I left the meeting saddened by the divisive spirit. Those who opposed the decision soon left the church. Income slipped to the point where Bill had to find a part-time job to support his family. Years later, this once vibrant congregation still struggles to survive. Whether a church considers a building project, adding a service, or changing the by-laws, decisions often divide.
People take sides.
In the heat of debate, they often say unpleasant things to each other. Sometimes it takes years to recover. My experience at Bill's church painfully reminded me of the times that I, too, had bungled the decision-making process. I look back at the strained relationships and frigid atmospheres to which I contributed, and I question whether winning the decision merited the cost. It doesn't have to be that way.