Retired ministers could be called back into action to meet the Church of Scotland's projected shortfall.
The General Assembly of the Kirk, holding its annual gathering in Edinburgh, heard figures from a new report which revealed that between 2002 and 2006 there was an average of 29 new ministers completing training, set against an average of 40 between 1997 and 2001.
The report by the Church's ministries council said that the situation has reached the stage where in 10 years pastoral care is expected to be provided not by fully ordained ministers but a range of parish workers.
This would include deacons, who can carry out many services, but not sacraments such as communion and baptism. Parish assistants hold a similar role and can offer certain pastoral services but again their remit is limited.
Helensburgh minister the Rev David Clark, of the parish appraisal committee, part of the ministries council, said: "Our best efforts lead us to conclude that in 2017 the Church will have 1228 ministers of word and sacrament, (fully ordained) deacons, parish assistants available to work in parish and presbytery positions.
"This is not much different in total from the present time but the breakdown does indicate a shift in balance between ministers in charges, which will reduce, and other parish staff, which will increase."
The Rev Robert Anderson, a minister in West Lothian, said rather than merging ministries, the Kirk could call on "fit and healthy" retired ministers to return to service, adding: "It seems a most reasonable use of resources."
Bishopbriggs minister te Rev Graham Finch, acting convener of the ministries council, said: "We are to report next year on the issue of age discrimination and it may be that that will be relevant to the wider issues the Rev Anderson is raising."
A specific report on calling retired ministers back to work may also be compiled, he said.
The problem could be further exacerbated by a failure this year to forward plans to widen opportunities for learning by accrediting another school outwith existing universities to fully train ministers.
The ministries council reported that it was unable to endorse the International Christian College seminary in Glasgow, which offers inter-denominational theological education but not yet to full Kirk minister level.
The report stated: "The council agreed that in principle such a seminary setting could be seen as an appropriate training base for this form of ministry (full)."
But Mr Finch was forced into an embarrassing apology after it emerged that the council had not fully examined the ICC's religious position.
He said: "The council offers apologies both to the assembly and to ICC. It needs more time to discuss the issue further and will report next year."
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