OPENING

The 1969 Annual Meeting of the Religious Research Association, Inc., was called to order by President George Kaslow, Jr., at 2:25 P. M. On Friday, June 20, 1969, in the Marott Hotel, Indianapolis, Indiana. Proper notice of the meeting had been given in accordance with the By-Laws. Forty-two members were present.

MINUTES

The motion was made, seconded, and carried*, that the Minutes of the June 20-22, 1968 Annual Meeting of the Association be adopted as presented.

*Hereinafter this phrase shall be indicated by the word VOTED

TREASURER'S REPORT

Treasurer, Sandra Rajcok, highlighted her report (Exhibit I), calling attention to the $1,000 receipt in the H. Paul Douglass Lectureship Fund. This is a contribution from the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries to pay the honorarium for the RRA lecturer for a three- year period. Higher General Fund receipts this year reflect the diligence and capability of Mrs. Paul Reynolds as Records Secretary in recouping back dues. Note was taken of the expenses borne by Board members and their offices which permitted the budget to be as low as it is.

VOTED that the report of the Treasurer be received, with thanks to Mrs. Rajcok for her efforts.

RECORDS SECRETARY

Sandra Rajcok presented the report of the Records Secretary, Mrs. Eleanor Reynolds (Exhibit II), showing the status of membership, subscribers, and libraries. Many records have been brought up to date this past year; the Board has just taken action to drop all those who are delinquent up through the 1967-1968 fiscal year since they have been adequately notified by now. Totals here are somewhat deceiving since the same person may have paid in more than one category. Currently the total membership list of fellows is 271, with 275 library subscribers.

VOTED that the report of the Records Secretary be received, with sincere gratitude.

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Vice-President Arleon Kelley reported for the Program Committee. He apologized for the fine print of the program (Exhibit III), and expressed appreciation to the members of his Program Committee: Harvey Griffith, Richard Myers, and Donald Zimmerman; he also requested some evaluation of this year's annual program. Regional meetings of the RRA are scheduled for the Northeast in New York City, for the Southwest in Texas and Southern California and for the Southeast in Atlanta-- most of these to be held jointly with the SSSR. The central Midwest and Upper Midwest may schedule regionals also.

VOTED to receive the report of the Program Committee, with thanks.

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

David Moberg, Chairman of the Publications Committee, reported. In addition to his printed comments (Exhibit IV), he expressed the need for specific research report-outs by top-notch researchers. Material is now on hand through the fall issue, but articles continue to be needed. There is a felt need for news releases to go out at the time an issue of the REVIEW comes off the press; key articles could thus be highlighted. Anyone interested in writing such releases should see Editor Moberg.

Gratitude was expressed to the staff of the REVIEW and to the secretarial staffs of Loyola and Marquette Universities, all of whom have made significant contributions to the RRA.

VOTED that the report of the Publications Committee be received, with real appreciation for the great amount of work involved.

For the Publications Committee, James Davis outlined the Association's need for a newsletter to members to contain more temporal information than the REVIEW.

WHEREAS,

1. There is a pressing need for a system of information sharing and retrieval in the field of religious research, especially religious research with an "applied" interest,
   
   
2. RRA has a vital interest in the H. Paul Douglass Library, named in honor of one of the pioneer leaders in the field of religious research, and housing the archives of the RRA,
   
   
3. The members of the RRA have for many years filed copies of their reports in that library but have had little or no access to the contents of the H. Paul Douglass collection,
   
   
4. Many reserach reports by RRA members have significance to other researchers and to church executives and deserve wider circulation and greater notice,
   
   
5. RRA is considering establishing a newsletter which may provide notices and abstracts of recent studies and work in progress,
   
   
6. Information Service is an existing publication which could conceivably fulfill the purposes of the projected RRA Newsletter.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that a special committee of the RRA be appointed by the president, at the earliest possible date, to meet with the executive director of the Department of Research of the National Council of Churches, the associate general secretary of the Office of Planning and Program, and others of the NCC staff and leadership to explore possible ways for Information Service to expand to provide these services for the religious research field, namely:

1. Publish abstracts, or at least bibliographic references, of recent acquisition to the H. Paul Douglass collection,
   
   
2. Reprint articles from various sources which have special significance for religious researchers,
   
   
3. Print notices of research in progress,
   
   
4. Publish other items of interest to applied religious researchers,

There was a second to the motion.

From the floor, it was indicated that Information Service is going out of business, since it does not have the $15,000 needed to retain a full-time editor and secretary with a publication schedule of every two weeks.

VOTED that the resolution be amended to delete the word "to expand" and insert the words "or its equivalent" following the words Information Service.

VOTED that a special committee of the RRA be appointed by the President at the earliest possible date, to meet with the executive director of the Department of Research of the National Council of Churches, the associate general secretary of the Office of Planning and Program, and others of the NCC staff and leadership to explore possible ways for Information Service or its equivalent to provide these services for the religious research field, namely:

1. Publish abstracts, or at least bibliographic references, of recent acquisitions to the H. Paul Douglass collection,
   
   
2. Reprint articles from various sources which have special significance for religious researchers,
   
   
3. Print notices of research in progress,
   
   
4. Publish other items of interest to applied religious researchers.

Vice-President Arleon Kelley assumed the chair.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

The Chairman of the Nominating Committee, Joseph Grandlienard, presented the official ballot (Exhibit I) and introduced those not incumbents. marl Brewer, who is presently a subscriber to the REVIEW, rather than an RRA member' plans to change his status to member. Opportunity was given for nominations from the floor.

VOTED that the secretary cast a unanimous ballot for the slate as presented.

Vice-President Kelley then delcared the following elected for a two-year term:

At this June 1969 meeting of the Board of Directors, action was taken accepting the resignation of Merton Strommen as a director-at-large, and appointing Samuel Southard to fill this unexpired one-year term.

President Kaslow resumed the chair.

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

The Development Committee has had limited activity this past year: contributions to the RRA were secured from denominations and groups; a sub-committee on Association Goals was active. Dr. Sam Blizzard presented as information to the Annual Meeting the "Goals and Objectives for the Religious Research Association" (Exhibit VI) as presently constituted. The Board will continue to give these attention so they remain current.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Martin Bradley, chairman of the Finance Committee, presented its report (Exhibit VII) recognizing the important contributions of Mrs. Rajcok and Mrs. Reynolds to the ongoing Association. The 1969-70 Proposed Budget (Exhibit VIII) was also presented.

VOTED that the report of the Finance Committee be received, with thanks to Chairman Bradley.

VOTED that the 1969-70 RRA Budget be adopted as presented in the total amount of $7,113.

CONSTITUTION

As a member of the Ad Hoc Constitution Revision Committee, Ronald Johnstone detailed the proposed changes which had been mailed to the membership in advance of this annual meeting, in accordance with the By-laws. The basic items which necessitate revision include: adding the emeritus member category, the merging of the Membership Committee with the Development Committee, broadening the date possibilities for the annual meeting, adding specific responsibilities of the Board of Directors. Changes were then recommended in By-Law I, Sections 2, 4, 5 and 6: By-Law II, Section l: By-Law III, Section 3: | By-Law IV, Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, and the re-numbering of 6 and 7; I I By-Law V, Sections 2 and 4; By-Law VI, Sections 1 and 2; By-Law VII, Sections l and 2.

VOTED unanimously that the Religious Research Association, Inc. Constitution and By-Laws be amended as recommended.

Exhibit IX to these Minutes becomes the RRA Constitution and By-Laws as of June 20, 1969.

ACSS

Announcement was made of the forthcoming meeting of the American Catholic Sociological Society and its proposed by-law amendments to change its name to the Society for the Sociology of Religion.

APPRECIATION

By rising and applauding, the assembly: VOTED that those attending this annual meeting of the Religous Research Association hereby express their sincere appreciation for those persons whose efforts have contributed to the success and meaningfulness of our meeting: Dr. Milton Rokeach, H. Paul Douglass Lecturer, for his stimulating presentation; Dr. Edwin L. Becker, for an informative address at the annual banquet; Arleon Kelley and his local colleagues for relevant program planning and careful arrangements for our sessions and personal accommodations; those presenting section papers; and those presiding at the various sessions;

And further, that appropriate thanks and recognition be accorded to retiring and continuing officers and board members for effective service in the interests of the Association; to Doris E. Rickleff especially, for her spirit and devotion in performing well the duties as secretary during the past eight years; to Widick Schroeder for capable service as editor of the REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS RESEARCH during the past four years; and to Mrs. Paul Reynolds for the especially significant job accomplished this past year as Records Secretary in the employ of the Association.

ADJOURNMENT:

President Kaslow declared adjourned the 1969 Annual Meeting of the Religious Research Association, Inc.

Respectfully submitted,

Doris E. Rickleff (Mrs. F.L.)