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2007-07-24 issue:

BikeMovement documentary premieres

by Anna Groff

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SAN JOSÉ, Calif.—The film “BikeMovement the Documentary—A Young Adult Perspective on Church” follows a group of young adults who rode bicycles across the United States July 10-Aug. 25, 2006, as an initiative to engage in open conversation regarding their perspectives on and visions for the church.

The documentary showed at the San José 2007 convention, with discussion following.

“I was pleasantly surprised with the boldness in which they asked questions in congregational settings,” said Dan Leonard, young adult initiative coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee, after viewing the video. “The value is not so much in the questions but in the attempt at … authentic intergenerational relationship … the very fact that they are seeking conversation is valuable.”

His only frustration was that the documentary included largely the perspective of ethnic Mennonites, mostly from middle-class, white homes—although the BikeMovement participants did address this in the documentary, Leonard said. “There are lots of adults I know that are more radical and ask harder questions than many of my peers,” he said.

Tim Showalter, BikeMovement participant, said he felt encouraged by the enthusiasm from young and older adults who joined the conversations.

Showalter said many people asked how BikeMovement—and the questions raised—will stay alive. “I think it’s ‘alive’ wherever people are thinking critically about what it means to follow Jesus today. And, if we’re lucky, there’ll be another ride next summer.”

Members of BikeMovement also presented an all-ages seminar, “BikeMovement: What are young adults saying about church?”

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