Ecclesiastical Structure:
Individual Churches and their Congregations

Scientology Missions International

ne of the more visible manifestations of Scientology's growth are the many missions around the world. Scientology missions minister beginning Dianetics and Scientology religious services and comprise the next level of the Church's ecclesiastical hierarchy.

Missions are often but not always started in areas of the world new to Scientology. They are usually established by parishioners who, after studying Scientology at one of the higher churches, return to their home town or country and want to make Scientology religious services available there. Missions do not have full church status, nor do they have the authority to train or ordain Scientology ministers.

Scientology Missions International, based in Los Angeles, serves as the mother church for missions and provides guidance and support to existing missions, coordinates the far-flung network of missions, and helps Scientologists start new ones. Any qualified Scientologist may open a mission and thereby contribute to helping Dianetics and Scientology become broadly applied in society.

Missions are an important outreach activity for the Church, and by their sheer number they reflect the dynamism of Scientology's expansion: 10 years ago there were 126 missions in 58 countries; today there are 221 missions in 107 nations.

When a mission and its congregation become large enough, the mission can qualify to become a full-fledged Church of Scientology.

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