FOREIGN MISSION BOARD MINUTES
September 12, 1972
The Foreign Mission Board held its regular monthly meeting at 3:00 p.m., September 12,
1972, in the Foreign Mission Board Chapel, Richmond, Virginia with the President, Drew
J. Gunnells, Jr., presiding.
PRESENT: State Members: Alabama: Drew J. Gunnells, Jr., J. R. White, Jaroy Weber;
D. C. : Kenneth E. Thornton; Georgia: Mrs. John I. Alford; Missouri : John W. Goodwin;
North Carolina: Mrs. Carl E. Bates, Mrs. Thomas C. Womble; South Carolina: Robert L.
Deneen; Texas : Clyde J. Childers.
Local Members: Robert B. Bass, Mrs. R. B. Carter, Sr., J. Roy Clifford, Paul E. Crandall,
Austin W. Farley, Joseph B. Flowers, V Allen Gaines, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, John W.
Kincheloe, Jr., John W. Patterson, Julian H. Pentecost, Meredith K. Roberson, Mrs. Ross
S. Shearer, Mrs. E. S. Stratton, Mrs. Thomas Whalen, H. I. Willett.
The illness and hospitalization of David Hammock accounted for his absence.
By common consent, the Board took action to send an expression of concern and best wishes
for a speedy recovery to Dr. Hammock.
Staff : Baker J. Cauthen, Charles W. Bryan, Louis R. Cobbs, Edna Frances Dawkins, William
K. Dawson, E. L. Deane, Samuel A. DeBord , Roger Duck, Jesse Fletcher, H. Cornell Goerner,
Eugene Grubbs, Ward Hildreth, Eugene L. Hill, J. D. Hughey, Frank K. Means, Stanley A.
Nelson, Floyd H. North, R. Keith Parks, Norman Price, Sidney C. Reber, Fon H. Scofield,
Richard M. Styles, Melvin Torstrick, Rogers M. Smith, Truman Smith, W. L. Smith, Ralph
West, E. L. Wright, Elizabeth Minshew.
The President called the meeting to order.
Sidney C. Reber, director of the Board's Management Services Division, led the audience
in the opening Hymn: "We're Marching to Zion."
Clyde J. Childers, Board member from Texas, read a passage of Scripture and led in prayer.
Minutes of the Board for August 1, 1972 were approved, as distributed.
All visitors were welcomed by the President and the Executive Secretary.
The President recognized the Executive Secretary, Dr. Baker J. Cauthen.
Dr. Cauthen presented the following items:
The vacancy in Board membership, brought about by Dr. Daniel Cloer's move from South
Carolina to Virginia -- In this connection, Dr. Cauthen referred to a recommendation
that would be brought in the Report of the Administrative Committee, with reference to
the election of Mr. Ira Craft, Columbia, South Carolina. Mr. Craft had been chosen through
consultation with the South Carolina members of the SBC Committee on Boards and the South
Carolina member of the Foreign Mission Board. The Executive Secretary and the Board's
staff concurred wholeheartedly in anticipation of having Mr. Craft serve in this capacity.
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The recognition of Ward Hildreth, assistant business manager, and request that he come to
the platform -- Dr. Cauthen presented Mr. Hildreth with a ten-year service pin in recog¬
nition of his invaluable service with the Board.
The recognition of Dr. H. Cornell Goerner, giving special emphasis to Dr. Goerner 's
deep commitment to the cause of missions abroad through the years -- In this connection,
Dr. Cauthen referred to the very meaningful close relationship that Dr. Goerner has had
to the work of the Board through the years - during his service as missions professor,
Southern Seminary, and his years with the Board since April, 1957. Dr. Goerner was
presented with a fifteen-year service pin.
The recognition of Miss Inez Tuggle and payment of the highest tribute to her dedicated
service and loyalty to the Board in her strategic capacity as secretary to Dr. Cauthen
for twenty years, covering a span from 1952 - 1972 --
The revision in the assignment of membership to the area committees, in keeping with action
of the Board in June, 1972, to become effective as of January 1, 1973 -- This action was
on behalf of a reorganization of the area of Africa to include two divisions: West Africa,
with Dr. Cornell Goerner serving as secretary; and Eastern and Southern Africa, with the
election of a secretary to come at a later date.
By common consent, the Board wholeheartedly approved the revised committee assignments
(necessitating changes in other area committee assignments).
