Bishop Marion M. Edwards, the episcopal leader of 226,000 United Methodists in eastern North Carolina, has sent a letter to pastors and lay members urging leadership in the opposition to a lottery in the state and support for alternative funding procedures for education, such as closing tax loopholes. Bishop Edwards, resident bishop of the North Carolina Conference, has episcopal responsibilities for 832 churches in 56 counties from Burlington to the coast. As our governor and the General Assembly begin to discuss the possibility of a lottery to fund education, I urge you to lead your congregation and community in expressing opposition to a lottery and in offering support for alternative funding possibilities for education. As United Methodists, we believe that the church has a key role in fostering responsible government, in developing health and moral maturity, and in freeing persons from damaging and dependent behaviors. Lotteries have proven to prey on poor people and unfairly benefit the non-poor.
Lotteries give easy access to underage and compulsive gamblers.
Lotteries reduces consumer spending on other goods and services. Lotteries are an inefficient way for governments to raise money. Lottery revenues, over time, lead to a decrease in funding for the cause to which its revenues are dedicated. While neighboring states have passed lottery legislation, I believe that North Carolina can resist this temptation and witness to a more excellent way. I invite you to share with your congregation, in whatever way you find appropriate and helpful, my conviction on this issue and my invitation for advocacy on the part of our United Methodist connection.