Monroeville, Pa. ? Episcopal dioceses in Pennsylvania and Texas accused the national church Saturday of exceeding its authority and violating its own constitution by confirming its first openly gay bishop and approving the blessing of same-sex unions.

“These acts are to be held null and void, and of no effect, in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh,” read a resolution approved 239-69 by delegates in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Clergy and lay delegates of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth in Texas conducted a similar vote as part of a national drive among conservative dioceses and clergy seeking to distance themselves from the Episcopal Church for its decisions last month on the gay bishop and same-sex unions.

Members of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida, meeting in Jacksonville, discussed plans for a formal vote Nov. 15 on whether to support the national convention. Most oppose the two decisions but want to work within the church to resolve the differences, the Rev. Mark Eldredge said.

Both the Texas and Pennsylvania dioceses called on the Anglican Communion to recognize those who oppose the gay bishop and same-sex blessings as “the legitimate expression” of the Episcopal Church.

Delegates in Pennsylvania also approved a resolution that would allow parishes to withhold money from the national church.

The national denomination of the Episcopal Church, with 2.3 million members, is the U.S. branch of the worldwide, 77 million-member Anglican Communion.

An Aug. 5 vote of the national church’s General Convention confirmed as bishop the Rev. V. Gene Robinson, who has lived with a male partner for more than 13 years.

Episcopalians who oppose Robinson’s confirmation will gather Oct. 7-9 in Dallas.