the "Book of Turmoil'' which is taking place in Christian churches. Because Mr. Chisling has sought to provide humanitarian leadership, he is being rejected here in Bermuda.

This situation is not unique to Bermuda. Many branches of the Christian church are engaging in a strange return to literal but unintelligent interpretation of the Bible and are producing fanatics who accept no move away from their narrow and bigoted approach.

We all hear complaints that ministers are not sufficiently involved in the affairs of the community. But Mr. Chisling has been an activist and a doer. He was busy and involved and making a contribution to the people of Bermuda.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, the Hon. Quinton Edness, is quoted as saying: "That man in the time he has been here has done outstanding work for Bermuda.'' Mr. Edness also said: "To my mind this man has been exemplary in carrying out what has been described as the Lord's work. I would hate to see a person like him leave the community because there seems to be a philosophical disagreement.'' Mr. Chisling is a person who is concerned to minister to his fellow men, not some of his fellow men but all those who need him. What is described by Mr.

Edness as a "philosophical disagreement'' appears to be the fact that some, not the majority, but some of Mr. Chisling's parishioners object to his working with AIDS victims.

Just how narrow and un-Christian can any group get? Bermudians are now following other jurisdictions where, as a result of narrow, literal and oppressive doctrine, people are tearing apart their churches in a return to the past with actions reminiscent of the Inquisition. In the process of destruction, they forget that rigid and narrow doctrine is the very thing which spawned their churches. Mr. Chisling appears to us to be a victim of such blind action.

If there is any comfort for Mr. Chisling in being shunted out of his church despite his hard and humane work, it must be the knowledge that it is not his fault. Regrettably, it is the way things are in some mean sections of the church today. The sad thing is that the people making trouble and leading these movements are often not sufficiently intelligent to engage in anything other than literal meanings. As a trained minister, Mr. Chisling must know that the very people who reject him would have opposed the ministrations of Christ.

Clearly there are major unresolved problems inside the Methodist churches in Bermuda. This is not the first difficult incident in the last few years.

However, it is now becoming clear that the problems are ones of strict doctrine opposed to modern freedom. Modern freedom will win in the end, that's what created the Methodist Church. For now Mr. Chisling is a victim. It is time for the sensible and intelligent people in the Methodist Church to stand up and say that "enough is enough'' and invite Mr. Chisling to continue his work in Bermuda.