"I'm not planning to go anywhere, but I think they will try to remove me. That is going to be my Good Friday. That is going to be my people's Good Friday. But I think we are prepared. We will not turn away from Jesus," he said.

Throughout the three-day gathering, leaders spoke of a "realignment" of worldwide Anglicanism. Drawing on a Bible passage in which Joshua challenged the Israelites to choose between the true God and pagan gods, there was a running theme of "choose this day."

While Episcopal and Anglican conservatives have warned before of the possibility of a split in the 77 million-member Anglican Communion over these issues, powerful primates of national and regional Anglican churches from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean said Friday that a break was all but inevitable if the Episcopal Church did not vote to change course at the Columbus meeting.

The South American diocese is based in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and led by Bishop Frank Lyon.

Cleveland attorney James Niehaus, who represents the four congregations, said the vote means the parishes are no longer a part of the local diocese or the national church.

Mr Coekin had earlier threatened to take action of this sort unless the Bishop of Southwark dissociated himself from the recent House of Bishops' pastoral statement on civil partnerships, which said that clergy had no right to inquire into the private lives of their congregations who register their relationships when the law comes into effect next month.