Bishops of Scotland present 7 options for diocesan structures

The Bishops' Conference of Scotland has presented seven possible configurations for the country's eight dioceses to undergo further reflection and consultation. This step follows a request from the Holy See to consider how diocesan structures can best support the Church's mission, including evangelization and support for clergy, religious, and lay people.

The proposed options include merging Argyll & the Isles with Paisley, merging Argyll & the Isles with Glasgow, merging Paisley and Galloway, merging Galloway and Motherwell, merging St. Andrews & Edinburgh and Dunkeld, or merging Motherwell, Paisley and Galloway. A seventh option suggests maintaining current structures with greater sharing and collaboration. The bishops stated these possibilities were informed by diocesan feedback summaries and are not final decisions or an agreed map for the future.