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The Orangeburg-Calhoun Baptist Association is urging Christians to take "political action" against "commercialized gambling," including the Catawba Indian Nation's proposed bingo operation in Santee.

The voluntary organization of 42 Southern Baptist congregations in the two counties passed a resolution this past week that is significantly stronger than its statement six months ago.

The resolution calls on churches "to use biblical discipline of members who participate in the promotion of or are otherwise involved in gambling."

Each Southern Baptist congregation is autonomous and therefore has the prerogative to decide what "biblical discipline" is appropriate, said the Rev. Quinn Hooks, chairman of the association's Resolutions Committee and pastor of Cope Baptist Church.

"But we're not talking about excommunicating anyone," Hooks said. "The word punishment is not appropriate for this process because the whole idea is not to kick the person out, but to lovingly, gently bring the person back into a good relationship with the congregation."

Hooks said Jesus and Paul laid out a three-step model for intervention with Christians who stray from the church's teachings.

First, a respected member of the congregation meets with the offender, one on one, to "explain why they are in error," he said.

"If they refuse to receive correction, you would go back with another person -- such as a pastor, Sunday school teacher, deacon or someone else who is well versed in Scripture -- and discuss the matter with them again," Hooks continued.

"Finally, as a last resort, you would bring them before the church and the church would resolve the way to discipline them," Hooks said.

But the resolution adds that personally refraining from gambling activities is not enough.

It urges "clergy and laity" to "undertake political action by using their influence in attending County Council meetings to voice their opposition to gambling."

And it exhorts "Christian citizens to vote in the upcoming elections for candidates at all levels of government who oppose gambling."

That would include all members of the Orangeburg County Legislative Delegation and all members of Orangeburg County Council, who have publicly stated their support of the Catawbas' proposal.

In fact, both senators from Orangeburg County are among the sponsors of legislation, introduced Wednesday, that would allow the Catawbas to offer the equivalent of federally defined Class 2 gaming at Santee.

A 1993 settlement of a land claim gives the Catawbas the right to operate two bingo halls, one in York County and another in a location of their choice.

The Catawbas say state regulations limit the hall's operations to 12 hours a day, cap jackpots at $100,000 and do not allow networking with gaming facilities in other states.

With those restrictions, the tribe says it cannot satisfactorily compete with the state's educational lottery.

At Santee, they envision hundreds of electronic machines that are networked with other Native American bingo operations in other states.

After encountering resistance from local authorities in North Myrtle Beach, the Catawbas and their job-creation plans were warmly received in Santee, a town along the economically depressed Interstate 95 corridor.

In the resolution, the Baptists offered "four reasons to be concerned about gambling":

-- "The games focus on acquiring wealth (and) can encourage the sins of greed and covetousness. ... God calls us to work diligently, be frugal, and invest wisely."

-- "The emphasis on chance can be an occasion for despair and distrust in God's promises."

-- "Gambling can place vulnerable members of our communities at risk of great harm. The poor are more prone to gamble . ... Gambling is a compulsion for some and an addiction which destroys individuals and families."

-- "Gambling is the antithesis of the biblical understanding of stewardship ... of our time, talents and resources."

As before, the Baptists called on "all citizens of Orangeburg County, specifically Southern Baptists, to become educated and thoroughly informed about all aspects of the gambling question" and "to contact their elected representatives to voice opposition to the Santee bingo casino.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Hendren can be reached by e-mail at lhendren@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5552.

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