Consensus Decision-Making

Quakers conduct business meetings using consensus to arrive at group decisions. Quakers often describe this process as "reading the sense of the meeting." At Wilmington College we use this process to make decisions in faculty meetings and committee meetings.

The consensus process differs from the Robert's Rules process both philosophically and practically. Philosophically, sense of the meeting aims to help the group reach a decision that all can support. Meeting members begin with a commitment to seek unity.

Practically, the consensus process follows these steps:

1. The clerk conducts the meeting.
2. The clerk states the issue -- usually from a written agenda.
3. The clerk asks for clarification. Committees or other meeting members add information and clarify the issue.
4. The clerk invites all to speak to the issue members express their various perspectives, saying where they agree and disagree.
5. The clerk "reads" the sense of the meeting. The clerk states what s/he thinks most, or all members want the meeting to decide.
6. A minute is written. If all members agree informally with this "sense of the meeting" statement, the Recording Clerk formulates a minute and reads it to the meeting.
7. The clerk then asks if the meeting approves of the minute. Members who approve respond by saying "I approve." The clerk then asks if anyone does not approve, and members who disapprove express their reservations. If all approve, the minute is then recorded as officially approved by the faculty.

When Disagreements Occur

Sense of the meeting does not require unanimity, but it does require more than a majority vote. It seeks a unity "beyond majority rule" as Michael Sheeran says. Sense of the meeting goes "beyond" in at least three noticeable ways:

1. Openness: Instead of adversaries with fixed positions, members approach the meeting open to possibility, together seeking wisdom leading to the best solution for the group. The decision may be something quite different from any one person's view or desire, a decision that the whole meeting has created. One person's ideas build on another's and differing perspectives are recognized as an integral part of the process.
2. Differing Prospective in Discussion: Differing views may cause the clerk or the meeting members to modify a developing decision and incorporate those ideas.
3. Or the clerk may decide that the sense of the meeting still affirms the direction in which the discussion is moving. To clarify positions, the clerk may ask for those dissenting from the sense of the meeting for reasons for their disagreement, particularly those who have not spoken. Or the clerk may call for moments of silence to allow members to refocus on accomplishing their common purpose.
4. The clerk's task throughout the discussion is to encourage members to voice various perspectives on the issue and to pick up the points of agreement that can lead to a unified sense of the meeting. In this way, the process moves beyond majority rule.
5. Differing Viewpoints in a Sense of the Meeting Decision -- When all views have been heard, the clerk and those who disagree with the sense of the meeting have some specific choices to make to carry out the process. Those who disagree have three choices when the clerk calls for approval:
   1. Stand Aside: Express disagreement but agree to accept and support the decision the rest of the meeting favors.
   2. Ask to be recorded as opposed: Express disagreement and ask to be formally recorded in the minutes as opposed.
   3. Oppose the sense of the meeting: In rare instances, an individual feels so strongly that s/he may ask the other members not to proceed with any action on this issue.
6. The clerk has four ways to respond to those who disagree with the sense of the meeting:
   1. Delay the decision: The clerk waits for the next meeting to give members time to think and discuss with each other in light of the differences expressed. Each person should use this time to understand one another. The clerk and assistant clerk will also spend time talking with various persons to seek agreement.
   2. Send the issue to a committee: The committee will take the issue for further study and report back to the Faculty Meeting. The issue can go to a standing committee, or the clerk can call for an ad hoc committee, usually composed of persons representing the different positions in the meeting.
   3. Decide to act on the sense of the meeting: Occasionally, a decision must be made in a restricted amount of time. Or the clerk realizes that strong favorable feelings from most in the meeting are pushing for a decision now. In these situations, the clerk must weigh carefully the strength and nature of opposing viewpoints and proceed cautiously to read the sense of the meeting.
   4. Drop the issue