The 1973 Annual Meeting of the Religious Research Association, Inc. was called to order by President Thomas Gannon at 8:43 a.m. at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, San Francisco, California. Proper notice of the meeting had been given in accordance with the By-laws.

The minutes of the October 28,1972 meeting were accepted as distributed.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT.

President Gannon summarized the discussions by the Board of Directors of future directions for the Association. The President called on Vice President Everett L. Perry to read a consensus motion which was passed by the Board at the conclusion of its deliberations on future directions.

"The Board affirms the general direction summarized by the President --- that we do not propose merger with the S.S.S.R. at this time, but re-emphasize the goals of the Religious Research Association: promoting the social scientific study of religion with an explicit inter- disciplinary focus and with an emphasis on policy-oriented research. We propose to promote these goals: 1.) Through continued relations with the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion in joint meetings and collaboration on program at annual meetings; 2.) By strengthening the Review of Religious Research; and 3.) By intensifying a membership development program. These are our program guidelines For the next three to five years. The work of the Board will be reviewed after that time and evaluated in the light of these guidelines."

David O Moberg, chairman of the Committee On Future Directions, reported that a report of the survey of members of the RRA conducted by the committee will be published in the Review.

TREASURER'S REPORT.

Charles Thorne, Treasurer, presented his report. Copies of his "Treasurer's Annual Report" and "Treasurer's Supplementary Report" were distributed.(See exhibits A and B.)

The 1972 - 1973 fiscal year ended with a surplus. The apparent decline in membership actually reflects a stricter policy in removing members who do not pay their dues from the membership rolls. The membership voted to accept the Treasurer's report with thanks.

It was suggested that first class letters be sent to members when the post office returns an issue of the Review of Religious Research because it was unable to locate the addressee. Presumably, a first class letter will be forwarded and allow us to locate the member. The Treasurer said that he would look into the feasibility of doing this.

The report of the FINANCE COMMITTEE was presented by the chairman, Douglas Johnson. Five proposals were presented to the meeting by the Chairman:

1. It is recommended that the attached budget be accepted as the RRA budget for 1374. (See exhibit C)
   
   
2. It is proposed that. the subscription and membership rates be increased $ 1.00 each beginning June 1, 1974. This would mean 'that the fall membership would be $ 12.00 for a year. Subscriptions, student memberships, and emeritus memberships will be $ 10.00 a year. These rate increases are necessary to meet the expected increases in printing and postage as well as the general increase in the cost of living.
   
   
3. It is requested by the Finance Committee that each year a copy of the travel reimbursement policies of the RRA be given to all officers both those who are elected and those who are already holding office.
   
   
4. The Finance Committee requests that a more careful contractual arrangement be established with the printer. This contract would be entered into by the publication committee, but approved by the finance committee prior to signing by the Board. This would assist in the processes of payments and allow for better budget building.
   
   
5. Since it is a responsibility of the Finance Committee to secure funding for the H Paul Douglass lecture, it is only logical that the chairpersons of the Finance Committee and the Program Committee work closely during the process of securing candidate names, selection of the lecturer and finalizing all the financial arrangements. If the Finance Committee chairperson needs to approach funding agents, the arrangements for funding which are entered into must be part of the negotiation process which precedes the selection of the lecturer. This would take effect immediately and would effect the selection of the 1974 lecturer.

The membership voted to approve all five proposals.

The report of the PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE was distributed by Richard Knudten, Chairman of the Publications Committee.(See exhibit D for "Annual Report -- Editor, Review of Religious Research" and exhibit E for "Annual Report of Managing Editor of Review of Religious Research.")

The Review is now up to date in publication of book reviews. Contributions of articles are welcomed. Advertising will be solicited. The "Abstracts of Church Planning and Research" section of the Review Will be reorganized and expanded. A new "Research and Reaction" section will be added to the Review. The membership voted to accept the report of the publications committee as distributed.

A special issue of the Review will include the H Paul Douglass lecture by Robert Friedrichs, William Newman's history of the SSSR, Jeffrey Hadden's history of the RRA, Myers Reed's paper about the sociology of the sociology of religion, and David O. Moberg's report of the RRA membership survey. It was moved that the editor be given authority for an increased press run of the Review for this issue provided that the maximum expenditure involved is $ 350. The motion passed.

The NOMINATING COMMITTEE report was presented by Alan K Waltz, Chairman. (The members of the Nominating Committee were Samuel Mueller and Edward Rauff.)

The Committee presented the following slate of nominees:

The membership voted to accept the slate as presented by the committee.

Chairman Waltz moved to empower the Board to fill the position of 1975 Program Chairman without a vote of the full membership. The motion passed.

Under the rubric NEW BUSINESS the National Council of Churches research library was designated as depository for the archives of the Association. The Chairman of the Development Committee, Bernard Quinn, invited all members to identify for the committee where additional members might be recruited.

The membership voted to express thanks for their work on the 1973 annual meeting to Jeffrey K Hadden, Donald Capps, William V. D'Antonio, Mrs. William V. D'Antonio, and to the management of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel.

The membership voted to express thanks to the retiring officers of the Association: Thomas Gannon, President, and William Silverman, Secretary.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:22 am.