THE BISHOPS have established a high-powered cOmmittee to take a close look at every aspect of the work or all the specialist commissions which advise the hierarchy on issues like education. justice and peace, theology and ecumenism.
The committee's investigation will have a particular bearing on the discussions now going on about whether the Catholic church should join the British Council of Churches, It will be led by Cardinal Hume and the other members are Archbishop Worlock and Bishops Lindsay, Harris, McMahon. Brewer and Tripp. _ the last major report on the commissions: the feeling that it was time to take another look was reinforced by the clear desire expressed at the National Pastoral Congress for membership of the BCC.
Archbishop Worlock pointed out last week that the -Easter Peoplereport had referred specifically to the questions of "overlap" between the commissions and the various bodies on. the BCC. Clearly if the current negotiations with the BCC result in Catholic membership there will he a need for a fundamental reorganisation of the present structures on both sides.