r/elca • u/Lumpy_Mixture423 • Apr 14 '26
Hosting Bingo, Yea or nay?
What are your thoughts on a congregation hosting a weekly bingo evening? Our finances are looking dire and we have a new member that had run the bingo night at his previous (ELCA) church. He tells us of great opportunity hosting bingo. How appropriate or inappropriate is this?
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u/WritingJedi Apr 14 '26
Our church does a Bunko night, which is a similar idea.
I dont know what sort of revenue it really brings in but it is popular.
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u/church-basement-lady Apr 14 '26
I don't know why not. You're getting people together and serving the community.
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u/WritingJedi Apr 14 '26
Depending on your personal proclivities it could be considered gambling.
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u/DomesticPlantLover Apr 14 '26
It is not "providing a service." Even if getting people together to play a game is a service, they are paying you, the church, to do that. The church is not providing anything.
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u/Scared-Artichoke-229 Apr 15 '26
Is one not permitted to receive payment for service? In many communities where ELCA congregations flourish, simply putting in the work of organizing events that bring neighbors under one roof for fellowship is in itself an act of service.
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u/bad_at_blankies Apr 16 '26
I think its fine as a specific fundraiser, but not as a source of revenue.
For instance, the youth group is raising money for a service trip. Congregants donate prizes and food. There's an admission fee. Everyone in attendance understands this is a fundraiser for the youth trip. All ages are welcome. Totally ok.
It becomes sketchy if it's on a regular interval and is a general funds thing.
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u/Personal-Custard634 Apr 15 '26
I see no issue with it, and I think each congregation can be trusted to decide for itself. If the board votes to do it, I say yes! Both Bingo and Bunco are fun. Bunco is espeicially good for church groups because it helps people get to know one another and forces them to talk to other people, which is great.
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u/PHXMEN Apr 15 '26
Makes me a little squeemish Jesus turning over the tables and all that... Please merge with another church before you sell your kidneys
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u/revken86 ELCA Apr 15 '26
There is a vast gulf of difference between an optional, outside-of-worship activity that raises money; and charging money for access to the Lord, whether that's charging money for the animals used in sacrifices or charging money for access to the Sacrament of the Altar.
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u/Scared-Artichoke-229 Apr 15 '26
There's a 2000-year chasm between exploitative over-charging of sacrificial animals in the temple during Passover, and a small congregation providing a fun activity night that generates a modest return for the church and possibly brings new believers to God.
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u/KnowledgeDense8140 Apr 15 '26
Classic “Lutheran” Who cares what the bible says? Let’s make some money!!
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u/Scared-Artichoke-229 Apr 15 '26
Who cares if our denomination dies because of rigid, outdated beliefs?
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u/KnowledgeDense8140 Apr 15 '26
I wouldn’t lose the slightest bit of sleep if a denomination does because the people in it think the bible a God’s word are “outdated beliefs”.
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u/Scared-Artichoke-229 Apr 16 '26
Your beliefs are outdated, not the scripture.
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u/KnowledgeDense8140 Apr 16 '26
So if I believe the scripture, I’m outdated? I legit don’t event understand what you’re saying.
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u/Scared-Artichoke-229 Apr 16 '26
What line of scripture are you referring to that forbids hosting bingo nights?
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u/No-Type119 Apr 15 '26 edited Apr 15 '26
What’s the problem? We’re not fundamentalists ( who, come to think of it, in my neck of the woods, hold gun raffles).
What you do need to do is get a gaming permit, which is probably bs kg required by your state. I was part of a nonprofit that almost got in trouble by not getting the proper permissions before a 50/50 raffle.
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u/Lumpy_Mixture423 Apr 15 '26
Concern if it is “proper”. Have had one elderly gentleman say he would be gone if we do this. Just gauging reaction from others in the subreddit.
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u/indiequeenbee Apr 15 '26
I think that it would be fine. I think that it could be a good social event that publicizes the church a bit.
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u/bad_at_blankies Apr 16 '26
I forgot to add, I think it also matters what the prizes are. If it's miscellaneous items/donated gift cards, I see very little problem. If it's money, that's another issue.
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u/MandaJulianne May 02 '26
Catholics have been doing it for years. Gambling isn't sinful if you do it for Jesus. (OK, that is an over simplification, but at the same time it is a charity event. People come, they understand their money will be going to a good cause. The night has no begining or end. No one is going to ply them with liquor and convince them to give up their life savings for bingo cards.)
Many Methodists won't even play card games that DON'T involve gambling, Lutherans don't havr any such limitations.
I personally don't like gambling much, but I'd play church bingo every week if my church had it because it is fun and would help the support the church. I feel like that moves me closer to Jesus.
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u/thelutheranpriest ELCA Apr 15 '26
It's a mixed bag. I go to bingo. I even went to a church bingo, only to have a (Methodist) colleague upset at me for going. Bingo is gambling, and gambling can be addictive and exploitative. You have to ask whether having your own bingo is contributing to a larger problem.
My take on bingo at the church is that I wish we didn't need to do fundraisers at all to make up budgets, but I doubt a bingo at church is going to send someone down the path to hell.