Month: July 2018

WMC Leaders Discuss Consensus

WMC leaders have been learning about consensus. What does consensus mean to cross-cultural leaders?  Terence Corkin and I offered a training session and experience of consensus decision-making at the recent World Methodist Council (WMC) in Seoul, South Korea.

This organization brings together church leaders from around the world that share a Methodist heritage.  Its Executive team (the Steering Committee) wanted to explore a more respectful method of making decisions than Robert’s Rules of Order because. The last Council meeting in Houston showed that there was room for improvement. Like most organizations considering the shift to consensus, they decided to introduce the process to members of the Council at their meeting to get their support.

I interviewed 2 delegates to get their perspective on the process.  Here are their observations on consensus:

Edgar De Jesus, USA

Edgar is from the Philipines and is currently the Pastor of Davis Street United Methodist Church in Burlington, North Carolina.  This congregation is becoming a cross-cultural fellowship. They host a successful feeding ministry every Sunday morning for the poor and marginalized.

On Using Consensus

“Consensus is a timely, respectful process of making decisions that is truly needed in today’s world.”

“It’s not a methodology – it is an invitation to join with God’s Spirit at work in the world.  It is a way of seeing things from a Kingdom perspective or what matters to God. Further, it goes back to our understanding of who we are as a church. Jesus modeled consensus (it’s part of our Christology). He engaged people through conversation around the issues they cared about with mutuality and respect.”

Today, the church continues to be a gathered community that seeks to deliberate and resolve issues in a respectful, creative manner. “Consensus attacks implicit bias, domination and manipulation of people. Our decision-making process should be counter-cultural and model a Christ-like way of working together. You can debate elsewhere – the church must discern the will of God and call upon the Christian community gathered to model a better way.”

Rev De Jesus continues, “consensus is not an end in itself – it’ a beginning.  We acknowledge that we can see Jesus in one another as we talk about the issues we care deeply about discussing. We believe that we are in this together so it helps me have a different take than ‘Robert’s Rules’ to make decisions with each other.”

Edgar believes that the best decisions are made in community after respectful listening and deliberation. “Using a consensus process to discern God’s will disrupts the status quo” he explains. “It turns things upside down so assumptions are brought into the light for examination.” Further, it levels the playing field to allow full participation of everyone – not just the powerful majority. “When this occurs, we make good decisions.”

On Organizations Making the Shift to Use Consensus

Rev. De Jesus believes that “receiving training and experiencing the process is very helpful. For the WMC, it’s a great start, but just as important is using the model in the future.  My hope is that it does not just stay at the top level of the organization but filters through other committees and plenary sessions to engage all of us as we minister in the world. Birthing this process at the WMC is an important step for this organization.”

Edgar believes that it is also vital to bring a consensus discernment process back to our local contexts and communities as an alternative model.

Amelia Meli Koh-Butler

Amelia is a minister in the Uniting Church in Australia. She is an expert in cross-cultural ministry who has held positions in the Synod of South Australia and the National Assembly.  Currently, Amelia is a University Chaplain.

On Why Consensus Matters

“My generation would rather leave an organization or not participate in Robert’s Rules of Order.  It breaks Christian community.”

Cross-Cultural People and Consensus

She shared the connection between consensus and the use of the Samoan Fine Mat. In this practice, “if you have offended someone, you go their house and sit outside under a grass mat spending time reflecting on what you have done to the other that has upset them and how you can restore the relationship.”

Being under the mat opens you to the Spirit. Under the mat, there is a sense of brokeness. We sit; we wait. This time continues until the other person or family comes out and lifts the mat off of you to restore your relationship once again. The truth is: we all long for restoration –  it is by mercy and grace that we are restored. “The grass mat is also a symbolic place where we sit around together to make conversation and connections that reach consensus. It is a practice of waiting on the wisdom of others to reach a good decision. “You must give up your individualism, says Amelia, for the sake of community.”

“In some parts of the world, we hear the words: “I want or I need…”  In Australia, we use the words:  “We hope… or we yearn…” Consensus places the value on what is best for everyone and is entered into with prayerful humility and patience. “It is more vested in the future than in the past.”

Amelia recognizes the many individuals who have held a safe space for her to be part of the Christian community and invite her to use her gifts and talents. She affirms the decision of the WMC Steering Committee to try a consensus model in its business deliberations. “It is a wonderful way to provide a respectful space for all people to participate and reach a decision.”  She observed that women and minorities tend to participate more in groups that use consensus to reach decisions rather than in those that use parliamentary procedures.

Lessons Learned by the WMC

People of various cultural backgrounds appreciate using consensus in groups. In fact, they prefer it as a method to make decisions in faith communities. They find it practical, respectful, and theologically relevant as a way to determine God’s will.

Read here what five other members of the WMC thought about  the consensus process training in Seoul.

World Methodist Council – 5 views on consensus

World Methodist Council (WMC) 2018

The  World Methodist Council is the governing  body of the world Methodist family. It met in Seoul Korea from July 12 – 15. The Steering Committee decided to provide training in consensus based decision making. They were convinced that the World Methodist Council needs a better way to conduct their business meetings.

The WMC wanted a process that would help them to be more respectful, inclusive and true to their Christian values. Terence Corkin and Julia Kuhn Wallace were invited to provide the training.

In the first session the principles and practices of a consensus based discernment process were presented. The content was tailored specifically to the World Methodist Council and showed how a consensus approach to meetings supported their values and goals as an organisation. Session two was a role play using a piece of business that was on the agenda.

Some participants were asked: What do you see as the potential for a consensus building approach in meetings? Here are there responses.

Gillian Kingston

Vice President of the WMC

I think it is an excellent methodology. There are concerns about how much time it can take but I think it is the way forward. The WMC should talk to the World Communion of Reformed Churches about their experience in moving in this direction. It will take longer and that may require an additional day for our meetings. It has a lot to offer.

Frank M Reid III

African Methodist Episcopal Church

The potential in consensus based decision making is extraordinary and necessary. One of the reasons that the church isn’t growing is because of the way that we treat people in meetings. We see people attend a meeting, get treated really badly and never return to church. The way we do meetings is one of the reasons that we can’t get millennials into leadership roles in the church.

David Jebb

Methodist Church in Britain

I find it clear. It encourages openness and genuine consultation which is very helpful.

Denny Nainggolan

Methodist Church in Indonesia

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I look at the culture in Indonesia and it is a place where we only ever hear from the older people and senior Ministers. The juniors, younger ones, then have to follow.  Using a consensus process helps people to find their voice. Older people need to change their way of thinking. This approach gives people the tools to help young people to speak in a respectful way.

Lasse Svensson

Uniting Church in Sweden

The experience of the WCRC

In July 2017 the World Communion of Reformed Churches implemented consensus discernment across every aspect of their meeting. We interviewed some people who were in Leipzig, Germany about their experience.

Where next for the WMC?

The Officers and Steering Committee of the WMC will receive a report on the feedback received after the training. Responses to the experience were strongly positive. The decision now has to be taken as to whether the WMC will introduce elements of a consensus building approach into the regular life of the Council when it meets again in 2021.

Simple Steps to Break an Impasse

Have you ever been in the midst of making a decision and got stuck rather than moved forward? Often parties can discover a creative resolution to a problem by themselves. Sometimes, they reach an impasse where they cannot agree together on what to do.  A mediator or a neutral 3rd party can intervene and help to break the impasse.

Here are a few interventions which can break through an impasse

  •  Agree to stay in the process until a just resolution is found
  • Break the issue down into smaller parts and deal with the easiest first
  • Identify the goal (what do you both want to accomplish).
  • Consult an expert to supply needed facts or advice
  • Review the parties’ priorities and name common interests
  • Meet with the parties separately to explore a willingness to compromise
  • Try to get people to express what they originally expected the solution to be
  • Encourage people to acknowledge the other’s point of view and best hopes
  • Ensure the people want to end the conflict and ask for their help
  • Ask the parties to describe what the ideal solution would look like
  • As you and the others share what is important to you, you should be able to start identifying common areas and action steps
  • Focus on how the solution would affect an involved third party
  • Compliment the parties for reaching earlier points of agreement and est their willingness to compromise
  • Name the consequences of not working together
  •  Wisely use silence and questions about feelings
  • Look for points of agreement or mutual needs. Respect is something both parties usually want and is a good place to start if you are both stuck.
  • State what both parties have to lose
  • Identify the real problem or issue. Uncover the “real” issues or needs.
  • Meet in a relaxed environment with refreshments
  •  Ask open-ended questions. “How can we resolve this?”
  • Call a timeout and give a homework assignment for them to complete
  • Brainstorm options and tell them which alternative is closest to their need
  • Pray (not Prey) for each other
  • Avoid using words like, “ought” or “should.” Those are blaming words and make people defensive.
  • Look at examples of how others in a similar situation have reached a resolution
  • Work with one of the parties to break the impasse while in the company of the other

What other techniques would you add to the list?

Working through an impasse well is possible. Often, people will follow your leadership in reaching a creative solution to the challenges they face if they know that you have their best interest at heart.

Communication – let’s listen!

Communication is at the heart of any relationship. Communication is at the core of a discernment process. Most often meeting participants focus on talking. Yet effective communication requires that people take more care in listening than in talking!

Communication 101

It is a basic principle of communication that there is no communication if the recipient does not receive the information that the presenter is seeking to convey. So great care should be taken to ensure that information is presented in language, style, tone and ways that improve the chance of the other person understanding what is going on. All that makes good sense. So it should be followed by any person who wants to be an effective communicator.

However, the focus in this standard lesson about good communication is on the speaker. The speaker is the centre of attention. It is what the speaker does that is seen as the key to being a good communicator. Certainly, that is a wise point of reference. A careless communicator can ensure that the messages are lost between them and the ears or eyes of the receiver. Yet the presenter is only half of the equation. What is the responsibility of the other party to the communication?

It takes two to tango

Just like a dance goes better with two people – the same goes for communication. One dancer may lead but the other must be actively responding. A good dancing pair works together – each with different roles to produce the desired moves.

People who are receiving input have a responsibility to play their part in the communication dance. Whether you are listening to a speaker or reading written material, it’s your responsibility to pay close attention.

When you are involved in a discernment process it is imperative that you listen. In many meetings, there are too many people who want to talk but not listen. There are also people who don’t talk but don’t want to listen either! Usually, these are people who have already made up their mind and are not open to new points of view. Communication fails because one partner is not fulfilling their role – listening.

In many discernment processes, coloured cards are used as a way of responding to what has been said. The expectation is that everyone will express a response to every speaker. This practice puts listening front and centre in the process. If you are not listening then you can’t show a card. If you don’t show a card then it becomes obvious who is engaged in the process and who is not.

In the movement of presenting a view and offering a response the dance of discernment unfolds.

Tips for good listening

Pay attention to the feelings, hopes and dreams that are expressed in the words that are said. These are always more important than the words themselves when it comes to working out what people need.

Give people the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes people mess things up in how they say things. I have seen a lot of people hurt when they see more in what is said than was intended by the speaker.  Sure the lead communicator has a responsibility to be careful and clear. But nothing is lost by cutting a speaker a bit of slack when they say something that may be insensitive, misunderstanding or otherwise unhelpful. Listen for goodwill and shared goals until you have a good reason not to expect it.

Listen for the big picture. When working towards making a decision don’t only get into the nitty-gritty. As you listen ask yourself “what is the big picture here?” If you are gifted for it every meeting needs someone who can identify themes and common threads in the many different things that are being said. If you listen for these you can help a discernment process by offering summaries, reframing and suggestions for a way forward that takes up these broad themes. Summaries are a great way to move the conversation towards a decision.

Keep quiet! Keep your mind open and receptive. Stop the self-talk of rehearsing your next speech or what you are planning for the weekend. Don’t use social media during a speech. Consider whether your point has already been made before jumping in.

However, this tip is particularly for those people in a meeting who actually don’t want anyone else to have a say. They prefer their own position and by talking all the time they try to drown out other voices. There are bullies in meetings. There are people who intimidate others – sometimes without even knowing it.

Dealing with dominating people

If you are in a situation where people feel intimidated then this is a difficult challenge. I encourage you to think of the ways through which you can increase their silence and bolster the courage of those they intimidate.

One option might be to go around the group and ask everyone to offer something to the discussion. For some issues, a leader could write up the comments – or maybe the themes that are emerging. This gives visibility to all opinions, reduces the input of the bully and builds a team approach to resolving the issue. Discussion in smaller groups and sharing the outcome can also encourage voices because it depersonalises the points that are brought forward. As such it gives people a little protection and means that they don’t stand alone with their point of view.

Leaders – listen for the group dynamics and address those that are unhealthy or unhelpful. If the techniques that enhance inclusion do not work then the bully needs to be confronted in an appropriate way. Church meetings are exercises in the expression of discipleship. We should not let people get away with behaviour in a meeting that would be unacceptable at morning tea after worship.

Conclusion

Good communication is essential in our meetings. By learning to be a good listener you are making an invaluable contribution to the developing discernment of the group. When we listen the Holy Spirit can move and God’s leading unfold before our very eyes.