LETTERS: POSITIVE COMMENTS TOO

To the editor:

This letter is a response to Monday's article, "Land of promise."

Let me first admit some ambivalence in writing this letter. While it was nice being mentioned in the article, it would have been nicer if some of my other comments had made their way into the story. I'm an writing with the hope of trying to do just that.

In the course of a 25-minute conversation with your reporter, I talked with him about how this church went through the process of deciding where to purchase land. I also said it was my hope the move was not interpreted as abandoning our commitment to the part of town in which our building used to be located. I talked about how this congregation continues to be committed to the ministries of Habitat for Humanity and FISH and how it continues to reach out to the whole community. That did not make the story, but my positive response to the question "Were there some members opposed to the move?" did.

In that same conversation with your reporter, I talked about how there was enthusiasm and energy here at First Christian Church. I lifted up our new programming and how the building allows us to do that. Again, those words did not make the article. But my positive response to the question "Were there some members opposed to the move?" did.

I certainly understand that the point needed to be made that deciding to build in a new place can be a struggle. I just wish the other pastors interviewed were asked the same question and their responses printed. I also wish the positive things we are about made a way into the story.

There are many wonderful things going on in the life of First Christian Church. And, while it is good to have a building in the "Land of promise," we continue our journey toward the Promised Land.

THE REV. PHILIP N. CURRAN, Pastor

First Christian Church

Cape Girardeau