Editing List of Scientologists (section)

== Definition ==

A Scientologist is an adherent of the doctrines and practices of [[Scientology]]. The [[Church of Scientology]] states that "Scientologist" is a collective membership mark indicating membership in affiliated Scientology churches and missions.<ref name="trademarks">{{Cite web |title=Copyright and Trademark Notice |website=scientology.org |url=https://www.scientology.org/tmnotice.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201102433/https://www.scientology.org/tmnotice.html |archive-date=February 1, 2024 |access-date=April 6, 2024}}</ref>

Public Scientologists are those individuals who are ''not'' staff. They pay the [[Church of Scientology]] for training or [[Auditing (Scientology)|auditing]] services, and live and work independently of the organization.{{r|straus|p=70}} Collectively, non-staff Scientologists may be referred to as "members", the "public", or the "field".{{r|wallis|pages=128,228}} Even though public members are not employed by the organization, they are ranked within the Church's chain of command and defer to all [[Scientology officials|staff personnel]], who are regarded as their seniors. Public members are frequently pressed into service for clerical or promotional tasks or to recruit new members.{{r|wallis|p=180}} Public members who recruit people for Scientology services are called "field staff members" (FSMs) and are paid a commission of 10%–15% of the amount their recruit pays for a service.{{r|behar|ASHOAudit}}{{r|wallis|p=181}}

Scientologists not in trouble with the [[Scientology ethics and justice#Ethics officer|ethics department]] are considered "in good standing" and are allowed to be on Church of Scientology premises, receive services, and attend events.{{r|hubbard-ethics|page=361}} Those who practice Scientology‑derived techniques outside the Church in what is known as the [[Free Zone (Scientology)|Free Zone]], or independent Scientology, are not recognized by [[the Church (Scientology)|the Church]].