WOCATI News: The Newsletter of the World Conference of Associations of Theological Institutions
CONSENSUS DECISION-MAKING
When the ecumenical organizations were founded the majority of their members were located in Europe and North America, or influenced, like WOCATI, by the Western style governance. The procedures for decision-making were, not unnaturally, based on the procedures customarily used in secular bodies, such as parliaments, in those continents. The problem with this decision-making procedure is its adversarial nature. Proposals are debated "for and against". In some cultures this adversarial approach, which can even be confrontational, is something to be avoided. It is arguable whether WOCATI, serving the mission of the Church through theological education, i.e. the Body of Christ, and seeking the mind of Christ as the early Christians (cf. "it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.." Acts 15:28 and seeking to "understand what the will of the Lord is" Eph.5:17), should continue using secular procedures.
Procedures that allow more room for consultation, exploration, questioning and prayerful reflection, can more better promote the purposes of the WOCATI, whereas the traditional methods are often rigid, not always "effective through love" (Galatians 5:6). This is not to say that the WOCATI should attempt to do without rules: on the contrary, rules that are fair, readily understood and workable are essential. The question is the style, content and application of such rules.
In I Corinthians 12:12-27 St Paul speaks of parts of the body needing each other. A fully functioning body integrates the abilities and contributions of all the members. So it should be in WOCATI. A set of procedures which makes the best possible use of the abilities, the history, the experience, the commitment and the spiritual tradition of its members.
If changes are made, they should be formulated after wide consultation. And once introduced, they may still be modified in the light of further experience. The Orthodox principle of oikonomia would suggest that the ecumenical bodies can accommodate change and development as the issues and circumstances change. To respect the oikonomia is to be open to various expressions of faith and life while remaining true to the "faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (Jude 3). The experience of all traditions represented in WOCATI is valuable and should be utilised, as and where practical, in the common life, the functioning the programmes and the committees of WOCATI.
The consensus method is a means of arriving at decisions without voting. It is more conciliar than parliamentary, and more inclusive than adversarial. Some churches (e.g. the Uniting Church in Australia, the Religious Society of Friends, the Orthodox etc.) use similar procedures. Of course, the experience of these churches and their particular model cannot be simply transferred to WOCATI: adaptations should take place.
To start with, the consensus is not the same as unanimity. For example, a minority may agree to let a resolution to go forward, if the majority (but not the minority) is convinced, if and only when the minority accepts that the it represents the general "mind of the meeting". This becomes possible when a minority feels that its concerns have been heard, understood and respected.
It is possible, too, to include, within the WOCATI rules and even , a provision that some matters will be decided by majority vote, either a simple majority or a greater number. In other words, consensus would be the normal procedure but not the invariable procedure. At the beginning of a session, the moderator would indicate clearly the procedures that operate in that session. The rules would determine those items of business which will be determined by vote.
The consensus procedure works as follows: a proposal, not always in complete or final form, is put forward, following which open discussion rather than "debate" begins. The discussion may include questions. Members of the committee(s) may speak more than once. It is up to the moderator to ensure that all who wish to speak can do so and that no individual or small group dominates the discussion to the exclusion of others. It is important that all relevant views are brought forward at this exploratory stage. As discussion continues, anyone may propose a change to the proposal without having to move an amendment. The moderator should test the response of the meeting to any such idea or modification by calling for an expression of opinion (sometimes called a "straw vote"). As the proposal continues to be discussed, the moderator needs to sense when the meeting is close to agreement. She or he may need to allow extra time for various views to be expressed, but at an appropriate time the moderator should ask the meeting: "Are we agreed on this matter?" Or (similarly): "How many of you could accept this proposal in its current form?" This frequent testing of the mind of the meeting is central to the development of a consensus.
A consensus is reached, then, when any one of the following occurs:
4. all are in agreement (unanimity);
5. most are in agreement and those who disagree are content that the discussion has been both full and fair and that the proposal expresses the general "mind of the meeting;" the minority therefore gives consent;
6. the meeting acknowledges that there are various opinions, and it is agreed that these be recorded in the body of the proposal (not just in the Minutes);
7. it is agreed that the matter be postponed;
8. it is agreed that no decision can be reached.Therefore, consensus procedures allow any person, to have her or his objections to any proposal addressed and satisfied prior to the adoption of the proposal. This implies that any one can stop proposal from passing, or resolutions to be recorded, until they are satisfied that their concerns have been fully addressed. In rare situations, if the consensus procedures have been tried and have not succeeded, a mechanism will be needed to remove the blockage. The By-Laws should specify how this emergency provision operates, ensuring that the emergency provision does not weaken the consensus procedures themselves. In all cases in which consensus proves elusive, it is incumbent on those with concerns to work closely with those who initiated any item of business so as to find creative ways of moving forward.
It is advisable, in an extended meeting, to specify the type of procedure for each particular session, e.g. a "voting" session; a "consensus" discussion; an "information" session. Such clear delineation may help members of all WOCATI bodies, but if the procedure has to change during a session, this should be done with care and with full explanation. If a complex or contentious issue is to be dealt with, prior notice is important. Prior to the actual discussion, i.e. at an earlier session, it can be helpful to give a "preview" of the issue so as to help members in their discussion at a later time.
The above principles may need to be included into our Constitution and By-Laws. The keeping of minutes is an important task. The meeting needs to understand what it is agreeing to, so the text of all decisions should be read and adopted, at least in the following meeting. Major contributions to any discussion should also be recorded and this should include a summary of differing viewpoints.
The principles described above are an attempt to implement the accepted ecumenical aim of enabling all representatives to be heard within a committed fellowship which accepts differences of theology, culture and ecclesial tradition. Minorities may express their mind on any issue, and should, in consensus procedures, be allowed more than one attempt, if needed, to explain the basis of their views.
All churches believe in the centrality of Holy Scripture in their life and doctrine. A significant image of the church in the New Testament is the image of the Body of Christ, diverse and yet one. In the life of WOCATI, with its fundamental aim of promoting the unity of all Christians, and with the assumption that "theological education is a worldwide enterprise fundamental to the mission of the church" (Preamble of the Constitution), there must be respect for diversity and difference. The By Laws and procedures which govern the working of the WOCATI should enshrine this respect. While theologies may differ considerably, the life of WOCATI should as far as possible be a mirror of the essential nature of the Church. The consensus procedures offer an opportunity for WOCATI to put into practice a model of unity, a respect for diversity and the making of decisions in a way that is careful, flexible, frank and unifying.
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