I think the church today would do well to emulate these practices that are evident from the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15:

  1. Entering a process of discernment that includes debate, remembering core doctrine, and careful listening

  2. Judgment made and articulated in light of Gospel experience and Scriptures by an authorized and trusted representative of the church.

  3. Compromise for the sake of relational and public unity.

  4. Clear communication not only in a published statement, but via relational face-to-face interactions