THE ORGANIZATION OF SCIENTOLOGY

How are Churches of Scientology administered?

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

Church of Scientology International (CSI), the mother church of the Scientology religion, is headquartered in Los Angeles. CSI oversees the ecclesiastical activities of all Scientology churches, organizations and groups throughout the world, and sees that individual churches receive guidance in their ministries. CSI also provides the broad planning and direction needed to support the Church’s international growth.

How many people work in a Scientology church?

The number of staff varies from church to church. Small churches may have twenty and large ones more than five hundred.

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 every continent.

What does a Scientology church or mission actually do?

The main activities of Scientology churches and missions are ministering to their parishioners and providing them the religious services of their faith — Scientology auditing and training, Sunday services, weddings, funerals and christenings as well as other such chaplain services.

What is the Office of Special Affairs?

The Office of Special Affairs (OSA) is responsible for directing and coordinating all legal matters affecting the Church. It also publishes public information material about the social betterment works of Scientology, for the general public, governments, the media, and other religious and community 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 rectify violations of human rights.

What is the Flag Service Organization?

The Flag Service Organization (FSO), often referred to as “Flag,” is one of the Church’s international religious retreats. Located in Clearwater, Florida, it offers 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,” which is the vessel from which orders are given to others. Flag, today is a service organization and no longer functions in a managerial capacity.)