The Foreign Mission Board Rooms
May 10, 1945
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 4:00 P.K. on
Thursday, May 10, 1945, with Mr, Jenkins presiding.
Present: L. H, Jenkins,
С.
C, Coleman, J. G. Loving, Mrs. Simeon Atkinson,
G, V?, Sadler, J. T. Williams, Everett Gill, Jr., M.T. Rankin, Dr, and Mrs. c. G.
McDaniel, E. C. Routh, Miss Marjorie Moore, W, B. Johnson, John C. Williams,
Mrs. Zf. Justin Moore, E. P. Buxton, T, Rupert Coleman, Mrs. P. Earle Wood, T. F.
Adams, J. Levering Evans, and Miss Gene Newton.
The meeting was opened with prayer by Dr. Gill.
Dr. Rankin explained that a committee appointed by the Executive Committee of
the Convention would come to Richmond on May 15 - 16 to study the program of the
Foreign Mission Board in connection with the allocation of percentages for the
Cooperative Program receipts. In order to make a study of a healthy distribution
of funds the committee must visit all the boards and agencies of the Convention.
Dr. Rankin requested that a Committee of Three be appointed to meet with the
Convention committee and the secretarial staff on the afternoon of Kay 13.
In studying the financial set-up Dr. Rankin suggests the establishment of three
funds:
1. The Emergency Reserve Fund, to be blocked off and to be used only under
circumstances which would send us to the banks to borrow money.
2. The Rehabilitation Fund for the rehabilitation and re-projection of work
destroyed by the war.
3. The Postwar Forward Movement Fund.
Dr. Rankin suggested that $1,000,000 from the present Current Emergency Fund be
placed in the Emergency Reserve Fund and that the balance of the Current Emergency
Fund, amounting to more than one million dollars, be placed in the Rehabilitation
Fund. He recommended that the receipts from the Centennial Thank Offering go
into the Postwar Forward Movement Fund. From time to time the Board should re¬
view the situation and when there is an excess, more funds can be placed in the
Rehabilitation Fund.
On motion of Dr.
С.
C. Coleman it was voted that Mr. Jenkins be appointed to
head the Committee of Three suggested by Dr. Rankin and that he appoint two Board
members to serve on the committee with him.
Dr. T. R. Coleman moved and it wa s voted that the Board not only authorize the
setting aside of $1,000,000 in the Reserve Emergency Fund, but also look with favor
upon the entire program set forth by the Executive Secretary.
Dr. Rankin stated that he would want to bring to the Board further proposals
after the study had been made by the Convention committee.
Dr. Sadler reported that two couples would leave soon for Africa, Dr. and Mrs.
McCamey and Dr. and Mrs. O'Neal. Others are in the process of preparation for
departure. He had received a letter from Dr. W, Dewey Moore in Italy giving an
encouraging report of the work in that field and stating that the future was never
brighter for the work in Italy. He also stated that Mr. and Mrs. Hagood and Mr.
and Mrs. Callaway were on the way to the Near East.
Dr. Gill reported that he and Dr, Rankin had recently attended the meeting of
the Mexican Mission in El Paso. There is a probability that the Mexican Seminary
will be moved from El Paso back into Mexico.
Dr. Gill stated that he would leave with his family for South America about the
middle of July. Because of the distances from one mission field to another he
will have successive headquarters in Recife, Rio and Buenos Aires.
Dr, Williams was welcomed home after his trip to Hawaii. He reported that all
our missionaries who were interned in the Philippines had returned to the United
States. He gave a most interesting report on his visit to the Hawaiian Islands.
He stressed the need of permanency for our work there. There is a need for a Bible
or Junior College. As we train the young people, they will take care of themselves
and be able to take over the work. It is Dr. Williams' belief that we have reached
