4 candidates for Bishop of Aberdeen

Four candidates have been short-listed for the post of Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney (one of seven Dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church) which became vacant last July following the retirement of the Rt Rev Bruce Cameron, who served the Diocese as Bishop for 14 years.

This short-list is the second attempt at electing a new Bishop, as the synod responsible for electing a Bishop was unable to reach a majority consensus when presented with a short-list of candidates last December. This synod (known as the Electoral Synod) comprises representatives of clergy and lay church members from the Diocese of Aberdeen & Orkney. Its role is to meet with each of the candidates (this meeting will take place on 21 April) and then to elect a new Bishop on 28 April. The candidates are:

· The Very Rev Canon Dr Robert Gillies, Rector of St Andrew’s Church, St Andrews; Canon of St Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth and Dean of the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane

· The Rev Canon Timothy Morris, Rector of Good Shepherd Church, Edinburgh; Priest in Charge of St Salvador’s Church, Edinburgh and Honorary Canon of St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh

· The Rev Canon Dr Emsley Nimmo, Rector of St Margaret’s, Aberdeen and Canon of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Aberdeen

· The Rev Canon Dr Philip Noble , Rector of St Ninian’s, Prestwick and Canon of St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow

Commenting on the short-list, the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, The Most Rev Dr Idris Jones says “Each of the candidates brings a distinctive style and depth of experience in ministry within the Scottish Episcopal Church.”