Power to the people

a proposal for a new way of doing PCF members meeting agenda

Affirmed August 28, 2006

This proposal is designed to help the elders oversee the leading of the business part of members
meeting, to give voice to PCF members, sharing neighbors, and interns in posting agenda and
determining the priorities for each meeting, and for high five decision-making to reside with
those who have made a membership commitment.

The first aim of this proposal is to create a structure that supports open, gentle, humble ways of
making decisions. The second aim is for the PCF community to be able to arrive regularly at a
place of saying, “It seems good to us and to the Holy Spirit...” 


     1.    PCF members meeting agenda will be divided into two sections -- first, a proposals
     section, and second, a news and comment section.

     2.    Before the sharing part of the meeting anyone can add an agenda item to the agenda sheet
     including the amount of time they would devote to the agenda item.

     3.    Those who post a proposal agenda item will be responsible to present the proposal and
     lead the discussion. We encourage people to give information about their proposals
     ahead of time because it is an idea which will help speed along the process. If you are
     like Moses in the Old Testament and are not very good at public speaking, feel free to 
     recruit someone to present the proposal and lead the discussion on your behalf (Aaron
     was Moses̓ spokesperson .)

     4.    Once every one who has an agenda item has added it to the agenda sheet we’ll circulate
     the agenda sheet and each person can put a mark beside two items in the proposal section
     and two items that in the news and comment section that they think are a priority for that
     evenings meeting.

     5.    The meeting facilitator will make sure the marks are added up and the agenda items
     ranked in each section beginning with the item with the most masks. The rankings will
     determine the priorities for the evening̓s agenda. If there is a tie between a couple
     agenda items the facilitator will decide which to do first. The facilitator will make sure
     ranked agenda sheets are copied for each person for the meeting.

     6.    A proposal is affirmed when it is high-fived by members.

     7.    Agenda items not completed in one meeting will be on the agenda sheet for the next
     meeting unless the person posting it takes it off the agenda.

     8.    The elders will make sure each meeting has a facilitator and timekeeper (the person who
     notes when proposals or news and comments are reaching the posted time limit.)

     9.    This new way of doing agenda will be reviewed in Jan. 2007.