DUELING IDENTITES: THE CHRISTIAN

BIKERDOREEN ANDERSON-FACILE

Pastor Marty and Debbie Edwards Founder and National President

Black Sheep Harley Davidsons for Christ Motorcycle Ministry

THREE TYPES OF HARLEY RIDERS

• Outlaw Bikers – Club Members (Hells Angels, Vagos)– Active members of the biker subculture

• Saloon Society– Actively involved with the biker subculture but are

also members of mainstream culture• Weekend Warriors

– Middle class America– Weekend riders– Christian Motorcycle Ministries

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

• Symbolic Interactionism (Mead and Blumer)• Identity theory

– Identity• Multi-selves (external (role) internal (identity))

– Commitment • Depth and breadth• Emotional attachment

– Salience – Self-knowledge

• ability to manipulate role performance

RESEARCH METHOD

• Qualitative/Ethnography• Participant observation

– Personal experience• In-depth interviews

– 1 - 3 hours– Sample Black Sheep members (Southern

California chapters)

Questionnaire

• Demographics• Background (childhood, motorcycle,

Christian)• Black Sheep membership• Biker community• Christian community• Identity

Black Sheep Harley Davidsons for Christ Motorcycle Ministry

(organization)• Founder Marty Edwards• History• Mission

– "Know Him and Make Him Known"• Activities

– Meetings, club events and rides• Ministry work

– Service, hospital visits, financial

Black Sheep HDFC Patch

FINDINGS• Demographics (background)

– Childhood experiences– Divorce– Christian

• Reason for joining Black Sheep– Mission– Social benefits– Outsiders – not traditional Christians– Unconditional acceptance– Positive/negative feelings– Other members

FINDINGS

• Christian persona• Biker persona• Image

– Self– Others

• Christians• Bikers

• Identity

CONCLUSION• Identify as outsiders• Identify as Christians not bikers• Like the persona of the rough tough biker• A way to walk in both worlds (safety net)• Black Sheep HDFC more of a social club• Inconsistent commitment • Conditional salience• Self-knowledge tied to being an outsider