Yesterday Scientology issued a press release announcing that it had opened a brand spanking new “Ideal Mission” in McMinnville, Oregon, and with the whole nine yards — giant bow and ribbon, balloons, and local shills making speeches.
You may be more familiar with church leader David Miscavige’s “Ideal Org” program, an effort going since 2003 to replace ordinary “orgs” (organizations, Scientology’s word for churches) in major cities around the world. Earlier this year, after a delay caused by the pandemic, Miscavige personally presided over grand openings of Ideal Orgs in Austin, Mexico City, and Chicago, and we think he pre-taped his appearance at the grand opening of an Ideal Org in Paris in April.
“Missions” are more local affairs, designed to bring new people into Scientology and then funnel them to the larger orgs. At one time, Scientology had a very extensive and thriving mission network under founder L. Ron Hubbard (1911-1986). But under Miscavige, the mission network was largely neglected and many of them closed. In recent years, however, there has been an initiative to turn some of them “Ideal,” which may not mean a whole lot more than a fresher coat of paint and some additional video displays.
Miscavige doesn’t bother to attend grand openings of Ideal Missions, but as you can see from the photo above, they at least tried to make it look like an Ideal ceremony.
What really caught our attention, however, is that this opening was in McMinnville, which we have noted in the past seems to be a rare hotspot for Scientology.
It’s been suggested to us that this is due to the relative proximity of Scientology’s expensive and exclusive boarding prep school, the Delphian, which is less than 20 miles away.
We heard from a number of McMinnville residents who were concerned about Scientology’s growing influence in the town when a former Sea Org member, Brittany Ruiz, ran for city council in 2020. (She lost.) She is married to Javier Ruiz, and we pointed out that both of them have some connections to some of Scientology’s darkest chapters.
According to the press release, Scientology managed to line up some local luminaries for the event.
Mission Director Ms. Jade Milner welcomed those gathered for this special occasion. “It is truly my immense honor to be here as your Master of Ceremonies on this landmark day in McMinnville,” she said. She shared Letters of Recognition welcoming the new Church to McMinnville from the Yamhill County Commissioner and the Inter-Faith Peace and Action Collaborative.
“When you look around, you can see why the Willamette Valley is named one of the 10 most beautiful places on the planet. This is a true community, which Scientologists have been part of for as many as five decades. So, it is now my supreme pleasure to say: Welcome to the Grand Opening of your new Ideal Scientology Mission for McMinnville.”
Joining Ms. Milner at the podium for the Grand Opening celebration were Mr. John Olson, President of the McMinnville Chamber of Commerce; Ms. Susan Milano, President of Soroptimist International of McMinnville; Mr. Lionel Irving, founder of the Love is Stronger nonprofit of Portland, Oregon; and Mission Founder Ms. Devin Weber.
And the release said that McMinnville mission is part of a record number of Ideal Missions opened this year…
From Quito, Ecuador, at the geographic center of the globe; to the timeless blend of alpine charm and Renaissance splendor of Bergamo, Italy; back-to-back openings in Taiwan in the city of Chiayi, the gateway to the nation’s cultural heritage, and the bustling metropolis of Taichung; the dynamic community of Santo André in São Paulo’s metropolitan region; and finally, Japan’s thriving port city of Osaka. Many more Ideal Scientology Missions are planned across North and South America, Europe and Asia in the coming year.
We admit we haven’t paid as much attention to “Ideal Missions” as we have to Ideal Orgs, not only because they only offer introductory services, but also because David Miscavige doesn’t personally make the scene. But you can bet that Scientology will crow about these openings every chance they get.
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Scientology was hopping mad that Mike Rinder and Claire Headley submitted declarations in Leah Remini’s lawsuit against the church, which argued that RTC should remain in the lawsuit because any retaliation campaign against Leah would be micromanaged by church leader and RTC chairman David Miscavige.
A nice follow-up to our 2021 story at the Daily Beast about L. Ron Hubbard’s collaboration with Leni Riefenstahl, a letter by Hubbard gushing about his work with her, which we obtained thanks to Mitch Brisker.
Chris Shelton marked a milestone, ten years of speaking out about Scientology since his departure from the Sea Org.
Patty Moher, former Scientology spy, went to spy on Scientology’s moldering ruin in New Haven that will someday (supposedly) be its new Ideal Org.
Scientology unveiled another Super Bowl TV ad, this one titled “Decide for Yourself.”
Sunny Pereira gave us another of her wonderful insights into Sea Org life, this time about its culture of swearing and smoking!
Valerie Ross continued her amazing series, this time about what it’s like to actual go through Scientology’s nutty “silent birth.”
Lawrence Wright gave us his thoughts as Scientology restarted its long-delayed Ideal Org program with a grand opening in his town of Austin.
We had an interesting report on the Austin grand opening, and once again we were interested to see which shills showed up to welcome Dave to town.
A LOOK BACK AT FEBRUARY 2023: Brent and Aimee Jones filed bankruptcy after their Real Water nightmare. A South African org gets its water shut off for not paying its bill. Scientology unveils another Super Bowl ad. A Tampa federal court found that David Miscavige was purposely evading service in a trafficking lawsuit. We will miss Simi Valley, a longtime Underground Bunker reader. Valerie Haney submitted a new list of 15 names for arbitrator, including Jenna Elfman and Giovanni Ribisi.
A LOOK BACK AT FEBRUARY 2022: Louise Shekter began sending us well-written pieces about her time in Scientology. At a February 8 hearing in Danny’s criminal case, one of Scientology’s attorneys showed up, carping about Judge Olmedo. We noted the passing of Ned McCrink. Scientology’s Super Bowl ad was titled “We Are Giants.” Bruce Hines moved us with a piece about the death of his sister. And we noted the passing of former Narconon International president and longtime Scientology figure Clark Carr at 75.
A LOOK BACK AT FEBRUARY 2021: Investigative proof that Balance of Nature has a tight relationship with Scientology. New York investor and Scientologist David Gentile charged for running $1.8 billion Ponzi scheme. Scientology’s Narconon drug rehab network down to only 5 clinics in the US. The world lost jazz great and Scientology celeb Chick Corea. Exposing a Scientology dirty tricks operator, Russ Andrews. And another OT suicide.
A LOOK BACK AT FEBRUARY 2020: Forced to arbitration, Valerie Haney considered her options. An OT dentist in Maryland was unmasked as a sadistic medical disaster. Bobette Riales blamed Scientology for the near-fatal poisoning of her dog Jet. Scientology’s celebrity Narconon in Ojai got the drone treatment. An L. Ron Hubbard racist lecture in South Africa was unearthed. Last Ideal Org opened before the pandemic in Ventura, and we got the drone flyover.
A LOOK BACK AT FEBRUARY 2019: NFL great Marshall Faulk used another Super Bowl to shill for Scientology’s anti-drug front group. Chief Slaughter denied that Clearwater PD genuflects to David Miscavige. USC revealed that a letter from a prominent faculty member endorsing Scientology was a fake. The National Enquirer falsely claimed that Shelly Miscavige had been spotted on a cruise ship.
A LOOK BACK AT FEBRUARY 2018: David Mayo died, and we revealed that we’d been talking to him over the years. Scientology’s new Super Bowl ad, ‘Curious?’ was a hoot. Chris Owen dived into the notorious ‘brainwashing’ manual. And Sands Hall published her delightful memoir, ‘Flunk. Start.’
A LOOK BACK AT FEBRUARY 2017: The new Super Bowl ad was another mystery sandwich. Phil and Willie Jones put up another ‘Call Me’ billboard, this time right on Sunset Boulevard. Clay Irwin toured Tom Cruise’s penthouse. We profiled the ‘celebrity whisperer,’ Quailynn McDaniel.
A LOOK BACK AT FEBRUARY 2016: News broke that Monique Rathbun had fired her entire legal team. Ross and Carrie began their trip inside the church. Defector Paul Burkhart estimated fewer than 20,000 active members left in the church worldwide. And a 1940 L. Ron Hubbard short story turned out to have a lot of precursor ideas for Scientology.
A LOOK BACK AT FEBRUARY 2015: The horrifying story of a mentally ill woman held in an Arkansas basement by a Scientologist, Mark Ebner found that Narconon International ditched its offices, we fact-checked Danny Masterson, and R.M. Seibert dug up L. Ron Hubbard’s high school record.
A LOOK BACK AT FEBRUARY 2014: The Master actor Philip Seymour Hoffman died in New York, we wrote an essay complaining about the way the media talks about Scientology and celebrities, and we provided some context to the first official Scientology wedding in England.
A LOOK BACK AT FEBRUARY 2013: Jenna Miscavige Hill’s memoir, Beyond Belief, was published. Harlan Ellison helped us document a Hubbard legend. And former Narconon executive Eric Tenorio came forward.
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Why McMinnville? It is half way between Portland and a town called Hebo. I see no other significance. Some local minion must be trying to do steps A to E or just someone trying for significance in the Clampire. Mission Holders get lots of respect, yes they do.
I do wonder what Christmas traditions mean to Lroon. He couldn't pick between calling Jesus a pedophile or imaginary. I am certain that the lecture will be uplifting, uplifting as in you better uplift your wallet to keep the Regs happy.
I can see why there is a mission there. I’m sure Delphi helps the economy of that small city. The dollars flowing in from the rich Scientologists sending their entitled children to the school looks good for the economy of that area. Simple reason why.