Mike Wolanin | The Republic Rosslyn King, left, accepts the Beloved Community Award from Bishop David Bosley during the annual CommUNITY Breakfast celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at The Commons in Columbus, Ind., Monday, Jan. 15, 2024.
The life of Rosslyn King, who has assembled and led at least two different community choirs over the years at the Annual CommUNITY Breakfast Honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., hit a high note Monday.
The local African American Pastors Alliance presented her with the Beloved Community Award, named after the late civil rights leader’s words about an area without injustice, prejudice, or discrimination. The honor presented at the breakfast each year highlights a Bartholomew County resident’s years of work on behalf on racial equality.
King also has led three different church choirs over the past 30 years, and currently leads the African American Community Choir that sang at Monday’s event at The Commons. Years ago, she led a mixed-race choir she assembled for the breakfast.
“We don’t do this for accolades,” King said. “We do it because we love God. And we do it because we want to usher in his presence and worship him.”
Her group did that Monday with two spirited numbers that left a estimated crowd of more than 300 people clapping to the beat of one of the bluesy, gospel numbers.
King’s background includes a stint as Ivy Tech Community College assistant registrar, and serving as co-founder and vice president of Compuworld, a local computer store before that.
She also is an active member of Path to Success, an organization that assists Black and biracial youth to be prepared for college and beyond.
The current choir that has performed at a variety of functions can do music from artists and acts such as Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music, Donnie McClurkin, and Hillsong.
“The sound of the choir and how it comes across (to people) is the blessing of God,” King said in a Republic interview last year. “That has to be on what you do. If he doesn’t bless it, then there’s no power and no anointing there.”
Bishop David Bosley of the pastors alliance introduced King, and talked of the importance if everyone’s role in creating a beloved community. He said that creation requires unconditional love, known by Christians as “agape.”
“That is understanding goodwill for all men,” Bosley said. “It is an overflowing love, this type of spirit, that can transform opposers into friends.
“Our ultimate end must be the creation of the beloved community.”
