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BY ED GROVE
SPECIAL TO UMCONNECTION

The West Virginia Lottery Commission held a public hearing Oct. 26 in Shepherdstown, W.Va., to hear comments from business, church and political leaders and the general public on a request to add 1,500 additional slot machines at the Charles Town race track.

After a brief, one-hour discussion following the public hearing, the Commission approved the expansion unanimously.

The approval will increase the number of machines allowed at the track to 6,000. The general manager of the Penn National Gaming, Inc. property told commissioners before the vote that market demand prompted the request, according to a story published in The Journal newspaper in Martinsburg, W.Va.

The additional slot machines are expected to be located in about 50,000 square-feet of gaming space, the newspaper reported. Along with accompanying food service amenities and a 150-room hotel, the expansion is expected to increase employment at the track by more than 200 positions.

'The market is growing, and we still believe we are under-penetrating the market,' John V. Finamore, senior vice president of regional operations for Penn National, told the Journal. 'We still believe there is growth in the pipeline. If Maryland were to get slots, what better way to stay ahead of them than to keep adding amenities?'

While there was support from business, service providers and a leader of the state?s NAACP, there was strong opposition from the faith community:

? Bishop John R. Schol, episcopal leader for United Methodist churches in Charles Town, sent a letter to the commission urging that expansion not be granted. He stated that studies show that slots breed damage to the people who play and the communities around them.

? The Rev. Curtis Wheeler, president of Martinsburg/Berkeley County Ministerial Association, challenged the Lottery Commission to listen to the public concerns, not business enterprise.

? The Rev. Terri Rae Chattin, superintendent of the Frederick District, urged the commission to reject the expansion on the grounds that slots were damaging the family values of the community.

? The Rev. Al Clipp, pastor of Calvary UMC in Martinsburg, cited an extensive federal study that proved there was no long term economic value to communities who embrace gambling.

The United Methodist Church has historically opposed gambling, calling it 'a menace to society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic, and spiritual life, and destructive of good government.' (2004 Book of Discipline, ?163G) In addition, United Methodists are encouraged to abstain from gambling and 'should strive to minister to those victimized by the practice.'

A number of members of the horse racing industry challenged the Lottery Commission to stay faithful to their commitment that slots were a way of supporting the race track. Strong hints and deep concerns were given that slots are taking over the Charles Town establishment and horse racing could be eliminated.

Charles Town?s last slot-machine expansion was approved in March 2004.

The Rev. Ed Grove is pastor of Trinity UMC in Martinsburg, W.Va.