Episcopal bishop at odds with the church

PITTSBURGH -- Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts-Schori of the Episcopal Church has warned Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh that he is in danger of being removed from office if he does not abandon his efforts to realign the diocese with an Anglican province outside the United States.

A key committee of three bishops on Friday refused Bishop Jefferts-Schori's request to take immediate action against Bishop Duncan.

"He has not been inhibited," church spokesman Neva Rae Fox said, using a technical term for banning a bishop from exercising his duties.

"What the presiding bishop has done is informed him that the Title IV Committee has looked into the situation and has said that he has abandoned the communion of the church."

Bishop Jefferts-Schori sent a letter to that effect to Bishop Duncan Tuesday.

In November, acting under Bishop Duncan's leadership, the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh voted to leave the Episcopal Church, which is the U.S. branch of the worldwide Anglican communion, and realign with a more theologically conservative province elsewhere. It also voted to allow parishes outside its 11-county territory to become part of the diocese. A second vote at this year's diocesan convention is required to make the action final.

Last week, the Episcopal Church acted to inhibit the ministry of a California bishop whose Diocese of San Joachin had already taken its second vote to leave the Episcopal Church.

Bishop Jefferts-Schori wrote to Bishop Duncan that she had asked three senior bishops of the church who had jurisdiction over his case to consent to his inhibition, pending review by the House of Bishops in March.

"On January 11 2008, they informed me that such consents would not be given at this time by all three bishops," she wrote.

The matter will be placed before the House of Bishops at a future meeting but not at its March 7-12 in Camp Allen, Texas, because 60 days' notice is required.

"I, however, would welcome a statement by you within the next two months, providing evidence that you once more consider yourself fully subject to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of this church."

Bishop Duncan posted a reply on the diocesan Web site, saying, "Few bishops have been more loyal to the doctrine, discipline and worship of The Episcopal Church. I have not abandoned the Communion of this Church. I will continue to serve and minister as the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh."

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)