nineteen hundred and forty-six - Amazon Web Services

144 SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
CO-OPERATION IN THE VARIOUS STATES
The state secretary in each case has led in the work in his own state. Te
state conventions have had committees appointed to assist the secretary. Also,
seven states have been providing financial assistance to returning chaplains
whenever needed in the interim between their return from the service and their
location in permanent work. In some cases the chaplains have been put to work
at once doing general missionary work and supply-preaching under the direction
of the state board.
PUBLICITY AND CONTACTS
The Commission has been keeping in touch with chaplains through letters
and every other means available. Information about these returning chaplains
has been published in the state papers. The editors are glad to help in every
way possible to let the churches know when chaplains are available for pastorates.
Also, through letters and other means chaplains have been given helpful
contacts with churches and various denominational positions. The reports from
the states show that in most cases the returning chaplains have been happily
located, and it has been felt that there will be no great difficulty in this work
during the coming year.
INTEREST AND SUPPORT ASSURED
As Southern Baptists we are proud of our chaplains. A large percentage
of these men have been in the service two or three years at least, and it has
been no easy, romantic adventure for most of them, either. It has been a hard,
heroic task, and one very much needed. These chaplains have accompanied the
men wherever they have gone and have given to them help, encouragement, and
spiritual ministry in a thousand different ways. As they are returning to
civilian work, they are proving a great asset to our Southern Baptist work.
They have received a training and acquired an experience which will help to
put new life into our work. They have learned to mix and mingle with all
classes of people, both at home and abroad, and have a better understanding
of the needs for world-wide missions. They ought to be of help to our denomination
in making a wider and more vital application of the Gospel, in serving
and enlisting returning servicemen, and in giving to our people a new challenge
for world-wide missions. And so, we thank God for our chaplains, and we
welcome them back heartily to our homes, to our churches, and to the challenging
tasks which we face in the post-war" world.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. That our state papers continue to give publicity to returning chaplains
so that churches and boards may know of their availability for civilian positions.
2. That churches, boards, hospitals, etc., give careful and prayerful consideration
to returning chaplains as possibilities for pastorates and other positions
in their organizations.
3. That special thanks be extended Dr. Alfred Carpenter, Superintendent
of Camp Work of the Home Mission Board, for his assistance and help and
that he be requested to continue such service.
4. Although we believe the major portion of our work has been accomplished
yet we recommend that the Commission be continued one more year in order
to finish the work and take care of any needs which may arise.
L. L. CARPENTER, Chairman
94. Chaplains present, now in service or lately separated from
service, were invited to the platform and presented to the Convention:
E. L. Ackiss, Captain Chaplain Corps,
Navy Department, Washington, D. C.
William B. Adams, Box 86, Orange,
Virginia
M. O. Alexander, Beaufort, North
Carolina
Richard H. Allmon, First Baptist
Church, Sylvania, Georgia