Scientology Today:
Its Churches and membership

ust as the training and auditing Bridge* provides a carefully measured, step-by-step path to spiritual freedom, consisting of ever ascending levels, so the ecclesiastical organizations of the Scientology religion are arranged in a hierarchical structure that reflects these levels. At the lower levels of this hierarchy are individual field ministers, groups and church missions who minister beginning auditing and training, and 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 management that supports, coordinates and assists to ensure that the mental and spiritual philosophy and technology of Dianetics and Scientology developed by L. Ron Hubbard is available to everyone who wishes to receive it and that Scientology services are applied precisely as Mr. Hubbard set forth.

As a general matter, every Church of Scientology is separately incorporated and has its own local board of directors and executives responsible for its own activities and well-being, both corporate and ecclesiastical. Together, these churches form an extensive international network of more than 2,300 churches, missions and groups. Nearly 13,000 Scientologists serve as staff members of these churches and missions and related groups and organizations around the world.

Bridge* = The broad path the Scientologist follows through auditing and the study of Scientology materials is known as The Bridge. This embodies an ancient concept — a long-envisioned route across a chasm between man's present state and vastly higher levels of awareness.