The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Bruce Cameron, has announced his retirement as Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church at the end of April 2006.

|TOP|Rev. Cameron will also retire from his post of 14 years as the Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney at the end of June 2006.

His retirement as Primus after 5 years in the position comes prior to his retirement as Bishop in order to allow the new Primus adequate time to prepare for the vacancy and election process for a new Bishop of the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney.

Rev. Cameron said, following the announcement of his retirement: “I have greatly enjoyed the enormous privilege of being Primus and of course Bishop of the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney.

“I feel that new energy in leadership is now needed to continue to take the church forward in its mission and ministry. On a personal level, I would want to regard retirement not so much as an ending but as a new beginning – an opportunity to explore new pursuits and activities while I have the energy and enthusiasm to do so.”

The new Primus will be announced in May after the candidate's selection by the seven bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

The role of the Primus, as most senior bishop, is to act as chair of the College of Bishops and as a representative of the Scottish Episcopal Church as a whole.

Rev. Bruce’s five year reign in the office of Primus has seen considerable change within the Church, most notably the debate over women in the Episcopate and their final approval in 2003.