THE ORGANIZATIONS OF SCIENTOLOGYScientology is a philosophy. Why does it need to be organized? Scientology is an applied religious philosophy. Therefore organization is needed to make the technology available and teach people to apply it.
How many people work in a Scientology church? The number of staff varies from church to church. Small churches
may have 20 and large ones over 500.
How is Scientology organized? There is a "mother church" which is the Church of Scientology International. It is headquartered in Los Angeles. It is responsible for the ecclesiastical supervision of the rest of the Scientology churches around the world, which are organized in a hierarchical structure not dissimilar to that of the Catholic Church.
Where are Scientology churches located? Scientology churches and missions exist all over the world. There are a great many churches and far more missions in various countries.
What does a Scientology Church or mission actually do? The main activities of Scientology churches and missions are training Scientology ministers and providing auditing. The church also conducts Sunday services, weddings, funerals and christenings and delivers other chaplain services. The church helps the individual become more able to help himself and to help others. This is done by training and auditing.
What is the Office of Special Affairs? The Office of Special Affairs (OSA) deals with legal affairs for the Church. It also publishes the facts about the social betterment works of Scientology, informing the government, the media, other religions and other groups with interests similar to those of the Church. OSA also oversees the social reform programs of the Church, among which are those that expose and effectively handle violations of individual and human rights.
What is the Flag Service Organization? The Flag Service Organization (FSO), often referred to as "Flag," is located in Clearwater, Florida. It delivers advanced spiritual training and auditing. It retains its name from the days when it used to operate from the flagship Apollo. ("Flag" in nautical terms means "the flagship" or the vessel which gives orders to others.)
What is the Flag Ship Service Organization? The Flag Ship Service Organization is located aboard the 450-foot ship called the Freewinds, and is an advanced religious retreat that delivers the level of auditing called New OT VIII and specialized training to Scientologists.
What is the Sea Organization? The Sea Organization (commonly referred to as the Sea Org) is a confraternal organization existing within the formalized structure of the Church. It is composed of the most dedicated Scientology staff who have decided to devote their lives to the delivery and expansion of Scientology. The Sea Organization has no separate corporate structure or identity and its members work for various different churches of Scientology and are subject, as are all other employees of that church, to the orders and directions of the board of directors. The Sea Org was established in 1967 and once operated from a number
of ships. It was set up to help The Sea Organization retains its name in celebration of the fact that the Founder's life was majorly connected with the sea. It exists to help keep Scientology working.
Is it true that people in the Sea Org sign a billion-year contract? Yes, they do. It is a symbolic document which, similar to vows of dedication in other faiths and orders, serves to signify an individual's eternal commitment to the goals, purposes and principles of the Scientology religion. Sea Org members have dedicated their lives to working toward these ends and toward a world without war, drugs, crime and illiteracy.
Why does Scientology have ministers? Are all Scientologists ministers? The Church of Scientology has ministers to deliver Scientology religious services to church parishioners. Only those who specifically enroll in and graduate from the Scientology Minister's Course and its prerequisites, and fulfill the requirements for ordination are Scientology ministers. All Scientology auditors are required to become ordained ministers; however, they are allowed to audit as ministerial students while fulfilling their ordination requirements.
What are field staff members? Field staff members are individual Scientologists who disseminate Scientology, provide books to interested friends, family members and associates and introduce (or select) people to the Church. They are appointed by their nearest Scientology organization. Because they have had gains from Dianetics and Scientology themselves, they naturally want to share it with others.
Why is everything copyrighted and trademarked in Scientology? Scientology and Dianetics are technologies that work if applied exactly. If they are altered, the results will not be uniform. For this reason, the technology is copyrighted and the words and symbols which represent the technology are trademarked. This way, nobody can misrepresent something as standard Scientology or Dianetics that really isn't. In fact many persons have tried to rip off and profit from the technologies of Dianetics and Scientology The subjects were developed for spiritual salvation, not for anyone's personal enrichment. Through ownership of the trademarks and copyrights, such ill-intentioned actions are prevented by the Church.
For related information visit and read. . . Clearwater: Scientology Directory |
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