Miller also told congregation members at a May 7 meeting that the allegations against Englert constituted the offense of conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy, never advising parishioners that Englert was to be presumed not guilty unless the church met its burden of proof, the complaint says.

A bishop is not supposed to comment on allegations brought against priests, says the complaint delivered today to church officials at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Columbus, Ohio, by Englert's attorney, Michael Rehill. Grace members fire back at bishop File photo Rev. Martha Ann Englert

A diocesan spokesman said today that Miller had not seen the complaint and could not comment.

Robert Williams, director of communication for the Episcopal Church, said today, "I can neither confirm nor deny the status of such a claim."

Church policy makers were struggling in Ohio today to balance demands by the conservative world Anglican Communion that the more liberal American Episcopal Church temporarily bar gays from becoming bishops.

The 77 million-member Anglican Communion is a loose association of churches that trace its roots to the Church of England.

The division between the global Anglican community and the American Episcopal Church over the consecration of openly gay V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire at the last General Convention in 2003 is so deep that some have feared a schism.

A wing of the Episcopal Church opposing gay bishops, the Pittsburgh-based Anglican Communion Network, claims 10 Episcopal dioceses in its membership. Some observers speculate the group may try to replace the Episcopal Church as the American member of the global Anglican Communion.

Rehill casts Miller's prosecution of Englert in the framework of conservative activism in conflict with liberal views.

"This is a extraordinarily conservative bishop who clearly has a lot of agenda issues very different from those Martha supports," Rehill said.

Rehill said that Englert is a celibate priest who is deeply committed to and outspoken about the rights of gay and lesbian persons.

She was among the first clergy member in Wisconsin to sign on against the consitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage that will be on the ballot in the state this fall, Rehill said.

Rehill also alleges that Miller is uncomfortable with a liberal woman at the helm of such an influential congregation as Grace Episcopal. The congregation, organized in 1838, counts some of the city's wealthiest and most prominent residents among its members. Located on the Capitol Square, it also houses a long-running homeless shelter for men.

Miller also violated church law by muzzling Englert from speaking to anyone but church officials about the prosecution, the complaint says, a gag order later amended to allow her to speak to parishioners.

Congregation members have been deeply affected by the prosecution of Englert, who is barred from serving as a priest pending the outcome of a trial set for October.

"This is a very challenging time in the life of Grace Espiscopal Church," said Peggy Sleeper, of Madison, a junior warden of the congregation. "We all wish the bishop had chosen a different route."

Sleeper is among the 14 members of the congregation who brought charges against Miller.

Sleeper said Miller has failed to refrain from interfering with the canonical process and tried to intimidate Associate Pastor Shemayev by admonishing him not to take a position in the case through a "pastoral directive."

Shemayev was ordered to remove a letter from the parish Web site at www.graceec.org that stated his belief Englert would be exonerated.

A replacement letter on the site under Shemayev's signature quotes the biblical commandment to love one another. Shemayev remarks that all Grace members are hurting because of Englert's prosecution and that despite disagreements among members, "I am for you. For all of you."

Sleeper said that discussion groups on the prosecution with a trained facilitator have been well attended and apparently useful to those attending, but no resolution of the congregation's turmoil is possible until the charges against Englert are resolved.

Church officials have 90 days to review the complaint before putting it through canonical procedure similar to that involving the complaint against Englert, Rehill said.

Rehill said he hoped that church officials would put the complaints against both Miller and Englert to conciliation, a process of negotiation, for resolution.

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