Top United Church of Canada official Dr. Marion Best this week urged more Bermudians to study theology and enter the ministry.

On the Island for a 10-day visit, Dr. Best, the church moderator, is visiting Wesleyan Methodist churches that have been associated with the Canadian church since 1930.

The visit is expected to strengthen relations between the Canadian regions and Bermuda which belongs to the Maritime region.

Two years ago a handful of dissident congregations in Bermuda voted to break away from the Canadian church.

The synod required a 75 percent majority to make the break but congregations voted overwhelmingly to stay.

Nevertheless, Grace Methodist Church congregationalists have recently been protesting a system of rotating Canadian ministers.

The church has been without its own minister for more than 18 months.

To fill the void, the synod has allotted ministers from other local churches to preach sermons and administer sacraments at the church on a rotating basis.

But normally peaceful Sunday services have turned into scenes of conflict as congregationalists protested the ousting of their local lay preacher.

Dr. Best said the system of rotation was devised so that Grace congregationalists had access to ministers authorised to administer the sacraments.

Lay preachers did not have that authority, she said.

Most ministers came from Canada because at present there were no Bermudian ministers and few students.

"That has been the situation for quite a long time,'' Dr. Best said.

"But it would be highly desirable if more Bermudians took theological education and considered entering the ministry. At this point, not many are studying.'' Her visit, she said, was to maintain the 65-year-old link between Canada and Bermuda -- the only part of 13 church regions outside Canada.

"It is a question of keeping communication open and helping everyone to feel included. It is important we keep conversing both with those who are happy with the situation and with those who want some changes,'' she said.

"Bermuda is a link we would like to keep and nurture and support in whatever way is best for the people who live here.'' Dr. Best presides over meetings of the United Church's General Council and travels widely throughout Canada visiting the churches.

She will be the preacher tomorrow at the 11 a.m. service at the Wesley Methodist Church in Hamilton and at a 7 p.m. service at Marsden Memorial Methodist Church in Smith's Parish.

All Wesleyan Methodist church members are invited to attend.

FIRST VISIT -- Mrs. Marion Best aims to strengthen church ties with Canada during her 10-day visit.