(By Jim Harper)

"Church life is at times like an American football game: there is brief energetic activity until you can't go any further then you have a meeting (huddle)."

A ministry staff meeting is: "A meeting of the minds and hearts to facilitate the work of the ministry"

A staff meeting can be a place of putting out fires or an effective means of communication and moving forward. Are your staff meetings effective? Whether you are meeting with one other person or have a team of twenty these guidelines will help you to be effective, to get more and better results and to do more for the kingdom of God.

Why do we have meetings:

• To convey and receive information
  
• Make corrections and solve problems
  
• Have accountability
  
• Make decisions and formulate plans
  
• Build a team and get them involved
• Establish a means for creative ideas to flow

Before the meeting:

• Make sure everyone knows the time and place of the meeting.
  
• Decide who will lead the meeting.
  
• Set an agenda and notify the staff well in advance of it. You want everyone there to come prepared and give good input and suggestions.
  
• Be knowledgeable of the items on the agenda so you know what questions to ask & expect.
  
• Confirm that you have ready any materials or resources that may be needed such as handouts, flip charts or overheads.
  
• Establish a goal to be achieved for each meeting. Know what you want to accomplish.
  
• Bring your planner or organizer with updated information.
  
• Appoint someone to take the minutes of the meeting if applicable. If you do, send the minutes to the staff to confirm clarity.
  
• Establish a standard format for example: Pray; review calendar; department reports; new business; questions and answers; summarize; dismissal.

Tips for having an effective meeting:

• Begin the meetings on time (set a standard for others to follow) and be enthusiastic.
  
• Consider having an ending time also. This will keep the meeting moving forward and stay on track with the important items on the agenda.
  
• Priority items should be listed first on the agenda.
  

Establish an open, friendly team atmosphere and at the same time have it to be business-like. You want your staff to be creative and lots of ideas to flow.

• As the leader keep the meeting flowing and on schedule. Watch out for rabbit trails that are non-related to the team and the goal of the meeting.
  
• Don't let one person dominate the meetings and do all the talking.
  
• Let other staff members lead the meeting at times. This will build a team atmosphere, promote new ideas and will teach them how to participate. This is one way of reproducing yourself in others.

At the End of the meeting:

• Summarize what has been covered.
  
• Assign responsibilities and make an action plan.
  
• Confirm deadlines.
  
• Confirm the time and place of the next meeting and the agenda if possible.
  
• If necessary use a "feedback acknowledgment" system to make sure there is clarity in assignments. This can be done verbally, written or typed or by email.
  
• Always ask if anyone has questions or suggestions before dismissing them.
  
• After the meeting send the minutes to each person or post them on a bulletin board.
  
• Always end with a thankful, upbeat note.

The combination of having structure in your meetings and still allowing the Holy Spirit freedom will bring you great results. When you finish your meetings do you have quality decisions made or go away with more questions than you started with? What can you implement today to have better and more effective staff meetings? Make a decision today not to be a fireman but to be the ministry leader you were called to be and have quality staff meetings!

"Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together…" Heb. 10.25

By:
Jim Harper
Missionary/Itinerate Minister
Founder of "Radical Church Growth"

Email:
jhm-acc@cfaith.com

Web site:
www.jimharper.org

U.S. Address:
Jim Harper Ministries
303 East 2nd Street #1032
Skiatook, OK 74070
U.S. phone: (619) 757 9453

We pray that these "Ministry Management Tips" have been a blessing to you and will help you grow your church or ministry. You may forward these to anyone who may benefit from them.

Your feedback and comments are welcomed. We are looking forward to hearing from you!