1.   Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, the new leader of the largest Episcopal diocese in the nation, took the pulpit at St. John the Evangelist in Mansfield, Mass.

2.   But here the local Episcopal diocese helped out.

3.   Delegates from the three Episcopal dioceses gather to pray after the resolution requiring the dioceses to ordain women passed.

4.   The Episcopal diocese has been working on its policy for the past two years and will implement it soon, MacNaughton said.

5.   But some Episcopal dioceses disregard the official stance by ordaining homosexual clergy and blessing the relationships of same-sex couples.

6.   He estimates that a quarter to a third of Episcopal dioceses already allow openly gay and lesbian priests.