"Memories came flooding back. I had tried to put this out of my mind for years," said the Montrose man, who does not want to be identified.

He says he's ready to relive a day that changed his life. He claims former Episcopal priest Ralph Johnson made sexual advances toward him in 1982 when he was 16.

"It has to be known. It has to be known that he used to do these things," said the man.

They also raised money to help rebuild hurricane-ravaged churches in Jenkins' diocese and neighboring areas.

"It's kind of a historic meeting," the Rev. J.D. Brown, the associate for pastoral care at St. Francis, said last week. The two bishops are close friends, she said, adding that "although they come from different sides of the issues that confront the church, they are both supportive of the health of the church as a whole."

"With grief too deep for words, the bishops who stand before you must reject this action of the 74th Convention of the Episcopal Church."

They went on to say that they made this declaration as "faithful Episcopalians, and members of this House."

The Bishops of the Anglican Communion Network reaffirm this statement in its entirety.

The first skirmish is likely to take place at the General Assembly on Tuesday, when reformers will call for ministers to be allowed to bless gay partnerships.

Rev Kim Cran, one of the founders of the Affirmation Scotland, said: "There is a culture of fear which lesbian and gay people in the church face. That's why we need to support them and end discrimination.