3 Episcopal dioceses vote to reject bishop's authority
Conservative groups stop short of a complete break with the church
Associated Press
Originally published June 29, 2006

NEW YORK // Three conservative Episcopal dioceses that oppose consecrating gay bishops voted yesterday to reject the authority of the denomination's presiding bishop, but they stopped short of a full break with the Episcopal Church.

In separate meetings, the dioceses of Pittsburgh, South Carolina and San Joaquin, Calif., asked the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, to assign them an alternative leader.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh is home to the Anglican Communion Network, which represents 10 conservative U.S. dioceses and more than 900 parishes within the Episcopal Church that are deciding whether to split from the denomination.

The decision by the three dioceses came on the same day that the liberal Diocese of Newark, N.J., tested the new Episcopal call for restraint on choosing gay bishops by naming a gay priest as one of four nominees to become its next leader. the rest

Also: Three Episcopal Dioceses Reject Presiding Bishop's Authority
By The Associated Press
Thu, Jun. 29 2006
NEW YORK (AP) – Three conservative Episcopal dioceses that oppose consecrating gay bishops voted Wednesday to reject the authority of the denomination's presiding bishop but stopped short of a full break with the Episcopal Church. here