The Tribune

AS referendum day approaches, local Methodists have joined other denominations in opposing the legalisation of gambling for Bahamians.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church said while the Bible does not denounce gambling specifically, it says a great deal about financial exploitation in general.

“Throughout history, it has been necessary for God’s people to speak out against many forms of exploitation. The early Methodists realised that they were called of God to speak out against many social injustices, and they did so fearlessly,” said the conference.

“Gambling has been a great source of suffering for the poor. Having little of this world’s resources, they spent what little they had on the chance of multiplying it.

“They discovered that while a few might win, many lost all they had. It was the rich who became richer and the poor who became poorer.”

The conference noted that in popular sermons, the founder of Methodism John Wesley addressed the “evil of gambling”.

“Opposition to gambling became integral to what it meant to be a Methodist. This has continued for the 250 years of Methodism’s influence on society,” the statement said.

According to the conference, the two main reasons why gambling is seen as against the Christian lifestyle are: that many have to lose for one, or a few, to gain; and that it undermines the whole basis of community living when able-bodied persons forsake honest labour to rely on luck.

Many churches in the Bahamas conduct raffles. The conference said while it does not approve of this practice, as it is still based on the desire for great gain through little effort, at least the prises are donated and the money waged goes to good causes.

However, in the case of “gambling as it is properly defined”, the conference said, those who run the system put nothing into the pot.

“They rely on the public to contribute millions of dollars, out of which they will take huge expenses, including large sums for themselves, and make a very small proportion of what is put in available to those few who select the winning number.”

The Conference of the Methodist Church advised all its congregants to consider these matters “carefully and prayerfully” ahead of the December 3 referendum.

“We do not see where the legalising of certain aspects of gambling in the Bahamas will positively affect the wellbeing of the Bahamian people in general and the advancement of the country.”

• See INSIGHT for more on the gambling referendum.