The six members of the permanent working group which met January 6-8, 1978, were to constitute the first board. Abbot Martin Burne, OSB and Sister Paschaline Coff, OSB were elected chairperson and executive secretary, respectively.

The board saw itself "as liaison between different peoples, making contacts between interested groups, monastic specialists and other larger organizations and centers; informing, conveying to others every type of information that would be helpful; and in the area of spiritual formation, arranging for seminars, congresses, retreats, and the like" (First bulletin, January 9, 1978). Future membership was in the hands of the board. It was to meet annually.

Robert Muller, a layman, was a member of the first board and until November 1980, persons other than monastics were included. It was at that time that an Advisory Board was set up, composed of monastics as well as laypeople, clergy, and members of other religious orders.

The name was changed to Monastic Interreligious Dialogue in December 1991 to better reflect its purpose and composition. That purpose is stated in the articles of incorporation, January ,1993: [to] "promote dialogue among monastic communities and traditions of the various religions of the world". The records of the board indicate the many ways it has sought to carry out its mandate.

The chairperson is elected by the board, usually for a three year term. According to the minutes of the first meeting, the chairperson was to collaborate with the executive secretary in furthering the aims of the board. The duties of the chairperson were further elaborated in November, 1980 : "calling and presiding at meetings; keeping before the group its primary task and goals together with responsibility to the AIM; making necessary decisions regarding the board between meetings in collaboration with members" (Minutes of meeting).

For the most part it is necessary to refer to the records of the executive secretary to locate correspondence and memos from the chairperson.

The minutes of the first board meeting state that "most of the work of the Board will be done by the Secretary". The minutes of the November, 1980 meeting describe what the secretary's responsibilities included: "execution of the decisions of the board unless another is appointed for a special event of the board, treasurer and bookkeeper, official contact with A.I.M., with other groups, with the press for current activities, responsibility for the East-West Bulletin, the archives of the board, minutes of meetings and circular letters to the members". Through the years the duties have been further refined in a series of job descriptions. In December of 1992, the name was changed to Executive Director and another board member was elected Recording Secretary.

The records are arranged alphabetically by name or subject under each Executive Secretary or Director, and chronologically within the folders.