it helped him gain a deeper appreciation for the biblical foundation of Christian Science. It also helped prepare him to serve as a Chaplain in the United States Air Force, and later as a staff editor for the Church’s religious periodicals. He began his full-time vocation as a practitioner of Christian Science healing in 1992 and became a teacher in 2006. Scott also served on the Board of Lectureship, and as President of the Board of Education and as a Trustee of The Christian Science Publishing Society. 

Keith Wommack, C.S.B. — Director

The Bible and Mary Baker Eddy’s writings have guided Keith for as long as he can recall. As a young man, Keith toured with his musical band but always believed his lifework was to serve the Cause of Christian Science. Because he yearned for greater spiritual understanding, Keith began spending more hours with his spiritual studies and less time practicing the guitar and writing songs. In 1982, Keith left his musical career and gave his full attention to Christian Science healing, going on to become a Journal-listed practitioner in 1983 and then a Christian Science teacher in 1994. Prior to becoming a Director, Keith served as a Christian Science lecturer, a facilitator of practitioner workshops, and President of The Mother Church. For the last ten years, he served as Committee on Publication for Texas. Keith’s wife, Joanne, has lovingly supported his work. Her own deep love for God and Christian Science makes them a great team.

Laurie Richardson, C.S.B. — Clerk

“Although I was raised in Christian Science, in a sense I feel that Christian Science raised me. The teachings of the Bible, the mission of our Master, Christ Jesus, and the revealed message of spiritual truth explained in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy provided a natural pathway of learning and purpose early in my life.”

Christian Science healing has been central to Laurie’s life. She has served the movement in many ways: As an active branch church member, through Christian Science nursing, and as a Christian Science practitioner and teacher. “Serving Mary Baker Eddy’s Mother Church as Clerk,” says Laurie, “brings the privilege of embracing our world-wide membership as we unite to support the world—so yearning for mental, moral, and spiritual freedom.”

Mimi Oka, C.S.B. — President

I was raised attending Christian Science Sunday schools all over the world because my father was a foreign correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor. However, I did not make this teaching my own until my late twenties, when I was totally confused about my life purpose. I had worked in finance in New York, London, and Tokyo then left to go to cooking school in Paris, worked as a private cook, and a freelance writer. A conversation about how to find direction in life with an atheist friend led me back to Christian Science. I was surprised to find the answers to all my questions by studying the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy. This study has brought an abiding sense of peace through a growing understanding of God. I began advertising as a practitioner of Christian Science healing in 2013. I became a teacher of Christian Science in 2018 out of a desire to share with others that this Science can be taught, learned, and practiced by anyone whose sincere desire is to know God. It is a true joy and privilege to serve The Mother Church as President this year.

Mojisola Anjorin Solanke George, C.S.B. — First Reader

Moji spent her early years in England, and completed her schooling in Nigeria. While at university in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, she became a student of Christian Science. After completing her studies, she worked in banking, computer training, and administration. Moji has served the Cause of Christian Science in many capacities, including co-anchor for the Herald of Christian Science; voluntary work as House parent of the Christian Science Boarding House at Claremont Fan Court School in Surrey, England; Christian Science lecturer; writer for the periodicals; and Committee on Publication for Nigeria West. She has also served in various capacities at her local branch church, Second Church, Lagos, Nigeria. Moji loves sharing the joy which comes from following Jesus’ example, applying the practicality of the Science of Christ which Mary Baker Eddy discovered, and proving the reliability of God’s love. In 2007, she began advertising as a full-time Christian Science practitioner, and in 2015, became a teacher of Christian Science. 

Joshua Niles, C.S.B. — Second Reader

Josh has long had a deep love for God and His unchanging divine laws. During college, a growing desire to serve led him to enlist in the Army in 2000. After graduating from Washington State University with a degree in Finance, he was given an Officer’s Commission, married his sweetheart, Darci, and graduated Army Ranger School before leading a platoon in Baghdad, Iraq for a year. Military service significantly shaped his understanding of God and His unbreakable divine laws. After the Army, he set aside specific time for prayer and study of the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings and his thought consistently gravitated towards the significance of recognizing that the Comforter Jesus promised is here. In 2008 he began advertising in The Christian Science Journal as a Christian Science practitioner and was appointed to the Board of Lectureship in 2010. His sense that everyone has the innate capacity to understand and apply God’s spiritual laws and find healing led him to become a teacher of Christian Science in 2015, knowing that it is God and His Word that reaches the heart of all humanity. 

Henry "Lyon" Osborn — Treasurer

As a child, Lyon was introduced to Christian Science when his mother was healed of broken vertebrae and a spinal arthritic condition by reading Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy. In college, he was president of the Christian Science Organization at Yale University, where he majored in Political Science and graduated with honors. Lyon also earned an M.B.A. from Babson College. He served as First Reader, board member, and Sunday School teacher in his local branch church. Lyon held a variety of roles at The Mother Church, including Senior Manager of the Clerk’s Office and Manager of The Christian Science Publishing Society.