by a "corrupt'' Church bureaucracy if they try to work in Bermuda, a meeting of concerned Anglicans heard last night.

"I have in my parish about four or five young men who would make fine priests one day,'' Canon Arnold Hollis of St. James' Church, Sandys Parish told the dozens who had gathered there to discuss Bermudianisation in the Church.

"But I said to someone the other day that I am going to have to discourage them from pursuing a serious attachment to the Church because they are going to be crushed by it. Now that is something I hate to say.'' Dr. Hollis made his admission in the wake of two controversial Church hirings that have rallied some Bermudian Anglicans to the cause of local clergymen and prompted Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Mr. Alex Scott to demand an explanation from Government.

Mr. Scott, who was at last night's meeting, has lambasted Government for approving the work permits of two foreign priests whose positions had not been advertised.

The meeting was organised by the Committee of Conerned Anglicans.

"If I were an Anglican, I would be profoundly concerned that some senior clergymen are now at sixes and sevens about encouraging young people to enter the priesthood,'' Mr. Scott, who said he was approached with the Committee's concerns more than a year ago, told the assembly.

"As Bermudians, it behoves us to do something about it.'' The Rev. Stuart Lambert, one of the "qualified yet unemployed'' clergymen that have sparked the current controversy, said he is trying to bring about change.

Among his initiatives is an 18-page discussion paper which he hopes will "facilitate'' the Bermudianisation of the Church, including the process by which the Island's Bishop is appointed.

Bermuda's Anglican Bishop is currently appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

"I must say that he (the Archbishop) is not happy,'' said Mr. Lambert, who told The Royal Gazette that he has met with advisors to the supreme Anglican leader.

"He is not happy that he must appoint a Bishop over Dr. Hollis or whoever.

And that will change eventually.'' The Committee has scheduled another meeting in St. David's on February 20.