The Annual Meeting of the Religious Research Association was opened at 5:30 p.m. by Bill McKinney, President. Forty persons attended.

McKinney presented a prepared agenda which was approved by those present. Then each person present at the meeting was asked to identify herself or himself and say a few words about her or his current research.

The Minutes of the Knoxville meeting were approved with two amendments: (1) Under the revised By-laws, the association will continue to assign duties to the immediate past president; (2) Everett Perry agreed to serve an additional year as Treasurer.

The results of the election of officers and By-Law Revisions were announced. The changes in By-Laws were to accomodate changes in offices and duties resulting from the new position of Business Manager.

Jackson Carroll spoke briefly in remembrance of Jim Hopewell who had died recently. Connie Jacquet said some words in memory of Lauris Whitman.

The Secretary presented a printed report of his activities including taking and distributing the minutes of the mid-year board meeting and helping with the election process. He reported having re-typed the By-laws with all revisions and having prepared a statement of RRA policies abstracted from the minutes of the last two years. Both these documents were availabale at the meeting. The secretary also explained the new procedure for obtaining an updated member directory from the Business Manager. The report of the secretary was accepted.

The Treasurer, Everett Perry, handed out a printed report indicating a continuing favorable financial trend due in part to increased rates for dues and subscriptions, and declining inflation rates. The net assets of the Association increased from $22,735.82 in 1983-1984 to $34,753.66 in 1984-85. Perry praised the work of Lorraine D'Antonio for an excellent Job of the detailed work formerly done by the treasurer. The Treasurer's report was accepted.

Russel Dynes, Finance Chairperson, gave a brief oral report. The association now has money in reserve sufficient to operate for one year in the event of any financial emergency. The report of the Finance Chairperson was accepted.

The Nominating Committee Chairperson, Kirk Hadaway, gave an oral report of the committee's work. The report was accepted.

David Roozen handed out a printed report of his work as Chair of the Publicity Committee. Religion reporters from someof the nation's major newspapers will be attending the RRA and SSSR meetings as a result of a continued policy of sending out early preliminary notices of the meetings in June followed by a detailed announcement in October. Roozen discussed several new ideas about how we could increase news coverage of the work of the association and its members. Roozen's report was accepted.

The Secretary handed out a printed report prepared by Michael Welch, 1984 Program Chair. The report was accepted.

Larry Ingram, Program Chair for 1985 presented and discussed a printed report. The report was accepted.

The Editor of the Review, Edward Lehman submitted a printed report. The transfer of editors went smoothly, he said, thanks to Hart Nelsen's careful work. There are plenty of papers coming in, with an acceptance rate of about 30 percent. The September issue will be a special issue with Armand Mauss as editor. The March issue will deal with sociology of religion in Britain. Lehman called for papers dealing with religion and contemporary elections. He also reported that negotiations are taking place that should lead to a Joint index of the three mayor sociology of religion Journals. Lehman's report was accepted.

Bill McKinney reported for Bernard Quinn, the Development Committee Chair. There were enough new members during the year to offset losses, so we are about where we were the year before. Currently the committee is working on a promotion to libraries and to about 5000 students seeking the doctor of ministry degree. The report was accepted.

The President, Bill Mckinney presented a printed report which was accepted by the group. His one-year term as president convinced him that we were wise to extend the term of subsequent president's to two years. "One year is not enough time to lead a volunteer-based organization like this one in new directions." McKinney believes that our increasing financial strength gives us the freedom to look at new directions. He stressed that we should focus not only on the business of the association but also on the substance of the common work of the members of the association.

Under the heading of New Business there was discussion of future meeting sites. She association will meet in Savannah, Georgia in 1985. Some members expressed an interest in meeting again in the West. However, it was pointed out that we lose money going outside those areas where our members are concentrated.

Connie Jacquet, the President-Elect gave a brief speech. He sees great value in the office of President-Elect as an under-study position. He helped to draft constitutional changes and wrote to the winners and losers of the election. He thanked Bill McKinney for a splendid job of leading the association during the past year. The group applauded McKinney. Jacquet asked for new ideas as we press on to new frontiers.

Bill McKinney adjourned the meeting Just after 6:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

James R. Wood

SECRETARY