A LEADING district cleric has said people should not fear a sudden loss of vicars because of cash problems.

However, Kidderminster rural dean Nick Barker warned the decline in serving clergy will be accelerated by current financial constraints.

But this will be part of the natural process of wastage under the current climate of falling congregations and increased costs for churches.

He spoke after the Bishop of Worcester warned vicars' jobs are under threat because parishes are not paying enough.

The Rt Rev Dr Peter Selby made the claim after the Worcester diocese received only 94.3 per cent of its expected quota from parishes last year.

If the trend continues it could face a £200,000 a year shortfall by 2003 and 2004.

Dr Selby has urged parishes to pay their contribution in full. He said giving by parishes was well below the national average.

Rev Barker, who is also team rector at St George's Church, agreed with the bishops' sentiments but stressed the burden of contribution was falling on fewer churchgoers and costs were continually rising for churches.

He said: "The financial constraints will accelerate the decline in the number of serving clergy and while a deanery may anticipate losing posts, these losses may have to occur sooner than anticipated.

"Unfortunately, the burden of contributions is falling on fewer people because of declining congregations. However, per head, people are giving more."

The current diocesan shortfall has led to the freezing of two posts - an industrial missioner and world mission officer.

The bishop said it stemmed from parishes now having to meet the costs of stipends for vicars and pensions, lower subsidies from church commissioners and a decline in interest rates.

He said: "As the pension contributions of the church - like those of almost every other institution - go up and interest rates go down the responsibility becomes more and more that of the living church to do what it wants - that is what it believes God wants us to do.

"If we respond as we are being asked we shall have more than enough for our current ministry and we shall change our whole attitude to giving so that the poor, our mission partners, development projects in poor countries - all will have enough to spare."