FALLING numbers of stipendiary clergy in the Church of England, reported in the latest statistics, show the urgent need for more ordinations, the Director of Ministry for the Archbishops’ Council, the Ven. Julian Hubbard, has said.
The statistics, released yesterday, reveal that, while the total number of ordained ministers has remained at around 20,500 from 2012 to the end of last year, the number of stipendiary bishops, priests, and deacons fell from 8006 in 2012 to 7661.
The number of stipendiary women clergy has risen slightly every year, but has not offset the decline in numbers of men.
Archdeacon Hubbard said: "The overall picture confirms what is widely known about the challenges we face. While the number of stipendiary ordinations showed a welcome increase between 2012 and 2015, this is not sufficient to redress the gathering effect of clergy retirements predicted over the next ten years."
More here-
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2016/3-june/news/uk/fewer-clergy-on-a-stipend-and-older
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