Bishop in bullying case suspended again just months before retiring

Scotland's first female bishop has been suspended again, just months before she is due to retire.

The Right Reverend Anne Dyer, the Scottish Episcopal Church's Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney, was suspended in 2022 after being accused of bullying.

The church's independent procurator reviewed the evidence and decided it was not in the public interest to pursue matters any further. She returned to work, but announced earlier this year that she would be retiring next February at the age of 70.

She has now been suspended over a complaint which is separate to the earlier case. She said in a statement she was "surprised".

It concerns an alleged breach of church code relating to the designation of a church to serve temporarily as a cathedral.

After returning to work in November 2024 following the bullying allegations, she vowed to rebuild trust and relationships in her church.

She added it was time to try to "move forward".

The Scottish Episcopal Church said in August that Bishop Dyer had now given the required six-months' notice ahead of leaving.

She revealed the news of her retirement in a pastoral letter.

Bishop Dyer wrote: "Through times that have been both joyful and sometimes very challenging, it has been a privilege to serve as your bishop.

"I am much changed by this experience, and very grateful to God for all the grace and encouragement I have received."

Of her remaining time in the role, she added: "I will look forward to worshipping with as many of you as possible and continuing to give attention to the many projects that are in progress."

Her last day as Bishop of the Diocese is due to be 20 February.

The preliminary proceedings committee of the Scottish Episcopal Church has referred the new complaint to the Church's Procurator.

"Suspension is an automatic procedural requirement at this stage and does not imply any finding of fault," a statement said.

"Bishop Anne has been formally notified.

"There is no fixed timescale for the process. The Church will be making no further comment at this stage."

In a statement, Bishop Dyer, said: "Bishop Anne is surprised that the complaint in relation to the status of a cathedral has been referred to the Church Procurator.

"As the preliminary proceedings committee has referred the complaint to the Church Procurator, Bishop Anne is now automatically suspended.

"Bishop Anne was previously suspended from September 2022 until October 2024. During that period of suspension, the status of the cathedral in question was maintained by three acting Bishops.

"It is disappointing that a small group continue to wage a campaign against Bishop Anne."

The statement said she was "confident" that the Church Procurator would see the complaint as "entirely without foundation".