Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: A consensus question.

[Michael John Omogrosso (omo]

My heart goes out to you, Stuart.  I have been out for a few days in DC 
at a community land trust confrenece so please excuse if this topic has 
been thoroughly resolved.  In consensus everyone must compromise--lovers 
haters and nincompoops alike.  To restate a basic principle, consensus is 
the introduction of an issue/idea into the trust of the group.  All 
possession and attachment of that introduced element must then be 
abandoned to the group.  When we enter into the relm of that sacred trust 
of group consensual processing, it is quite like checking your guns at 
the door--all personal agendas must be supressed with only the agenda of 
determining what is best for the group used as a measure of progress.

Can we achieve this?  Minimally perhaps.  We still must rely on our 
experiences.  This is why even the most consistant users of true 
consensus find retreat time with the group to develop and reconfirm trust 
and revisit the ideals of consensus is a vital part of the commitment to 
the consensus process.  

It may help to use a "vibes watcher" during 
meetings who stays out of the discussion and the circle to assess if 
people are able to let go of their personal attachments.

Another tool is that of ministry.  People may be hanging up the process 
for other reasons (loneliness, or a need to feel heard, or other home 
problems) and so one or more folks should think on the pattern of 
disruption and try to attend to the person or click's real reason for 
blocking or presenting other barriers to a decision.

Hey, cats and dogs must be the greatest cause for desention in community 
I know of. 

Good luck

Michael Omogrosso 
East Blair Housing Cooperative
Eugene, Oregon