Scientology Volunteer Ministers Overview 2012

February 15, 2012

In 1973 the Scientology Volunteer Minister program commenced, with volunteer clergy trained in exact tools and techniques in order to apply them to help others in the community in need, including the fundamentals of interpersonal relations, solving drug abuse, resolving educational and study difficulties through to resolving marital problems and conflicts.

The aim of the Volunteer Ministers is to bring compassion, decency and mutual respect in all parts of the world through the practical tools of Scientology.

We help and deliver to people of all denominations and work to train leaders of other groups who can then take care of their own groups members. We change no person’s religion. We provide common sense tools based on Scientology that work and get tangible results to improve lives.

The value of these services has been recognized by politicians, police, the military, other relief agencies, civic authorities and most importantly the man in the street. In the words of the Mayor of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, whose city had been hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, “I was very happy when more than 900 of your Church Volunteer Ministers arrived in my city from all over the world and became a major force in bringing physical and spiritual help to those in need.”

The Church’s more than 200,000 Volunteer Ministers are an active force in disaster relief efforts worldwide.

In all, the Volunteer Ministers have helped more than 10.8 million people in the past seven years.

The Church of Scientology funds all projects directly from within our organisation and from the generous support and involvement of our parishioners. The Church has not requested government funding for any of our social betterment and community programs.

As part of this program, the Church has developed a disaster response team which specialises in helping during times of international upheaval and catastrophic events.

The volunteers provide a willing and highly organised team to support existing services and do undertake any actions needed requested by governments or other community organisations.

Australian Scientologists have organised and participated in disaster response actions at home, in Asia Pacific and the United States.

Initiatives Australian volunteers have been involved in include:

1 1995 Kobe, Japan earthquake

2 1995 Jakarta, Indonesian earthquake

3 1998 Papua New Guinea tsunami

4 1999 Taiwan earthquake

5 2001 Indian earthquake

6 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attack

7 2002 NSW bushfires

8 2004 Niigata, Japan earthquake

9 2004 Southeast Asia tsunami in Indonesia, Thailand, India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka

10 2005 New Zealand floods

11 2005 Hurricane Katrina

12 2006 Cyclone Larry in Innisfail

13 2006 Yogyakarta, Indonesian earthquake

14 2006 Cilacap Indonesia earthquake

15 2007 Aceh Indonesia floods, Jakarta and Yogyakarta Indonesia floods and tornado

16 2007 Solomon Islands tsunami

17 2007 Philippines Typhoon Mina

18 2008 Cyclone Nargis Myanmar

19 2008 Philippines Typhoon Frank

20 2008 Northeastern Japan earthquake

21 2009 Victorian bushfires

22 2009 Typhoon Ketsana (Philippines)

23 2010 Christchurch Earthquake

24 2011 Christchurch Earthquake

25 2011 Queensland Floods

26 2011 Cyclone Yasi

27 2011 East Japan Earthquake