The Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, DC, concluded 2025 with significant community engagement and a historic milestone: its 70th anniversary, recognized by a United States flag flown over the U.S. Capitol and presented through Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. The anniversary, commemorating the church's establishment on July 4, 1955, was marked by events at the Fraser Mansion, home of the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, highlighting its ongoing role as a launch point for societal solutions.
Throughout the year, the church's initiatives saw substantial expansion. The Foundation for a Drug-Free World increased its regional footprint, distributing 956 Truth About Drugs booklets at Audi Field during an international soccer match and hosting open houses near the White House addressing marijuana risks. Educator outreach grew in Virginia and Maryland, with teams reaching over 100 educators at conventions and distributing materials like the Truth About Fentanyl booklet. Human rights education remained active, with Youth for Human Rights DC organizing a Peace Walk from the Lincoln Memorial on the International Day of Peace and hosting open houses for Mandela Day and Human Rights Day, utilizing resources from Youth for Human Rights and United for Human Rights.
The Way to Happiness campaign distributed hundreds of thousands of booklets across Washington, DC, emphasizing ethics and community renewal through events tied to World Environment Day and World Kindness Day. The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) achieved legislative progress with Maryland's Preventing Abduction in Youth Transport Act of 2025, while its mobile exhibit in Annapolis and presence at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Legislative Conference raised awareness about coercive psychiatric practices. CCHR also premiered the documentary Prescription for Violence: Psychiatry's Deadly Side Effects on Scientology Network.
Practical assistance was visible through Scientology Volunteer Ministers, who operated a yellow tent near the U.S. Capitol, offering help and free courses. Cultural programs included hosting the Washington International Piano Arts Council tournament and community premieres for Scientology Network series. Addressing urban stress, the church expanded seminars on the subconscious mind and launched a Dianetics mobile outreach truck, providing free stress tests in public spaces. The year closed with Christmas and New Year's events focusing on renewal and goodwill.
Looking ahead to 2026, priorities include expanding drug prevention education on threats like fentanyl, deepening human rights partnerships with schools and civic groups, enhancing The Way to Happiness distribution in settings like correctional facilities, advancing CCHR advocacy, increasing mobile help deployments, and strengthening cultural events. External Affairs Director Chas Smith emphasized the church's commitment to action, stating that the Capitol-flown flag symbolizes both recognition and responsibility for continued community impact in the nation's capital.
