Scientology Reboots Ideal Church in Silicon Valley
Thousands of Bay Area Scientologists gathered on Saturday, June 9, to celebrate the rededication of the Church of Scientology Stevens Creek in San Jose.
The ceremony marked the transformation of the 57,000-square-foot Ideal Church of Scientology (Ideal Org) to better accommodate its ever-growing congregation and extend Church of Scientology humanitarian programs to all communities across Silicon Valley.
Ms. Darlene Bright, President of the Church of Scientology Stevens Creek in San Jose acknowledged the numerous joint community initiatives the Church has enjoyed for more than three decades: “We’ve been privileged to partner with so many remarkable people determined to make this city an even better place to live and work. We appreciate and recognize all our valued friends across San Jose and the County of Santa Clara. In collaboration, there is nothing we cannot achieve for greater unity and cooperation between diverse cultures. And so we look forward to our continuing relationships through all of the years to come.”
Church Executive Director, Ms. Joy Botelho, spoke to the greater extent of service this Church may now provide parishioners and the community at large: “We are immensely proud to share our expanded facilities with the City of San Jose. We are now in the best position ever to help anyone who wishes to change conditions for the better. And, of course, we are here to help you achieve the spiritual freedom of which you’ve always dreamed. So, yes, today marks the beginning of a whole new era for all who wish to build a brighter future for this city.”
Underscoring the significance of the occasion, Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center and ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, joined local Church officials for the opening ceremony.
In his dedication address, Mr. Miscavige told Stevens Creek staff and parishioners: “By whatever fate or fortune, you are poised to infuse this 21st century with the infinite wisdom of L. Ron Hubbard’s technology. Needless to say, it will require flawless application and dedication. But it will also require full responsibility—responsibility for the visitor one has never met on the highway one has never traveled… all the way out to the last site in a last domain where some lonely soul cries out for help. And only then will you realize the limitless power behind those doors.”
The Stevens Creek Ideal Org now houses state-of-the-art facilities presenting fundamentals of the religion to those new to Scientology. Foremost among these features is the Public Information Center—an expansive exhibit of interactive displays containing more than 500 informational video presentations in 17 languages. At the touch of a button, visitors are provided an introduction to the beliefs and practices of Dianetics and Scientology, as well as the life of Founder L. Ron Hubbard. The displays further offer an overview of the many Scientology-sponsored programs for social betterment throughout the world. The Center is open for self-guided tours daily, from morning to night.
The new Chapel hosts all congregational services and a wide range of events in the name of community collaboration—from seminars and workshops to banquets and receptions.
The Church also now provides dedicated facilities for the entire range of Dianetics and Scientology Introductory Services. Among those services are evening and weekend seminars centered around books-on-film of Mr. Hubbard’s works. Additional classrooms accommodate a wide array of introductory courses imparting tools to improve any facet of life.
The newly transformed Church further now features dozens of specially appointed rooms providing the ideal setting for Scientology spiritual counseling, known as auditing, and an expanded Church Academy with multiple study rooms for the training of Scientology counselors.The rededication of the Church of Scientology Stevens Creek follows a series of new Ideal Orgs opened in 2012, including the Church of Scientology Orange County, the Church of Scientology Greater Cincinnati, the Church of Scientology Sacramento and the Church of Scientology Hamburg, Germany.
Ideal Orgs realize Scientology 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.
Among the dozens of Ideal Orgs further opened in recent years are those that now stand in Los Angeles, Pasadena and Inglewood, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Seattle, Washington; Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota; New York, New York; Washington, D.C.; Tampa, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; as well as Quebec City, Canada; Mexico City, Mexico; London, England; Melbourne, Australia; Brussels, Belgium; Madrid, Spain; Rome, Italy; Berlin, Germany; and Moscow, Russia. For a complete list of new Churches of Scientology, visit Scientology.org.
Nine more new Ideal Orgs are scheduled for grand opening in 2012.
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.
CONTACT:
Nick Banks
mediarelations@churchofscientology.net
(323) 960-3500 phone
(323) 960-3508 fax