The Rev Canon Dr Alison Peden, 57, has been short-listed with two men for the role of Bishop of Glasgow & Galloway in the Scottish Episcopal Church. The church is in the liberal vanguard of the Anglican Communion and its synod voted overwhelmingly in 2003 to allow the ordination of women bishops.
Dr Peden has been short listed at a time when the Church of England remains deeply divided over its decision last year in favour of the consecration of female bishops.
The church in Wales has voted against such a move, while the Church of Ireland allows the ordination of female bishops although none has been appointed.
The Church of England will discuss a code of practice on the consecration of women bishops at its General Synod in February.
Dr Peden, rector of Holy Trinity Church in Stirling and canon of St Ninian's Cathedral, Perth, is up against the Very Rev Dr Gregor Duncan, 59, rector of St Ninian's Church, Glasgow, and the Venerable Dr John Applegate, 53, an academic.
The new bishop will be elected on January 16 after each of the candidates has met members of an electoral synod made up of clergy and lay members.
The Most Rev David Chillingworth, primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, said: "Each of the candidates brings a wide range of experience, and I am confident that the electoral synod will elect the right person to lead the diocese in its future mission and ministry."
Christina Rees of Women and the Church said she was thrilled by Dr Peden’s nomination. The campaign group said there were now 25 women bishops in Anglican churches - 15 in the USA, five in Canada, two in New Zealand, two in Australia and one in Cuba.
The US Episcopal Church recently elected Mary Glasspool, a lesbian canon, as an assistant bishop in Los Angeles.
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