Bishop accused of bullying now on sick leave

Bishop Anne Dyer has always denied the allegations

Scotland's first female bishop who had been accused of bullying is now on sick leave from her Aberdeen and Orkney role, it has been revealed.

The Right Reverend Anne Dyer was suspended in 2022 and was due to face a disciplinary tribunal after three complaints were made against her.

However, following a review, the church's independent procurator said earlier this month it was not in the public interest to pursue a tribunal.

Bishop Anne - who has always denied the allegations - had been expected to return to work earlier this week as a result. A new complaint has also been lodged, but its nature has not been disclosed.

The Scottish Episcopal Church confirmed that a new complaint had been received against Bishop Anne.

A spokesperson for Bishop Anne responded: "This is becoming ridiculous. It appears to be yet another example of the ongoing campaign being waged against her.

"We have not been informed by the Church of any further complaint and it will be extremely revealing to see upon what pretext it has been lodged, and by whom.

"Bishop Anne is currently on sick leave and has appointed Bishop Ian Paton to act as commissary before she returns to her duties in a short while."

The Church's procurator, Paul Reid KC, had decided to drop a number of bullying charges against her, despite finding that there was enough evidence to provide a "realistic prospect" of conviction under church law.

Bishop Anne had welcomed the result and said she was looking forward to resuming the full range of her duties in the service of her diocese "in the days and weeks ahead".

Four of the church's Bishops - including the Primus, the Most Reverend Mark Strange - later urged her to reconsider.

In an open letter he asked her to consider "whether she is still the right person to lead the Diocese".

Bishop Anne described the intervention as "ill-considered and inflammatory" and accused her colleagues of threatening her in "an unprofessional and un-Christian manner".