The event, said Bishop Burton in his opening remarks, was intended to "prayerfully consider the future of our church" and was not intended "to promote t he establishment of another church or a structure within our church."

The committee is comprised of one representative from each of the 12 original dioceses who signed the Anglican Communion Network's structural Charter, as well as Moderator, the Rt. Rev. Robert W. Duncan, and Secretary, the Rev. Canon David C. Anderson. The Committee was joined by acting Convocation Deans, representatives of Global Mission Partners and the American Anglican Council's Strategy Group.

In a letter to Canon John Peterson, General Secretary of the Anglican Communion Office, Bishop Oluranti Odubogun, General Secretary of the Church of Nigeria, said Akinola would not attend this week's meeting of the Anglican Consultative Committee in London, which began yesterday.

"Archbishop Akinola is baffled that ACO continues to act as if what ECUSA did does not really matter," said the letter.

Robert Leaman, the diocese's chief financial officer, said the diocese expects $1.4 million in pledges in 2004, $350,000 short of expectations established in October at the state Episcopal convention.

In August, Colorado's delegation to the national convention backed the election of Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, who has lived with his male partner for years.