Is the Ward Clerk required to take Bishopric Meeting minutes?

[jamauai]

Handbook 1: 13.4.2

He keeps a record of assignments and decisions made in ward leadership meetings.

Doesn't say which meetings specifically.

[nikk3hi3tala]

Handbook 2 has more information:

18.2.6

The bishopric usually meets at least weekly. The ward clerk and ward executive secretary attend; the clerk keeps a record of assignments and decisions.

4.6.4

The ward clerk keeps a record of assignments and decisions made during ward council meetings.

4.3 tells that the Clerk participates in PEC, but it doesn't specify who takes the minutes. It would feel natural that the Clerk would do that.

[wrigjef]

It's also dependant on the Bishop. In our ward the clerk did take minutes but after a calling change now he has asked the Exec Sec to.

[allenjpl]

To be clear, the minutes of a meeting should almost never consist of what was discussed, but rather only what was decided. So when the Clerk is recording what assignments were made and what decisions were reached - those are the minutes. No need to rehash the previous meeting's discussion in the current meeting.

[wrigjef]

I use a note taking model called IDA (issues, decisions & actions), I have to be very careful with issues. The Bishop wants no names in any document that is emailed out unless it pertains to a generic task (i.e. Brother x talk to Sister x about music).

Decisions are easy.
Actions are the most important because if there isn't anything actionable coming out of the meeting there's little purpose.

I also put together the agendas. One of the first items is to review actions from the previous meeting. I use our printer/copier duplex ability to put the notes of the previous meeting on the back of the agenda. Any actions that I note at the end of the previous meeting get reviewed at the beginning of the next meeting. Bishopric members or others in PEC or Ward Council have a chance to report on the assigned action and if there is nothing to report but it still needs to be done, it carries over to the next meeting. New notes are made with new actions and the cycle continues.

If I'm asked to take down a list of individuals needing special help or need to prepare for the Temple or something specific that the Bishop wants to review from time to time, I keep the list on my iPad and simply put on the next agenda that we review that list.

[jamauai]

I use a note taking model called IDA (issues, decisions & actions), I have to be very careful with issues. The Bishop wants no names in any document that is emailed out unless it pertains to a generic task (i.e. Brother x talk to Sister x about music).

Decisions are easy.
Actions are the most important because if there isn't anything actionable coming out of the meeting there's little purpose.

I also put together the agendas. One of the first items is to review actions from the previous meeting. I use our printer/copier duplex ability to put the notes of the previous meeting on the back of the agenda. Any actions that I note at the end of the previous meeting get reviewed at the beginning of the next meeting. Bishopric members or others in PEC or Ward Council have a chance to report on the assigned action and if there is nothing to report but it still needs to be done, it carries over to the next meeting. New notes are made with new actions and the cycle continues.

If I'm asked to take down a list of individuals needing special help or need to prepare for the Temple or something specific that the Bishop wants to review from time to time, I keep the list on my iPad and simply put on the next agenda that we review that list.

Thanks for the tips. Do you use a template when taking minutes? If you could share that would be great.