Well we finally tested the idea of doing some work with clergy and Vestry Secretaries/Lay Chairs in Stirling last night. It seems to me that this is one of the key relationships in congregational life – it’s a relationship which needs to be in good creative order if leadership is to be offered and accepted. The Canons, as so often, are eloquently unhelpful. I mentioned the challenge of responding to multiple, undeclared and contradictory of expectations.
So we – meaning Peter Mackie – did some work with a group of about twelve. The results of course were very interesting. Lots of things deeper down, no doubt. But the range of practice was remarkable – frequency and duration of meeting varying to a considerable degree.
And we had a look at the Vital Vestries material which comes from the Local Collaborative Ministry stable.