Richmond, Virginia
November 7, 1963
163
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 3:00 P.M. on
Thursday, November 7, 1963, with Dr. Roberson presiding.
Present: T. F. Adams, Wade Bryant, J. Roy Clifford, H. Addison Dalton, Joseph P.
Edmondson, Horace L. Ford, R. Stuart Grizzard, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, W. Rush
Loving, J. Walter Martin, Ryland 0. Reamy, Meredith K. Roberson, D. 0. Rose, James
T. Todd, Mrs. John C. Tyree, Baker J. Cauthen, Cornell Goerner, Rogers M. Smith,
Franklin T. Fowler, Joseph B. Underwood, Ralph A. Magee, E. L. Wright, Elmer S.
West, Edna Frances Dawkins, Jesse Fletcher, E. L. Hill, lone Gray, Norman Price,
Floyd H. North, Inez Tuggle.
Dr. Grizzard led in prayer.
Dr. and Mrs. Cauthen expressed their appreciation for the excellent vacation
from which they had recently returned.
Dr. Cauthen gave the following report of the Executive Secretary:
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
We are happy to announce that Dr. J. D. Hughey has accepted the responsibility
as secretary for the new area of Europe and the Middle East. We welcome him
to this major position of opportunity and pray God's blessings upon him and his
family as they look forward to the work that awaits.
Dr. Hughey will begin his service officially January 1, 1964, but will remain in
Ruschlikon to take care of the transition of responsibility in the seminary,
looking forward to taking up his residence in Richmond by August. This will not
create any difficulty for us, as we will handle it very much the same way as
we did when Dr. Crawley was elected secretary for the Orient and remained for
some time in residence on the field.
Dr. Hughey will come to Richmond January 1, to spend ten days or two weeks in
conferences at the office. He will be here for the meeting of the Board in
January.
We were happy to be able to talk with Dr. Hughey by long-distance telephone
immediately following the meeting of the Board in October. Dr. Goerner was then
able to visit with him during his recent trip to Europe. Dr. Hughey has given
very careful and prayerful consideration to the matter and comes into this post
of responsibility with a wealth of experience growing out of valuable service
on the field. He is highly prepared for the ministry that awaits him, and the
word that he has been asked to consider this post has brought great joy among
the missionaries in the area.
Dr. Goerner will continue handling the responsibilities for the area until
January 1, and after that time will be able to give his counsel with regard to
matters in Europe and the Middle East while Dr. Hughey is away.
All of us wish to express to Dr. Goerner the deep gratitude we feel in our hearts
to God for the leadership he has given to this area of Europe and the Middle East.
During these years very definite progress has been made in many ways including
the strengthening and expansion of the seminary, radio and conference ministries
in Ruschlikon, Switzerland, the projection of English-speaking work in France and
Germany and the reinforcement of National Baptist work in those countries. Mis¬
sionaries have been placed in Portugal. Work in Spain has been strengthened and
much expansion has come about in the work in Italy, including the placing of a
larger number of missionaries, the development of a summer assembly, and solution
of some very difficult organizational problems which will make for the long-range
progress of the Italian Baptist Union.
Encouragement has been given to Baptist work in other countries of Europe
including Holland, Scandinavia and assistance to the Baptists of Poland in the
construction of a strategic Baptist center in Warsaw.
very
It is highly appropriate that- at the/close of this period of Dr. Goerner' s
leadership in Europe, recommendations are being made for placing missionaries
in Austria, Luxembourg, and for a location in English-speaking ministry in Iceland.
Work in the Middle East has been greatly strengthened, including the establish¬
ment of a seminary in Beirut, Lebanon; the opening of work in Jerusalem, Jordan;
the reinforcement of work in Israel, and the placing of a larger number of mis¬
sionaries in all the countries of the Middle East where we are serving. Reinforce¬
ment has been given to work in Egypt, and at the moment there are steps under way
