History

---

      The first known Christian Science institutional work in Oregon began in 1900.  In the Salem area, institutional services were handled by church care committees through the 1960s.   Members rotated through the duties of holding regular or semi-regular  services at the Oregon State Penitentiary, but services were sporadic.

       During the 1970s, a paid chaplain was employed and a wholly volunteer steering committee was set up to support this work.   Some written reports were provided, but the main form of communication with the field was via the chaplain's once-a-year visitation to the  churches.
       In the 1980s  the paid chaplain position was dissolved, and the committee was  re-organized to consist of volunteer chaplains and a volunteer Executive  Committee.  A quarterly 'IS' newsletter was started to share fruitage  (healings) and activities with the Oregon branch churches and  societies. 
      Volunteer  chaplains were scarce; for many months, there was only one working  chaplain, sometimes two.  Twice in the years from 1986 to 1988 an agenda item appeared: "Should this committee be disbanded?"  Much metaphysical  work was done.  Each time the question arose, the parable of the "one  lost sheep" was an important consideration, and each time disbanding was  ruled out.

     In 1990, the prayerful work toward opening the field really began to take hold. Many new volunteers came forward, and many new institutions were being served. One very diligent volunteer was able to make the first trip into a youth facility whose doors had been firmly shut to this committee before.

     In 2015 the Bylaws were updated to allow for three Executive Committee members instead of five. We were actively participating in as many facilities as we had volunteers to serve. 

     In 2017, the facility chaplains in the state institutions welcomed subscriptions to the Christian Science Monitor and Christian Science Sentinel. In February of 2019, we began sending the My Bible Lesson to adults in custody (AICs).

     In 2020 all in-person services stopped when institutions went into pandemic lockdown. As activities in the institutions became more limited, AICs asked for more reading material to fill their time. The Bible Lens was added to our weekly mailings, and our mailing list grew. The digital Bible Lesson replaced My Bible Lesson and additional articles from the Christian Science periodicals brought the weekly mailing to 30 pages.

     In early 2021 we began sending the weekly Bible Lesson to the facility chaplains. Facilities started reopening to visitors that fall, with requirements for mask wearing, social distancing, and temperature checks, but it was another year until our in-person volunteers were able to return to holding Christian Science sessions.

     In the fall of 2022, volunteer chaplains returned to Columbia River (CRCI), Deer Ridge (DRCI), Eastern Oregon (EOCI), and Two Rivers (TRCI) Correctional Institutions. The weekly Bible Lesson mailing was reduced to 20 pages and the Bible Lens was dropped. In-person sessions at EOCI and TRCI continued until one of our long-time volunteers retired in 2024. Sessions at CRCI and DRCI continue, and our volunteers are welcomed wherever they serve.