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"I am not one who thinks a democratic church is the answer".
First, thank you NCR for this series and this profound round-up - and hopefully a further wake-up call for more action.
"Democratic" is a pretty wide concept. The iconic Athens democracy was not. Some take umbrage to calling the USofA a democracy; it's a republic?  So, no resistance to your point. Further, evil, sickness are sadly, intrinsic to humanity; as "institution" is to community. The question for church should be: what are the conditions which most effectively lead towards Mission, wholeness, goodness and which best limit hurt, harm, evil. The absolute minimum, to me, are:
-clarity of mission
-representation
-transparency
-accountability
-discernment, correction, redirection (like the laws of robatics integrates each and all).
Administration/organization is the fluid underpinning, necessary but subservient.