We, the clergy listed below, are requesting the Executive Council to take no action that would give the appearance of endorsing the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes. We feel this decision needs to be made by the delegates to the Diocesan Convention.

Members of the Anglican group Reform do not want such ceremonies to be carried out in church buildings at all.

They fear it could establish a precedent that paves the way for same-sex blessings, or even marriages.

But the move has been welcomed by more liberal Anglicans, who say transsexual people only want the same rights that others take for granted.

The vote to join the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes had been expected because S.C. Bishop Edward Salmon Jr. was one of the founding members and because the diocese's standing committee and executive committee had each voted unanimously to join.

But a couple of delegates spoke against it at the meeting at the North Charleston Convention Center.

At the recent Florida convention in January, leaders empowered parishes to decide individually whether to donate to the national church in 2004. Parishes traditionally give 10 percent of their income to the national church.

Pascoe, who has been at Grace for nearly 19 years, said it's embarrassing to be an Episcopalian and he admits he strongly considered taking a job at an out-of-state Presbyterian church.