The Rt Rev Ian Paton, Acting Bishop, sent a message to all in the Diocese of Aberdeen & Orkney following the news that the Canon 54 process had reached it’s conclusion:
Dear friends in Christ,
As I hope you have already heard, the Scottish Episcopal Church has announced today that the long disciplinary process concerning complaints made against Bishop Anne has reached its conclusion.
The charges against Bishop Anne will not be pursued by the Procurator following a continuous process of review since charges were confirmed, and the Clergy Discipline Tribunal has granted the Procurator’s request to dismiss the proceedings. This means that Bishop Anne’s suspension as Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney has been lifted, and she is returning to ministry as your Bishop. I am very pleased, therefore, that this Pastoral Letter is my final duty as your Acting Bishop.
This has been a very difficult and divisive time in the life of the Diocese, as well as an extremely hard time for Bishop Anne, for those who brought complaints against the Bishop, and for all those involved in the Canonical process. There will be different feelings felt by different people today, but I hope that the ending of this long process, and Bishop Anne’s return, will enable us to look to the future together with faith, hope and love.
In my short time as your Acting Bishop I have seen how the ongoing life of the Diocese has been served by many people working and praying together. Especially I would like to thank the staff of the Diocesan Office, and the members of the Diocesan Standing Committee and other committees who have worked hard on your behalf and given so much support to me and others who have served as Acting Bishop. They have carried much in this time, and deserve our appreciation and thanks.
Please pray for Bishop Anne as she returns to ministry, for all who have been involved in the Canonical process, and for one another as we reflect on how we will work together, to rebuild and renew relationships as God’s people in this Diocese.
I have been very happy to serve the Diocese as Acting Bishop, even with such limited availability of time, and would like to thank all of you for your prayers and support. As Bishop Anne returns, I remain ready to give support to her and the Diocese in any way that I can.
May God bless all of you in the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney with his grace and love.
With warmest regards,
+Ian, St Andrews