David Miscavige - International News

As the driving force behind the worldwide program to expand all of the churches of Scientology to better serve their communities, Mr. David Miscavige has traveled extensively addressing hundreds of thousands of Scientologists and non-Scientologists at international Scientology celebrations and events.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

David Miscavige in Tampa

On Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's 100th birthday on 13 March 2011, David Miscavige officiated the Grand Opening of the new Church of Scientology Tampa.

On Sunday, March 13, thousands of Scientologists next gathered for a Grand Opening ceremony to dedicate the Church of Scientology of Tampa in its new home, the landmark Ybor Square. The new Tampa Church was made necessary by a fourfold growth in Tampa’s Scientology congregation over the past decade.

The 88,000-square-foot Church houses a Public Information Center presenting the beliefs and practices of Scientology, including the life of its Founder. The Information Center further presents an overview of all Church-sponsored humanitarian programs, including its initiatives for Human Rights, drug education and prevention, literacy and learning centers, as well as its world-famed Volunteer Minister program providing disaster relief and indiscriminate help. The Public Information Center also includes multimedia displays with nearly 500 documentary films.

Ybor Square is a designated National Historic Landmark. Originally built in the late 1880s by city father Vicente Ybor, the complex of three buildings served as the “cigar capital of the world” at the turn of the 19th century. In making Ybor Square its home, the Church has meticulously restored the historic site. It features period artifacts, including an original tobacco press, original embossed tin panel ceilings and original wrought iron steps at the entrance. Also preserved is the building’s “lectern,” the wooden platform from which “readers” read to workers to both entertain and educate.

At the Grand Opening ribbon-cutting ceremony, Church Executive Director, Lynn Irons, reflected on the significance of the new Tampa Church and the historically ethnic community it serves:

“The Cuban, Spanish, Italian, Jewish and German populations who settled here all thrived—thanks to the creation of Mutual Aid Societies. These societies were created by immigrantsfor immigrants. And it is in the same proud tradition of service to the community that we open this Church of Scientology today, in Ybor City.” Mr. Irons went on to say, “We bring the infinite value of L. Ron Hubbard’s priceless discoveries and technologies to improve the community and the human condition. Accordingly, we are very proud to expand in Ybor and in Tampa.”

Officially dedicating the building was Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center and ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion. In addressing the assembly, Mr. Miscavige placed the occasion in historical perspective for the worldwide religion:

“Unlike any other Scientology Church on Earth, this Church stands in the shadow of our spiritual headquarters in Clearwater. And with that comes another responsibility. For in the coming year, you will, indeed, see the ribbon falling on our new spiritual Mecca. And consequently, you’ll then see an unprecedented number of Scientologists arriving in Clearwater from virtually every country on Earth. As a matter of fact, coming soon to your neighborhood is the whole face of Scientology: Russians and Hungarians; Italians, French and Germans; Australians, Venezuelans, South Africans and Mexicans—not to mention Vietnamese, Taiwanese and Chinese. And they're all going to want to see what now marks Tampa as a center for Spiritual Freedom and Greatness.”

Mr. Miscavige concluded his address by officially dedicating the building to the Church’s Founder, L. Ron Hubbard.

__________________

The Church of Scientology of Tampa is one in a series of new Ideal Scientology Church Organizations (“Ideal Orgs”). Ideal Orgs realize the fulfillment of Founder L. Ron Hubbard’s vision for the religion and its Churches. Ideal Orgs not only provide the ideal facilities to service Scientologists on their spiritual ascent, but they are also designed to serve as a home for the entire community and a meeting ground of cooperative effort to uplift citizens of all denominations.

Under the guidance of Mr. David Miscavige, 23 Ideal Churches have opened across 3 continents in the last 5 years. The Church of Scientology of Tampa is the third Ideal Org to open in 2011, following:

For a complete list of new Ideal Churches of Scientology see David Miscavige: At the Helm of the Era of Expansion.

__________________

The new Church of Scientology of Tampa stands just 24 miles from Flag, Scientology’s Spiritual Headquarters, in Clearwater, where construction is moving towards completion on a new 7-story, 375-thousand-square-foot Church, scheduled to open later this year.

This new Church will crown the completion of the Church of Scientology Flag religious retreat, which has already included:

  • The complete renovation, in January 2008, of the 13-story Oak Cove overlooking Clearwater Bay. The Oak Cove provides for the ministry of Scientology services, as well as accommodations for visiting Scientologists.
  • The full restoration, in March 2009, of the historic Fort Harrison Hotel. The Fort Harrison now serves as a religious retreat for Scientology parishioners who travel to Flag from some 60 nations. Its public facilities also host a multitude of community gatherings and events. (See The Landmark Fort Harrison Fully Restored)

__________________

The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in the United States in 1954 and the religion has expanded to more than 9,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 165 countries.

---

Labels: , , , ,

David Miscavige - An introduction

DAVID MISCAVIGE
Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center
and Ecclesiastical Leader of the Scientology Religion

David Miscavige is the ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion. From his position as Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center (RTC), Mr. Miscavige bears the ultimate responsibility for ensuring the standard and pure application of L. Ron Hubbard’s technologies of Dianetics and Scientology and for Keeping Scientology Working.

In that capacity, Mr. Miscavige has redefined the term “religious leader” to fit the tasks necessary to direct a truly unique, contemporary religion—a religion born in the twentieth century, which has achieved an unprecedented level of expansion in the twenty-first century, including some 9,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups across 165 nations.

Under Mr. Miscavige’s stewardship, Scientology-supported social betterment and humanitarian programs have touched the lives of billions. Mr. Hubbard’s religious works are more widely available than ever and the Church has achieved unprecedented growth both in physical size and in the reach of its ministry.

Such is the stamp of Mr. David Miscavige in fulfilling the vision and legacy of L. Ron Hubbard and such is the encapsulated story of his leadership:

  • Guaranteeing the continued growth and expansion of Scientology internationally
  • Making Scientology broadly available to people of all walks of life world over
  • Developing programs to address society’s worst ills and providing the resources to put those programs into action
  • Ensuring that the Scripture of Scientology is true to the Founder’s original writings
  • Restoring Mr. Hubbard’s written works, recorded lectures and filmed lectures
  • Seeing to the international dissemination of Scientology
  • Creating Ideal Scientology Church Organizations
  • Establishing two state-of-the-art digital publishing houses capable of producing 1.3 million books and 1 million CDs per week
  • Inspiring the Volunteer Ministers Program, the world’s largest independent relief force, with more than 200,000 volunteers
  • Securing official recognitions of the religion
  • Presiding over nine annual globally broadcast events that serve as briefings for Scientologists on the Church's strategic programs
From: Who is David Miscavige? - A Biography

Labels: , , ,

Wednesday, April 06, 2011

HOW IS THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY STRUCTURED?

The Church of Scientology is formed into an ecclesiastical structure which unifies and aligns a multitude of diverse religious activities, including not only ministering Scientology religious services and practices, but proselytization, ecclesiastical management, relay of communication, production of dissemination materials and many other functions. Thus the Scientology religious community is united both by common beliefs and practices and an organizational form uniquely suited to its religious mission.

At the lower levels of this hierarchy are individual field ministers, Scientology religious groups and Church missions involved in ministering beginning auditing and training. At the upper level are larger Church organizations that minister the advanced levels of auditing and training religious services.

Spanning all Churches is a system of international ecclesiastical management. From Church of Scientology International through a series of Continental Liaison Offices responsible for geographic zones, this management structure supports, coordinates and works to ensure that the spiritual philosophy and technologies of Dianetics and Scientology are available to anyone who wishes to receive them and that Scientology services are applied precisely as L. Ron Hubbard set forth.

Because Scientology scripture requires that its religious practices be ministered in an orthodox manner, the hierarchical structure helps ensure individual Churches receive the ecclesiastical support and guidance needed to do this. All Scientologists are thus assured of an orthodox religious observance in every Church around the world.

Each individual Church of Scientology is separately incorporated and is governed by its own board of directors. The officers and directors also form the ecclesiastical management of the Church and are fully responsible for providing services to their parishioners and their surrounding communities.

Who is David Miscavige? - A Biography

Labels: , , ,