LSM in a different setting

After some years of paid management, our parish's holiday flats are currently being managed by a group of volunteers. Our manager resigned to take up a full-time position and, to carry it over the "low" season, Parish Council has taken over the operation itself.

• Three or four of us are taking responsibility for specific aspects of day to day management
• Members of out congregation are having to identify their own sense of mission in trying to provide free short breaks for stressed people in need of Time Out...
• Members who have been standing back and leaving everything to the manager are coming forward and asking what they can do to help...
• The sense of teamwork that existed between the Manager and the small management committee is being extended to a much wider group...
• There's some controversy about exactly what to do in the changing economic circumstances but there's also lively and informed discussion as people get involved in the issues..

It's fascinating to see the parallels between this situation and that of a congregation exploring Local Shared Ministry as an alternative to paying a minister. In either case, there's an air of uncertainty about the future but, together, people put their energies and their faith to the test.