Mr. David Miscavige visiting Portland

On Saturday, May 11, the Church of Scientology Portland celebrated the grand opening of their new home in the city’s historic downtown quarter. More than 2,500 Scientologists and guests joined city and state dignitaries for the dedication ceremony.

Portland itself holds a notable place in Scientology history as the site of the 1985 Scientology Religious Freedom Crusade. In a movement that inspired not only Portlanders but also religious advocates world over, tens of thousands of Scientologists united in the city. For some 60 days, they assembled for peaceful marches, concerts and candlelight vigils, which culminated with a landmark legal victory for religious freedom in America.
In recognition of Portland’s new Church, Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center and ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, led the dedication. His inaugural address spoke to the history of Scientology in Portland and specifically the events surrounding a first Scientology Freedom Crusade of 1985:

“Portland was our test,” Mr. Miscavige explained. “It was a test of our resolve, our fortitude and determination to avert a grave assault on the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. So when you look at where we stand today, remember it was all because our voices were heard 28 years ago.”

“In that respect,” he added, “your destiny has always foretold of the day when this Church would become a testament to what originally drew so many thousands to these streets. Namely, that our inherent right to spiritual salvation is intrinsically linked to tolerance, brotherhood and the right of every faith to champion the divinity of humankind. That this Church further stands for drug-free, crime-free, literate, moral and happy lives, is only the beginning; for with a hard-won right of religious freedom comes your responsibility to deliver that long sought goal of total freedom. And so I ask that you now extend your help to all who would dream of such a freedom, so they, too, may realize their destiny.”

The Church’s new home occupies the renowned Sherlock Building on the corner of Third Avenue and Oak Street. Originally erected in 1893, the landmark has long been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Sherlock Building is recognized as among the most noteworthy late-19th century structures in Portland and the preeminent example of Sullivanesque-style architecture in Oregon. The Church undertook the restoration of this Portland classic to preserve its heritage well into the next century, including full seismic reinforcement of all seven stories. The building now houses all facilities of a Scientology Ideal Organization (Ideal Org), providing the complete range of religious services to a rapidly growing congregation. The Church further serves as a center for members of all other faiths to collaborate for community betterment across the Willamette Valley.

Welcoming the new Church were Cornelius City Manager and former Mayor of Beaverton, Mr. Rob Drake; Executive Director of the Portland Marathon, Mr. Les Smith; Chair of the Inter-Religious Action Network of Washington County, Ms. Annie Heart; and Host for the national “Voice of Freedom” television and radio programs, Reverend Jim Nicholls.

In his address, Cornelius City Manager Mr. Rob Drake said: “The Church of Scientology has come to the table time and again for our community. Though downtown Portland has long been your home, your Church has always reached far beyond its boundaries in the name of help. And with your expansive new Church we dedicate here today, I know that this help will extend even further.”

Mr. Les Smith of the Portland Marathon recognized the Church’s Volunteer Ministers and their dedication to the city’s signature event: “Our American culture is based on the spirit of volunteerism. And it is with that same spirit that your volunteers have been showing up at our event for the last twenty years. By being here as long as they have, with their experience and with their understanding of our aims, they are invaluable. So as part of your celebration today, I want to acknowledge your dedicated corps: the world-famed Scientology Volunteer Ministers.”

Ms. Annie Heart, Chair of the Inter-Religious Action Network, spoke to the Church’s long-standing and indiscriminate work on behalf of residents across the state: “You have been a vital partner and leader in the inter-religious community. So thank you to everyone for being here, and for serving our county-wide cities and fostering partnerships and peace throughout our beautiful state of Oregon.”

Reverend Jim Nicholls, host of the national “Voice of Freedom” TV and radio broadcasts, honored Scientologists and addressed all present when proclaiming: “I hope you realize just how brightly the torch of Scientology blazes. I am convinced there is no religion and no organization in the world today that has done more for the fight for our religious freedom rights than the Church of Scientology.”

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The new 69,000-square-foot Ideal Org provides residents of the Willamette Valley with an introduction to Dianetics and Scientology, beginning with the Public Information Center. Its displays, containing more than 500 films, present the beliefs and practices of the Scientology religion and the life and legacy of Founder L. Ron Hubbard. The Information Center also offers a detailed overview of the many Church-sponsored humanitarian programs—including a worldwide human rights education initiative; an equally far-reaching drug education, prevention and rehabilitation program; a global network of literacy and learning centers; and the Scientology Volunteer Minister program, now comprising the world’s largest independent relief force. The Center is open morning to night for visitors to tour at their leisure and return as often as they wish.
The Church’s Chapel provides for Scientology congregational gatherings, including Sunday Services, Weddings and Naming Ceremonies—as well as a host of community-wide events open to members of all denominations. The new Church further includes multiple seminar rooms and classrooms, in addition to dozens of auditing rooms for Scientology auditing (spiritual counseling).

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The Church of Scientology Portland is the third new Ideal Org to open in 2013, following Pretoria, South Africa, on February 23 and Cambridge in Ontario, Canada, on February 9. A parade of Ideal Orgs opened through the previous year: Padova, Italy (October 27); Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel (August 21); Los Gatos, California (July 28); Buffalo, New York (June 30); Phoenix, Arizona (June 23); Denver, Colorado (June 16); Stevens Creek in San Jose, California (June 9); Orange County, California (June 2); Greater Cincinnati, Ohio (February 25); Sacramento, California (January 28); and Hamburg, Germany (January 21).
Through the coming year, more than a dozen new Ideal Orgs are scheduled to open in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, England, South and North America.

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Ideal Orgs reflect the fulfillment of Founder L. Ron Hubbard’s vision for the religion. They not only provide the ideal facilities to service Scientologists on their ascent to greater states of spiritual awareness and freedom, 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.

Other new Ideal Orgs opened in recent years include Seattle, Washington; Los Angeles, Inglewood, Sacramento and San Francisco, California; Dallas, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; Tampa, Florida; as well as Quebec City, Canada; Mexico City, Mexico; London, Brussels, Moscow, Berlin, Madrid and Rome in Europe; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Melbourne, Australia. For a complete list of new Churches of Scientology, visit Scientology.org.

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The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles in 1954 and the religion has expanded to more than 11,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 167 countries.

Who is David Miscavige? - A Biography

SCIENTOLOGY CHURCH OPENS DOORS TO A TRI-STATE WELCOME

The Church of Scientology Greater Cincinnati celebrated the opening of its expansive new home Saturday, February 25. The inauguration was attended by more than a thousand Scientologists and state, county and city officials.

Located in Florence, Kentucky, within the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky metropolitan area, the Church’s new home stands at the intersection of Dixie Highway and Union Pike, the junction that inspired Florence’s original name of “Crossroads.” The new facility will not only provide Scientology services to parishioners, but will extend the Church’s humanitarian programs throughout the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Tri-state region.

The significance of the grand opening was underscored by the presence of Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center and ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion. In officially dedicating the Church, Mr. Miscavige said: “With the inauguration of this new Church comes a sacred pledge to employ the technology of Dianetics and Scientology in the same spirit with which L. Ron Hubbard originally forged it. Which is to say, to apply it broadly, unsparingly, indiscriminately and to the full extent of its power for bettering lives and uplifting populations by engendering kindness, compassion, nobility of the spirit and a love of humanity.”

Welcoming the new Church were Kentucky State Representative, Mr. Arnold Simpson; Kentucky Governor Beshear’s Faith-Based Initiatives Executive Director, Mr. Colmon Elridge; National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Chairman of the Board, Reverend Damon Lynch; and West Chester Trustee, Mr. George Lang.

In his welcoming address, Kentucky State Representative Arnold Simpson said: “You have outstanding youth programs and such fine purposes. In fact, you give more than you receive, and that is a very good thing. And what you offer is welcome and very needed. I want to see your programs integrated into existing organizations here and interacting with other agencies. I encourage you to work with me as well as with your other elected officials so that we can all work together to solve these issues. For your work to serve your fellow man, we take our hats off to you.”

West Chester Trustee George Lang underlined the Scientology Founder’s lasting legacy: “Your objectives when achieved will make our community a better place. I am speaking specifically about the reduction of insanity, the reduction of criminality, the reduction of drug addiction. These objectives will make our community a more desirable place and will help us to compete with other communities on a global basis, and so make the world a better place.”

Kentucky Governor Beshear’s Faith-Based Initiatives Executive Director Colmon Elridge spoke of the impact Scientology-sponsored civic programs have: “What I really appreciate is that you are a community of people who come and wrap their arms around others and say, ‘What is it that we have that can help you get back on track, and help you achieve the things you want in life?’ If everyone in this city did that, we’d have a better state. If everyone in this state did that, we’d have a more united America. And if everyone in America took your lead, we would have the kind of world we wish for ourselves, that my wife and I wish for our two sons, and that we all wish for future generations.”

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Chairman of the Board, Reverend Damon Lynch, acknowledged the Church’s role in revitalizing Greater Cincinnati: “It was here on the banks of the Ohio River that many a fugitive from slavery took their first steps on freedom's shore. And just as the North Star guided those on the Underground Railroad to freedom, I see your Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard as a guiding light for many here on Earth today. Mr. Hubbard was indeed a man full of intent to make a better world. He was a man of wisdom, knowledge and common sense. He was everything a human being should be and I’m so glad to see this new Church opening in his Centennial year. So welcome to your new home, Scientologists of Greater Cincinnati.”

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The new Ideal Church of Scientology of Greater Cincinnati measures 50,000 square feet and stands on a three-acre campus. In addition to its Grand Chapel for all congregational gatherings, Sunday Services and religious ceremonies, the Church further includes multiple seminar rooms and classrooms, as well as dozens of rooms for Scientology auditing (spiritual counseling).

The Church welcomes all visitors and those wishing to find out about Scientology for themselves. Directly adjoining reception is an expansive Public Information Center, providing a complete introduction to the beliefs and practices of the Scientology religion, as well as the life and legacy of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. The Information Center additionally presents a detailed overview of Church-sponsored humanitarian programs, including a worldwide human rights initiative; an equally far-ranging drug education, prevention and rehabilitation program; a global network of literacy and learning centers; and the Scientology Volunteer Minister program now comprising the largest independent relief force on Earth. In full, the Information Center’s multimedia displays offer some 500 informational and documentary films at the touch of a button. The Center is open morning to night and visitors are invited to tour at their leisure and return as often as they wish.

The Church’s Grand Chapel will also be open for interfaith and community events in service to the Greater Cincinnati area.

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The Church of Scientology Greater Cincinnati is the third Ideal Organization (Org) to open in 2012, joining the Church of Scientology Sacramento, opened January 28, 2012, in California’s capital; and the Church of Scientology Hamburg, Germany, opened January 21, 2012.

Ideal Orgs realize the fulfillment of Founder L. Ron Hubbard’s vision for the religion. They not only provide the ideal facilities to service Scientologists on their ascent to greater states of spiritual awareness and freedom, 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.

Other new Churches opened in recent years include Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota; New York, New York; Washington, D.C.; Tampa, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Seattle, Washington; Las Vegas, Nevada; Los Angeles, California; Pasadena, California; Inglewood, California; as well as Québec City, Canada; Mexico City, Mexico; London, England; Melbourne, Australia; Brussels, Belgium; Madrid, Spain; Rome, Italy; Berlin, Germany; and Moscow, Russia.

More than 10 new Ideal Orgs are further scheduled for grand opening in 2012.

For a complete list of new Churches of Scientology, visit Scientology.org.

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The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles in 1954 and the religion has expanded to more than 10,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 167 countries.

• For more information on the founder of Dianetics & Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, visit L. Ron Hubbard.org.
• For more information about David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center and ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, visitScientology.org/David Miscavige.

Who is David Miscavige? - A Biography