Speaking with One Voice

By Renee Ruchotzke

(Updated from original September 2013 publication.)

Black and Brown-skinned women having a lively discussion around a meeting table.

One of the most important keys to congregational health and vitality--along with a clear purpose--is a cohesive leadership team. Many of our UU congregations struggle with power and authority to a point where they don't empower leaders to lead, i.e. to make decisions in the best interest of the congregation's mission and shared vision. How well does your congregation do?

One indicator is how your board (and other committees) operate. Are you able to speak with one voice even when there is some disagreement among committee members when making a decision? Or do you always try to reach consensus?

“Speaking with one voice” means that everyone around the table can say “All of my concerns have been heard and considered in this decision. I can support the process and decisions that have been made by the group and can represent the decisions that the group has come to as my own outside this room.” If someone on a committee cannot agree ahead of time to speak with one voice after everyone has been heard and a decision is made, then that person should not serve on that committee.

Consensus tends to keep an institution in homeostasis because it is next to impossible to be visionary or innovative when you need 100% buy-in before making a decision.

Underlying this is an assumption that good, visionary leaders come in, not with an agenda ahead of time, but a willingness to consent to a decision that will help move the congregation forward in alignment with their mission toward their shared vision. (This is different than consensus, which requires everyone to be in agreement with the decision.)

Unfortunately, sometimes the culture of congregations include decision-making that does not give all of the voices a chance to be heard and considered, especially those with marginalized identities.

One way to change that culture is to adopt inclusive discernment practices such as discernment circles that create the oppotunity for all voices to be heard and concerns addressed.

About the Author

Renee Ruchotzke

Rev. Renee Ruchotzke (ruh-HUT-skee) is a Congregational Life Consultant and program manager for Leadership Development.

For more information contact .