The clergy trade union stepped up demands for clerics to be protected by employment law yesterday after a survey revealed that many feel insecure in their jobs.
A poll by the Amicus union among 1,000 members of its clergy and Church workers section found that a third felt that their Church had not dealt fairly or honestly with them.
Two thirds said they were facing changes to their roles, with only 16 per cent being offered financial assistance, and nearly 40 per cent said they feared their present posts were insecure.
Under the law, clerics and ministers of religion are considered to be employees of God rather than man, and are not covered by the employment rights enjoyed by most workers.
The Government is to decide within weeks whether the clergy need to be given the same rights as their secular counterparts.
The Churches and faiths have resisted the move, arguing that the job is a vocation. Privately, they also fear that it could involve costly battles in employment tribunals.
But Chris Ball, the national officer of Amicus, said: "This survey clearly shows that UK clergy are operating within a climate of uncertainty, inadequate management and have little if no legal remedy to problems that occur."
Most members of Amicus's clergy section are from the Church of England, but a growing number are from other denominations, including Roman Catholics.