Bishops in the US have voted to depose a leading conservative bishop after accusing him of "abandonment of the communion of the church."

Bishops of the Episcopal Church voted by 88 to 35 at a meeting in Salt Lake City to remove the Bishop of Pittsburgh, the Right Rev Bob Duncan, from all ordained ministry.

Bishop Duncan was immediately received into the Latin American Diocese of the Southern Cone, headed by British-born primate, the Most Rev Gregory Venables. Next month the Pittsburgh diocese will vote on whether to secede from The Episcopal Church and join the Southern Cone, as another US diocese has already voted to do.

If the vote goes ahead for a split, Episcopal Church lawyers are certain to contest it, leading to yet more costly legal action as the dispute over homosexuality escalates across the Atlantic.

In December, the diocese of San Joaquin in California voted to re-align with the Southern Cone. The House of Bishops subsequently deposed San Joaquin's Bishop John-David Schofield, who was invited to but did not attend the Lambeth Conference of bishops at Canterbury in July.

Bishop Duncan said after the meeting: "I'm very sad, sad for the Episcopal Church. In 15 days the diocese will determine whether it, too, wants to be part of the Southern Cone and figure out whether it wants me back as bishop. That is up to the diocese, although I have a sneaking suspicion they will want me back." The meeting was described as "quiet, prayerful and respectful". It took place over two days.

Afterwards Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said: "The House of Bishops worked carefully and prayerfully to consider the weighty matter of Bishop Duncan. The conversation was holy, acknowledging the pain of our deliberations as well as the gratitude many have felt over the years for their relationships with, and the ministry of, Robert Duncan. The House concluded, however, that his actions over recent months and years constitute abandonment of the communion of this church and that he should be deposed. Concern was expressed for the people of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh in the face of leadership which has sought to remove itself from The Episcopal Church. In the days and months ahead, this Church will work to ensure appropriate pastoral care and provision for the members of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, so that mission and ministry in that part of Pennsylvania may continue in the name of Jesus Christ and in the tradition of the Episcopal Church."

The conflict had threatened to move to the UK after the Dean of St Albans, Dr Jeffrey John, was one of the names nominated for the vacant see of Bangor at a preliminary meeting earlier this month. But sources in Wales told The Times that the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, had made it clear to electors in Bangor that he would not be prepared to consecrate a bishop who is in a civil partnership out of concern for the unity of the Church.

Dr John is celibate but is in a civil partnership with his long-term companion the Rev Grant Holmes, also an Anglican priest. As a result, The Times has learned that he is not on the shortlist of four to be considered by electors when they meet next month.