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Western MD pastors form alliance to combat gambling

BY DAVID E. BOHNERT
UMCONNECTION CORRESPONDENT

Not in our county, say pastors who oppose the plans of developer William A. Rickman Jr., who has made significant headway in building a race track and simulcast betting parlor in eastern Allegany County.

Pastors from the area surrounding the location of the proposed racetrack formed the Tri-State Pastors Alliance following a Nov. 1 gambling forum in Cumberland. The forum was sponsored by the Baltimore-Washington Conference, Citizens Against the Racecourse and NOcasiNO Maryland. 

The alliance is made up of approximately 20 clergy, a quarter of whom are United Methodist. 

The Rev. Richard H. Jewell, pastor of New Covenant UMC in Cumber-land and the alliances designated spokesperson, said the pastors are solidly against the expansion of gambling in Western Maryland.

The Rev. Mike Huskins, pastor of Mountain Top Church in Martins Mountain near the site of the proposed racetrack, is chairman of the alliance. The battle lines are being drawn, he said. 

At the same time that the alliance held its first meeting, the Maryland Racing Commission voted five to four to ap-prove Rickmans license to develop and operate the racetrack and betting parlor.

It was a heavy blow to anti-gambling forces. We were disappointed but we werent surprised. The moral arguments werent going to influence the commission, Jewell said. We are concerned that this is just the opening volley to bring in slot machines.

Motivated by the racing commissions action, the new anti-gambling alliance is trying to stir pastors and churches in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia to action. 

The alliance also plans to join the Baltimore-Washington Conference in observing events in Annapolis and other political arenas. We are going to monitor things that are going on in the state legislature and locally by the county commissioners and the zoning board, Jewell said. 

Once candidates for state and local offices are announced, the alliance will be in a position to question them about their stance on slots. Most local politicians have indicated they favor race tracks and slots, according to Jewell.

Summarizing the mission of the Tri-State Pastors Alliance, Jewell said, We are concerned that citizens are not getting the whole story. We feel that the negative side has to be presented, and its being downplayed.

The alliance hopes to host a public meeting in the near future.