Phases In Making and Implementing A Communal Decision
(from Institute For Communal Life, Guelph, Ontario, Canada)

PHASE 1: FORMULATING THE QUESTION

1. Using a process of social analysis and theological reflection appropriate to the situation, analyze the matter of concern to the group.

2. Articulate the hopes and dreams of the members of the group and the issue which these raise.

3. In the light of these data formulate a question which is open-ended (e.g., how can we most effectively ... ?) and which accurately reflects all the issues raised.

PHASE 2: FORMULATING THE POSSIBLE ANSWERS

1. List all the possible answers to the question.

2. Eliminate the unrealistic ones.

3. Telescope and eliminate overlap.

4. Determine the order in which the answers are to be considered.

PHASE 3: GATHERING THE DATA AND PRAYING OVER THEM

1. List, first individually and then as a group, all the advantages and disadvantages of the answer to be considered.

2. Each member then prays privately over the advantages and disadvantages and decides "yes" or "no".

PHASE 4: MAKING THE DECISION

1. In the group each member states his/her provisional decision.

2. Each member in turn then states the reason(s) which had the most weight in his/her decision.

3. After a brief period of silent reflection, members share their feelings about having (or not having) reached a decision.

4. If a decision was not reached, the group will then have to discover through dialogue where consensus actually exists in the matter under consideration. In light of this consensus the group will, if necessary, refocus the question, formulate other answers, or consider some of the alternative answers previously formulated.

PHASE 5: SEEKING CONFIRMATION

1. Confirmation is an experience of consolation with the decision of the group. It is experienced as a sense of fitness/congruity/continuity with the charism of the group and its history. It should be sought in prayer at various moments as the decision moves towards implementation.

2. The experience of consolation/confirmation is shared by the group.

PHASE 6: IMPLEMENTING THE DECISION

The "end product"of the decision should be spelled out as concretely and specifically as possible so that all the necessary steps may be taken to assure the proper implementation of the decision. Phases 1 to 5 may have to be repeated for particular choices involved in the implementation of the decision.

PHASE 3 - PRAYERFUL GATHERING OF THE DATA

A. PrivateIy:

1. I place myself in the presence of God with this possible answer to our question before me.

2. I consider why as a Christian I have been called into being. I try to hold myself in a position of freedom (like a balance at equilibrium) in order that I may perceive what will fulfil my sense of our call.

3. I ask the Holy Spirit to move me as I place before me this possible answer to our question.

4. I list all the advantages and disadvantages I see on the positive side of the answer and all the advantages and disadvantages I see on the negative side of the answer.

B. In the group:

1. Each member in turn reads out all the advantages and disadvantages listed privately previously. A composite list of advantages and disadvantages is compiled, either on newsprint, or by each member jotting down on his/her sheet advantages and disadvantages listed by others.

2. After this round-robin has been completed, members state any other advantages or disadvantages which may have occurred to them in this process of listing.

C. Privately:

1. I place myself in the presence of the Trinity with this possible answer before me.

2. Reflecting on my life experience to this moment I consider why I, as a Christian, have been called into being and sustained. I pray to be free with Jesus from enslavements in my life, in order to think and choose with the mind and heart of Christ.

3. I pray that the Holy Spirit will move my mind and heart to know and choose according to our charism and mission that which will better develop a society of loving persons in justice and peace.

4. I look over the composite asking the Spirit to help me weigh the advantages and disadvantages.

5. I mark the weightier ones for me in each column.

6. Prayerfully considering all of this, I make my provisional * decision.

* the meaning of provisional: If I were the person who had to make the final decision and I had no access to further information from others, I would decide....