Merrell Vannier had been a 39-year member of the Church of Scientology when, in January 2012, he was excommunicated by order of church leader David Miscavige.

Pursuant to Miscavige’s policy of “Disconnection,” Merrell’s daughter, a member of Scientology’s elite Sea Organization immediately cut all ties with him, his wife (her mother), and his son (her brother) without so much as a call to get his side of the story.

Merrell’s offense: he worked with two other long-term Scientologist lawyers to write letters calling for Miscavige to step down pending internal investigations into charges of abuse and inhumane treatment which were being leveled against Miscavige by former high-ranking Scientology executives. Ironically, one of the reforms called for in the letters was the abolition of the policy of Disconnection.

When that approach proved ineffective, Merrell took his reform efforts public, first through the website http://savescientology.com, and more recently, through the publication of Arrows in the Dark, an esposé of the takeover of church management by then 21-year old Miscavige. 

His book is a plea for the replacement of one-man rule to a system of checks and balances, as called for by Scientology’s founder, and as required by law.  He seeks the reuniting of his family and the countless other families torn apart by the church’s oppressive policy of Disconnection.

 

 

Merrell is educated in both Electrical Engineering (BSEE, 1971,  University of Missouri) and Law (JD, 1975, University of Missouri - Kansas City). He formerly practiced law in the states of Missouri and Florida. He now resides with his wife in Los Angeles.

For more information, visit: http://www.merrellvannier.com/biography