November 7, 1968
The Foreign Mission Board held its regular monthly meeting, November 7, 1968, at 3:00
p.m., in the Chapel of the Foreign Mission Board, Richmond, Virginia, with Mr. Hunter
Riggins, the first vice-president, presiding.
PRESENT: State Members: J. Howard Reynolds (New Mexico), Bruce H. Price (Virginia)
Local Members: Wade H. Bryant, Mrs. R. B. Carter, Sr., Curtis English, Austin W.
Farley, V. Allen Gaines, JohnW. Kincheloe, Jr., Robert T. Marsh, Jr., J. Leonard
Moore, John L. Moran, Lucius M. Polhill, Hunter Riggins, Meredith K. Roberson, D. 0.
Rose, Edwin L. Shattuck, Dalton Ward.
Staff : Baker J. Cauthen, Louis R. Cobbs, William K. Dawson, Jesse C. Fletcher, Franklin
T. Fowler, Cornell Goerner, lone Gray, Eugene L. Hill, J. D. Hughey, Ralph A. Magee,
R. Keith Parks, Norman Price, Floyd H. North, Truman S. Smith, Elizabeth Minshew.
Visitors: Dr. J. C. Canipe, Boone, N. C. ; Mr. R. L. T. Beale, Jr., General Baptist
Association of Virginia.
The meeting opened with the Hymn: "Christ for the World," led by Mr. Dan Evans,
member of the Board's staff.
Dr. Bruce H. Price, member of the Board from Virginia, led in Responsive Reading:
"Our Great Commission," and led in prayer.
Mr. Hunter Riggins welcomed the visitors.
Minutes of the Board for October 1968 were approved.
Reports were called for as follows:
Report of the Executive Secretary, Dr. Baker J. Cauthen
Dr. Cauthen gave the following report:
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Baker J. Cauthen
We are grateful to our Lord for the administrative developments which have been made
possible during 1968.
The establishment of an Overseas Division is proving its value for area secretaries
and consultants. The subdivision of the areas of Latin America and the Orient gives
promise of added strength.
The Mission Support Division is now a functioning reality. Dr. Fletcher already has
had meetings of the entire division and the response of those participating indicates
the enthusiasm with which they regard this arrangement. Rev. Louis Cobbs has now
assumed his responsibilities as Secretary for the Department of Missionary Personnel.
This work is moving ahead without any loss of momentum. At an appropriate time recom¬
mendation will be brought through the personnel committee for a staff member to re¬
place Mr. Cobbs in the work he formerly did with the volunteer section in which is
included the Journeyman Program.
The Management Services Division is looking forward eagerly to response from Dr. Conrad
Willard as to his possibility of joining our staff as director of this division. Dr.
Willard has visited with us in Richmond since the October meeting of the Board for a
thorough study of what is being done. The possibility of his joining us in this ca¬
pacity has been fully explored with him and he is giving it his prayerful consideration.
Dr. Willard is president of the Florida Baptist Convention which will be holding its
annual meeting in the next few days. We are aware that with the heavy responsibilities
of this meeting on his mind, we cannot expect him to arrive definitely at decisions
concerning joining us until he is able to give it his full concentration. This is
such an important decision for Dr. Willard that we will do well to remember him in
prayer as he confronts it.
We are now engaged in the period of the year when state conventions are meeting through¬
out Southern Baptist life. Many staff members are now away for travel responsibilities
and others will be away shortly for these state convention meetings. We need to pray
for those who represent the Foreign Mission Board in these gatherings that they may
be used of God for furtherance of his kingdom.
There is reason for encouragement as we observe the financial support being provided
by Southern Baptists through the Cooperative Program. During the first ten months
