(Indianapolis, Ind.) – Reconciliation Ministry will sponsor its biennial “Bike to the Assembly” from Indianapolis to Nashville, Tenn. from July 3 -7. General Minister and President Sharon E. Watkins will join this year’s bike ride which will help launch the announcement of Reconciliation Ministry’s Annual Fund.
The event kicks off from Southport Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indianapolis. John Yonker from Columbia, Mo. will be the lead rider, and will be joined by Watkins, Rick Lowery and other volunteers. The 309-mile ride will culminate in Nashville at the Greenwood Cemetery gravesites of Preston Taylor and William K. Fox to commemorate their witness to racial justice and wholeness within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
“As Disciples, we have a long-standing commitment to becoming a pro-reconciling, anti-racism church,” said Watkins. “I am excited about the opportunity to be part of a ride that both highlights Reconciliation Ministry’s annual fund and recognizes some of the individuals who devoted so much of their lives to racial justice.”
Several riders have committed to bike for portions of the route. Watkins, for example, will ride on days one, two and five.
Fox and Ernest Newborn established “Bike to the Assembly” in 1985 when they rode from Indianapolis to San Antonio, Texas to benefit what was then known as Reconciliation Mission. Yonker made the bike ride to a General Assembly for the first time in 1987 and has ridden four times since then to help raise funds and awareness of the Church’s ministry of reconciliation.
“It is such an honor to welcome Rev. Yonker again to this event and to receive the support of Rev. Watkins, Rev. Lowery and others in this physical commitment to wholeness in the body of Christ and our Church,” said April Johnson, director of Reconciliation Ministry. “I am training to ride the last two days of the event because of their inspiration.”
As one of four mission priorities of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the mission of Reconciliation Ministry is to advance the Church’s journey toward wholeness by empowering each expression of the Church to implement structural change to address historic fractures caused by racism and the systems that perpetuate it. In addition to raising funds, the bike ride will bring awareness about the vision and mission of Reconciliation Ministry.
Funds raised by Reconciliation Ministry provide grants to programs within the church that offer Disciples opportunities to develop relationships across racial difference, to participate in educational programs that offer tools to address the systemic nature of racism and that promote action toward social and racial justice. Many regional expressions of the church host camp and conference programs that are intentionally multicultural. Brite Divinity School has hosted experiential programs for students to tour civil rights monuments and museums. In addition, the General Commission on Ministry used seed money from Reconciliation Ministry to translate the “Ordering of Ministry” document to address culture-specific policies and practice for ministerial standing.
The bikers will average 50 – 70 miles per day on a route that goes south from Indianapolis on Highway 37 into Bloomington, Ind. and on to Owensboro, Ky. and Nashville.
Glen Stewart, regional minister of Tennessee, has already sponsored Reconciliation Ministry’s April Johnson with a $100 pledge for her portion of the ride from Kentucky to Tennessee.
The bikers will be hosted for meals and refreshments by Disciples congregations throughout the route. In addition to Southport Christian Church in Indiana, First Christian Church and Century Christian Church, both in Owensboro, Ky. will be among the congregations welcoming and supporting the riders. Congregations along the route also are encouraged to offer water or refreshments to the riders.
Disciples who would like to join the ride or make pledges are encouraged to contact the Reconciliation Ministry office at 317-713-2587 or [email protected]
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Written by the Reconciliation Ministry staff
