If needed, the stake presidency or an assigned high councilor may call a stake Sunday School secretary. The secretary is "primarily responsible for preparing agendas, taking minutes, and preparing reports requested by the presidency" (Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders [1998], 241).

As you work to fulfill your responsibilities as a stake Sunday School secretary, you may find the following suggestions useful.

1. Take an active part in presidency meetings. While the primary duties of a stake Sunday School secretary are to prepare agendas, take minutes, and prepare reports (see Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, 241), the Lord has instructed secretaries “that [they] can also lift up [their] voice in meetings, whenever it shall be expedient” (D&C 47:2).

2. Prepare an agenda. Preparing an agenda (as directed by the stake Sunday School presidency) can help make presidency meetings effective. A sample agenda is provided below:

AGENDA FOR PRESIDENCY MEETING

Date:
Presiding: (name)
Conducting: (name)

1. Opening prayer: (name)
2. Spiritual thought and/or leadership training: (name)
   • A copy of the spiritual thought could be placed here. Doing so will enable those who attended the meeting to leave with a quote from the Brethren or a scripture that can be used in other training or at home. This could also be done with the leadership training.
3. Review of the minutes from the previous meeting.
4. Calendaring items:
5. Discussion of how to fulfill Sunday School responsibilities (may include making announcements, reviewing teacher improvement, orienting new teachers, counseling with and providing ongoing support to each teacher, discussing how to help meet the needs of individual members and gospel teachers, discussing the meetinghouse library, planning for upcoming activities, reporting on assignments, and making new assignments)
6. Closing prayer: (name)

3. Keep a current roster of all stake and ward Sunday School officers. With the assistance of the stake and ward clerks, the stake Sunday School secretary could develop and keep current a roster of stake and ward Sunday School officers, including presidency members and secretaries.

Helps for Teachers: To view a collection of ideas and suggestions designed to help, inspire, and motivate gospel teachers throughout the Church to improve the quality of teaching in classrooms and at home, visit "Helps for Teachers."