1. Minutes. Approved as published in JSSR.

2. Welcome. Alan Eister welcomed new Council members and announced the election results.

3. Memorial. President Eister made a memorial tribute to Ben Nelson a longtime member of the Society.

4. Executive Secretary Report. The Executive Secretary's report was given by Ted Mills. There was considerable discussion of the investment policy for funds of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion.

5. 1975-77 Budget. The budget was presented by Russell Dynes noting an increase of approximately $5,000 in the general fund. This surplus was due to an income of $55,775 and expenses of $49,786. The proposed budgets are balanced for 1978 with income and expenses anticipated at approximately $55,700. The increased costs are reflected in printing, annual meeting, the monograph series, and the changes of office of Executive Secretary and the Editor.

6. Program. James Richardson, Chairman of the Conference Program Committee, reported on the 1977 Program on the theme of ''religion and Science in the Modern Age". He noted that about 50 people from outside the U.S. were on the program and raised several issues in relation to future programs: size, number of sessions to be apportioned among SSSR, RRA and APRRE, foreign participation, etc. Several suggestions were made regarding procedures to facilitate foreign participation and for future meetings.

7. 1978 Meeting Site. It was announced that the 1978 meetings would be in Hartford, CT at the Sonesta Hotel. Discussion of the 1979 site resulted in a recommendation that the Executive Secretary be instructed to investigate meeting sites between the Mississippi River and the Continental Divide for the 1979 meetings. Seconded, Passed.

8. 1978 Program. Gill Lindt introduced the program theme of the 1978 meetings which is "Religion and Sex Roles". Some discussion occured regarding the 1978 meetings in terms of paying for travel or for honoraria for invited speakers,
and sources of funds for such honoraria.

9. CSR. Walter Capps, President of the Council on the Study of Religion, made a presentation of CSR and expressed concern that recent Council actions not result in loss of participation of SSSR in CSR. CSR sees itself as representing the academic study of religion as a whole and has undertaken two projects: 1) a research needs inventory to analyze the needs and strengths of subfields in religion, and 2) the exploration of alternative vocations for theologically trained personnel. A conference to discuss common concerns is scheduled for February 16-18, 1978 at Wingspread in Racine, Wisconsin sponsored by CSR, the Johnson Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Discussion concerning the adequacy of the present arrangements and continued participation by SSSR members in CSR and the need to plan together for common concerns followed. Dr. Capps was thanked for his presence and his presentation of the concerns of CSR.

10. Awards Committee. Four applications were received for SSSR financial research awards. The Special Awards Committee, comprised of Professors Lindt, Neal, Spilka, and Knudsen as Chair, awarded $1,500 to Egon Mayer to do a study of Orthodox Jewry.

11. By-law revisions. Add to Article III, Section l following the present statement the following: "Chief among these is an Executive Secretary, chosen from among members of the Society, who, upon election, shall become anex-officiomember of the Council."

Add to Article III, Section 2 again at the end

...past Presidents, six councilors "and the Executive Secretaryex officio."

Add to same Article, Section 3, line 4

...commencing "immediately following the Annual Meeting of the Society in the year in which they were elected,"...

and again same section, line 13. Moved by Ben Johnson, seconded, and passed.

12. AAAS. The AAAS representative Gillian Lindt reported on activities indicating that there were some significant reasons to continue or relationship. Professor Lindt was thanked for her work as SSSR Representative to that council and Eister proposed the name of Donald Ploch for a three-year term as Representative of SSSR to AAAS. Approved.

13. JSSR. Journal Report wets made by Richard Gorsuch. Submitted manuscripts totaled 186, up from last year, with 9 from the European Editor. The rejection rate continues at 80%. Problems include manuscripts lost in mail, and non-English manuscripts which involve problems of translation and review. Persons reviewed at least 4 manuscripts during the past year were recognized: Professors Neal, King, Spilka, Hunt, Hood, Gannon, Goldsmith, Murvar and Newman. Hadden reported that the problems of reviewing books remained much the same, specifically getting books to review, getting reviewers, and getting reviews back. Several other issues were discussed: 1) the new copyright law means that every author must sign a waver of copyright so that a clear ownership of the copyright can be established for purposes of reprinting. It was moved, and seconded that the SSSR adopt a policy regarding ownership of the copyright and requiring all authors to sign a waiver of the copyright to JSSR or the appropriate publication. Motion passed. It was suggested that JSSR publish a statement regarding this copyright law in future issues. 2) Discussion of a processing fee for manuscripts, which was rejected.

14. Monographs. The Monograph Committee Chair Bill Newman reported that they have received six, manuscripts which have been reviewed. One commitment has been made to Bill Silverman to publish his book, and there are two manuscripts being reviewed. Newman identified several problems: 1) the committee is too small for adequate reviewing. 2) A Policy Board to assist in decisions is needed. 3) There are no clear cut decisions regarding what should be published and no clear criteria regarding the selection process. 4) There is no budget available and it is not clear what the limits of commitment of the Committee can be since it was estimated that approximately $3,000 per title is needed to publish a manuscript. Following discussion it was moved that SSSR set up a$6,000 Monograph Fund to publish monographs with the Chair of the committee to be authorized to commit resources for publication of appropriate monographs. Seconded. Passed.

15. Publications. Ad Hoc Publications Committee report was made by Ben Johnson, chair. Phil Hammond was recommended for a four year term as Editor of the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. This arrangement would include a $5,000 commitment for an Editorial assistant and a $1,500 operating cost commitment by the University of Arizona. Several recommendations of the Committee were made: 1) that the Journal carry a statement concerning the kinds of articles that will be considered, this statement to be prepared by the editors and circulated to the Council members for approval. 2) that in evaluating manuscripts, the Editor continue to select reviewers from among a large number of consultants rather than from a small panel, though the Editor may, as in the past, reject clearly unsuitable manuscripts without sending them out for review. 3) that the Editor solicit an occasional paper from a recognized scholar on some major issue of general interest. Although the Committee had no special recommendations to make concerning the content of the Book Review Section, it brought to the Council's attention the fact that opinions vary on what the section should contain. Finally, it was recommended that the members of the Society be surveyed for suggestions about how the Journal might be improved. Following discussion it was moved that Phil Hammond be appointed as Editor of JSSR for a four-year term effective in 1979, seconded and passed. Current Editor Richard Gorsuch and President-Elect William D'Antonio asked to be recorded favoring the appointment of Phil Hammond. Discussion concerning the continuation of the Publications Committee followed. It was moved and seconded that the Committee continue as an Ad Hoc Committee for one year, to assist the Editor and prepare issues and suggestions for discussion by Council. Motion passed. President Eister, President-Elect D'Antonio and Executive Secretary Mills will meet to enlarge the Monograph Review Committee by 10 members. It was moved that concerns of future book review editors run concurrently with the Editor of JSSR and such editor be selected by the journal Editor with the approval of the Council. Seconded and passed. It was moved and seconded that Bill Newman be made Editor of the Monograph Series. Motion passed. It was moved and seconded that the agreements of the Publications Committee be passed on to the new Editor as policy. Motion passed. It was moved that the Society express appreciation to present Editor Richard Gorsuch for his work. Seconded and passed.

16. Directory. Ted Mills introduced the question regarding the publication of a directory. It was moved and seconded that the directory be published and priced to cover printing and mailing cost. Passed.

17. Archives. Jeff Hadden reported that the Association for the Sociology of Religion and Religious Research Association had placed their archives at Marquette University at Milwaukee. Discussion followed. It was moved that SSSR establish archival arrangements with Marquette University with an expression of appreciation to Dick Means and Kalamazoo College for their work in the past. Seconded and passed.

18. Nominations Committee. Nominations Committee suggested several changes in the procedure for nominations: 1) That the Nominations Committee be appointed fourteen months ahead of the fall meeting at which the elected officers take office; 2) That February 15 be the date for completed nominations; 3) that the Vice-Presidential office and the Presidential Office be slated with candidates separately instead of for one office as at present; 4) that there be provisions for a nominations procedure by petition, requiring the signatures of 25 active SSSR members. It was moved and seconded that items 1 and 2 be adopted. Motion passed. It was moved and seconded that items 3 and 4 be adopted with the understanding that petition nominations are not recommendations but nominations and they are due by February 15. Passed.

19. Executive Secretary. Ted Mills reported that the move by him from St. John's University in the summer of 1978 will require some adjustments for SSSR. He proposed the membership and financial functions be moved to the University of Connecticut under the responsibility of Lorraine D'Antonio. This has been cleared with the University or Connecticut and is agreeable to the department and the University as well as Lorraine. It was moved, seconded and passed that such action he taken. It was moved and seconded that the four elected officers constitute an Executive Committee to deal with the Executive Secretary situation. Passed.

20. Budget. Treasurer Dynes proposed that the Council develop a contingency fund in the budget for 1978-79. In the proposed budget for 1977-78 income is roughly equivalent to expenditures and represents a balanced budget proposal. It was moved, seconded and passed that we adopt the proposed budget for 1977-78.

21. Relationships with other organizations. 1) CSR. Discussion concerning the relationship of SSSR and CSR focused upon level of participation It was moved, seconded and passed that we send the President to the CSR Council meeting in January and to send two delegates to the meeting of CSR in Racine, Wisconsin in February. 2) CISR. Gillian Lindt reported that the International Congress for the Sociology of Religion meetings in Strausburg included thirteen Americans among 400 total registrants. The international organization is primarily comprised of Europeans British, French, Germans, and Spanish, and SSSR should send representatives to the next conference in Vienna in August of 1979. Ganon and Lindt were elected by CISR as U.S. members of the Council, but there is some question as to what organizations they represent since it is a conference, not an organization. It was moved that the President or a representative be appointed to serve as a liaison to CISR at the next meeting. Seconded and passed. 3) Discussion concerning regional meetings followed. Barbara Hargrove was appointed to implement arrangements with RRR and ASR to assist in establishing regional meetings, such as ASSR:SW.

22. ERA. It was moved that SSSR investigate the attitudes of regions, states and cities toward the Equal Rights Amendment to guide it in selection meeting sites and to eliminate areas of hostility to equal rights. Seconded, passed.

23. New Business: There was some concern expressed about problems in keeping contact with overseas members because of the extra costs involved in sending correspondence to them via air mail. After some discussion, it was moved, seconded and passed that overseas members be offered air mail service for all correspondence (excluding the journal) if they choose to pay a cost differential along with their dues. It was suggested that UNESCO, the American Council in Learned Societies, and other sources of funds be contacted for assistance for travel. It was proposed that CSR be requested to deal with this issue and Jim Richardson was recommended as the person to make arrangements for international participations because of his contacts this year. Discussion followed concerning paying plenary speakers or honoraria for members or special guests who make major addresses. The President will appoint a committee to study this issue and bring a recommendation for action at the next Council meeting.

24. Meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted.

Dean D. Knudsen, Secretary