Church of Scientology opens new location at historic building in downtown Kansas City
The Church of Scientology opened a location in downtown Kansas City this weekend, in a seven-story building that once housed the City National Bank.
For the occasion, the 79,000 square-foot building near 18th Street and Grand Boulevard was draped with giant red ribbon and bow affixed to the upper floors. A large electric sign atop the building, reading “Church of Scientology” was lit at night, drawing the attention of passersby.
The opening event came more than 10 years after the church bought the building in 2007. Originally constructed in the 1920s, the building is included on the National Register of Historic Places.
As the church opened the downtown building over the weekend, it had a portion of 18th Street blocked off between McGee Street and Grand Boulevard.
Large video screens were placed on each side of a stage at the front entrance of the building, and a crowd of church members with guests gathered.
On Sunday the church advertised an open house to the public. But church staff refused entry to a Star reporter.
Bari Berger, a church spokeswoman, declined to respond to questions in person and asked that questions about the building and its opening be sent in an email.
“This weekend’s event was a special dedication ceremony for our members and their guests,” Berger said in an email to The Star.
“We requested that media make any tour requests in advance so these could be scheduled to accommodate other events and activities taking place in the church,” she said.
Scientology in Kansas City
The church’s presence in Kansas City has previously been visible at a storefront at 39th and Main streets. That building is being sold, Berger said.
Tony Ortega, a journalist formerly based in Kansas City who writes an anti-Scientology blog called The Underground Bunker, said the church was not expanding but rather was replacing existing facilities in the city.
Ortega said the opening ceremonies in Kansas City were meant to impress church leader David Miscavige’s wealthy donors.
“It is really a public relations program for Miscavige to convince his wealthy donors that he is doing the right thing,” Ortega said.
Ortega said such new locations, when opened elsewhere, have seen activities reduced significantly after initially opening to great fanfare.
Berger, the church spokeswoman, disagreed with that. She said the church has opened more than 70 locations in recent years, and all are “open and flourishing.”
Interior of the building
The entrance to the church’s new downtown location contains a reception area with a water feature and walls holding multimedia displays, pamphlets and reading materials. That leads into a chapel, where Sunday services, weddings and other community events are held.
The building contains space for meetings, a bookstore and classrooms. A conference room occupies the space in the basement that once housed the bank’s massive vault.
“The Church will be opening its doors to the community and inviting nonprofit groups to hold their own meetings and events here at no charge, as well as inviting the public to join us for Sunday Services and open houses and panels to address issues of importance to Kansas City residents,” Berger said in an email.
An office on the first floor is dedicated to L. Ron Hubbard, the science fiction writer who founded the church in the 1950s.
Berger said the church’s connection to Kansas City dates back 70 years to when Hubbard delivered a series of lectures on Dianetics downtown in 1950.
Hubbard’s family moved to Kansas City in 1911 and lived here for a short time. The church has had a presence in Kansas City since 1974, when it first opened as a Church of Scientology Mission, Berger said.
This story was originally published November 3, 2019 at 3:33 PM.
