The Episcopal diocese of Pittsburgh voted today to secede from the Episcopal Church and reallign with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, based in Buenas Aires, Argentina.

Archbishop Gregory Venables of the Southern Cone has named former Pittsburgh bishop Robert Duncan as his Episocopal commissary to the Episocopal Eiocese of Pittsburgh of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. At least 17 of an original 74 churches are expected to continue with the Episocal Church of the United States. Both dioceses will be calling separate conventions before the end the year to reorganize and elect a bishop.