Total Ministry is a "different way of doing church". It is a gathering of ministers rather than a minister gathering people. It takes different forms in different places, but its basis is spiritual, focusing the people both inwardly and outwardly. Total Ministry makes everyone take their spiritual gifts seriously and are held (and helped) to be responsible for their use.
It enables all Christians to fulfill their baptismal vows. It is biblical, reasonable and fulfills our traditional Anglican values. While many times Total Ministry is started because of economic reasons, often when a congregation "gets back on its feet" they do not want to stop doing Total Ministry. It has become their way of life.
While Total Ministry has been around for over 40 years, its time has come. In the age of post-Christendom, only those who WANT to be a Christian come to church and fellowship. People who want to be Christian want to have a deeper spirituality.
Total Ministry looks different everywhere it is started, however there are a few bottom lines: there are always teams, however they are arranged. There is an overseer of some sort, often a seminary trained clergy person. The congregation as a whole thinks of themselves as ministers, and they know and understand their spiritual gifts and use them.
50% of Episcopal congregations are considered "small", that is, under 70 people on a given Sunday morning. Total Ministry is wonderful combined with clustering or grouping congregations together with a single overseer (missioner, ministry developer). But Total Ministry is great for larger congregations as well.
You and your congregation. Now.