The focus of "Plano-West," to be held June 3-4 at the Long Beach Convention Center, is on mission and evangelism, said the Rev. Tony Baron, an Oceanside priest and one of the organizers.

But a key element will be an opportunity for like-minded conservative Episcopalians to support each other. "This is a chance for us to see who's out there and who does feel the same," said Baron, who is rector of St. Anne's Episcopal Church.

It also will be an opportunity for participants to discuss a recently formed maverick network that is challenging the authority of the U.S. Episcopal Church.

Launched in January, the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes was set up to offer disgruntled churches alternative "spiritual authority." Under the network's plan, these parishes would break away from their local bishop and realign themselves with bishops approved by the network.

The reason for this chasm centers around the consecration of Bishop V. Gene Robinson in New Hampshire. Robinson, a priest who is divorced and living with a longtime same-sex partner, was elected bishop by his diocese last June. Two months later, his election was confirmed by a majority vote at the denomination's national meeting in Minneapolis.

The repercussions have been divisive both in the 2.3 million-member Episcopal Church and the worldwide, 77 million Anglican Communion to which the U.S. denomination belongs. Much of the Anglican Communion opposed Robinson's consecration.

Baron said the election shunned conservatives. "What I object to more than anything else is the process," he said. "The process violated what we are as Anglicans. It was a command decision where a consensus decision was needed."

No churches in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego have formally aligned themselves with the breakaway network, and the region has so far avoided some of the open fractures occurring elsewhere.

But that could change, depending upon who becomes the new local bishop. San Diego Bishop Gethin Hughes, a conservative, is retiring, and an election for his replacement is scheduled in the fall. While Hughes voted against Robinson's elevation, he also has called for maintaining unity.

The emphasis appears to be on maintaining the status quo – at least for now. "We love Bishop Hughes," Baron said. "We're going to honor him. This is his last year. We want to make his transition a joyful one and a peaceful one."

"Plano-West" is being sponsored by the Los Angeles chapter of the American Anglican Council, a conservative group that also helped organize the network.

Baron expects from 1,200 to 2,000 clergy and lay people – including about 30 local priests – to attend the Long Beach gathering (an East Coast version held in Virginia drew more than 2,600 participants). A spokesman for the diocese said Bishop Hughes does not plan to attend.

To register for the conference, participants must sign a "statement of faith," which includes that "all Scripture is God's Holy Word" and that "God set aside marriage to be between one man and one woman."

Meanwhile, splits within the Episcopal Church are continuing to occur.

Among the recent ones was in Robinson's own diocese in New Hampshire, where about 40 parishioners have left to form a breakaway parish. Two other churches there have taken steps to affiliate with the conservative network but have not quit the diocese.

In New Jersey, St. Anthony of Padua Church in Hackensack has applied to the Newark Diocese to be led by Wisconsin's retired Bishop William Wantland, a network supporter, instead of resident Bishop John Croneberger, who backed Robinson.

These fractures may be a sign of things to come in other Protestant denominations whose rules are set by democratically styled elections. Last week, some conservatives in the United Methodist Church suggested that it study ways to execute an "amicable separation" because of deep divisions over homosexuality and other issues.

While delegates to the Methodists' General Conference in Pittsburgh instead endorsed a last-minute statement on unity, the battle is not over. As one conservative leader put it: "The division of our church has already happened. It just hasn't been named or formalized yet."

The Associated Press and Religion News Service contributed to this report.