Leaders of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh that remained in the Episcopal Church after most of the diocese seceded have named as their interim spiritual leader retired Bishop Robert Hodges Johnson, formerly of the Diocese of Western North Carolina.

Bishop Johnson, not to be confused with a different Bishop Robert Johnson who also served in North Carolina, will provide part-time pastoral and sacramental duties while a committee of local clergy and laity continues to run the diocese. His contract ends July 31. Bishop Johnson did similar work in the Diocese of Southern Virginia in 2006.

He was chosen for that experience, said the Rev. James Simons, president of the diocesan Standing Committee, who announced the appointment at todays special diocesan convention in Mount Lebanon.

"We need someone primarily to be a pastor, not to set an agenda,'' the Rev. Simons said.

Prior to the October 4 secession vote the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh had 74 churches. Twenty-seven, including one splinter from a Greensburg parish that is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh (Anglican), had delegates at today's convention. Both dioceses have the same name, but only the diocese meeting today is recognized by the Episcopal Church.