FOREIGN MISSION BOARD MINUTES
January 10, 1978
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session, Tuesday, January
10, .1978, 2:00 p.m., in the Baker James Cauthen Chapel. The First Vice-
President, Travis S. Berry of Texas, presided.
PRESENT: State Members: Alabama: J. R. White: D.
С.
: B. Ross Morrison:
Illinois : A. F. Tuck; Indiana: Ronald P. Liesmann; New Mexico: J. D. Rat¬
liff; North Carolina: William Henry Crouch; Ohio: W. Paul Payne; Okla¬
homa: Jerry Fielder, William Neptune; South Caroline: Ira Q. Craft, Alastair
C. Walker; Tennessee: Wendell C. McClinton, Trevis Otey; Texas: Travis S.
Berry, Morris G. Cobb; Virginia: W. Curtis English, Mrs. R. L. Rhodes, Jr.
Local Members: V. Allen Gaines, Scott C. Humphrey, M. Hunter Riggins, Jr.,
Mrs. E. S. Stratton, Robert B. Bass, J. Roy Clifford, Paul E. Crandall, J.
Leonard Moore, John W. Patterson, H. I. Willett.
Staff: Baker J. Cauthen, J. Bryan Brasington, Charles W. Bryan, Thurmon E.
Bryant, Louis R. Cobbs, Robert C. Covington, Winston Crawley, William K.
Dawson, Everett L. Deane, James G. Edwards, lone Gray, W. Eugene Grubbs,
George H. Hays, Ward S. Hildreth, Thomas W. Hill, J. D. Hughey, Harold E.
Hurst, William W. Marshall, John E. Mills, Lewis I. Myers, Jr., Stanley A.
Nelson, Floyd H. North, William R. O'Brien, R. Keith Parks, Samuel M. Pitt¬
man, G. Norman Price, Don A. Reavis, Sidney C. Reber, Harold D. Richardson,
Davis L. Saunders, Rogers M. Smith, Robert L. Stanley, Melvin E. Torstrick,
William R. Wakefield, Elizabeth Minshew.
Board Attorney; Paul D. Stotts.
The presiding officer called the meeting to order.
The audience joined in singing the Hymn: "Our Best," led by Sidney C. Reber.
William Neptune, Board member from Oklahoma, read a passage of Scripture and
led in the Opening Prayer.
Minutes of the Board for December 13, 1977 were approved.
Mr. Berry recognized Baker J. Cauthen, the executive director and expressed
a warm welcome on his return from his recent illness.
Expressions of gratitude were extended by Board members and staff for the
many blessings of the Lord in restoring Dr. Cauthen 's health so that he could
begin to resume his leadership in the Board's program.
Dr. Cauthen came to the platform and greeted the entire audience, with ex¬
pressions of gratitude for God's blessing during his recuperation and on be¬
half of the work of the Board that was carried forward in such a gratifying
way in his absence.
Upon motion of the Executive Director, by common consent, the
Board voted to send a telegram to Miss Carolyn Weatherford,
executive secretary of Woman's Missionary Union, to extend
greetings on behalf of their Executive Board Meeting the week
of January 12.
Dr. Cauthen recognized Robert Covington in his new position as associate
secretary for Missionary Personnel and presented to him a 15-vear service pin
Sam Pittman, associate secretary for Denominational Coordination, was recog¬
nized in absentia, by Dr. Cauthen who mentioned a five-year service pin that
would be presented to Mr. Pittman, with appreciation.
Dr. Cauthen expressed appreciation for the privilege of introducing Thurmon
Bryant to the Board and staff, as the area secretary for Eastern South
America, effective January 1, 1978.
Dr. Cauthen informed the Board that the "yearly call" had come from Dr. W. 0.
Vaught, who conveyed the wonderful word that the Lottie Moon Christmas Offer¬
ing goal in his church, set for $40,000.00, had reached a total of $42,000.00
Dr. Cauthen recognized Miss Inez Tuggle, his secretary for more than 25 years
and paid special tribute to her and expressed aopreciation for her return
from a recent bout with bursitis.