Minutes of the March 13, 1969 Foreign Mission Board Meeting

у. / о March 13, 1969 The Foreign Mission Board held its regular monthly meeting on March 13, at 3:00 p.m. in the Chapel of the Board, Richmond, Virginia, with Dr. W. Morris Ford presiding. PRESENT: State Members: Mrs. Carl Bates (North Carolina), Virgil Clark (Indiana), Milton Collum (Colorado), W. Morris Ford (Texas), David G. Hause (Oklahoma), C. J. Humphrey (Texas), Charles Lassiter (Michigan), Loyed R. Simmons (California), Eldred M. Taylor (Kentucky), Johnny Lee Taylor (Mississippi). Local Members: Mrs. R. B. Carter, Austin W. Farley, Joseph B. Flowers, David S. Hammock, John W. Kincheloe, Jr., Robert T. Marsh, Jr., J. Leonard Moore, John L. Moran, Lucius M. Polhill, James E. Rayhorn, Hunter Riggins, Meredith K. Roberson, D. 0. Rose, Edwin L. Shattuck, Dalton Ward. Staff: Harold G. Basden, James D. Belote, Louis R. Cobbs, Winston Crawley, Edna Frances Dawkins, William K. Dawson, Everett L. Deane, Samuel A. DeBord, Jesse C. Fletcher, Franklin T. Fowler, Cornell Goerner, lone Gray, Eugene L. Hill, J. D. Hughey, W. David Lockard, Ralph A. Magee, William W. Marshall, Frank K. Means, Floyd H. North, R. Keith Parks, G. Norman Price, Claude H. Rhea, Jr., Rogers M. Smith, Truman Smith, E. L. Wright, Elizabeth Minshew. The meeting was called to order. The meeting opened with the Hymn: "Ye Christian Heralds," led by Dr. Claude H. Rhea, the Board's consultant in music and mass media. Board members and friends were extended a warm welcome. Minutes of the Board for February 13, 1969, were approved. Mr. C. J. Humphrey, member of the Board from Texas, read a passage of Scripture from Ephesians 4, and led in prayer. Dr. Rogers Smith reported on the illness of Dr. Cauthen and explained that he was recuperating satisfactorily at home and hoped to be back in the office very shortly. Dr. Smith referred to the meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Com¬ mittee in Nashville, Tennessee, during the month of February. He pointed out that all Southern Baptist agencies are faced with a smaller percent of increase in funds allowed by the committee for operating expenses in 1970. After much heartsearching, the committee felt that this decrease in the amounts for each agency was the most equit¬ able distribution of funds. More exact projections on Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon receipts would be given in the treasurer's report. Dr. Smith called special attention to the forthcoming meeting of the Board scheduled to be held in Dallas, Texas, May 5-7. 1969. He explained that, until the last few days, all sessions of the meeting had been scheduled to be held in the First Baptist Church of Dallas; but now, it may be that the Appointment Service will be held in the Moody Coliseum, Southern Methodist University, Dallas. This change would make available facilities for accommodating approximately 9,000 persons, in the event that the attendance should be that large. The Foreign Mission Board is only cooper¬ ating with Board members and friends in Dallas in preparation for this strategic meeting in every possible way, but the friends in Dallas are carrying the real pro¬ motion of this meeting. It is the hope of all who are involved that this meeting will prove to be a source of great blessing to many, many people from that particular area. All Board members were asked to please notify Miss Minshew as soon as possible with reference to their plans for attending the meeting and their preferred hotel reserva¬ tions . REPORT OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY - Dr. Baker J. Cauthen (No Report was given, in the absence of Dr. Cauthen) REPORT OF DIRECTOR, OVERSEAS DIVISION - Dr. Winston Crawley Dr. Crawley gave the following report: REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF OVERSEAS DIVISION The essential function of the Overseas Division is the administering of the programs of work of the Foreign Mission Board. This function places upon the division the responsibility of organizing and planning for greater effectiveness. The division has been in existence for almost a year. Like a train staffing from a standstill and with a heavy load, it has been able to gain momentum only gradually. By nowj however, progress seems evident along a number of lines.