In response to a lawsuit led by one of its parishes, the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh has agreed to have a court-appointed neutral party inventory all of its property and assets as it prepares for a final vote on seceding from the Episcopal Church.

The agreement between representatives of the diocese and Calvary Episcopal Church, Shadyside, came after a hearing yesterday before Joseph M. James, president judge of Common Pleas Court. In 2005, he oversaw a settlement after Calvary sued the diocese to prevent the transfer of property from the denomination to individual parishes.

Calvary has led a minority of parishes that oppose Bishop Robert Duncan's plan to leave the U.S. branch of the Anglican Communion and realign with the more conservative Anglican Province of the Southern Cone in South America over concerns about doctrine and sexual ethics. A final vote is set for Oct. 4.

The 2005 agreement said that property held by the central diocese -- such as endowment funds, but not necessarily parish property -- would continue to be held by the "Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America" whether or not any parishes or diocesan leaders secede. Calvary claims that the diocese has violated its end of the 2005 agreement.

The diocese will pursue "a fair and equitable distribution of property" if the realignment resolutions pass, said its spokesman, the Rev. Peter Frank.

The diocese also agreed yesterday to permit parishes that oppose secession to divert diocesan support payments to escrow accounts that would remain in the Episcopal Church.

The agreement assumes that new leaders affiliated with the church will be elected for Pittsburgh if Bishop Duncan secedes.

"It is highly likely that Bishop Duncan and the other leadership of the diocese will purport to separate from the Episcopal Church, and it is our position that the court order of Oct. 14, 2005, addresses what will happen in that regard," said Walter DeForest, attorney for Calvary.

"It is certainly the position of Calvary that the new leadership of the diocese will be in charge of those assets."