We are unalterably opposed to capital punishment. Gambling is a menace to society, destructive of good government, and deadly to the best interest of moral, social and spiritual life. We stand for the achievement of community and personal standards which make unnecessary the resort to petty or commercial gambling as a recreation, escape or producer of public or charitable revenue. As an act of faith and love, Christians should abstain from all acts of gambling and should participate in efforts to minister to those victimized by the practice, including compulsive gamblers. We believe that human sexuality is created by God for the good of human life and is sacred.
Marriage is the context and the relation in which sexuality is to be expressed.
Sexual relations between persons united in holy wedlock is a means of personal and interpersonal communion, an expression of mutual love, and the means of procreation. Sexual relations outside of marriage are contrary to the will of God, and constitute a blasphemous disregard of God's purposes for men and women. Since all men are endowed by God with certain inalienable rights, we believe that o individual should be denied these rights because of race, creed, culture, national origin or social class. Further, we believe that persons should have freedom under law to petition for these rights. Every local Church shall encourage the study of the Social Creed and seek to apply its principles.