Holston members respond to lottery vote
By Annette Bender
Some Holston members admit they were not surprised when Tennesseans voted to remove a state constitutional ban on a lottery. But they don’t necessarily join other anti-lottery proponents in predicting that gambling will become a state crisis.
“Naturally, I was disappointed in the way the voting went, because I am still convinced that the state of Tennessee does not need lottery gambling,” said the Rev. Al Bowles, Chattanooga District superintendent author of an anti-lottery commentary widely published in local church newsletters.
However, “God is still God,” Bowles added, “and the church will continue in its faithful mission and ministry of responding with grace, love, support and hope in the name of Jesus Christ to all those who are bruised by life – even through the ills of gambling.”
In Virginia, where a state lottery has been in existence for several years, the Rev. James Bennington said he expected Tennesseans to vote in favor of lifting the lottery ban. “I just didn’t expect approval to be so high. I thought the vote would be closer,” said the pastor at Grove United Methodist Church in Wytheville District.
According to the final count, Tennesseans voted 893,646 in favor of lifting the lottery ban, 658,543 against it.
However, Bennington said he is not aware of Virginians experiencing widespread gambling addictions, nor does he expect Tennesseans to.
“People struggle with gambling like they struggle with anything else,” he said. “As church leaders, we can tell our congregations that just because the state has a lottery, doesn’t mean you have to play. Not playing is a witness.”
At State Street United Methodist Church in Bristol, Va., Associate Pastor Jane Taylor said she was “disappointed” by the lottery vote but not surprised. “I just wish people would give the money they throw away on the lottery to the church, and let us use it for ministry.”
Twenty minutes from the Virginia state line, the pastor at Valley Forge United Methodist Church in Johnson City District said that most people in his community don’t feel threatened by a state lottery because of their exposure to the game in the neighboring state.
“They’re just used to it,” said the Rev. Paul Humphrey. “We’re not above a church raffle for a quilt as long as there is the realization that it’s all for the church.”
Calling the lottery vote “a sad decision,” Humphrey said many of his parishioners were less in favor of a lottery after they learned of its alleged drawbacks. “It might have been different if every dollar was poured into the school system. As it’s set up now it’s going to take from the poor and give to the rich.
“I’m sure we’re going to start seeing people hanging around the counters of the convenience stores, scratching those things off,” Humphrey added. “The shiny cards and immediate gratification are designed to induce addiction.”
During election week, Holston Conference’s website experienced high traffic levels, rating third on Google’s search list for “Tennessee state lottery.”
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