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FOREIGN MISSION BOARD MINUTES
July 13, 1971
The Foreign Mission Board held its regular monthly meeting and Appointment Service
July 13, 1971 in the Board's Chapel, Richmond, Virginia with Joseph B, Flowers, first
vice-president, presiding. The Board meeting was held at 3:00 p.m. and the Appointment
Service was held at 7:30 that evening.
PRESENT: State Members: Mrs. John I. Alford (Georgia), Clyde J. Childers (Texas),
Daniel W. Cloer (South Carolina), Hubert G. Keefer (Michigan), Robert L. Lynn (Oklahoma),
Don Mott (Florida), Raymond L. Odle (Illinois), Joe L. Orr (Tennessee), J. W. Pace
(Kansas), Paul Payne (Ohio), J. D. Ratliff (New Mexico) , Perry R. Sanders (Louisiana),
Loyed R. Simmons (California), Othar 0. Smith (Indiana), John Lee Taylor (Mississippi),
Kenneth E. Thornton (D. C.), W. 0. Vaught, Jr. (Arkansas), Ralph D. Walls (Maryland),
C. Clifton Ward (Tennessee), Jaroy Weber (Alabama), E. H. Westmoreland (Texas), Ohlen
R. Wilson (Georgia).
Local Members: Robert B. Bass, Mrs. R. B. Carter, Sr., J. Roy Clifford, Paul E. Crandall,
Austin W. Farley, Joseph B. Flowers, V. Allen Gaines, David S. Hammock, Scott C.
Humphrey, John W. Kincheloe, Jr., John W. Patterson, Julian H. Pentecost, Meredith K.
Roberson, Mrs. Ross S. Shearer, Mrs. E. S. Stratton, Mrs. Thomas Whalen, H. I. Willett.
Staff: Baker J. Cauthen, Charles W. Bryan, Louis R. Cobbs, William K. Dawson, Everett
L. Deane, James G. Edwards, Jesse Fletcher, Franklin T. Fowler, H. Cornell Goerner,
W. Eugene Grubbs, Ward S. Hildreth, Eugene L. Hill, Frank K. Means, Stanley Nelson,
Floyd H. North, Fon H. Scofield, Rogers M. Smith, Truman Smith, W. L. Smith, Richard
M. Styles, Melvin Torstrick, Joseph B. Underwood, Elbert L. Wright, Elizabeth Minshew.
The meeting was called to order.
Dr. Rogers M. Smith of the Board's staff led the audience in singing the opening Hymn.
Dr. Bruce H. Price, former member of the Foreign Mission Board, read a passage of
Scripture and led in prayer.
Minutes of the Board for May, 1971, were approved as mailed to Board members.
The presiding officer recognized Board member John Lee Taylor, from Mississippi, who
called Miss Marjean Patterson, executive secretary of the WMU of Mississippi to the
platform for introduction. She was extended a cordial welcome by the entire Board.
Dr. Cauthen called Dr. Bruce H. Price to the platform. He paid highest tribute to
Dr. Price for his very active and invaluable service as a member of the Foreign Mission
Board. Dr. Price was presented with a plaque in recognition of his service.
Dr. Price conveyed to the Board his genuine appreciation for the privilege of serving
in this strategic responsibility on behalf of the cause of missions.
REPORTS WERE FILED AS FOLLOWS:
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY - Dr. Baker J. Cauthen
Dr. Cauthen pointed out the significance of the highlights of his report.
Dr. Cauthen referred to the sorrow through which the Board and its staff had been going
recently, in the light of the tragic deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Potter of the Dominican
Republic. He asked Dr. Charles Bryan, secretary for Middle America and the Caribbean,
to come to the platform and share with the audience information on the deaths or Mr.
and Mrs. Potter, his experiences in trying to comfort the family and the final arrange¬
ments with reference to the funeral.
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
We welcome to the Foreign Mission Board the new members elected by the Southern
Baptist Convention in its session at St. Louis. We appreciate their coming to
Richmond for orientation of new Board members. This program has been ably
planned and conducted by a committee with Rev. V. Allen Gaines serving as
Chairman. We congratulate the committee upon a job well done, and are happy
that the new Board members are able to begin their work, having received an
overview of the entire responsibility.
Since the last meeting of our Board, we have had a splendid Foreign Mission
Week at Ridgecrest. Expressions of appreciation have been warm and enthusiastic
on the part of the people who attended the week. The response of people to
the invitations extended in the public services was good. We are now looking
forward to Foreign Mission Week at Glorieta, when the entire Board will be
assembled for a highly significant meeting.
