Foreign Mission Board Rooms
December 11, 1952
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 3:30 p.m.
on Thursday, December 11, 1952, with Mr. Jenkins presiding.
Present: L. Howard Jenkins, Oscar L. Hite, Mrs. Tom Smith, Reuben E.
Alley, Mrs. Clyde V. I-Iickerson, E. P. Buxton, Elmer West, T. Rupert
Coleman, w. llush Loving, Emmett 1. Robertson, H. P. Thomas, Mrs. Paul
LaRoque, M. T. Rankin, George W. Sadler, Baker James .Cauthen, E. L.
Deane .
Mr. Loving led in prayer.
Dr. Rankin read the following telegram from Dr. Samuel E. Maddox:
IN PRESENTING MY RESIGNATION AS PERSONNEL SECRETARY I WISH TO PAY
TRIBUTE TO THE MOST WONDERFUL BOARD IN THE WORLD . I AM GRATEFUL TO
GOD FOR THE BLESSING WHICH HAS BEEN MINE DURING THE PAST YEARS OF
ASSOCIATION WITH DR. RAMIN, THE STAFF, THE BOARD MEMBERS, AND OUR
MISSION VOLUNTEERS. NO CAUSE IS AS DEAR TO MY HEART AS THAT OF
'WORLD MISSIONS. THERE WILL BE NO LESSENING OF MY MISSIONARY INTEREST
BUT ONLY A TRANSFER OF MY ENERGIES TO THE ENLISTMENT OF MISSIONARY
SUPPORT. MAY GOD ENABLE YOU TO CONTINUE ADVANCING FOR OUR nOARD
REPRESENTS THE BRIGHTEST HOPE OF OUR WORLD. I HAD PLANNED TO BE WITH
YOU TODAY BUT DUE TO THE EXHAUSTION OF A VERY STRENUOUS EIGHT DAYS
OF SPEAKING AND TRAVEL I REQUESTED PERMISSION FROM OUR EXECUTIVE
SECRETARY TO RESIGN IN A 3ENTIA . YOURS IN THa SACRED BOND. SAMUEL
E. MADDOX.
Dr. Rankin said that Dr. Maddox had told the staff that we was resigning
to become pastor of the First Baptist Church, Dothan, Alabama but asked
that his resignation not be Presented to the Board until the December
meeting of the Board and that he had intended to be present. He had
made engagements in connection with his work with the Board which he
wanted to keep. However, he called from Dothan a few days a
то
to see
if it was imperative for him 'to be present. Dr. Rankin explained that
there was no absolute necessity for him to attend the meeting but that
the Board members would regret not having an opportunity to express
personally their appreciation for the work he has done. Dr. Maddox
then asked to be excused from attending the meeting.
Dr. Rankin stated that few Board memoers realize the delicate responsi¬
bilities of the Personnel Department and its secretary. We have no
more delicate responsibility than that of turning down missionary-
applicants, not only from the standpoint of good will ’out also from
the standpoint of life dedication of an individual . For whatever
reason it is no small thing to reject an applicant. This is a big
responsibility of zhs secretary of the department of mi. sionary
personnel. The decisions of the border cases where there is not
positive support for an appointment and at the same time no positive
support for a rejection are very difficult. The secretary has to
evaluate whether that person has reasonable possibilities of being an
effective missionary. Dr. Maddox helped us make these aecisions.
He also made a contribution outside of the Board that few members of
the Board .have had any opportunity to evaluate. We regret his leaving.
We appreciate his services, at the same time we have full appreciation
of his reasons for going. In a word, his reason for going was the
feeling that in accepting this call to the pastorate he can s erve
the Lord more effectively. We give him our full moral support in his
decision. .
Mr. Jenkins stated that all of the Board members appreciate highly
what Dr. Maddox has done and regret that they will not have an oppor¬
tunity to express it to him personally. He has done a worthwhile
job with the Board vdthouyfeparing himself. Many of the Board members
have recognized for a long time his desire to preach and we wish him
God speed in this new work.
On the motion of Dr. Thomas it was voted to accept with regret the
resignation of Dr.
о.
E. ':aadox as Secretary of the Department of
Missionary Personnel .
On motion of Dr. Thomas it was voted to approve the suggestion of
Dr. Rankin that the decision of naming a successor to Dr. Maddox be
committed to the Committee of Missionary Personnel, for report to
the Board.
