FOREIGN MISSION BOARD MINUTES
December 14, 1971
The Foreign Mission Board held its regular monthly meeting, at 3:00 p.m. , December
14, 1971, in the Foreign Mission Board Chapel, Richmond, Virginia, with the President,
Rev. Drew J. Gunnells, Jr., presiding.
PRESENT: State Members: Alabama: Drew J. Gunnells, Jr.; California: Loyed R.
Simmons; D. C. : Kenneth Thornton; Florida: Don Mott; Georgia: Mrs. John I.
Alford; Illinois : Raymond L. Odle; Indiana: Othar 0. Smith; Kansas : J. W. Pace;
Kentucky: Eldred M. Taylor; Michigan: Hubert G. Keefer; Mississippi: W. Douglas
Hudgins; North Carolina: Mrs. Carl Bates, Mrs. W. K. McGee; Oklahoma: Harvey
Albright; Oreg, -Wash. : W. D. Malone; South Carolina: Robert L. Deneen, Daniel W.
Cloer; Tennessee; Joe L. Orr, B. Greer Garrott; Texas : Clyde J. Childers, James
Flamming, B. J. Martin; Virginia: Mrs. H. Cowen Ellis.
Local Members: V. Allen Gaines, Robert B. Bass, J. Roy Clifford, Austin W. Farley,
Paul E. Crandall, David S. Hammock, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, John W. Kincheloe, Jr.,
John W. Patterson, Julian H. Pentecost, Meredith K. Roberson, Mrs. E. S. Stratton,
Mrs. Thomas Whalen.
Board's Attorney: John C. Williams. Staff: Baker J. Cauthen, James D. Belote,
Charles W. Bryan, Louis R. Cobbs, Winston Crawley, Edna Frances Dawkins, William K.
Dawson, E. L. Deane, H. Cornell Gocrner, James G. Edwards, Franklin Fowler, Jesse
Fletcher, Eugene Grubbs, Ward S. Hildreth, Eugene L. Hill, J. D. Hughey, W. David
Lockard, Ralph A. Magee, Frank K. Means, Stanley A. Nelson, Floyd H. North, Norman
Price, Sidney C. Reber, Fon H. Scofield, Melvin Torstrick, Rogers M. Smith, Truman
Smith, W. L. Smith, Richard M. Styles, E. L. Wright, Elizabeth Minshew.
Radio & T-V Representative: Alan Compton; Field Representative, Caribbean Area:
William W. Graves.
The Meeting was called to order.
Sidney C. Reber, director of the Board's Management Services Division, led the
audience in the opening Hymn: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing."
Dr. James W. Flamming, Board member from Texas, read a passage of Scripture and
led in prayer.
Minutes of the Board for November, 1971, were approved.
The President and the Executive Secretary extended a warm welcome to all who were
present.
State members were asked to stand for introduction and recognition.
REPORTS were called for as follows:
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY - Dr. Baker J. Cauthen gave the following report:
REPORT OF TIIE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY - Baker J. Cauthen
We come to the final meeting of the Board for 1971 with grateful hearts for God's
blessings throughout the year. With the appointment of missionaries today, there
will have been 226 set aside for missionary service throughout the year. We are
grateful for all of these dedicated servants of God, and pray our Lord's blessing
and guidance upon them, as they will turn their faces to fields of service through¬
out the world.
Missionaries in East Pakistan have had a major place in our concern during recent
days. They have manifested the same high qualities of commitment to missionary
purpose as has been demonstrated repeatedly under crisis situations. They have
been assured at all times of their full freedom to make whatever decisions seemed
advisable and to be fully confident of the Board's backing in whatever they might do.
As the fighting in East Pakistan was moving toward a climax, we cabled word to the
missionaries, advising them that they consider evacuation, assuring them of our
full backing in their decision and of leaving the matter to their own judgment.
Their cabled reply indicated that they were all in Dacca, and that they were plan¬
ning to remain. The fact that there was a large evacuation of foreigners a few
days ago gives added assurance that they are there by their own sense of God's
leadership, and have chosen to remain in order that they may serve the people and
