Four dioceses (Dallas, Fort Worth, Pittsburgh and South Carolina) jointly distributed on Dec. 17 a draft constitution for the formation of the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes within the Episcopal Church.

The network which will be independent of the American Anglican Council, according to the Rev. Canon David Anderson, AAC president, seeks ecumenical and international recognition as the legitimate Anglican Communion presence in the United States.

As many as nine additional dioceses may join via a constitutional convention scheduled Jan. 19-20 in Plano, Texas.