Artciles by Cynthia

United Methodists in the Baltimore-Washington Conference are being asked to take five steps in a campaign to help defeat legalized slot machines in Maryland. A Nov. 4 constitutional amendment will legalize more than 15,000 slot machines at five locations across the state if it passes.

“This is a spiritual battle,” said Bishop John Schol of the Baltimore-Washington Conference. “Slots will prey on those who are most vulnerable.”

This is a
spiritual battle.

A grassroots effort, led by Marylanders United to Stop Slots, is urging all churches to address the dangers of bringing in the slot machines.

United Methodists have battled against legalizing slot machines for a decade, according to UMConnection, the newspaper of the Baltimore-Washington Conference. It reported in its Sept. 3 issue that Sandy Ferguson, conference director of Justice Ministries, is asking United Methodists to take five steps in the campaign leading up to the election.

The steps are:

1. Preach anti-slots messages from the pulpit on the first Sundays each month leading up to the election.
2. Hand out as much literature as possible in bulletin inserts, newsletters and other sources to educate the congregation.
3. Put up posters, speak out at public gatherings, get out in the community to spread the words that slots are a “menace to society and a regressive tax on the poor.”
4. Write letters to local news organizations, and
5. In the next two months, come together with other churches to become vital and active advocates against slots being added to the Maryland constitution.

More information about the grassroots effort is available at Marylanders United.

Alcohol & Other Addictions

For more on gambling and other additions, visit the Alcohol & Other Addictions page on the General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) Web site: Alcohol & Other Addictions.

Action Network

The Rev. Cynthia Abrams, GBCS director of the Alcohol, Other Addictions and Health Care, supervises an “Action Network” that provides legislative updates, educational resources and identifies opportunities to act on issues involving alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, gambling and pornography. Information focuses on addiction recovery, prevention and regulation. She issues “action alerts” periodically through e-mail.

Joining the Alcohol & Other Addictions Action Network is free: go to umpower.org or click on My GBCS on the General Board of Church and Society Web site, www.umc-gbcs.org. You can also contact Donna Brandyberry, (202) 488-5641.

Cynthia Abrams can be reached at (202) 488-5636.