***STATEMENT***

Governor Signs Law That Allows Liquor Sales on Sundays in Tennessee

Tennessee Pastors Network President Dale Walker: This Sunday, Pastors Should Call for a Day of Mourning and Prayer for the State

SPARTA, Tenn.—Tennessee Pastors Network (TNPN, www.tnpastors.net) Pastor Dale Walker released the following statement after Gov. Bill Haslam signed a bill into law today that will allow Tennesseans to purchase wine and liquor on Sundays.

According to The Tennessean, patrons may be able to purchase wine and liquor in state stores perhaps as early as this Sunday, but wine sales in grocery stores won’t begin until Jan. 1, 2019.

“Gov. Haslam signing the despicable Sunday liquor bill further cemented the fact that Tennessee Republicans are the party of Big Liquor,” said Walker, who was instrumental in fighting the measure. “This Sunday, pastors in Tennessee should call for a day of mourning and prayer for the state because of the addiction crisis facing us. Most politicians must think we can dishonor Sunday by selling liquor, then avert God’s judgment by placing ‘In God We Trust’ signs in schools. Sunday liquor sales will place worshippers who are traveling to their churches in more potential peril from drunk drivers.

 “Only God knows how many lives will be affected by this law,” Walker added. “Faith-based ministries, as usual, are left to deal with the aftermath of more wicked liquor flowing into society. As a minister, I have never had a liquor-loving politician or a liquor lobbyist stand by a grave with me to comfort a family when alcohol had taken a life. Pastors deal with alcohol after the bottle is empty, and those empty bottles take many to their graves. Rep. Andy Holt (R-Dresden), as he debated the bill, read scripture about keeping the Sabbath Day holy and questioned his fellow lawmakers’ faith. And Rep. Matthew Hill (R-Jonesborough) said this legislation was ‘one more nail in the coffin of our Southern culture.’ We agree!”

 TNPN is a state chapter of the American Pastors Network (APN, www.americanpastorsnetwork.net), the largest national network dedicated to equipping pastors to be a voice for truth in the public square.

TNPN and APN offer pastors numerous online resources that help clergy choose sermon topics and find information for other church ministries. With some free and some paid resources, topics include abortion, apologetics, creation, the culture crisis, economics, education, the environment, history, homosexuality, Islam and marriage, along with many others.

The Tennessee Pastors Network encourages pastors to bring together biblical and constitutional principles in their sermons and provides resources to pastors throughout the state. For more information on TNPN, visit its website at www.tnpastors.net, its Facebook page or call (931) 267-0816.

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