Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

During the past few months, we have seen the establishment of lottery gambling here in Tennessee. Although we worked to affirm our Social Principles position against gambling, we were unsuccessful in that endeavor.  It has been brought our my attention that a new movement to expand gambling in Tennessee is underway. In spite of all the assurances during the

lottery campaign by pro-lottery forces that casino gambling would not come to Tennessee, a bill has been placed before the Tennessee legislature to change our constitution to legalize casino gambling in Shelby County (Memphis).

Bill HRJ-788 has been introduced by Representative Larry Miller and will be before the State and Local Government Committee of the legislature this Tuesday. The goal behind this legislation is to convert the Pyramid into a casino, under the leadership of Lakes Entertainment, a Minnesota based casino development firm. 

It would be easy to think that opposing gambling in the state is a waste of time given our recent experience. Yet, God has called us to be faithful to the task of justice, and we believe that our best possibility of defeating this action is while it is still in the legislature.  It is with this in mind that we urge you to call the members of the State and Local Government Committee to express your opposition. 

Representatives Langster, Mumpower, Tindell, West Jr., and Yokley are said to still be undecided on this bill, and we certainly should be in touch with these representatives.  The committee will be meeting at 3 p.m. on the 24th in the War Memorial Building for any who want to attend to express their opposition.  May God's grace be with you in the days ahead. 

As yours in Christ,

Bishop William Morris

Nashville Episcopal Area

Rev. Jay Voorhees

Chairperson, Committee on Church and Society of the Tennessee Annual Conference