Society for the Scientific Study of Religion
Business Meeting Minutes
1972
| October 27, 1972 | Parker House, Boston |
President James Dittes called the meeting to order at 4:00 P.M. About 75 persons attended. The minutes of the 1971 Business Meeting were accepted as printed in the March, 1972 issue of the Journal.
Executive Secretary William D'Antonio announced the following in conjuction with his Annual Report:
- Books at the Book Exhibit will be on sale at 1/2 price following noon on Saturday.
- Max Stackhouse and Glen Vernon were elected to the Council for 3 year terms.
- Investigation reveals about 233 members common to SSSR and the Religious Research Assoc., and about 101 members common to SSSR and the Assoc. for the Sociology of Religion. Membership figures in the SSSR have stabilized over the last two years, as have library subscriptions. Psychology and Anthropology were circularized this past year, yielding a 1% return in membership applications. Similar efforts elsewhere will be made during the coming year.
- As of Friday afternoon, Oct. 27, about 350 had registered at the meeting, with perhaps 50-100 participating without registering. Decisive steps will be taken to correct this unwillingness to share in the costs of operating the convention.
- Charter flights from several Eastern cities to San Francisco for the 1973 Convention are projected.
The Report was accepted, and the Society's appreciation of the Executive Secretary was expressed.
Edgar Mills, Treasurer, reported a $8,000-10,000 surplus is contained in the forthcoming budget, much as the past year saw a ($13,000) balance. About $5,500 of each of these figures represents a subsidy from the Univ. of Connecticut, however, The Treasurer's Report was accepted and is elsewhere published in these Proceedings.
Journal Editor, Benton Johnson, reported that he is processing about 3 papers per week. About 15% have been published. More editorial consultation has been undertaken on an ad hoc basis rather than rely on a small panel of heavily used advisory editors. Jeffery Hadden was announced as the Journal's new Book Review Editor, replacing Robert Jones. It is expected that David Little will continue to assist in this task, however. The lateness of Journal issues, Johnson said, is owing to: (1) the U. of Montana Press' crowded press schedule, and (2) the editor's confession that he reads all mss. submitted. A small stipend has been made available to him to hire additional assistance, thus making some speed-up possible. Johnson's report was accepted.
Dean Knudsen, co-chairman of the 1972 Meeting with James Davidson, discussed their planning, including the joint sessions with the RRA. About 150 participants are on the Program.
Donald Capps was introduced as the 1973 Program Chairman. The suggestion was made from the floor that sessions in 1973 provide for discussion of women in theology, in church, and in the social scientific study of religion.
President Dittes invited any members still to be around on Saturday afternoon to "brainstorm" with the Council on what new tasks, if any, SSSR might undertake.
Max Stackhouse spoke briefly of the possibility of researching Key 73 as a case study of Massive, planned conversion, and doing so under SSSR aegis. Discussion from the floor ensued, with considerable interest shown. It was suggested, for example, that the '73 Program might include one or more sessions on Key 73. One comment from the floor - to the effect that the newly found solvency of SSSR ought not to push it hastily into great expenditures - concluded the discussion.
Joseph Fichter presented resolutions of appreciation for:
- Co-chairpersons of the 1972 Program, Dean Knudsen and James Davidson, and their advisory committees of seven faculty and seven students,
- Local Arrangements Committee, Tom Imse, Herb Stotts, and Max Stackhouse,
- Lorraine and Carla D'Antonio and Liz Scotta, for their long and short distance reception duties,
- Officers and members of the Religious Research Assoc. and of the Assoc. of Professors and Researchers in Religious Education,
- The Management and Staff of the Parker House,
instructing that these designated persons have the SSSR appreciation conveyed to them. Resolutions were adopted.
Donald Ploch, SSSR member now of the National Science Foundation invited proposals for the social scientific study of religion.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:15 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Phillip E. Hammond
Secretary