Society for the Scientific Study of Religion
Council Meeting Minutes
1976
Meeting Dates and Location:
| October 28, 1976 | Warwick Hotel, Philadelphia
|
In attendance:
President, Allan Eister; Executive Secretary,
William D'Antonio; Sister Marie Augusta Neal; Richard Gorsuch;
Benton Johnson; Russell Dynes, Jeffrey Hadden; Paul Pruyser, Donald
Capps, Edgar W. Mills, Jr. Barbara Hargrove, Robert Friedrichs,
Dean Knudsen, Dean Hoge, Gillian Lindt, Tom Gannon, and Phillip
Hammond
Minutes of the 1975 council Meeting were approved as published
in the Journal.
President Eister announced the results of the election: (1) new
Secretary, Dean Knudsen to replace Hammond on Jan. 1, 1977, (2)
new Treasurer, Russell Dynes to replace Edgar W. Mills, Jr. on
Nov. 1, 1976, (3) new Council members, Bryan Wilson and Dean Hoge,
to replace Morton King and Jeff Hadden. Edgar W. Mills, Jr. is
to take office as SSSR Executive Secretary effective Nov. 1, 1976.
Council adopted an enabling banking resolution which ultimately
proved unnecessary and so has been deleted here.
Retiring Executive Secretary, Bill D'Antonio, then offered his
annual report (elsewhere published in the Journal). It
was affirmative, indeed glowing. Some discussion ensued of overseas
memberships, note being taken that they cost the Society more
than they bring in. Consensus was that their advantages out-weigh
the cost. It was also noted that few overseas Mss. are received
by the Journal and few books for review are sent. Friedrichs,
who will be attending the International Sociological Association
in Uppsala in the Summer, volunteered to take brochures of SSSR
to those meetings to distribute. The Executive Sec'y. report
was accepted.
Treasurer Mills reported (elsewhere published in the Journal).
Once again the financial health of the Society was noted, and
its debt to the D'Antonios and the University of Connecticut.
A question of the proper dues for emeritus members arose. Heretofore,
a $4.00 dues has been charged, but that figure is entirely arbitrary.
After discussion, the decision was made to make the figure equal
to student dues (currently $8.00) for the returned members with
15+ years Society membership.
Journal Editor Gorsuch reported. The shift to the new printer
has been successful, and publication is now pretty much on time.
A contract with the new Abron printer for 1977 was approved.
Of 168 Mss. submitted during 9/75-9/76, 25 were accepted, 93
rejected, and the others still to be decided. Some discussion
followed about handling the "reprint" problem. Xerox
Corp. has offered to supply reprints to any who order them, and
a percentage of the fee to be returned to the Society. Council
approved this offer, understanding that it is terminal and non-exclusive.
The Monograph Series, while receiving 18 or so mss., has not
judged any to be of sufficient quality. Council continues to
want to support such activity, how-ever, and agreed to modify
its statements regarding submission to indicate that dissertations
may be submitted and may be published as such.
Hammond, who as Secretary has chaired the Special Awards panel
(made up also of Sister Marie Augusta Neal and Bernard Spilka)
reported that $1500 had been awarded to Meridith McGuire for her
work on Catholic Pentacostals. She was one of 5 applicants.
Eister indicated that a special Ad/Hoc Committee on Publications
had been appointed, consisting of Ben Johnson (chair), Ralph Burhoe,
Charles Glock, Sam Mueller, Ben Nelson, and Bernard Spilka. They
are not only to recommend a new Journal Editor, but also
policy regarding length of editorial term, etc. Strong sentiment
was expressed that editors be limited to a single term, probably
3 years. Meanwhile, Gorsuch was asked to continue as Journal
Editor for one additional year.
Friedrichs announced the demise of the Visiting Scholars Program.
It died of underutilization and no funds.
James Richardson, of the University of Nevada, will serve as
Program Chairman in 1977. The call for papers has already been
issued.
D'Antonio pointed out that the power to accept and terminate membership
in SSSR is vested in Council, but for years that Executive Sec'y.
has served as Council's agent. He proposed that such power be
formalized and transferred to Ted Mills as the new Executive Sec'y.
This led to the question of what other By-Law changes might be
appropriate, in recognition of SSSR growth. Mills suggested that
a committee of Eister, himself, and one other be empowered to
investigate and bring possible recommendations next year.
The question of Council member subventions was raised. Now,
Council members may ask for raid to assure their presence at meetings,
a sum which averages $1500/yr. D'Antonio urged continuation of
this practice, and Council so reconfirmed. It was noted that
SSSR members who represent the Society else-where in some
official capacity may also request aid.
The 1976-77 proposed Budget (elsewhere published) was presented
and accepted. The matter was raised of continued joint meetings
with RRA and APRRE. This year's program is fully integrated and
was harmoniously planned. Council concurred that we should continue
in such arrangements and voted to communicate that intent to the
other two societies.
Respectfully submitted,
Phillip E. Hammond, Secretary