Scotland’s f irst female bishop is accused of bullying 10 colleagues
SCOTLAND’S first female bishop has been accused of bullying a number of colleagues within the church.
The Right Rev Anne Dyer, 63, made history when she was consecrated as the Anglican bishop of Aberdeen and orkney in 2018.
However, trade union Unite, which represents religious workers, has been called in to represent a group of around ten priests and other colleagues amid allegations of bullying.
It comes after it was revealed last month that a branch of the Scottish episcopal Church (SeC) had ordered an independent investigation after Bishop Dyer dismissed the musical director at her cathedral and suspended a priest.
Former SeC member Henna Cundill, who trained to become an Anglican priest, said she now felt able to speak out.
She told The Times: ‘A group of us who all feel that we have been bullied by Bishop Anne Dyer girded our loins and contacted our union representative to see if we could finally get an independent bullying inquiry under way.
‘It is a mixture of people of different rank and station: clergy, lay people and former employees.
‘They feel anxious about speaking out publicly and feel their livelihoods would be at risk if they did.’
yesterday, Miss Cundill, who now works with the Church of Scotland, added in an online statement: ‘I hope that an independent inquiry can now be put into motion as quickly as possible, so that all sides can have a fair opportunity to be heard.’
Unite national officer Siobhan endean said: ‘We are aware of the allegations of bullying being made against the Rt Rev Anne
‘Offer to discuss difficulties’
Dyer, the Bishop of Aberdeen and orkney.
‘Unite represents a number of clergy and church workers within the Scottish episcopal Church, who claim to have been bullied by Bishop Dyer.
‘Unite takes a zero-tolerance stand against bullying in the workplace.
‘This is an ongoing situation of some sensitivity involving dialogue between Unite and Bishop Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish episcopal Church. We will not be commenting further at this stage.’
The SeC said there had been ‘informal communication’ with Unite, but it had not received any allegations of bullying from the union.
An SeC spokesman said: ‘The Scottish episcopal Church... will not respond to unsubstantiated or anonymous complaints.
‘An informal communication between the Primus and a Unite official made no allegations of bullying, and an offer was made, and remains open, to discuss any difficulties experienced by Unite members.
‘The church’s processes in relation to bullying complaints are under ongoing review. Meanwhile any complaints about bullying behaviour in the SeC should be sent to the church rather than the media.’
Last night, the College of Bishops said it had set up an independent review. It added: ‘Bishop Anne made the request for an independent review after being subject to unsubstantiated and anonymous allegations in the national media.’