84 International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation ■ Vol. 2, 2021
volumes cover the management system
Hubbard created a system that is used by
managers of the organisation. It is described
in Hubbard Communications Office Policy
Letters (HCO PLs). Neither set of volumes
seems to offer a description of the billion-
year contract, which is highly unusual
considering comprehensiveness of the
volumes.xix
On its public website, the Church describes
the contract as follows:
The first Sea Organization members
formulated a one-billion-year pledge to
symbolize their eternal commitment to
the religion and it is still signed by all
members today. It is a symbolic
document which, similar to vows of
dedication in other faiths and orders,
serves to signify an individual’s eternal
commitment to the goals, purposes and
principles of the Scientology religion.xx
I address in the next sections the accuracy of
the various claims made in this paragraph. It
is not unusual for Scientology to make
inaccurate claims about its practices and
scriptures on its public websites.xxi
I previously mentioned that the billion-year
contract is signed only by members of the Sea
Organisation. The Sea Organisation is not a
legal entity. xxii Scientology describes the
Organisation as a religious order constituted
of the most dedicated Scientologists, who
work as full-time volunteers for the Church.
Sea Organisation members work long hours,
and all of their expenses, including housing,
are paid by the Church.xxiii A portion of their
days is dedicated to partaking in Scientology
training and services. xxiv Scientology
describes the Organisation’s history as
follows:
The Sea Organization was established in
1967 and once operated from a number of
ships. It was formed to assist L. Ron
Hubbard with advanced research
operations and supervise Church
organizations around the world. The Sea
Organization is entrusted to minister the
advanced services of Scientology.
The Sea Organization retains its
traditional name, although today the
majority of its members are based on land.
In keeping with the tradition of the
order’s inception, however, they still
wear maritime-style uniforms and have
ranks and ratings.
The Sea Organization Motor Vessel
Freewinds is entirely staffed by members
of the Sea Organization. Utilizing the
training materials developed by L. Ron
Hubbard in the early days of the Sea
Organization, the Freewinds has the best
safety and service record of any ship in
the Caribbean.xxv
[...]
Today, some five thousand members of
the Sea Organization hold staff positions
in upper-level Scientology Church
organizations around the world, ensuring
the religion is available to the millions of
Scientology parishioners who live and
work outside the Church.xxvi
This description is mostly accurate—
although the number of Scientologists
worldwide is in the tens of thousands rather
than in the millions.xxvii The Sea Organisation
is fully distinct from the general population
of public Scientologists. As stated, Sea
Organisation members dedicate themselves
full time to the religion. More importantly,
what is expected of Sea Organisation
members vastly differs from what is expected
of public Scientologists. While public
Scientologists may be considered in good
standing even if they do not dedicate hours
per day or week to the study of
Scientology,xxviii Sea Organisation members
are expected to study Scientology scripture
for several hours every day. Their access to
volumes cover the management system
Hubbard created a system that is used by
managers of the organisation. It is described
in Hubbard Communications Office Policy
Letters (HCO PLs). Neither set of volumes
seems to offer a description of the billion-
year contract, which is highly unusual
considering comprehensiveness of the
volumes.xix
On its public website, the Church describes
the contract as follows:
The first Sea Organization members
formulated a one-billion-year pledge to
symbolize their eternal commitment to
the religion and it is still signed by all
members today. It is a symbolic
document which, similar to vows of
dedication in other faiths and orders,
serves to signify an individual’s eternal
commitment to the goals, purposes and
principles of the Scientology religion.xx
I address in the next sections the accuracy of
the various claims made in this paragraph. It
is not unusual for Scientology to make
inaccurate claims about its practices and
scriptures on its public websites.xxi
I previously mentioned that the billion-year
contract is signed only by members of the Sea
Organisation. The Sea Organisation is not a
legal entity. xxii Scientology describes the
Organisation as a religious order constituted
of the most dedicated Scientologists, who
work as full-time volunteers for the Church.
Sea Organisation members work long hours,
and all of their expenses, including housing,
are paid by the Church.xxiii A portion of their
days is dedicated to partaking in Scientology
training and services. xxiv Scientology
describes the Organisation’s history as
follows:
The Sea Organization was established in
1967 and once operated from a number of
ships. It was formed to assist L. Ron
Hubbard with advanced research
operations and supervise Church
organizations around the world. The Sea
Organization is entrusted to minister the
advanced services of Scientology.
The Sea Organization retains its
traditional name, although today the
majority of its members are based on land.
In keeping with the tradition of the
order’s inception, however, they still
wear maritime-style uniforms and have
ranks and ratings.
The Sea Organization Motor Vessel
Freewinds is entirely staffed by members
of the Sea Organization. Utilizing the
training materials developed by L. Ron
Hubbard in the early days of the Sea
Organization, the Freewinds has the best
safety and service record of any ship in
the Caribbean.xxv
[...]
Today, some five thousand members of
the Sea Organization hold staff positions
in upper-level Scientology Church
organizations around the world, ensuring
the religion is available to the millions of
Scientology parishioners who live and
work outside the Church.xxvi
This description is mostly accurate—
although the number of Scientologists
worldwide is in the tens of thousands rather
than in the millions.xxvii The Sea Organisation
is fully distinct from the general population
of public Scientologists. As stated, Sea
Organisation members dedicate themselves
full time to the religion. More importantly,
what is expected of Sea Organisation
members vastly differs from what is expected
of public Scientologists. While public
Scientologists may be considered in good
standing even if they do not dedicate hours
per day or week to the study of
Scientology,xxviii Sea Organisation members
are expected to study Scientology scripture
for several hours every day. Their access to
