A Registered Charity: SC037428
To whoever it may concern
6 December 2011
Dear Reader
Right Reverend David Gillham, Bishop of The Open Episcopal Church in Scotland
I write openly to you all on behalf of our Board of Trustees who understand that formal complaints have been lodged and numerous unsolicited emails sent out by Jonathan Clive Blake, that contain a long list of unsubstantiated allegations along with a derogatory opinion about our bishop's mental health
Our Board of Trustees is aware of the allegations made against our bishop by Jonathan Blake and we can confirm that the allegations are not only unfounded but are also malicious. We have been well aware of Jonathan Blake's antics for some time as well as those of a person named Helen Hamilton, who is a former cleric of this church and about whom we have already issued an earlier disclaimer elsewhere on our website
Our Trustees are the only legitimate authority for this church. Mr Blake is not, and never has been, part of this management structure and runs a completely different church in England under a similar name with whom we used to have an association in the form of a communion agreement. He is using that name and former association to imply he is us when he is not. He and Helen Hamilton are also well known to the Church of England and the Scottish Episcopal Church although not in a favourable way
We understand that many of you will be concerned and alarmed at Mr Blake's claims, which is quite natural in the circumstances, but we do urge you to use your judgement before jumping to conclusions. Confirmation of our independent status from Mr Blake's church can be obtained from the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator should you desire to check with them who the legal contact is for our church and who is the legitimate authority authorised to speak on behalf of us. We would also extend to anyone with a valid interest an invitation to inspect any of the documentation we have on file, including Trustee and Council minutes, that might aid them in clarifying any of the lies and misinformation being put about by Mr Blake
In conclusion we would remind members of the public that all clergy in this church, including Bishop Gillham, are fully background checked under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. This Scottish Government protection scheme is, at the present time, far more stringent in its background checks than is the Enhanced Disclosure scheme in England & Wales and which is not legally valid in Scotland. The Statutory Authorities in Scotland will be able to confirm that Bishop Gillham is not the subject of any complaints
Yours sincerely
David Furniss
Vicar General & Diocesan Administrator
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