{"id":13513,"date":"2026-07-21T13:47:58","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T17:47:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/?post_type=tribe_events&#038;p=13513"},"modified":"2026-07-21T13:57:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T17:57:17","slug":"shared-path","status":"publish","type":"tribe_events","link":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/event\/shared-path\/","title":{"rendered":"A Shared Path Forward: Consensus Building in the Church"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-columns gb-layout-columns-2 gb-2-col-equal has-theme-white-background-color has-theme-secondary-color gb-columns-center alignfull\" style=\"padding-top:10%;padding-bottom:10%\"><div class=\"gb-layout-column-wrap gb-block-layout-column-gap-2 gb-is-responsive-column\" style=\"max-width:1200px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-column gb-block-layout-column\"><div class=\"gb-block-layout-column-inner\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Center for Leadership Excellence presents an online workshop with <a href=\"#speaker\">Margaret Brunson<\/a>&#8230;<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n<div  class=\"tribe-events-schedule tribe-clearfix\" >\n\t<p class=\"tribe-events-schedule__datetime\">\n\t\t<span class=\"tribe-events-schedule__date tribe-events-schedule__date--start\">\n\t\t\tSeptember 30\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"tribe-events-schedule__separator tribe-events-schedule__separator--date\">\n\t\t\t\t @ \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"tribe-events-schedule__time tribe-events-schedule__time--start\">\n\t\t\t\t12:00 pm\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"tribe-events-schedule__separator tribe-events-schedule__separator--time\">\n\t\t\t\t\t &#8211; \t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"tribe-events-schedule__time tribe-events-schedule__time--end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t1:30 pm\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div  class=\"tribe-block tribe-block__venue tribe-clearfix\" >\n\t\n\t\n<div class=\"tribe-block__venue__meta\">\n\t<div class=\"tribe-block__venue__name\">\n\t\t<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/venue\/zoom\/\" title=\"Zoom\">Zoom<\/a><\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<div  class=\"tribe-block tribe-block__event-price\" >\n\t\t\t<span class=\"tribe-block__event-price__cost\"> Free <\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the<\/strong> Workshop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In the church, we are called to be one in the body of Christ\u2026how does that translate when we are sitting at a conference table trying to decide whether to build a new sanctuary, where to allocate the budget, or who to hire to disciple our kids? It would be easy to \u201ctake a stand\u201d on any one of these real-life decisions \u2013 but consensus building requires a different approach of deep listening, creativity, and a willingness to recognize Christ in one another\u2026even when we don\u2019t agree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Laity and clergy, we invite you to join in a workshop designed to help us act more like Christians. Learn to engage in faithful discussions and dialogue about issues that are central to the ministry and life of the church. Explore consensus-building frameworks that offer practical tools for navigating disagreement with grace, helping your congregation move from gridlock to shared discernment. You <em>can <\/em>find ways to honor each voice and navigate differences while maintaining the unity you and your congregation desire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>W<\/strong>hat You&#8217;ll Gain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A better understanding of consensus-building<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Insights into how to build consensus in your team or committee<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Practical strategies to align your leaders around articulated priorities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who Should Attend<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Laity and clergy who are involved in decision-making<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Those who want to develop healthy relationships and patterns in their church meetings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-column gb-block-layout-column\"><div class=\"gb-block-layout-column-inner has-theme-white-background-color\" style=\"padding:20px\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Ready to save your seat?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/07\/A-Shared-Path-Forward-Consensus-Building-in-the-Church-Final-Image.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/07\/A-Shared-Path-Forward-Consensus-Building-in-the-Church-Final-Image.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13514\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:20px;border-top-right-radius:20px;border-bottom-left-radius:20px;border-bottom-right-radius:20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/07\/A-Shared-Path-Forward-Consensus-Building-in-the-Church-Final-Image.png 1200w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/07\/A-Shared-Path-Forward-Consensus-Building-in-the-Church-Final-Image-720x405.png 720w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/07\/A-Shared-Path-Forward-Consensus-Building-in-the-Church-Final-Image-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<script>\nvar gform;gform||(document.addEventListener(\"gform_main_scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.scriptsLoaded=!0}),document.addEventListener(\"gform\/theme\/scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0}),window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){gform.domLoaded=!0}),gform={domLoaded:!1,scriptsLoaded:!1,themeScriptsLoaded:!1,isFormEditor:()=>\"function\"==typeof InitializeEditor,callIfLoaded:function(o){return!(!gform.domLoaded||!gform.scriptsLoaded||!gform.themeScriptsLoaded&&!gform.isFormEditor()||(gform.isFormEditor()&&console.warn(\"The use of 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wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide\" id=\"speaker\"><strong>About<\/strong> the Presenter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized has-custom-border\" style=\"margin-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"385\" height=\"385\" src=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/04\/unnamed-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13102\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;border-top-left-radius:20px;border-top-right-radius:20px;border-bottom-left-radius:20px;border-bottom-right-radius:20px;object-fit:cover;width:255px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/04\/unnamed-edited.jpg 385w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/04\/unnamed-edited-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2026\/04\/unnamed-edited-75x75.jpg 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 385px) 100vw, 385px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Margaret A. Brunson is a leader and luminary who considers brunch a verb, wellness a priority, dance floors sacred, and music one of life\u2019s greatest treasures. After a successful leadership career in healthcare and the nonprofit &amp; public sector, she founded Illumined Leadership Solutions, a consulting and coaching firm that leads people to and through transformation.<br><br>As a thought leader, scholar, + practitioner, Dr. Margaret\u2019s passion guides leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, organizations, and businesses to and through transformative leadership practices and solutions that will lead to holistic success.<br><br>Dr. Margaret earned a BA in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina Central University, and a Ph.D. in leadership studies from North Carolina A&amp;T State University.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the church, we are called to be one in the body of Christ\u2026 how does that translate when we are sitting at a conference table trying to decide whether to build a new Sanctuary, where to allocate the budget, or who to hire to disciple our kids? It would be easy to \u201ctake a stand\u201d on any one of these real-life decisions \u2013 but consensus building requires a different approach of deep listening, creativity, and a willingness to recognize Christ in one another\u2026even when we don\u2019t agree.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":199,"featured_media":13514,"template":"","meta":{"_tec_requires_first_save":false,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"America\/New_York","_EventStartDate":"2026-09-30 12:00:00","_EventEndDate":"2026-09-30 13:30:00","_EventStartDateUTC":"2026-09-30 16:00:00","_EventEndDateUTC":"2026-09-30 17:30:00","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"Free","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"$","_EventCurrencyCode":"USD","_EventCurrencyPosition":"prefix","_EventDateTimeSeparator":" @ ","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":" - ","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[7708],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","_tribe_events_status":"","_tribe_events_status_reason":"","_tribe_events_is_hybrid":"","_tribe_events_is_virtual":"","_tribe_events_virtual_video_source":"","_tribe_events_virtual_embed_video":"","_tribe_events_virtual_linked_button_text":"","_tribe_events_virtual_linked_button":"","_tribe_events_virtual_show_embed_at":"","_tribe_events_virtual_show_embed_to":[],"_tribe_events_virtual_show_on_event":"","_tribe_events_virtual_show_on_views":"","_tribe_events_virtual_url":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[6,7,15],"tribe_events_cat":[199,196,37],"class_list":["post-13513","tribe_events","type-tribe_events","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-center-for-leadership-excellence","tag-effective-leaders","tag-healthy-congregations","tribe_events_cat-nc-conference-ministry","tribe_events_cat-online","tribe_events_cat-workshops","cat_nc-conference-ministry","cat_online","cat_workshops"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Shared Path Forward: Consensus Building in the Church | Center for Leadership Excellence | North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/event\/shared-path\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Shared Path Forward: Consensus Building in the Church | Center for Leadership Excellence | North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In the church, we are called to be one in the body of Christ\u2026 how does that translate when we are sitting at a conference table trying to decide whether to build a new Sanctuary, where to allocate the budget, or who to hire to disciple our kids? 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