be complete and accurate and exclude extraneous or irrelevant matter.

be typewritten, printed, or if necessary, hand-written in permanent ink

be compiled into volumes at suitable intervals

be paginated, with numbers at the upper outside edge of each page

be signed or initialled on each page by the secretary

be signed by the secretary and presiding officer

indicate in words the time and place of each meeting

indicate the date, the place, and the name of the group that is meeting at the top of each page

state the authority under which the meeting was held

state that a quorum was present

record that the meeting opened with prayer

record that the meeting closed with prayer and/or a benediction

state the name of the presiding officer

record the names of those present for meetings of session, the official board, the church board, the church council, or the presbytery

use paragraph headings or marginal notes for subject headings

record numbers in words (excluding those figures cited in budget statements and financial reports)with numeric figures in brackets

include appendices referred to within the minutes using consecutive numbering

record all motions in full, with the names of the mover and the seconder

state clearly within the minutes the disposal of all motions and reports

avoid the use of initials and abbreviations

use the full names of people

fill vacant space on the page between the records of meetings with diagonal, ruled lines . 23. show that all erasures and changes have been initialled in the margin by the secretary

have no loose pages