When it comes to church board decision making, a policy requiring a unanimous vote may not be the most desirable strategy. Two issues acting in tension provide an important backdrop for this assertion: 1) the biblical call to unity in the body, and 2) individual differences in perspective, opinion, understanding, and personalities in group dynamics.
At first glance, such a rule may seem wise, but I suggest it is just the opposite. At the board level, most issues with which we are concerned are crucial and have far-reaching implications for the organization. Having all of the data, seeing all the various pieces, potential threats, unseen opportunities, and different perspectives is vital to making the best decision possible. Groupthink, a common pitfall in group decision making, is a real danger. Groupthink occurs when the group values unanimity and consensus so much that any minority opposing viewpoint is shutout, overlooked, or ignored. This is, unfortunately, all too common in many Christian groups, including church boards.
As Christian brothers and sisters, we may unwittingly be more prone to this in our board meetings by mistaking unanimity for unity in our decision making. This confusion is increased by having written or unwritten rules calling for unanimous votes on key issues. By the same token, a democractic approach to board decisions in the church can sometimes have the same result. If a major vote can be carried by simple majority, it becomes easier to try to “get the votes” rather than listen carefully to the opposing ideas and perspectives of others. It is entirely possible that in a vital decision, one or two sincere, informed, godly members of the board may have strong opposition to the rest of the board who are equally sincere, informed, and godly. It is even possible that such opposition might be right.
If we are to embrace both sides of this tension – unity in the body and real differences of opinion – there has to be a better way in which we make decisions as a church board. What is needed is a framework for board decision-making that upholds and lives out the biblical call to unity in the body without shutting down those in the process who may see alternative points of view or have legitimate points of opposition. The following ideas may serve to transform how church boards can navigate this tension in a healthy, unifying way.
- Members covenant to fully support any and all board decisions once those decisions have been finalized through the board voting process whether they agree with the decision or not.
- Board decisions require a 4/5s vote from board members. This requires a significant majority to be in agreement, but permits 1 or 2 to still maintain a position of opposition without gridlocking the process.
- In what it deems crucial decisions, the board covenants to seek consensus after an initial vote but before a final vote as a means of allowing additional perspectives and issues of dissent to come to the surface. This consensus-seeking intermediate phase involves
- Shared times of prayer where board members pray for one another and the process;
- Revisiting those issues of mission and vision that appear to relate to the decision at hand;
- A careful, objective hearing of the opposition’s viewpoint;
- A reaffirmation of the covenant of mutual, unanimous support of whatever the final outcome may be;
- A final vote which board members agree shall represent the final voice of the whole board even if dissenting voices still remain.
