I came in late to this session due to finishing off the final wording of the Diakonia document. It is truly fascinating to see the political muscle and power plays exercised in these sessions. Some of the business sessions are close to delegates only - I can understand why, if the content of the sessions is quite contentious.
I have only limited experience of the whole process at WCC so too early to give an informed comment but I'm intrigued by the minimal use of the orange and blue cards for consensus decision making. There does not seem to be opportunity for shared discernment in the way the cards are used, as I am used to in the UCA. The open sessions are not really deliberative sessions so blue and orange cards are indicative only. And the cards are not used in smaller group gatherings, where they could be used quite effectively.
In the business sessions, people at microphones are simply told no more comments will be taken, rather than determining if there are viewpoints that might further help facilitate the decision making.
I think the business of WCC conducted with such diverse groups and ways of thinking must be exceedingly difficult to hold together, and to enable the unity that is professed to be lived out.
Rev Gregor Henderson, ex-President and General Secretary of the Uniting Church in Australia, is up on the podium with the moderators for the meeting, helping facilitate the process. He's a wise and generous man!
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