They issued a statement at a press conference refuting the June 28 decision to seek "alternative primatial oversight" for the diocese and the formation of a boundary-less, theologically conservative province.

"We believe that the proposed formation of a Province X ... is canonically and constitutionally irregular," the statement read. "We believe the request for alternative primatial oversight constitutes a rejection of the duly elected leadership and governing structures of the Episcopal Church."

The two issues are flashpoints in the church, both locally and nationally.

The Pittsburgh Diocese is in Province III, one of the national church's nine geographically organized provinces. The so-called Province X would bring together biblically conservative dioceses from throughout the country who believe the national church erred in permitting the confirmation of an openly gay bishop in 2003. Those dioceses are part of the Anglican Communion Network, an organization of about 200,000 biblically orthodox Episcopalians, less than 10 percent of the American church's membership. Bishop Duncan is its moderator.

The establishment of a new province would have to be approved at the church's next General Convention in 2009.

Already, several dioceses have asked for alternative oversight because of newly elected Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori's consent to gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson's consecration and her support of same-sex unions as Bishop of the Diocese of Nevada.

Bishop Duncan denied that the recent decisions, which must be approved at the diocesan convention in November, meant the diocese was no longer part of the national church.

"We have no plans to be anything but faithful, orthodox, Anglican-Communion-bound Episcopalians today, tomorrow and the day after that," he said in a statement.

"We are the Episcopal Church in this place and we are going to continue being what we have always been."

In the Pittsburgh Diocese, only 13 of its 72 parishes have publicly disagreed with Bishop Duncan and asked not to be part of the Anglican Communion Network. Nine of those 13 parishes signed yesterday's statement.

Dr. Lewis said there were no plans for legal action.

Yesterday's statement, he said, was to alert other parishes and individuals "where we stand and to provide a mechanism for them to join us."

In addition to Calvary, the other parishes signing the statement were All Souls Church, North Versailles; Church of the Holy Cross, Homewood; Church of the Redeemer, Squirrel Hill; St. Brendan's Church, Franklin Park; St. Matthew's Church, Homestead; St. Stephen's Church, Wilkinsburg; St. Thomas' Church, Canonsburg and St. Thomas & St. Luke's Church, Patton (Cambria County).

Their membership is nearly 2,700, about 13 percent of the diocese's total membership of 20,263.

(Steve Levin can be reached at slevin@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1919. )

PITTSBURGH: Diocese Responds to "Progressive Episcopalians" Press Conference

July 11, 2006

Bishop Robert Duncan responded to reports this afternoon of a meeting and press conference at Calvary Episcopal Church called by the leadership of nine congregations of the diocese.

"There continues to be confusion about the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh's status in the Episcopal Church," said Bishop Duncan, "I will say again what we have been saying for months now. We have no plans to be anything but faithful, orthodox, Anglican-Communion-bound Episcopalians, today, tomorrow and the day after that. We are the Episcopal Church in this place and we are going to continue being what we always have been."Bishop Duncan went on to note that the June 28 decisions of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh Standing Committee did not bring the diocese outside of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church in any way. Instead, they simply served to make clear the diocese's firm intention, expressed by overwhelming margins at numerous diocesan conventions, to remain a "constituent" member of the Anglican Communion, even while much of the Episcopal Church continues choosing a path that is breaking that bond.

Responding to claims made at the press conference that the specific standing committee action to give notice of an intent to disaffiliate from Province III of ECUSA's internal provincial structure (providing the diocesan convention approves this November) signified an attempt to "leave" the Episcopal Church, Bishop Duncan stressed that it is nothing of the sort. In fact, the action is governed by the Episcopal Church's constitution. "Article VII of the Constitution of the Episcopal Church guarantees that no diocese will be included in a province of the Episcopal Church 'without its own consent.' The specific history of the application of this article includes a diocese (Missouri, 1964 - 1977) withdrawing its consent and being treated as extra-provincial during multiple meetings of General Convention before finally being re-included in a different province. The precedent and history unequivocally support the Standing Committee's considered action," said Bishop Duncan.

"The majority of this diocese knows very well what it feels like to be a minority in the affairs of our national church. I and everyone else involved in diocesan leadership here in Pittsburgh have committed to continue working with the minority here in every way we can, both in support of their local ministries and to facilitate decisions of conscience. I pray that all of us, majority and minority, will treat each other with grace and charity as we struggle to stand for the priorities we have embraced,' concluded Bishop Duncan.

END