Episcopal Diocese Investigating Priest Who Takes Erotic Photos
By Tim Townsend
An Episcopal priest who works as a chaplain and supervisor at Christian Hospital in unincorporated St. Louis County is under investigation by the Episcopal Diocoese of Missouri for possible sexual misconduct. The Rev. John Blair is the BJC hospital's manager of spiritual care and its clinical pastoral education supervisor. The diocese began an investigation Tuesday after receiving an anonymous letter complaining about Blair's ministry, and after the Post-Dispatch called the diocese to ask about a similar letter the newspaper received complaining about Blair's erotic photography. Bret Berigan, a spokesperson for Christian Hospital, said only that the matter is "being followed up on internally as appropriate." Blair declined to comment, but he describes himself in several places online as an artist. Before his page on an online photography website was taken down, Blair described some of his work as including "artistic nudes and fine art erotica." Some of his images, which have been shown in St. Louis galleries and art shows, involve male and female models in more explicit sexual poses. Blair became a priest in the Episcopal church in 2000. He worked at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in north St. Louis County from 2002 to 2004. He became the rector, or senior pastor, of All Saints Episcopal Church in 2004 but resigned in 2007 after diocesan officials investigated a charge of impropriety against Blair. The diocese found no evidence to support the charge, said the Rev. Daniel Smith, executive officer to Missouri Bishop George Wayne Smith. (The two are not related.) Blair is currently listed as "associate for spirituality" at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Ferguson, but the Rev. Daniel Smith said he has not worked there in more than a year. Smith said Blair is now being investigated under Canon IV of the church's legal rulings, which include offenses ranging from "immorality" to "conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy." The diocese completed a "web-based investigation" of Blair Tuesday night, and Bishop Smith was briefed on the situation Wednesday, according to the Rev. Daniel Smith. A seven-member disciplinary board, made up of both clergy and lay members, will do a more thorough investigation and give a recommendation to the bishop. Bishop Smith is scheduled to meet with Blair Monday morning. Discipline for the priest could range from having a letter of reprimand placed in his file to removing his ordination. Blair's biography on Christian Hospital's website says he was born and raised in St. Louis and graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia, and Lindenwood University. Earlier this year, he received his doctorate in ministry from Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves. Contact: ttownsend@post-dispatch.com
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