The first of two meetings of the Council of the Society held during the 1967 annual convention of the Society was called to order at 7:00 P.M. at the Atlanta Biltmore Hotel, Peter L. Berger presiding. Present also were Ralph W. Burhoe, Walter H. Clark, James E. Dittes, Allan W. Eister, Joseph H. Fichter, Charles Y. Glock, Benjamin Nelson, Glenn Vernon and the Executive Secretary of the Society, Samuel Z. Klausner.

Minutes of the two previous meetings of the Council held in Chicago were approved after correction.

The report of the Executive Secretary (see attached) was presented and accepted.

Walter Clark, reporting for the Nominating Committee, announced the election of Charles Glock as President, of Benjamin Nelson as Vice-President (1968 through 1969) and, as Council members, for three year terms (1968 through 1970), Edgar Mills and Andrew W. Greeley and for the remainder of the term as Council member in Mr. Nelson's place (i.e., through 1969), Joseph Bram.

Mr. Clark then moved, and it was seconded by Mr. Fichter, that the Vice-President succeed automatically to the office of President. Mr. Glock presented a substitute motion calling for one rather than two-year terms of office if this plan of succession is instituted in order not to "tie up" these offices for so long as four years at a time. After discussion, Ralph Burhoe moved to table the motion and the proposed amendment to it. This was seconded by Mr. Clark and the matter was, for the present time, dropped.

Mr. Clark suggested that some continuity in the personnel of the Nominating Committee was desirable and this recommendation was referred informally to the incoming President.

Mr. Glock asked whether it would not be desirable to change the beginning of new terms in office of President, Vice-President, and Committees from January 1 following the annual meeting (as provided for in the present By-Laws) to immediately following the annual meeting at which their election is announced. It was the sense of the meeting that the President should appoint an ad hoc committee to bring to the 1968 meetings of the Council recommendations regarding (1) length of term of office of President and Vice-President (2) times at which new terms of office should begin.

Mr. Clark asked whether there was provision for nomination to office on petition from some given percentage of the members. It was noted that there is no formal provision for this in the present By-Laws, and it was agreed that this matter, along with others, might be referred to a special committee appointed to consider desirable revisions in the By-Laws of the Society. Meanwhile the Nominating Committee would be expected to encourage such initiative from the membership at large in proposing candidates to be listed on the ballot.

Mr. Burhoe suggested that minutes of action of the Nominating Committee be made part of a permanent record which would be handed from one committee chairman to the next. This would help avoid embarrassing situations in the matter of approaching possible candidates for office. The President was requested to direct the Nomination Committee and future committees to follow this procedure.

A report of the Committee on Liaison with Other Learned and Professional Societies concerned with the objective study of religion was presented by Mr. Vernon, chairman. Several efforts at coordinated activity were reported. (see statement attached) A meeting to be held at the time of the AAAS convention in New York in December, 1967, and jointly sponsored by SSSR and AAAS was announced. Program for this session is being developed by Mr. Marshall Sklare. During the year two joint meetings were held with the Religious Research Association--one in Minnesota and one in Texas, organized in part by David O. Moberg and by Marvin Judy respectively.

Mr. Glock commented on the desirability of there being more regional meetings of the Society. Mr. Eister strongly concurred in this, suggesting that smaller regional meetings might make possible better cross-disciplinary discussion of papers presented and also meetings held on university campuses rather than in large city hotels.

Mr. Eister suggested that it might be desirable for Council meetings to be held at more frequent intervals than annually.

Mr. Nelson asked whether there was any concerted effort toward establishing ties with foreign groups with interests similar to those of the SSSR. Mr. Berger said that this question would come up at a later point in the agenda.

Mr. Glock reported that the Committee on Problems of Financing Research on Religion (note correction in the name of this committee) had not met as a committee in the past year but that he and others had met informally with governmental officials and with officers of private funding agencies. He thought that among government officials there is reluctance to support projects which take religion as the dependent variable, although in an informal "test case" a grant was made for a study of the nature of "religious commitment" by the NSF. Generally research on religion in other societies, especially non-Christian religions, is favored over research on religion "closer home." Private foundations seek to preserve themselves from criticism on the ground of supporting research into controversial issues but will make grants to intervening or "front" groups bearing names other than those of the funding organization. Mr. Burhoe expressed thanks to Mr. Glock and moved continuation of the committee. This was seconded by Mr. Fichter and passed.

Mr. Burhoe urged that the Council go on record as favoring the establishment of an agency or organization associated with the SSSR to receive and disburse research grants if and when this appears to be feasible. Moved, seconded and passed.

Mr. Klausner reported for the Membership Committee in the absence of Mr. Fukuyama. An increase of approximately 500 members (net increase of approximately 300) was reported as a result of very large mailing sent out in connection with announcement of the current meetings in Atlanta and by other broadside mailings. Question was raised concerning the cost in relation to the returns. Mr. Glock requested the Executive Secretary and the latter agreed to make an analysis of this and report it to the Council.

There was no report from the Publication Committee at this time.

Mr. Dittes as Editor of the Journal reported that as a result of the printer's being owed something in excess of $7,000, work on the fall issue of the Journal had come to a halt in August with only about one third of the fall issue set in page proofs and the rest in varying stages of preparation. The situation constitutes a crisis for the Society, bringing to a head difficulties set in motion beginning in 1963 when the Society began to fall increasingly in arrears in paying printing bills for the Journal. In the stunned silence which followed Mr. Dittes' announcement concerning the Journal, Mr. Eister expressed the opinion that a serious mistake had been made by the Council in accepting too hastily in 1964 a budget which almost doubled that of the previous period and that he questioned whether the Society could afford to employ a paid Executive Secretary and also a full-time assistant to the Executive Secretary. The consensus of opinion, however, was that having proceeded so far in the direction of "professional operation" there is probably no choice at the moment but to push forward in the hope that the financial operations of the Society can be brought back around to a sound and solvent base. Further discussion of these matters was deferred until the report of the Treasurer could be presented.

Mr. Dittes then spoke about a number of other matters connected with the running of the Journal, including his preference for having a shifting rather than a fixed "Editorial Board" (in order to take advantage of the judgments of scholars in highly specialized fields and to recognize their help publicly). What he proposed as a plan for listing a few of those scholars whom he consults most frequently as "Assistant Editors" and the remainder of the consultants for any particular issue of the Journal as "Editorial Consultants" or as "Editorial Associates." Mr. Burhoe moved, and it was seconded by Mr. Fichter, that the Editor be empowered to nominate a number of persons to be designated "Assistant Editors" and that if the President and the Secretary of the Society, acting for the Council, approve, that they be so identified in the masthead of the Journal. "Editorial Consultants" for each issue of the Journal would automatically be listed. The motion was passed.

Concerning frequency of publication, Mr. Dittes, supported by Mr. Nelson, argued strongly in favor of semi-annual rather than quarterly issues. The Executive Secretary argued for the advantage of more frequent appearance of the issues of the Journal on the desks and library shelves of subscribers and for better advertising potentials for book publishing firms. Mr. Burhoe proposed that for the present, and at least until after outstanding debts to the printer were cleared up, this matter be left to the discretion of the Editor.

Problems of copyrighting and of permissions to reprint articles from the Journal were discussed. All permissions to reprint are to be referred to the Editor. Copyrighting in the U.S. is not possible so long as the Journal is printed in Belgium. It was proposed that Belgium copyright and through this international copyright ought to be applied for. Meanwhile it might be advisable to seek legal counsel on ways to safeguard against misuse of Journal material. The possibility of reprinting in book form collections of Journal articles was discussed also. Mr. Glock suggested that the Editor be authorized to initiate inquiry with various publishing houses as to their interest. It was moved by Mr. Burhoe, seconded by Mr. Glock and passed that the President be asked to name a sub-committee of the Publications Committee or perhaps others not to exceed four persons plus the Editor, ex officio, to undertake such inquiries. Any contract or contracts to be negotiated with a publisher would need to be signed by the Society's President and the understanding is that all royalties will come to the Society.

The Treasurer's Report, duplicated and circulated in advance of this meeting, (see attached) was then introduced by Mr. Burhoe. In connection with this it was learned that an expected check for $4,000 representing a grant from the Kaplan Fund to be made on condition that at least $650 be raised by the Society has not yet arrived. Mr. Klausner was requested to telephone Horace Kallen in the interval between meetings of the Council at this convention to inquire whether the latter had information about this which would help the Council in its deliberations about the financial crisis of the Society. Mr. Burhoe moved, and it was seconded by Mr. Glock, that annual membership dues in the Society be raised from $8.50 to $12.00 (student dues from $5.00 to $6.00). Passed. The budget for 1967-68 calls for paying off of outstanding obligations of the Society within the next fiscal year to the extent of $14,515.25 in accounts payable, this in addition to a budget of $28,750.75 for operating expenses of the Society from September 1, 1967 through August 31, 1968. Further action on the budget was deferred until the second meeting of the Council (to be held on October 27) at which time it is hoped information about the Kaplan Fund grant may be at hand.

Meantime there was discussion of the desirability of instituting a category of Fellows in the Society based upon three criteria: (1) attainment of the Ph.D. or of full or associate-professor rank (2) membership of at least five years' duration in the society, and (3) evidence of significant contribution to the scientific study of religion. Dues for this category of members would be set at $20. Decision as to who should be invited to the status of Fellow in the Society would be made by the Council. Further action, including proposed changes in the By-Laws which would be necessitated, deferred until tomorrow. (October 27)

Council then turned to the question of whether or not to attempt to raise $3,000 immediately in the hope that this would guarantee getting the fall issue of the Journal printed and distributed. Five members of the Council present agreed to sign personal notes (or to offer to stand behind a bank loan) to the extent of $500 each in the event that the $4,000 grant did not, for some reason, come to the Society. Such promissory notes, if needed would become payable by the Society on December 31, 1968.

The meeting adjourned at 12:15 A.M.

The second meeting of the Council in 1967 convened at 7:15 P.M. Friday, October 27, Room 1010 the Atlanta Biltmore. Present were Peter Berger, presiding, Ralph Burhoe, Walter Clark, Angelo D'Agostino, James Dittes, Allan Eister, Charles Glock, Edgar Mills, Benjamin Nelson and Samuel Z. Klausner, Executive Secretary.

Mr. Klausner announced that receipt of the check for $4,000 was assured and that a substantial portion of this probably $2,500--would be dispatched immediately to the printer. He also reported registration at this convention to be on the order of 250 persons which is about 100 fewer than have registered on the average at previous meetings of the Society held in northern locations.

Mr. Clark reported that Orlo Strunk, having resigned as chairman of the Bibliography Committee had subsequently been provided by his university with secretarial help which would enable him to undertake the task of compiling a bibliography of books and articles relative to the scientific study of religion after all. Suggestions were made to help insure maximum coverage and completeness of listings including the proposal that title pages of all journals received on an exchange basis either by the Editor or by the Associate Editor be xeroxed and sent to Mr. Strunk.

Mr. D'Agostino, chairman of the Fund Raising Committee, said that he was in touch with representatives of two family foundations and hopeful of persuading one of them to make a grant of $15,000 to the Society. He asked for further suggestions from the Council. Mr. Glock suggested that a meeting of members of the Fund Raising Committee with the addition of the President, the Treasurer and the Executive Secretary might be held in New York City on December 27 to inquire into the feasibility of the idea of setting up SSSR machinery for receiving and disbursing research grants and fellowships along lines discussed at the previous meeting of the Council, together with ways and means of procuring grants to fund this kind of operation.

The Council then returned to consideration of the 1967-68 budget. Mr. Dittes asked whether priorities in budget items could be fixed by the Council or whether some other procedure should be followed. It was agreed that setting priorities on any hard and fast basis was not feasible. Mr. Glock proposed that the budget might be adopted provisionally with a special committee of the Council named to make any revisions that might need to be made in this budget--but only if and when it became clear that such revisions were in both the provisional acceptance of the prosed budget and the setting up of such a committee--to consist of the President (Mr. Glock), the Vice-President (Mr. Klausner) ex officio. This was passed. Mr. Burhoe added that it would be the clear understanding of this committee that emphasis would be put on paying the printing and other costs related to publication of the Journal since this is the central concern of the Society.

Mr. Glock asked whether some such category as "Friends of the SSSR" might be feasible as an additional way of raising money. Mr. Clark thought that this step might not be needed at this time if the membership were willing to raise dues by as much as the Council was proposing and also if the plan of instituting Fellows in the Society were to prove to be acceptable. No action was taken.

Mr. Berger reporting for the Ad Hoc Committee on the Intellectual Purpose (and Long-Range Goals) of the Society which was appointed following Council action at Chicago said that a meeting had been held in his apartment in New York in January attended by Horace L. Friess, James Gustafson, Norman Birnbaum, Joseph Blau, Samuel Klausner and himself. The group considered ways and means of working with other societies and agencies interested in religion and the study of religion. In this way they hoped to define or clarify the emphases which distinguish each of these groups and find fruitful ways of working together. Questions regarding the extent to which the SSSR should get into accrediting and job clearinghouse functions for scholars working in this area were not considered. A "follow-up meeting planned for September did not materialize. Since there are questions that were left for later consideration the consensus of the Council was that Mr. Glock be urged to continue an Ad Hoc Committee on the long-range goals and intellectual objectives, etc. of the Society--either the previous committee or a reconstituted one. Mr. Berger mentioned that a discussion of some of these problems and concerns was scheduled as a major item for the annual business meeting of the Society and that Mr. Birnbaum had been asked to chair this informal portion of the meeting.

The three-year term of office of the Secretary will have expired at the end of the current calendar year and the current encumbent declining to be considered for a second term, there was discussion of several possible candidates for this office. The President was requested to approach the following in the order named: Benton Johnson, Norman Birnbaum, Waldo Burchard, Glenn Vernon.

It was then moved and seconded passed that Council express its confidence in the devotion of the Executive Secretary to the best interests of the Society in this difficult time and that it express its thanks formally to Daniel Callahan, program chairman for the current convention, and Samuel Southard as representing the local arrangements committee for their excellent contribution to the objectives of the Society. Expression of appreciation to the out-going Secretary for ten years' service to the Society as member of the Council in one capacity or another was also recorded.

Mr. Berger announced that plans for the Montreal meeting are well under way. Questions were raise concerning the possibility of simultaneous translations--French-English or vice versa--at the next convention and the President indicated that this matter would be taken under advisement.

It was moved by Mr. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Burhoe and passed that the annual meeting in 1969 be held in Boston.

Council then returned to the question of whether or not a category of Fellows should be established at this time. After brief further discussion it was moved by Mr. Burhoe and seconded by Mr. Nelson that the following paragraph be added to Article I, Section 1 of the By-Laws: "Under criteria which it may establish for distinguished contribution to the scientific study of religion, the Council may elect individuals to an honorary class of membership known as Fellow";also that the words "and Fellows" be inserted into Article I, Section 2 which would then read "Dues for Members and Fellows shall be established...[etc.]"; and that a special committee of the Council to be known as the Committee on Fellows be appointed. The motion passed.

Several miscellaneous matters relative to the routing operations of the Society were briefly considered and acted upon. Council voted to authorize the establishment of a checking account at First Pennsylvania Bank of Philadelphia. Mr. Clark moved, Mr. Nelson seconded and it was passed that the Treasurer by authorized, in consultation with the Executive Secretary, to invest any Society funds which may accrue (from grants, etc.) in such ways as to maximize income form interest. Mr. Nelson moved and it was seconded by Mr. Clark that the Executive Secretary be instructed to have it announced both orally and in writing at each meeting of the Society that no recording of speeches or of papers presented may be made without permission.

Mr. Glock issued a call for a meeting of the newly constituted Council in New York City on December 27th.

The meeting then adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Allan W. Eister
Secretary