Bishop Orris G. Walker of Long Island, already facing serious problems in his diocese, now must deal with a charge of violating canon law. A group of three clergy and 21 members of St. George's Church, Flushing, N.Y., have charged Bishop Walker with violating church canons in refusing to approve the rector-elect of St. George's.

The diocese is already awaiting the results of an investigation into an alleged scandal involving several of its priests and young Brazilian men in homosexual activities in diocesan churches.

The written charges were filed with Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning March 4 after Bishop Walker reportedly said the rector-elect of St. George's was not "duly qualified" to serve as its rector. It is alleged that Bishop Walker "intentionally, materially and meaningfully violated the canons of the Episcopal Church" by preventing the Rev. Franco C. Kwan from serving as rector of St. George's after the parish's vestry had elected him.

In 1988, Fr. Kwan was appointed by Bishop Walker to serve as vicar of the Chinese congregation at St. George's. He remains in that position. The wardens were told by Bishop Walker in 1996 that he would not permit Fr. Kwan to be considered among the candidates for rector.

St. George's is a 295-year-old congregation of more than 200 communicants which includes Samuel Seabury among its past rectors. Services are conducted there in English, Chinese and Spanish.

Church canons call for the Presiding Bishop to appoint a review panel consisting of from five to seven bishops to determine whether, if the facts alleged are taken as true, Bishop Walker's actions violated the canons. If the review panel finds that Bishop Walker violated canons, it will designate a board of inquiry consisting of clergy and lay persons to determine whether a presentment should be brought against Bishop Walker.