In the continuing dispute over the elevation of a gay priest, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh said yesterday that its leaders may take steps to exclude two churches that have pursued a lawsuit against the diocese.

Rt. Rev. Robert W. Duncan Jr.

Near the close of the diocese's two-day annual convention in Moon, the Rt. Rev. Robert W. Duncan Jr. said he may suggest at a later convention that delegates consider dissolving ties linking Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Wilkinsburg to the diocese.

"It's inappropriate for Christians to be suing Christians," Duncan said in an interview, adding that the lawsuit is "costing a tremendous amount of money on both sides."

In a written statement, Duncan said that by failing to utilize disciplinary measures at its disposal, the Episcopal Church has "become a family terribly out of order."

"We are not going to become that in this diocese," he said.

In a statement last night, the two churches expressed confidence that any expulsion from the diocese would not be upheld by the national church or the court.

Calvary filed the suit, which St. Stephen's later joined, against Duncan and other church leaders in October 2003, one month after the bishop introduced a resolution at a special convention that would have given congregations breaking away from the Episcopal church control over their property and buildings. The plaintiffs alleged that allowing those property transfers would be detrimental to the diocese and the church and contrary to church law.

Officials for the Pittsburgh diocese, one of the Episcopal Church's most conservative, developed the resolution in response to the Episcopal Church USA's tacit approval of same-sex blessings and its confirmation of an openly gay priest as bishop of New Hampshire.

Duncan is moderator of the Anglican Communion Network of dioceses and parishes, which adheres to traditional interpretation of the Bible.

In his remarks on the first day of the conference, Duncan appealed to the two churches to drop the suit. He said he made his decision regarding the two parishes with the approval of a standing committee that advises him.

Yesterday's announcement was made after leaders of the two churches were approached and refused to drop the litigation, said the Rev. Douglas McGlynn, the committee's president.

"No one wants this to happen," McGlynn said of excluding the two parishes from the diocese. "This doesn't mean that it won't, but no one wants it to happen."

Lionel Deimel, president of Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh, a local group that advocates a more inclusive and unified church, called the announcement "very disturbing, mean-spirited and vindictive." He said his group would work to enlist support for the two churches from local congregations and national church leaders.

In other action yesterday, convention delegates tabled a resolution stating that the diocese "recognizes it is a constituent and inseparable part of the Episcopal Church" and that it accepts that it is "bound by, and will operate according to, the constitution and canons of the Episcopal Church."

A day earlier, the delegates had overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment that allows the local diocese to ignore national church laws it believes are contrary to Scripture.

In their statement, the two churches called that action "the ultimate irony" at a convention where they were threatened with expulsion for "attempting to require respect for the laws" of the national church and the state.

Delegates also tabled yesterday a proposal commending women clergy and committing to spreading the benefits of women's ministry to "those who have not yet experienced the grace and gifts brought to the Church by women priests."

"Bishop Duncan has actively encouraged women's involvement in lay and ordained ministry for many years," said diocesan communications director Peter Frank. "However, he and a majority of the delegates felt that considering this issue at this time would only lead to further division among us."

In elections for delegates to the Episcopal Church's triennial General Convention in Columbus, Ohio in 2006, the Rev. George Werner, retired dean of Pittsburgh's Trinity Cathedral and current president of the national Episcopal Church's House of Deputies, was defeated in his attempt to gain one of four clergy slots.

Werner has worked hard to appoint both moderates and conservatives to church positions, Deimel said.

He said the debate and action on resolutions yesterday reflect the diocese's "widespread and profound alienation from the Episcopal Church."