NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The Evangelical and Catholic Mission, an organization recently formed by several bishops of the Episcopal Church, will hold its first Congress on "Evangelical Catholicism" at three regional sites -- Dallas, New York City, and Minneapolis -- in May.

The Congress will focus on four issues in the Church: authority, ministry, morality, and spirituality. The keynote speaker will be the Rt. Rev. Michael E. Marshall, Bishop of Woolwich, England.

The Dallas meeting will be at the Church of the Incarnation on May 1-2, followed by a session at St. Thomas Church in New York City on May 6-7, and culminating at Gethsemane Church, Minneapolis, May 8-9.

Participating bishops in the Congress will be the Rt. Revs. Stanley Atkins of Eau Claire, chairman of the Evangelical and Catholic Mission; A. Donald Davies of Dallas; William H. Folwell of Central Florida; William C. Frey of Colorado; Wilbur E. Hogg of Albany; Donald J. Parsons of Quincy; Robert E. Terwilliger, Suffragan of Dallas; and Robert C. Witcher, Coadjutor of Long Island. The Rev. John Andrew, rector of St. Thomas Church, New York, will also speak.

The Evangelical and Catholic Mission was established by a group of bishops who expressed a desire to witness to the Apostolic Faith and Order within the Episcopal Church. Their announced purpose is "to strengthen the theological, spiritual, and moral life of Anglicanism. "

The Evangelical and Catholic Mission was an outgrowth of the decisions made last December in Chicago by nearly 250 persons when they reaffirmed their opposition to the action of the General Convention last fall in approving the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate. The Chicago conference had been called by Bishop Charles T. Gaskell of Milwaukee and the Coalition for the Apostolic Ministry.

Attendance at the three regional sessions of the Congress is open to all laity and clergy of the Episcopal Church. The registration fee is $15 and members of religious orders and seminarians will be admitted free. Registration forms and information may be secured from The Evangelical and Catholic Mission, 230 East 60th Street, New York, N.Y. 10022 (Telephone 212/838-1336).