Processes and agreements for membership help create group identity and commitment. They introduce the skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary to maintain the group and provide guidelines for exclusion if necessary to protect the group. Clear expectations and agreements are absolutely necessary for long-term harmony and clarity of purpose. For best results, these guidelines are created by consensus. Consensus decision making, though not the only possible method for community meetings, inherently encourages community.
Consensus requires integration, listening, flexibility, and patience.
Although reaching consensus can be slow, a well-built consensus usually reflects a more thorough consideration of the issues. It avoids the tyranny of the majority and the disenfranchisement of the minority, both of which are destructive of community spirit. Because everyone owns the final decision, it is more likely to succeed, with less griping and sabotage. Clear meeting process and good facilitation are extremely valuable. Both help bring out the widest perspectives, enabling each person to feel heard.