A. The chairperson of a committee (team) is one who is duly empowered to:
- To lead the committee (team) in discerning, and building, the mind of Christ in the center.
- Attempt to have all members of the team contribute to the discernment
- To lead the team to a place of consensus that reflects the traits of the “Wisdom from above” referred to in James 5:17-18.
B. In the absence of consensus, the chairperson attempts to draw together everything that has been contributed and leads in formulating a path forward by:
- Stating the degree of agreement achieved thus far and noting the area(s) where the team has not yet reached consensus
- They may call the team to an additional period of prayer and fasting, encouraging them to seek for scriptural wisdom to bring counsel to the area(s) where consensus has not yet been reached. Use a specific time frame to reply by email or in the next meeting.
- They may consult with his/her overseer for perspective on what is godly wisdom in the matter and bring this to the full team via email or in a meeting.
- If after this process there is still not agreement, AND IF THE DECISION NEEDS TO BE MADE WITHIN A CERTAIN NON-NEGOTIABLE TIME FRAME, then the chair makes the decision and puts in writing the reasons for the conclusion that has been made. This statement is duly included in the minutes of the team so all are informed. (This last step honors leadership of the chair, but it also means that the person is not making a personal decision without transparent accountability for the discernment; this step also keeps the team/committee and the congregation as a whole from being stymied from making decisions or ending up in a cyclical process with no authorized voice to make necessary decisions.)
