‘Born-Again’ Biker Group: Hell’s Angels They’re Not

Joseph Bradley isn’t just spinning his wheels when it comes to his two favorite things--motorcycles and Scriptures. He is one of 15 members of the Rolling Prayer Warriors, a group of jeans-clad bikers in Evansville, Ind., who are “born-again” Christians and pack their Bibles in their motorcycle saddlebags. “This is not a hard Bible-thumping group,” said Bradley, the Evansville club’s chaplain. “We evangelize to anyone who is interested in listening. We don’t do anything violent or off-color.” Bradley, 41, is a construction worker and student at Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburgh. Dennis Keltner, 59, of Newburgh, a member of the national Christian Motorcyclists Assn., said the only requirement for membership is being a “born-again” Christian. Motorcyclists in the association are recognized by patches they wear on their vests--a triangle with a hand, a cross and a Bible.

--As further proof that religion is on the move, the Rev. J. W. Canty will embark today on his 75th globe-circling cruise as a ship’s chaplain. “I am able to visit all seven continents each year,” said the 40-year-old Episcopal priest, who ministers under the guidance of the bishop of New York, the Rev. Paul Moore Jr. “My full-time ministry is as a photographer priest and I am able to exercise that most of the time on ships,” said Canty, who has served as chaplain on steamboats carrying 100 people as well as on cruise ships carrying as many as 1,700 passengers and crews of 900.

--American music also will be going places in 1987, as Soviet cultural officials are trying to arrange visits by U.S. performers. The newspaper Izvestia said jazz band leader Dave Brubeck already has signed up to tour the Soviet Union this year. “Roy Clark is expected to come from the U.S.A. and the tour of Billy Joel is being defined more exactly,” it said. “Stevie Wonder may be coming too.” The official Soviet attitude toward Western music has eased under the leadership of Mikhail S. Gorbachev, but local rock bands remain closely supervised by the state. Several British rock bands toured the Soviet Union this year, including UB-40, a reggae group.