Protests in church over selection of first woman to be bishop

SCOTLAND’S first female bishop is facing a backlash from within her new flock before she has even met them.

The schism has forced the Scottish Episcopal Church to defend its appointment of Canon Anne Dyer, who backs gay marriage, after infighting over her election.

The split in opinion centres on how her appointment was made, with the protesters insisting it was not to do with the question of women as bishops or same-sex marriage.

Strongly worded open letters have been exchanged between the disgruntled portion of the Anglican diocese and the church’s College of Bishops.

In November, the bishops selected Canon Dyer, Rector of Holy Trinity Church in Haddington, East Lothian, to represent Aberdeen and Orkney diocese after failing to find a minimum three candidates.

This allowed the bishops to use canon law to make an appointment but some clergy objected to this, claiming Canon Dyer’s ordination goes directly against the wishes of the diocese, who want a say in the process.

Some claim her consecration, due in March, was causing ‘disquiet and division within the diocese’, including a number of resignations.

The group want the diocese to vote on the election of Canon Dyer, pictured, or have her withdraw from acceptance.

The diocese voted against same-sex marriage in March last year, the only diocese to hold this view. However, Canon Dyer wrote an open letter to the bishops of the church in 2014 in support of incorporating gay marriage into the church.

In response, The Most Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness and Primus, said the college of bishops was ‘greatly concerned’ by the reaction of some members of the clergy.

Mr Strange said: ‘The bishops fully believe they have been led by the Holy Spirit in their election of Canon Dyer.

‘The bishops know her to be a person who will seek, under God, to enable the diocese to move forward in its mission and ministry and in service to the people of Aberdeen and Orkney.’

Canon Dyer could not be reached for comment last night.