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7 Keys to Effective Ministry Meetings

3.      Use different things to lighten the mood.
We’ve used music, skits and humor to lighten the mood and dissipate the tension that once dominated the atmosphere in our congregational meetings. Lighten the mood of your meetings so people can relax and gel with one another. Doing this over time has made an incredible difference in the atmosphere for our church business meetings. This helps ministry teams, too, by providing an atmosphere that makes them more effective and creative as they work well together. A great atmosphere also serves as a great recruiting tool.

4.      Make meetings very informative.
Providing updates, reports, teaching and vision casting all serve to make ministry meetings very informative and productive. Stay away from gossip, complaining and chatter that simply wastes time and does not glorify God.

5.      Start and end on time.
Starting and ending meetings on time is one of the greatest tools to use to keep people coming to the meetings.

6.      Implement different control measures to keep things orderly.
People need to be free to talk and express themselves, but with love, discipline and respect. Disagreements happen, but let’s watch what we say and how we behave. There are plenty of Scriptures that speak of self-control, watching our mouths and how to resolve conflicts with one another. It is up to the leader to implement control measures or boundaries that allow for everything to be done decently and in order. This does not mean that adults are to be treated like children. Amen! Boundaries are necessary in all aspects of society in order for all of us to live at peace with one another. One of the control measures I implemented for our congregational meetings is that we do not discuss anything that is not on the agenda. This helps prevent plots, attacks or accusations that can blindside me or any other leader in the church. If you have “Misc.” on your agenda for your meetings, especially congregational meetings, you may want to delete it.

7.      Deliver dynamic presentations.
Presentations delivered in meetings can make or break a team. I’ve seen ideas shot down not because they were bad ideas, but great ideas poorly presented. Hone your presentation skills by paying attention to the questions your people tend to ask, and do the best you can to anticipate the questions they might ask as your prepare your presentation. Answer those questions in your presentation, and it can invite the support you may need from your team as you move forward in the Lord’s work. Deliver your presentation with passion, humility, humor, skill and God’s Word, and it can make the meeting one that people are glad they did not miss.

Conclusion: Church meetings have helped transform our church over time. I pray your ministry meetings will continually move your ministry forward into God’s ordained destiny. Enjoy the journey!  

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davidclarke@churchleaders.com'
Author, conference speaker, adjunct professor, and former U. S. Marine, David Anthony Clarke, Sr. serves as Senior Pastor of the Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Warner Robins, GA. He is the author of Are There Any ?s: Living and Leading with an Inquisitive Spirit and host of the Leadership Moment weekly radio broadcast. Clarke is launching The ShepherdÂ’s School, an online leadership institute in fall 2014. He has conducted leadership seminars through Clarkehouse Ministries since 2008. He and his wife, Michelle, are the proud parents of three children. Follow him on twitter @clarkehouse. His blog can be found at www.pastorclarke.com.