Legislators attending the annual Legislative Prayer Luncheon in Montgomery Feb. 4 should be clear on the message Alabama Baptists are sending — no expansion of gambling.
Even the first lady, Patsy Riley — a self-proclaimed “Southern lady” — spoke directly about the issue.
Standing in for her husband, Gov. Bob Riley, because he was attending the funeral of former Gov. Guy Hunt, Patsy Riley said, “We are so close to having the safest and most prosperous state in all 50 states.
“But if things go in another direction (if gambling is expanded), with it will come crime, and other things will come,” she said. “I don’t have to tell you what else will come with gambling (indicating prostitution).”
Riley challenged Alabama Baptist women to lead the fight.
“We need to make sure that (prostitution) never gets an invitation to come across the state line in Alabama.”
Riley also challenged all who would listen to join the overall fight against gambling.
“It’s going to take some courage and you are going to lose some relationships and friendships,” she said. “Pray (for legislators) to block it, that they will have the energy to fight it and that they will have the willpower not to take yes for an answer.”
The governor also sent remarks that were read by his wife addressing the gambling issue.
“We are going to face many, many challenges. … We can overcome them … but make no mistake that when our people are hurting the most, there are those who have lusted to bring more gambling into our state and they are prepared to strike,” he wrote. “They will use this time to prey upon … our most vulnerable citizens.
“They are willing to risk all of this for less than 1 percent of the entire education budget. Even a nongambler like me knows that is a dumb bet.”
Gov. Riley urged Alabama Baptists to get involved.
“This is not for the state’s good, it is for the gambling industry,” he wrote. “There is only one way to stop it, and it is the people in this room being motivated and engaged. We have to go home and talk to our churches, friends and neighbors. We have to call on our legislators, look them straight in the eye and ask them (if they support gambling) yes or no.
“It is truly up to those of us who want to protect the most vulnerable citizens in our state from a predator. Now is the time. Gambling will never be the answer.”
Gov. Riley also addressed gambling the night before the prayer luncheon in his State of the State Address, noting the proposals to expand and tax gambling are not enough to make a difference. “We will spend more than $12 billion in state and federal money on education this year,” Riley said.
“Some claim that if only we’d expand gambling and tax it, we wouldn’t have to reduce education funding. But all you have to do is take a look at other states that do have gambling. They’re cutting their education budgets, so gambling is obviously not a solution.”
While alerting Alabama Baptists to the threat of gambling expansion in the state was at the forefront of the Rileys’ remarks, they also commended Alabama Baptists for their emphasis on prayer.
“Bob looks forward to this luncheon every year,” Patsy Riley said. “Prayer needs to be our first step before we ever enter (the House and Senate chambers).”
This year’s luncheon, sponsored by the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions and held at the Embassy Suites Hotel, included prayers by Glenn Murdock, associate justice of the Alabama Supreme Court; Jimmy Jackson, president of the Alabama Baptist State Convention; and Joe Godfrey, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program.
Andrew Westmoreland, president of Samford University in Birmingham, delivered the keynote address to the 460 people in attendance.
Pointing to the example of Moses in Exodus 2, Westmoreland outlined three leadership lessons for state legislators and other state leaders.
- Wise decisions require time.
“As [state leaders] who make decisions, you feel the pressure of time,” he said. “Colleagues and constituents are coming and saying, ‘We must do something and we must do it now.’
“But I think all of us do a little bit better with the advantage of some time, to think about what we need to do.”
- True leadership requires moral authority.
“Moral authority is so essential in the exercise of true leadership,” Westmoreland said.
- Right relationships require transparency.
“What we do will become known,” he said.
Noting that even if one believes these points, Westmoreland said, “Living them out is the difficulty.
“Leadership begins at the feet of Jesus,” he said. “The greatest miracle of all these things is that despite our flaws (and) our brokenness, He stills manages to use us to accomplish His purposes.”
The Legislative Prayer Luncheon is held in conjunction with the opening week of the Alabama Legislature each year.
Godfrey, who monitors legislation dealing with moral issues, agrees that expansion and taxation of gambling are going to be at the forefront of the session, which opened Feb. 3. To stay updated on these bills, visit www.alcap.com.
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