NEW YORK — With the prospect of the Episcopal Church splitting over homosexuality, the denomination's leader defended his support for an openly homosexual bishop in August.

The Associated Press reported Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold said he voted to confirm Bishop-elect V. Gene Robinson because Episcopalians in New Hampshire had overwhelmingly chosen him in their local election and had the right to make that choice.

Griswold also argued that Scripture does not condemn same-sex relationships, the news service reported.

"Homosexuality, as we understand it as an orientation, is not mentioned in the Bible," Griswold told the news service. "I think the confirmation of the bishop of New Hampshire is acknowledging what is already a reality in the life of the church and the larger society of which we are a part."

Conservatives vehemently reject that position and are considering a split from the denomination as a result.

The conservative American Anglican Council will gather in Dallas Oct. 7-9 to decide whether to break from the denomination over Robinson's confirmation. More than 1,400 lay Episcopalians, bishops and clergy will attend.

Griswold will join fellow leaders of the world Anglican Communion the following week for an emergency meeting in London to prevent their association from fracturing over Robinson and other issues related to homosexuality.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the communion's spiritual leader, summoned the other 37 church primates to London after several overseas bishops threatened to sever ties with the Americans. Archbishop of Nigeria Peter Akinola called Robinson's confirmation, "a satanic attack on God's church," the news service reported.

U.S. conservatives have asked Williams to consider authorizing a separate Anglican province in North America. Griswold said it would require a vote by the American church's General Convention, not a decision by Williams, to authorize it.