United Church Social Policy Positions

On the basis of letters from presbyteries and petitions from conferences to the 36th General Council, the Executive of General Council asked the Division of Mission in Canada (DMC) to prepare a policy update on gambling in Canada. This policy was to address, in particular, the increasing use of gambling and gaming by governments to generate income. The DMC was asked to prepare an updated policy recommendation on gambling as a public policy issue for the April meeting of the GCE.

The matter of church use of gambling-generated funds is not a part of this report because it was addressed in a year-long study and the adoption of policy by the General Council Executive in November 1992. For the record, the policy adopted is:

That the Executive of General Council urge formally constituted groups of The United Church of Canada to avoid applying for or using funds generated from lotteries, casinos, or other activities in the gambling industry, where it is possible to determine the source of funds....

Minutes, Executive of the General Council, 22-24 November 1992