Bishop to face church disciplinary tribunal

Bishop Anne Dyer will face the tribunal in September

The Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney, Anne Dyer is to face a Scottish Episcopal Church disciplinary tribunal.

The church said three complaints against Bishop Dyer concerned behaviour that was "likely to bring the Church into disrepute".

Bishop Dyer, Scotland's first female bishop, previously said she faced "significant bullying and harassment" since taking up the role in 2018. She was suspended in 2022.

A spokesperson for the bishop said a number of complaints had already been dismissed and she was confident of proving her innocence.

The decision to go to the tribunal was made by the church's Procurator, Paul Reid KC, who had been considering a number of complaints lodged against Bishop Dyer.

In a statement, the Scottish Episcopal Church said the complaints had been referred to its Procurator, following an investigation by its Preliminary Proceedings Committee (PPC).

It added: "Bishop Dyer has been formally notified of this decision.

"The other complaints will not be pursued further by the Procurator."

The Church said the tribunal hearing would be held in Edinburgh in September.

Bishop Dyer has one month to enter a plea in respect of the accusations.

A spokesperson for Bishop Dyer said: “A number of complaints have already been dismissed by the PPC and the Procurator.

"In relation to the remaining complaints, Bishop Anne is confident that, once all the facts are presented, she will have clearly established her innocence as well as the motivation of the small group of individuals who have campaigned against her."