CHURCH FUNDING

 Some churches have a system of tithes, others require their members to pay for pew rentals, religious ceremonies and services. In the Church of Scientology, parishioners make donations for auditing or training they wish to take. These contributions by Scientologists are the primary source of financial support for the Church and fund all the community programs and social betterment activities of Scientology. Scientologists are not required to tithe or make other donations.

 Ideally, Dianetics and Scientology services would be free, and all Scientologists wish they were. But those are not the realities of life. When one considers the cost of delivering even one hour of auditing, requiring extensively trained specialists, and the overhead costs of maintaining church premises, the necessity of donations becomes clear.

 The donation system in Scientology is the most equitable as those who use the facilities of the Church are the ones who most directly contribute to its upkeep and continued existence. Naturally, no donation is expected from those not receiving auditing or training. And church doors are always open to those who wish to learn more about the philosophy of Scientology, be they parishioners or not. There are tape plays of L. Ron Hubbard's lectures, introductory lectures, books available, people to discuss questions with, and of course the more traditional church activities-Sunday service, sermons, weddings, christenings, funerals-all of which are provided without any donation necessary.

 Scientology does not have hundreds of years of accumulated wealth and property like other religions-it must make its way in the world according to the economics of today's society.

 Scientologists' donations keep the Church alive and functioning, fund its widespread social reform programs, make Scientology known to people who may otherwise never have the opportunity to avail themselves of it, and help create a safe and pleasant environment for everyone.

 Scientology churches and missions are separate corporations and have separate financial records. The donations that go to each church for services delivered by that church must be separately banked and accurate records kept in alignment with the accounting procedures and laws in each country.

 There is a Free Scientology Center in churches of Scientology where those who cannot afford the donations can receive free auditing from ministerial students.

 Many Scientology services are free and the knowledge is free to all men. There are also books, books, books and free public lectures, Sunday services and other religious services for which there is no cost. Books can be obtained in the local area either by going to a church of Scientology, a public bookstore or local library.

 But it's interesting that once a person becomes more causative through the application of Scientology technology in his life, he does not usually need or want free services for very long. He becomes capable of holding a good job and thereby able to exchange for the services he wants.

Ministers-in-training can receive free auditing from other students while they are doing their training.

 No. Scientology churches are nonprofit organizations, as the donations all go back into the support and expansion of the Church.

 The cost varies from individual to individual depending on which route to Clear one takes.

 One route is to pay for professional auditing and get audited all the way up to Clear. The preferred route, however, is to get trained as an auditor and co-audit with another Scientology student. The co-auditing route to Clear requires far less donations than professional auditing plus one helps another to progress. As professional auditing is much more expensive for the organization to deliver (requiring several staff to service one parishioner) the donations are necessarily higher. Training donation rates are much more economical and an incentive for persons to train while they co-audit without cost to the state of Clear.

 No matter which route one chooses to achieve the state of Clear, all who have attained it express the pricelessness of the increased spiritual freedom they have achieved.

 The pay varies from church to church and from time to time. Staff are paid in proportion to the amount of donations received by their individual organizations. Thus, staff members are in control of how much they make by virtue of how well they perform individually on their own jobs.

 In any event, Scientology staff aren't motivated by money and in no instance anywhere in the church structure is pay exorbitant. Scientology staff are motivated by a desire to help, not get rich.