If you think meetings are only common in corporate entities, then you'll be shocked to know you are wrong. Many organizations hold meetings as well; churches and religious groups included. In factions that comprise mostly of volunteers, these sessions keep members up to speed about the church's status. Since meetings need documentation and serve as a reference for the future, we're here to offer you a tool that'll save you time. Our downloadable Church Meeting Templates in Microsoft Word will get you started right away. These ready-made samples come with suggestive content that's easily editable. Making meeting minutes can never be more convenient for you by subscribing to our templates!
How to Write a Church Meeting Minutes in Word
In an article published on ABC News, 38% of the people in the US attend church services weekly. These include masses, council meetings, fundraising activities. And when there are meetings, there are also minutes recorded. Provided below are tips to help you make meeting minutes in MS Word.
1. Identify the Agenda of the Meeting
Businesses and organizations hold meetings to discuss important matters. Whether these are issues that require immediate attention or updates that need announcing. This is better known as an agenda, and you should always identify this in your meeting minutes.
2. Take Note of How Many Expected Attendees
Another relevant section in meeting minutes is the number of members attending. As the church secretary, you should always document the number of people present. But instead of having you write their names, it's better to have every attendee do it instead during the registration process. Also, apart from their names, they must include their contact information.
3. Have a Separate Draft Outlining the Discussed Topics
Meetings can go by fast. That is why secretaries must be attentive in recording the essentials. However, not using a draft might cause a mess in your minutes. For now, set aside Microsoft Word and get a sheet of paper to create a written outline of how the meeting minutes will look.
4. Take Note of Important Matters (Suggestions Made, Action Items)
If there's something that you should know about meeting minutes, it's this: meeting minutes is a document that takes note of business matters. These are then presented to the group in the next meeting to remind them of last month's discussion. These crucial matters include motions raised, approvals made, and items passed.
5. Keep Your Meeting Minutes Concise
Even if the meeting took hours, you don't need to make the minutes lengthy. Not only will this make it exhausting for you to write, but it will also be difficult to keep track of. Keep your meeting minutes short and direct, and focus only on the most critical items.
