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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (2871 notes).

Note 2870 by SUSAN PEEK on April 18, 1996 at 11:16 Eastern (2955 characters).

SEARCH: gambling, gaming, anti-gambling, Native American,
sovereignty, United Methodist Church, General Conference

006 {2869}                                          April 17, 1996

General Conference '96

Native American United Methodists
discuss issues related to gaming

     DENVER (UMNS) -- Gambling, is it a "menace to society," as
stated in the United Methodist Book of Discipline or "economic
development" as claimed by the growing number of Native American
tribes venturing into the casino industry?  

     These issues were brought before an open forum here April 17
by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society and a group of
Native American United Methodists to inform voting members of the
denomination's 1996 General Conference about the complex issues
surrounding gaming.

     The dialogue stems from legislation coming from the
Washington-based social action agency to strengthen the anti-
gambling movement.

     Discussion during the forum centered around Native American
sovereignty -- a tribe's right to decide for the good of its
members. According to many Native American leaders, it is unfair
for the church to condemn gambling as a form of economic
development without offering an alternate means of bringing in
revenue.

     "Those of us who support Native American sovereignty and
anti-gambling must urge the church to enter into partnership with
Native American nations to explore economic development
alternatives," said the Rev. Thom White Wolf Fassett, the board's
top staff executive.

     According to the Rev. Alvin Deer, a pastor in the Oklahoma
Indian Missionary Conference, society is making it difficult for
tribes to find other means of support.
 
     "Every time Native Americans threaten to become economically
independent, society comes up with laws and provisions that say we
want you to stay dependent," Deer said. "We are not dealing with a
society that really wants Native Americans to be self-sufficient."

     The anti-gambling movement, supported by many United
Methodists, made a major advance last year when the National
Coalition Against Legalized Gaming opened an office at the United
Methodist Building on Capitol Hill.

     The main focus of the office is to establish a national
commission to investigate legalized gambling's economic impact on
cities, its alleged ties to organized crime and the political
influence the gaming industry wields through political campaign
contributions.  

     In addition, the Board of Church and Society is launching an
"Enough is Enough" campaign to educate people about the moral
implications of legalized gaming.  The board also is scheduling a
consultation with United Methodist Native Americans in December to
discuss the gaming issue and alternative forms of economic
development further.
                              #  #  #
                                                -- Ginny Underwood
     
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