A letter sent to all members of the Leeds diocesan synod asks for prayer as senior staff tackle a £3 million deficit.
The diocese was formed four years as a merger between the diocese of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds, and Wakefield.
It’s headed up by Rt Rev Nick Baines (pictured), employs 110 people and serves 460 parishes.
In a statement acknowledging the financial difficulties, a spokesman said: “The measures needed to deliver a balanced budget will impact on the organisation and staff in different ways – we are deeply concerned for all members of our staff teams and all impacted by the decisions we need to take.
“A strong future demands strong action now.
“We are grateful for the understanding and support of colleagues as we work through the challenges before us.”
Although part of the Church of England, each diocese is financially independent.
The difficulties faced by Leeds have led to some calling for a change.
Writing on Twitter, Bishop of Burnley Rt Rev Philip North said: “A northern diocese ‘in crisis’ because of a debt of less than 1% of the funds held by some southern dioceses.
“This ‘crisis’ is no more than a symptom of a much deeper financial and spiritual institutional sickness. The solution is in Acts 2.”
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