years of representing churches around the Island.

It is expected to be replaced next summer by a new group of clergy from the Island's central parishes.

Chairman of a steering committee set up to help with the transition, the Rev.

Henry Shepherd of Christ Church, Warwick, yesterday told The Royal Gazette he hoped the new group -- to be called The Central Parishes Ministerial Fellowship -- will "represent more real talking across the denominational bodies''.

"The ministerial association had a quasi-political set up,'' Rev. Shepherd said.

But he explained that the new group's objective was to foster "fellowship, mutual understanding and support among ministers in Bermuda'', excluding the parishes of St. George's and Sandys and the western part of Southampton which are already represented by an eastern ministerial alliance and a western ministerial alliance, respectively.

"The exclusion merely reflect the existence of fraternal groups at each end of the Island and our intention not to run in competition with them,'' Rev.

Shepherd added.

The new group plan to meet monthly to discuss theological topics or practical, social, and political concerns.