Ready to sign your life away, pilgrim? Get a load of this Scientology staff contract

We want to thank the tipster who forwarded to us what they believe is the current “pledge” that any new Scientology staff member is asked to sign at your local “Ideal Org” like the ones that just opened up in Austin, and Chicago. (We figure the ones that opened in Mexico City and Paris are using documents in another language, eh?)

Anyway, we’ve seen numerous examples of these contracts and pledges over the years. In 2014, we posted a similar application to be a staff member, and just last fall Alex Barnes-Ross posted a number of contracts and releases.

But this one is slightly different, and we think it might be what new staff members are signing today as they basically give up all rights to the church, which points out that they are dedicating themselves to a religion and Scientology won’t have to pay them a dime. Scary.

However, this is not the even more ludicrous billion-year commitment signed by new Sea Org members, but still, it’s pretty much a contract of indentured servitude as it is.

We look forward to your specific observations about its details. And yes, the arbitration clause is in there that is torpedoing numerous lawsuits brought by ex-Scientologists. Can you spot it?

CHURCH of SCIENTOLOGY

OF ________

Pledge of Religious Commitment, Application for Religious Service and General Release

I, _________ (print name), am applying to serve as a member of the staff of the Church of Scientology of ____________ (hereinafter “the Church”).

PLEDGE OF RELIGIOUS COMMITMENT

1. I am a Scientologist and want to dedicate the next five years [ ] two and one-half years [ ] (check one) to the service of the Scientology religion and to accomplishing its religious goals. I also have pledged myself to the highest levels of ethical conduct as set forth in “The Creed of the Church of Scientology” and “The Code of a Scientologist” each of which I have read and understand.

2. I believe that the sacred goal of all Scientologists is to help each being regain his or her full spiritual potential. The path to this greater spiritual awareness was discovered by L. Ron Hubbard, the Founder of the Scientology religion, and is set forth in his written and recorded words that comprise the Scientology Scripture. I also believe that these advanced spiritual states can be attained only through the practice of Scientology religious services.

3. I understand that the Church, like all Scientology Churches, operates for the sole purpose of assisting individuals to attain their true spiritual potential through the practice of the Scientology religion.

4. I believe that serving on the Church’s staff would be the greatest thing I could do to forward my personal sacred goal, the betterment of mankind, and for this reason I now declare my deepest personal spiritual commitment to Scientology as my religion and to accomplishing its religious purposes, by pledging the next few years in dedicated religious service to the Church.

PLEDGE OF RELIGIOUS SERVICE

I unconditionally apply for active service in the Church’s religious program as a member of its staff on the following terms and conditions:

1. ACTIVE PARTICIPATION. I recognize and know to be true that the Church, like all other churches of Scientology, is a spiritual center for its parishioners and the focal point of their religion in their community. The Church provides introductory lectures, workshops, seminars and other Scientology religious services to people new to the religion, and spiritual counseling and training in the Scientology Scripture to existing
parishioners. The Church also provides other religious services for its parishioners such as marriages, funerals, naming ceremonies, ordinations of ministers and weekly Sunday services. The Church also works to make Dianetics and Scientology broadly known in its community and disseminates not only the Scientology faith but also the many social betterment programs the Church supports. The Church provides a safe and stable place for all the Scientology activities in its area and for assisting its parishioners t o move up the Bridge to Total Freedom.

I understand that all Church staff are expected to make a total commitment to their religious service and must be on post and performing their religious responsibilities every weekday for staff serving on the Church’s Day Organization, or every evening and all weekend for staff serving on the Church’s Foundation Organization. I understand that I will be posted in the Church where I am most needed and that while my position may vary over time, my primary duties will be contributing to the ministry and dissemination of Dianetics and Scientology services and the overall accomplishment of the Church’s religious mission.

2. CONDUCT. I understand that all members of the Church’s staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of personal ethical conduct at all times. I further understand that every Church staff member is expected to be totally familiar with and constantly observe the ecclesiastical, moral and ethical policies, rules, norms and practices of the Scientology religion and the administrative policies and procedures of the Church. These are all published in the form of Hubbard Communications Office Policy Letters and Bulletins and various directives that are issued by Church of Scientology International, the Mother Church of the Scientology religion. I fully and gladly accept this strict standard of ethical conduct.

3. POST. I know that all Scientology Churches’ activities are intended to further a religious purpose. As a member of the Church, I am aware that each post or position within the Church is, without exception, in furtherance of a religious purpose. Accordingly, depending upon the needs and requirements of the Church, I know that I may be assigned or reassigned to a wide range of ministerial duties ranging from managing portions of the Church’s functions and activities, executing religious programs and administering these activities, introducing public and neighbors to the Church’s services and programs, or providing religious services such as auditing, training, ethics counseling and cramming, to holding reception, routing communications and maintaining files, cooking food for parishioners and staff in the canteen, washing dishes or maintaining and cleaning the facilities. I know these posts, and all others within, are designed to fulfill and forward the Church’s religious purpose and mission.

I also know that as part of my post responsibilities and pursuant to Church policy, I am expected to study a minimum of 12.5 hours a week to better carry out my religious duties and to advance myself up the Bridge to Total Freedom, both in religious training and auditing, to the benefit of all Dynamics.

4. FTNANCIAL SUPPORT. My desire, and my intention, is to serve my religion as a Church staff member pursuant to my personal religious commitment and conviction rather than for monetary gain or other financial benefits or incentives. I recognize and acknowledge that the Church is not required to pay minimum wage or overtime to me. I further understand that the Church does not provide a pension or other such benefits.

5. RESOLUTION OF PROBLEMS. Since my relationship with the Church and my fellow staff members is strictly religious and based solely on my deeply-held spiritual commitment to the Scientology religion, I believe that any problem that may arise out of this relationship is also strictly religious in nature. Therefore, I agree that any problem between me and the Church of Scientology (whether the Church or any other Scientology Church or related organization) or any fellow staff member that may arise during or related to my service on staff is to be handled in accordance with the doctrines of the Scientology religion, including the Chaplain and Scientology Ethics and Justice procedures as follows:

a) I understand that the first step in this procedure is to summarize the problem in writing and submit it to the Hubbard Communications Office, Department of Inspections and Reports, and I agree to follow this process.

b) As a result of my belief as to the nature of my relationship with the Church, my fellow staff members and the Church of Scientology in general, I hereby agree that I will attempt to resolve any dispute I may have concerning my service as a Church staff member informally by direct communication or, if that is not successful, through Scientology internal Ethics, Justice and Chaplain’s Court procedures, including religious arbitration by requesting a Board of Review and, as necessary, submission of the dispute to the International Justice Chief of Church of Scientology International or his or her designee.

RELEASE

6. I UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT ANY DISPUTE OVER MY PARTICIPATION AS A SCIENTOLOGY STAFF MEMBER BY ITS VERY NATURE WOULD BE A MATTER OF RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE, WHICH THEREFORE MUST BE RESOLVED EXCLUSIVELY BY THE ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITIES AND RELIGIOUS PROCEDURES OF SCIENTOLOGY. IN ACCORDANCE WITH MY RELIGIOUS COMMITMENT TO THE SCIENTOLOGY RELIGION, I THEREFORE AGREE THAT I CANNOT AND WILL NOT SUE IN A CIVIL COURT OR SEEK A JURY TRIAL IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DISPUTE WITH THE CHURCH, ANY SCIENTOLOGY CHURCHES OR SCIENTOLOGY-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, RELIGIOUS
TECHNOLOGY CENTER, CHURCH OF SPIRITUAL TECHNOLOGY AND CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY INTERNATTONAL, ANY OF THEIR OFFICERS, TRUSTEES, DIRECTORS, STAFF MEMBERS OR REPRESENTATIVES, OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL OTHERWISE AFFILIATED OR ASSOCIATED WITH THEM IN WHATEVER CAPACITY (HEREINAFTER COLLECTIVELY THE “SCIENTOLOGY ENTITIES”), AND I HEREBY RELEASE SUCH PERSONS AND ORGANIZATIONS FROM ANY DISPUTE, CLAIM, INJURY OR LOSS I MAY HAVE THAT IS IN ANY WAY CONNECTED TO MY SERVICE AS A CHURCH STAFF MEMBER.

7. MY PROMISE NEVER TO BRING A LAWSUIT AND GENERAL RELEASE PURSUANT TO THE ABOVE PARAGRAPH 6, IS UNCONDITIONAL AND IRREVOCABLE AND BINDING ON MY SUCCESSORS, INCLUDING ANYONE WHO MAY BE ACTING OR PURPORTING TO ACT ON MY BEHALF OR FOR MY BENEFTT. HOWEVER, IF SUCH A LAWSUIT IS BROUGHT, THEN I WANT THE CHURCH TO SUBMIT THIS PLEDGE OF RELIGIOUS COMMITMENT, APPLICATION FOR RELIGIOUS SERVICE AND GENERAL RELEASE TO THE COURT TO SERVE AS A COMPLETE BASIS FOR THE COURT TO DISMISS THE SUIT AND TO PROHIBIT IT FROM EVER BEING BROUGHT AGAIN.

8. IT IS MY SPECIFIC INTENTION THAT THIS PLEDGE OF RELIGIOUS COMMITMENT, APPLICATION FOR RELIGIOUS SERVICE AND GENERAL RELEASE SERVE AS A GENERAL RELEASE OF ALL CLATMS, DAMAGES, CAUSES OF ACTION OF EVERY KIND, WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, PAST OR PRESENT, CONTTNGENT OR FIXED, WITHOUT LIMTTATTON OF ANY KIND, WHICH I, OR ANYONE CLAIMING ON MY BEHALF NO\M HAVE OR MAY HEREAFTER HAVE AGAINST ANY OR ALL OF THE SCIENTOLOGY ENTITIES, INCLUDING ANY CLAIMS THAT MAY ARISE IN THE FUTURE FROM ANY ACTS OR EVENTS THAT FORESEEABLY MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH MY SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH STAFF.

COMMITMENT

9. I further agree and understand that:

a) I have read this Pledge of Religious Commitment, Application for Religious Service and General Release very carefully and have had every opportunity to get anything in this document that I may not have understood clarified. I can say without hesitation that I fully understand the terms and conditions on which my religious service will be based if my application is accepted. With this in mind, and with full knowledge of what I am doing, I ask to be accepted as an active participant on the Church’s staff and a member of its religious community. I make this pledge and application of my own free will, solely to help forward the religious goals and tenets of the Scientology religion and the Church itself. By signing this application I am making a formal religious vow to participate in the Church’s religious program on the basis of the specific terms and conditions stated above and no others.

b) Should one or more provisions of this Pledge of Religious Commitment, Application for Religious Service and General Release be deemed null, void, voidable or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall nonetheless remain in full force and effect. The promises and agreements I have made in this Pledge of Religious Commitment, Application for Religious Service and General Release shall be governed by the laws of the state in which the Church is physically located and be interpreted as broadly and inclusively as those laws will allow.

Dated this ___ day of ________, 20__

______________________________
(SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT

______________________________
(Printed Full Name)

______________________________
(Home Address)

______________________________
(SIGNATURE OF WITNESS)

______________________________
(Printed Full Name)

ACCEPTANCE

Church of Scientology of __________________, in reliance on the truthfulness and sincerity of your representations and the legally and ecclesiastically binding nature of your promises, agrees to accept you as an active Church staff member and as a member of its religious community.

CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY OF __________________________

By its: ___________________ (Title)

___________________________ (Signature)

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Chris Shelton is going Straight Up and Vertical

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