Harper said he thinks former General Board president Mike Queen and former BSC president Greg Mathis did a "great job" with reconciliation efforts between conservatives and moderates.

Larry Harper

Larry Harper, who was elected General Board president in February, said he and BSC President Mac Brunson agreed with "no hesitation" that they can work together.

Harper said he thinks former General Board president Mike Queen and former BSC president Greg Mathis did a "great job" with reconciliation efforts between conservatives and moderates.

"Mac and I have committed ourselves to continue the process," Harper said in an interview with the Recorder on Feb. 19.

Harper and Brunson were pastors in the same association inVirginia for several years. They served together on a personnel committee in the association.

Harper said he was "very encouraged" by an article in the Feb. 14 Biblical Recorder focusing on Brunson. In the article, Brunson said conservatives are not planning a "gentler, kinder takeover" of the BSC.

Harper said it would be a mistake to "give up on trying to build bridges. He said Tar Heel Baptists "cannot afford to continue in a negative fashion."

Harper said he wants N.C. Baptists to know that he, Brunson and James H. Royston, the new executive director-treasurer, are willing to work together.

"I think we're all committed to doing what's best for North Carolina Baptists," Harper said.

Tar Heel Baptists need to re-establish their integrity in the state, he said.

"People love to hear about battles and controversy," Harper said. "All that has done is hurt us and hurt our witness."

Harper said there is "no doubt" that there have been hurt feelings on both sides of the controversy. N.C. Baptists need to overcome, but not ignore those feelings, he said.

Tar Heel Baptists need to recognize their greater strengths and capitalize on them, Harper said. N.C. Baptists are more alike than they are different, he said.

"I have no problem working with anyone as long as we're working to promote and develop the body of Christ in North Carolina," he said.

Harper thinks people have grown weary of hearing about the controversy between conservatives and moderates.

"I think glossing over it would be a mistake, but I do think centering ourselves on our mission will bring a clarity to all of us," he said.

Visitors at Forest Hills don't ask whether the church is conservative or moderate, Harper said.

"They want to find -- in the family of God -- healing and wholeness," he said. "That's what I want people to see in North Carolina Baptists."

Harper said he considers himself theologically conservative. He said he believes in the virgin birth, the authority of scripture, the autonomy of the local church, forgiveness of sin only through Christ and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

Some members at Forest Hills are loyal to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), while others support the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Harper said.

Harper said he thinks N.C. Baptists can profit from a lesson he learned while training to be an Army paratrooper. Harper served in the 82nd Airborne Division.

"One thing I learned in jump school was that while you are jumping out of a plane you're supposed to keep your eyes open," he said. "To close your eyes put you in jeopardy."

Harper said he has not set a timetable to make appointments to the "Commission on Cooperation," which was established by messengers at the BSC annual meeting in November.

Mathis and BSC Second Vice President David Crocker are co-chairs of the commission.

Harper said he will balance the commission with conservatives and moderates, ministers and lay people.

He said he hopes to finish all the appointments he has to make by the General Board's May meeting. He said he plans to balance the committees.

"I'm not trying to please any particular group," he said.