The conflict has simmered since 2003, when Smith was among the bishops who voted to confirm the Rev. V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire to be the church's first openly gay bishop. Though homosexuality is accepted by many Episcopalians, the church has not officially permitted the ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians or the blessing of gay unions.

All six priests now under threat openly disagreed with Smith on the issue and asked him to name another bishop to minister to them.

Helmandollar said the six Connecticut clergymen have asked Smith to "clarify his charges." But, he added, "this has only made us stronger. We're going to continue doing business as usual."

Smith has refused to give up his authority and has charged that they "abandoned the communion of the church."

The retired bishops, all members of the conservative American Anglican Council, made it clear Tuesday they think it's the other way around.

"Bishop Andrew Smith has repudiated the faith he swore to at his consecration" when he voted for Robinson, they wrote. "Bereft of the faith which alone establishes true unity in the church, he now attempts to impose unity by uncanonical coercion against six faithful clergy in his diocese.

"Since Bishop Edward Fowler put John Bunyan in jail for 11 years in the 17th century, there has scarcely been such an example of brutal and unconscionable ecclesiastical tyranny," the bishops said.

Smith, in a statement released by the diocese, responded, "I disagree with their characterizations. ..I believe that the people of the Episcopal Church USA, including the Episcopalians in Connecticut, are faithful Christians who love God and witness to the community. My continued hope in our current situation is for reconciliation and a return to mutual ministry."

Michael Saman, a warden at Trinity Episcopal, said Helmandollar has continued to do his job here preaching the Bible.

"Things are changing in today's world, yes," Saman said. "But some things should never change."

Saman said if Helmandollar is deposed, members of the church will pick up and move to another location in Bristol. "We have plans in action right now to move to another location," he said. "We also have met with an attorney to discuss the issue."

The congregation took a vote at church, he said. "Ninety-two percent of our parish was against [Helmandollar's removal]," Saman said.

Helmandollar, with the support of parish members, wrote Smith a letter when the controversy began to swirl. It read, in part, "Trinity Church is in a pronounced period of mourning and grief for our church and the direction in which you are leading it. I [Helmandollar] fail to see how I, or Trinity, have ever departed from your oversight as the Bishop of Connecticut, in spite of the theological differences that exist between us and have been discussed."

If removed, Helmandollar said he plans on moving out of Connecticut so he may continue to practice his priesthood.

"We're not going to surrender," Helmandollar said. "We don't want to move."

Katherine Marcotte of The Bristol Press and an Associated Press report contributed to this story.