The Rev. John Wolf does not want to see Northwest Indiana become the “Las Vegas of the Midwest.”

For more than a decade, the retired United Methodist pastor has served as founder and state coordinator of the Indiana Coalition Against Legalized Gambling – an effort recognized recently when he received the “Sagamore of the Wabash” proclamation from Indiana Governor Joseph E. Kernan for his “commitment to make Indiana a better place to live and raise a family.”

Wolf, 85, of Valparaiso, told United Methodist News Service he was surprised by the honor, which was presented during the denomination’s North Indiana Annual Conference in June. He also has been a leader in the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, based in Washington.

In a letter read by Indiana Bishop Woodie White, the governor wrote to Wolf: “You have distinguished yourself by your humanity in living, your loyalty in friendship, your wisdom and counsel and your inspiration and leadership.”

The term “sagamore” was used by Northeastern Native Americans to describe a lesser chief or other great person in the tribe that the chief would turn to for wisdom and advice. The award has been given at the discretion of Indiana governors since the 1940s.

Wolf believes the Indiana Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, an ecumenical organization, has had its successes and failures. “We feel it (gambling) would have gone further if we hadn’t joined against it,” he said, but added, “It’s a big gorilla and we haven’t put it back in the cage.”

Indiana currently has 11 casinos. Part of the battle has been against casino owners hoping to position the Chicago and Northwest Indiana region as a venue for family-oriented gambling attractions. In the future, he thinks the opposition will be “less confrontational but still persistent.”

Education remains central to the anti-gambling campaign, especially for senior citizens who consider it an innocent pastime. Gambling is a disease, Wolf pointed out, and more than 64,000 state residents – about 1.6 percent of each county’s adult population – are compulsive gamblers.

Wolf, who is retiring from the coalition but plans to meet with White’s successor to help guide the next steps in the anti-gambling work, said he has been grateful for the support from the bishop’s office.

He believes this is a case where religion must confront politics. “The church, as I see it, should be the conscience of the community,” he explained. “Any legislative action has moral implications simply because it affects the lives of people.”

Wolf, who retired in 1984, has been married for 63 years to his wife, Carolyn. He writes a weekly newspaper column, is organizing the Valparaiso Rotary Club’s 100th birthday next year and was appointed by the mayor to a city ethics commission.

*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer.

News media contact: Linda Bloom^·(646)369-3759^·New York^· E-mail: newsdesk@umcom.org.