On November 2, 2007, the Diocese of Pittsburgh annual convention voted to change its constitution to remove accession to the constitution and canons of the Episcopal Church. The vote was 118 to 58 in the lay order and 109 to 24 in the clergy order. Shortly after, a group of Episcopalians filed a formal complaint with the Episcopal Church and the Presiding Bishop also submitted a complaint charging that Bishop Duncan had abandoned the Episcopal Church and violated other canons. The committee designated by the Episcopal Church voted that the charges were substantive and the matter was put before the House of Bishops on September 18, 2008. The bishops deposed Duncan from ordained ministry on charges of abandoning the communion of the church.