The bishop, under fire from some who say the move could split the church, also predicted victory on that step in a vote by diocesan clergy and lay leaders at the annual convention scheduled for June.

"We are not leaving the church. This step will help avert internal warfare" over the issue of homosexuality and the Episcopal faith, said Herzog in an interview this week at the diocese's offices on South Swan Street across from the Cathedral of All Saints. "It's a way of reducing the steam in the pressure cooker."

The issue of gay clergy has been rocking the Episcopal Church since August, when American Episcopal bishops voted to ordain openly gay Bishop Eugene Robinson of New Hampshire. Herzog and other opponents see homosexuality as biblically unacceptable, while supporters call that view outdated and prejudiced.

"I do not have any problem with gay parishioners. I have had gay parishioners," the bishop said. But he said the Bible limited sexual relations to those between men and women in the context of marriage.

Herzog said the "vast majority" of the 12,000-member Albany diocese sides with him and will vote accordingly this summer on the question of joining the new network, which is headed by Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan. "People say I may be getting beaten up over this, but they are proud of me," Herzog said.

A local opponent to Herzog conceded that defeat in June on the network was likely, adding some churches in the diocese were exploring whether members will travel to other dioceses for rituals.

Earlier this month, Herzog joined with Duncan and 10 other bishops in Plano, Texas, to create a network of dioceses that will defy the national church over Robinson's ordination.

Herzog said the network, which hopes to offer oversight to like-minded conservative parishes in outside dioceses, is not an attempt to split the church. Together, the 12 dioceses in the network represent churches with a membership of 235,000, or about 10 percent of the 2.3 million American Episcopalians.

Herzog already had won a local vote on the issue of homosexual clergy when about 70 percent of delegates from the 19 counties at a special diocesan convention in September 2003 in Speculator, Hamilton County, voted to disavow Robinson's ordination.

Herzog said Tuesday he expects similar voting results on the network issue when the church holds its next annual convention in the diocese's Camp of the Woods in Speculator. The convention will include about 400 clergy and elected lay delegates from about 130 churches in the diocese.

A local opponent to the new network conceded that Herzog's predictions are likely correct, although the vote may be closer this time than in October as some lay delegates will be newly elected since then.

"The vote among the clergy probably won't change, but we have been trying to educate the laity on this issue," said the Rev. James Brooks-McDonald, rector of St. Stephen's Church in Schenectady.

In the diocese as a whole, "We are definitely the minority," but he said he believes his own congregation supports him.

Brooks-McDonald is co-president of Albany Via Media, a group of clergy and lay people from Albany, Schenectady, Lake George and Plattsburgh who oppose the network. Albany Via Media has taken no position on the issue of gay clergy or same-sex unions.

At the September convention, the Albany diocese vote was 161 to 65 to disavow Robinson's ordination, said Brooks-McDonald. Clergy voted 93-33, while the lay leaders' vote was 68-32, he said.

Some churches are exploring whether members can visit other dioceses in Syracuse and Burlington, Vt., if they want to avoid confirmations and other services headed by Herzog, said Brooks-McDonald.

Albany Via Media is also exploring ways for congregations opposed to Herzog to send donations to the Episcopal Church USA, bypassing the bishop's control. Find your dream home fast

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