A Message from our Bishop

Below is a letter from the Bishop of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. He shares with us some concerns he has about the election and more specifically about slots. What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Why?



Dear Fellow Baltimore-Washington Conference Disciples,

God who started you in this spiritual adventure shars with you the life of his Son and our savior Jesus, will never give up on you. -1 Corinthians 1:9 (The Message)

Isn't it reassuring to know that God will never give up on us? In the midst of a financial crisis, complicated by an election, I am encouraged that God will not give up on us. I invite you to believe during these turbulent and complicated times. Believe in God and believe in yourself, because you are a gift from God.

I would like to talk with you about two beliefs and concerns on my heart as we approach the November 4th election.

The United Methodist Council of Bishops has called all political parties and leaders to embrace a public discourse that is free of divisive and demeaning rhetoric. Respectful, principled, and vigorous debate on the issues is the only way to move into a future that offers hope and solutions to our common problems.

The first is how the intensity of political campaigns can heighten political rhetoric and deepen prejudices. I believe in good healthy, vigorous discourse during political campaigns. I am also concerned when discourse undermines our unity and our respect for diversity. This election is historic because there is an African American presidential candidate and a female vice presidential candidate. This demonstrates our nation's ability to recognize people for their ideas and their gifts. Yet some are using this election as an opportunity to prey on deep seated prejudices.

We urge all the presidential candidates, vice presidential candidates and other political campaigns to focus on the important national and global challenges we face: poverty, war, inequality, racism, sexism, the current financial crisis, and terrorism in all its forms.

We invite you to pray daily for all candidates, voters and leaders in the United States . Also, encourage fellow believers, family members, friends and co-workers to engage in principled political discourse that builds up our nation and seeks unity among all people.

My second concern is Maryland Ballot Question 2, which, if passed, will add slot gambling to the Constitution of Maryland. Our United Methodist Book of Discipline and our Book of Resolutions (the books in addition to the Bible that guide our living) state: "Gambling is a menace to society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic and spiritual life, and destructive to good government. The Church should promote standards and personal lifestyles that would make unnecessary and undesirable the resort to commercial gambling." (United Methodist Book of Discipline, 162.G). I call all Marylanders to oppose adding slot machine gambling to our state constitution. Legalizing slot machine gambling, the most addictive form of gambling, will cause suffering, especially among lower income families and those who are easily addicted. It will increase crime as well as the costs to society caused by crime and addictive behavior. Marylanders have a wealth of knowledge and abilities to address our financial needs without turning to slot machine gambling.

I have joined with colleagues of other faith traditions across Maryland to encourage people of faith to oppose ballot question 2 and the inclusion of slot machine gambling in our state constitution. I am grateful for this ecumenical voice. Below is the statement from bishops and other denominational leaders calling on all Marylanders to oppose the legalization of slot machine gambling.

Over these next several weeks, I invite you to spend additional time in prayer. Pray for the health of our state, pray for the unity of our nation, and pray for peace within our world. God, who started you in this spiritual adventure...will never give up on you.

In the love of Christ,

John R. Schol, Bishop
The United Methodist Church
Washington, DC Area
Baltimore-Washington Conference


Maryland Religious Leaders Statement against the November 4, 2008 Gambling Referendum

The expansion of the state's dependence upon gambling is a current and critical issue, that we are compelled to address. We firmly oppose the legalization of slot machine gambling in Maryland , and urge citizens to vote against the slots referendum on November 4, 2008.

We speak not only because of our collective conscience as religious leaders, but also as leaders who serve the citizens of Maryland . We are concerned about the serious long-range consequences gambling will have for the quality of life of all of the citizens of our state. Gambling is a menace to society and a regressive tax on the poor. It is deadly to the interests of moral, social, economic and spiritual life and destructive of good government.

There is significant sociological and personal research regarding the vices and social ills that accompany legalized gambling. Its very real impact on low and moderate income families and individuals - on those for whom gambling becomes a compulsive behavior, are concerns that must be considered.

In current gambling jurisdictions, the foundation of the family is at greatest risk. There is a sharp increase in divorce, suicide, bankruptcy, child abuse and domestic violence. Children of gambling addicts experience lower levels of mental health and physical well being.

Introducing slots into our state sends a message that dollars are precious and people are expendable. This is not true. Marylanders will creatively work together to insure children are educated and fed without gambling revenue. In fact, gambling revenue will worsen the plight of children, youth and adults within Maryland by increasing addiction, divorce and poverty.

Given these and other considerations, it is unconscionable that our state would consider and promote the inclusion of slot machine gambling in our constitution. In a state with a strong creative work force and innovative leaders, we do not need slot machine gambling. It jeopardizes the lives of untold thousands of individuals and families, and contributes substantially to the moral decay of our communities.

Therefore, we believe legalized slot gambling should and must be vigorously opposed.

The Reverend Dr. John Deckenback, Conference Minister, The Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ .

Bishop Richard Graham, Bishop, Metropolitan Washington DC Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Reverend Lari Grubbs, Regional Minister, Christian Church Disciples of Christ

Bishop Peggy Johnson, Peninsula Delaware/Maryland Conference of the United Methodist Church

Rev. Dr. Clark Lobensine, Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington

Bishop H. Gerard Knoche, Bishop, Delaware/Maryland Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Reverend Dr. Peter Nord, Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Baltimore

Bishop Adam J. Richardson, Jr., African Methodist Episcopal Church, Second District

Bishop John Schol, Bishop, Baltimore/Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church

The Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chane D.D., Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington (comprising Episcopal jurisdiction in four Maryland Counties)

The Rt. Rev. John Rabb, Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland

The Reverend Allen Spicer, President, Central Maryland Ecumenical Council

The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland