William Lloyd Andries, the former rector of St. Gabriel's Church, Brooklyn, identified in an article in Penthouse magazine [TLC, Nov. 17] as being involved with other clergy in homosexual sex and cross dressing in Brooklyn churches, says he will initiate a lawsuit against the magazine for libel.

In a statement issued a week after the magazine was published, Mr. Andries said, "I categorically deny the veracity of the article which appeared in the December issue of Penthouse magazine. It is a tissue of lies."

Mr. Andries said he never had sexual relations with Wasticlinio Barras, a young Brazilian who was a source for many of the allegations reported by Penthouse. He also claimed he "never had sex with anyone in St. Gabriel's Church," never used cocaine nor did he provide it to others, never cross-dressed as a woman, never wore eucharistic vestments during sexual activities and never engaged in sado-masochism.

Mr. Andries, who resigned his orders after the article appeared, also mentioned the eight photographs which accompanied the Penthouse article. Four were taken at what he called a "commitment ceremony" in which the magazine reported he "married" Jairo Pereira, and four were taken during a sexual encounter with Mr. Pereira.

Mr. Andries also said he gave Mr. Pereira $16,000 in two $8,000 installments "to help his family purchase a home" in Brazil.

"I repent of my sins," he said. "I now realize that I was used by two hustlers.

"I ask the Episcopal Church to forgive me for the embarrassment that I have caused. But I also ask for fair treatment and a fair investigation of what occurred."

In other developments, the Rev. Howard Williams, director of children's ministries at the Episcopal Church Center, who was mentioned in the Penthouse article but not implicated, resigned his position.

A statement issued by Bishop John W. Howe of Central Florida and signed by nine other bishops, had 34 signatures of bishops as of Nov. 6. The original statement was later appended to include four requests of the national Executive Council: To hold a "full, complete, independent investigation" and report to the church; to review the role of Bishop Orris Walker of Long Island in the scandal; to disclose the involvement, if any, of the Rev. Howard Williams; and for General Convention and diocesan conventions "to provide clear and binding standards regarding the sexual behavior of clergy."

The following bishops have signed the statement: Keith L. Ackerman, Quincy; C. FitzSimons Allison, South Carolina, retired; John F. Ashby, Western Kansas, retired; David S. Ball, Albany; Maurice M. Benitez, Texas, retired; Anselmo Carral, assistant, Texas, retired; Robert H. Cochrane, Olympia, retired; James M. Coleman, West Tennessee; William J. Cox, assistant, Oklahoma; Alex D. Dickson, Jr., West Tennessee, retired; Robert W. Duncan, coadjutor, Pittsburgh; Herbert D. Edmondson, Jamaica, retired; Leopold Frade, Honduras; William C. Frey, Colorado, retired; R. Heber Gooden, Panama, retired; Hal R. Gross, suffragan, Oregon, retired; Clarence R. Haden, Northern California, retired; Robert J. Hargrove, Western Louisiana; John W. Howe, Central Florida; Jack L. Iker, Fort Worth; Russell E. Jacobus, Fond du Lac; Stephen H. Jecko, Florida; Terence Kelshaw, Rio Grande; Edward H. MacBurney, Quincy, retired; Robert H. Mize, Jr., assistant, San Joaquin, retired; Donald J. Parsons, Quincy, retired; Hugo L. Pina-Lopez, assistant, Central Florida; Victor M. Rivera, San Joaquin, retired; John-David Schofield, San Joaquin; William C.R. Sheridan, Northern Indiana, retired; Harry W. Shipps, Georgia, retired; James M. Stanton, Dallas; Robert P. Varley, Nebraska, retired; William C. Wantland, Eau Claire.