Making decisions in Jesus Youth Groups – The How (BJRE019)
Making decisions in Jesus Youth Groups – The How
(By Dr. Edward Edezhath - Published in Kairos Magazine in 2019)
“Did you hear about the new Government Decision?”
“They will separate Pre-degrees from colleges and start the 11th and 12th standards in schools. This will surely change the whole Jesus Youth movement.”
The year was 1997, and this active Jesus Youth leader told me how the new Kerala Government order would deeply affect the movement. College Campus ministry is a very active segment of the movement. In Colleges, the initial two years were Pre-degree, and those in that age group would be the most troublesome lot, but when they get touched by the Lord and become Jesus Youth, they are the most dedicated and creative. With the new move, this section will go to schools and come under the strict control of teachers. In Colleges, the tone and dynamics of the ministry will change.
“I think we have to begin a new ministry in the movement,” he suggested. Of course, this led to a meeting of the Jesus Youth team and a series of other meetings. After several steps, a new ministry was born in Jesus Youth, the Teens Ministry.
Of course, raising this problem, the discussion that followed, and the final decision together formed a big leap in the movement. When we think of it, the movement's journey is a series of decisions made by many different groups and teams. So, it is very important that the groups learn how to make group decisions.
The way you decide builds or kills a group.
As we already discussed in the last part, in the life of any group, opportunities for a variety of decisions will come, and though ‘what’ we decide is important, perhaps more important is the ‘how’ of a decision. We also discussed the attitudes the members should have to reach a proper decision. Maybe Jesus put it so beautifully, ‘if two of you agree upon earth about anything they ask . . .” (Mt 18:19).
Decisions will be quick and easy if one senior and efficient person decides and others obey, or if we go and ask a ‘gifted’ person to pray and tell us what to do, or even if a higher team always tells us our plans. However, none of these will help a community mature, learn to take responsibility, and grow steadily as the body of Christ. A group needs to realize that each person is a special child of God, variously gifted by the Holy Spirit and called to walk responsibly in the path of the Lord. So, each group should learn to make decisions together. And how do they go about making decisions?
Steps of taking a group decision
A Jesus Youth group is always in the process of growing as a loving community. When we talk of the steps of deciding in a community, we are not thinking of some rigid ‘one, two, three processes’ of how a machine works, but decision-making should be ‘love in action.’ Yet most decision-making processes proceed through some similar path. For example, in the Acts of the Apostles, the early Church's leaders gather together (15:6) in the face of a serious conflict. There, we see how the problem is presented: a detailed discussion occurs, they listen to one another and the Lord, and finally reach a decision. They also make plans for its implementation. So, we can also talk about certain signposts on the decision-making path in a Jesus Youth group.
So, how does a group discernment process or collective decision-making process happen?
1. An issue is raised: Firstly, someone brings to the group a suggestion, an issue, or a problem, and some people feel that the group must do something about it.
2. We listen to the details: Different aspects and options related to the problem are presented.
3. We discuss: Now, group members respond to the suggestion. Different voices are raised, and sometimes there may be arguments. As St Paul puts it, “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up” (Eph 4:15).
4. We bring it before the Lord: Depending on the issue, this can be done in many ways. We may take a few minutes in silence or pray together. At times, adoration or even a few days of prayer will help us understand the Lord’s perspective on the matter.
5. We listen and share insights: This is a time of sharing at a deeper level. Group members speak out the messages or insights they received. Very often, at this time, the matter will take a new direction, and even people will change their previous stances.
6. The group decides: Finally, the leader asks everyone to speak their mind on the issue. A consensus on the matter is a clear indication. If there is a serious disagreement, we often postpone the decision. So, the decision is usually a ‘Yes’ or a ‘No’ or ‘We will take more time’.
7. Plan the follow-up: It is important to discuss the steps to implement the decision. The planning will include what, who, when, and how in some detail. Sometimes, we may also need a time of reconciliation at this stage because our sharing of views may have hurt others.
Making decisions together is an excellent path to personal growth and group building. As St Ignatius warned, there is “no greater mistake in spiritual matters than to force others to follow one’s own pattern.” Our journey of growing in holiness and selflessness is learning to be in this process without ‘anger’ and ‘fear’ and to say from the bottom of our hearts, "He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn 3:30).
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