Episcopal Head Warns Pittsburgh Bishop Against Splitting From Church

Pittsburgh's bishop could face discipline if he continues to support efforts to split his diocese from the Episcopal Church, the presiding bishop of the national church warned in a letter. Representatives of the Pittsburgh Diocese are set to vote Friday during their annual convention in Johnstown on constitutional amendments that would start the process of splitting from the national church.

Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan is among the leaders of a conservative U.S. movement that believes the Episcopal Church is abandoning the primary authority of Scripture, with biblical teachings on sexuality being the flashpoint of the debate.

Duncan would not comment on Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori's letter, which was dated Wednesday, until he addresses the convention, a diocese spokesman said. ''I will say that, to us, it appears to be an attempt to intimidate our convention,'' spokesman Peter Frank said. If given preliminary approval, Pittsburgh's secession measures would have to be passed at the next convention in November 2008 to become binding, Frank said.

Jefferts Schori's letter does not specify what discipline Duncan could face, but warns: ''If your course does not change, I shall regrettably be compelled to see that appropriate canonical steps are promptly taken to consider whether you have abandoned the Communion of this Church ... and whether you have committed canonical offenses that warrant disciplinary action.''

Duncan could ultimately be ''deposed from office and declared to have abandoned communion with the Episcopal church,'' Frank said.

Pittsburgh is one of at least four Episcopal dioceses out of 110 -- along with Fort Worth, Texas; Quincy, Ill.; and San Joaquin, Calif. -- that are taking steps to break away from the national church and align with an overseas Anglican leader.

The Fort Worth Diocese will meet Nov. 16-17 for a preliminary vote on measures similar to those weighed at the Pittsburgh convention. San Joaquin gave preliminary approval to similar measures in December, and they would become binding if they are approved at its diocesan convention next month.

Quincy representatives last month gave preliminary approval to two amendments that ''would allow our diocese to realign and affiliate with a different province of the Anglican communion,'' said the Rev. John Spencer, spokesman for the Quincy diocese. Those measures won't become binding unless the diocese approves them again at another synod, which has not been scheduled, Spencer said.