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The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh plans to take its first formal step toward isolating itself from the Episcopal Church USA during a convention this weekend.

The national church body on Sunday consecrated Rev. V. Gene Robinson, who is gay, as bishop of New Hampshire, upsetting those within the church who believe Scripture defines homosexuality as a sin.

The Pittsburgh diocese is among the nation's most conservative and, under Bishop Robert Duncan's guidance, may become among the first in the country to create a formal division between itself and the national church.

Church leaders from across the Pittsburgh area will vote Saturday on a proposal that ultimately would allow the diocese to act unilaterally when it does not agree with national church policy.

"We are not going to be dictated to by the national church," said Assistant Bishop Henry Scriven.

The move is expected to occur Saturday during the diocese's 138th annual convention, which starts Friday. Delegates from more than 70 local parishes, representing about 20,000 people, will attend.

The change only would be made if the diocese approves the measure again during next year's convention.

Not all local parishes support the proposal. Calvary Episcopal Church, in Shadyside, filed a lawsuit Oct. 24 seeking to protect diocesan property in the event the church does split.

"This attempted change basically says the diocese no longer will be bound by decisions of the national church if it chooses not to follow them," said the Rev. Harold Lewis, Calvary's rector.

Lewis said the proposal should not be allowed since it attempts to change fundamental church law. If it passes, it will exacerbate divisions that already have started, he said.

"I think the divisiveness is already a fact of life in the diocese," Lewis said.

The development is not unexpected, having been proposed during a special session in September in Monroeville. During that session, Duncan called the national church's actions "unbiblical, anti-ecumenical and unconstitutional."

Duncan said then that the diocese would "begin to build a protected place for our witness as an orthodox and missionary fellowship of congregations. This is not business as usual."

Many people in the Pittsburgh Diocese follow traditional views and oppose Robinson's elevation to bishop. Nationally, the Episcopal Church USA -- an arm of the worldwide Anglican Communion of churches -- has supported Robinson, but at a cost.

Clergy and parishioners worldwide are bitterly divided on the issue, and speculation that the church will split apart is widespread.

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