"I will be faithful to that process, and have called upon the diocese to be faithful to this process, but if ECUSA as we know it rejects the Anglican Communion's demands for change and starts down a separate path from that of the majority of the Communion, I will seek alignment with an alternative structure as would be provided through the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Consultative Council." Ultimately that is a decision the diocese would have to make at a special convention, he said.

Bishop MacPherson describes himself as "orthodox" but said neither he nor his diocese has elected to join the Anglican Communion Network. "I respect them and the other orthodox groups, but I do not want to act prematurely. I want to see the process play out." The Network has not been an option. It is important for us as a diocese of the people of God to follow faithfully the timeline of the Windsor Report and follow through to that place. It is premature to do anything else. I will not make a hasty decision."

The bishop said he voted against the election and consecration of V. Gene Robinson and was one of the "infamous 43" to do so. He also will not allow gay marriages, same sex blessings nor allow non-celibate homosexual priests to function in his diocese. He also voted for B001 that upheld certain teachings and doctrines of the church as non- negotiable. "Following the Minneapolis convention I made it clear that I will not sit in the ditches, that we must live out the gospel faithfully and seek to do that which God is calling us to be about. This must be done in keeping with the faith as handed down to us through the apostles.

"We have a healthy diocese of 50 parishes. We are not faced with the issues of special interest groups as are some of the other more conservative dioceses. He described his diocese as a three-way blend with conservatives, moderates and what he called "progressives."

"Nobody is withholding money. A number of parishes have requested that no money go forward to the national church headquarters and we are honoring that. These parishes still remain a part of the larger ministry of the church. Money not given to the national church is, with the exception of one parish, being forwarded to the diocese where it is used for the enhancement of mission, he said. No one has applied for alternative episcopal oversight."

The bishop said he was a big supporter of ALPHA and this was one of the workshops at the diocese's recent convention. "I have a vision that is grounded in a passionate desire to see the Gospel of Christ lifted up throughout this diocese. Many of our congregations are reaching out into their communities with Alpha and other programs; and our ministry to youth and college ministry continues to grow at the diocesan level and through the dedicated labor of many in the local congregations."

"The bottom line is that should ECUSA as we know it reject the conclusions of the Windsor Report and not subscribe to them, then there is a need to look at what structure will be raised up for those of us who are more orthodox."

In his address to the 25th annual convention of the diocese MacPherson said this: "What I see in this, is that should the Episcopal Church as we know it, reject the opportunity to be a part of the Anglican Communion, and take a separate path from that of the Anglican Communion world wide, then I see no other choice as your bishop than to take the path that leads us to a common place of understanding within the wider church, the Anglican Communion, under the authority of the See of Canterbury, and in alignment with the structure that would be provided by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Consultative Council. To do otherwise, would be a compromise of my faith, to that which I believe in, and the vows I made when ordained and consecrated as a Bishop of the Church and the Anglican Communion.

MacPherson told VirtueOnline: "I am evangelical in my theology and faith, I will not live into what is contrary to the Bible", he said. "I will not indefinitely accept the status quo. I will not compromise the faith once delivered."

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