At one of the training conferences during probation, a speaker gave each of us an elastic band. He spoke about how we rely on such bands maintaining their elasticity. We want them to stretch and then to return to their original state. There is much that you can do with them, when you're not flicking them at people! Of course, their elasticity is not a given.
You perhaps know the feeling of picking up an older elastic band, which hasn't been used for a while, and which has gradually deteriorated. As soon as you pull it, it snaps and immediately becomes much less able to fulfil its vocation in life.
Equally, you may have had the experience of stretching an elastic band a little bit too far and it breaks - occasionally giving you a nasty nip in the process.
The speaker, who happened to be my probationary supervisor (Rev David Cameron), talked about understanding how important our own elasticity was. Our ability to cope with life - our capacity to handle the demands of ministry - our aptitude for change. It was good to be stretched. But if we were continually stretched too far, our ability to bounce back might be diminished or we might snap altogether.
It was a powerful concept and the elastic band stayed on my notebook as a reminder.
When I travel around the Presbytery, I am conscious of many people who feel overstretched at the moment - from Session Clerks, to Treasurers, to Fabric Conveners, to those in Ministry and those responsible for Safeguarding. Handling change takes time and energy and effort and there are many who feel worn out by getting congregations over the line when it comes to adjustments. There are lots of congregations who do not currently have an inducted Minister or an Interim Moderator or whose Minister is on sick/compassionate leave. And as such there are those who have stepped in to fill a gap - caring for others as well as those in their own church family.
There's a lot of stretch going on and with a steady flow of vacancies, the danger is that some people become over-extended.
How do we avoid the snap whilst still being able to get the essentials done?
My plea is to every member of Presbytery to consider your own elasticity.
Are there ways in which you can look after it (and by inference - you)? Do you need to take a step back because you are already at full stretch and in danger of breaking? Do you need support to help restore your elasticity which has got damaged? Do you need some time on retreat? Would pastoral supervision help? Do you need to take some holiday? Do you need time with family and friends?
On the flip side, perhaps you are feel a little under-stretched. Is there is a way in which you could contribute into Presbytery so as to reduce the stretch on your fellow Presbyters? Could you offer to be an Interim Moderator? Could you get more involved in the work of a committee that you are serving on? Could you commit to attending the meeting onsite and being part the physical gathering - encouraging those who are in the Presbytery alongside you?
How is your elasticity?
Rev Stella
