5,000 Scientologists, guests and city officials gathered Saturday November 5, for the dedication of an entirely new Church of Scientology<\/a> and Church of Scientology Community Center. The Church stands in the heart of downtown, at 315 South Market Street, and reflects the growth of a new Scientology congregation amongst these communities. The neighboring Community Center stands just a few minutes away in South Los Angeles, at 8039 South Vermont Avenue. Together this Church and Community Center provide for all Scientology religious services as well as its many humanitarian initiatives and social betterment programs for the benefit of Inglewood and South Los Angeles.<\/p>\n The new Inglewood Church of Scientology on South Market Street houses a Public Information Center presenting the beliefs and practices of the Scientology religion as well as the life and legacy of Scientology Founder L.\u00a0Ron Hubbard<\/a>. The Information Center further provides an overview of the many Church-sponsored humanitarian programs. These programs include a worldwide human rights initiative, an equally far-ranging drug education and prevention campaign, global networks of literacy and learning centers and the Scientology Volunteer Minister<\/a> program now comprising the largest independent relief force on Earth. The Information Center\u2019s multimedia displays include nearly 500 documentary films.<\/p>\n The new Community Center on Vermont Avenue is housed in an historic art deco landmark that dates from the early 1930s and which the Church has meticulously restored. It features a 380-seat event hall, the\u00a0L.\u00a0Ron Hubbard Community Auditorium<\/em>, designed for community events and as a meeting ground for residents of all denominations. In that respect, it is a venue dedicated to community-wide initiatives in the spirit of the Founder\u2019s vision of all church denominations working together to achieve the common dream of all religions. The Center further features numerous classrooms and seminar facilities for a full range of civic programs, including a complete literacy and tutoring center.<\/p>\n Marking the significance of the occasion, Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center and ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, officiated at the ceremony. In pointing to what this day represents, Mr. Miscavige stated:<\/p>\n \u201cThis new Church of Scientology is quite literally imbued with the contributions and global spirit of Scientologists from more than a hundred nations. In that respect, it reflects the greater shape of Scientology\u2014both body and soul. Moreover, it reflects the attributes of greatness all religions traditionally sought to inspire, including decency, nobility, compassion and charity. And that\u2019s also the spirit in which we provide our new Community Center, open for use by one and all, for the benefit of all its residents.\u201d<\/p>\n Welcoming the new Church were Inglewood City Councilmember, Ralph Franklin; Inglewood Chief of Police, Jacqueline Seabrooks; President of NAACP Los Angeles, Leon Jenkins; Executive Director of the gang intervention group 2nd Call, Skipp Townsend; and Rev. Cecil \u201cChip\u201d Murray, retired head of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles and now Professor of Religious Studies at USC.<\/p>\n City Councilmember Ralph Franklin welcomed the new Church: \u201cI for one am very excited about your move to your new home. Thank you for being our anchor to Market Street. You are helping revitalize downtown and offering us a platform from which we can make a segue into our greater future. I have faith that your presence will be the catalyst for this city\u2019s renaissance. And so it is with great pleasure that on behalf of all of us here in the City of Inglewood I say congratulations on your new home and welcome to the family.\u201d<\/p>\n Chief of Police Jacqueline Seabrooks spoke of the solutions offered by the Church\u2019s anti-drug initiative: \u201cI have been aware of your Drug-Free World program and know that this program has been supported by various entities here in Inglewood and in the larger environment. I must say that I am impressed by your dedicated initiative to ensure \u2018The Truth About Drugs\u2019 message is made available to everyone. Your volunteers are an active force, distributing educational materials and holding drug education seminars. Your colorful, information booklets are popular and effective. Because I have a strong background in education, I admire what you\u2019ve done and what you continue to do to bring the drug abuse issue into the educational arena.\u201d Los Angeles NAACP President Leon Jenkins recognized the effectiveness of the Church\u2019s human rights programs: \u201cThe Church of Scientology is taking an instrumental role in the change we need because what your Church does is address the individual. You know that everybody is different. That\u2019s why your human rights program speaks to every one of us. And one by one you are helping to bring about a just society that can live in harmony together. The Church sets a standard for others in religion and in human rights. I think there are quite some groups that could take a lesson or two from you all. My hat is off to you for that.\u201d<\/p>\n Executive Director of 2nd Call, Skipp Townsend, acknowledged the empowerment that comes from the Church\u2019s programs: \u201cWe are grateful that the Church of Scientology is here and provides a stream of resources to the City of Inglewood. Your church is an open door to those individuals who seek betterment in the community. The beauty of it is that the Church has both developed a community and opened the doors to the community. That\u2019s not just development, that\u2019s empowerment. You empower the people. And I am sure the Church will continue the empowerment process by leaving the door open, so they can come in and get the resources and benefits you have to offer.\u201d<\/p>\n Rev. Cecil \u201cChip\u201d Murray, retired head of the First A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles and now Professor of Religious Studies at USC, expressed highest regard for Scientology Founder L.\u00a0Ron Hubbard and the Church of Scientology: \u201cMy friends, this new Church is an opportunity to make change. I encourage you, the community, to take full advantage. L. Ron Hubbard was a genius of a man who could say, \u2018Here\u2019s the problem, here\u2019s the solution, and here are the details of how you achieve that solution.\u2019 Well here is a mansion that has been constructed by L. Ron Hubbard, an architect of the soul and a designer of dreams. Our challenge is to make use of what we have been given. I am so very thankful for what you bring us today. God bless you all.\u201d<\/p>\n _________________<\/p>\n Church of Scientology Ideal Orgs realize the fulfillment of Founder L.\u00a0Ron Hubbard\u2019s vision for the religion. Ideal Orgs not only provide the ideal facilities to service Scientologists on their spiritual ascent, 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.<\/p>\n The Church of Scientology of Inglewood is the third Ideal Org to open in the Greater Los Angeles area since 2010. Other Ideal Churches of Scientology opened in 2011 include:<\/p>\n For a complete list of new Churches of Scientology, visit\u00a0Scientology.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n _________________<\/p>\n The Scientology religion was founded by author<\/p>\n
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