I came across these distinctions years ago, when we were doing the Crossroads reboot. It's a list of ways you can involved a people in decision making. It might help clarify things in your wider church, in your ministry team or in the government department you work for:
Collaboration: People actively involved in the entire process. The leaders share the decision making.
Participation: Input is sought from people at each step of the process, from the initial idea through to the final outcome. The leaders facilitate involvement, but the final decisions rest with them.
Involvement: Input is sought from people at certain points in the process. The leaders lead the process and use the input to inform their decisions.
Reaction: Input is sought from people after the decisions have been made or are about to be made. The leaders direct this process and the input affects the final decision.
