In May, Bishop Wimberly and eight colleagues met with the Most Rev. Rowan Williams and others from the Archbishop of Canterbury's staff at Lambeth Palace for what was described at the time as "a bid to continue the dialogue within the Anglican Communion over the divisions within the Episcopal Church."

Those numbers make even more alarming recent figures released by the National Survey for Youth and Religion. Among all youth, the survey reports that 56 percent have made some commitment to “live for God.” Among Episcopalians, the figure is 32 percent. While some 40 percent of American teens claim to pray once a day, only 13 percent of Episcopal teens claim to do so.

If the Archbishop of Canterbury finds a way to recognize the claim of the Network dioceses and of Network parishes in non-Network dioceses, "then Canterbury sustains and renews his claim to be 'gatherer" and 'moral voice' of the Communion," Duncan said.

"If he fails, any hope for a Communion-unifying solution slips away, and so does the shape and leadership of the Anglican Communion as we have known them," he warned.

Schori and the nominating committee for the election that took place in June list as Schori's major qualifications the following positions she reportedly held:

* pastoral associate and dean of the Good Samaritan School of Theology, Corvallis, Ore., from 1994-2000;

* priest in charge of El Buen Samaritano, Corvallis, Ore.