FOREIGN MISSION BOARD MINUTES
March 12, 1974
The Foreign Mission Board held its regular monthly meeting at 3:00 p.m., March
12, 1974, in the Baker James Cauthen Chapel, Foreign Mission Board headquarters,
Richmond, Virginia. The President, W. Douglas Hudgins, presided.
PRESENT: State Members: Alabama: Drew J. Gunnells, Jr., Charles T. Carter;
D. C. : Kenneth E. Thornton; Florida : Don Mott; Kentucky: Mrs. Ray Mullendore;
Michigan : Hubert Keefer; Mississippi : W. Douglas Hudgins; Virginia : Mrs.
James T. Cravens.
Local Members: Robert Bass, Mrs. R. B. Carter, Sr., J. Roy Clifford, Paul E.
Crandall, Austin W. Farley, Joseph B. Flowers, Scott C. Humphrey, J. Leonard
Moore, John W. Patterson, Bruce H. Price, M. Hunter Riggins, Jr., Mrs. E. S.
Stratton, H. I. Willett.
Staff : Baker J. Cauthen, Charles W. Bryan, Louis R. Cobbs, Winston Crawley, Edna
Frances Dawkins, Everett L. Deane, Samuel A. DeBord , James G. Edwards, Jesse C.
Fletcher, lone Gray, H. Cornell Goerner, Eugene Grubbs, Ward Hildreth, Eugene L.
Hill, Dwight Honeycutt, Ralph Magee, Stanley Nelson, Floyd H. North, Norman Price,
Sidney C. Reber, Fon H. Scofield, Rogers M. Smith, Richard M. Styles, Wilbur Todd,
Melvin Torstrick, J. B. Underwood, E. L. Wright, Elizabeth Minshew.
Radio-TV Commission Representative (working in liaison with Foreign Mission Board)
Fred Laughon.
The President called the meeting to order,
Charles T. Carter, Board member from Alabama, read a passage of Scripture and led
in the opening prayer.
The President mentioned items of prayer concern:
Mrs. Millie Maxwell and family - Mrs, Maxwell ' s brother had suffered a severe
heart attack and was in the intensive care unit in a hospital in East Point,
Georgia -
Grady B. Wilson and family had suffered the loss of a grandson -
Miss Elizabeth Minshew - Miss Minshew and her family had suffered the loss of
an elderly aunt.
Kenneth Thornton, Board member from Washington, D. C., led in a special prayer on
behalf of the families mentioned above.
The President asked state Board members and their wives or husbands to stand and
they were recognized. Appreciation was expressed for their presence.
Minutes of the Board for February 12, 1974 were approved.
The President recognized the Executive Secretary, Baker J. Cauthen.
Dr. Cauthen welcomed Dr. Howard J. Ford of North Carolina, a member of the Foreign
Mission Board from 1963-1969 at which time he completed two three-year terms of
service. Dr. Ford was asked to take greetings from the Board and staff to Mrs.
Ford and he was assured of a warm welcome to attend meetings of the Board at any
opportunity.
Missionary Elton Johnson and wife were recognized. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were ap¬
pointed as missionaries of this Board for service in Brazil in 1937 and they
retired December 31, 1971.
Dr. Cauthen mentioned significant highlights from his Formal Report:
- The continued gratitude and encouragement from the growth of the Cooperative
Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering receipts. An increase of
15.15 percent had been received by the SBC, from the Cooperative Program,
over the period, October - February, 1973.
- The recent meeting with the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville, attended
by a number of Board members and members of the staff had been a source of
blessing and encouragement, in discussion of "Report of Committee of 15."
- The forthcoming meeting of the Board, April 8-10, 1974, would be held in
Little Rock, Arkansas. At that time, a number of important matters of
business would be transacted. A possible amendment to the Bylaws of the
Board would be under consideration.
