David Miscavige

Born in 1960, David Miscavige has been a Scientologist for most of his life and is still remembered as the 12-year-old prodigy who served as the youngest professional auditor at Saint Hill’s famed Hubbard Guidance Center in England.

He is further remembered for the fact that barely a year after entering the Scientology religious order, the Sea Organization, at the age of 16, he was among a handful of people selected to work directly with L. Ron Hubbard.  After personal instruction from Mr. Hubbard, the 17-year-old David Miscavige served as his Director of Photography for the first Scientology training films.

Later, at Mr. Hubbard’s request, Mr. Miscavige served as the senior executive supervising ecclesiastical missions to Scientology Churches around the world.  By the age of 18, David Miscavige had become the individual L. Ron Hubbard called upon to carry out the most important assignments. No Church executive in history ever received more direct communication from L. Ron Hubbard than Mr. Miscavige.

In 1983, L. Ron Hubbard described a heroic Church executive who cleaned the ranks of rogue staff attempting to seize control of Scientology while Mr. Hubbard was engaged in intensive research and absent from the Church. As Mr. Hubbard himself phrased it: 

“So forgive me for not managing the Church when it almost fell into hostile hands.  It all came out all right.  Why? Because real Scientologists made sure it did.  My faith was justified.”

That real Scientologist L. Ron Hubbard spoke of was David Miscavige.

In light of what had nearly transpired, L. Ron Hubbard requested a corporate reorganization of the Church designed to ensure the Church would not fall into hostile hands and the religion could move on into perpetuity—always remaining true to its Source teachings.  To that end, L. Ron Hubbard saw to the formation of Religious Technology Center to hold the Scientology and Dianetics trademarks and to preserve, maintain and protect the Scientology religion. He appointed Mr. Miscavige a Trustee of that Church organization.

To oversee his personal affairs for the remainder of his life, L. Ron Hubbard also appointed David Miscavige as chairman of the organization charged with handling those matters.

Following L. Ron Hubbard’s passing in 1986, it was Mr. Miscavige who steered Scientology through those difficult days; for as history demonstrates, the true test of any religion is to survive the passing of its Founder.  Indeed, it was Mr. Miscavige who secured that survival by obtaining full religious recognition in the United States and ushering Scientology onto the global stage.

Since then, Mr. Miscavige has steadfastly carried forth L. Ron Hubbard’s legacy, until Scientology now stands as the only major religion to emerge in this modern age.  To be sure, what Mr. Miscavige has done is no more or less than the fulfillment of L. Ron Hubbard’s vision—a vision he knew would be faithfully carried out with Mr. Miscavige at the helm.

“Trust and friendship are things forged in fire and pounded out on the anvil of life. We have been through a lot together. I trust you as you trust me.”

—L. Ron Hubbard to David Miscavige

Who is David Miscavige? - A Biography

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.

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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:

• The Church of Scientology of Moscow, opened on February 26, 2011, located in the Russian capital’s central Garden Ring, just a mile from Red Square;
• The Church of Scientology of Melbourne, opened on January 29, 2011, occupying a landmark estate in the cultural capital of Australia.

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

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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)

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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.

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Who is David Miscavige? - A Biography

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

Scientology: Preparing for the Next Generation

What is described as the Scientology religion's renaissance is now manifest in over 8,000 Scientology Churches, Missions and groups across 165 nations.

In terms of physical scope and global presence, the Church's property holdings have doubled from 5.6 million square feet in 2004 to over 11 million in 2009. More than 70 new Church buildings have been acquired and are now in various stages of design and construction. And Scientology-supported social betterment and humanitarian programs are now touching the lives of billions. But most telling in terms of global demand for Scientology are the more than 80 million L. Ron Hubbard books and lectures distributed in the last five years—more than the cumulative of the prior 50 years of the Church's existence.

Accordingly, Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard is now recognized in the Guinness Book of Records as the most published and translated author in history, with titles in 71 languages. Spearheading this period of phenomenal growth is Scientology's ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige.

Mr. Miscavige has been the driving force behind the worldwide program to expand all of the Churches of Scientology to better serve their communities—to not only become islands of sanity and succor where all are welcome, but to also serve as central points of emanation for the Church's many social betterment programs aimed at eradicating the crippling plagues of illiteracy, immorality, drug abuse and intolerance. Mr. Miscavige redefines the term "religious leader" to fit the tasks necessary to direct a truly unique contemporary religion—the only major religion to emerge in the 20th century. And now the religion's growth has continued at a phenomenal rate in this century, with the number of individuals completing Scientology counseling and course services doubling in just the last two years, as but one example.

This is being accomplished through his extraordinary vision in every major aspect, including:

• Personally driving the international dissemination of Scientology;
• Ensuring that the Scriptures of the Scientology religion are pure and true to the Founder's original writings;
• Establishing units to see to the translation of millions of pages of the Scientology Scriptures into 71 languages;
• Restoring Mr. Hubbard's written works, recorded lectures and films of his lectures;
• Providing the guidance for the acquisition, construction and creation of ideal Scientology organizations;
• Supplying the direction for the creation of two state-of-the-art digital publishing houses capable of producing 500,000 books and 925,000 CDs per week;
• Providing the vision for crafting, refining and broadening core Scientology social betterment programs in drug education and rehabilitation, education, criminal rehabilitation and human rights;
• Providing support and guidance to the Volunteer Minister Program, the largest independent relief force in the free world, with more than 195,000 Volunteer Ministers who traveled more than 174,000 miles this past year to help an estimated 1.5 million people;
• Personally seeing to the successful outcome of critical external affairs issues, including official recognitions of the religion; and
• Planning, creating, producing and presiding over nine annual globally broadcast events that serve as briefings for Scientologists on strategic programs, campaigns, expansion, dissemination and major breakthroughs.

David Miscavige works for—and answers to—Scientology's millions of parishioners. He is unrelenting in serving their interests and the interests of the religion by implementing Mr. Hubbard's plans and strategies precisely, while devoting every spare moment to the restoration of Mr. Hubbard's technology and its dissemination to the public.

Case in point: Mr. Miscavige's extensive work leading to the publication and release of "The Basics." The term refers to the Scriptural materials that form the very foundation of the religion of Scientology, later writings and lectures building upon the principles contained in The Basics. The release of these materials was the culmination of a research project to locate Mr. Hubbard's original manuscripts and dictation tapes of these books, followed by verification and correction of existing manuscripts to return them to their original unadulterated form.

Then there were Mr. Hubbard's lectures from the same time period that corresponded to and expanded upon the content of the books. These lectures were originally delivered to Scientologists in training at the time and, although recorded, had never been made broadly available due to a lack of adequate reproduction facilities in the Church's formative years (1950-56).

While these lectures had been previously gathered up from around the world and stored in archives, their mass reproduction was hindered due to the poor quality of the original recordings or, worse, the deterioration of the master tapes over the intervening years.

The project to restore these lectures was extensive and only finally became possible with advances in computer and digital technology.

Nevertheless, lecture restoration required the Church to establish the world's most elaborate sound restoration studios.

Mr. Miscavige was intimately involved with every aspect of this massive five-year restoration project. He personally verified all books and lectures, their content and their sequence so Scientologists can now study their religion in pure form and chronologically. This project alone represented thousands of hours of Mr. Miscavige's time in ensuring that every word conformed precisely with Mr. Hubbard's original works by reading and re-reading each manuscript and final book as well as listening to all 2,500 of Mr. Hubbard's lectures.

In total, the replication and publication of The Basics encompassed 18 books and corresponding lecture series for each book, totaling 280 lectures (reproduced on compact disc). All materials—books and lectures—were also made available in translated editions for the 15 major languages of Earth. Additionally, in 2009, the Beginning Books of Dianetics and Scientology (nine books in total) were translated into 50 languages and released to the public.

The significance of this accomplishment to Scientologists cannot be overstated. Indeed, it represents not only the purity of Mr. Hubbard's teachings being available for the first time, but also signals the fact that the religion of Scientology will remain true to its Founder's actual words for all the years to come. The distribution of these books and lectures totals 60 million since July 2007. This alone has caused a renaissance in the religion.

In addition to making these basic Scriptural works available to Scientologists through Churches and Missions, Mr. Miscavige also launched a campaign to make them freely available to anyone who might want them—specifically, by making copies accessible in all public, university and governmental lending libraries in the world.

The overriding point: As Scientology's religious leader, Mr. Miscavige has devoted himself to fulfilling the vision of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard—ensuring its Scriptures remain pure and accessible to all. It is a unique task inasmuch as Scientology is the only religion with all original writings of its Founder intact. It is also a uniquely universal religion inasmuch as all faiths are free to share the works of L. Ron Hubbard. Then too, and above all else, it was Mr. Hubbard's vision that spiritual freedom goes hand-in-hand with a belief in the brotherhood of Man. Hence, Mr. Miscavige's undying work to ensure Scientology is extended to all Mankind.

It is David Miscavige's far-reaching vision and unrelenting dedication that have brought the Church so far and so fast.

Religious Technology Center

Religious Technology Center (RTC) guarantees the continued purity of Dianetics and Scientology by ensuring that the trademarks and technology it protects are kept in proper hands and used properly throughout the world. Concurrently, by monitoring those responsible for Church administration and the ministry of services to parishioners, RTC ensures a strong and incorruptible Church management—one which can never be subject either to internal politics or external attempts to harm the religion. With this guarantee, the ecclesiastical hierarchy of the Scientology religion is protected against intrusion, and parishioners are able to attain the spiritual freedom they seek when they enter a Church of Scientology.

Through the exact application of the materials of Dianetics and Scientology, an individual will achieve not only a full understanding of himself as a spiritual being, but true spiritual freedom. Thus, Scientologists across the globe view the maintenance and incorruptibility of their religious technology—in precise accordance with the Founder's source writings—to be essential to their very salvation.

Religious Technology Center works, then, to guarantee that L. Ron Hubbard's legacy of spiritual freedom continues to exist tomorrow, or ten thousand years from now. To millions of Scientologists around the world, there is nothing more important.