“We believe it a healthy sign to be able to print reasoned explanations for both sides of the matter.” —Ronald W. Nickerson

By the end of the 1960s a number of factors began to converge which eventually resulted in a new editor for the Covenanter Witness. Editor M. W. Dougherty was nearing his 70th birthday, and also the Synod was calling for the realignment into one board of the separate boards of Christian Education and Publication. It seemed good to the Publication Board that this should be the time to seek out a new editor who would take on additional responsibilities managing a developing literature ministry.

Additionally, the resignation of Rev. Ken Smith after 14 years as Director of Christian Education for the denomination came at this time. So the Synod had the job of finding replacements for both Dougherty and Smith.

Their successors were elected to their respective positions by the Synod of 1970, which met at the RPCNA national conference at Carleton College in Minnesota. On a second ballot, Rev. Ronald W. Nickerson, pastor of the Lisbon, N.Y., RPC, was elected for a three-year term as Director of Publications. Rev. David R. Armstrong, pastor of First Beaver Falls, Pa., RPC, was Synod’s choice as Director of Christian Education.

With the merging of the two boards, the Witness “office” joined the C. E. office on Rebecca Avenue in Wilkinsburg, Pa. (It moved to Wood Street in 1974.) By the fall of 1971, two pastorates had been interrupted, two families had moved to Pittsburgh and the work of the Christian Education and Publications arm of the church had been strengthened with new blood. Volume 87, Number 9 (dated Sept. 1, 1971) marked the first issue under Nickerson’s editorial pencil. Although printed on the same cheap paper, the magazine had a distinctively different look. Stock photos of RP church buildings or psalter pages or Union Pacific Railroad scenes gave way to “people pictures.” Early Nickerson covers featured missionaries (the Boyles), RP Home residents, pastors and presbytery camps.

Prior to sending their editor-elect off to man the Witness, the E&P Board directed Nickerson to refresh himself on the basics of magazine journalism. And he took courses in that subject at a university in upstate New York. One supposes that these courses were influential in the design changes Nickerson brought to the magazine.

But the editor did not wish to break all ties with the past. In his first editorial, he expressed his desire to be a “new pen” rather than a “new broom.” That is, he wished to carry on with the work of his predecessor and did not wish to sweep out everything and start anew. But he did promise changes in the magazine. “Some will be hopefully pleasing,” he wrote. “Others will take time to get used to, and some will be errors in need of crossing out.”

And change did come. A column for letters to the editor appeared, which eventually resembled a sparring ring for impassioned readers. Nickerson’s own editorials appeared under the heading “A Word in Due Season.” Readers came to expect him to speak out with conviction concerning the issues facing the denomination. He understood those issues from a theological as well as pastoral point of view. Sometimes, however, the editor’s outspokenness in his editorials brought him into the line of fire from well-armed critics.

It’s a truism that any newspaper or periodical takes on some of the characteristics of the controlling editors. And this fact held true with the Witness under Ron Nickerson. As an individual, he enjoyed the challenges of debate. He was not comfortable with hearing only one side of an issue and being expected to ignore the other.

And so debate marched into the pages of the Witness where it had rarely emerged before. Nickerson, early on, brought in pro and con articles concerning junior church, closed communion, pastors working outside the congregation, who should support home missions? and other issues close to the central nerve of the denomination.

Barely three months had passed when Nickerson editorialized on the matter of “Engendering Controversy” (Dec. 8, 1971). He wrote:

“A letter came to our desk recently objecting to our printing the two sides of the junior church question on the grounds that such debate tends to engender controversy in the church.

“While we both appreciate the writer’s concern and also the spirit in which his letter was written, we would like to speak a word in defense of our intentions. At no time is it our desire to enter into controversy which is not healthy for the body of believers we call the church. We have received from time to time certain articles for publication that advance positions that are contrary to the law and order of the church. While we believe that the authors of these pieces should be heard, we consider the courts of the church to be the proper place for their discussion, not the pages of the Witness.

“On the other hand, there are numerous issues throughout the church upon which Christians differ and still love one another in their differences. Upon these matters we consider it a healthy sign and privilege to be able to print reasoned explanations for both sides of the matter.

“We believe that there are many areas in the Christian life and practice where no one of us has all the answers. Particularly is this so in those matters where no clear-cut yes or no is found in Scripture. At these points it is well to have our convictions, but also to be ready to listen to others. For this reason, we are desirous to give equal time on our pages to both sides.”

And there were those who complained of “wasted white space.” But the truth is that Nickerson many times effectively used white space, photographs, larger type and varied departmental headings to bring eye-catching interest to the magazine. Perhaps his trademark was his penchant for steel engravings of biblical stories and Victorian scenes.

Nickerson carried on many of the departmental features that readers had come to appreciate. The weekly Sabbath school lessons, penned for a while by John K. Gault, the junior lessons, prayer meeting topics and the WMS lessons continued. “Glimpses of the Religious World,” compiled by Lester E. Kilpatrick, became “Thy Kingdom Come.”

A new kind of page for children appeared under the carefree heading of “Hey Lookit!” Mrs. David Armstrong (known for years to young children only as “Mrs. A”) was its creator and first writer. Mrs. Duncan Lowe (“Carol Marie”) eventually took over in the mid-1970s.

There was “Distaff Deductions” for the women, written by Mrs. Howard Elliott. This later became “Gleanings” and Mrs. Larry Falk succeeded Mrs. Elliott. And various missions editors kept the church informed.

Two series that revealed the editor’s interest in matters theological were, “Key New Testament Texts” and “Significant Old Testament Themes.” These were usually two-page articles written by various pastors in the church. There also were articles on the proposed RP Testimony changes and David Carson’s Transplanted to America serial.

The production process of the bi-monthly Witness was almost comical during the first five of Nickerson’s years as editor. Copy was edited in Pittsburgh and sent to Clarinda, Iowa, where type was set by Mrs. David Patterson. Galleys were then returned to Pittsburgh, where page dummies were pasted up. These were mailed back to Clarinda where the final proofs were made and the magazine was printed by Patterson Press and mailed to subscribers.

Those who wondered why the Witness sometimes did not arrive “on time” probably did not realize the hundreds of miles it had traveled even before it was mailed for the final time.

In 1977, the Mercury Press, a commercial printer in Wilkinsburg, Pa., took over the typesetting and printing of the magazine. This eliminated much of the time delay and the potential for disaster with lost copy.

—Donald J. McCrory