PITTSBURGH—An Episcopal Church committee says that conservative Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan has “abandoned the communion of this church,” a potential first step toward stripping him of religious authority in the denomination.

The committee blocked the national Episcopal Church from imposing the penalty of “inhibition,” which would have barred him from performing religious duties. But the Episcopal House of Bishops is expected to consider imposing the punishment near the end of this year.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, who notified Duncan Jan. 15 that he had abandoned the communion, told Duncan that she sought permission to inhibit him.

In a statement, Duncan said he has been “loyal to the doctrine, discipline and worship of The Episcopal Church.”

The 11-county Pittsburgh diocese and Duncan are among the more vocal critics of recent Episcopal moves to open the church to gays and lesbians. In 2003, the Episcopal Church consecrated its first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.

About 60 of the more than 7,000 Episcopal parishes have either split from the national church or suffered serious membership losses in the last few years, the denomination says.

Two weeks ago, the Episcopal Church inhibited San Joaquin (Calif.) Bishop John-David Schofield after he led his congregants to secede from the national church.