A group of conservative Anglicans in Australia are protesting against Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori's upcoming preaching engagement in the country, calling it "entirely inappropriate."

Schori, who is currently on a two week visit to New Zealand and Australia, is currently scheduled to preach on July 4 at Christ Church St. Lucia in the Diocese of Brisbane.

For the Rev. Mark Thompson, president of the Anglican Church League (ACL), the invitation from Brisbane Archbishop Philip Aspinall, "shows an appalling lack of judgment and contempt for those who have suffered at the hands of the revisionists in The Episcopal Church."

"[Schori] has defied the vast majority of the Anglican Communion, and even the Archbishop of Canterbury, by pursuing a program of moral and doctrinal revision, endorsing homosexual behaviour and approving the appointment of a lesbian bishop," Thompson said in a statement.

"Her actions have been taken in full awareness of the widespread international concern which has led to an official call for a moratorium on any such measures," he said, adding that Schori "bears a great deal of responsibility for the current turmoil, division and anguish in the Anglican Communion."

Thompson made further note of Schori's prosecution against separatists in the Episcopal Church who "wish to remain faithful to the teaching of Scripture…[and] who oppose her program of revision."

"Faithful Anglicans throughout Australia will be offended by" her invitation to preach, Thompson said, asking Aspinall to "reconsider and rescind the invitation."

Schori's agenda during her trip to New Zealand and Australia, which was meant to be "low key," is to speak about "conversations around human sexuality and also about…missionary development work," according to Episcopal News Service.

While in New Zealand this weekend, the presiding bishop was warmly received with "manakitaanga," or hospitality, by Anglican leaders, although she was also prevented from preaching in one of the church's cathedrals as a way to "ease tensions" over the ordination of the Rev. Mary Glasspool, a partnered lesbian.

Some 600,000 members comprise the Anglican Church in Aoteara, New Zealand and Polynesia. The Anglican Church in Australia has nearly 4 million members. Schori has been planning the trip to the provinces since last year.