The head of the Episcopal Church has warned Pittsburgh Bishop Robert W. Duncan Jr. that he will face civil suits and possible expulsion as bishop if a proposed resolution enabling the diocese to leave the denomination passes during today's diocesan convention.

A diocesan spokesman said the letter from Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, sent by fax to the Pittsburgh Diocese office late Wednesday, was "intended, honestly, to intimidate the convention."

The 142nd annual convention is being held today and tomorrow in Johnstown.

The presiding bishop's letter said she was aware of Bishop Duncan's "statements and actions in recent months" that demonstrated his intention to help his diocese leave the Episcopal Church. Those efforts, the letter said, "display a fundamental misunderstanding of the relationship between The Episcopal Church and its dioceses."

"If your course does not change," the letter continued, "I shall regrettably be compelled to see that appropriate canonical steps are promptly taken to consider whether you have abandoned the Communion of this Church ... and ... whether you have committed canonical offenses that warrant disciplinary action."

Bishop Jefferts Schori said she plans to send similar letters to the bishops of other dioceses who are either considering or are already in the process of leaving the Episcopal Church.

Bishop Duncan declined comment, saying through his spokesman that he would address the presiding bishop's letter today at the convention.

As head of the Pittsburgh Diocese, which is one of the church's most conservative, Bishop Duncan often has been the lead voice for Episcopalians upset with the national church, particularly since the 2003 consecration of an openly gay bishop and its continued tacit approval of same-sex blessings.

In addition, he is moderator of the Anglican Communion Network, an alliance of biblically traditional dioceses and parishes that comprises about 10 percent of the Episcopal Church's 111 dioceses and 2.2 million members.

Several of those dioceses, including Pittsburgh, want to leave the national church and "realign" with one of the more conservative provinces in the roughly 72-million-member worldwide Anglican Communion. The language in one of the resolutions being voted on today would alter the language of the Pittsburgh Diocese's constitution to facilitate such a move.

"The presiding bishop's problem in Pittsburgh is not just one person," said Diocese of Pittsburgh spokesman Peter Frank.

The two resolutions considered today at Johnstown's Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center are different sides of the same question.

Resolution 1, which is expected to pass easily, would allow the diocese to define itself as a "constituent member" of the Anglican Communion and disaffiliate from the American church, realigning with another province after a second vote at next year's convention.

However, a third vote at an annual convention would be needed to adopt a canon specifying membership in a province other than the Episcopal Church.

If it does pass, Bishop Jefferts Schori could ask a review committee to consider a presentment charge against Bishop Duncan for abandonment of the communion. If the charge is approved, he would have two months to recant his position. If he failed to do so, the church's House of Bishops would consider the charge. There is no appeal and no right of formal trial outside of a hearing before the bishops.

If the charge is approved by the House of Bishops, the bishop would be deposed, his position in the diocese declared vacant and a new bishop elected.

Civil suits would be filed against Bishop Duncan if he or the diocese attempted to retain Episcopal Church property.

Resolution 2 seeks to change the language of the diocese's constitution to reflect that it "accedes to, recognizes and adopts the Constitution and Canons of [the] Church, and acknowledges its authority accordingly."

It is not expected to pass.

As many as 400 clergy and laity deputies will vote on the resolutions by order. A majority of both clergy and laity votes are needed for passage.