These congregations will be led by fewer and fewer stipendiary clergy... 2020 apparently is when our congregations start falling through the floor because of natural wastage, that is people dying.
He will not be drawn on the extent of the cull needed but believes it could be done at a faster pace than under the moratorium or current natural wastage.
Any staff reductions that take place would be initially through natural wastage and voluntary departures, with compulsory redundancies only as a last resort.
Officials said they will try to avoid compulsory redundancies through voluntary redundancy, natural wastage, redeployment and leaving vacant posts unfilled.
Also, if an 8,000 reduction really is planned, far more of those people would be leaving through natural wastage and voluntary redundancy than compulsory discharge.