Open Episcopal Church Explained

The Open Episcopal Church (OEC) is a liberal Christian denomination. It has bishops in England and Wales and clergy throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. It has over 29,000 members.[1]

The church was the first in Britain to ordain a woman as bishop and to perform religious wedding ceremonies for gay couples.

The OEC is a member of the International Council of Community Churches, which in turn is a member of The World Council of Churches and Churches Uniting in Christ.

History

Founding of the Society for Independent Christian Ministry

In 1994 Jonathan Blake, who had been a priest in the Church of England for over 12 years, effected a Deed of Relinquishment,[2] severing his denominational ties.

As an independent priest[3] he offered sacramental ministry to all. In 1997 he wrote about these experiences in his book, For God's Sake Don't Go To Church.[4] The same year he nailed 95 theses[5] to the door of Canterbury Cathedral, for which he was arrested[6] but not charged.[7]

A lesbian from the north of England arranged to meet Blake after reading his book. She felt a call to the ministry but had been rebuffed by the church over her sexuality and was interested in independent ministry. Following the meeting Blake placed an advert in the Church Times inviting all those interested in such a ministry to a conference the following March. Over 100 people contacted him, among them Richard Palmer,[8] who had been consecrated as a bishop of the Liberal Catholic Church in 1997, but had resigned in April 1999.

Blake wrote the Founding Principles[9] of the Society for Independent Christian Ministry (SICM), which was inaugurated by a group of Christians reciting the Lord’s Prayer in the Sanctum of the Holy Circle Trust[10] near Ryarsh in Kent at sunrise on 1 January 2000.

In February 2001, Blake conducted the first gay wedding blessing on Richard and Judy's prime time TV programme This Morning.[11]

Founding of the Open Episcopal Church

By the time SICM met for the third time in Bournemouth, Palmer required those who had been ordained simply in Dartford to be ordained sub conditione at this gathering in a full rite of ordination. Blake realized that a new denomination had to be founded and set about writing the necessary canons.

At Hazlewood Castle, Michael Wilson[12] was consecrated a bishop by Palmer and Blake. The three bishops issued the "Hazlewood Declaration" on 10 November 2001, which facilitated the creation of the Open Episcopal Church. The church viewed itself as being in succession from the Old Catholic Church, which had been established in England in 1908 by Arnold Mathew from See of Utrecht and continued through the Liberal Catholic Church.[13]

The first congress of the church was held at the All Saints Pastoral Centre in June 2004. The church's college of bishops met at Weston Manor in Oxfordshire in January 2005 and Wilson, an evangelical, resigned from the Church. The second congress was held at Whaley Hall at Whaley Bridge in mid 2005. In October, Roger Whatley[14] was consecrated a bishop in the Chapel of the Ammerdown Conference Centre.

Development

The church has had three archbishops: Richard Palmer, who left the church along with Roger Whatley after the allotted five-years of Palmer's tenure as archbishop ended; Elizabeth Stuart, who left the church in 2006 and was appointed the Archbishop of the Province of Great Britain and Ireland of the more traditionalist Liberal Catholic Church International; and Jonathan Blake, OEC's founder, who was the church's sole remaining bishop after Stuart left.

In 2008 the Open Episcopal Church became a member of the International Council of Community Churches[15] and through them, a member of the World Council of Churches and Churches Uniting in Christ.[16]

The church received national and international attention due to the wedding blessing Blake conducted for reality television figures Jade Goody and Jack Tweed,[17] [18] through interviews broadcast after Jade Goody's death,[19] through the prayer released before Jade Goody's funeral,[20] through Blake's response to Michael Parkinson's criticism of Goody,[21] [22] [23] through the launch of Post the Host (an outreach provision to distribute the consecrated Hosts by post),[24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] and through David Gillham leading the prayers in the Scottish Parliament.[32]

Following Jade Goody's wedding, Christopher Woods, Chaplain and Director of Studies in Theology at Christ's College, Cambridge, called upon the Church of England to speak out against Blake and the OEC. The Church of England declined to comment.[33]

The church consecrated the first woman as a bishop for Wales in 2007. The bishop of Scotland, David Gillham, ordained Helen Hamilton at St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney in 2010; Gillham later fell into dispute with the church and left.[34] Hamilton was subsequently consecrated as the first woman bishop for Scotland in June 2012.[35] She made an episcopal visit to Derry.[36] In 2013 the church consecrated a female bishop for Northumberland.[37]

Blake contributed to the book A Strange Vocation: Independent Bishops Tell Their Stories in 2009,[38] and contributed liturgical material to Geoffrey Duncan's anthology Courage to Love[39] and Leanne Tigert and Maren Tirabassi's compilation All Whom God Has Joined.[40] In 2014 Blake's book That Old Devil Called God Again: The Scourge of Religion was published.[41]

The church has clerics from Anglican, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Lutheran and Franciscan backgrounds and has grown internationally into America, Egypt, Brazil and Thailand.[42] The church promotes its KITE Awards for young people making a positive difference in the community.[43] [44]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Organisation . The Open Episcopal Church . June 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110727145429/https://openepiscopalchurch.org//organisation/organisation.html . July 27, 2011.
  2. Web site: Clerical Disabilities Act 1870 . Legislation . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121113170147/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/33-34/91/section/3 . November 13, 2012.
  3. Web site: Have dog collar, will travel: Counselling, dance workshops, conflict. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/have-dog-collar-will-travel-counselling-dance-workshops-conflict-resolution-arbitration-exorcism-jim-1444165.html . 24 May 2022 . subscription . live. October 21, 1994. The Independent.
  4. For God's Sake Don't Go To Church Published by Arthur James.
  5. Web site: Jonathan's 95 Theses . The Most Reverend Jonathan Clive Blake . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110910172210/https://www.bishopjonathanblake.com/theses.htm . September 10, 2011.
  6. Book: Chryssides, George D. . 2012 . Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements . Scarecrow Press . 260 . 9780810861947.
  7. Web site: Archbishop Jonathan Blake || Christian Alternative || Author Profile . 2017-06-26 . 2017-09-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170901201601/http://www.christian-alternative.com/authors/archbishop-jonathan-blake . dead .
  8. Web site: lcc.cc. www.lcc.cc.
  9. Web site: Welcome to the SICM Website . SICM . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100909152045/http://www.sicm.eu/index2.html . September 9, 2010.
  10. The Holy Circle Trust. Charity Number 1066062
  11. News: Richard and Judy screen gay wedding . February 14, 2001 . BBC News . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131104102038/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1170214.stm . November 4, 2013.
  12. Web site: Rent-a-bishop at your service . August 7, 2004 . Lancashire Telegraph . June 24, 2023.
  13. Web site: About . The Open Episcopal Church . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110727150222/https://openepiscopalchurch.org//about/about.html . July 27, 2011.
  14. Web site: Roger Whatley . Church Times . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120325084855/http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=75762 . March 25, 2012.
  15. Book: Hooton, Michael . 2016 . The Extended Family . Wipf & Stock Publishers . 159–160 . 9781498280853.
  16. Web site: Europe . International Council of Community Churches . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160512010940/http://www.icccnow.org/Europe/ . May 12, 2016.
  17. Web site: Jade Goody's Wedding. https://web.archive.org/web/20090226192213/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/4779170/Jade-Goodys-wedding-The-final-preparations.html. dead. 2009-02-26.
  18. Web site: Jade Goody, Archbishop Blake and the strange phenomenon of 'wandering bishops' . Thompson . Damian . February 22, 2009 . The Telegraph . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111021182819/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/8679611/Jade_Goody_Archbishop_Blake_and_the_strange_phenomenon_of_wandering_bishops/ . October 21, 2011.
  19. Web site: Bishop praises Jade . Talk Talk . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121003005522/http://www.talktalk.co.uk/video/11383/news/Bishop-praises-Jade/ . October 3, 2012.
  20. Web site: Jade Goody's funeral: What the star planned for her last journey. April 2, 2009. mirror.
  21. Web site: Bishop Hits Back After Jade Goody Criticism . April 8, 2009 . Sky News . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090411015058/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Jade-Goody-Bishop-Jonathan-Blake-Hits-Back-At-Sir-Michael-Parkinsons-Criticism/Article/200904215258069 . April 11, 2009.
  22. Web site: Bishop hits back at Sir Michael Parkinson comments on Jade Goody . April 8, 2009 . Telegraph . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090411190246/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/jade-goody/5123450/Bishop-hits-back-at-Sir-Michael-Parkinson-comments-on-Jade-Goody.html . April 11, 2009.
  23. Web site: Jade Goody's wedding bishop defends her against Sir Michael Parkinson's criticism . April 8, 2009 . Mirror . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121021151116/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jade-goodys-wedding-bishop-defends-789622 . October 21, 2012.
  24. Web site: Find Here Your Way to God . Post the Host . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230514002118/https://www.postthehost.net/index2.html . May 14, 2023.
  25. Web site: Praise the Lord and post the Host: church's plan to woo worshippers . Butt . Riazat . June 8, 2009 . The Guardian . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130906192443/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jun/09/worship-communion-wafers-post . September 6, 2013.
  26. Web site: The Open Episcopal Church's wafer wheeze . Tompkins . Stephen . The Guardian . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130906162031/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/jun/09/communion-wafer-post . September 6, 2013.
  27. Web site: Church leaders offer communion wafers in the post . June 9, 2009 . Telegraph . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090612205234/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5483394/Church-leaders-offer-communion-wafers-in-the-post.html . June 12, 2009.
  28. Web site: Mass hysteria . Tomkins . Stephen . June 2009 . Ship of Fools . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090702110601/http://ship-of-fools.com/features/columnists/crows_nest/024.html . July 2, 2009.
  29. Web site: Reductio Ad Absurdum - Host in the Post! . Pope . Charles . June 9, 2011 . Archdiocese of Washington . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110809195242/http://blog.adw.org/2009/06/reductio-ad-absurdum-host-in-the-post/ . August 9, 2011.
  30. Web site: Host by post . June 9, 2009 . Religion News Service . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110929005715/http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?/rnsblog/host_by_post . September 29, 2011.
  31. Web site: Satanists are planning to desecrate the Host at a Black Mass. Let's stop them . Thompson . Damian . August 20, 2014 . The Spectator . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160325045524/https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2014/08/satanists-are-planning-to-desecrate-the-host-at-a-black-mass-lets-stop-them/ . March 25, 2016.
  32. Web site: Minutes of Proceedings Vol. 3, No. 47 Session 3 . January 20, 2010 . The Scottish Parliament . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100423162559/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/chamber/mop-10/mop10-01-20.htm . April 23, 2010.
  33. Web site: Bishop who blessed union of Jade Goody and Jack Tweed faces criticism . Gledhill . Ruth . February 23, 2009 . The Times . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230625001817/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bishop-who-blessed-union-of-jade-goody-and-jack-tweed-faces-criticism-wkh00z27wr7 . June 25, 2023.
  34. Web site: McQuillan . Rebecca . April 2, 2012 . Helen Hamilton, Scotland's First Female Bishop . June 21, 2023 . PressReader.
  35. Web site: Nun made Scotland's first bishop . June 7, 2012 . The Herald . June 25, 2023.
  36. Web site: Bishop Helen makes first visit to the city . Northern Ireland . 17 September 2012 . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230625002538/https://www.northernirelandworld.com/news/bishop-helen-makes-first-visit-to-the-city-2733957 . June 25, 2023.
  37. Web site: New church comes to Bloomington . December 28, 2013 . The Herald-Times . June 24, 2023.
  38. A strange Vocation - Independent bishops tell their stories Published by Apocryphile Press
  39. Courage to Love Published by The Pilgrim Press
  40. All Whom God has Joined Published by The Pilgrim Press
  41. Web site: Archbishop Jonathan Blake . Christian Alternative The New Open Spaces . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160807192643/http://www.christian-alternative.com/authors/archbishop-jonathan-blake . August 7, 2016.
  42. Web site: Worship begins in Chiang Mai! . June 24, 2013 . All Saints' Chiang Mai . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140818125529/https://allsaintschiangmai.com/2013/06/ . August 18, 2014.
  43. Web site: The OEC Kite Awards 2012 . The Open Episcopal Church . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120317024141/https://openepiscopalchurch.org//organisation/kite.html . March 17, 2012.
  44. Web site: Apply for 10k award says Norfolk Deacon . The Norwich and Norfolk Christian Community . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210630155218/http://www.openepiscopalchurch.org/pdf/NetworkNorwichKITEArticle.pdf . June 30, 2021.

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