Archbishop Jonathan Blake

The Most Reverend Jonathan Blake, Presiding Archbishop of the Open Episcopal Church B.A. (Hons), Dip. Pastoral Studies. Mobile: 07767 687711 www.bishopjonathanblake.com archbishopjonathanblake@gmail.com www.openepiscopalchurch.org The Church is a member of The International Council of Community churches and the World Council of Churches. Married and a proud Dad.

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Location: London, Kent, United Kingdom

Gassed Tehran, seized Kabul, helped Mother Teresa, funded TB hospital, priest 1981, went Auschwitz, wrote on Parliament, convicted, began 1st inter-faith NHS chapel, 12 yrs Anglican cleric/vicar - left, baptised 1000's in homes/Mt Snowdon/at circus, wedding underwater, wrote ‘For God’s Sake Don’t Go To Church’, nailed 95 Theses 2 Canterbury cathedral, arrested, co-founded the Society for Independent Ministry, consecrated a bishop, co-founded the Open Episcopal Church, did 1st gay wedding on morning TV, sued Associated Newspapers, co-consecrated 1st women bishops 4 England,Wales,Scotland, accommodated the homeless, posted Mass/took it 2 sex workers, elected Archbishop, arrested 4 climbing with sons,founded ‘When No One’s Watching',made ICV, did Jade Goody's wedding,invited 2 Downing St, wrote 'That Old Devil Called God Again', conviction 4 campaigning against child abuse quashed on appeal, convicted 4 successful blogging 2 stop paedophile. His Christmas Lights raising £79,000 4 Water in 4 Gambian villages. Published "The Tales of Henry the Lovable Hedgehog", the SAFE New Testament + Psalms + radical Book of Common Prayer, ordained priests for UK,US,Thailand,Spain,Ireland

Sunday, May 31, 2009

DR GEORGE TILLER

Should he be demonised or canonised?

I suggest the latter. Not because all of his decisions may have been worthy, though whose are, but because he was one of those brave individuals who was willing to work and provide care for those in desperate circumstances despite the knowledge that this placed his life in constant danger.

God protect us from those who tuck themsleves into neat boxes of ready provided answers to life's dilemmas and then try and force them on everyone else. Such an approach is a delusion which costs the individuals dear. However it costs others dearer, in Dr Tiller's case, his life.

God support those, like Jesus, who went out of his way to spend time with prostitutes and the sinners of his day, not to shoot them or be shot by them, but to love them and be loved by them.

LAUNCH OF FOUR FINGER CAMPAIGN

Bishop Jonathan and others will gather outside Scotland Yard at 4 p.m. on June 1st to launch the www.whennooneswatching.org national four finger campaign.

We are asking people to hold the four fingers of their right hand high, palm facing out, with the thumb tucked across the palm, whenever they encounter the police. The gesture offers an invitation to the police to respond making the same sign back to indicate their agreement.

The four fingers signify the four words, When No One’s Watching and the four aims of the WNOW campaign.

These are:

1. That all police officers must have body-worn video devices switched on while engaged with members of the public.
2. That all police vehicles must have video devices switched on when carrying members of the public.
3.That all custody suites and cells must have video devices switched on when members of the public are present.
4.That all video device content that relates to members of the public must be made available to them on request.

These aims seek to protect the public and the police by providing an independent evidential record upon which all involved can rely.

The campaign is not based on an ‘us and them’ attitude, nor is it against the police, it is against violence and those patterns of behaviour and practices that undermine human dignity and human rights. However, as the police bear statutory power with inadequate monitoring, this poses a more potent threat to the public.

Nevertheless the sign should not be used as an act of aggression. It is a symbol of that which would lead to the highest standards and the most positive relations between the public and the police.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

NEW VIDEO FOR PENTECOST

Video for Pentecost:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdcuQWfm0io

Thursday, May 28, 2009

ABU GHRAIB RAPE

The horrifying photographs are to be kept from public view because of the damage they will do. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/5395830/Abu-Ghraib-abuse-photos-show-rape.html
Give anyone power over another and allow that power to be exercised without comprehensive scrutiny then God protect those at the receiving end. We must live our lives as though a video was running 24/7 which others will see and we must ensure now that we take steps to video all the power brokers in our society.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

CHRIST'S PRISON DOORS ARE OPENED

Damian Thompson's blog http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/damian_thompson/blog/2009/05/25/post_the_host
_bishop_who_blessed_jade_goodys_wedding_offers_consecrated_wafers_by_mail ( if entering this you will have to paste the two lines as one )
and the Ship of Fools discussion http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=005914;p=1#000031 demonstrate the horror rippling through ecclesiastical corridoors at the thought that Jesus may be on the loose.

The content of many of the comments is lamentable.

Jesus is at large, as he has always been, but now the edifice of institutionalised religion is crumbling as did the temple and the Holy Spirit is at work. Alleluia.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

UTUBE

www.postthehost.net is almost ready for launch. I have been busy preparing a range of videos to accompany the on-line availability of conscecrated hosts. You can view the videos by searching for Post the Host on u tube or click below:

1. This is a FORMAL ORNATE MASS – Bishop Jonathan Blake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPH7b8nQuAA

2. This is an OPEN AIR MASS – Bishop Jonathan Blake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY5orZvpVQY

3. This is a MEDITATIVE MASS held in the open air - Bishop Jonathan Blake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_InDCj2mD2o

4. This is an INCLUSIVE MASS celebrated in a simple manner- Bishop Jonathan Blake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TofHeGL62Cg

5. This is a SINGING MASS - Bishop Jonathan Blake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxdXuyEtt3M

6. This is a STREET MASS - Bishop Jonathan Blake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7KCKNlJNIc

7. This is a RADICAL MASS - Bishop Jonathan Blake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug6Hi1iiF70

8. This is a LATIN MASS - Bishop Jonathan Blake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XryrMegQjQ

9. This is a CATHOLIC MASS - Bishop Jonathan Blake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh66b7XZ4mc

These are just the first.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

STREET JESUS - STREET MASS

Congratulations to the Our Lady Immaculate and St Philip Neri Catholic church in Uckfield that has just unveiled a seven-foot high bronze statue of Christ wearing baggy jeans and a shirt billowing in the wind while his hair and beard are neatly and fashionably trimmed.

Can I commend our Street Mass to them:

Alright God,
Sorry if we messed up.
Trying 2 sort things out
but cummon, give us a break

Absolution: OK. Hang on in there.

JC said. ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever eats this bread will live 4ever.’

JC if u can do that, then i wanna get involved, yea I believe in the real stuff. The inventing, rescuing, empowering God and the blood.
Nailed on a cross, banged in a tomb + then popping up all over the gaff.
The jet wash 2 + life beyond.
So here I am God, giving some respect to the guy on the donkey and all that
shizzle with the poor and the pushed over.
u were on the street, u know what
it was like, thats mad.

Then the party that hit the crap, with crumbs as torn flesh + wine lost blood.
But this time not water 2 wine but death 2 life.
So this is u now 4 me.
This host. Its power, life + love.

Our Guardian
Respect
U rule
Yr way
On the street as beyond
Give us r daily bread
+ cut us some slack
+ we’ll do the same
+ no set ups
+ no evil
4 u r it
now + 4 ever.

Receive the Host

Thumbs up. I’m home. I’m safe. I’m alive. I’m free. I’m yours. I’m ready. I’m on the move. Watch this space.

Monday, May 11, 2009

AN INCARNATE POPE

At Ben Gurion airport the Pope has stated "I plead with all those responsible to explore every possible avenue in the search for a just resolution of the outstanding difficulties so that both people may live in peace in a homeland of their own within secure and internationally recognised borders.''

As God's Word in Christ came to earth to redeem us, would it not be a potent demonstration of the Gospel if the Pope, as one of those 'responsible', left the Vatican to devote himself to helping bring about the peace of his plea?

GEORGE PITCHER, THE POPE, CONDOMS AND THE MIDDLE EAST.

Mr Pitcher, in the Telegraph today, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/georgepitcher/5304596/The-Pope-brings-the-Truth-to-the-Middle-East---not-a-peace-plan.html, lauds the Pope as the bringer of Catholic Truth. His task 'to remind the faithful of the will of God to which humankind should aspire'.

In Africa that meant saying that condoms were not the answer to the blight of aids. Re the Middle East that involved rehabilitating Bishop Williamson and his enthusiasm for the beatification of Pius XII, known in some Jewish quarter's as "Hitler's Pope". Thankfully the Pope has moved his position now on some of these areas.

Mr Pitcher takes a swipe at Tony Blair who he carps has made a negligible mark as a Middle East envoy and Cherie Blair who raised the plight of women with the Pontiff. These are just 'heel snappers' in contrast the Pope who 'walks the Holy Lands as part of a far greater and timeless apostolic mission.'

I'm not convinced.

Tony Blair has incarnated himself in the Middle East into much of the painstaking nitty gritty and tiresome diplomatic work from which peace can be the fruit. Cherie Blair used her access to the Pope to remind him of Christ's championing of women's rights and the condom distributors in Africa are perhaps offering the true sacrament of the Body of Christ in seeking to protect life and live in the truth.

Saturday, May 09, 2009

MPs' Expenses

The financial arrangements at Westminster are shocking.

The chasm is vast between the ability of so many MPs to claim that their expenses are all justifiable under parliamentary rules and the incredulity speading across the nation at this brazen gravy train.

Of course, now all has to be revealed, prudence and restraint will flourish.

Into how many more corners must the light of truth shine?

Thursday, May 07, 2009

MEDWAY OR HOLLYWOOD

The Medway valley provides a visual and experiential delight having driven along the dreary A2 to escape London and its seemingly endless conurbations.

Please save us from the Council's prosaic plan to scar the presenting hillside with white letters spelling out MEDWAY.

Our European partners outdo us with art works adorning their highways. So prompted we have our own Angel of the North and most recently the Dream sculpture in Merseyside. In Kent discussions are still underway for a white horse.

Please aim higher Medway, otherwise your choice will achieve the opposite of your intentions.

Monday, May 04, 2009

THE BODY OF CHRIST FOR YOU

The Open Episcopal Church is launching a radical but we believe God given and God inspired work on June 14th.

The web site is http://www.postthehost.net/.

The Body of Christ, we believe, is not in the control of the Church, or the priests and should not be kept under lock and key in altar tabernacles.

Jesus is here for everyone. Of course he is available directly to everyone at all times, however the consecrated host is the most potent sacrament used by the church of his Body and we believe God is calling us to make that sacrament available to all as Jesus is available to all.

Saturday, May 02, 2009

DELARA DARABI

What is this obsession we have with murder?

This sanitising by a State of the most heinous act of removing a human being from the earth.

The hanging noose, crude and barbaric used to snatch away the complex, intricate and unique miracle of a life.

In Iraq, its vulgarity was demonstrated when Barzan Ibrahim was unintentionally beheaded in 2007 by the noose.

Thankfully the death penalty no longer exists in the U.K. Shame on all those States including the U.S. who still succumb to its evil overtures.