The Most Revd Richard Holloway

When I was elected Bishop of Edinburgh in June 1986 I was asked, during a magazine interview, when I was planning to retire - even then there was speculation on the subject. I thought for a moment and replied, 'in the year 2000'. It seemed an unimaginably long way off and it had a certain eschatological ring to it that I liked. And here we are, in what seems like no time at all, at the year I predicted. I intend to stick to the prediction I made then and retire as your Bishop later this year. To be precise, I shall resign on October 31, a month before my 67th birthday.

That makes this Synod, my last as your Bishop, a particularly important one. And it is important because my retirement is not the only change you face. As you all know, Brian Dale, who has been a wonderful servant of our church for many years, retires as our Treasurer at this Synod. And we are losing Norman MacCallum, our highly competent Synod Clerk, who goes back to the highlands to be Provost of the Cathedral in Oban on April 1. We have planned this Synod in a way that lets you respond to these impending changes. There is the usual business from last year to be got through, and we'll try not to skimp it. But the main agenda will be the looking ahead and planning for the future you must begin today. You'll have to elect a new Synod clerk, bearing in mind that the Diocesan administration will have to carry you through a vacancy in the see. You will welcome a new Treasurer, who will learn his job during a period of transition.

Inevitably, however, the main concern in your minds will be the processes and possibilities with which an Episcopal Election confronts you. That will help to concentrate your minds on the new Canon for the election of a Bishop that comes before you today. If the Canon is passed by the General Synod in June, it will gets its first outing in this Diocese. Strictly speaking, none of the formal processes for the election of a new Bishop can be started before November 1st, but there is nothing to stop you from planning ahead, discussing the kind of person you want and preparing the Diocesan Profile that is now an important part of the electoral process. As it happens, there will be a meeting of the College of Bishops on the day I retire, at which the Bishops will probably elect the new Primus, whose first task will be to issue the mandate for the election in this Diocese. So you are in for an exciting year, which will be a pleasant antidote to the rather sleepy Episcopate you have endured for the last fourteen years.

I hope the Synod will offer me one final indulgence, in the form of a retirement honours list. I would like to propose the creation of four new Honorary Canons, as a way of paying tribute to four priests who have made outstanding contributions to the life of our church. As you know, I require your approval for the making of Honorary Canons. Nothing goes with the title, except assurance of our affection and regard. Here are the names of the people I would like to honour in this way.

The first is the Revd Alex Black. Alex is, in theory, retired; but I have exploited his good nature and pastoral skill on many occasions in the last seven years, mainly in supervising charges during complex vacancies.

Next there is the Revd Michael Maudsley, who has fulfilled an extraordinary ministry at St Paul's and St George's. Last night he swapped places with David Richard, and became Associate Rector alongside David as the new Rector. This is an example of the kind of creative magnanimity we have come to expect from Michael.

The third candidate is the Revd John Richardson who, in addition to his many other responsibilities, piloted the Provincial Canons Committee through many important changes. He and his wife Patricia have contributed much to the life of this Diocese and I hope that this mark of our esteem will cheer them during a difficult time.

Finally, I would like to propose the Revd Pamela Skelton as the fourth candidate. Pamela was the pioneer of women's ministry in Edinburgh and endured the long wilderness period before her ordination to the priesthood with great courage and commitment. In honouring her in this way I want, through her, to thank the ordained women of this Diocese for the enormous contribution they have made to the richness of our life.

Will you accept the appointment of these four priests as Honorary Canons of the Cathedral?

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