More than just minutes When asked if church members have a legal right to inspect minutes of a church board meeting, the editors of Church Law & Tax Report stated that “board minutes may be subject to inspection by both members and nonmembers. It is important for board minutes to be written with this in mind. To illustrate, when sensitive personnel issues are discussed in a board meeting, the minutes ordinarily should not contain a lengthy narrative. Brevity usually is more appropriate.” Members and nonmembers alike may compel the disclosure or inspection of board minutes as part of a lawsuit against a church if the minutes are relevant and not privileged. If in doubt about the best course of action when reporting on the discussion and handling of sensitive or confidential issues, check with a local attorney for guidance in drafting board minutes.
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Most people don’t pay close attention to meeting minutes. As a result, far too often far too little care goes into the preparation of minutes for church board meetings. However, as the September issue of Church Law & Tax Report cautions, meeting minutes are considered a legal record and careless production can lead to big problems down the road.  |
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