Governor-elect's church denounces his lottery plan

<br>MOORE, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma Baptist leaders passed a resolution Tuesday opposing a state lottery, an idea that was part of Baptist Gov.-elect Brad Henry's winning campaign. <br><br>The Oklahoma

Wednesday, November 13th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MOORE, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma Baptist leaders passed a resolution Tuesday opposing a state lottery, an idea that was part of Baptist Gov.-elect Brad Henry's winning campaign.

The Oklahoma Baptist General Convention also elected an Enid pastor its new president.

Henry argues a lottery could fund college scholarships for needy students or other education projects.

One pastor at the convention called the idea a ``lootery'' and the convention resolution says taxpayers will pay between $3 and $7 on law enforcement and welfare for every dollar a lottery brings in.

The resolution presented at First Baptist Church of Moore calls gambling a form of taxation that would be disproportionately paid by lower income Oklahomans.

``It will take all that we have within us to defeat the lottery,'' said the Rev. Anthony Jordan, the Baptist convention's executive director. ``This is a call to arms.''

Officials said about 750,000 members of 1,700 churches make up the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Its members include Henry, who is a deacon at First Baptist Church of Shawnee.

Henry press secretary Thomas Larson said the governor-elect was already aware of the church's position from when Henry introduced lottery legislation as a state senator.

``The governor-elect understands that some have a moral objection to the lottery and he respects that _ that is why he wants to put it to a vote of the people,'' Larson said.

Henry's pastor, the Rev. Paul Calmes, says he does not agree with Henry but it does not stop him from supporting Henry.

``Governor-elect Henry and I are personal friends,'' Calmes said. ``I love him and his family and we don't agree about the lottery being a good way to raise revenue.''

Pastors at the convention also elected the Rev. Wade Burleson, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Enid, their new president.

Burleson, 40, has been pastor at Emmanuel Baptist for 10 years.

``It's an honor to be elected president, a great responsibility,'' Burleson said.

Other resolutions approved Tuesday at the state Baptists' 97th convention include one supporting covenant marriage legislation and one denouncing Internet pornography and urging libraries and computer users across the state to install Internet filters.