For several days now I have pondered the letter of Mr. McGill concerning his wishes to have “Freedom from the Press” (Feb. 5). There are several of his assertions that have caused me much sadness. If you, my brother don’t want to hear any “bad news” then I may conclude you do not read nor want to hear a great deal the scriptures have to say.

(A friend) suggested that he ought to go to countries where there is no freedom of the press and try living there a while. And, the very charter of the BR insists that the Editor-President be free to publish what news he/she perceives to be accurate and needed information for all Baptists far and near! This helps provide for the “Right to Know” we depend on for more effective ministry. For more than 46 years I have found such resources in the BR to assist my efforts in serving the Lord and people of N.C. I don’t mean to say I liked all I read, but I needed to know it. However, sad to say, we have already had a taste of what may be to come. I would have preferred to place this comment on the BR site of the Internet which has been taken away from us who read the online version.

Nothing distressess me more that the news of broken relations and disrespect expressed among those who profess the Christian faith. The calling of demeaning names, the let’s you and him fight attitudes must be answered with the good news of a merciful God who calls us to follow the path of His Son, Jesus. My appeal, Brother McGill, is (for you) to come out of your fantasy world and serve the people of God in humility and truth.

My intention was not to anger you or to claim I have all the answers, but to appeal to you, my brother, listen and read every bit of information you can find that would assist you to serve our Lord and His people. We don’t have to like it but we need to know it from the best sources possible. And I have found the BR to be one of those sources and pray that it continues to be such.

I couldn’t agree more with Pastor Cameron McGill in his article “Freedom from the Press” in Tar Heel Voices, February 5, 2010. I prefer to hear nothing but good news also!

I want to hear only good news from my doctor, my children’s teachers, my political leaders, and my pastor and church leadership. However, I wonder what happens when my doctor doesn’t address my illness or my child’s teacher doesn’t share his misbehavior or lack of commitment? What would the result be if my pastor skipped the bad news about sin and its consequences?

What would happen if church leaders’ reports carried no challenge about need of more willing servants or more finances? Indeed, don’t we find that the Bible holds both the good and the bad news? God wants us to have the whole story so that we are able to be wise and make good choices to find the right path.

I worry what will happen to the BSC (Baptist State Convention) when our elected board members shut down the freedom of the press for freedom from the press. “Ministry” is not the primary mission of the Biblical Recorder — that is our task as Christians! The Biblical Recorder is a “news journal” of North Carolina Baptists — all North Carolina Baptists. If we are not going to allow it to function for that purpose why have it at all?

As a pastor and an Air Force chaplain for more than 42 years often serving in other states and countries, I subscribed to the Biblical Recorder to stay in touch with my beloved BSC.

Over the years and up to now, I feel it represented all North Carolina Baptists fairly. My prayer is that we don’t give up Freedom of the Press for “a good news journal.”

Much has been said of late concerning the “ministry” of the Biblical Recorder. My prayer is that, over the next few months of transition within the BR, we will re-examine the intent and purpose of our state newspaper. I recently heard someone bring up the issue of “Freedom of the Press.” I believe that while this may be a sound principle for secular publications, it does not necessarily apply to the BR. With so much negative reporting on both the local, national and world scenes, I can’t help but feel that when we pick up the BR or read it online, we should come away encouraged, challenged and motivated to reach our world for Christ.

It seems that the phrase that best described papers and mainstream reporting agencies today is “If it Weren’t for Bad News, We’d Have No News at All.” Sadly, this is how many N.C. Baptists have viewed the BR in recent years. Our Baptist newspaper should be a source of unity and inspiration rather than a divisive tool. Unfortunately, there has been no more polarizing influence within the (Baptist State Convention of North Carolina [BSC]) over the last few years than the BR. As I sat in a BSC Board of Directors meeting this past week (Jan. 25-26), I was amazed to hear so many stories of missions and ministry taking place in many of our Convention churches. I kept thinking just how much “Good News” there is in our great state; news worth reporting. I have no desire to silence those who may not share my “exact” theological stance. In fact, I believe that concentrating on what we have in common rather than what divides us would prove far more effective in our global mission’s effort.

May I sum up my concerns in a final statement: With all the bad news today, I want a paper that will give me “Freedom From the Press.” A Biblical Recorder that will make my heart rejoice rather than making my blood boil. May we as N.C. Baptists be much in prayer for the Board and Search Committee of our Biblical Recorder.