ONE of Scotland's leading theologians has blamed a drop in evangelical students training for the ministry on the Church of Scotland's battle over gay clergy.

The Reverend Professor David Fergusson, principal of the New College, Edinburgh University's divinity school, said the Kirk must stop squabbling over sexuality or risk alienating more young people.

He appealed to the Church at its annual General Assembly on The Mound in Edinburgh as it sought ways to stem the loss of ministers and dire shortage of younger clergy.

He said both evangelical and liberal students were needed for diversity within the Church.

Mr Fergusson said: "They are spread thinly. We need to increase those numbers to a more viable level. We've been hearing there are more than 200 vacant congregations and we clearly have a shortage of ministers.

"The number of our evangelical students in the last two or three years has declined and I believe it is not unconnected [to the gay issue].

"The current squabble in the Church over sexuality needs to be, if not resolved, at least managed."

He went on: "Resolving that one thing is not a magic bullet. We need to be more recruit- ment-conscious and encourage people from within the congregations who feel they have a vocation."

The professor addressed the assembly on the issue of gay ordination during the main debate and said yesterday he welcomed the change of stance the Kirk has taken, which allows gay ministers but maintains the traditional position as default.

He said he accepted the new plan that allows gay ministers in same-sex relationships.

It is the latest move in a tussle going on in the Church since the appointment of the Reverend Scott Rennie to Aberdeen Queen's Cross church in 2009. The professor added that the new position is "not going to solve all our problems".

"There are some people who are currently disaffected who are likely to remain so, but I do hope the proposed direction we have taken gives the view to people in our evangelical congregations the wider denomination is alert to their concerns."

Mr Fergusson raised a concern over the risk of the Kirk creating an "inquisitorial" system with the prospect of congregations quizzing potential ministers on their sexuality.

During the debate the Reverend David Macolm of Queen's Park in Glasgow called for a cut in the four-and-a-half-year study time for new minister to ease financial hardship.

Ministries Council convener Neil Dougall said the shortage of younger ministers "creates a huge challenge for the Church".