Pittsburgh Bishop Robert W. Duncan Jr. is the leader of a group of Episcopal bishops that has formed a network of dioceses and parishes opposed to the denomination's consecration last month of an openly gay bishop.

Called the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes, the group's primary focus is "to tell the truth about what Scripture and the [biblical] tradition say vis-a-vis human sexual relations and God's design for human beings in creation," Duncan said.

"The Episcopal Church ... has put forth something that's unrecognizable as Christian truth."

The network plans a Jan. 19-20 meeting in Plano, Texas, to approve a charter and develop a theological platform. Duncan is moderator of the network.

In addition to the Pittsburgh diocese, other dioceses in the network are based in Albany, N.Y.; San Joaquin, Calif.; South Carolina; Florida; Dallas; Fort Worth; Quincy and Springfield, Ill.; Western Kansas; and Rio Grande, which includes parts of Texas and New Mexico.

Duncan expects dioceses in the Caribbean and Latin America to join the network in the future, along with numerous Canadian dioceses, where the Episcopal Church is split over the decision by the Diocese in New Westminster to conduct same-sex blessings.

He said the network was not a split in the Episcopal Church USA, but "a process that's unfolding."

The network's genesis was in October after the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, called an unprecedented gathering of the Anglican Church's leaders, or primates, in London to discuss the American church's confirmation this summer of the Rev. V. Gene Robinson, a gay bishop from New Hampshire.

After the gathering, Williams, the leader of the more than 70 million-member worldwide Anglican Communion, encouraged the Episcopal Church to develop a means of providing alternative oversight for parishes whose theological positions differ from those of their bishops. That effort is still under way.

The network was established at a November meeting of Anglican leaders in London of four Anglican primates and several Episcopal bishops, including Duncan.

Duncan has been a vocal leader of the opposition to Robinson's consecration.

He has not been alone. Several of the Anglican Communion's 38 primates, including archbishops in Africa and Asia who have more than 26 million parishioners, have said they do not recognize Robinson's consecration and cannot be in communion with the Episcopal Church.

A recent caucus of primates representing more than half the world's Anglicans agreed that bishops supporting Robinson should be reduced to observer status at future Anglican meetings.

In addition, the Russian Orthodox Church has declared it cannot maintain a relationship with Robinson or his supporters, and the Roman Catholic Church, which had been holding conversations with the Episcopal Church on closer relations, broke off all dialogue.