Kentucky Baptists Challenged to Fight Casinos 01/02/2008 LOUISVILLE – Kentucky Baptist churches and their members are being challenged to actively fight efforts to bring casino gambling to the commonwealth that will begin in earnest when the Kentucky General Assembly session opens on Jan. 8. Committee on Public Affairs Chairman John Chowning told members of the Kentucky Baptist Mission Board at their December meeting that the time is now for Kentucky Baptists to get in the game on the issue. “If Kentucky Baptists sit on the sidelines… a year from tonight when we meet here, we are going to be talking about casino gambling in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Chowning said. “That’s what’s at stake.” Casino gambling proposals have been debated in the General Assembly for more than a decade but 2008 could be a decisive year because new Gov. Steve Beshear made adding casinos a key component of his campaign. Gambling proponents are pushing for passage by the General Assembly of a constitutional amendment that would go to Kentucky voters for ratification in November. Passage could allow casinos at both horseracing tracks and at other locations. KBC Executive Director Bill Mackey has written Beshear to spell out KBC opposition to the expanded gambling proposals on moral and public policy grounds. “From a moral standpoint we believe God encourages us to help each other rather than seek to benefit from others' losses; that gambling encourages us to reduce our dependence upon God; and that it discourages a proper work ethic,” Mackey wrote. In outlining the Convention’s public policy concerns, Mackey noted the devastation that casino gambling will inevitably bring to individuals and families, the harm it will do to other businesses as casinos siphon off resources and gambling’s potential for corrupting government. “No one disputes that as gambling expands, some human beings will be destroyed through suicide, spouse abuse, divorce, child abuse and neglect, embezzlement, alcoholism, etc. Are these fellow citizens really expendable to us?” Mackey said. “I think all government officials should ask themselves if they would support expanded gambling if they knew in advance that it would be one of their own family members who would be counted in the ranks of the ‘expendable people.’ Our government should be engaged in activities that strengthen society, not weaken it as gambling unquestionably does.” Chowning said the convention is looking for Kentucky Baptists who are willing to be active contacts on the issue. Individuals can volunteer by sending e-mail to publicaffairs@kybaptist.org. He also encouraged Kentucky Baptists to sign up for e-mail updates at the Committee on Public Affairs Web site at www.kybaptist.org/publicaffairs where a variety of information and helps for pastors and church members is posted. Kentucky Baptists can get involved in a number of ways, beginning with prayer, Chowning said. In addition, Baptists need to be willing to personally contact their legislators and the governor, talk about the issue with their friends and neighbors, write letters to their local newspapers and communicate in other ways within their communities to combat what is expected to be an onslaught of advertising from the gambling industry. “The Committee on Public Affairs and the Convention staff cannot do this on our own. This is an issue where Kentucky Baptists have consistently spoken in convention after convention in opposition to casino gambling,” Chowning said. “Folks, the time is here (to get involved)!” The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of more than 2,400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative headquarters in Louisville, Ky. including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more. Release prepared by Robert Reeves, KBC Communications Director