May 11, 1971
The Foreign Mission Board held its regular monthly meeting on May 11, 1971 at
3:00 p.m. in the Board's Chapel, Richmond, Virginia, with the President, Drew
J. Gunnells, Jr., presiding. This was the first meeting to be held, following
action of the Board on April 21, 1971, specifying a change in the regular schedule
of the monthly Board meetings.
PRESENT: State Members: Mrs. Lindsey Barron (Georgia), J. Ray Garrett (D. C.),
Drew J. Gunnells, Jr. (Alabama), James D. Hall (Oklahoma), Charles A. Lassiter
(Michigan), Mrs. W. K. McGee (North Carolina), Bruce H. Price (Virginia), Loyed
R. Simmons (California), Eldred M. Taylor (Kentucky).
Local Members: Robert B. Bass, Mrs. R. B. Carter, Sr., J. Roy Clifford, Austin W.
Farley, Joseph B. Flowers, V. Allen Gaines (had to leave early May 11, 1971, because
of another commitment), David S. Hammock, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, Julian H. Pentecost,
James E. Rayhorn, Meredith K. Roberson, Edwin L. Shattuck, Mrs. E. S. Stratton,
M. Hunter Riggins, Mrs. Thomas Whalen.
Staff: Baker J. Cauthen, James D. Belote, Charles W. Bryan, Louis R. Cobbs,
Winston Crawley, Edna Frances Dawkins, William K. Dawson, Everett L. Deane, Samuel
A. DeBord, James G. Edwards, Jesse Fletcher, Franklin T. Fowler, H. Cornell
Goerner, lone Gray, W. Eugene Grubbs, Ward S. Hildreth, Eugene L. Hill, J. D.
Hughey, W. David Lockard, Frank K. Means, Stanley Nelson, Floyd H. North, R. Keith
Parks, Sidney C. Reber, Fon H. Scofield,- Rogers M. Smith, Truman Smith, W. L.
Smith, Richard M. Styles, Melvin Torstrick, Elbert L. Wright, Elizabeth Minshew.
The meeting was called to order.
Mr. Sidney C. Reber led the audience in singing the opening Hymn: "O God, Our
Help in Ages Past."
Austin W. Farley, local Board member, read a passage of Scripture from the second
chapter of Galations and led in an opening prayer.
Minutes of the Board for April, 1971, were approved as mailed to all Board members.
The President and Dr. Cauthen informed the audience, with a note of sadness, that
Dr. Lucius M. Polhill, a member of the Board and chairman of its Administrative
Committee, had died suddenly, May 9, 1971.
The highest tributes were paid to the contributions made by Dr. Polhill and the
influences that had been felt because of his love of Christ. Tender thoughts
were expressed on behalf of his family. Dr. Cauthen announced that a funeral
service had been held as scheduled in Grace Baptist Church, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.,
just preceding the meeting of the Board.
Deep appreciation was expressed for the presence of state members who were asked
to stand and be recognized.
Dr. Cauthen expressed deep appreciation for the total Cooperative Program gifts.
The funds received during the first four months of 1971 had reflected an increase
of
7.817»
as compared with the same period in 1970 when the percentage was
1.727».
Dr. Cauthen expressed deep gratitude for the final Lottie Moon Christmas Offering
receipts in the amount of $16,200,104.99 - a total of $922,546.36 over the same
period in 1970. He described this current total as the largest love offering
ever laid on the altar by Southern Baptists. He stated that the final appro¬
priations of these funds will be presented to the Board at its July meeting.
The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal for the year 1972 has been set at
$16,750,000.00, by Woman's Missionary Union.
Dr. Cauthen shared with the audience information which he requested should be
held in strictest confidence ■ An anonumous gift for foreign missions, in the
amount of $200,000.00 had been received and he emphasized that the Board would
honor the donor's very definite request that this gift be handled anonymously .
He explained that appropriations from these gifts would be presented in the
Administrative Recommendations.
Another encouraging report, referred to by Dr. Cauthen, was with reference to a
legacy for foreign missions from the Estate of Shatteen Mitchell Brookes. This
Estate had included the Home Mission Board, the Foreign Mission Board, and other
causes. The amount designated for the Foreign Mission Board had been originally
given on behalf of a hospital in East Pakistan; but, after all possible careful
investigations, the Pakistani government would not allow the use of these funds
as designated. Accordingly, the funds had been allotted for the work of the
