"We are convinced that time has now come to take initial steps toward the formation of what will be recognized as separate ecclesiastical structure of the Anglican communion in the USA," said a statement released at the end of a Global South meeting in the Rwandan capital Kigali.

"We understand the serious implications of this determination but we believe that we would be failing in our apostolic witness if we do not make this provision for those who hold firmly to a commitment to historic Anglican faith."

It is estimated that of the 145 active Anglican bishops in the United States, only 30 agree with the stand of conservatives in the developing world.

Rwanda's Anglican Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini said the group also agreed to refuse financial support from the richer liberal communities -- a move that threatens to deepen the rift.

"It's now six years since they stopped sending money here," Kolini told Reuters on the sidelines of the meeting. "They sent money to Uganda, Kenya, Ghana and it was sent back. It is now our common stand within the Global South to reject their money."

The Anglican Communion, a loose federation of 38 national churches, has struggled for years to hold together its liberal minority and the conservative majority vigorously opposed to naming of gay bishop Gene Robinson in the United States.

The conservative bishops also vowed not to recognize Presiding Bishop-elect Katharine Jefferts Schori, who backed the Robinson elevation, at a meeting in Tanzania next year

Schori was elected to head the U.S. branch of the Anglican Communion and will be installed later this year as the first woman to head any branch of the Anglican church.

The Global South bishops said they would chose another bishop to represent the U.S. Episcopal church at the meeting.

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