High-five decision making
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High-five decision making
Making decisions is an important part of Plow Creek. For the first 24 years of our community we have used consensus decision-making as our model. In 1995 we refined and decision-making process.
The practice of consensus, the agreement by all to a decision, is not required nor forbidden in scripture. So we have some divinely given choice in the matter.
Consensus is a way to practice a number of godly values passed along to us through scripture such as unity, “he who would be the greatest among you, let him act as the youngest,” hearing the Lord, gentleness, honoring one another, the value of all members of the body of Christ, and bearing one another's burdens.
Consensus decision-making, like any other human endeavor, falls short of the glory of God. It can only be done by the grace of God. How we experience it will vary from person to person. Love covers a multitude of fumbles and bumbles in consensus decision-making.
We affirmed the following broad outlines. Policy decisions (what should we do) should be made by consensus of the members while implementation decisions (how we do what was decided by consensus) should be decided by committees, businesses, living units, and individuals.
In addition leaders are to be selected by consensus.
Consensus begins with building a proposal and is completed when the proposal is affirmed. Those responsible for building a proposal are encouraged to do so with lots of input from others. We affirmed adopting the high five method outlined in the Fall 1993 Conciliation Quarterly:
The facilitator clearly states the question and provides the scale below (it is helpful to post the scale on a flip chart before the meeting begins):
5. I can give an unqualified yes to the decision. I'm excited or enthusiastic about it.
4. I can live with the decision. Its OK with me.
3. I am concerned about this decision but will not block the group.
2. I think there is a major problem with the decision and choose to block the group's action.
1. It's too soon to make any decision. More work needs to be done before the question can be asked.
Each person in the group responds to the question by indicating with a show of fingers his or her level of endorsement of the proposal. When the group responds with “fours” and “fives”, the decision goes ahead. “Threes” indicate a need to discuss the question further, as do “ones” or “twos.”