Churches run some of the least effective meetings.  They waste the valuable time of members of your church and frequently are denergizing to the mission of your faith community.But it does not have to be this way.  By following a few easy steps you can dramatically increase the effectiveness of your meetings and therefore further the ministry of your church.The steps are...1. Define the meeting purpose. - So often groups in churches meet just because it is time to meet.  Take some time to decide with crystal clarity why it is you are gathering people together.  It is best to write it down.2. Make timely invitations to the meeting. - Make sure people know about the meeting and know about it it plenty of time.  Follow up with them a day or two before hand as a reminder.  Send out an agenda with the invitation of the follow up.3. Prepare diligently for the meeting time. - Simply put...make sure you have what you need to pull the meeting off.  Have the data you need (budgets, etc.), the supplies that brainstorming might require (white board with working dry erase pens, etc.), and book the right room at your church.  Having these simple things worked out will facilitate a good meeting.4. Manage the actual meeting well. – Do the people of your church a favor and manage the meeting well.  Make sure that people are talking about the topic you have set out to discuss.  Keep directing the conversation back to the topic at hand.  Feel free to do a little gentle correction if the meeting gets far off course.  As a leader it is sometimes you job to correct.  You should also take good notes as you manage the meeting.5. Create clear assignments.  – Get clearly stated what people will do.  Don't allow a general, "I'll look into it." As people agree to do something in a meeting, write down who will do it, what exactly they will do, and when they will do it by.  By pushing for clarity in an assignment you at least double the chance it will get done.6. Hold those who accept assignments accountable. – Accountability will be much easier if you have clearly defined assignments in a board meeting.  All you are doing is following up.  As your board gets used to you following up, it is likely that action items will be done more quickly.  People will do assignments if they know they will be talked about at the next meeting to close business from the last one.  This is not a heavy handed, guilt-based accountability, but one based on wanting the best for the church.Church board meetings will always be tough.  There will be differences of opinions and folks will be tired from there day.  But the can get better.  Follow these easy steps and your meetings will improve.May your next church board meeting be a great one!